WELCOME BUS RAPID TRANSIT PUBLIC MEETING MEETING TIME: 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Milwaukee County in conjunction with the Federal Transit Administration is hosting today s meeting to give the public an opportunity to review and comment on the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed East-West Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.
66TH ST 45TH ST 68TH ST 52ND ST 27TH ST DR MLK DR AY A ABOUT EAST-WEST BRT 9-mile regional, modern bus rapid transit service Connects downtown, Near West Side, Marquette University, Wauwatosa and the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center Provides improved access to region s most vital, most traveled and most congested corridor MAYFAIR RD 1 2 18 3 41 SWAN BLVD 8 95TH ST WAUWATOSA WATERTOWN PLANK RD CONNELL AVE 92ND ST 1. Watertown Plank Park & Ride Lot 2. Milwaukee County Research Park 3. Milwaukee County Zoo 4. UWM Innovation Campus 5. Milwaukee Regional Medical Center 6. Wisconsin Lutheran College 7. Honey Creek Corporate Center 4 6 7 5 8 GLENVIEW AVE WISCONSIN AVE 9 10 76TH ST MILWAUKEE AVE STATE ST GREENFIELD AVE 70TH ST BLUEMOUND RD 8. Wisconsin Lutheran High School 9. Wisconsin State Fair Park 10. Pius XI High School 11. MacDowell Montessori School 12. Miller Park 13. Miller Brewing Co. 14. Harley-Davidson Motor Company GREENFIELD AVE 11 60TH ST HAWLEY RD 175 12 MILLER PARK WAY 341 13 14 WISCONSIN AVE 15. Marquette University High School 16. The Rave/Eagles Club 17. Milwaukee High School of the Arts 18. Milwaukee Academy of Science 19. Marquette University 20. Potawatomi Hotel & Casino 21. Milwaukee Area Technical College HIGHLAND BLVD 35TH ST 15 WELLS ST MILWAUKEE NATIONAL AVE 15TH ST ST. PAUL AVE FOND DU LAC AVE 13TH ST MICHIGAN ST WATER ST VLIET ST 17 43 23 21 30 18 28 32 STATE ST 22 24 27 16 19 20 NATIONAL AVE 22. Milwaukee Public Museum 23. Milwaukee Bucks Arena District 24. Wisconsin Center 25. Milwaukee Intermodal Station 26. Harley-Davidson Museum 27. The Shops of Grand Avenue 28. Marcus Center for the Performing Arts 17TH ST 16TH ST 12TH ST 9TH ST H ST 6TH ST 5TH ST H ST 25 26 PLANKINTON BROADWAY JACKSON ST CLYBOURN ST 1ST ST 31 29 R ST VAN BUREN AVE 33 7 PROSPECT AVE 34 LINCOLN MEMORIAL DR 35 29. Downtown Central Business District 30. Milwaukee School of Engineering 31. Milwaukee Public Market 32. Tenor High School 33. The Couture 34. Milwaukee Art Museum 35. Henry W. Maier Festival Park Proposed route and station locations for the East-West BRT designated based on technical analysis and public/stakeholder input during the 2016 feasibility study and 2017 preliminary design phase Why BRT? BRT plays a vital role in a healthy, multimodal transportation system that connects people to jobs, and businesses to their customers. BRT is cost-effective and has been proven to increase transit use with improved service frequencies, travel time and reliability. BRT supports millions of dollars in economic development. BRT meets a critical need to mitigate traffic congestion.
