tempe/mesa streetcar feasibility study final report
TRANSCRIPT
Introduction
Table of Contents Introduction ................................................... 2
Background.................................................... 3
Analysis Process .......................................... 4
Initial Screening............................................ 5
Tier 1 Evaluation ........................................... 6
Tier 2 Evaluation ...........................................7
Prioritized Corridors.................................... 8
Streetcar Conceptual Designs................. 9
Community Outreach ............................... 10
Next Steps..................................................... 11
Valley Metro, in coordination with the City of Tempe, City of Mesa and Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), conducted the Tempe/Mesa Streetcar Feasibility Study (TMSFS) to evaluate the potential of a future streetcar system to connect points of interest, planned developments and emerging transit corridors in the East Valley.
The study identifed potential corridors for a future streetcar system to serve Tempe and Mesa. These corridors are proposed as potential extensions to the Tempe Streetcar project, a 3-mile modern streetcar line that is scheduled to open in 2021. The results of the study will help both cities plan and prioritize future transit investments.
This report summarizes the study’s methodology, recommended corridors and next steps to realize future streetcar corridors in the East Valley
TEMPE/MESA STREETCAR FEASIBILITY STUDYFINAL REPORT 2
TEMPE/MESA STREETCAR FEASIBILITY STUDYFINAL REPORT 3
Background
TEMPE TOWN LAKE
Mesa Asian District
University Dr
Rio Salado Pkwy
Mesa
Tempe
Apache Blvd
Baseline Rd
Main St
Southern Ave
Broadway Rd
Rura
l Rd
McC
linto
ck D
r
Dob
son
Rd
Alam
a Sc
hool
Rd
Exte
nsio
n Rd
Coun
try
Club
Dr
Long
mor
e
Mill
Ave
Prie
st D
r
Har
dy D
r
101
202
60
Former FiestaMall
ASUDowntown
Mesa
DowntownTempe
Tempe Center for the Arts
Mesa Community
College
Tempe Marketplace
NovusInnovation Corridor
Mesa Riverview
Tempe Library
Banner Desert Medical Center
Sloan Park
Phoenix Rising FC Soccer Complex
Riverview Park
Valley Metro Rail/Station Tempe Streetcar Route/Stop Study AreaLEGEND
The study area for TMSFS is defined as the area bounded by Loop 202 to the north, Country Club Drive to the east, Baseline Road to the south and Priest Drive to the west.
The streetcar system extension would serve employment and educational centers in the study area including:
• Mesa Riverview and Sloan Park
• Tempe Marketplace
• Marina Heights
• Arizona State University
• Mesa Community College
• Downtown Tempe
• Downtown Mesa
• Tempe Public Library
• Novus Innovation Corridor
Based on data from the MAG Regional Travel Forecasting Model by 2040 the study area is predicted to have:
50%Increase in residents
58%More zero or one-car households
34%Increase in workers
Source: MAG 2017 Regional Travel Forecasting Model
What is the purpose of a streetcar system extension?
• To enhance high-capacity transit (HCT) connectivity to the existinglight rail, Tempe Streetcar and potential future projects in the FiestaDistrict in Mesa and along the Arizona Avenue corridor in Chandler
• To support growing population and employment in the study area
• To assist with travel demand within the study area and betweendowntown Tempe and downtown Mesa
• To further the momentum of economic and transit-oriented devel-opment in the study area
• To support regional efforts for congestion mitigation and air qualityimprovement
• To aid mobility of transit-dependent populations
TEMPE/MESA STREETCAR FEASIBILITY STUDYFINAL REPORT 4
InitialScreening
Identify corridors that meet project’s Purpose and Need and have high propensity for transit improvements.
Qualitative, high-level analysis.
Quantitative, in-depth analysis.
Recommendation for future regional transit funding.
RecommendCorridors
Tier 1Evaluation
Tier 2Evaluation
2018 2019 2020
Analysis Process
The TMSFS used a two-tiered evaluation process to assess potential streetcar corridors.
TEMPE/MESA STREETCAR FEASIBILITY STUDYFINAL REPORT 5
Initial Screening
An initial screening of major roadways in the study area was first conducted based on findings from the MAG Regional Transit Framework Study (RTFS) provided in February 2018, the Valley Metro Transit Standards and Performance Measures (TSPM) Transit Propensity Tool and compatibility to local transportation or transit master plans.
