November 18 TWG Meeting Presentaion

Transit Working Group MeetingNovember 18, 2011

1:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Agenda

1) Welcome & Introductions2) Meeting Goals and Public Input Process

Project Connect Outline

3) Regional Needs and Opportunities4) How High-Capacity Transit fits in CAMPO 2035

CAMPO 2035 Transportation Modes High-Capacity Transit Modes High-Capacity Transit Project Development & Status

5) Citizen Comment6) Adjourn

Meeting Goals

• Review TWG topic outline• Understand transportation challenges and opportunities

• TWG input sought • Challenge and opportunity statements

PROJECT CONNECT

• System: How will high-capacity transit components in CAMPO 2035 plan work as a system?

• Organization: How will our region organize to develop and operate the system?

• Funding: How will we pay for the system over the long term?

PHASE 1: INFORM/BEGIN DISCUSSION

• November1. CAMPO 2035 Transportation Plan overview2. Overview of Project Connect process, goals, and schedule3. Regional Problems, Needs, and Opportunities4. Transit planning process General agreement on problem statements and goals

• December1. How high-capacity projects help to address problems and needs2. Identification of transit service gaps and service ideas General agreement on high-capacity transit as a choice for citizens Service gaps and new/modified transit service ideas to bring forward

PHASE 2: DISCUSSION/ OPPORTUNITIES/SUGGESTIONS

• January1. High-capacity transit system integration ideas2. Conceptual organization goals and approach General agreement on possible integration ideas and how high-

capacity projects work together as a system

• February1. Financial analysis and potential revenue and funding sources General agreement on conceptual approach to how we organize

• March1. What does the draft high-capacity transit system look like?2. O&M costs for the alternatives. General agreement on funding – How do we pay for it?

PHASE 3: SUMMARIZE COMMENTS/INPUT

• April1. Discuss high-capacity transit project phasing and/or priorities General agreement on project phasing and/or priorities General agreement on work group comments/input

• May1. Project Connect report complete

OUTREACH

• TWG: Bi-weekly (Nov, Dec), Monthly (Jan – Apr)• Media Briefings: Nov 18, May • Community Meetings: Dec 6, 8 & 9, Mar &

May• Webinars: Dec 12, Mar & May • Stakeholder Outreach: Forum (Jan/Feb), as

needed• Website: www.connectcentraltexas.com

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

• Congestion• Core• Growth• Constraints• Centers

CENTRAL TEXAS HAS A GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE!

• Point 1• Point 2• Point 3• Point 4 • Point 5 or

more

EXCEPT WHEN YOU ARE STUCK IN TRAFFIC

What are the most important issues to address to ensure a positive future for Central Texas?

2008 ECT SurveyTransportation/Congestion 67%Land Use 34%Cost of Living 31%Water Availability 28%Air Quality 28%

MOBILITY IS OUR NUMBER ONE ISSUE

-

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

Central Texas Person-Hours of Delay in 2009 (Millions)

Mid Noon6 AM 6 PM Mid

• Central Texans spend average 44 hours/year stuck in traffic

• Our region tied with New York and San Francisco for 3rd worst Travel Time Index (ratio of rush hour travel time to free-flow travel time) in US

• Difference is LA, DC, NYC and San Francisco have options

LA DC Austin NYC San Fran

1.2

1.24

1.28

1.32

1.36

1.4

2010 US Worst Travel Time Indices

0 5 10 15

Miles

Travel Time (Mins)2.505.007.5010.0012.5015.0017.5020.0022.5025.0027.5030.00

• Mobility contracts during Peak Periods due to congestion

Free Flow

0 5 10 15

Miles

Travel Time (Mins)2.505.007.5010.0012.5015.0017.5020.0022.5025.0027.5030.00

Peak Flow

30 Minute Travel Distances

WHAT THIS MEANS TO REGIONAL MOBILITY

0 5 10 15

Miles

Travel Time (Mins)2.505.007.5010.0012.5015.0017.5020.0022.5025.0027.5030.00

Free FlowGeorgetownAnd Kyle

0 5 10 15

Miles

Travel Time (Mins)2.505.007.5010.0012.5015.0017.5020.0022.5025.0027.5030.00

Peak FlowGeorgetown

Peak FlowKyle

30 Minute Travel Distances

• Mobility contracts during Peak Periods due to congestion

WHAT THIS MEANS TO REGIONAL MOBILITY

CENTRAL TX HAS 10 0F TOP 100 MOST CONGESTED TX ROADS

• IH-35: SH 71 to US 183• US 290: Mopac to RM 1826• Mopac: US 183 to US 290• US 183: Mopac to IH-35• SL 343: US 290 to IH-35• N. Lamar: US 183 to W. 8th St.• SL 360: US 290 to RM 2244• SL 360: US 183 to RM 2222• US 183: IH-35 to SH 71• FM 734: Mopac to Tech Ridge

Blvd


Congestion• Core

EMPLOYMENT CONCENTRATIONS• Over half a million vehicles enter and exit central Austin during a 24-

hour period

CONCENTRATION IN CORE

• 2000: nearly 18% of all jobs in Austin Region were located downtown

4th highest % in the nation!