PART OF A LARGER VISION The Regional Transit Vision The region s transportation plan, called Vision 2050, recommends significant improvement to and expansion of the public transit system to provide enhanced service that is time-competitive with a car. The regional plan focuses on high travel demand corridors and recommends the development of eight rapid transit lines (see map). BRT is the Foundation East-West BRT would be the first rapid transit corridor in the region, providing the central spine for MCTS and future transit connections. The East-West corridor could be expanded west to Waukesha and east to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the future. EAST-WEST BRT... Is a key part of the region s transit vision Provides opportunities to spur development and provide connections to more corridors in region Builds on existing MCTS routes Creates the central spine of the region s proposed network of rapid transit lines
WHAT IS BRT? BRT is a high-quality, cost-effective bus-based regional transit system with: Unique branding Specialized vehicles Enhanced stations Level boarding platforms Off-board fare collection Dedicated transit lanes Traffic signal priority Frequent service Fewer stops Dedicated transit lanes East-West BRT Project Features Up to 19 stations connect regional network of major employment centers, education facilities and recreational destinations Modern, hybrid electric buses provide a quiet, comfortable, sustainable vehicle with features for easy boarding and interior bike storage Reliable and predictable travel times through the use of dedicated lanes (over 50% of the corridor length), fewer stops, traffic signal priority and pre-board ticketing Level boarding platforms Reduces traffic congestion by attracting more transit riders and removing thousands of cars from the corridor More frequent daily service with buses every 10 minutes during peak hours and midday, and every 20-30 minutes in early morning, evening and late-night Off-board fare collection system A MODERN APPROACH BRT is an increasingly popular approach to deliver enhanced public transportation services in communities seeking costeffective ways to reduce traffic congestion, improve mobility and increase transit ridership.
WHY IS BRT DIFFERENT FROM REGULAR BUS SERVICE? One of the main purposes of implementing BRT is to improve the reliability and frequency of the system so more people want to use transit. During morning and afternoon commutes BRT service would run every 10 minutes, meaning you would never have to wait long to catch a ride. Other BRT features described below also add to an improved transit experience. One more plus: You won t need to pay for parking! Dedicated transit lanes avoid congestion Signal priority for transit vehicles at intersections The best way to improve travel times and travel reliability is to provide a dedicated lane for the BRT, which will allow the bus to operate without sitting in traffic. This is particularly important for congested corridors. Buses experience delays when sitting at traffic signals. Adding transit signal priority to traffic signals allows the bus to reduce delays at these intersections and maintain a more consistent level of service. Efficient boarding with modern vehicles and station amenities Frequent service with fewer stops Dwell times at stations can impact travel time. BRT systems with off-board fare collection speed up the boarding process; level station platforms allow for faster boarding and alighting for all passengers; and modern buses with multi-door boarding allow riders to get on and off the vehicle quickly and easily. Bus travel time can be improved with more frequent bus service and fewer stops. More frequent service means that the amount of time spent waiting for the next bus is shortened, saving travel time. Having greater distance between stop locations improves travel time because riders on the bus have fewer stops before reaching their destination.
BRT BENEFITS BRT is more than a transportation project. It plays a vital role in creating livable and sustainable communities by providing efficient connections, increasing walkability and defining places that people want to live, work and recreate. The permanence of BRT shows a commitment to an area and helps support the vibrancy of existing districts and neighborhoods along the route. Outcomes for Transit Riders Outcomes for Communities Service every 10 minutes during peak hours and midday Facilitates economic development. Similar systems have seen up to $500 million in investment Improved travel times and reliability from fewer stops, dedicated lanes and transit signal priority Improved mobility for those who cannot or choose not to drive (23% of station-area residents do not have a car) Better transit experience with new, modern buses and enhanced stations Seamlessly integrated into existing MCTS bus routes and service Promotes healthy neighborhoods by encouraging more walking and biking; improved aesthetics, and better lighting at stations improves safety and neighborhood character Cost-effective option reduces monthly household transportation costs compared with owning a car (car ownership = $755; MCTS pass = $72) Outcomes for Drivers Outcomes for Businesses Reduces traffic congestion by attracting more transit riders and removing cars from the corridor. Currently, 16,000 cars/ day travel on Bluemound Road; 77% are single-occupancy. Improved safety» Dedicated lanes reduce weaving» Cars won t get stuck behind buses» Infrastructure helps calm traffic Attract and expand the pool of employees including millennials and Gen Y, who prefer not to depend on cars Less parking needed due to less demand. Save up to $30,000 per garage space. Increased land available for development More foot traffic to/from stations = more customers
PROJECT PHASES Implementation of a new transit service must go through various phases of development before the new service can be initiated. 2016 2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020 2019-2020 East-West BRT Feasibilty Study Select Locally Preferred Alternative Federal Transit Administration Project Development Engineering/Environmental Review Final Design Construction Startup/Testing Service Begins ONGOING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT In 2016, Milwaukee County completed a Feasibility Study and selected a preferred route option. In 2017 and 2018 Milwaukee County advanced the project s design phase, which included developing roadway and station designs, as well as beginning and completing an environmental assessment and requesting federal funds. Upon the successful completion of the design phase, construction of the system could begin in 2019 with service starting as early as 2020.
