METRO
Gold Line BRTOD Plans
Mounds 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)
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
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
Mounds Station Area
Station Planning Area ½ Mile Radius
Conway St.
I-94
Station Neighborhood ¼ Mile Radius
Mounds Station — Planning Area
Mounds Station
Two Station Locations (Environmental Assessment)
Mounds Station— BRTOD Constraints
Approximate Station Location (Option)
Approximate Station Location (Option)
Mounds Station — Location
47
Approximate Station Location (Option)
Approximate Station Location (Option)
Mounds and Kellogg/Third
Third and Maria
Mounds Station — Location
48
Constraints
Mounds Station— Constraints
Freeway & Steep Slopes Barriers
Prohibits pedestrian and bicyclist access to transit; approximately ½ of potential BRT riders are lost
Mounds Station— Constraints
Poor Mounds Boulevard Connection
Inadequate sidewalks and no bike lanes between housing and businesses south of the freeway and the future station
Mounds Station— Constraints
Station Access from Downtown and Nature Park Long crosswalk at busy Mounds Blvd. makes pedestrian and bicycle access difficult
Station Access from Mounds Blvd. Inadequate sidewalks and no bike lanes between residences south of the freeway and the future station
Mounds Boulevard — Constraint
Maple Street Bridge Long crossing distance exposes pedestrians and cyclists to freeway noise
Mounds Station— Constraints
Bridge Safety No escape routes on long and narrow crossing
Bridge Connection Long crossing distances exposes pedestrians and cyclists to freeway noise
Maple Street Bridge — Constraint
Hostile Station Environment
Poor walking and biking environment with heavy traffic and freeway noise
Mounds Station— Constraints
High Traffic Volume Streets
Poor air quality and noise create an unhealthy and uncomfortable environment when waiting for a bus Approximate Station Location
Hostile Station Platform Environment – Constraint
57
Third Street E Poor Station Access Narrow Sidewalks adjacent to busy street, inadequate pedestrian lighting and no bike lanes
Hostile Station Platform Environment – Constraint
58
Limited Infill Development Opportunities
Largely built-out neighborhood with some historic properties—few potential development sites
Mounds Station— Constraints
Historic Properties Low density single family neighborhood is stable and not envisioned to be redeveloped
Few Vacant Potential BRTOD Sites Limited opportunities, especially adjacent to the Mounds Blvd. station platform
Constraints — Limited Infill Development Opportunities
60
Highly TransitSupportive Use
Mostly outside a 5minute walking distance to the station
Mounds Station— Constraints
Bicyclist Unfriendly
No bike lanes on Maria or other connecting streets
Pedestrian Unfriendly
Narrow sidewalks, inadequate lighting along Maria
Long Walk to Station along Maria Avenue — Constraint
62
Transit-Dependent Population No current strategy to stabilize neighborhood
Mounds Station— Constraints
Opportunities
Mounds Station— Opportunities
Existing Station Area Plan
Advance adopted plan concepts
Mounds Station— Opportunities
Primary TOD Area
Connections & Lighting Priorities
Advance Mounds Station Area Plan – Opportunity
TOD Zoning
High Potential Ridership
Consider new walk and bike connections between the 11,000 student campus and the station
Mounds Station— Opportunities
Improve Station Access
Consider improved walk and bike connections between the recreation center and station
Mounds Station— Opportunities
Potential Gold Line Corridor Trail
Consider shared walking and biking trail and improvements to existing pedestrian and bike bridge
Potential Gold Line Corridor Trail
Consider shared walking and biking trail connection to downtown
Mounds Station— Opportunities
Improve Station Access Consider new walk and bike connections between the park and station
Improve Station Access Consider new walk and bike connections between the park and station
Mounds Station— Opportunities
Mounds Boulevard Connection
Consider walking and biking improvements to the station
Mounds Station— Opportunities
Mounds, Earl & Etna Station Areas
Constraints & Opportunities Response Sheet
73
Mounds StationScenario – Response Sheet Sheet Preferred Development – Response
Mounds, Earl, & Etna Stations Preferred Development Scenario––Response Response Sheet Sheet
Next Steps
76
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