The four corridors with the lowest compatibility to the project’s goals and objectives were removed from consideration for the next step of the analysis. These corridors were: Baseline Road (6), McClintock Drive (9), Alma School Road (11) and Extension Road (12).
TEMPE TOWN LAKE
1
5
7 8
6
2
9 10 1311 12
3
4
University Dr
Rio Salado Pkwy
Mesa
Tempe
Apache Blvd
Baseline Rd
Main St
Southern Ave
Broadway Rd
Rura
l Rd
McC
linto
ck D
r
Dob
son
Rd
Alam
a Sc
hool
Rd
Exte
nsio
n Rd
Coun
try
Club
Dr
Long
mor
e
Mill
Ave
Prie
st D
r
Har
dy D
r
101
202
60
Former FiestaMall
ASUDowntown
Mesa
DowntownTempe
Tempe Center for the Arts
Mesa Community
College
Tempe Marketplace
NovusInnovation Corridor
Mesa Riverview
Tempe Library
Banner Desert Medical Center
Sloan Park
Riverview Park
Tempe Beach Park
Mesa Asian District
Valley Metro Rail/Station
Tempe Streetcar/Station
Study Area
Low
Medium
High
Initial Corridor Compatibility
LEGEND
TEMPE/MESA STREETCAR FEASIBILITY STUDYFINAL REPORT 6
Tier 1 Evaluation
TEMPE TOWN LAKE
1A
3A
2A1B
1C
3B 3C
4A 4B 4C
5A 5B 5C
7A
7B
8B
8A
8C
10A
10B
10C
13A
13B
13C
University Dr
Rio Salado Pkwy
Mesa
Tempe
Apache Blvd
Baseline Rd
Main St
Southern Ave
Broadway Rd
Rura
l Rd
McC
linto
ck D
r
Dob
son
Rd
Alam
a Sc
hool
Rd
Exte
nsio
n Rd
Coun
try
Club
Dr
Long
mor
e
Mill
Ave
Prie
st D
r
Har
dy D
r
101
202
60
Former FiestaMall
ASUDowntown
Mesa
DowntownTempe
Tempe Center for the Arts
Mesa Community
College
Tempe Marketplace
NovusInnovation Corridor
Mesa Riverview
Tempe Library
Banner Desert Medical Center
Sloan Park
Riverview Park
Mesa Asian District
Valley Metro Rail/Station Tempe Streetcar Route/Stop Study AreaLEGEND
HighTier 1 Evaluation Score
LowMedium
Five corridor options were identified by segments and advanced to the Tier 2, final evaluation:
Rio Salado Parkway East (Segment 1A) Connects to area with future development
Rural Road (Segments 8A, 8B and 5A) Has high transit ridership and connects to activity centers
Dobson/Southern/Country Club (Segments 10A, 10B, 5C and 13B)
Connects to activity centers and area with future development
Mill Avenue (Segments 7A and 5A) Connects to Tempe High School, Library and Museum
Rio Salado Parkway West (Segment 2A) Connects to area with future development and employment
The Tier 1 Evaluation was generally qualitative and assessed high-level impacts of a potential streetcar to the physical environment, existing transit riders, future population and employment, and land use along each corridor option.
TEMPE/MESA STREETCAR FEASIBILITY STUDYFINAL REPORT 7
In the Tier 2 evaluation, conceptual designs were created for the five routes and they were ranked in six categories:
Final Corridor Options for Potential Streetcar Extension
In coordination with the cities of Tempe and Mesa, the project team identified three categories to receive greater weight in the evaluation:
• Mobility Improvements• Access Opportunities• Land Use and Economic Development Potential
Mobility Improvements: forecasted number of riders that the route may attract (from STOPS computer modeling)
Access Opportunities: future population and employment, existing transit connections and bikeways/paths
Potential Impacts: environmental, historic and cultural resources, right of way and utilities
Land Use and Economic Development Potential: consistency with local plans, available land for redevelopment
Cost: high-level costs to build and operate streetcar along the route
Efficiencies: how efficiently could the route be built and operated
$
Tier 2 Evaluation
The results of the Tier 2, final evaluation led the project team to rank the five corridors as follows:
1. Rio Salado Parkway East2. Rural Road3. Dobson/Southern/Country Club4. Mill Avenue5. Rio Salado Parkway West
TEMPE TOWN LAKE
University Dr
Rio Salado Pkwy
Mesa
Tempe
Apache Blvd
Baseline Rd
Main St
Southern Ave
Broadway Rd
Rura
l Rd
McC
linto
ck D
r
Dob
son
Rd
Alm
a Sc
hool
Rd
Exte
nsio
n Rd
Coun
try
Club
Dr
Long
mor
e
Mill
Ave
Prie
st D
r
Har
dy D
r
101
202
60
Former Fiesta
Mall
ASUDowntown
Mesa
DowntownTempe
Tempe Center for the Arts
Mesa Community
College
Tempe Marketplace
NovusInnovation Corridor
Mesa Riverview
Tempe Library
Banner Desert Medical Center
Sloan Park
Phoenix Rising FC Soccer Complex
Riverview Park
Mesa Asian District
Valley Metro Rail/Station
Tempe Streetcar/Stop(Opening 2021)
Study Area
LEGEND
Potential Future ConnectionsRio Salado Parkway East OptionRural Road OptionDobson/Southern/Country Club Option
Mill Avenue OptionRio Salado Parkway West Option
TEMPE/MESA STREETCAR FEASIBILITY STUDYFINAL REPORT 8
Prioritized CorridorsEach corridor option has unique opportunities andchallenges to be feasible for streetcar.
