Providence Downtown Transit Connector STAKEHOLDER MEETING #2. Stakeholder Meeting #1 October 24, 2016

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1 Providence Downtown Transit Connector STAKEHOLDER MEETING #2 Stakeholder Meeting #1 October 24, 2016 February

2 AGENDA 1 DTC Goals and Expectations 2 Street Design Concepts 3 Potential Benefits and Impacts 4 Branding Concepts 5 Next Steps 2

3 1. DTC GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS 3

4 WHAT IS THE DTC? Enhanced transit corridor will provide fast, frequent connections through downtown Providence Align 7 existing bus routes Range of enhanced bus features creates faster, more reliable, more appealing service Six stations at major nodes in downtown 4

5 WHAT WILL THE DTC ACCOMPLISH? Quantity of Service Quality of Service 5

6 HOW IS SUCCESS MEASURED? More direct connections Better on-time performance for DTC routes Better customer satisfaction More positive view toward transit from future customers Increased ridership Due to better service 6

7 2. STREET DESIGN CONCEPTS 7

8 STREET DESIGN GOALS Transit priority Dedicated space for buses where feasible, especially along the most congested segments Complete streets approach Safe and convenient access both along AND across the corridor for pedestrians and bicyclists Minimize conflicts between buses and pedestrians, especially for turns Maintain traffic flow for autos and trucks 8

9 STRIKING A BALANCE Private Autos Traffic flow On-street parking Transit Priority Bus lanes Larger stations Pedestrian & Bicycle Sidewalk width Bicycle infrastructure DTC Design 9

10 TRANSIT PRIORITY CHALLENGES Dorrance St. through Downcity Narrow cross-section On-street parking is highly utilized Sidewalk width is already narrow for downtown setting Buildings constructed to back of sidewalk 10

11 TRANSIT PRIORITY OPPORTUNITIES Dorrance St. through Downcity Transit lanes would require parking removal Narrow cross-section north of Pine can fit a transit lane in one direction only (but wider sidewalk) Traffic signal priority could be installed Station amenities with wider sidewalk ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE OF MAXIMUM TRANSIT PRIORITY Transit-only lanes Mixed traffic lanes DRAFT FOR ANALYSIS ONLY 11

12 TRANSIT PRIORITY CHALLENGES Dyer St. through LINK District Not as narrow as Dorrance St. Newly-reconstructed section Northbound left turn onto Dorrance requires lane shift for buses 12

13 TRANSIT PRIORITY OPPORTUNITIES Dyer St. through LINK District Transit lanes in both directions could be established Partial removal of on-street parking required for transit lanes Construct station near Ship St. Possible queue jump at mid-block crosswalk ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE OF MAXIMUM TRANSIT PRIORITY Transit-only lanes Mixed traffic lanes DRAFT FOR ANALYSIS ONLY 13

14 TRANSIT PRIORITY CHALLENGES Eddy St. Narrow cross-section Parking lane is narrower than travel lane Sidewalk width is already narrow Buildings constructed to back of sidewalk Eddy St. Elm St. South St. 14

15 TRANSIT PRIORITY OPPORTUNITIES Eddy St. Transit lanes in both directions could be established north of South St. Existing bicycle lanes would require removal for transit lanes Construct station south of Point Street to serve future development ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE OF MAXIMUM TRANSIT PRIORITY Transit-only lanes Mixed traffic lanes Eddy St. DRAFT FOR ANALYSIS ONLY Elm St. South St. 15

16 TRANSIT PRIORITY OPPORTUNITIES 16

17 STATION REQUIREMENTS Space for two buses simultaneously Dedicated transit lane at stations Consistent branding Platforms for northbound and southbound travel located in close proximity to each other 17

18 CHALLENGES IN SITING STATIONS Narrow sidewalks leaves little room for amenities Buildings constructed to back of sidewalk leaves no room for expansion Driveways limit length available for bus boarding area 18

19 OPPORTUNITIES IN SITING STATIONS Stations can be located / designed in coordination with other development projects Station design can be linked to other streetscape design efforts 19

20 TRAIN STATION TERMINUS Dependent on location of Providence Intermodal Transit Center (PITC) Will serve as connecting hub for more routes than those operating through the DTC DTC corridor design on Exchange St. dependent on PITC location 20

