BUS RAPID TRANSIT. El Camino Real Bus Rapid Transit Project. Environmental Scoping Meetings February 21 and 28

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1 El Camino Real Bus Rapid Transit Project Environmental Scoping Meetings February 21 and 28

2 Project Staff Meeting Host Project Manager Environmental Planning Eileen Goodwin, Apex Strategies Steve Fisher, Senior Planner Christina Jaworski, Senior Planner Agenda Open House 15 minutes Presentation 30 minutes Purpose and Need Project Alternatives Environmental Process Accept Public Comments 30 minutes Please silence mobile phones 2

3 Why is VTA Doing This Project? El Camino Real lis changing Cities on the corridor (San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Los Altos and Palo Alto) are growing and intensifying land uses City and regional plans call for better transit service and improvements on El Camino Real for pedestrians and bicyclists Transit reliability and travel times will worsen if nothing is done. Need to improve the reliability, frequency, travel time and travel speed of transit along El Camino Real to attract more riders and serve developing land uses 3

4 Grand Boulevard Initiative, BRT and Other Plans The El Camino Real BRT Project is part of some larger plans: Multi agency effort to make El Camino Real a place to intensify land uses and make street more accommodating to transit, pedestrians and bicyclists All cities have adopted transit supportive language in their General Plans Measure A Transit Program Countywide Bus Rapid Transit Plan 4

5 VTA Bus Rapid Transit Program Santa Clara Alum Rock Plan/Eng: Construction: Begin Service: 2015 El Camino Real Plan/Eng: Construction: Begin Service: 2018 VTA Light Rail Caltrain Stevens Creek Plan/Eng: BRT vehicles begin operating on El Camino Real/SC AR corridor in

6 Transit on El Camino Real 522 Rapid Bus Makes limited stops 15 minute frequency Uses transit signal priority i Line 22 Local Bus Mk Makes all stops 12 minute frequency 6

7 Two Possible Ways to Implement BRT on El Camino Real Dedicated Lane Configuration Mixed Flow Configuration 7

8 How is BRT Different From a Local Bus? Enhanced Stations Off board fare collection Faster, all door boarding Real time transit information Unique branding Transit Signal Priority Dedicated Lanes Dedicated Lane Configuration 8

9 How is BRT Different From a Local Bus? Enhanced Stations Off board fare collection Faster, all door boarding Real time transit information Unique branding Transit Signal Priority BRT vehicle stops in travel lane Mixed Flow Configuration 9

10 Five Project Alternatives After early project analysis and receiving ii input tfrom the six cities along the El Camino Real corridor as well as VTA s Board of Directors, five project alternatives have been identified by VTA for inclusion in an environmental analysis. No Build All Mixed Flow Short Dedicated Lane, No Build North of Santa Clara Short Dedicated Lane Long Dedicated Lane 10

11 No Build Alternative 11

12 All Mixed Flow Alternative BRT Station Mixed Flow 12

13 Short Dedicated Lane, No Build North of SC Alternative BRT Station Dedicated Lane Mixed Flow Bicycle Lanes No Changes 13

14 Short Dedicated Lane Alternative BRT Station Dedicated Lane Mixed Flow Bicycle Lanes 14

15 Long Dedicated Lane Alternative BRT Station Dedicated Lane Mixed Flow Bicycle Lanes 15

16 Project Alternatives Ridership and Cost Corridor Daily Boardings Capital Annual Operating Project Alternative (2035) Cost Cost No Build 23,732 $0 $15.6m All Mixed Flow 31,471 $67m $14.5m Small Dedicated Lane, No Build North of Santa Clara 33,297 $69m $12.9m Short Dedicated Lane 36,028 $109m $12.7m Long Dedicated Lane 38,398 $183m $7.8m 16

17 Project Schedule Decision i on Selected Alternative 2018 Conceptual Plan/Eng Environmental Analysis Engineering i Construction Operation Public Comment Period Public Comment Period (Now) 17

18 Why is VTA Preparing an Environmental Document? To fully disclose the environmental effects of the project To identify alternatives or mitigation measures for significant effects To provide an opportunity for public review and comment 18

19 What Type of Environmental Document is VTA Preparing? Environmental limpact treport tfor the California i Environmental lquality Act (CEQA) Environmental Assessment for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) NEPA analysis is required to be eligible for federal funding 19

20 What is Scoping? First step in the environmental process Occurs prior to technical studies Opportunity for you to tell us about your concerns and what you would like us to study Suggest mitigation measures for impacts Propose other alternatives that achieve the purpose and need 20

21 Purpose and Need To make transit service along ElCamino Real lfaster, more reliable, more frequent and to enhance pedestrian facilities in portions of the corridor. 21

22 Environmental Topics Aesthetics ti Hd Hydrology and Water Wt Quality Air Quality and Climate Change Land Use Biological Resources Noise Community Services Section 4(f) Archaeological, Construction Architectural and Park Resources Cultural Resources (NEPA) Energy Socioeconomics Environmental Justice (NEPA) Transportation and Traffic Geology and Soils Utilities Hazardous Materials 22

23 Environmental Process Schedule Issue Notice of Preparation Fb February 2013* Distribute Draft Spring/Summer 2014* AdoptLocally Preferred Alternative Fall 2014 Distribute Final Late Fall 2014 VTA Board Certifies Winter 2014* FTA Publishes Record of Decision Winter 2015* (finding that project has met NEPA requirements) *Public review and comment opportunities 23

24 Public Comment Guidelines Fill out speaker card Moderator will call speakers Speakers will have 2 minutes to make comments 24

25 Written Comments il( (preferred): Mail: Christina Jaworski, Environmental Programs Valley Transportation Authority 3331 North First Street, Building B 2 San Jose, CA Comments must be received by 5:00pm on March 8,

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