Phase 1 sun ray station cons & opps district 1 comm council land use web

METRO

Gold Line BRTOD Plans

Sun Ray Station Constraints and Opportunities District 1‐ Community Council Land Use Committee Work Session October 02, 2017

Agenda 1. Project Overview 2. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Bus Rapid Transit Oriented Development (BRTOD) Fundamentals 3. Sun Ray Station Areas – Background & Constraints/Opportunities 4. Discussion 5. Next Steps

BRTÂ 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

Project Engineering (Guideway and Station design) led by Metro Transit and a separate project

I-494

I-94

Metro Transit BRT Engineering Project – Guideway and Station Design

I-494

I-94

Bus Rapid Transit Oriented Development Plans (1/2 mile of the stations) Led by partner cities and Washington/Ramsey Counties

Partner Cities and Counties BRTOD Project – Station Area Development

BRTODÂ Project Overview

BRTOD Project Funding Gateway Corridor Commission  TOD planning grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

11

ST PAUL (5 Stations)

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)

13

BRTOD Planning Process 18 months Stakeholder Engagement

Phase

1

2

3

4

plans adoption

Purpose

Identify Opportunities Issues, & Concerns

Review Preliminary Land Use and Circulation Alternatives

Review Preferred Alternative

Review Draft BRTOD Plans

BRTOD/ Small Area Plans Adoption

Goal

Establish Specific Station Area Goals

Identify Alternatives for Further Refinement

Identify Preferred Alternative Refinements

Finalize BRTOD Plans & Implementation Strategies 14

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.

16

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

BRTODÂ 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

29

Great Townhomes

Townhomes

Apartments Great Rental Apartments

Parks and Open Space

Fundamentals – Ideal TOD  Station Neighborhood  Station Hub

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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

Sun Ray Station Area

Station Planning Area ½ Mile Radius

Station Neighborhood ¼ Mile Radius

Sun Ray Station – Planning Area

Sun Ray Station

Constraints

Separated Bus Facilities Proximity of Sun Ray Transit Center to Sun Ray Station impacts timely access to transit and bus to BRT transfers

Sun Ray Station – Constraints

Conway Intersection Narrow sidewalks only w/ heavy traffic and conflicts with turning vehicles at Conway St. intersection

Wilson Intersection Narrow sidewalks only with no traffic signal or pedestrian crossing at Wilson Ave.

Hostile Intersections Narrow sidewalks only w/ heavy traffic congestion and freeway noise on each side of I‐94

Sun Ray Station – Constraints

I‐94 Barrier

Limited access to station from south of freeway

Sun Ray Station – Constraints

Underutilized Sites Large parking lots, and some vacant storefronts

Sun Ray Station – Constraints

Freeway Ramps

Walking and biking is difficult with traffic entering and exiting the Freeway

Poor Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossings

Poor quality materials, lack of pedestrian lighting, minimal sidewalks and heavy traffic discourage walking & biking

Sun Ray Station – Constraints

Separated Bus Facilities Proximity of Sun Ray Transit Center to Sun Ray Station impacts timely access to transit and bus to BRT transfers

Conway Intersection Narrow sidewalks only w/ heavy traffic and conflicts with turning vehicles at Conway St. intersection

Freeway Ramps

Walking and biking is difficult with traffic entering and exiting the Freeway

Wilson Intersection Narrow sidewalks only with no traffic signal or pedestrian crossing at Wilson Ave.

Poor Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossings

Poor quality materials, lack of pedestrian lighting, minimal sidewalks and heavy traffic discourage walking & biking

Underutilized Sites

Hostile Intersections

Large parking lots, and some vacant storefronts

I‐94 Barrier

Limited access to station from south of freeway

Sun Ray Station – Constraints

Narrow sidewalks only w/ heavy traffic congestion and freeway noise on each side of I‐94

Sun Ray Station

Opportunities

Existing Station Area Plan

Sun Ray Station Area Plan Boundary

Advance adopted plan concepts

Sun Ray Station – Opportunities

White Bear Ave.

Suburban Ave.

Ruth St. N

McKnight Rd

White Bear Ave.

Wilson Ave.

Wilson Ave. Ruth St. N

TOD Zoning

Connections & Lighting Priorities

Wilson Ave.

Suburban Ave.

Advance Sun Ray Station Area Plan – Opportunity

Ruth St. N

Primary TOD Area

Opportunity Sites Potential future development or redevelopment

Sun Ray Station – Opportunities

Potential “Signature” Streets Wide sidewalks, landscaping and lighting provides an attractive pedestrian‐friendly setting for future development

Sun Ray Station – Opportunities

BRT & Bus Transfer Center

Consider consolidating the Sun Ray Transit Center and Sun Ray Station to improve transit access and visibility

Sun Ray Station – Opportunities

Employment Center Attract Potential 3M Customers and Residents

Sun Ray Station – Opportunities

Gold Line Corridor Trail Potential shared walking and biking trail

Sun Ray Station – Opportunities

Better Walk/Bike Connections Improved access to station and key destinations

Sun Ray Station – Opportunities

Opportunity Sites Potential future development or redevelopment

Employment Center Attract Potential 3M Customers and Residents

Better Walk/Bike Connections Improved access to station and key destinations

Gold Line Corridor Trail Potential shared walking and biking trail

BRT & Bus Transfer Center Potential “Signature” Streets Wide sidewalks, landscaping and lighting provides an attractive pedestrian‐friendly setting for future development

Consider consolidating the Sun Ray Transit Center and Sun Ray Station to improve transit access and visibility

Sun Ray Station – Opportunities

Next Steps

62

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

Sun Ray Station Constraints and Opportunities District 1‐ Community Council Land Use Committee Work Session October 02, 2017