New York

New Orle

ans

Wash

ington DC

Austin

Hartford

Columbus

Richmond

Honolulu

Chicago

Charlotte

10%11%12%13%14%15%16%17%18%19%20%

CBD Share of Total Urban Area Em-ployment

• 2009: nearly 30% of all jobs in the Austin Region were located in 78701, 78703, 78704, 78705

• 51,000 students at UT (80% live off campus) and approximately 9,000 at ACC’s Rio Grande campus downtown

CAMPO 2035 CENTERS CONCEPT


CongestionCore • Growth

TRANSPORTATION AND BUSINESS ARE LINKED

Our Business• Central Texas has received numerous

accolades in recent years• Important relocation criteria for

corporations:– Good workforce connections – Evidence that cities are doing

everything possible to address congestion

• Retention of existing regional companies is key

• 63% of existing companies in the region state transportation or access to transit as a concern

10TH

In 2010 Forbes named Austin 10th Best Place for Business &

Career

1ST

6TH In 2010 Kiplingers named Austin 1st in 10

Best Cities for the Next Decade

In 2008 Kiplingers named Round Rock 6th Best Place to Live/Work/Play

1ST

In 2010 Monster.com named Austin Best U.S. City for Jobs 1ST

In 2008 Fortune Magazine named Georgetown Best Place to Launch a Small

Business (received only perfect score)

10TH

In 2010 Forbes named Austin 10th Best Place for Business &

Career

1ST

6TH In 2010 Kiplingers named Austin 1st in 10

Best Cities for the Next Decade

In 2008 Kiplingers named Round Rock 6th Best Place to Live/Work/Play

1ST

In 2010 Monster.com named Austin Best U.S. City for Jobs 1ST

In 2008 Fortune Magazine named Georgetown Best Place to Launch a Small

Business (received only perfect score)

OUR REGION CONTINUES TO GROW

Employment Density (2005-2035)

3,000,000

2,000,000

1,000,000

1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2015 2025 2035

Our Jobs• Employment base will increase by 135%

between 2005 and 2035

• Growth in employment primarily along major transportation corridors

Employment

OUR REGION CONTINUES TO GROWOur People• Between 2005 and 2035 our regional

population is projected to increase by 123%

• Population increase will result in additional 1.2M cars by 2035

Population Density (2005 -2035)

3,000,000

2,000,000

1,000,000

1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2015 2025 2035

Population


CongestionCoreGrowth• Constraints

OPTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS ARE CONSTRAINED

Mount Calvary Cemetery

Frank Erwin Center

John W. Hargis Hall

Mike Myers Stadium

Oakwood Cemetery

University Medical Center BrackenridgeUniversity of Texas Practice FacilitiesAustin Police Headquarters

Palm Park

Historic East Austin


CongestionCore GrowthConstraints• Centers

REGIONAL LAND USE OBJECTIVES

– Existing population in Centers: 16%; Population Goal: 31% by 2035

– Existing employment in Centers: 36%; Employment Goal: 38% by 2035

– Center to Center trips

Envision Central Texas

Austin

Round Rock CAMPO

LeanderGeorgetown

San Marcos

Kyle

Pflugerville

Regional Plans • CAMPO 2035• ECT Greenprint for Growth• Imagine Austin Comp Plan• Round Rock General Plan

2020• Georgetown 2030 Comp

Plan• San Marcos Master Plan• Kyle Comp Plan• Leander 2010 Comp Plan

Update• Pflugerville 2030 Comp Plan

CAMPO


CongestionCoreGrowthConstraintsCenters

MULTIMODAL PLAN• Capacity deficit• Balanced transportation

system• Fiscally constrained

http://www.campotexas.org/pdfs/CAMPO_2035_Plan_Adopted_May_24,2010wMods.pdf

HIGH-CAPACITY TRANSIT DEFINED

• “Congestion proof”

• Any form of public transit that has one or both of the following:

