Phase 1 white bear station cons & opps district 1 comm council land use web

METRO

Gold Line BRTOD Plans

White Bear 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. White Bear Station Area – 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

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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

White Bear Station Area

Station Planning Area ½ Mile Radius

E 3rd St

Wilson Ave.

Ruth St

Station Neighborhood ¼ Mile Radius

White Bear Ave

Suburban Ave

White Bear Station – Planning Area

White Bear Station

Constraints

White Bear Station – Constraints

Poor Station Access No sidewalks or safe bicycling on main routes to the station or neighborhood destinations

White Bear Station – Constraints

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

White Bear Station – Constraints

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

White Bear Station – Constraints

No Dedicated Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossings

Safety concerns with pedestrians and cyclists trying to cross the street

White Bear Station – Constraints

I‐94 Barrier

Limited pedestrian and bicycle access to station and commercial uses along Suburban Ave.

White Bear Station – Constraints

Underutilized Sites

Vacant land, large parking lots, and some vacant storefronts

White Bear Station – Constraints

Potential Displacement No current strategy to maintain transit dependent population

White Bear Station – Constraints

Potential Displacement No current strategy to maintain transit dependent population

Poor Station Access No sidewalks or safe bicycling on main routes to the station or neighborhood destinations

Underutilized Sites

Freeway Ramps

Vacant land, large parking lots, and some vacant storefronts

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

Poor Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossings

I‐94 Barrier

Limited pedestrian and bicycle access to station and commercial uses along Suburban Ave.

No Dedicated Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossings

Safety concerns with pedestrians and cyclists trying to cross the street

White Bear Station – Constraints

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

White Bear Station

Opportunities

White Bear Station – Opportunities

Existing Station Area Plan Advance adopted plan concepts White Bear Station Area Plan Boundary

White Bear Station— Opportunities

Wilson Ave.

White Bear Ave.

Suburban Ave.

Ruth St. N

Suburban Ave.

White Bear Ave.

Wilson Ave.

Ruth St. N

White Bear Ave.

TOD Zoning

Connections & Lighting Priorities

Wilson Ave.

Suburban Ave.

Advance White Bear Station Area Plan – Opportunity

Ruth St. N

Primary TOD Area

Opportunity Sites Potential future development or redevelopment

White Bear Station – Opportunities

Hazel Street Extension Potential I‐94 underpass improves access to the station and wide sidewalks, landscaping and lighting creates an attractive pedestrian‐ friendly setting for future development

White Bear Station – Opportunities

Interstate 84

Union Street Underpass

Freeway Underpass Example— The Dalles, Oregon

61

Interstate 84

Union Street Underpass

Freeway Underpass Example— The Dalles, Oregon

62

Freeway Underpass Example— The Dalles, Oregon

63

Gold Line Corridor Trail Potential shared walking and biking trail

White Bear Station – Opportunities

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

White Bear Station – Opportunities

Potential Freeway Crossing

Potential new walk/bike bridge to replace Barclay Bridge at Etna station area to the west

White Bear Station – Opportunities

Better Walk/Bike Connections

Consider improved access to station and key destinations

Existing Station Area Plan Advance adopted plan concepts

Gold Line Corridor Trail Potential shared walking and biking trail

Potential Freeway Crossing

Consider new walk/bike bridge to replace Barclay Bridge at Etna station area to the west

Opportunity Sites

Hazel Street Extension Potential I‐94 underpass improves access to the station and potential development opportunity sites

White Bear Station – Opportunities

Potential future development or redevelopment

Next Steps

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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

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