central rail extension mobility study … of the alternatives alignments vehicles operations station...
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CENTRAL RAIL EXTENSION MOBILITY STUDY
PUBLIC MEETING #1
Study Purpose
Determine the best way to
provide a direct rail
transit trip between the
38th/Blake Station and
downtown Denver without
a transfer.
Ι Short term: establish a realistic
implementation plan to connect
with East Rail line as close to
opening day as possible
Ι Long term: establish a long-term
vision with the local community
for the entire Central Rail Line
and how it will ultimately
interface with downtown
Draft Goals
Draft Goals Key Considerations Identified by Project Oversight
Committee
A collaborative and
transparent process
• Close coordination among RTD, CCD, FPBA and DDP and other
stakeholder groups (such as the bike/ped community)
• Deep public education and engagement
• Developing project champions (e.g. possible federal support)
Improve overall transit
mobility
• 38th & Blake connection
• Integration with other LRT routes
• Provide access to underserved areas
• All modes should be considered
• Inclusion of Transportation Demand Management components
Create opportunities for
“place-making” and economic
development
• Encourage place-based economic development
• Improved connections (Convention Center, Civic Center, others)
• Interaction with Arapahoe Square
• Make Five Points a destination, not a pass-through
• Safety/Security (Welton, stations, traffic, rail, bike/ped, etc.)
• Economic/cultural impacts
• Adequate parking
Consistent and mutually-
beneficial connection to other
projects
• CCD coordination (including with NDNS)
• Revisit and enhance Downtown Area Plan
• Adopt a downtown transportation visioning/network approach
The FasTracks Program
Central Rail Extension History
1994 Central Rail opened:
Denver’s first light rail
line
2004
FasTracks approved by
voters: includes Central
Rail Extension
2014 North Metro contract
awarded: included
price to construct
Central Rail Extension
by 2018
2014 Current funding
projections show no
current money
available in the
FasTracks account and
that, without an
additional funding
source, construction
of the Central Rail
Extension is well into
the future
2013 Five Points Business
District Vision Plan
completed: indicated
preference for
streetcar & Welton to
2-way conversion
2011 Northeast Downtown
Neighborhoods Plan
adopted: introduced
concept of streetcar &
Welton 2-way
conversion
2013 Five Points Streetcar
Coordination Plan
completed: examined use of
streetcar on Welton
2010 Central Rail Extension
Environmental
Evaluation (EE)
adopted by RTD Board
EE defined alignment
& operating plan
2014 Central Rail Extension
Mobility Study
initiated: RTD to
revisit alignment &
operating plan from
2010 EE
2016 East Rail Line
opens
2000 2010
2010 Central Corridor Extension
Environmental Evaluation
Typical Section on Downing Street Preferred Alternative Key Features:
Ι Light rail operating like
a streetcar in shared
travel lanes on Downing
Street and 36th Avenue
Ι Two new stations at
Downing’s intersections
with 33rd and 35th
Avenues
Ι Used existing Central
Rail Line 30th & Downing
into downtown
Elements of the Alternatives
Alignments Vehicles Operations
Station
locations
Use of existing
tracks &
overhead
catenaries
Ridership
capacity
RTD system
integration
Use of
Downtown Loop
Light Rail
Modern
Streetcar
38th/Blake
Station
30th/Downing
Station
How to Provide a One-Seat Ride?
38th/Blake
Station
30th/Downing
Station
Ι No transfers after
leaving 38th/Blake
station until
reaching
downtown
Options for Serving Downtown
Ι Use existing downtown
LRT loop?
Ι Use a new alignment?
Ι What are traffic
impacts?
Ι How to handle future
capacity needs?
Ι What activity centers
to connect?
38th/Blake
Station
30th/Downing
Station
Other Key Issues
Ι Capital Cost
Ι Relationship to North Metro contract
assumptions
Ι Funding options to meet shortfalls
Ι Timing
Ι LRT/Streetcar issues
LRT and Streetcar Features
Light Rail (assumed on CRE in
FasTracks)
Modern
Streetcar
Vehicles Consistent with vehicles in RTD
transit fleet
Would introduce new vehicle to RTD
transit fleet
Larger profile vehicles Smaller/lower profile vehicles
Lanes Typically does not share lanes with
traffic
Can share lanes with traffic
Boarding Requires step-up to board and high
blocks at stations
Low-floor boarding
Costs More costly and extensive station
infrastructure
Less costly and less extensive station
infrastructure
Generally higher per-mile
construction cost
Generally lower per-mile construction
cost
Slightly higher per-vehicle cost Slightly lower per-vehicle cost
Maintenance
Facility
Can use existing maintenance
facility
Would require new maintenance
facility
Initial
Alternatives
Alternatives
Evaluation &
Preferred Alt.
Refinement of
Preferred
Alternative
Final Review &
Path Forward
Study Kickoff
Data Collection
Development of
Initial
Alternatives
Development &
Evaluation of
Conceptual
Alternatives
Recommendation
on Preferred
Alternative
Refinement of
Preferred Alt. Mapping
Utilities
Cost
Operations
Implementation
Plan
Maintenance
Facility
Final Review by
Public,
Stakeholders,
Decision-Makers
Agreement on Path
Forward
Public
Meeting #1
Public
Meeting #3
Policy oversight committee
Task force/public review
Community leader contacts
Stakeholder briefings
Coordination with Northeast Downtown Next Steps Study
www.rtd-fastracks.com and click on Central Rail Extension
PU
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JAN-FEB
2014
MARCH-MAY
2014
MAY-JULY
2014
JULY-SEPT
2014
WO
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Study Schedule & Next Steps
Public
Meeting #2
Questions?