1. Dedicated lane/right-of-way for at least a portion of its route

2. transit priority

• Fewer stops, higher speeds, more frequent service, carries more people

FINDING THE RIGHT FIT

Distance

Speed

Regional Rail

Express Bus on

Managed Lanes

Light Rail

Bus Rapid Transit

Local BusStreetcar

Commuter Rail

Urban Rail

# of Stops

Proximity to Origin and Destination

HIGH-CAPACITY TRANSIT MODES






Transit and Land Use

How Different Modes Fit

Regional Rail

Commuter Rail

Urban Rail

Bus Rapid Transit

Express Bus on Managed Lanes


Summary Points

• Different types of high-capacity transit to address the region’s challenges

• Selecting the right mix and types of high-capacity transit is critical

•The high-capacity mix works together as a system

• Project Connect and the TWG are the means to help identify the best fit for our region

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

Regional Plan – big picture, corridors, likely projects

System Plan – interconnectivity, organization, sequencing

Corridor Studies – alignments, consensus, funding basis

Preliminary Design/Environmental Analysis – detailed, impacts, refined budget, schedule

Final Design – really detailed, final budget, funding details

Construction – build, test

Operation – open to the public

Mode: Commuter Rail

Purpose: Congestion proof service between NW, NC and East Austin to downtown core, connect major activity centers, improve transit system, and support economic development

Status: Operational March 2010

Characteristics: Phase I• 32 miles, 9 stations in operation • Meeting all targetsPhase II• Near, mid, long-term

improvements• Capital Metro Rail Committee

METRORAIL RED LINE

METRORAIL PERFORMANCE

MetroRail Customer Satisfaction Index

Goal ActualPerformance

Measure

98% 99.12%On Time Performance

< 2 .5 Vehicle Accidents

< 1 0 Passenger Accidents

< 5 .36Customer Complaints/20,000

< 5,000 15,000Miles Between Mechanical Failures

FY 2011

•Ridership is meeting projections

•More than 1,700 passenger trips each weekday

•Up to 6,000 trips per day with weekend service

Score 9.66

Mar

-10

Ap

r-10

May

-10

Jun

-10

Jul-

10

Au

g-1

0

Sep

-10

Oct

-10

No

v-10

Dec

-10

Jan

-11

Feb

-11

Mar

-11

Ap

r-11

May

-11

Jun

-11

Jul-

11

Au

g-1

1

Sep

-11

Oct

-11

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

WEEKDAY RIDERSHIP

SXSW, nights, and weekends

All day service starts

METRORAIL: EARLY TOD SUCCESSES

• More than $90M in direct investment at MetroRail Stations to date

METRORAPID Mode: Bus Rapid Transit

Purpose: High quality, high capacity and frequent service for major corridors designed to attract new riders while improving service to existing customers

Status: Final Design, Route1: Open 2013; Route 2: Open 2014

Characteristics: • Signal prioritization• 37.5 total route miles; 77 stops• 10 min peak / 15 min off peak• Route 1: N. Lamar – S. Congress• Route 2: Burnett – S. Lamar

MOPAC EXPRESSLANESMode: Express Lanes

Purpose: Improve mobility, transit reliability, and emergency response in the MoPac corridor

Status: Environmental Study and Public Involvement underway

Characteristics: • Add one Express Lane in each

direction• Construction of sound walls• Un-tolled, reliable travel for public

transit buses and registered vanpools

URBAN RAILMode: Urban Rail

Purpose: Connects regional

system to core employment destinations; Provides increased capacity; Implements city’s planning goals; Reinforces and accelerates economic activityStatus: Conceptual engineering complete, phasing in progress, environmental impact statement in progress

URBAN RAILCharacteristics: • 16.5 miles double track• Electric powered• In-street running and

dedicated track way• Compatible with urban

form/geometry• Phased and Expandable

LONE STAR RAILMode: Regional Rail

Purpose: Connects major metropolitan areas; very high capacity; can be built in existing railroad corridors, and can operate mixed with freight trains

Status: Environmental Impact Study and Alternatives Analysis

Characteristics: • 117 miles• 16 stations• 20 round trips per day• 90 maximum operating speed• Will connect with Urban Rail and

San Antonio Streetcar systems

NORTH CENTRAL CORRIDOR

50

Mode: To Be Determined

Purpose: Substantial population and employment growth coupled with limited transportation options

Status: Alternatives analysis to start in 2012

Characteristics: • Transportation improvements to be

considered include:

– Upgrades and/or extension to the existing MetroRail Red Line

– New Rail Line

– Implementation of BRT

– Roadway Improvements

• Integral to this study is a review and refinement of the CAMPO travel demand model (currently underway)

SUMMARY

• Different challenges within region require a multimodal and balanced transportation solution

• The region’s high-capacity transit system is comprised of a range of modes that complement each other

Upcoming Topics

• Central Texas transportation corridors• High-capacity transit projects in

corridors• Integrated organization for high

capacity transit system

Citizen Comments

• 15 minutes allotted• 3 minutes per speaker• Speakers heard in reverse order of previous meeting

Meeting Adjourned

Next Meeting December 2, 2011

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

City Hall, City of Austin