Restoring Balance to Connecticuts Most Neglected Corridor - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transit and Transit Oriented Development in the Naugatuck Valley:

Restoring Balance to Connecticut’s Most Neglected Corridor

Route 8/ Waterbury Branch Line Corridor Transit-Oriented Development and Alternate Transit Modes Assessment Project

Presenters:

Mark C. Nielsen

Director of Planning/ Assistant Director, Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments

Stephen A. Gazillo, AICP

Market Sector Lead, Transportation Planning, New England Region, AECOM

David V. Sousa, RLA, AICP

Senior Planner/ Landscape Architect, CDM Smith

Naugatuck Valley Planning Region

Naugatuck Valley Region

4

• West-Central CT
• 19 Cities & Towns
• Centered around Waterbury
• Bristol to the north
• Shelton to the south
• Good connections to

Bridgeport, Danbury, Hartford, New Haven & Stamford

• 447,390 (2016 ACS)
• Home to 158,781 jobs
• Work force of 237,050

Project Area

5

• Waterbury Branch Rail Line
• Route 8 Expressway –

Waterbury to Bridgeport

• Station Areas in:

– Derby-Shelton – Ansonia – Seymour – Beacon Falls – Naugatuck

• Bridgeport Avenue

Corridor

Project Goals

• Enhance and improve

public transit, including:

• Commuter rail
• Local bus connectivity
• Bus rapid transit
• Transform town centers

into vibrant, high-density communities that have access to efficient, high quality transit

• Advance HUD’s livability

principles and extend sustainable communities

• Avoid expensive highway

expansion costs

6

Route 8 Corridor Bus Rapid Transit Commuter Rail Waterbury Branch Line Transit Oriented Development Station Area Enhancements

Existing Transportation Systems

“Region in Motion”

8

• Over 2 million daily trips

2 Million Daily Trips

“Region in Motion”

9

• Over 2 million daily trips
• Over 455,000 daily

commute trips

• 124,000 commute trips

toward Hartford/NE

“Region in Motion”

10

• Over 2 million daily trips
• Over 455,000 daily

commute trips

• 124,000 commute trips

toward Hartford/NE

• 91,200 commute trips

toward New Haven/SE

“Region in Motion”

11

• Over 2 million daily trips
• Over 455,000 daily

commute trips

• 124,000 commute trips

toward Hartford/NE

• 91,200 commute trips

toward New Haven/SE

• 70,600 commute trips

toward Bridgeport/Stamford/SW

“Region in Motion”

12

• Over 2 million daily trips
• Over 455,000 daily

commute trips

• 124,000 commute trips

toward Hartford/NE

• 91,200 commute trips

toward New Haven/SE

• 70,600 commute trips

toward Bridgeport/Stamford/SW

• 30,000 commute trips

toward Danbury, New York State

“Region in Motion”

13

• Over 2 million daily trips
• Over 455,000 daily

commute trips

• 124,000 commute trips

toward Hartford/NE

• 91,200 commute trips

toward New Haven/SE

• 70,600 commute trips

toward Bridgeport/Stamford/SW

• 30,000 commute trips

toward Danbury, New York State

• 140,000 commute trips

stay in region

• Diverse and mature

transportation system

• I-84 and Route 8 anchor the

highway network

• Commuter rail – Waterbury

Branch Line

• Local fixed bus route
• Individuals overwhelmingly

commute alone

• More travel toward New

Haven than Bridgeport

• More WBL riders transfer at

Bridgeport

Travel Patterns

CT Transit Waterbury GBT CTfastrak CT Transit New Haven CT Transit New Britain VTD

Highway Infrastructure

• Highway infrastructure is

deteriorating and needs upgrades

• Route 8 carry more

vehicles than designed to handle

• Several critical bottlenecks
• Route 8 doesn’t meet

modern design standards

• Investments in transit will

help avoid costly highway expansions

15

• 15 trains operate daily on the

Waterbury Branch Line (WBL)

• 2½ hour headways
• About 1,000 daily riders
• Reliability of aging equipment

is a major issue

• 50% of riders travel beyond

Bridgeport

• Major capital investments

underway:

• Full signalization
• Positive Train Control (PTC)
• Passing sidings

Commuter Rail

17%

Increase in Ridership from 2016

• Fragmented services & connections – 5 operators serve the

region

• Buses in the Valley carry 6,000 passengers daily
• Waterbury to New Haven: 23 min. shorter by bus than by rail
• Derby to Bridgeport: 25 min. longer by bus than by rail
• .

