About the Wilmington Downtown Circulation Study

Transcription

1 About the Wilmington Downtown Circulation Study Part of the Wilmington i Initiatives partnership Wilmington Area Planning Council City of Wilmington Delaware Department of Transportation Delaware Transit Corporation 18-month study to examine opportunities to improve all modes of Downtown transportation Transit Walking Bicycling Motor vehicles The final report later this year will include improvement recommendations At today s workshop, we re presenting the draft recommendations of the Wilmington Downtown Circulation Study. Is this list complete? Are there others you would like to add? PLEASE TELL US!

2 Through a comprehensive public involvement process, we have received over 300 comments. Those comments, including the ones from previous workshops, helped us develop SEVEN COMMON THEMES to be addressed by the study. 1. Promote a vibrant, healthy Downtown, with a mix of 24- hour uses, through transportation improvements. 2. Ensure that Downtown streets balance all modes of travel (walking, bicycling, transit, and driving) and include buildings and streetscape that enhance street life. 3. Provide convenient, frequent transit service throughout the City, especially to the train station. 4. Reclaim Rodney Square as Downtown s premier public space. 5. Mk Make Downtown more walkable. lkbl 6. Improve the existing street system for all modes of travel by timing traffic signals, evaluating street direction changes, and managing on-street parking and loading. 7. Match parking supply with demand.

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4 Why Change Downtown Wilmington Transit Operations? RODNEY SQUARE IS CONGESTED Starting or ending point for 20 routes, served by 14 others Weekday bus trips: Market Street: 41 trips (all trolley) 10 th Street: 248 trips 11 th Street: 388 trips King Street: 499 trips (356 lay over) There is room for 14 curbside bus stops At some times there are 24 buses at the square, creating congestion and pedestrian safety concerns As a result, the square has become a bus terminal rather than an important civic space WEST ST ORANGE ST 4TH ST KING ST 11TH ST 10TH ST FRE ENCH ST ST WALNUT MLK JR BLVD/ FRONT ST 8TH ST

5 Short-Term Transit Operations Recommendations SHIFT ORANGE STREET LOOP Extend east along 11th Street to French Street Use 10th St to extend loop west to Shipley St Use 4th or 3rd Street to return to King Street Bus layovers move from King St at Rodney Square to French and Shipley Streets

6 Long-Term Transit Center: Sites Considered A. 9th and French Streets (state lot) B. 8th and Orange Streets (old News Journal site) C. 9th and Shipley Streets (Midtown Parking Center) D. 12th and Jefferson Streets (Colonial lot) E. 12th and Orange Streets (3 potential sites) F. Stops distributed along Orange and Shipley Streets

7 Long-Term Transit Center: Detailed Study of Two Sites Site 8th & Orange 9th & Shipley Ownership Public Wilmington Parking Authority Private Taberna Capital Management Transit center potential 12 assigned (sawtooth) stops 12 assigned (sawtooth) stops or 24 unassigned or 24 unassigned stops for stops for 40-foot buses 40-foot buses Limited buses many only Transit accessibility access the site from Orange High buses may access the site from both Street, requiring Orange Orange and Shipley Streets Street to be two-way Surrounding land uses Low-rise retail, high-rise office, low-rise Retail, low-rise commercial, commercial, mixed use, parking (direct access and parking to Market Street corridor) Current property tax No tax generation Approximately $86,000 annually Assessed value $5,921,900 $5,221,200 Potential development based on zoning 460,000 SF 680,000 SF Likely development potential (assuming 1.6/ksf parking 270,000 SF 305,000 SF ratio) Replacement parking needed 222 spaces 462 spaces Additional parking available for development 432 spaces 488 spaces Demolition cost Minimal no existing structure Existing parking structure Environmental issues Possible former site of newspaper plant Unknown, but unlikely Other Size and shape of site provide ability to phase construction Site will likely be constructed in one phase

8 Long-Term Transit Center Preferred Site: 9th & Shipley Allows bus access from both Orange and Shipley Streets, providing access to northbound and southbound streets Zoned C-3, Central Retail, and C-4 Central Office (at north end of parcel) allowing unlimited height at north end and floor area ratio of 20.0 for commercial and 6.0 residential Second largest site considered, at 1.46 acres Existing garage appears to be in need of redevelopment/replacement due to age and structural concerns Environmental concerns are unlikely at this site Located within downtown core, with uses that are compatible with dense transit-oriented development 9th & Shipley Site Schematics Showing Two Different Development Options Red: Development (16 stories, 195 feet tall, 305,000 square feet) Green: Parking (950 spaces on eight levels) Blue: Transit center (up to 12 sawtooth bus bays, access from both Orange and Shipley Streets) Yellow: Passenger amenities and retail

9 Recommended Transit Implementation Plan Recommend a long-term transit center alternative (the 9th & Shipley site has been identified) Seek federal funding for implementation of the recommended transit center alternative (a grant application was submitted to the Federal Transit Administration in February 2010) Implement selected short-term alternative in next available service change (possibly in December 2010) Identify private partner(s) for joint development of the transit center site (ongoing)

10 WILMINNTOWN Walnut Street Sweep EXIST TING PROP OSED

11 WILMINNTOWN Southbound Market Street at M.L. King, Jr. Boulevard RECONSTRUCT CURB RAMPS 4th Street Left Turn Lane Onto Adams Street

12 WILMINNTOWN 1500 Block of King Street 8th Street Between King and Walnut Streets

13 Which Projects Are Most Important To You? Help us prioritize projects! Transit Projects Develop short-term bus route changes to reduce bus congestion at Rodney Square Develop a downtown transit center at the current site of the Midtown Parking Center at 9th and Shipley Streets t Pedestrian/Bicycle/Streetscape Projects Examine adjustments to the curve from 12th hstreet onto Delaware Avenue as part of improving streetscape, pedestrian and bicycle accommodations along 11th Street/12th Street/Delaware Avenue corridor Improve streetscape, pedestrian and bicycle accommodations along King and Walnut Streets Enhance the pedestrian experience under the Amtrak bid bridges Designate Market Street as an on-street bike route with signs, pavement markings, and bike parking

14 Place a sticker next to the three projects that are the most important to you. Traffic Projects Remove the sweep between M.L. King, Jr. Boulevard and Walnut Street (also has benefits for pedestrians) Create two southbound lanes on Market Street bt between 2nd dstreet tand dmlki M.L. King, Jr. Boulevard Create a left turn lane from eastbound 4th Street onto northbound Adams Street Allow left turns from westbound Delaware Avenue onto southbound Washington Street Convert the 1500 block of King Street to a two-way street Provide two-way traffic on 8th Street between King and Walnut Streets Study provision of short-term post office parking