METRO
Gold Line BRTOD Plans
Etna Station Constraints and Opportunities
District 4- Dayton’s Bluff Community Council Work Session October 11, 2017
Agenda 1. PRESENTATION Project Overview Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Bus Rapid Transit Oriented Development (BRTOD) Fundamentals Mounds, Earl, & Etna Station Areas – Background & Constraints/ Opportunities 2. DISCUSSION 3. NEXT STEPS
BRT Project Overview
BRT Project Process Completed
Current
Transit needs analysis
Analysis to identify routes
Finalize route, general station locations, and transit type (bus rapid transit)
2010
2012
2016
BRTOD planning (18 Months) Project Engineering (42 Months)
Gold Line construction
Gold Line opening day 2024
Public Engagement
4
Locally Preferred Alternative Route and Station Locations
Gold Line BRT— Draft Environmental Assessment Plan (2016)
5
St Paul Station Area Plans (2016)
6
BRT Project Process Completed
Current
Transit needs analysis
Analysis to identify routes
Finalize route, general station locations, and transit type (bus rapid transit)
2010
2012
2016
BRTOD planning (18 Months) Project Engineering (42 Months)
Gold Line construction
Gold Line opening day 2024
Public Engagement
7
Bus Rapid Transit Project Engineering (Guideway and Station design) led by:
Metro Transit
I-494
I-94
METRO Gold Line BRT Project
Bus Rapid Transit Project Engineering (Guideway and Station design) led by:
Metro Transit
I-494
I-94
Bus Rapid Transit Oriented Development Plans (1/2 mile of the stations)
Partner Cities, & Washington/Ramsey Counties
METRO Gold Line BRT Project
BRTOD Project Overview
BRTOD Project Funding Gateway Corridor Commission  TOD planning grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
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ST PAUL (5 Stations)
RAMSEY COUNTY
I-494
Downtown St Paul
McKnight Rd. N
I-94
Gateway Corridor – 10 Stations, 5 Cities, 2 Counties
District 4 Stations Dayton’s Bluff Community Council
District 1 Stations Community Council
RAMSEY COUNTY
I-494
Downtown St Paul
McKnight Rd. N
I-94
Gateway Corridor – 10 Stations, 5 Cities, 2 Counties
BRTOD Project Objectives: 1. Establish a multi-modal corridor (walking, biking, transit & auto) 2. Increase potential ridership (transit access & new development) 3. Enable station areas to achieve their development potential (capture latent market demand & improve quality of life) 4. Identify infrastructure investments and policy changes (ensure funding priorities and policies encourage development)
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BRTOD Planning Process 18 months Stakeholder Engagement
Phase
1
2
3
4
p la ns a d o p tio n
Purpose
Identify Opportunities Issues, & Concerns
Goal
Establish Specific Station Area Goals
Review Preliminary Land Use and Circulation Alternatives
Identify Alternatives for Further Refinement
Review Preferred Alternative
Identify Preferred Alternative Refinements
Review Draft BRTOD Plans
Finalize BRTOD Plans & Implementation Strategies
BRTOD/ Small Area Plans Adoption
What is BRT?
BRT Characteristics—Bus-Only Lanes
Special roadways or lanes dedicated to the exclusive use of buses. Often considered most like light rail transit.
