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GRTC Bus Rapid Transit Project
July 30, 2015
Agenda1. BRT Concept
2. Project Goals
3. Project Corridor
4. Service Plan
5. Station Concept
6. Proposed Cross Sections
7. Design Challenges
8. ITS & Traffic Signals
9. Project Delivery
10. Project Schedule
11. Project Funding
12. Branding
13. Questions and Answer Session
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A Better Transit Service for the Greater Richmond Region
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is an integrated system of facilities, equipment, services and amenities that improve the speed, reliability, and identity
of bus transit
Elements of BRT
• Running ways with dedicated transit lanes or mixed use lanes with transit signal priority or queue jumps to reduce delays for transit vehicles
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Elements of BRT• Faster service through higher station spacing to consolidate boarding and alighting and reduce dwell time and delays
• Accessible, safe, secure, and attractive stations with sheltered stations and raised platforms for level boarding
Substantial Stations
• Different than Bus Stops
• Level Boarding
• Amenities
• Public Art
• Landscaping
• Security
• Accessibility
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Elements of BRT• Easy‐to‐board,
attractive, and environmentally friendlyCNG vehicles
• Frequent service with longer hours of operation
• Distinctive system identity such as branding of vehicles/stations with unique design elements
Elements of BRT
• Intelligent Transportation Systems to provide real‐time passenger information, transit signal priority for improved travel times, closed circuit TV for safety and security and emergency phones
• Efficient, off‐board fare collection system
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Transit Improvements
Off‐board ticketing
Dedicated lanes
Signal prioritySidewalk & crosswalk
improvements
Low floor buses
Streamlined transfers
Project Background
• Richmond Rail Transit Feasibility Study(VDOT and Richmond Regional TPO, 2003)
Described the benefits of BRT service to the metro area
Identified corridors for preliminary analysis and screening,
including the Broad Street Corridor
• Comprehensive Operations Analysis(GRTC, 2008)
Examined current operating system and provided
recommendations to improve future public transportation
services
Recommended BRT in two phases
• Richmond Regional Mass Transit Study(DRPT and Richmond Regional TPO, 2008)
Identified several corridors that focus on local and regional rail
service
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Project Goals
• Plan, design, and build a high profile BRT system
• Meet ITDP Silver rating standard
• Satisfy TIGER Grant requirements
• Keep public and stakeholders informed
• Minimize impacts during construction
• Start of operations by October 2017
Project Benefits
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Willow Lawn to 195Mixed Flow2.0 Miles
195 to SheppardMedian Running
0.6 Miles
Sheppard to FousheeMedian Running
2.0 Miles
Foushee to 4th StMixed Flow0.2 Miles
4th St to 14th StCurb Running0.6 Miles
14th St to Rocketts LandingMixed Flow2.2 Miles
• Route length: 7.6 Miles ‐ From Willow Lawn to Rocketts Landing
• Dedicated bus lanes: Thompson Street to Adams Street (median lanes) and 4th Street to 14th Street (curb lanes)
• 14 stations: 5 center and 9 curbside stations
4 consolidated stations with local routes
Project Corridor
Service Plan
• Weekdays: 5:30 AM ‐ 11:30 PM
• Weekends: 6:00 AM ‐ 11:30 PM
• Service frequency: 10 minutes (peak) and 15 minutes (off‐peak)
• Improved performance: 65% increase in bus speed
• Estimated ridership: 3,000 + daily boardings with 500 new daily riders
• Fares: Same as local bus fare (currently $1.50)
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Staples Mill Westbound (Day)
Staples Mill Westbound (Night)
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Robinson Eastbound (Day)
Robinson Eastbound (Night)
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Shafer Eastbound (Day)
Shafer Eastbound (Night)
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Rocketts Landing (Day)
Rocketts Landing (Night)
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How Will Buses Move into Median Stations?
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Roadway Basis of Design Options • Median Running: Thompson Street to Foushee Street (2.6 miles)
• Curb Running: 4th Street to 14th Street (0.6 miles)
• Design Criteria: set by City of Richmond and AASHTO with VDOT guidance
* 1’ additional width desired adjacent to curb/median
Lane Use MinimumWidth Desired Width
Bus Lane 11’ 12’+
Travel* 10’ 11’+
Turn Lane 10’ 11’
Parking 7’ 9’
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Median Widths
• Thompson to Sheppard: 4 feet median
3 feet at left‐turns
• Sheppard to Harrison: 4 feet median
2 feet at left‐turns
• Harrison to Pine: 6 feet median
• Pine to Foushee: 4 feet median
2 feet at left‐turns
Roadway Modifications – Thompson to Sheppard (76’ Typical)
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Roadway Modifications – Sheppard to Foushee (82’ Typical)
Typical 4FT Median
11’ 10’ 11’ 4’ 11’ 10’ 11’
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Typical Median Station
10.5’ 10’ 11’ 11’ 12’ 10’ 10.5’
Wider 6FT Median
11’ 11’ 11’ 6’ 11’ 10’ 11’ 11’
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Wider 16FT Median Downtown
11’ 11’ 11’ 16’ 11’ 11’ 11’
Broad Street User Access
• Accommodate All Users:
BRT Buses
Local Buses
General Traffic
Pedestrians/Bicycles
• Change in Left‐Turn Movements
Today: shared lanes with through traffic
Proposed: dedicated lanes for turning vehicles
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Traffic Signals, Left-Turns & New Crosswalks
17 Left Turns Through Median-Running Section of Broad Street• Westbound: Adams to Thompson 7 left turns – Monroe, Belvidere, Harrison, Meadow, Robinson, Sheppard and Tilden. (Boulevard under review by City.)
