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AASHTO: SCOPT/MTAP Winter Meeting

METRO Update: Light Rail Operations and the Status of Future Corridors

Wulf Grote, P.E.Director, Project Development

December 2, 2009

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High Capacity Transit System

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High Capacity/Light Rail TransitFunding Sources

57-mile system funding: Tempe Sales Tax - 1996 (Prop 400) Phoenix Sales Tax - 2000 (Prop 2000) Mesa General Fund Glendale Sales Tax – 2001 (Prop 402) Regional Sales Tax 2004 (Prop 400) Federal Transit Administration (~40%)

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20-Mile Light Rail Line

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Why Did We Select This Corridor First?

Corridor has highest travel demand

High demonstrated bus ridership

Highest employment concentrations

Good residential base

High student population

Corridor contains most special event facilities

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Light Rail in Street Median

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Light Rail Vehicle

50 Vehicles Heat reflective paint Low E, solar reflective windows Insulated car bodies to reduce cooling loss Bicycle racks, wheelchair accessible

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“Cool Screen” Station

28 stations Louvers & tensile fabric maximize shade Benches, art & plants Chilled water fountains

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Unique Art at Each Station

19th Ave and Camelback44th Street and Washington

Roosevelt and Central Dorsey and Apache

1st Ave and Jefferson

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Park-and-Ride Locations

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Future Airport Connection via Sky TrainPhase 1 - 2013

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Operations

Frequency – Weekdays – 10 mins peak hours -20 mins off peak Saturday - 15 mins peak hours – 20 mins off peak Sunday and Holiday -20 mins all hours of day

Operations Monday thru Thursday 4 a.m. – midnight Friday 4:40 a.m. to 3 a.m. (Sat) Saturday 4:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. (Sun) Sunday 4:30 a.m. to midnight

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Total Average Daily Boardings

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Average Daily Boardings

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Intercept Survey ResultsApril 2009

35% never used transit the year before 40% used transit on a weekly basis

45% walked to a METRO station 29% drive and 26% transfer from a bus

40% utilize METRO to/from home for needs other than work or ASU 27% use METRO for work and 12% for ASU

68% of those surveyed had at least 1 car available for their trip

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Development along 20-mile Route2004 to Present

$7.4 billion total investment along alignment (planned, under construction, or completed)

$5.9 billion private investment

$1.5 billion public investment

17,000+ residential units

9+ million square ft. commercial

3,200+ hotel rooms

$1.4 billion$1.4 billion

$7.4 billion$7.4 billion

Light rail investment Non-rail investments

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High Capacity Transit System

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Northwest LRT Extension

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NW LRT Extension Overview

Project Length = 3.2 Miles Stations = 3 Park-and-Ride = 500 spaces Construction Cost = $250 million (YOE)

Doesn’t include ROW or design Funding – City of Phoenix and Regional PTF

No federal funds

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Northwest LRT Extension Status

Design Completed – April 2009 Real Estate Acquisition – Spring 2010 Construction – Delayed

Construction team under contract Small street project next summer

Evaluating various funding alternatives, including federal funds

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Central Mesa LRT Extension

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Central Mesa Project Highlights

Project Length = 3.1 miles

Cost Estimate = $227M (YOE$)

Funding Sources:

5309 Small Starts = 33%

CMAQ = 15%

Regional PTF = 52%

November 2009 – submitted request to FTA to enter Project Development

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Tempe South Study Area

Tempe South Corridor Study Area

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Tempe South Corridor Rural Road

Bus Rapid Transit

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Tempe South CorridorMill Avenue

Modern Streetcar

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Phoenix West Extension

High Capacity Transit Alignment in the I-10 median west of I-17

MAG adopted – July 2008

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Phoenix West Extension

50’ median for future mass transit preserved as part of I-10 completion

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I-10 Freeway HCT Transition

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LRT Alternative: I-17 – Jefferson – Washington/Jefferson

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Bus Rapid Transit

BRT: Los Angeles Metro Orange LineBRT: Los Angeles Metro Orange Line

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Bus Rapid Transit Alternative

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High Capacity Transit System

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