Download - Transit in the Charlotte Region
The Vision Remains the SameChamber Transportation Summit
April 8, 2011
City of Charlotte
Investing in a Vision
1998 2011
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20110
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FY2011 Expenses, Revenue, Service and Ridership Comparison
Sales Tax @ the FY2005 Level
Operating Exp. below the FY2008 Level
Service HR below the FY2008 Level
Ridership Rising - up
38% since 2005
ECONOMIC IMPACT ON TRANSIT
ECONOMIC IMPACT ON TRANSIT SALES & USE TAX
$70.2 $85.0 $95.0 $106.3
$125.7 $148.6
$175.8
$207.9
$260.0
$325.1
$70.4 $57.4 $59.0
$64.5 $73.6
$84.0 $95.8
$109.3 $130.4
$162.5
$0.0
$50.0
$100.0
$150.0
$200.0
$250.0
$300.0
$350.0
$400.0 20
0720
0820
0920
1020
1120
1220
1320
1420
1520
1620
1720
1820
1920
2020
2120
2220
2320
2420
2520
2620
2720
2820
2920
3020
3120
3220
3320
3420
35
Sales Tax Gap FY2007-FY2035
2006 System Plan
Current Forecast
FY2007 - FY2035TotalGap = $2.3 Billion
Gateway Station – Next Steps
Project Definition• Determine CATS needs in future Gateway Station• NCDOT issues RFQ summer 2011• Short list for RFP by end of 2011• Issue RFP late 2011/early 2012• Select Master Developer mid-late 2012
Funding• CATS already has $19 million in federal bus earmark funds for
CGS• NCDOT has funding secured for Norfolk-Southern/CSX grade
separation .• NCDOT pursuing funds for CGS track work and Station
MTC NOVEMBER 2010 WORKSHOP
MTC Direction for Corridors:
• Scale core system to sustainable levels
• Advance affordable BLE in FTA Process
• Explore funding partnerships and P3 opportunities for Red Line
• Seek Operating assistance from NCDOT for rail corridors
• Further studies of Southeast, West, and Streetcar based on future funding availability
City of Charlotte
• LYNX Blue Line (LRT) – FTA considers very successful– Needs capacity for 3-car trains
• Blue Line Extension (LRT)– Strong New Starts project– Schedule is now late 2016 / early 2017
• Red Line (Commuter Rail)– Tracks and crossings at 90% design– No clear funding plan
• Streetcar Line (Modern)– City of Charlotte funding PE– No clear funding plan
• Silver Line (LRT or BRT)– Reevaluate transit technology decision– Corridor land use and road solution
• West Corridor– Enhanced Bus Service started in 2009– Convert to Streetcar
Approved by MTC November 2006
2030 Transit Plan (Current Status)
City of Charlotte
Blue Line Extension MTC Direction
Reduce Cost and Accelerate Schedule• Cut capital cost by 20%• Reduce annual operating and maintenance costs by 6.5%• Open project in 2016
City of Charlotte
• Maintain flexibility for the future:– Schedule – Minimize potential BLE
schedule delays (Environmental, Design, ROW, Construction)
– Easy to Add Later – Cuts easiest to add later through adjacent development or other projects
– Equity - Consistency between corridors and travel markets; preserve service to existing riders
– Safety & Reliability – Safe and reliable transit system for patrons, employees and the public
– O & M Costs – Extent to which capital cost reductions also facilitate achieving a 6.5% reduction in O & M Costs
– Lessons Learned – maintain capacity, provide sufficient parking, accommodate special events, and protect safety items such as grade separations
Guiding Philosophy
City of Charlotte
Project Length Considerations
• Ridership Impact - UNC Charlotte is a major ridership generator• Provision of sufficient parking• Minimum project must meet purpose and need• Types and magnitude of additional cost savings needed to
offset extra length• Preserve option to extend in future
City of Charlotte
Summary of Recommendations
• Change project terminus to UNC Charlotte• Operate 2-car trains every 7.5 minutes initially and 3-car
trains every 10 minutes in future• Purchase 18 vehicles• Use surface lots at Sugar Creek station• Eliminate park and rides at Tom Hunter and McCullough• Construct a storage yard only at the NS Intermodal Yard and
up-fit the existing South Blvd facility• Retain North Tryon cross-section
• LYNX Light Rail Extension - +9.4 miles - Implementation in 2016-17 - +25,000 daily riders - improvements to Tryon Street
• FTA Approved Project
• Recent MTC direction• reduce capital cost by 20%• reduce annual O&M by 6%
• Cost goal achieved• project shortened by 1.1 mile• now ends at UNCC
LYNX BLUE LINE EXTENSION
City of Charlotte
Status of Federal & State Funding
State Funding ($242 million)• Working with NCDOT on State Full
Funding Grant Agreement (SFFGA)
for Dec. 2011/Jan. 2012• Can execute after Record Of Decision
Federal Funding ($483 million)• FY12 Annual New Starts Report released February 16th
• FTA allocated $300 million in new Advanced Project Development fund – projects nearing Final Design
• BLE one of 4 projects in this category• Goal is Federal Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFFGA) in Sept-
Dec. 2012 timeframe
RED LINE (COMMUTER RAIL) • Commuter Rail From Downtown Charlotte to Town of Davidson (or Iredell County)
• Currently not eligible for Federal funding
• Seeking N.C. DOT participation
- Financial partners - Leadership with private railroads
• Proposed Build-Out in 2018
- P3 (Public-Private-Partnership)
• Candidate for Design-Build
City of Charlotte
Future Gateway Station
Charlotte Transportation Center
Charlotte Gateway StationPartnership with NCDOT
Legend: Rail & Transit Lines
Intercity Rail (DC-Raleigh-Charlotte-Atlanta)
Future CATS Commuter Rail (from Davidson)
Commuter Rail (from Monroe)/IntercityRail (from Wilmington)
Commuter Rail (from Rock Hill)
Commuter Rail (from Gastonia)
Future CATS Trade Street Streetcar/ Bus Rapid Transit Corridor
CATS Blue Line Light Rail
Site serves all
major corridors
in Charlotte
City of Charlotte
Gateway Station – Next Steps
Project Definition• Determine CATS needs in future Gateway Station• NCDOT issues RFQ for master developer summer 2011• Short list for RFP by end of 2011• Issue RFP late 2011/early 2012• Select Master Developer mid-late 2012
Funding• CATS already has $19 million in federal bus earmark funds for
CGS• NCDOT has funding secured for Norfolk-Southern/CSX grade
separation .• NCDOT pursuing funds for CGS track work and Station
City of Charlotte
In July 2010, the City of Charlotte was awarded a $24.99 million Urban Circulator Grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
• Estimated Cost is $37 million$24.99 million from Urban Circulator Grant$12 million from the City of Charlotte
• Estimated annual operating cost of $1.5 million• Construction should begin in 2012 • Revenue service anticipated to start in 2015
STREETCAR STARTER PROJECT
City of Charlotte
Presbyterian Hospital to Charlotte
Transportation Center (CTC)
• Approximately 1.5 mile segment
• Utilizes the half mile of track on Elizabeth Avenue
• Utilizes the replica trolleys already owned by the City
• Connections
– Elizabeth Ave. Business Corridor, Charlotte Transportation Center, CPCC and Presbyterian Hospital.
– Existing Lynx Blue Line for system flexibility and access to existing maintenance facility
STREETCAR STARTER PROJECT
City of Charlotte
Presbyterian Hospital to Charlotte Transportation Center
STREETCAR STARTER PROJECT
THANK YOU