• Eastbound: Thompson to Adams 10 left turns – Roseneath, Sheppard, Terminal, Davis, DMV, Allison, Meadow, Allen, Bowe and Belvidere. (Boulevard under review by City.)
• New Signals Proposed Tilden & Monroe. (Orleans & Byrd)
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Pedestrian / Bicycle Access• 6 NEW dedicated pedestrian crosswalks across Broad at
controlled crossings (Strawberry, Goshen, Pine, Henry,
Madison and Jefferson) & at 37 signalized intersections.
• 6FT pedestrian refuge
ITS & Signal System Coordination• More than an infrastructure project
Only as good as supporting signal systems
• Transit signal priority
Collaborative stakeholder process
Recent City and County system investments
• Fiber resource sharing with City of Richmond
Broad Street – Boulevard to 14th
14th Street – Broad to Main
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Traffic Signal Modifications• Physical Infrastructure
54 Traffic Signals • 51 Traffic Signals within City of Richmond
Accommodation of Bus Signal Indications
Additional Equipment for Bus Communications
• Evaluation of available technologies
• Operations
Transit Signal Priority (TSP)• Fully Actuated Signals Preferable ‐ Additional Cost
• Signal Retiming ‐ 285 City Traffic Signals Impacted
Parking Thompson to 14th
• Today: 708 on‐Broad Street
free, paid, & loading spaces
• Also: 8,000 + parking spaces within
one block of Broad
6,434 short‐term & long‐term
public & private off‐street parking facilities
On side streets: 1,008 free, paid, & loading spaces
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Future ParkingThompson to 14th
SubareaExisting Parking
Spaces
Proposed
Change in
Number of
Spaces
Preserved Parking
Spaces
Thompson Street to
Sheppard Street124 ‐99 25
Sheppard Street to
Lombardy Street244 ‐94 150
Lombardy Street to
Foushee Street246 ‐85 161
Foushee Street to 4th
Street38 +28 66
4th Street to 14th
Street56 ‐56 0
TOTAL 708 ‐306 402
Parking Demand vs. Supply
SubareaMaximum Utilization (%)
Peak Period(s)
Maximum
Existing
Spaces UsedDaytime Nighttime Weekend
Thompson Street to
Sheppard Street7% 3% 5%
12 ‐ 1 PM
Weekday9
Sheppard Street to
Lombardy Street32% 30% 48%
10 ‐ 11 PM
Saturday118
Lombardy Street to
Foushee Street71% 67% 89%
10 ‐ 11 PM
Saturday218
Foushee Street to 4th
Street63% 47% 76%
1 ‐ 2 PM Saturday
10 ‐ 11 PM
Saturday
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4th Street to 14th Street 54% 29% 86% 1 ‐ 2 PM Saturday 48
Corridor‐wide Peak 43% 39% 57%10 ‐ 11 PM
Saturday406
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Loading Zones
• New loading zone study in July 2015
• About 35% of loading zones are used regularly (but may have peaks)
• Proposal: Keep 35 of today’s 90 loading zones
• 23 remain on Broad Street
• 12 shift to side streets Loading zones with 0% usage areconverted to parking.
• FYI: 105 loading zones are on side streets within one block of Broad Street
Construction Manager
• GRTC has decided to pursue a Construction Manager option for:
Constructability Reviews
Construction Management & Assistance to GRTC to bid different construction packages:
• Equipment Package
• Utilities Construction
• Signals & Systems Construction
• Stations Construction
• Roadway Construction Package
Construction Management & Inspection Services
Integration, Testing & Commissioning
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Construction Plan
• Procurement for Construction Manager late Summer – Fall 2015
• GRTC expects a successful proposer by December 2015
• Construction begins August 2016
• Station construction expected to be 3 to 4 months per station
• Pulse service expected October 2017
What Else is Next?
• Project Presentations to:
Urban Design Committee August 20, 2015
Planning Commission September 8, 2015
• Incorporate conditions/comments into design
• Semi‐Final Design Phase (60% Design) work
• October 2015 Public Meeting #8
• January 2016 Public Meeting #9
• Submit 60% Design to Stakeholders Feb. 2016
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Project Implementation Schedule
Project Funding$49.8 Million
$24,900,000 , 50%
$16,900,000 , 34%
$8,000,000 , 16%
Funding Contribution
FTA/USDOT DRPT Local Agencies
TIGER Grant – Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery
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Public Outreach, Marketing, & Branding
GRTCBRT
Elected Officials
City & County Staff
Stakeholders and Business Community
General Public
System Riders
Federal & State
Officials
Project Branding and Identity
• GRTC has worked with the Stakeholders to select names and identify for the program
• Public was polled during December 2014
• Five top names were selected for further evaluation: The Rapid; RVA Connex; The Current; The Pulse; Blynk
• GRTC Board selected The Pulse in March
• GRTC has developed a logo and branding concept which will be rolled out over next several months
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GRTC Pulse Bus Design40FT CNG BRT+
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The Project Team
Questions and Answers