Baseline Road Rapid Transit: Bayshore Station to Prince of Wales Drive Planning and Environmental Assessment Study Consultation Group Meetings May 2014
Presentation Agenda Study Overview Study Progress 2013 TMP Update Recap of Alternative Corridor Alignments Overview: Corridor Design Alternatives Corridor Design Evaluation Preliminary Preferred Corridor Design Potential Study Area Extension Next Steps Questions? 2
Study Overview 3
Study Progress Public Open House #1 (April 2012): Existing conditions Need and Justification Preliminary corridor alignment alternatives (Bayshore Station, Queensway- Carleton Hospital, and Algonquin College/Centrepointe Town Centre) Potential design concepts Public Open House #2 (November 2012): Evaluation of corridor alignment alternatives Overview of corridor design alternatives Feedback received to-date has focused on: Preliminary corridor alignments Property impacts Project implementation Impacts to traffic, pedestrians and cyclists 4
2013 TMP Update Council approved an update to the TMP in 2013 Identifies Baseline Road as a Bus Rapid Transit corridor Key changes which impact this project: Extension of LRT from Lincoln Fields to Bayshore Station Creation of a BRT/LRT transfer station at Bayshore Integration of the concept of Complete Streets as a policy direction for roadway corridors Prioritization of projects based on financial criteria and fiscal constraints 5
2013 TMP Update: Affordable Rapid Transit Network 6
Alternative Corridor Alignments 7
Bayshore Options Option 1 Holly Acres Option 3 Richmond/Transitway 8
Bayshore Evaluation Update LRT between Lincoln Fields and Bayshore Option 3 is no longer viable Conflicts between buses and trains east of Bayshore Station Option 1 (Holly Acres) carried forward Dedicated transit lanes identified as part of the ultimate rapid transit network Buses in mixed traffic for the foreseeable future Implement transit priority measures Signal priority Queue jump lanes 9
Queensway-Carleton Hospital Options Option 3 Baseline/Richmond Option 4 West of Hospital / Ouest de l hôpital 10
Queensway-Carleton Hospital Evaluation Update Option 3 the preferred short-term option Option 4 consider as a longer-term design solution Integrated into hospital redevelopment plans Dedicated transit lanes identified as part of the ultimate rapid transit network Buses in mixed traffic for the foreseeable future Implement transit priority measures Signal priority Queue jump lanes 11
Centrepointe/Algonquin College Options Option 3 Navaho Option 4 College 12
Centrepointe/Algonquin College Evaluation Update Additional investigation around Baseline Station, through Algonquin College and Centrepointe Option 3 identified as the preferred corridor alignment Avoids constructing on Algonquin College lands Alignment through future Centrepointe Town Centre to be determined Phased approach to be pursued Match implementation to development Dedicated transit lanes are part of the affordable rapid transit network 13
Alternative Design Overview Three primary corridor design alternatives previously presented: Curb Lanes Median Lanes One-side Lanes Based on desire to minimize property impacts and maintain or improve traffic operations in the corridor, an additional design alternative was also identified: Reversible Bus Lane 14
Curb Lanes Corridor Design Alternatives Preliminary Assessment Issues with separation between transit and other traffic Low transit travel time improvement Existing un-signalized intersections can be maintained Footprint requirements can be minimized Conclusion: This option is carried forward Median Lanes Good separation between transit and other traffic Significant transit travel time improvement Existing un-signalized intersections would need to be signalized or closed Footprint requirements can be minimized Double median option requires a larger footprint Conclusion: Single median option carried forward, Double median option screened out from further consideration 15
Corridor Design Alternatives Preliminary Assessment One-side Lanes Introduces challenging traffic operations at intersections Would significantly impact access to private property along the corridor Is only really practical along the Central Experimental Farm segment Requires a larger footprint Conclusion: This option screened out from further consideration Reversible Bus Lane Buses in non-peak direction would operate in mixed traffic, reducing overall reliability of service Provides a reduced footprint in mid-block segments Transit passenger understanding a significant issue Transit demand is similar in both directions and does not lend itself to a peak direction facility Conclusion: This option screened out from further consideration 16
Curb Lanes Alternative 17
Curb Lanes - Examples 18
Median Lanes Alternative 19
Median Lanes - Examples 20
Preliminary Evaluation Summary 21
Preliminary Preferred Corridor Design (Short Term) Phase 1 (Start in approximately 2019) Prince of Wales to Clyde Widen to six lanes Dedicated median transit lanes Provide a dedicated cycling facility and wider sidewalks Clyde to Navaho Maintain existing cross-section (four traffic lanes) Continue transit operation in mixed traffic Implement the following transit priority measures: Additional, transit-only westbound left-turn lane at Navaho Remove existing bus bays and consider consolidation of existing bus stops Provide dedicated cycling facility and wider sidewalks 22
Preliminary Preferred Corridor Design (Short Term) Phase 1 (Start in approximately 2019) Navaho - Algonquin College Baseline Station Maintain existing routing through Algonquin College Coordinate potential operational improvements Baseline Station to Constellation Maintain existing routing through Baseline Station area Constellation Richmond Road Holly Acres Road Existing cross-section, buses in mixed traffic Remove bus bays, consider other measures Repurpose eastbound curb lane from Cobden to Constellation Provide transit priority at Baseline/Greenbank intersection 23
Preliminary Preferred Corridor Design (Medium to Long-Term) Phase 2 (2023 2031) Peak period/direction transit-only lanes would be implemented between Clyde and Navaho, and possibly other locations, based on transit operational need Phase 3 (2023 2031, or possibly later) Priority is between Prince of Wales and Baseline Station Focus on moving the greatest number of people in ROW Protect for a minimum 41.5 m ROW Allows desired design elements throughout the corridor 24
Potential Study Area Extension: Prince of Wales to Southeast Transitway Preliminary recommendation for median bus lanes west of Prince of Wales conflicts with existing curb bus lanes east of Prince of Wales Drive Two ways to address: Introduce a transition at the Prince of Wales intersection, or Implement median-lane operation east of Prince of Wales Technical analysis and evaluation indicates that median bus lanes offer superior transit travel time savings A scope of work will be presented to Transportation Committee in July 2014 to extend the study area 25
Public Open House #3 Next Steps Development of the Recommended Plan, including: Finalization of station/stop locations and design; Integration of pedestrian/cycling facilities; Resolution of local issues, including property impacts; and Construction staging and implementation Recommended Plan will be presented at a fourth Public Open House, early in 2015 Present to Transportation Committee and Council Initiate provincial EA Completion expected in mid-2015 26
Questions? 27