Phase 1 Mounds Blvd cons & opps 20171011 web

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)

14

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.

17

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

24

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