BACKGROUND The Regional Transportation District (RTD) was created in 1969 by the Colorado General Assembly to develop, operate, and maintain a mass transportation system for the benefit of 2.87 million people in RTD's service area. The 2,340 square mile district serves all or part of eight counties: Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Jefferson, Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas and Weld. RTD s mission is to meet our constituents present and future public transit needs by providing safe, clean, reliable, courteous, accessible, and cost-effective service throughout the District. RTD s governing body is a 15-member elected Board of Directors, with each director elected by district for a four-year term. Each director district contains approximately 180,000 residents. In 2004, voters living in the Regional Transportation District approved a 0.4 percent sales and use tax initiative to fund the FasTracks Program. FasTracks is a regional rapid transit expansion that consists of nine rail lines (new or extended), one bus rapid transit (BRT) line, redevelopment of Denver Union Station (DUS), a new Commuter Rail Maintenance Facility (CRMF), an expanded Light Rail Maintenance Facility (LRMF), and the Free MetroRide. At completion, FasTracks will add approximately 93 miles of commuter rail, approximately 28 miles of light rail, and 18 miles of BRT (Figure 1). The FasTracks Plan includes three core goals: Establish a proactive plan that balances transit needs with future regional growth. Increase transit mode share during peak travel times. Provide improved transportation choices and options to the citizens of the Regional Transportation District. The key components of FasTracks are: Rapid Transit Park and Rides Enhanced Bus Network and Transit Hubs Downtown Mulitmodal Center Transit Facilities and Amenities With the FasTracks investments to date, RTD currently operates about 137 bus and BRT routes serving nearly 10,000 bus stops, five light rail lines providing 48 miles of light rail service, two commuter rail lines and more than 77 Park-n-Rides. Over the next three years through 2019, RTD will be focused on completing the FasTracks projects that are currently under contract for construction, the R-Line, G-Line, N-Line (to 124 th ) and Southeast Corridor extension. Beyond 2019, there is some uncertainty to the timing of the remaing FasTracks projects. 2
In addition to completing the remaining FasTracks capital projects, RTD will increasingly focus its efforts on maintainining efficient transit operations and maximizing accessibility to thecurrent systems that is built (including those projects that are under construction). The First and Last Mile Strategic Plan aims to address the issue of transit accessibility by examining existing conditions, analyzing RTD station accessibilty goals, developing a list of policy and program recommendations with an implementation plan to achieve them. Given that broad scope of accessibility to the RTD system of rail and bus services, the plan will require creative thinking and partnerships with local jurisdictions, non-profits and businesses and organizations whose interests align with the goals and eventual recommendations of the plan. 3
4 Figure 1
STUDY GOALS AND PURPOSE The primary purpose of the RTD First and Last Mile Strategic Plan ( Plan ) is to define strategies and policies to address multimodal transportation to RTD transit facilities that will improve connectivity to RTD services, with the ultimate goal of increasing ridership. Although the Plan will focus on guidelines and policies that inform RTD decision making around first and last mile connections, it will also include specific strategies, services, and/or infrastructure that expand first and last mile accessibility and connectivity to and from existing transit facilities. The Plan will include analyses of existing and future transit facilities that provide guidance to RTD in designing and building multimodal amenities to access transit throughout the region. The timing of this First and Last Mile Strategic Plan is noteworthy given that RTD will have a substantial portion of the FasTracks program open by 2019. Improving access to these new facilities will allow RTD to maximize the investment in this new infrastructure. Portions of the new lines pass through undeveloped areas, which provide the ultimate opportunity to plan firstclass facilities in conjunction with private investors and local jurisdictions that encourage patrons to access transit by biking, walking, or using other modes than a private auto. The considerable amount of private development underway in close proximity to transit facilities also provides a unique opportunity to incorporate first and last mile connections with other major investments in the community. The First and Last Mile Strategic Plan will have an emphasis on partnerships and collaboration with outside organizations and local governments. Of particular interest, is examining the evolving relationship between transit and ridesharing companies, such as Uber and Lyft, and their potential to close gaps in connectivity to transit facilities. The pilot project at Dry Creek Station, between the City of Centennial, Xerox, Via, the Denver South Transportation Management Association and Lyft, provides a good starting point for this analysis. The Plan will focus on strengthening multimodal transportation options through a variety of means including: Physical/Infrastructure Improvements Service Improvements (RTD or others) Technological Advances - Walking - Bicycling - Active Transportation/ Mobility Hubs to encourage transfers across modes to/from RTD - Wayfinding signage - Bikeshare - Carshare - Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) - Call-n-Ride/Shuttles/ Circulators - Integrated mobile fare payment and trip planning systems - Third-Pary Applications (using open source RTD data) - Autonomous Vehicles 5