21 HOSPITAL DISTRICT TERMINUS Exploring locations on-street and off-street near RI Hospital Layover space at or near terminus required for up to two buses Future Dudley Street Extension offers new turnaround / layover option 21

22 KENNEDY PLAZA STATION AND ALIGNMENT To be determined in conjunction with City / RIDOT planning effort Street design approaching Kennedy Plaza dependent on alignment through Kennedy Plaza City-sponsored public meeting on February 16 22

23 BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE Bikeshare stations planned at DTC stations Narrow streets prohibit comprehensive bike lane provisions on DTC Shared bus-bike lane not desirable due to bus volumes Focus on logical bike lanes where space available and connections to the DTC 23

24 PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE Wider sidewalk on Exchange St. Possible wider sidewalks in portions of Downcity in the vicinity of DTC station Station layout and amenities need to consider adjacent sidewalk space 24

25 3. BENEFITS AND IMPACTS OF TRANSIT PRIORITY STRATEGIES 25

26 Benefits and Impacts of Transit Priority Strategies Movement through corridor Access within corridor 26

27 MOVEMENT THROUGH CORRIDOR Key Benefits Extending routes beyond Kennedy Plaza will provide more direct (one-seat) rides to train station and Hospital District o Transfers eliminated for many riders Transit priority treatments will mean faster, more reliable service 27

28 MOVEMENT THROUGH CORRIDOR Travel Time Kennedy Plaza to Rhode Island Hospital (weekday evening peak hour) Existing Conditions DTC Service Plan WITHOUT Transit Priority Strategies DTC Service Plan with Transit Priority Strategies Travel time (Bus) Routes 1 & 3 (Inbound) Routes 1 & 3 (Outbound) 8:32 11:09 9:53 (16% increase) 12:21 (11% increase) 7:42 (10% reduction) 8:21 (25% reduction) Travel time (Auto) Eddy/Dyer/Dorrance (Inbound) Eddy/Dyer/Dorrance (Outbound) 5:07 5:39 5:24 (6% increase) 5:57 (5% increase) 4:46 (7% reduction) 5:23 (5% reduction) Transit Priority Strategies scenario includes full extent of transit-only lanes where possible 28

29 ACCESS WITHIN CORRIDOR Key Benefits High frequency service within this fast growing corridor will provide residents, workers and visitors increased mobility o Roughly 2,000 new residents moving into corridor over next three years; about 1,500 new employees in corridor over next three years Passenger amenities, distinctly branded stations and intuitive service will also attract new riders High frequency transit service brings more people into the corridor 29

30 ACCESS WITHIN CORRIDOR On-Street Parking Stillman Street to Ship Street (DTC corridor only) Existing Conditions DTC Service Plan WITHOUT Transit Priority Strategies DTC Service Plan with Transit Priority Strategies Parking spaces eliminated Parking spaces remaining Transit Priority Strategies scenario includes full extent of transit-only lanes where possible 30

31 STRIKING A BALANCE Private Autos Traffic flow On-street parking Transit Priority Bus lanes Larger stations Pedestrian & Bicycle Sidewalk width Bicycle infrastructure DTC Design 31

32 4. BRANDING CONCEPTS 32

33 BRANDING APPROACHES 33

34 WHAT TO BRAND? Vehicles Unique vehicle design Distinctive look Stations & Stops Shelter and amenities Running Ways Bus lanes ITS & Fare Payment Transit signal priority Off-board fare collection Real-time passenger information Service Plan Wider stop spacing High-frequency service Simple and direct routing 34

35 BRANDING DO S Be clear and consistent Choose branding that resonates Communicate a shared vision Create a community Lead with brand as symbol of vision Get CEO/Board Buy-In Think longer term implications of expansion 35

36 BRANDING DON TS Don t overpromise Don t undermine brand with service decisions later Don t forget to coordinate brand strategies (rail, bus, BRT) but Don t overcomplicate Don t let crisis go unanswered 36

37 BRANDING FOOTPRINT ATTRIBUTES 37

38 5. NEXT STEPS 38

39 DESIGN PROCESS Sep 2016 Apr 2017 Sep 2017 May 2018 Jan 2019 Conceptual Engineering Preliminary Engineering Final Design Construction Operations 39

40 NEXT STEPS Outreach Hold second public meeting (mid-march) Additional targeted outreach Advancement of Conceptual Engineering Additional study into benefits and impacts of scenarios Select preferred design scenario Next Stakeholder Meeting Anticipated April / May