November 28, 2012 ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS PUBLIC MEETING

Transcription

1 November 28, 2012 ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS PUBLIC MEETING

2 Project Background Description of the Project Alternatives Analysis Process Project Progress Activity Stations Comments Adjourn 2

3

4 VIA spent 2 years listening to what the community wants Results of the process? A plan that: Increases mobility and provides congestion relief Promotes transit supportive land use Enhances economic development Promotes transit oriented development Reduces sprawl Improves air quality Promotes pedestrian and bike friendly neighborhoods Revitalizes the inner city VIA Board of Trustees unanimously adopted the plan 4

5 Long Range Comprehensive Transportation Plan A Multimodal Vision... Pedestrians Cyclists Local Bus Express Bus Bus Rapid Transit Streetcar Light Rail Priority Lanes 5

6 Program of initial projects identified from the Long Range Plan 2035 $267 million in Federal and Local funds committed Partnerships: VIA Metropolitan Transit Bexar County City of San Antonio Advanced Transportation District Federal Transit Administration 6

7 High Capacity Transit Program The first five years of the plan include the development of six transit initiatives funded by VIA, Bexar County, the Advanced Transportation District, City of San Antonio, Texas Department of Transportation, and the Federal Transit Administration: Brooks Transit Center Downtown Patron Amenities Modern Streetcar Robert Thompson Transit Center Westside Multimodal Transit Center U.S. 281 North Park & Ride 7

8 Streetcar Feasibility Study Economic Impact Analysis Downtown Bus Service Framework Downtown Transportation Study (COSA) Center City Strategic Framework Plan Hemisfair Park Area Master Plan 8

9

10 Electric Powered vehicles on rails in the street Operates in city streets with automobile traffic Provides local stop circulator service Boarding areas are integrated with street side pedestrian pathways 10

11 Serves riders making shorter individual trips Travels as an individual car, in length Carries up to passengers Stops are located between 3 and 5 blocks apart 11

12 Initial Investment in Downtown Core Will function as 2 routes circulating through downtown Will allow for future expansion to surrounding Center City neighborhoods

13 Improves Circulation choices in Downtown San Antonio Improves connections to employment and major activity centers Increases capacity for Downtown mobility Extends the reach of both local and visiting pedestrians Supports emerging Center City Growth Improves overall access and circulation Downtown Increases capacity of downtown transit infrastructure as ridership continues to grow 13

14

15 Structured process for defining the project through feedback from the general public and stakeholders Combines this feedback with technical analysis to assist policymakers with making informed decisions Builds consensus on definition of the Locally Preferred Alternative, which is what will actually get built Provides the basis for Project Design and Environmental Review Provides sufficient background for the Federal Transit Administration to invest in the project and our community 15

16 Definition of Alternatives Fully Define Alternatives to be considered and conduct initial screening Analysis November 2012 Screening of Alternatives Complete Screening of Detailed Alternatives Public Meeting Alternatives Analysis includes 10% Conceptual Design February/April 2013 Final Evaluation (Draft LPA) Development and Definition of LPA June 2013 Adoption of LPA Adoption of LPA by VIA/ATD and MPO Boards August 2013 Proceeds to Project Design and Environmental Review Dates are subject to change LPA Locally Preferred Alternative 16

17 Definition of Alternatives November 2012 Provide comments on Draft Goals & Objectives and Evaluation Criteria Provide comments on Conceptual Alternatives and consider potential for Future Phases and Extensions Fully Define Alternatives to be considered and conduct initial screening Clarify the people and places that Streetcar should serve Downtown Provide general comments 17

18 Serve as much of Downtown as possible Increase and improve transportation options Serve existing and future public transit riders Serve Downtown employment and civic centers Serve cultural and entertainment venues Serve hospitality and tourism Serve Neighborhood Commercial Districts Serve Center City residents Leverage and enhance economic development Accommodate future expansion 18

19 Connecting Destinations Westside Multimodal Robert Thompson Station Hemisfair Park Southtown Lower Broadway Downtown Employment Fort Sam Houston UTSA Downtown Campus Ridership Traffic Operations routing coordination with Primo and other bus routes serving downtown Cost capital operations & maintenance Historic & Cultural Resources Economic Development 19

20 20

21 Alternatives Analysis Adoption of Locally Preferred Alternative by VIA/ATD and MPO Boards Locally Preferred Alternative Fall 2013 Environmental Assessment Assess potential Environmental Impacts and determine mitigation Environmental Clearance Fall 2014 Final Design Complete the technical design of the project to bid for Constriction Construction Documents Fall 2015 Construction Construction of the project and manufacture of the vehicles Operation Late 2017 Dates are subject to change 21

22

23 Definition of Alternatives November 2012 Provide comments on Draft Goals & Objectives and Evaluation Criteria Provide comments on Conceptual Alternatives and consider potential for Future Phases and Extensions Fully Define Alternatives to be considered and conduct initial screening Clarify the people and places that Streetcar should serve Downtown Provide general comments 23

24 Goals, Objectives, and Criteria Alternatives, Future Phases, People, and Places Maps General Comments What is Streetcar? 24

25 Definition of Alternatives November 2012 Comments and Discussion on Goals & Objectives, Evaluation Criteria, and Conceptual Alternatives will be used to define and finalize each Conceptual Alternatives will be further defined for Analysis using the Evaluation Criteria to meet the Goals & Objectives Operational Scenarios will be identified for each conceptual alternative Ridership Potential and Traffic Impacts will be measured Fully Define Alternatives to be considered and conduct initial screening 25

26