2.0 STUDY OVERVIEW. 2.1 Description of the I-20 East Transit Initiative. 2.2 Project Background and History

Transcription

1 2.0 STUDY OVERVIEW 2.1 Descriptin f the I-20 East Transit Initiative MARTA, in clse crdinatin with DeKalb Cunty, the City f Atlanta, GDOT, ARC, and in cperatin with the FTA, is undertaking the I-20 East Transit Initiative. This initiative will identify and summarize the ptential transprtatin and envirnmental impacts assciated with the implementatin f new east-west transit service frm Dwntwn Atlanta t the Mall at Stnecrest, in eastern DeKalb Cunty. The I-20 East Crridr, shwn in Figure 2-1 n page 2-2, extends mre than 20 miles frm dwntwn Atlanta thrugh suthern DeKalb Cunty and int the central prtin f Rckdale Cunty. This prject seeks t identify transit investments that wuld imprve east-west mbility and accessibility t jbs and husing within the crridr, prvide cnvenient and efficient transit service t accmmdate the increasing transit demands within the crridr, and supprt crridr ecnmic develpment and revitalizatin. The initiative is rganized in tw study phases. The first phase, a DCA, r update f the previusly cmpleted AA, will be fllwed by the envirnmental review prcess in accrdance with NEPA. 2.2 Prject Backgrund and Histry Previus studies f transprtatin needs in the I-20 East Crridr ver the past decade (Figure 2-2 belw) have clearly established the need fr high capacity transit service t accmmdate the increasing transit demands f this crridr: Studies starting with the Suth DeKalb/Lindbergh Study have cnsistently shwn transit demand fr a fixed guideway investment in the I-20 East Crridr between Suth DeKalb and Central Atlanta. Plan 2040 (2011), the transprtatin plan fr the Atlanta regin, establishes framewrks fr future transit peratins, infrastructure and develpment as well as reginal gals fr mbility, safety and the envirnment. This plan includes imprved transit service in the I-20 East Crridr. There are land use and redevelpment plans and zning rdinances in the City f Atlanta and DeKalb Cunty, as well as Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) studies that supprt and encurage transit riented develpment, a gal f the I-20 East Transit Initiative. Figure 2-2: Timeline f Previus Studies RFP P5413 / Cntract N August 2012

2 Figure 2-1: Study Area RFP P5413 / Cntract N August 2012

3 2.3 Prject Purpse and Need Transprtatin Challenges I-20 EAST TRANSIT INITIATIVE The I-20 East Crridr faces several majr challenges. The study area s unique existing and planned transprtatin system, travel markets, demgraphics, land uses, and develpment trends all cntribute t the challenges facing this crridr bth tday and in the future. The data presented in the I-20 East Transit Initiative Purpse and Need Reprt illustrate the need fr transit investments that address these challenges. These challenges are summarized belw. Traffic cngestin causes delay and slw travel times The ARC mdel estimated a ttal f 2.6 millin daily persn trips that riginated and terminated within the I- 20 East Crridr in By 2030, the number f trips assciated with the I-20 East Crridr is expected t increase t 3.5 millin trips, an increase f 36 percent. These levels f grwth within the crridr will cntinue t drive a steady increase in traffic vlumes and cngestin, further increasing delay and reducing travel times. Peak-Hur Traffic n I-20 Traffic vlumes n study area radways are prjected t increase significantly by 2030 as develpment in the area cntinues t increase. Vlumes n I-20 in 2005 ranged frm 76,800 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) 1 in the rural, eastern end f the study area t 195,000 AADT in Dwntwn Atlanta. By 2030, AADT n I-20 is prjected t increase by up t 64 percent t vlumes f up t 269,100 vehicles per day. Similar r greater increases in vlume are prjected fr many f the area majr radways. Degradatin in Level f Service (LOS) is prjected fr mst majr radways in the study area. The LOS n I-20 in 2005 ranged frm D t F amng study area radway segments. By 2030, LOS is prjected t wrsen n mre than half f these radway segments, and nly ne segment is prjected t perate at D r better, the level cnsidered acceptable fr urban areas. This prjectin fr 2030 radway cnditins is typical in the study area fr majr east-west radway segments, mst f which are prjected t perate at LOS E r F. Inadequate access t dwntwn and ther emplyment centers Dwntwn and Midtwn Atlanta represent the largest cncentrated destinatin fr travel within the crridr. This is especially true fr transit trips, with 49 percent f 1 AADT is the ttal vlume f vehicle traffic n a segment f rad fr a year divided by 365 days, t estimate the average daily traffic n that radway segment. RFP P5413 / Cntract N August 2012

