Community Task Force March 14, 2018 Welcome and Introductions - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Community Task Force

March 14, 2018

Welcome and Introductions

Project Partners

• Regional Transportation District (RTD)
• City of Aurora
• Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)
• Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG)

Meeting Purpose and Agenda

Meeting Purpose

• Summary of community feedback on center-running BRT
• Review/discuss areas of emphasis for detailed design:
• Traffic analysis
• Local access
• Stop spacing/connectivity
• Decision-making process and next steps

Agenda

• Project update
• Community input

summary

• Traffic analysis
• Local access
• Stop spacing
• Breakout group discussion
• Next steps

Project Update

• Corridor Development Timeline
• Alternatives

Analysis

• Conceptual

Design & Environmental Analysis

• Engineering &

Design

• Construction
• Revenue Service
• Locally

Preferred Alternative

• Definition of

mode & alignment

• Conceptual

station locations

• Operating plan
• Local decision
• Concept

Design & Environmental Clearances

• Design detail

determined

• Environmental

impacts identified

• Fully

Designed and Funded Project

• Design

complete

• Finance

package

• Federal Transit Administration Project

Development

• 12 18

months

• 18 months
• 18 24

months

• Ongoing
• Opportunity for Stakeholders and Public To

Influence Project Design

• Design Detail
• Broad

Definition of Project

• We Are

Here

Summary of Community Feedback

Outreach Snapshot

Center-Running BRT (July 2017 - February 2018)

Community Survey

• Survey
• Nov. 15 through early March
• Over 1,400 responses
• 500+ open-ended comments
• Top zip codes
• 80220 (~30%)
• 80206 (~15%)
• 80218 (~7%)
• 80203, 80205 (~5%)
• 80207 (~4%)
• 80202 (~3%)

Agree Neutral Disagree

Survey Responses

Do you agree with the recommendation for center- running BRT on East Colfax?

Agree: 932 respondents Neutral: 53 respondents Disagree: 298 respondents

Agree 73% Neutral 4% Disagree 23%

Breakdown By Neighborhood

Zip Code Percentage Agree/Disagree 80220 (East Colfax/ Mayfair / Montclair / Park Hill) 30.8% 52.4% Agree 30.2% Disagree 80206 (Congress Park / City Park / Cherry Creek) 16.0% 60.8% Agree 20.7% Disagree 80218 (Cheesman Park/ Capitol Hill / Uptown) 7.2% 76.0% Agree 13.5% Disagree 80203 (Capitol Hill / Uptown) 5.5% 73.8% Agree 5.0% Disagree 80205 (Five Points / Whittier / City Park) 5.3% 85.5% Agree 7.9% Disagree 80207 (Park Hill) 4.0% 50% Agree 32.8% Disagree 80202 (Downtown) 3.3% 72.34% Agree 4.3% Disagree

What We’ve Heard : Using The Current System

How often do you use transit on Colfax?

1000 900 800 58.11% Daily, Weekly or Monthly Rarely

*Responses indicating daily and weekly use totaled 39.19%

41.89% 100 200 300 400 500 600 700

What We’ve Heard: Using The BRT System

Are you likely to use the new center-running BRT?

75.90% 24.10% 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 Yes No

What We’re Hearing: Opportunities

• Top benefits and opportunities:
• Speed: Faster transit travel-time and improved schedule

reliability

• Moves more people: Increases the number of people who can

safely travel the corridor

• Safety: Improved safety for pedestrians, vehicles and transit

users

• Look and feel: Improved streetscape and placemaking
• pportunities

What We’re Hearing: Challenges

• Top challenges and concerns:
• Moving cars: Potential vehicle traffic delays and/or diversion of

traffic to side streets

• Local access: Maintaining local access with vehicle left turns

at signalized intersections

• Stop locations and connectivity: Consolidation and location
• f bus stops and connectivity with other transit-services and

bike/pedestrian facilities

• Building it: Maintaining the vision and intent of the project

through construction

Areas of Emphasis for Detailed Design

• Traffic
• Local Access
• Stop Spacing and Connectivity

Traffic

Traffic Analysis

The Bottom Line:

• Vehicle travel times increase with or without the project. Center Running BRT results

in transit travel times in 2035 that are competitive with general traffic travel times.

• Traffic impacts are expected to be limited to a few intersections; these will be the

focus of mitigations that may include:

• Speed reduction and safety improvements
• Signal optimization
• Potential for extending or providing new turn lanes
• Minor capacity adjustments through restriping or curb/gutter relocation

Tradeoffs/Other Considerations:

• Some vehicle shift to parallel corridors, use alternative routes, or choose alternate
• modes. It is anticipated that vehicle growth on parallel corridors due to Center Running

BRT in 2035 will be less than 10% compared to if nothing is done.

• Total vehicle volume on corridor is reduced, but person throughput and access increases

with Center Running BRT.

• Auto trips are more susceptible to minor delays due to parallel parking and truck loading.
• Opportunity for safety and operational improvements to aid

vehicle/transit operations.

