Stakeholder Presentation Developed for CORE MPO Presented by: - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

CORE Connections‐2035 LRTP

Transit Mobility Vision Plan y

Stakeholder Presentation

Developed for CORE MPO Presented by: Marlene Connor Presented by: Marlene Connor

Wilbur Smith Associates

March 4 2010

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March 4, 2010

Project Setting

• How this study fits into other regional
• How this study fits into other regional

and CORE MPO public transportation initiatives initiatives

– Total Mobility Plan Savannah Streetcar – Savannah Streetcar – Veolia/CAT Comprehensive Transportation Plan Plan

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

Study Goals

• Develop a long‐term vision for public

transportation in the region

• Identify and promote the development

y p p

• f a seamless system of coordinated

public transportation services p p

• Create sustainable programs and

processes through building federal, processes through building federal, state, and local partnerships

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

Regional Setting

• Chatham County
• 12 Surrounding

Counties Counties

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

The Changing Landscape of Public Transportation Transportation

US DOT’s Livability Initiative guided by these six i i l principles:

1. Provide more transportation choices 2 Promote equitable affordable housing 2. Promote equitable, affordable housing 3. Enhance economic competitiveness 4. Support existing communities 4. Support existing communities 5. Coordinate policies and leverage investment 6. Value communities and neighborhoods:

– Enhance the unique characteristics of all communities by investing in healthy, safe and walkable neighborhoods—rural, urban or suburban

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

The Changing Landscape

• Formal partnership between USDOT, HUD,

and EPA

• Result has been development of new funding

Result has been development of new funding tracks for public transportation

– TIGER TIGER – Urban Circulator – Bus Livability – Bus Livability – Sustainable Communities

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

Moving Forward with Authorization

• Initial review of DOT budgets foreshadow

change in traditional silo’ed programs

– State of good repair – Livable communities

• Goal is for program “to reflect the

d i i i ' i b i Administration's commitment to bring transit to a state of good repair, provide increased mobility and livability in local increased mobility and livability in local communities and protect the environment”

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

Opportunities for Savannah

Create a vision that best combines the strengths and attributes of the regional strengths and attributes of the regional infrastructure, with the emerging federal policy directions – blending the top down with policy directions blending the top down with bottom up for a complete approach

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

How to Accomplish?

• Build off of existing planning and policy work:

– MPC studies – CAT system analysis – CRC implementation plan – Palmetto Breeze studies – City of Savannah ongoing project work – Neighboring county issues and input g g y p

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

How to Accomplish? (cont.)

• Complement with ongoing monitoring of

federal and state activities:

– New programs proposed for FY2011 budget p g p p g – Eventual authorization of new Surface Transportation Act – Ongoing discussions about climate change, infrastructure bank, etc. – Potential Georgia T‐SPLOST vote in 2012

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

Public Transit Modes

• High Speed Rail

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• Commuter Rail
• Heavy Rail (Subway)

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• Light Rail (Tram)/Streetcar
• Bus Rapid Transit

p

• Commuter Bus
• Fixed Route/Local Bus

/

• Demand Response/Paratransit

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

Commuter Rail

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

Light Rail

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

Dual Fuel Trolley Bus

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

Modern Streetcar

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

Speed and Capacity by Mode

50 MPH

Commuter Rail

40 MPH

Range

Light Rail (Exclusive Right-Of-Way) Heavy Rail

• r

• l

• r

• l

• r

• l

• r

• l

Light Rail (Arterial)

20 MPH 30 MPH

g Speed R

Rapid Bus Bus Rapid Transit Bus Rapid Transit Light Rail (Exclusive Right-Of-Way)

10 MPH 20 MPH

Operating

Rapid Bus

0 MPH 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000

O

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

Peak Directional Capacity (Passengers per Hour)

What Makes a Good Transit System?

• Number of modes and services

interacting in seamless manner

• Good communication and

marketing of alternatives

• Partnering agencies collaborating

Partnering agencies collaborating

• Integrating all of the above into

the community the community

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

Service Providers

• Chatham Area Transit Authority (CAT)
• Coastal Regional Commission
• Palmetto Breeze
• Others

– Greyhound Amtrak – Greyhound, Amtrak

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

Chatham Area Transit Authority (CAT)

• Fixed‐route service within the special Transit District.
• Paratransit service throughout Chatham County
• Paratransit service throughout Chatham County.
• Service is provided within the City of Savannah, Garden City,

Whitemarsh Island, Thunderbolt, Skidaway Island, Wilmington Island and parts of unincorporated Chatham Wilmington Island, and parts of unincorporated Chatham County.