4 transit trips riginating in the crridr destined fr Dwntwn and Midtwn Atlanta. As autmbile and transit travel times t central Atlanta cntinue t lengthen, access t this imprtant emplyment center will becme increasingly difficult. The prjected 46 percent increase in study area emplyment establishes the basis fr an increasing need fr additinal capacity in the transprtatin system. Furthermre, thrugh discussins with area stakehlders, the I-20 East Transit Initiative has identified inadequate access t existing emplyment centers as a crridr issue. Limited east-west radways; I-20 is the nly real chice With the exceptin f I-20, there are limited radway ptins fr drivers traveling east-west in the study area, and f these, few extend acrss a significant prtin f the study area r ffer multiple lanes. Since the existing transprtatin netwrk des nt prvide a viable parallel rute t I-20 fr traversing the study area, the need exists t increase travel chices fr east-west mbility in the crridr. East-west travel alng I-20 is the predminant travel pattern within the crridr. Results f a select link analysis illustrate that the majrity f peak hur autmbile trips traveling eastbund and westbund n I-20 cntinue their trips alng I-20 rather than diverting n I-285 t the nrth r suth. By 2030, the largest surce f trips cming int the study area will be frm Rckdale and Newtn Cunties t the east f the study area. Apprximately 10 percent f all trips destined fr the study crridr will cme frm these areas. This represents a 113 percent increase in trips frm Rckdale and Newtn Cunties frm 2005 t With I-20 the main ptin fr travel int the study area frm these cunties, cngestin will cntinue t increase, causing mbility and access t decrease. Limited planned transprtatin prjects in crridr t accmmdate grwth While there are planned and prgrammed radway capacity prjects in the study area, the lack f east-west mvement is prjected t remain an issue due t the prjects emphasis n nrth-suth radways. There are n prjects planned t add general use lanes r HOV/managed lanes t I-20 by With limited planned imprvements t I-20 r parallel facilities, east-west mbility in this grwing study area will cntinue t degrade. Insufficient transit service fr a grwing demand Transit travel is expected t increase significantly in the crridr. In 2005 there were 143,700 daily transit trips in the I-20 East Crridr. By 2030, it is prjected that there will be 253,000 daily transit trips in the study area each day, a 77 percent increase frm Transit travel grwth will far utpace the 36 percent grwth fr trips f all mdes, which includes autmbile trips. Over the past five t ten years, significant increases in ridership have been seen n express bus services ffered by Gergia Reginal Transit Authrity (GRTA) and MARTA that travel n I-20 East, despite the fact that these buses perate n cngested radways. This demnstrates the strng demand fr transit service within the crridr even when existing transit service is nt travel time cmpetitive. Autmbile and transit travel times limit mbility and access within much f the crridr. By 2030, mst f the crridr west f I-285 is expected t experience autmbile and transit travel times t dwntwn f greater than 50 minutes with much f this area experiencing travel times f minutes. Express buses perate in nrmal traffic RFP P5413 / Cntract N August 2012

5 Overall, existing and future transit travel times are cnsiderably lnger than autmbile travel times, illustrating that current transit service is nt travel time cmpetitive. Transit travel times surrunding the existing MARTA heavy rail line are nt expected t lengthen by Hwever, by 2030 lcal and express bus service in much f the eastern prtin f the crridr is expected t experience cnsiderably lnger travel times, primarily due t the fact that these services perate n cngested radways and there are few capacityadding radway imprvements planned fr the study area by Furthermre, n managed lanes r HOV lanes are planned alng I-20 east f I-285 by This further highlights the need fr travel time cmpetitive transit service t address the mbility and access needs f the study area. Areas f the crridr are in need f revitalizatin GRTA Bus in Peak-Hur Traffic n I-20 There are land use plans, redevelpment plans, and zning rdinances in the City f Atlanta and DeKalb Cunty, as well as frm LCI Studies, that supprt and encurage transit riented develpment, a gal f the I-20 East Transit Initiative. The analysis f prjected land use changes demnstrates that there is sufficient land area t accmmdate prjected grwth and redevelpment. Much f the prjected 117,000 new residents t the study area between 2005 and 2030 will be accmmdated in the 56 percent grwth in the eastern prtin f the study area. A series f planning studies within the study area have recmmended redevelpment activities alng the I-20 East crridr, an example f which is the Candler Rad/Flat Shals Parkway LCI Study, cmpleted in This study, like many f the Rainbw Village Shpping Center n Candler Rad thers, envisined and is supprtive f, transit supprtive land uses cmprised f high-density mixed-use centers. Redevelpment and reinvestment is a majr identified need in the crridr. Majr redevelpment areas include the Suth DeKalb Mall area and ther cmmercial centers adjacent t I-20. Additinal premium transit service in crridr wuld represent a majr new investment in the area and wuld have the ptential t catalyze new develpment in these areas. RFP P5413 / Cntract N August 2012

