Riverview Corridor Pre-Project Development Study

Transcription

1 Riverview Corridor Pre-Project Development Study American Society of Civil Engineers - Minnesota May 25, 2016 Work in Progress; Subject to Change 1

2 History 2000: Major Investment Study (MIS) offered several bus and rail options Neighborhood opposition, loss of State funding for a busway, project never built 2012: Metro Transit gets federal funds to build Arterial BRT on W. 7 th Street 2014: Saint Paul completes streetcar study, but waits to implement the study recommendations 2014: Metro Transit BRT project put on hold 2014: Riverview Corridor study begins, both concepts included in the study Work in Progress; Subject to Change 2

3 Riverview Corridor Study Area 12 miles long connecting major destinations and neighborhoods More than 50,000 residents and almost 125,000 jobs Significant redevelopment occurring and planned Transit reliant population Route 54 bus is only end to end service Work in Progress; Subject to Change 3

4 Overview: Project Implementation Summer 2014 EARLY OUTREACH Work in Progress; Subject to Change 4

5 Pre-Project Development Study Milestones 1 Complete 2 In progress 3 Summer/Fall 2016 CORRIDOR Summer VISION 2014 Review EARLY of Relevant OUTREACH Work Current and Future Conditions Purpose and Need Goals and Objectives ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS Initial Screening Detailed Definition and Evaluation LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE Implementation Plan Early Assessment of Scope for Environmental Review Strategic Communications / Public and Stakeholder Outreach Work in Progress; Subject to Change 5

6 Decision Making Process The Riverview Corridor study is led by the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, but the work is vetted through stakeholder agencies. Project Management Team Technical Advisory Committee Policy Advisory Committee Informed by Community and Stakeholder Engagement Work in Progress; Subject to Change 6

7 Community Meetings Pop up meetings Targeted meetings Walking tour Public Engagement District councils and business associations Citizen members on the technical and policy advisory committees Meetings are open to the public Website, Facebook and other social media Public engagement has shaped the corridor vision, the alternatives and the analysis of alternatives Work in Progress; Subject to Change 7

8 Development of Purpose & Need Milestone 1: Corridor Vision Travel Market Assessment Understand how people travel to, from, and within the corridor Previous and ongoing studies and plans Previous planning studies, local and regional plans and policies Purpose and Need Statement Goals & Objectives Community and stakeholder input Formal and informal engagement with stakeholders and community Social media and other online engagement strategies 8

9 Growing and Changing Travel Demand Population and Employment Growth, * 2040* % Change Population 50,600 82,700 63% Employment 123, ,400 33% *Source: Met Council 2014; 2040 draft forecasts. 9

10 Needs of People Who Rely on Transit Zero-car households 16% of the residents in the study area do not own a car; this percentage is higher than Ramsey County (11%), Hennepin County (10%), and the Region (8%). Population in poverty 30% of households in the study area have incomes less than 185% of the federal poverty level; this percentage is higher than Ramsey County (26%), Hennepin County (20%), and the Region (18%). Areas of Concentrated Poverty Affordable Housing 90 properties with 4,141 legally-binding affordable dwelling units lie within the corridor. 10

11 Local and Regional Objectives for Growth Recently Completed, Current, and Planned Residential, Mixed-Use, and Hotel Development References: City of Saint Paul, City of Bloomington 11

12 Need for Improved Transit 1. Growing population and employment increases travel demand for different travel markets 2. Support and catalyze reinvestment and economic development 3. Transit-reliant population also needs improved transit service 4. Limited opportunity to improve the existing transportation network Work in Progress; Subject to Change 12

13 Purpose of Study To enhance mobility and access to opportunities for residents, businesses, and the region and to cultivate economic prosperity Work in Progress; Subject to Change 13

14 Alternatives Development/Evaluation Corridor Vision Purpose & Need Goals & Objectives Universe of Alternatives Alignments Transit Modes Evaluation Criteria Evaluation Criteria Tier 1: Basic Screening (Qualitative Measures) Alternatives for Detailed Evaluation Tier 2: Detailed Evaluation Preferred Alternative 14

15 completed ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS Approach to Universe of Alternatives and Initial Screening Developed and evaluated on their ability to meet the Purpose and Need through the following criteria: Ability to serve key activity centers, close to transit-reliant populations, connects people who bike or walk Economic development: Ability to serve opportunity areas Major constraints/right-of-way considerations: Mississippi River, parkland, historic properties, adjacent properties We considered the type of transit service typically provided by the type of vehicle, not just the vehicle. Work in Progress; Subject to Change 15

16 Universe of Potential Transit Modes Three kinds: arterial, dedicated and highway Work in Progress; Subject to Change 16

17 Work in Progress; Subject to Change 17

18 Results of Initial Screening Modes Highway Bus Rapid Transit Highway BRT Difficult to serve short trips in the corridor due to limited interchange spacing (1/2 to 1 mile) and station configuration on shoulders Commuter Rail Commuter Rail Typical station spacing (>1 mile) would not serve short trips in the corridor Focus on commuter trips does not meet demand for frequent, all-day service Work in Progress; Subject to Change 18

