Topics To Be Covered. Summarize Tier 2 Council Direction Discuss Mill and Ash Alternatives Next Steps

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2 Topics To Be Covered Summarize Tier 2 Council Direction Discuss Mill and Ash Alternatives Next Steps

3 Tier 2 Council Direction Dismiss Bus Rapid Transit along the Union Pacific Railroad Dismiss Bus Rapid Transit on Mill/Kyrene (shared lane) Dismiss Light Rail on Rural Road (shared lane) Advance Modern Streetcar on Mill/Southern Advance Bus Rapid Transit on Rural Road

4 What s Changed? Prop 400 Delay in Implementation 1 year Fiscal Crisis FTA Small Starts evaluation criteria; equally weighted Cost effectiveness Land use Existing land use Measured in population and employment densities with ¼ and ½ mile of proposed development Economic Development Plans, policies Effectiveness of plans, policies

5 Tonight s Focus Mill Avenue Streetcar Analysis

6 Mill Avenue Modern Streetcar

7 Corridor Refinement of downtown Tempe Alignment Technical Analysis Included: Ridership Land use Economic development Capital costs Traffic impacts Utilities Alignment Options: Mill Avenue Double track Ash Avenue A third alternative emerged as a result of analyses Time period analyzed: Opening year Not analyzed but significant: 2025 and beyond

8 Mill and Ash Avenue Double Track Alternatives

9 Mill-Ash Avenue One- Way Loop Alternative

10 What is Modern Streetcar? Fixed-guideway electric rail system Operates in mixed traffic Articulated for tight radii turns Smaller then light rail vehicle 130 passengers per vehicle (35 seated / 95 standing) Typically operates as a single car unit Simple stations Catalyst for economic development

11 One Way Street with Single Streetcar Track Portland Pearl District

12 Two Way Street with Single Streetcar Track Northwest Portland

13 Two Way Street With Two Tracks in Outside Lanes Seattle South Lake Union

14 Two Way Street With Two Tracks in Center Lanes Seattle South Lake Union

15 Streetcar Stop Curb Loading Portland Typically 4 to 6 stops per mile

16 Streetcar Stop Street Median Seattle Portland

17 2017 Daily Boardings Comparison Mill Ave Double Track Ash Ave Double Track Loop Alternative Low 1,500 1,200 1,200 High 1,900 1,500 1,500 Based on June 2010 bus service assumptions

18 Existing and Approved Land Use Zoning within ½ mile of study corridors Mill Avenue Ash Avenue Acres Percent Acres Percent City Center Commercial Industrial Mixed-use Residential 1, , TOTAL 1, , Source: City of Tempe, HDR

19 Existing Employment Employment within ¼ and ½ mile of study corridors Mill Avenue Double Track Ash Avenue Double Track Loop Alternative Businesses within ½-mile Number of employees 23,834 23,862 24,482 Businesses within ¼-mile Number of employees 9,104 8,560 9,370 Source: MAG Employer Database (2007)

20 Major Employers (2007) Findings Economic Development LEGEND >

21 Comparative Capital Costs ($2010) Mill Ave Double Track ($M) Ash Ave Double Track ($M) Loop Alternative ($M) Low estimate $119.1 $121.9 $115.4 High estimate $130.7 $134.1 $123.2 Does not include planning and NEPA costs

22 Traffic Analysis Critical Concerns Mill Avenue Double Track Southbound Mill Avenue in PM peak Bus traffic on Mill Avenue Ash Avenue Double Track and Mill/Ash Loop Eastbound University in PM peak Traffic diversion into neighborhoods

23 Utilities: 5 th and Mill

24 Utilities: University Ash to Mill

25 Parking Assessment Existing inventory Mill Avenue 70 parking spaces Ash Avenue 35 parking spaces 5 th Street (between Ash and Mission Palms) 28 parking spaces Example of alternative parking Reconfigure 5 th street from parallel to diagonal parking This configuration would increase inventory to parking spaces Range depends on: Bus stop locations Loading zones

26 Consultation with PD, Fire and Special Event staff concluded no significant impacts to special events Loop option offers ultimate flexibility to accommodate special events Special Events

27 Why Mill/Ash Avenue Loop? Helps define downtown Opportunity to stimulate development/redevelopment on west side of downtown Avoids utility impacts Reduced parking impacts Offers flexibility for special events Minimizes construction impacts on Mill Lowest cost Draft Staff Recommendations Mill/Ash Avenue Loop

28 Seek Council Direction Mill Double Track Ash Double Track Mill/Ash Loop

29 Public Meeting Tempe South High Capacity Transit Study Thursday, September 23, 2010 MADCAP Theatres 730 S. Mill Avenue, Tempe 6:00 6:45 p.m. open house 6:45 7:00 p.m. presentation 7:00 8:00 p.m. comment period

30 Next Steps Approval Process Study Findings/Recommendation Oct. 21, 2010 Mill Avenue Streetcar - LPA Bus Rapid Transit Corridor Commuter Rail Discuss Funding Options Seek Council Adoption of Study Regional actions METRO Board of Directors November 2010 MAG Regional Council December 2010 Prepare federal funding application Spring 2011

31 Design Definition Connection to the Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMC) Traffic lane configuration On-street parking Bicycle lanes Street lighting and OSC Left turn requirements Pedestrian access points Station location and design

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33 Mill Avenue Cross Section 2 lanes with streetcar in through lanes (south of 5 th Street)

34 Mill Avenue Cross Section 4 lanes with streetcar in right through lanes (south of 5 th Street)

35 Loop Cross Section

36 Ash Avenue Cross Section 2 lanes with streetcar in through lanes (south of 5 th Street)