Rio Salado Parkway East:
• High potential for future ridership given the planned mixed-use and multi-family developments along Rio Salado Parkway
• Tempe is requiring 14-foot easements on both north and south sides of the road, from Priest Drive east to the Tempe-Mesa boundaries, which could lessen the potential right of way impact to build streetcar
• No existing transit service or transit market along the entire route of this corridor
Rural Road:
• Existing land use and transit market supportive additionalHCT investment
• Regionally identified (in MAG 2019 RTFS Update and 2020 Regional BRT Study) as a target for HCT investment due to the corridor’s existing transit market and large population and employment densities
• Fewer opportunities for redevelopment
Dobson/Southern/Country Club:
• Identified as the recommended alternative in the Fiesta District Alternatives Analysis (FDAA), serving large activity centers such as Mesa Riverview, Mesa Asian District, MesaCommunity College and downtown Mesa
• Multiple opportunities for phasing to connect large activitycenters
• Longest and most expensive corridor option
Mill Avenue:
• Large residential population with option to avoid significantright of way impacts and provide service to Arizona State University and Tempe High School
• Designated as a streetcar focus area since initially considered as an option for the Tempe Streetcar project
• Fewer opportunities for redevelopment
Rio Salado Parkway West:
• Prime for redevelopment, as multiple multi-family and destination projects have recently been constructed orplanned, including the I.D.E.A. Tempe campus
• Features a 14-foot transit easement along both sides of theroad which could lessen the potential right of way impact to build streetcar
• Major utility lines generally along Rio Salado Parkway andpotential encroachment on Tempe Beach Park
TEMPE/MESA STREETCAR FEASIBILITY STUDYFINAL REPORT 9
Streetcar Conceptual Designs
Turn Lane Travel LaneTravel LaneTravel Lane Shared Lane Shared Lane Bike Lane
Bike Lane
Sidewalk Sidewalk
Turn Lane Shared LaneTravel LaneShared Lane Travel LaneSidewalk Sidewalk
Travel Lane Travel LaneTravel Lane Travel Lane Streetcar Guideway Bike Lane
Bike Lane
Sidewalk Sidewalk
SidewalkTravel Lane MedianTravel Lane Travel LaneTravel LaneSidewalk Streetcar Guideway
Conceptual designs were developed for a preliminary understanding of potential impacts to roadway configurations. Several different configurations could be used in these corridor options, including:
Semi-exclusive guideway where the streetcar travels in the median or on the side of the road without other vehicles. Requires repurposing automobile lanes or widening the right of way.
Mixed-flow guideway where automobiles and streetcar share lanes together either in the median or curb lanes. Uses the existing lanes or right of way of the road.
TEMPE/MESA STREETCAR FEASIBILITY STUDYFINAL REPORT 10
Community OutreachTargeted community outreach was conducted for this early-stage technical evaluation. Broadercommunity outreach will be a part of future studies.
