Designing Streets for Transit Presentation to NACTO Designing Cities Kevin O Malley Managing Deputy Commissioner 10/24/2014
Chicago -- Streets for Transit TODAY Jeffery Jump Transit Signal Priority Central Loop BRT
Rail Oriented City Basics of Chicago Transit Jeffery Jump CTA Rail Elevated and Subway system, extensive use of expressway medians 725,000 daily unlinked trips Metra Commuter Rail 270,000 daily unlinked trips Downtown focused, connections to both airports Launched Fall 2012 Demonstrating BRT features
Surface Bus Transit Basics of Chicago Transit Jeffery Jump Strong reliance on the Chicago street grid Legacy routings of streetcar era 1,846 buses (306 articulated), 127 bus routes, 11,000 bus stops Typical stop spacing: 1/8 mile (660 feet) 960,000 daily unlinked trips Streets for Transit Primarily 2-lane arterials, some 4-lane Express services via Lake Shore Drive Parking Meters Traffic Signal 215 miles of bike ways Divvy Bike Share 6,400 daily trips Launched Fall 2012 Demonstrating BRT features
Basics of Chicago Transit Jeffery Jump Launched Fall 2012 Demonstrating BRT features
Chicago Approach to Streets for Transit Critical Part of Chicago Complete Streets Program Incremental, Leverage Existing Resources Learn as we grow Provide real tangible benefits to existing riders Make transit attractive to new riders Be helpful to transit agency s bottom line
Jeffery Jump Launched Fall 2012 Demonstrating BRT features
Jeffery Jump Bus Lanes TSP / Queue Jump Longer Stop Spacing Branding Launched Fall 2012 Demonstrating BRT features
Jeffery Jump Launched Fall 2012 Demonstrating BRT features
Results and Lessons Learned 23% faster service in the impacted area Bus Lanes, Longer Stop Spacing, TSP TSP Longest Lead Time for Implementation Avoided Political Headaches Existing rush hour parking restriction converted to bus lane Local bus coverage helped with longer stop spacing Issue is never over, however Bus Wrap was only minor cost to CTA Branding Success?
Transit Signal Priority 2015-16 Rollout of 25 miles of TSP Leveraging same technology and lessons-learned on Jump route 2 main corridors chosen Two of the highest CTA bus routes 60,000 rides relatively modern signal equipment already in place marginal cost to upgrade to TSP Goals: Study the impacts and benefits Lay foundation for broader rollout of signal and TSP investments Challenges: Balancing between Transit and Traffic needs Articulating benefits to public (i.e., no ribbon-cutting ) Western Ave Ashland Ave
Central Loop BRT
Central Loop Features Dedicated bus lanes with red surface serving 6 bus routes 8 Stations with level boarding Bus Queue Jump at 7 intersections Protected bike lanes and bicycle traffic signals New pick-up/drop-off configuration at Union Station on Canal Street
Design Selection Options Balanced Yes Basic X Focused X
Central Loop Project Purpose Improve mobility in the Loop for residents, employees, businesses and visitors Provide faster, more reliable bus service Organize traffic flow and improve pedestrian environment and bike network 16
Benefits & Elements Improved bus service reliability and travel times with exclusive bus lanes Cost-effective and practical use of existing CTA bus operations, fleet and routes making current CTA operations more efficient and reliable New distinctive bus stations with level boarding, weather protection, lighting, cameras and real time LED bus arrival times Larger sidewalk spaces for improved pedestrian environment Fare payment pilot project to be tried at one bus station First large scale use of tinted pavement for bus lanes in the City of Chicago red for bus lanes
Central Loop Routes and Station Locations Extends transit s reach to Chicago neighborhoods and entire region 19,000 customers use these corridors already reliability improvements benefit entire routes
Improved Bus Facility 19
Looking west down Washington
Looking west down Madison
Traffic & Street Redesigns At least two general traffic lanes maintained on all streets (reduction from three in most segments) However, designs intended to maintain reliable travel times due to an improved organization of the street--reduced conflicts with buses, cars, pedestrians and bikes Improved turning movements at most intersections using protected left and right turn arrows within traffic signal cycles (do not exist today) 4 locations will have right turns restricted to maintain bus speeds, improve traffic flow and protect pedestrians and bicyclists Queue jumps added to aid remaining right turns (to be discussed) Reorganization and expansion of downtown bike lanes in order to reduce traffic, bus and bike conflicts
Central Loop Queue Jump Used a block ahead of a right-turn location to prioritize the bus movement, but also to safely and seamlessly merge traffic through the bus lanes 1 2 3 4 Bus gets green light 3 sec. before vehicle traffic; Vehicles merge behind bus Traffic and buses locate into their respective lanes Both vehicles process onward Activated by video detection hardware only when bus is present Car Bus 1 2 3 4
Loading and Curbside Uses To increase bus speed and reliability, better organize traffic, and maintain traffic flow, curbside uses will be altered on most blocks along the streets and prohibited on some This includes legal and illegal parking, standing, loading, and pick-ups/drop-offs Expectation is that this will be a large education and outreach effort leading up to and through construction and when operations begins Maintain access to all alleys and garages
Redesign of Canal Street between Adams and Jackson current Improvements for Union Station (Amtrak & Metra) Current contraflow CTA bus terminal operation moved to new transit facility on Jackson Separation of buses and auto traffic for more efficient use Dedicated stopping location for intercity and private buses Taxi cab stand and waiting area in protected median location
Opportunities Questions to Be Answered Set the table for expansion of bus priority downtown and elsewhere Fare payment pilot Challenges Enforcement of bus lanes Can we manage the remaining curbside uses, mitigate loading zone needs, deliveries, turning needs Managing perceptions during construction How to communicate the time and reliability savings? Did we right size the project? Corridor Branding---Good Idea?
Thank You!