Transportation Demand Management (TDM) and Incentives - Partnerships with TMO s/non-profits - Transit pass incentives - Parking Prioritization (e.g. electric vehicle charging, HOV, etc.) Land Use Policy - Mixed Land Use - High Density Zoning - Urban Design Guidelines The correct application of the strategies above will help increase the catchment area of transit facilities and level the playing field for multi-modal accesss to RTD facilities, reducing the need for auto trips. The plan should help prepare RTD for future mobility changes and position the organization to take advantage of them as they occur. Equity must also be a primary criteria in evaluating first/last mile solutions. Over half of RTD s bus patrons and about 25% of light rail patrons are from zero-car households, many of whom are low income. Low income populations are some of the must vulnerable to when it comes to barriers to first and last mile solutions. Expected Outcomes The Plan should employ an innovative framework to increase ridership and encourage patrons to access transit without relying on Single Occupancy Vehicle (SOV) travel. Generally, the framework shall follow the following organization: Examination of existing conditions, including network connectivity elements near selected regional transit facilities to uncover major gaps and shortcomings. In addition, a general sense of existing conditions of the broader RTD system. Development of a policy and process framework forcultivating partnerships and leveraging ongoing planning and coordination with the local communities, private development and businesses to ensure that first and last mile connectivity extends well beyond RTD s property and into the surrounding community. A comprehensive analysis of the most effective tools that apply to the selected set of RTD facilities and an application of a broader set of typologies to full RTD system based on that analysis. Recommendations for the most effective way to move forward, including defining priorities for RTD in the short, medium and long term. 6
PROPOSED SCOPE TASKS The Task List below represents a proposed approach to this Plan. The consultant is encouraged to suggest alternate approaches to the Plan, based on their expertise and the potential for innovation. Task 1: Project Management/Adminstration and Study Initiation The objective for the project management and study initiation task is to establish all of the management tasks, including the development a Project Management Plan prior to initiating the study. Meeting these objectives will ensure clear communication and subsequent task management from the beginning and throughout the duration of the project. The consultant team is expected to develop a refined work scope, schedule, budget, quality control, project management protocol as part of this task. Deliverables: Project Management Plan Monthly invoices including project progress reports Task 2: Stakeholder and Public Outreach The consultant team will be expected to work with RTD staff to develop a stakeholder and public outreach approach to the project. At a minimum the following committees will be established: a) Core Project Team (Internal) key staff from RTD departments most impacted by first and last mile actions. b) Stakeholder Advisory Committee (Internal/External) representatives from RTD and major stakeholder groups such as local jurisdictions, the development community, advocacy groups, and other relevant interest groups. RTD is also looking for innovative ways to get community and customer input into the Plan process. Consultant teams are expected to identify alternative ways to get meaningful input from community members, RTD riders and other potential interested parties at key milestones in the process. Techniques such as online surveys, pop up meetings, or other non-traditional methods are encouraged. This task should integrate RTD and stakeholder roles in implementing first and last mile solutions. Deliverables: Stakeholder and Public Outreach Plan identify the makeup of the various committees for the project, the schedule of meetings for committees, the approach to engaging the public and RTD riders including proposed meeting schedule, and the method/approach to engaging the RTD Board. 7
Meeting agendas and minutes for all meetings Supporting materials for meetings and special events including power point presenations and survey instruments to gather input from the public Establishing online communications for the project either through RTD s website or a stand alone website Support for presentations to the RTD Board at major study milestones (assume up to four presentations to the RTD Board over the course of the study) Task 3: Existing Conditions/Problem Definition The objective of this task is to define the existing conditions of first and last mile connectivity in the RTD system and define the level/scope of problems that can be addressed as part of this plan. This task requires a reasonable level of data collection to assess the current conditions and studies. Generally, this task should consider how RTD customers currently access the system and what can be done to enhance accessibility to the RTD system. This task should build upon previous RTD analysis and data collection from the Parking Pricing Technical Assessment (2016) and the RTD Districtwide Passenger Origin and Destination Survey (2015) as well as other efforts. As stated earlier this task will focus a representative set of RTD facilties that cover the diversity of stations/stops that RTD currently operates. Facilities shall include both rail stations and major bus park and ride facilities. Data collection shall focus on up to 20 facilities, representating the diversity of the RTD system according to geography, urban/suburban characteristics, transit function/service levels, levels of multi-modal connectivity, neighborhood demographics/equity and other factors. The following items should be assessed for the representative facilities as part of this task: Existing plans and policies by RTD and local jurisdictions which address first and last mile connectivity to RTD facilities (RTD plans and policies are listed at the end of this scope) Sidewalk/pedestrian connectivity within ½ to 1 mile of RTD facilities Vehicular connections to RTD facilities Level of feeder bus connectivity to RTD rail stations RTD transit parking availability and utilization Bike routes and facilities within a 2-mile radius of RTD facilities Identification of existing and planned major activity centers and development near RTD facilities Identification of travel demand management (TDM) programs and other transit incentives that are being implemented by TMAs and other entities around the region Current activity/accessiblity of shared mobility providers at RTD facilities including B- cycle, Car Share companies, and Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) such as Uber and Lyft 8