Bus Transit Systems

Waterbury Bus Routes New Haven Bus Routes Bridgeport Bus Routes

Challenges for the Next 20 Years

• Growing population and increased traffic congestion.
• Aging population requires focus on mobility and access.
• People are shifting back to cities and want walkable

neighborhoods

• Autonomous/

Connected vehicles will have implications on transportation systems

• Focus investments
• n existing

infrastructure

18

Transformative Rail Enhancements

• Purchase new equipment – replace existing rolling stock and

to provide expanded service.

• Provide 30-minute service
• Construct station

improvements – new station buildings, high level platforms, passenger amenities

• Construct transfer

station at Devon wye –

• perate shuttle type

service, meet all peak main line trains

• Implement station

area / TOD plans

DEVON WYE CONTEXT

Devon Wye

Bridgeport Station Union Station

(New Haven)

Waterbury Branch Line (WBL) New Haven Line (NHL)

AERIAL VIEW OF TEMPORARY DEVON WYE TRANSFER STATION

Potential Bus Rapid Transit

• To complement current bus and commuter rail services, the

team is studying the potential for a new Bus Rapid Transit route between Derby-Shelton Station and Bridgeport.

• The BRT route would provide better travel options for large

corporate campuses along the Bridgeport Avenue corridor.

Potential Bus Rapid Transit Options

• Median running BRT along Route 8
• Shoulder running BRT along Route 8
• Transit Hub or Hubs at Bridgeport Ave. employment centers
• The BRT route would provide better travel options for large

corporate campuses along the Bridgeport Avenue corridor.

• Enhanced Express Bus Service downtown Derby to downtown

Bridgeport

Key Elements of TOD

25

TOD is a proven economic growth strategy that integrates Land Use, Transportation, and the Environment and is characterized by:

• Compact mixed-use development that

creates critical mass of people and activity and enhances economic vitality.

• A diversity of housing types within

walking distance of a transit station.

• Walkable, bikable, multimodal streets.
• Easy links to multiple modes of

transportation.

What is Transit-Oriented Development?

Benefits of TOD

26

• Sustainable
• Efficient travel reduces fuel consumption
• Less parking = more land available for higher economic uses
• Decreased greenhouse gas production
• Interconnecting
• Reduces household transportation costs
• Increased mobility choice
• Helps solve “Last Mile” & builds transit

ridership

• Safe
• Safer for pedestrians & cyclists
• “Eyes on the street” discourages crime
• Healthy
• Encourages active, healthier lifestyles
• Improved air quality

Can TOD Work in My Town?

• Naugatuck Valley Towns

and Cities are prime candidates for TODs – compact downtowns, available infrastructure

• They developed along the

river and around train stations

• TOD can help position the

valley to benefit from the digital revolution.

Visualizing TOD

• Visual Preference Surveys and ‘Complete Streets’ Toolbox were

used as tools to help residents visualize TOD in their community.

28

TOD “Model Blocks”

29

• Development of Model

Blocks based on VPS results allowed team to quantify TOD build-out in Valley towns and cities.

Interactive Session: TOD Priorities for your city

“Think Like a Future Resident”

• How do you want people to view your downtown in the

future - including people who live here, who work here, and who may visit?

• What qualities will retain your children and attract the

next generation of productive citizens?

• Build a Poster: Pick three cards
• f the qualities that you think

will make your community a more desirable place to live

• r work.

What are Priorities for Your Community

• A variety of Affordable Housing types.
• Low Crime rate in your Downtown.
• Car Share service.
• Quality parks or Recreation
• Fun Places to meet friends before or after

work.

• Variety of Shops/ Services for daily needs.
• Other criteria you feel important.
• Easy access to Transit to job, friends or

family.

• Parking near my home.
• Better/safer streets for Walking and

Cycling. Other er

Wrap-Up

Your Future Community

• Are there commonalities

among groups?

• Are choices similar to the

choices of people in the Naugatuck Valley?

• Was it difficult to find

consensus for priorities?

• Were your choices made to:

– Retain your community’s youth? – Attract new employers and jobs? – Minimize cost of public investments? – Create a more livable community?

Questions

Thank You.

For more information: Mark C. Nielsen

Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments Email: mnielsen@nvcogct.org

Stephen A. Gazillo

AECOM Email: stephen.gazillo@aecom.com

Dave Sousa

CDM Smith Email: sousad@cdmsmith.com