Quality of Life

November 2018

Presentation to theDenver Regional Data Consortium

Quality of Life Program

The Quality of Life (QoL) Study is RTD's data-driven evaluation of progress toward meeting the FasTracks Program goals.

Goal 1: Balance Transit Needs with Regional Growth

Goal 2: Increase Transit Mode Share

Goal 3: Improve Transportation Options and Choices

2

3

HOUSING STARTS

Housing Starts

In Metro Denver,

housing starts

increased 27%

between 2015 and

2017. The mix of

housing built has

shifted from mostly

single family to an

equal balance of

multi and single

family homes.

91%

55%

43%63%

68% 54%40%

44%50%

52%47% 48%

9%

45%

57%

37%

32%46%

60%

56%50%

48%

53%52%

14,900 15,050

9,970

4,500

5,760

7,400

15,270

17,350 17,140

19,020

23,140 24,100

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Single Family Multi Family

Ne

w H

ou

sin

g U

nits

Source: US Census 4

MILES OF RAPID TRANSIT

Miles of Rapid Transit

The rapid transit

network has

more than

doubled in the

past 10 years.

It will continue

to grow as

future FasTracks

lines open. 0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Mile

s o

f R

ap

id T

ran

sit

108 total miles

118

total miles

46 total miles

58 total miles

W Line

(12 miles)

CU A Line,

B Line,

Flatiron Flyer

(50 miles)

R Line

(10.5 miles)

Source: RTD FasTracks Website 5

6

VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED

Vehicle Miles Traveled

In the Metro

Denver region,

daily vehicle miles

traveled (VMT)

increased by

13.5% from 2006

to 2016.

36

,02

6,5

00

35

,21

0,0

00

34

,44

0,0

00

34

,56

0,1

00

35

,58

6,2

00

35

,71

8,9

00

35

,93

3,0

00

36

,54

3,4

00

38

,40

3,3

00

39

,86

8,3

00

40

,90

3,5

00

0

5,000,000

10,000,000

15,000,000

20,000,000

25,000,000

30,000,000

35,000,000

40,000,000

45,000,000

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Da

ily

Ve

hic

le M

ile

s Tr

av

ele

d

Source: Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) 7

VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED PER CAPITA

Vehicle Miles Traveled

Daily VMT per

capita has

decreased 3.8%

from 13.6 in

2006 to 13.1 in

2016. However,

there has been

a clear upward

trend from 2013

to 2016.

13.6

13.012.6

12.8 12.7 12.5 12.4 12.412.8

13.0 13.1

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Da

ily

Ve

hic

le M

ile

s Tr

av

ele

d p

er

Ca

pita

Source: Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), US Census 8

TRANSIT BOARDINGS

Transit Boardings

Annual transit

boardings

increased between

2010 and 2014.

However, there has

been a slight

downward trend in

ridership since 2014.

86

,57

1,4

00

94

,19

6,1

00

10

1,1

75

,800

98

,20

5,2

00

97

,42

8,2

00

97

,78

4,9

00

98

,51

8,9

00

10

1,3

52

,700

10

4,2

91

,400

10

2,2

50

,700

10

3,3

40

,800

99

,36

3,5

00

0

10,000,000

20,000,000

30,000,000

40,000,000

50,000,000

60,000,000

70,000,000

80,000,000

90,000,000

100,000,000

110,000,000

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

An

nu

al B

oa

rdin

gs

Source: RTD Report to NTD 9

TRANSIT BOARDINGS PER CAPITA

Transit Boardings

Annual boardings

per capita peaked

in 2008 at 38.6.

However, from 2008

to 2017 boardings

per capita

decreased by 12%.

This is a trend that

has been seen in

many peer cities.

33.1

36.0

38.637.5 37.2 37.3 37.6

36.936.3

35.6 35.4

34.0

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

40.0

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

An

nu

al B

oa

rdin

gs

pe

r C

ap

ita

Source: RTD Report to NTD 10

TRANSIT BOARDINGS BY LINE

Transit Boardings

Ridership on rapid

transit lines has

remained relatively

steady. E/F/H has

the highest ridership

and continues to

increase. University

of Colorado A Line

experienced a 20%

increase in ridership

after the first year.

-

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

50,000

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Av

era

ge

We

ek

da

y B

oa

rdin

gs

E/F/H Lines

C/D Lines

CU A Line

W Line

Flatiron Flyer

R Line

B Line

Source: RTD RideCheck Plus 11

TRANSIT BOARDINGS AT STATIONS

Transit Boardings

Average weekday

boardings have

increased at

many stations

and Park-n-Rides.

Union Station

had over 27,000

boardings in 2017,

growing 49%

since 2011.

Downtown Denver

Union Station27,000 daily boardings

49% increase since 2011

10th & Osage2,100 daily boardings

30% increase since 2011

Denver Airport7,300 daily boardings

44% increase after

University of Colorado

A Line opened in 2016

Lincoln Station3,800 daily boardings

44% increase since 2011

Source: RTD RideCheck Plus 12

13

TRAVEL TIME & VARIABILITY

Travel Time & Variability

Transit and auto

travel times are

similar in 5 of the 7

open rapid transit

corridors. In 2017,

variability added

an average of 13%

to transit travel

times and 60% to

auto travel times.

50

32

2328

3742

2933

42 40

57

39

50 47

5

29

3

7

8

12

4

243

345

248

25

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Transit Auto Transit Auto Transit Auto Transit Auto Transit Auto Transit Auto Transit Auto

JeffCo Gov't

Ctr - Golden

Station

Westminster

Station

US 36 & Table

Mesa Station

Littleton-

Mineral Station

Lincoln Station Aurora Metro

Center Station

Denver Airport

Station

Min

ute

s

2017 Transit vs Auto Travel Time Comparison from End-of-Line Stations to

Downtown Denver (16th & California) during the AM Peak

Tra

ve

l Ti

me

Va

ria

bility

14

Source: RTD, INRIX, Google MapsNote 1: Variability is the amount of time that must be budgeted in order to ensure that you will arrive at your destination on time. Note 2: Table Mesa and Aurora Metro Center Stations were chosen as representative end-of-line stations for the Flatiron Flyer and the R Line.

W Line

B Line

Flatiron

Flyer

Santa Fe

F Line

R Line

I-70

US 6

I-25

US 36

D Line

I-25

I-225 CU

A Line

TRAVEL TO PARK-N-RIDES

Travel to Park-n-Rides

In 2017, 93% of

Park-n-Ride users

were in-district,

while 7% were

out-of-district. This is

consistent with 2015

trends. The average

trip distance was

7.3 miles and the

median trip distance

was 3.4 miles.

2017 Park-n-Ride User Origins

Under 2 Miles25% of trips were less than two

miles long, a potential bike trip.

Under 1 Mile9% of trips were less than one

mile long.

Under 0.5 Mile2% of trips were less than a half

mile long, a potential walk trip.

Source: RTD License Plate Survey 15

16

WHAT COMES NEXT?

• State of the System Reporting• Move all data online

• Focus on full system, not just FasTracks

• Support RTD’s Transportation Transformation (T2) Comprehensive Plan

17

THANK YOU

Contact Information:

Carly Macias

Carly.Macias@RTD-Denver.com

http://www.rtd-denver.com/qol