6 The previusly identified transit alignment and statins alng I-20 are supprted by the land use plicy framewrk f DeKalb Cunty, which calls fr the redevelpment f cmmercial areas adjacent t I-20 as a series f mixed-use higher-density areas. The I-20 Overlay District lays the framewrk fr ensuring Transit-Oriented Develpment (TOD) at prpsed statin areas alng the alignment. Limited transprtatin ptins fr traditinally underserved ppulatins There are neighbrhds f minrity and lw-incme ppulatins lcated thrughut the study area. It will be imprtant thrugh the planning prcess t ensure these neighbrhds are nt impacted disprprtinately and that any transit imprvements serve these neighbrhds where the ppulatin has been traditinally underserved. The study area has a higher percentage f zer-vehicle husehlds (15.4 percent) than the Atlanta metrplitan area (7.3 percent) r the State f Gergia (8.3 percent). Althugh many f these zer-vehicle husehld neighbrhds are lcated alng existing MARTA rail lines, there are numerus zer-car husehlds in neighbrhds thrughut the study area particularly alng r near I-20. There are neighbrhds within the study area where the elderly and disabled ppulatins make up between 15 t 25 percent f the ppulatin. While in the western end f the study area these ppulatins reside near existing MARTA rail lines, in the eastern end f the study area, large areas with significant elderly and disabled ppulatins d nt have access t premium transit. Increasing the accessibility f service t these ppulatins wuld address a majr need fr the I-20 East Transit Initiative Need fr the I-20 East Transit Initiative Given the challenges facing the study area, imprved transit service in the I-20 East Crridr is being investigated t address the fllwing needs. Imprved Mbility and Accessibility in the Crridr Traffic cngestin causes delay and slw travel times Inadequate access t dwntwn and ther emplyment centers Additinal Travel Optins in the Crridr Limited east-west radways; I-20 is the nly real chice Limited planned transprtatin prjects in crridr t accmmdate grwth Imprved Transit Service in the Crridr Insufficient transit service fr a grwing demand Express buses perate in nrmal traffic Limited transprtatin ptins fr transit dependent and elderly ppulatins Supprt Land Use and Develpment Gals within the Crridr Purpse and Need Statement Areas f the crridr are in need f revitalizatin The fllwing Purpse and Need Statement was develped t clearly and cncisely address the primary transprtatin challenges faced by the I-20 East Crridr. RFP P5413 / Cntract N August 2012

7 The purpse f the I-20 East Transit Initiative is t prvide transit investments that enhance east-west mbility and imprve accessibility t residential areas and emplyment centers within the crridr. The existing and future radway cngestin in the I-20 East crridr will have an increasingly detrimental effect n autmbile and bus transit travel in the crridr. The prpsed transit investments are intended t imprve travel times and travel reliability by prviding a rapid transit service fr cmmuters traveling t and frm central Atlanta Gals and Objectives f the I-20 East Transit Initiative Based n the identified challenges and needs within the crridr and stakehlder input, gals and bjectives were identified t guide the develpment and evaluatin f transit alternatives fr the I-20 East DCA. They are presented in Table 2-1 belw. Table 2-1: Gals and Objective Gals Gal 1: Increase mbility and accessibility Gal 2: Prvide imprved transit service within the crridr Gal 3: Supprt reginal and lcal land use and develpment gals Gal 4: Prmte cst effective transit investments Gal 5: Preserve natural and built envirnment Gal 6: Achieve a high level f cmmunity supprt Objectives Objective 1.1: Imprve travel times fr east-west travel Objective 1.2: Imprve transit accessibility within the crridr Objective 1.3: Imprve cnnectivity with existing and planned transit investments Objective 1.4: Imprve travel ptins within the crridr Objective 2.1: Prvide transit service with sufficient capacity t accmmdate grwing demand Objective 2.2: Prvide travel time cmpetitive transit service in the crridr Objective 2.3: Prvide transit service fr traditinally underserved ppulatins Objective 3.1: Prmte ecnmic develpment/revitalizatin Objective 3.2: Supprt adpted lcal land use plans Objective 3.3: Encurage transit supprtive land use and develpment patterns Objective 4.1: Prvide transit service that can be implemented, perated, and maintained with available resurces Objective 5.1: Minimize impacts n envirnmental resurces Objective 6.1:Maintain cmpliance with stakehlder guidance Objective 6.2:Achieve a high level f public supprt 2.4 FTA Prject Develpment Prcess A DCA/AA is a required element within the FTA s prject develpment prcess (Figure 2-3 n page 2-8). The DCA/AA examined a range f feasible alternatives and cmpared the ptential csts, impacts, and benefits f each alternative relative t the demnstrated purpse and need fr the imprvement. The result f this analysis was an LPA t be advanced int envirnmental studies and preliminary engineering. The secnd phase f the I-20 East Transit Initiative will be the preparatin f envirnmental dcuments t satisfy NEPA, which requires the full cnsideratin f envirnmental effects fr any prject that receives federal funding. The I-20 East Transit Initiative is preparing an EA fr the BRT cmpnent and an EIS fr the HRT cmpnent. Bth the EA and the EIS are studies fcused n the scial, cultural, and physical impacts f ptential federal investments, RFP P5413 / Cntract N August 2012

8 with the EIS dcumenting these issues in greater depth than the EA. The EIS is cmpleted in tw steps, a Draft EIS and a Final EIS that fllws the review f the Draft EIS. The EA, if it is determined frm the EA that n significant impacts will result frm the prject, results in a Finding f N Significant Impact (FONSI). Figure 2-3: FTA Prject Develpment Prcess RFP P5413 / Cntract N August 2012