• Seven municipalities do not currently participate in the

Transit District (CAT’s service area) ‐ Bloomingdale a portion Transit District (CAT s service area) Bloomingdale, a portion

• f Garden City, Pooler, Port Wentworth, Thunderbolt, Tybee

Island, and Vernonburg.

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

CAT System

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

Palmetto Breeze

• Services from 4:30 am to 8:00 pm
• 7 days week
• Services include:

– Fixed‐route commuter – Demand response – Job Access/Reverse Commute – Contract Services

• Service to Allendale, Bamberg, Beaufort,

Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper Counties

• Majority of routes end at Hilton Head Island
• FY2006 Ridership 230,581
• 20 Fixed‐route Peak Vehicles
• FY06 Operating Expenses ‐ $1,931,000
• Funding Sources:

– FTA 5311 – SCDOT – Fares – Local funding:

• 5 member counties
• Town of Hilton Head Island

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

CRC Transportation Programs

• Coastal Regional

Coaches Coaches

• Coastal Regional

H S i Human Services Transportation Program

• Coastal Regional

Commission Regional Commission Regional Vanpool Program

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

Empirical Data Which Informs Transit Investment Decisions Investment Decisions

• Demographic Data

– Population/density – Employment – Seniors Seniors – Other Environmental Justice factors

• Transit Supportive Data

pp

– Affordable housing – Sustainability M d l – More compact development areas – Population/employment

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

Employment Travel Patterns

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

Base Demographic Data – Employment Trends (1980‐2035) Employment Trends (1980 2035)

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan Source: 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan

Base Demographic Data – Employment Trends (1980‐2035) Employment Trends (1980 2035)

= future employment growth

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan Source: 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan

Savannah Core Opportunity Areas Areas

• MLK Blvd. Corridor
• West Savannah

Neighborhoods

• West River Street, near

the old GA Power Substation

• Savannah River Landings,

Savannah Gardens (on the eastside), and areas near the port near the port

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

Observations from Stakeholder Discussions Discussions

• Diverse infrastructure: multi‐states, multi‐

cities multi counties multi operators cities, multi‐counties, multi‐operators

• Marked differentiation between urban and

rural areas rural areas

• Population and employment increasing in

surrounding areas of Savannah surrounding areas of Savannah

• Variety of needs: commute trips, access to

medical services, downtown circulation medical services, downtown circulation

• Need for sustainable source of funding

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

Peer Analysis

• In the development of short and long term opportunities,

review some peer areas and observe how transit has d i l bili supported regional mobility

• Began by looking at similarly sized regions
• Then reviewed all cities over 100,000 population, but with

similar characteristics such as geography, multiple jurisdictions, tourism, growing metropolitan areas – San Antonio TX – Wilmington NC – Charleston SC – Providence RI Providence RI – Monterey CA

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

Potential for Phased Implementation

• Find areas of congruence for short term
• Find areas of congruence for short term
• Establish lines of communication for longer

term term

• Collaborate on discussions with potential

d i i partners and sponsoring agencies

• Build work plan for future years

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

Potential for Phased Implementation

Existing Short Term Improved communication, preliminary Improved communication, preliminary service coordination, consider policies and

• pportunities consistent with livability and
• ther initiatives

Mid Term Opportunities for enhanced services and more seamless sustained connections, promote enhanced partnerships Long Term Infrastructure to sustain service investments and financial support , incorporate policies and partnerships into the planning process.

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

Next Steps

• Refine peers
• Identify framework‐ goals for moving forward
• Develop short and long term mobility options
• Develop short and long term mobility options
• Discuss framework for institutional

di ti coordination

• Develop a menu of applicable transportation

modes

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan

Discussion

Q & A

• Q & A
• Breakout groups

Marlene Connor Wilbur Smith Associates 275 Southampton Rd 275 Southampton Rd Holyoke, MA 413-539-9005 MConnor@WilburSmith.com

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Transit Mobility Vision Plan