Traffic Analysis: Methodology

• Microsimulation traffic modeling was performed as part of

the 2016-2017 Center Running Feasibility Study

• Methodology was developed for calculating additional traffic

expected to divert off of Colfax as a result of the Center Running BRT

NOTE: Colfax Connections will continue to analyze traffic as the project

• progresses. Additional

locations for left turns and/or additional traffic signal locations will be incorporated once determined.

Traffic Analysis: Capacity and Volumes

2035 CENTER RUNNING BRT VOLUMES COMPARED TO NO BUILD 2035

Traffic Analysis: Travel Times

2035 CENTER RUNNING BRT TRAVEL TIMES COMPARED TO NO BUILD 2035 10-15 MINUTES LESS

Local Access

Local Access

What we are hearing:

• Concern for reduced direct vehicular access
• Businesses are open to this reduction with sufficient

turn opportunities and mitigations

• Creating walkable business districts changes how people

access destinations

• Concern from neighborhoods that vehicular traffic

increases on local streets to access businesses

• Walking routes to new transit stations may have

pedestrian deficiencies

Local Access

Opportunities:

• Improves driver safety: Auto left turns

allowed at signalized intersections only

• Improves pedestrian safety and crossing
• pportunities (more attractive to cross the

street to access businesses)

• Improves bicycle safety
• Reduction in Transit conflicts (turning

movements, curb-use, etc.)

Source: https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/811366

More than 60% of crashes that occur while turning or crossing an intersection involve left turns (3.1% involve right turns)

Center-Running Bus Rapid Transit: How it Works

Left turn lanes at signals

Single-direction :station platforms at Intersections

coif ax corridor connections

Reduced Conflicts

Healthline, Cleveland, OH

Improves Crossing Safety and Comfort

• Island stations calm traffic
• Pedestrian refuges reduce crossing distance
• Shorter crossing distances = less exposure to vehicle traffic
• Eliminating unprotected lefts improves pedestrian safety
• Station lighting enhances security

Madison BRT, Seattle

Stop Spacing and Connectivity

Stop Spacing/Connectivity

The Bottom Line:

• Maintains or improves overall transit travel times when

considering walk, wait, and ride

• Offers more rail-like boarding experience, making it

easier for seniors and people with disabilities to ride

• Provides opportunities for improved sidewalks and bike

and pedestrian access to corridor

Stop Locations

Tradeoffs/Other Considerations:

• Some passengers will need to travel slightly further to

access enhanced service

• Some local stops are consolidated
• Local bus service on adjacent streets is maintained
• Colfax has a well connected urban sidewalk network

providing good access to the corridor

Project Features: Integrated Operations

All corridor buses use one set of stations between Yosemite and Civic Center

Stop Spacing In Denver

• Local and Limited use one set of high-quality stations in Denver
• 3-5-minute headways

Colfax has a well connected urban sidewalk network providing good access to the corridor

BlocksTraveled by Service Provided

BRT 1/4 mi. Household A

2 blocks 3 blocks Household B 3 blocks 3 blocks Household C 3 blocks 3 blocks

·····•

BRT 1/2 mi. 3 blocks 5 blocks 4 blocks

e

• Walking Travel Path to Transit Stop
• 9-

BRT Stop (112 mile stop spacing) and Path

• ••. •... BRT Stop (114 mile stop spacing) and Path
• -

118 mi. Service Stop and Path

coif ax corridor connections

How stop spacing affects walking distances

coif ax corridor connections

Walkshed analysis

Roll Plot Map Discussion

37

Roll Plot Map Discussion

• Where are the opportunities for traffic mitigation and operational

improvements (signal timing, speed reduction, safety improvements)?

• Where are the conceptual BRT stops and what is the spacing between

them?

• Are there any changes to stop locations?
• Where are potential opportunities for new left turns and/or pedestrian

crossings?

• Are there segments along/to Colfax that need special attention in

terms of walk experience?

Note: The project will continue to refine station spacing and locations, pedestrian crossing opportunities, left-turn and business access, and other detailed elements of street design.

Next Steps

• Corridor Development Timeline

Alternatives Analysis

Conceptual Design & Environmental Analysis

Engineering & Design Construction Revenue Service

Locally Preferred Alternative

• Definition of

mode & alignment

• Conceptual

station locations

• Operating plan
• Local decision

Concept Design & Environmental Clearances

• Design detail

determined

• Environmental

impacts identified

Fully Designed and Funded Project

• Design

complete

• Finance

package

Federal Transit Administration Project Development 12 18 months 18 months 18 24 months Ongoing Opportunity for Stakeholders and Public To Influence Project Design

Design Detail Broad Definition

• f Project

We Are Here

Where Do We Go From Here?

• Completion of conceptual design
• Coordination with project partners
• Planning for upcoming detailed design phase

Next Task Force meeting: Spring/Summer 2018

www.ColfaxCorridorConnections.com Info@ColfaxCorridorConnections.com