19 Personal Rapid Transit Vintage Trolley Results of Initial Screening Modes (suggested during public engagement) Personal Rapid Transit Driverless vehicles sized for individuals or small groups that operate in a specially-built guideway Not a proven technology; limited capacity; no fullscale implementation; not integrated Vintage Trolley Supplement to modern streetcar; operated over a short segment of the corridor; novelty, historical feature Hybrid Bus/Rail Hybrid Bus or Rail Came out of discussions with public, staff and committees; provides right-sized fit Work in Progress; Subject to Change 19

20 Results of Initial Screening Modes Local Bus Bus Rapid Transit Modern Streetcar Light Rail Transit Diesel Multiple Unit Hybrid Bus/Hybrid Rail Utilize flexibility of rail and bus modes to allow for mixed and dedicated operation Two kinds: arterial and dedicated Work in Progress; Subject to Change 20

21 Results of Initial Screening Trunk Routes I-35E Limited cross-streets/interchanges make for poor pedestrian, bike access In a mature residential area = Low economic development potential Consent decree prohibits expansion Shepard Road Limited bike and pedestrian access due to location and topography Park, river and bluffs = low economic development potential Portions could be considered Work in Progress; Subject to Change 21

22 Results: Downtown Saint Paul Additional Criteria: Work Leverages in Progress; existing Subject transit to spines Change in downtown 22

23 Results: Ford Site Additional Criteria: Would serve the transit spine of the Ford site Work in Progress; Subject to Change 23

24 Results: River Crossings Additional Criteria: Environmental and cultural resource considerations Initial feedback from environmental and cultural resource agencies Work in Progress; Subject to Change 24

25 Detailed Analysis of Alternatives Key Considerations: Impacts on transportation systems Social, environmental, and economic issues Detailed Definition and Evaluation of Alternatives Stakeholder and community engagement Work in Progress; Subject to Change 25

26 Detailed Analysis Pinch Points Width of ROW Curb to curb is 56 to 60 on W. 7 th Street Business and residential access Parking on W. 7 th ; hospital access Environmental and natural features Mississippi River, parks Historic and cultural features Historic buildings, Camp Coldwater Built environment/ public realm Active freight rail lines and LRT capacity, fire stations Work In Progress; Subject To Change 26

27 Pinch Points Downtown Saint Paul Work In Progress; Subject To Change 27

28 Development of Hybrid Options Pinch Point discussion highlighted where a dedicated guideway fit, where it did not Study team developed hybrid options for bus and rail Became hard to describe to the project committees and the public Added research and resources to visualize this and the other alternatives Work In Progress; Subject To Change 28

29 Pittsburgh Red Line Dedicated Guideway Pittsburgh LRT runs three different ways Shared ROW Dedicated Guideway - Tunnel Photo source: Work In Progress; Subject To Change 29

30 Hudson-Bergen Line Jersey City Hudson-Bergen Line runs partially dedicated, partially shared Dedicated Shared ROW Work In Progress; Subject To Change 30

31 Digital Model Visualization Work In Progress; Subject To Change 31

32 Digital Model Visualization Work In Progress; Subject To Change 32

33 W. 7 th, Downtown (Dedicated Transit and Hybrid) See Typical Section Tie into Green Line LRT at Central Station Note: Station areas are conceptual and may shift to meet ridership POTENTIAL STATION LOCATION Work In Progress; Subject To Change 33

34 W. 7 th near Kellogg CONCEPTUAL LANE DIM. & CONFIGURATION Work In Progress; Subject To Change 34

35 CP Rail Typical Section PROPOSED TWO TRACK/ BUS LANE CENTERLINES Note: Existing CP Rail offset from centerline of ROW (ROW width varies) Work In Progress; Subject To Change 35

36 W. 7 th ROW Varies Widest: 60 curb to curb, and 80 ROW Narrowest: 54 curb to curb, and 78 ROW Mostly: 56 curb to curb, and 78 ROW 56 example Work In Progress; Subject To Change 36

37 Dedicated Transit on W. 7th Faster speeds Would be side running due to narrow ROW on West 7 th Street Makes left-turns from center lane easier than center running Would result in only one travel lane in each direction and a center turn lane Would result in loss of parking Would narrow sidewalks Would require numerous driveway and curb cut closures 14 Dedicated Transit Lane Bus or Rail Work In Progress; Subject To Change 37

38 List of Remaining Tasks Conceptual Alternatives Technical Screening Policy Decision Point We are here Most Promising Alternatives Full Detailed Criteria Policy Decision Point Detailed Definition of Alternatives Report Travel Demand Forecasting Methodology Report Operating Plans Tech Memo Detailed Evaluation of Alternatives Report Criteria and results (cost, ridership, impacts, benefits, etc.) Tech Memos assessing transportation issues, community issues, social, environmental and economic issues Work In Progress; Subject To Change 38

39 Summer/Fall 2016 LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE List of Remaining Tasks Locally Preferred Alternative Selection of Locally Preferred Alternative Pre-Project Development Study Report Locally Preferred Alternative Report Executive Summary Purpose and Need, Goals and Objectives Public Engagement Initial Screening Detailed Definition and Evaluation of Alternatives Implementation Plan ( Next Steps ) Design development and environmental review Governance and funding Work In Progress; Subject To Change 39

40 Staying Engaged Work In Progress; Subject To Change 40