Public Meeting August 2014

Moving People

CCD Strategic Transportation Plan, 2008 Identified 20-30% increased person trip demand in

corridor by 2025

CCD Colfax Streetcar Feasibility Study, 2010 Identified four transit routes in study area, with current

use ~30,000 riders per day

Determined all four routes at capacity during peak

Routes 15 and 15L at capacity throughout day, with ~22,000 riders per day

Colfax Corridor Connections Study Preliminary recommendation: Bus Rapid Transit in

exclusive lanes during peak periods

3

Stakeholders and Public Involvement

Project Stakeholders

Lead Agency

o City and County of Denver

Partner/Coordinating Agencies

o City of Aurora

o Regional Transportation District (RTD)

o Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG)

o Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)

o Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

Stakeholders

o Regulatory Agencies

o Auraria and Anschutz Campuses

o Registered neighborhood organizations

o Businesses and property owners

o Community leaders

o Residents and travelers along the corridor

5

Public Involvement Activities

Technical Working Group Meetings

Community Leadership Working Group Meetings

Public Meetings in Denver & Aurora

o October 2012

o February 2013

o Tonight and on-going

Printed Materials

o Available at 100+ local businesses on Colfax

o Info sent to a network of nearly 150 organizations

Digital Resources

o Website, Facebook and Twitter sites

o Email database of nearly 1,000 stakeholders

6

Initial Feedback on Preliminary BRT Concept

City of Aurora

Technical Working Group

Community Leadership Working Group

RTD

Public

7

Project Purpose and Need

What is the purpose of this project?

To identify and provide a package of multi-modal transportation improvements in the East Colfax corridor that:

Meet current and future person-trip demand

Improve mobility, connectivity, safety, and accessibility

Help to mitigate congestion

Encourage a shift of auto trips to alternative modes

Interact seamlessly, efficiently, and safely with other transportation corridors, systems, and modes

Are consistent with economic development components of federal sustainability & livability plans and principles

9

10

Key Challenge:

Adding person-trip capacity to East Colfax without adding roadway lanes or taking property

How Did We Get Here?

What’s the study area for this project?

Why is This Project Needed?

(2010 to 2035) (2010 to 2035)

*ridership includes 10, 20, and 15 & 15L (2010 to 2035) (2010 to 2035)

* *

Why is This Project Needed?

Mode/Technology Options

Trad

itio

nal

Op

tio

ns

(Typ

ical

ly U

sed

in U

rban

Co

rrid

ors

) N

on

-Tra

dit

ion

al O

pti

on

s (T

ypic

ally

No

t U

sed

in U

rban

Co

rrid

ors

)

Roadway Expansion Enhanced Bus Bus Rapid Transit

Light Rail Modern Streetcar

Automated Guideway Transit Monorail MagLev

Commuter Rail

Heavy Rail (Metro)

Gondola Personal Rapid Transit

Eliminated (Does not meet Purpose and Need since It requires new lanes and/or

property)

Eliminated (Typically does not operate in roadway lanes

with other traffic; more expensive than streetcar with no added

mobility benefit)

Eliminated (Typically do not operate in an urban roadway corridor; typically completely grade separated; very expensive and very high capacity options that provide more passenger capacity than needed on Colfax)

Eliminated (Typically do not operate in an urban roadway corridor; often completely grade separated; very high capacity options that

provide more passenger capacity than needed on Colfax)

Eliminated (Typically does not operate in an urban roadway corridor or in long-distance

corridors; requires new ROW for structures and stations)

Route/Alignment Options

• Greatest number of activity centers

• Fewest on-street parking spaces • Shortest alignment • Fewest roadway intersections • Most consistent with locally

adopted plans • Blueprint Denver ‘area of

change’ • Most of Aurora portion

designated as DRCOG Urban Center

• Urban character is primarily commercial & mixed-use

• Economic development opportunities

Colfax Avenue - Route Recommended to Advance

13th/14th

Colfax

17th

20th/

Montview

Enhanced Bus

Bus Rapid Transit

Modern Streetcar

Light Rail

* Other transportation improvements (bike, pedestrian, etc.) are components of all options

End of Screen 2 - Results

Enhanced Bus - Key factors: Shares traffic lane Branded buses, low-floor multi-door boarding Capacity: 70+/- per vehicle Station amenities (real-time passenger information, off-vehicle ticketing) 5-minute peak headways Operated as limited stop service (replaces Route 15L) Route 15 local service continues to operate

Bus Rapid Transit - Key factors: Exclusive lane during peak hours and/or all day

Branded buses, low-floor, multi-door boarding

Capacity: 70+/- per vehicle

Station amenities (real-time passenger information, off-vehicle ticketing)

5-minute headways

Operated as limited stop service (replaces Route 15L) Route 15 local service continues to operate

Modern Streetcar - Key factors: Generally tracks located in the curb lane (side running), maintains parking Branded, low-floor, multi-door boarding Capacity: 100/150-+ per vehicle Station amenities (real-time passenger information, off-vehicle ticketing) Could operate as either:

a) limited stop service with exclusive lanes (replaces Route 15L) and 15 continues to operate, or b) local stop service in shared lanes all day (replaces Route 15 service) and 15L continues to operate

Overhead catenary (power wire) and sub-stations

Final Mode/Technology Options

19

BUS RAPID TRANSIT

BUS A new type of

RAPID It should be

Bus Only (Peak Hours or Daily)

Colfax Ave

Bus Only (Peak Hours or Daily)

Parking and Right Turns permitted

Parking and Right Turns permitted

TRANSIT Focused on

Bus Rapid Transit: How It Addresses Corridor Needs

Doubles ridership of current bus service…

Bus Rapid Transit: How It Addresses Corridor Needs

…provides almost as much ridership as Modern Streetcar…

Bus Rapid Transit: How It Addresses Corridor Needs

…while at nearly one fourth the capital cost…

31 * Conceptual cost estimate in current 2013 dollars. Subject to change based on future design

Bus Rapid Transit: How It Addresses Corridor Needs

How BRT Meets Project Goals:

Meets person trip demand

Better serves existing users and attract new users

Conforms with livability principles and promotes economic development

New transportation capacity without new ROW

Accommodates intra-corridor trips

Improves connectivity and mobility options

Affordable and fiscally sustainable

Where Do We Go From Here?

Concept Development Phase Alternatives Analysis (now)

o Community/agency review o Incorporate input into environmental analysis

Bicycle/pedestrian improvement coordination Detailed traffic analysis Environmental Clearance (2015)

Design and Implementation Phase Design Phase* Compete for Federal Funding Identify Local/Regional Funding Sources Implementation *requires environmental clearance by Federal Transit Administration & funding availability

Questions?