DR MLK DR 68TH ST BROADWAY VAN BUREN AVE JACKSON ST 27TH ST 66TH ST 45TH ST 52ND ST GREENFIELD AVE PROSPECT AVE LINCOLN MEMORIAL DR WATER ST CLYBOURN ST STATE ST 7 6TH ST 1ST ST CLYBOURN ST PLANKINTON JACKSON ST 5TH ST 9TH ST PROPOSED EAST-WEST BRT ROUTE FOND DU LAC AVE 60TH ST MILWAUKEE AVE SWAN BLVD WAUWATOSA VLIET ST STATE ST 43 17TH ST WATERTOWN PLANK RD 12TH ST 15TH ST 13TH ST WELLS ST 175 HIGHLAND BLVD WISCONSIN AVE HAWLEY RD 70TH ST GLENVIEW AVE 41 CONNELL AVE WISCONSIN AVE MAYFAIR RD 35TH ST BLUEMOUND RD ST. PAUL AVE 95TH ST 92ND ST MILWAUKEE MILLER PARK WAY 16TH ST 341 18 8 NATIONAL AVE 76TH ST Proposed stations LEGEND Proposed alignment Mixed traffic Transit vehicle shares lane with other vehicles Right travel lane Dedicated transit lane in right lane next to parking lane Curb running Dedicated transit lane in parking lane next to curb ALIGNMENT TYPES
BRT SERVICE PLAN Proposed service levels The East-West BRT will provide a high level of service with short headways, or frequencies, to promote easy and convenient travel along the corridor. Hours of service and frequencies TIME OF DAY START/END TIME WEEKDAYS (minutes) SATURDAYS (minutes) SUNDAYS (minutes) Early AM 4:30-6 a.m. 20 20 N/A AM peak 6-9 a.m. 10 15 20 Midday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 10 15 15 PM peak 3-6 p.m. 10 15 15 Early evening 6-8 p.m. 15 15 15 Evening 8-11 p.m. 20 20 20 Late evening 11 p.m.- 1:30 a.m. 30 30 30 System integration BRT will be fully integrated into the existing local transit system and provide opportunities to modify other MCTS routes for an enhanced transit experience. Based on further analysis and public input, Milwaukee County will determine bus service modifications during the project s design phase. While most MCTS routes will be unaffected, some potential modifications may include: Integrating some routes with BRT Replacing some route segments Relocating some downtown local and freeway flyer routes to adjacent streets HOW MUCH WILL A BRT RIDE COST? The cost to ride BRT will be the same as the cost to ride other MCTS buses. The BRT system will also accept MCTS daily, weekly and monthly bus passes. Multimodal connections The East-West BRT project presents an opportunity to advance regional multimodal connections. BRT stations coordinated with other MCTS bus routes BRT stations located near Bublr bike stations in downtown Easy connections to the The Hop Streetcar On-board bicycle access will facilitate trips that are part transit, part walk or part bike Short streetcar trip or walk to the Milwaukee Intermodal Station with connections to the regional rail and bus services
WHO WILL USE BRT? The East-West Corridor connects workers and residents to the largest employment and activity centers in southeast Wisconsin including... Ridership Ridership for the East-West BRT will be generated by large concentration of population, employment centers and attractions. Average Weekday Boardings Gold Line BRT 30 30X HOW IS RIDERSHIP DETERMINED? The project team used a Federal Transit Administration model called STOPS, which stands for Simplified Trips-on-Project Software, to generate East-West BRT ridership projections. EXISTING (2015) 7,200 4,700 6,100 18,000 The model shows transit ridership with BRT along the corridor would be over 22,200 by 2035 a 17% increase over the no build scenario. NO BUILD (2035) BRT BUILD (2035) 7,800 4,900 6,300 19,000 9,500 5,900 6,800 22,200 Figures are given for all routes utilizing the BRT corridor (BRT, Gold Line, 30 and 30X) for a complete picture of what exists today and what the corridor might look like in the future with or without BRT. By 2035, the BRT project is expected to result in: 17% CORRIDOR RIDERSHIP 9,500 INCREASE (Build vs. No Build) AVERAGE WEEKDAY BRT BOARDINGS
STATION DESIGN CONCEPTS The project team provided design concepts at seven events in 2017 and got feedback from over 1,000 participants. The concepts shown incorporate public input, typical BRT station elements and historic resources. As the project design progresses through Final Design, details and architectural elements may be refined or modified. Small Scale Station Concept Passenger information displays Shelters Off-board fare collection Station identification signage Level boarding platforms ADA compliant ramps Seating and/or leaning rails Large Scale Station Concept Station identification signage Shelters Passenger information displays Off-board fare collection Level boarding platforms ADA compliant ramps Seating and/or leaning rails