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BRT Characteristics —Frequent Service
Fewer stops (1/2 mile apart)
Transit priority signal
Bus-only lanes
BRT Characteristics—Train-Like Features
Level boarding to vehicle
Fare payment at the station
BRT Characteristics—Enhanced Stations High Quality Amenties
Shelters Seating Paving Landscaping Electronic Reader Boards
BRT Characteristics— Specialized Vehicle
Streetcar-like comfort
More passengers per bus
BRT Characteristics—TOD Potential
Lower TOD Potential Business Access Transit (BAT) Lanes Bus and car share ‘turn lane’
Higher TOD Potential Exclusive Guideway
BRTOD Fundamentals
Fundamentals – Ideal TOD Grid of Streets Complete Streets
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Grid of Streets
Appropriate - Fine-Grained Grid
Inappropriate - Large Sized Blocks
Complete Streets
Pedestrians
Autos
Bicycles
Transit
HIGH
LOW
INCOMPLETE STREETS
COMPLETE STREETS
Complete Streets – Design Priorities
Complete Streets – Accommodate Essential Functions
Complete Streets – Designed for the Most Vulnerable
Fundamentals – Ideal TOD Station Neighborhood Station Hub
30
Great Townhomes
Townhomes
Apartments Great Rental Apartments
Parks and Open Space
Fundamentals – Ideal TOD Station Neighborhood Station Hub
34
Station Hub: Mix of Uses Residential and Office Use over Retail/Commercial Storefronts
18 Hour Activity
Station Hub: Retail & Commercial
Neighborhood Serving — Dining and Entertainment
Station Hub: Retail & Commercial
Neighborhood Serving — Sale of Goods
Station Hub: Residential
Apartments and Condominiums
Station Hub: Plaza
Beyond TOD
5 Minute Trips
Potential Bicycle Facilities
Protected Bikeways (Cycle Track)
Bike Lanes
Mixed Traffic Lanes (Bike Boulevards)
Pedestrian-friendly Wide Sidewalks
Curbside Parking
Travel Lanes Protected Bikeway
Protected Bikeway — Lincoln, Nebraska
Constraints & Opportunities
Etna Station Area
E 6th St.
Station Planning Area ½ Mile Radius Etna St.
E 3rd St. Conway St.
Wilson Ave.
Station Neighborhood ¼ Mile Radius
Burns Ave.
Etna Station — Planning Area
Constraints
Etna Station— Constraints
Limited Infill Development Opportunities
Largely built-out neighborhood with some historic properties—few potential development sites
Etna Station— Constraints
Parking Lot-Oriented Development Current buildings face parking lots, and steep slopes separate buildings from the station
Etna Station— Constraints
EA Planned Interchange Improvements
Hostile Freeway Interchange
Heavy high-speed traffic creates an unsafe walking and biking environment
Etna Station— Constraints
Freeway Barrier
Limits pedestrian and bicyclist access to transit from south of the freeway
Etna Station— Constraints
Hostile Station Environment
Lack of visibility from the neighborhood creates a potentially unsafe station environment; transit rider comfort is impacted by freeway noise and air quality at station platform
Etna Station— Constraints
Transit-Dependent Population No current strategy to stabilize neighborhood
Etna Station— Constraints
Opportunities
Etna Station— Opportunities
Existing Station Area Plan
Advance adopted plan concepts
Etna Station— Opportunities
Etna St
Wilson Ave.
E 3rd St. Etna St.
E 3rd St.
E 3rd St.
Wilson Ave.
TOD Zoning
Connections & Lighting Priorities Etna St
Primary TOD Area
Wilson Ave.
Advance Etna Station Area Plan – Opportunity
Improve Station Access
Improve Station Access
Consider new walk and bike connections between neighborhood destinations and the station
Consider new walk and bike connections between neighborhood destinations and the station
Etna Station— Opportunities
Potential Gold Line Corridor Trail
Consider shared walking and biking trail and improvements to existing pedestrian and bike bridge or relocating bridge further east at Kennard Street
Etna Station— Opportunities
Improve Station Access Consider new walk and bike connections between the park and station
Etna Station— Opportunities
Improve Trail Connections
Consider linking station area to Johnsons’ Parkway regional trail
Etna Station— Opportunities
Mounds, Earl & Etna Station Areas
Constraints & Opportunities Response Sheet
62
Station –Scenario Response Sheet Sheet PreferredEtna Development – Response
Mounds, Earl, & Etna Stations Preferred Development Scenario––Response Response Sheet Sheet
Next Steps
65
BRTOD Plans Schedule St Paul Stations- 18 Month Process Phase 1-
Issues/Concerns Identification
October (2017)
Phase 2-
Preliminary Station Area Land Use & Circulation Alternatives
January (2018)
Phase 3-
Identify Preferred Station Area Land Use & Circulation Alternatives
April (2018)
Phase 4-
Review Draft BRTOD/Small Area Plan
June (2018)
PLAN ADOPTION
September (2018)
METRO
Gold Line BRTOD Plans
Mounds, Earl, & Etna Stations Constraints and Opportunities
District 4- Dayton’s Bluff Community Council Work Session October 11, 2017