Board of Supervisors Transportation Committee: Proposed High Quality Transit Network Concept

Board of Supervisors Transportation Committee June 25, 2013 Proposed High Quality Transit Network Concept

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Establish most effective way to serve the County’s needs to accommodate planned growth over the long term by improving public transit usage. Update Enhanced Public Transportation Corridors (EPTC) with High Quality Transit Network (HQTN) and further define modes and station locations.

Study purpose

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Where are we in the study process?

We are at the third of our four stages of public involvement and review:

• Goals/objectives (July 2012) • Functions (November 2012) • Proposed HQTN Concept (July 2013) • Final concept (November 2013)

Our next steps are to:

• Review Proposed HQTN Concept • Consider refinements • Develop additional details on mode, right-of-

way, and station locations • Finalize recommendations

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Fairfax County Future Development Concept

Support future development concept, serve activity centers

The type of premium transit service appropriate for each corridor will reflect the traveler needs and land use context in that corridor.

Source: Center for Transit Oriented Development 5

Destination corridors, like the Crystal City Potomac Yards transitway, connect neighborhoods to multiple activity centers, functioning primarily to provide access. Commuter corridors, like Virginia Railway Express, primarily serve one major activity center and tend to focus on journey-to-work trips and function primarily to provide mobility. District circulators, like the planned Tysons Corner Circulator, enhance mobility within an activity center or group of adjacent centers.

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Transit Corridor Function

The November 2012 public meeting presented outcomes for different functional concepts for a High Quality Transit Network. The access focus attracts more total transit riders whereas the mobility focus provides better access to regional jobs. Both had a similar benefit in reducing vehicle travel.

Mobility focus Access focus

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Transit Network Functional Concepts

Constituents value multiple objectives: • Increase access to

destinations • Include both high demand

commuter and TOD destination corridors

• Increase transit ridership • Take cars off the road • Encourage TOD • Support Countywide vision

for managed growth • Be affordable • Be understandable/usable • Be connected

A total of four concepts were reviewed in November. The Proposed High Quality Transit Network Concept utilizes the best ideas from each for a context-sensitive fit to individual corridor needs.

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Development of Proposed HQTN Concept

Proposed HQTN Concept

The Proposed HQTN Concept builds upon the existing and Constrained Long Range Plan (CLRP) transit investments to create an interconnected network of commuter and destination corridors, supported by connecting express bus routes.

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Existing High Quality Transit Network elements serving Fairfax County include Metrorail and VRE with supportive express bus services on HOV/HOT lanes.

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HQTN Concept Elements

Constrained Long Range Plan transit connections provide starting point for Proposed HQTN Concept:

• Silver Line (Metrorail)

• Columbia Pike (Streetcar)

• Beauregard/Van Dorn

Transitway (TBD)

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The recommendations will be coordinated with ongoing current studies

• Route 7 High Occupancy

Toll lane study

• I-66 Tier 2 Environmental Impact Statement

• Route 7 Alternatives Analysis

• Route 1 Alternatives Analysis

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Commuter Corridors provide capacity to connect Fairfax County with other jurisdictions for longer-distance trips as region expands over time:

• Metrorail Orange Line

Extension

• Metrorail Blue Line Extension

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Destination Corridors provide service to support access to and within transit-oriented development along linear corridors:

• Route 7 Light Rail Transit

(LRT)

• Richmond Highway LRT

• Route 28 LRT/Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

• Merrifield/McLean LRT/BRT

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North-South Express Bus Services connect activity centers and support HQTN services in radial corridors and provide flexibility for through-routing:

• Beltway Express (Enhanced)

• Fairfax County Parkway

• Route 28

• Bus lanes may also include

HOV/HOT

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East-West Express Bus Services support HQTN services, augment grid of direct and flexible transit connections:

• Route 50 – Orange Line

bus bridge function

• Route 236 – continuation of Alexandria transitway

• Express bus route mileage at least 50% managed lanes

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The Proposed HQTN Concept includes 104 miles of new HQTN routes with 53 new stations.

These routes include:

• 31 miles & 9 Stations Metrorail

• 73 miles & 44 Stations LRT/BRT

Supported by:

• 110 miles & 21 stations Express Bus

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Measures of effectiveness

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The Proposed HQTN Concept achieves a range of triple-bottom line goals and objectives.

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2050 weekday peak period ridership compares favorably to other regional transit routes


Other Highlights: • The Proposed HQTN Concept provides new transit

access to 28 activity centers with higher than average levels of transit ridership propensity based on transit dependency.

• The Proposed HQTN Concept provides new

destination corridor transit routes to serve activity centers with developable properties and designated revitalization areas.

• The Proposed HQTN Concept provides new transit access to activity centers with key retail/service destinations.

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• Capital cost per passenger is a measure of cost effectiveness.

• Higher cost projects can bear higher capital costs per passenger due to operating efficiencies

• New Starts approvals indicate current federal/local funding climate

• Proposed High Quality Transit Network projects compare favorably

Supporting feeder bus, park and ride (beyond existing or TDP/CLRP spaces), and circulator systems will provide broader access to commuter services and increased coverage within larger activity centers.

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CLRP/TDP Park and Ride lot (>50 spaces) HQTN Park and Ride lot / expansion Circulator (Fort Belvoir: DOD only)

Supporting policies

• Public meeting Government Center July 10 @ 6:00 p.m. • Response to

comments and further stakeholder coordination

• Mode, ROW, station, and typical section requirements

• Phasing and timing • Comprehensive Plan

Amendment(s)

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Next steps

Questions?

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Please feel free to contact DOT staff should you wish to meet to discuss individually. Thomas Burke (703) 877-5681 [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Backup slides

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Do not include slides, here and beyond, with hard-copy handouts. Only have these later slides available for on-screen assistance during presentation.

The study goals and objectives reflect the triple-bottom line of economic, environmental, and social benefits.

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Study goals and objectives

Fairfax County’s land use policies encourage development within designated activity centers, which currently include about: • 10% of County acreage • 19% of County households • 82% of County jobs

Activity Density = (population+jobs)/acre Blue: (AD>4): supports local bus service Red: (AD>20) supports bus rapid transit (BRT) Purple: (AD>50) supports rail transit

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2010

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Current land use

Fairfax County’s land use policies encourage development within designated activity centers, which by 2050 include about: • 10% of County acreage • 36% of County households • 89% of County jobs

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Activity Density = (population+jobs)/acre Blue: (AD>4): supports local bus service Red: (AD>20) supports bus rapid transit (BRT) Purple: (AD>50) supports rail transit

2050 Initial

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Future land use

Public outreach in July and November 2012 is reflected in our proposed High Quality Transit Network concept. In July, we reviewed goals, objectives, and potential connections. In November, we presented concepts for establishing premium commuter, connector, or destination transit corridors. 28 28

Prior public meetings

North-South Express Bus Services connect activity centers and support HQTN services in radial corridors and provide flexibility for through-routing:

• Beltway Express (Enhanced)

• Fairfax County Parkway

• Route 28

• Bus lanes may also include

HOV/HOT

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Express bus flexibility

The Proposed HQTN Concept provides new transit access to 28 activity centers with higher than average levels of transit ridership propensity based on transit dependency.

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The Proposed HQTN Concept provides new destination corridor transit routes to serve places with developable properties and designated revitalization areas

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The Proposed HQTN Concept provides new transit access to activity centers with key retail/service destinations

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News & Politics

Board of Supervisors Transportation Committee: Proposed High Quality Transit Network Concept