In the city of Tempe, outreach efforts were paired with Tempe Urban Core Master Plan,Tempe Streetcar and a series of meetings were held with community commissions:
• Commission on Disability Concerns• Neighborhood Advisory Commission• Development Review Commission• Sustainability Commission• Historic Preservation Commission• City Manager’s Update to City Council• Arts and Culture Commission• Parks, Recreation, Golf and Double Butte
Cemetery Advisory Board• Transportation Commission
In the city of Mesa, outreach efforts were paired with the concurrent Fiesta District Alternatives Analysis (FDAA) studysince there was overlap with the TMSFS. Outreach for the FDAA study included:
• Twelve meetings with key businessstakeholders
• Two public meetings• Two online surveys• Meetings with Mesa Economic Development
Advisory Board and Transportation Advisory Board
Community outreach included:
Key Stakeholder Meetings
Public MeetingsOnline Presence
TEMPE/MESA STREETCAR FEASIBILITY STUDYFINAL REPORT 11
Each option has unique actions that are recommended to further prioritize the corridor for future streetcar extension.
Rio Salado Parkway East:
• Extend Route 48 along Rio Salado Parkway from TempeMarketplace to Mesa Riverview.
• Continue coordination with developers to seek opportunitiesto integrate streetcar into developments such as NovusInnovation Corridor, Tempe Marketplace and Mesa Riverview.
• Continue requiring the 14-foot transit easement for all newdevelopment or redevelopment along the corridor in Tempe.
• Promote land use changes complementary to the TempeUrban Core Master Plan.
Rural Road:
• Continue evaluating corridor for regional HCT investments,as identified in MAG RTFS and Regional BRT Study.
• Continue coordination with developers to seek opportunities
to integrate streetcar into developments such as NovusInnovation Corridor and Arizona State University.
• Promote development and land use changes
complementary to the Tempe Urban Core Master Plan.
Dobson/Southern/Country Club:
• Implement a uniquely branded local circulator route tofurther develop a transit market along this corridor.
• Expand the transit priority corridor designation in the cityof Mesa’s General Plan update beyond Southern Avenue toinclude Dobson Road and Country Club Drive.
• Encourage developers along the corridor to implementtransit-oriented development elements, such as higher-density mixed uses and street-oriented building designs.
Mill Avenue:
• Continue improving existing transit services in the corridorby increasing frequency and improving travel speed andreliability.
• Continue making investments in safe multi-modalransportation infrastructure along the corridor.t
• Promote development and land use changescomplementary to the Tempe Urban Core Master Plan.
Rio Salado Parkway West:
• Promote more transit-supportive land use changes alongthe corridor (e.g. decrease industrial uses).
• Coordinate with developers along the corridor to seekopportunities for integrating streetcar into developments.
• Integrate 14-foot transit easement along both sides of RioSalado Parkway.
• Promote development and land use changescomplementary to the Tempe Urban Core Master Plan.
Next Steps: Transit-Supportive Decisions
TEMPE/MESA STREETCAR FEASIBILITY STUDYFINAL REPORT 12
Next Steps: Regional Planning
TEMPE TOWN LAKE
TEMPE TOWN LAKE
DowntownTempe
Tempe Library
TEMPE TOWN LAKE1
2
3
University Dr
Rio Salado Pkwy
Apache Blvd
Baseline Rd
Main St
Southern Ave
Broadway Rd
Rura
l Rd
McC
linto
ck D
r
Dob
son
Rd
Alm
a Sc
hool
Rd
Exte
nsio
n Rd
Coun
try
Club
Dr
Long
mor
e
Mill
Ave
Prie
st D
r
Har
dy D
r
101
202
60
Mesa
Tempe
Rural/Scottsdale Road indentified for future transit investments that include BRT
Valley Metro Rail/Station
Study Area
Tempe Streetcar/Stop (Opening 2021)
Activity Center
LEGEND
Rio Salado Parkway East Option Rio Salado Parkway West OptionRural Road Option Dobson/Southern/Country Club Option Potential Future Connections
Mill Avenue Option
In early 2020, MAG announced a call for projects to inform their effort in developing a new regional transportation plan (RTP) and extending Maricopa County’s dedicated transportation sales tax (Proposition 400).
To advance the advance TMSFS results, city of Tempe submitted two projects to MAG from this study:
1. Rio Salado Parkway (combinationof Rio Salado Parkway East to PriceRoad and Rio Salado Parkway Westto Priest Drive)
2.Mill and Southern avenues (MillAvenue option with the SouthernAvenue portion extended east toPrice Road)
City of Mesa submitted:
3. Combination of Dobson/Southern/Country Club and the Mesa portion of Rio Salado Parkway East. This corridor is consistent with the FDAA recommended alternative for HCT investment.
1
2
3