Light Rail Transit in North Central Calgary Open House and Workshop Summary. Summer 2013

Transcription

1 Light Rail Transit in North Central Calgary Open House and Workshop Summary Summer 2013

2 Engaging Calgarians on NC LRT The City of Calgary is working to improve transportation choices that will connect Calgarians and their communities. As part of this commitment, and to meet Council s direction from 2012, The City is continuing a study to determine where the future north-central leg of the LRT network (NC LRT) should go to provide the best transit service for the community. The concept study is currently underway and will be completed in During June and July 2013, Calgary Transit hosted a series of open houses and one interactive workshop to speak with Calgarians about what LRT in North Central Calgary would mean to them, their views on possible alignments and input into the vision and objectives for the study. Participant have also been able to provide input via PlaceSpeak, an online information and discussion tool that people to participate and provide input when it is convenient for them. 2

3 3 Open house events (June 11-13, 2013)

4 Open house events (June 11-13, 2013) 675 people attended over three evenings to: view information boards and watch a video on modern LRT technologies participate in mapping and prioritization activities to tell the team what s important to them about the project and their communities speak with the project team. Attendance by evening: 43.2% 31.0% June 11 - Ascension of Our Lord School June 12 - Winston Heights Community Association % June 13 - Thorncliffe Community Association

5 5 Community workshop (July 23, 2013)

6 Community workshop (July 23, 2013) Approximately 60 people attended an interactive workshop at the Thorncliffe Community Association. Working in small groups with the project team, participants helped to further define the vision and objectives for the NC LRT project. Workshop activities included: Sharing information about what things are important in their communities Considering how LRT should fit into the community using alignment cross-sections 6 Providing input on the vision statement and criteria for decision making.

7 7 At a glance what we heard

8 What we heard summer 2013 The project team received 428 feedback forms and hundreds of comments on sticky notes Feedback forms were submitted: in person at open house and workshop events online via PlaceSpeak Feedback was gathered from interactive activities: mapping and prioritization activities, workshops etc. 8

9 What we heard summer 2013 Alignments Most comments received were about Centre Street or Nose Creek alignments. Additionally, a number of people asked about 4 th Street Proximity to established neighbourhoods was the most common reason both for and against Centre Street route Distance from established neighbourhoods was the most common reason both for and against Nose Creek 9

10 What we heard summer 2013 Community impact Minimize negative impact on communities (noise, traffic, construction) Use LRT to reduce demand for cars / congestion Create separated cycle tracks Opinions were divided on prioritizing 4 lanes for traffic vs. 2 lanes of traffic with street level improvements (landscaping, lighting etc.) 10

11 What we heard summer 2013 Connections Cross streets on major east-west corridors are very important Access to community centres such as schools and libraries as well as to businesses are important Connections for walking and cycling / station spacing optimized for multi-modal trips 11

12 What we heard summer 2013 Community access Build it close to where people live and work Accessible for all types of people Efficient, fast, clean, comfortable, safe, reliable Timing Desire for completion in very near future rather than in

13 What we heard summer 2013 Minimize disruption to existing vehicle users Both during construction and operation Underground was considered an option if maintaining 4 lanes of traffic is a priority Cost Good value for money 13

14 What we heard summer 2013 Environmental impacts Do not disturb natural areas Prioritize green space Build for the future Capacity, future growth, transit-oriented development (a walkable, mixed-use form of area development typically focused within a 600m radius of a transit station) Redevelop the corridor to increase density and improve the utility of the future LRT line 14

15 Prioritization activity (June 11-13, 2013 & online) Open house participants were given three sticky dots on arrival, and were asked to visit a feedback station to vote with their dots as follows: A range of criteria can be used to compare route options and to help select the best one. Please tell us your top 3 criteria from this list by placing 1 colour dot beside each of your priorities. And feel free to add your own priority! PlaceSpeak participants were able to participate in a similar activity online 15

16 Ranking of criteria to compare route options by open house/online participants in prioritization activity (number of responses) Moves the most people/capacity Construction impact on the community Travel time savings to downtown/speed Ability to meet future demand Impact on the environment (air, water, land) Land acquisition requirements Financial cost Opportunity for increased density/future development Contributes to complete streets and communities Impact on parking Legend: Harvest Hills open house Winston Heights open house Community access* 55 Thorncliffe open house Community impact* 31 Online Construction economic and employment benefits 534 * Criteria category appeared online only 16

17 Additional criteria to compare route options as provided by open house participants in prioritization activity (number of responses) Ability to meet curent demand/timeline shorter than 2030 Keeping Crescent Heights Intact (+all communities in North Central) Noise to residents, crime etc. Rejuvenate/gentrify existing neighbourhoods Ability to keep crime and unsavoury people out of our 'hood' Consider P3 partnership Convenient route, walking access for maximum population Moves through where the people are so they don't need cars to drive to transit Time to build Impact to exsting road traffic Opportunity to serve length of arm (stn in Nose Creek) Keep it as unobtrusive and quiet as possible Seamless Integration with other public transit options Compared to 36 St Electric buses Long termp impact on communities Low Floor LRT Safety - resdience, vehicle, station Access to/from feeder buses Most Central Route! Avoid noise pollution for residents View - from residence (overlooking, high rises, high trains etc) In 20+ years are we going to revamp future impact the transit again? Leads to less high denisty Traffic reduction Parallel to CPR corridor - future fast rail to Edmonton 17 Legend: Harvest Hills open house Winston Heights open house Thorncliffe open house

18 Engaging the next generation During the June open house events we provided a supervised children s area Over three evenings, we had approximately 45 children aged 6 months to 10 years old visit our kids table Kids had the chance to play with wooden trains, construct paper Calgary Transit buses and/or to colour In addition to allowing their parents the time and space to participate in the open house, we talked to kids aged 4-10 about what they would like to see on their trains 18

19 19 At a glance what we heard from kids

20 Responses from feedback forms and PlaceSpeak survey 20

21 Initial reactions to placing LRT in the North Central Corridor 4% 3% 20% Strongly support Somewhat support Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose 73% 21

22 A North Central LRT would improve my transit experience 15% 2% 4% 23% 56% Strongly agree Agree Not sure Disagree Strongly disagree 22

23 I would use transit more often if more rapid transit were available in the North Central corridor 5% 5% 13% 21% 56% Strongly agree Agree Not sure Disagree Strongly disagree 23

24 How do you travel in your community? (all modes used) 1% 17% I walk I cycle 46% 10% I take transit I drive / am a passenger in a vehicle 27% Other 24

25 How often do you take transit? 10% 41% 1-2 times per week 3-5 times per week 33% 2-3 times per month Almost never or never 25 17%

26 Bus shelters at the North Pointe bus terminal improved my transit experience 8% 2% 26% 34% Strongly agree Agree Not sure Disagree Strongly disagree 29% 26

27 Bus only lanes bus only lanes at Centre Street and McKnight Boulevard improved my transit experience 7% 5% 25% 34% Strongly agree Agree Not sure Disagree Strongly disagree 27 29%

28 Did you participate in the 2011 consultation on LRT for North Central Calgary? 26% Yes No 74% 28

29 Did you find the open house helpful for understanding the NC LRT project? (open house participants only) 2% 34% 64% Yes, the open house was helpful The open house was somewhat helpful The open house was not helpful 29