COST ESTIMATES and FUNDING SOURCES Capital costs ESTIMATE: $54.7 million* 25%: Local $13.8 million Capital costs are a one-time cost associated the construction of the physical elements of the BRT including: Vehicles Stations Roadway improvements Traffic control systems 75%: Federal $40.9 million FUNDING SOURCE Milwaukee County is pursuing federal funds to build the project through the Federal Transit Administration s Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Program. The local match would be provided through a combination of State, County and MRMC funds. * The Environmental Assessment references a capital cost of $50 million (2017 dollars) and was not escalated to year of expenditure dollars. Operations and maintenance costs ESTIMATE: $3.7 million annually O&M costs reflect the annual cost to operate and maintain the BRT service. This includes, but is not limited to: Vehicle operation and maintenance Station maintenance Transit lane maintenance FUNDING SOURCE BRT operations and maintenance costs would be funded similar to other bus routes in the MCTS system: through bus fares, advertising and sponsorships, state and federal funding and the existing local tax levy.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Milwaukee County, in coordination with the Federal Transit Administration, is preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the East-West BRT project, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The environmental review process is required for all projects that receive federal funds. The EA evaluates the benefits and impacts of both the No Action (or No Build) alternative and the BRT (Build) alternative. An EA makes sure decision-makers consider the project s impacts and benefits before the final project decision and document approval. What is an EA? An EA evaluates the project s potential impact to the environment (positive and negative) and identifies measures to avoid, minimize or mitigate those impacts. An EA is required to include brief, but thorough discussion on: The need for the project Alternatives under consideration Environmental impacts of each alternative A listing of agencies and persons consulted How is an EA approved? If it is determined that there will be no significant impacts on the quality of the environment, FTA issues a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) to conclude the environmental review process and document the decision. The FONSI: Considers all applicable comments and responses Identifies the project sponsor s selected alternative Concludes the environmental review and allows the project to advance into final design and construction What topics does the EA evaluate? The EA considers short- and long-term impacts related to the construction and operation of the project. It evaluates social, cultural, environmental and transportation-related impacts including: Traffic and parking Noise Air quality Historic resources Communities and neighborhoods Minority and low-income populations Land use and economics Natural and biological resources EA TIMELINE and REVIEW PROCESS Initiate environmental review (fall 2016) Publish EA and begin 30-day comment period (fall 2018) Hold public meeting on EA (fall 2018) Receive an environmental decision document concluding the environmental review process Prepare responses to comments (fall 2018)
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FINDINGS The East-West BRT will operate on existing streets. Only 92nd and th Streets near MRMC will be reconstructed as part of the project. Traffic signal modifications will be made to maintain acceptable traffic operations. No property acquisition is required by the project. Stations have been designed and located to be compatible with historic structures and places in the corridor. Potential noise impacts to one building on the MRMC campus will be mitigated by the project.