In addition to accessing the current situation for the items above the consultant team is expected to evaluate the potential scope of the issues through the stakeholder and community engagement task. The purpose in doing this engagement is to help define clear objectives for what can be accomplished as part of improvements to first and last mile connectivity. This engagement is not only meant to address the scope of the issue, but the potential impact and the willingness of stakeholders to partner with RTD on implementation. Through this task a clear articulation of roles and responsibilities should be formulated that will define how plan implementation can be most successful. Deliverables: Existing Conditions Report focused on the short list of selected RTD facilities, but inlcuding a broader assessment of the conditions of the RTD system Problem Definition Report including an identification of roles and responsiblities in addressing First and Last Mile issues Task 4: Best Practices/Scope of Potential Solutions This task shall identify existing best practices of first and last mile strategies, especially at peer transit agencies. The consultant shall, where applicable, also identify the impact of specific strategies on transit ridership. Additional metrics to compare potential strategies should also be documented including capital and operations/maintenance costs, entity(s) most appropriate to implement solution, funding availability, level of political support required. This task should also address how the changing transportation environment with technologies such as autonomous vehicles may impact how RTD should address first and last Mile issues and define where RTD may want to be more flexible to account for innovations in technology and changing transportation behaviors. Deliverables: Best Practices White Paper Task 5: Detailed Evalution of Representative Facilities This task is intended to focus on a detailed look at first and last mile issues and solutions for the representative facilities identified in Task 3. The consultant team will evaluate the existing conditions at the representative facilities and then identify and test potential solutions for improving access to the facilities. The scope of potential solutions shall include, but are not limited to physical improvements such as the filling in gaps to the bike and pedestrian network, signage/wayfinding, improved services such as feeder bus or shared mobility services, and transit incentives. The analysis should take into consideration which solutions are most applicable to the individual station/stop given physical conditions, political support, availability of funds for implementation, potential impact to transit ridership and other factors. 9
In addition, the consultant team should evaluate potential ridership impacts of planned development around the representative facilities. This effort should focus on adopted land use plans and/or development projects that are proposed. Deliverables: Tech Memo documenting evaluation of representative facilities and identification of potential solutions Task 6: First and Last Mile Typologies This task is meant to define a framework for first and last mile solutions for the broader RTD system beyond the representative facilities that were evaluated in Task 5. The consultant is expected to develop a methodology to categorize facilities into logical typologies for first and last mile solutions. This effort should address all rail stations, major bus park and rides and high frequency transit corridors not evualated as part of Task 5. The typologies should address the scope of the solutions at facilities and the applicability/implementability of specific solutions. Deliverable: First and Last Mile Typology Report Task 7: Plan Recommendations and Implementation This task will integrate prior task analysis to suggest final plan recommendations. Recommendations will be accompanied by specific steps toward implementation of the final recommendations including identification of appropriate funding sources, and steps to take plan recommendations into shovel-ready projects. This task should also identify broader policy issues that should be addressed by RTD including changes to existing transit access policies and procedures. Specific items to be addressed as part of this task include: Policy and project specific recommendations Priorities for implementation (based on previous analysis) Implementation plan and timelines short, medium and long term Deliverable Implementation plan including a matrix of plan recommendations Task 8: Final Report The consultant team will responsibile for the completion of a final report. The Final report shall be provide an overall summary of the deliverables of the previous tasks in a logical, easy to understand format that includes graphics and other materials to make the final report visually appealing. The report shall not be simply an executive summary of major delievables, but a 10
well thought out summary which provides the reader with enough background and detail on the data and analysis of first and last mile solutions to fully understand the logic behind the final recommendations. Deliverables 3 hard copies of written report, including all tables, figures, graphics, maps and explanations. Digital copy of final report, including all tables, figures, graphics, maps and explanations. Include original files including GIS based data in a form that can be manipulated, compatible with the latest version of software. 11