Planning Planning Planning Planning Transit for Transit for Transit for Transit for TOD TOD TOD TOD ----Charlotte’sCharlotte’sCharlotte’sCharlotte’sApproachApproachApproachApproachSeptember 10, 2005September 10, 2005September 10, 2005September 10, 2005

Laura A. Harmon, AICP Laura A. Harmon, AICP Laura A. Harmon, AICP Laura A. Harmon, AICP CharlotteCharlotteCharlotteCharlotte----Mecklenburg Mecklenburg Mecklenburg Mecklenburg Planning CommissionPlanning CommissionPlanning CommissionPlanning Commission

Presentation OverviewPresentation OverviewPresentation OverviewPresentation Overview

• Charlotte Overview

• Incorporating Planning for TOD into Transit Planning

• Wrap-Up

Charlotte Charlotte Charlotte Charlotte OverviewOverviewOverviewOverview

CharlotteCharlotteCharlotteCharlotte----MecklenburgMecklenburgMecklenburgMecklenburg

• Part of 7 County, 1.5

million region

• Charlotte the largest

city with 650,000+

population

Charlotte’s Projected Charlotte’s Projected Charlotte’s Projected Charlotte’s Projected Population GrowthPopulation GrowthPopulation GrowthPopulation Growth

980,000

651,000

• Charlotte expected to

add 330,000 persons

between 2005 and

2030

• Equivalent to adding

population of St.

Louis, Cincinnati or

Pittsburgh Total Population

Projected Estimates

Sphere of Influence

2005 2030

Growth in Population vs. Growth in Population vs. Growth in Population vs. Growth in Population vs. Growth in Land AreaGrowth in Land AreaGrowth in Land AreaGrowth in Land Area

Land

274%

Pop.

168%

%Change 1960-2000

• Since 1960, Charlotte’s population has grown 168%, while the land area has increased even more, by 274%.

CharlotteCharlotteCharlotteCharlotte----MecklenburgMecklenburgMecklenburgMecklenburgCenters & Corridors VisionCenters & Corridors VisionCenters & Corridors VisionCenters & Corridors Vision

• Long-term growth management strategy

• Five primary transportation and development corridors

• Transform unfocused growth to compact

development along corridors

- Light Rail Transit- Bus Rapid Transit- Commuter Rail - Streetcar - Local Buses

Integrated Transit/Land Use PlanIntegrated Transit/Land Use PlanIntegrated Transit/Land Use PlanIntegrated Transit/Land Use Plan& System Plan& System Plan& System Plan& System Plan

5 Transit Corridors (58 Stations)

• South Corridor – LRT - Under Construction

• 4 Transit Corridors in DEIS- North Corridor – Commuter Rail - Northeast Corridor – LRT - Southeast Corridor – LRT/BRT - West Corridor – Streetcar/BRT

1 Street Car Corridor in DEIS

Implementing Implementing Implementing Implementing CATS System CATS System CATS System CATS System

PlanPlanPlanPlan

Incorporating Incorporating Incorporating Incorporating Planning for Planning for Planning for Planning for TOD into TOD into TOD into TOD into

Transit Planning Transit Planning Transit Planning Transit Planning

To StartTo StartTo StartTo Start• Developed an integrated land use and transit planning process

• Involved urban planning, engineering, transportation and economic development professionals from the beginning

• Hired land use and design consultants, in addition to transit consultants

1. Are accessible to all modes of travel.

2. Serve existing development & travel markets, including existing TOD.

3. Promote new TOD opportunities, creating new travel markets.

4. Meet technical alignment & site criteria.

5. Are supported by the community.

Station Location Objectives that Station Location Objectives that Station Location Objectives that Station Location Objectives that Support TODSupport TODSupport TODSupport TOD

1.... Accessible to all modes of travel

Pedestrians Bicyclists

Motorists

Serve residential units and employees within ½-mile walking distance

Serve automobile commuters beyond the ½ mile walking distance

Serve special destinations

Are compatible with existing developments/neighborhoods

2. Serve existing developments & travel markets

Create new travel markets

Support development of vacant and underutilized land within ½ mile

3. Promote TOD opportunities

Potential redevelopment site

Underutilized industrial properties

• Land Availability

• Environmental compatibility

• Station spacing

• Other technical engineering requirements

4. Meet technical alignment & site criteria

5. Supported by the Community

Retail

Office

Multi-family

Single-family

Locate Locate Locate Locate Existing Existing Existing Existing TransitTransitTransitTransit----Supportive Supportive Supportive Supportive UsesUsesUsesUses

• Available land for future development (underutilized & vacant land)

• Existing & projected population densities

• Existing & projected employment densities

• Access from freeways

• Transit-dependent population

Analyze Future TOD PotentialAnalyze Future TOD PotentialAnalyze Future TOD PotentialAnalyze Future TOD Potential

Underutilized LandWithin ½ mile of Station Areas

1+ Acres

5+ Acres

Within ½ mile radius of Station Areas

Vacant Land

1+ Acres

5+ Acres

Population by TAZ-Projected

2020

1 Dot=10 people

Percentage of

Transit-dependent Population(Households without a vehicle/

Total Households)*

*U.S. Census Bureau-SF3-H044

0 to 3 %

3 to 6 %

6 to 10 %

10 to 30 %

30 to 50 %

50%+

Employment by TAZ-Projected

2020

1 Dot=10 employees

Travel Time from Interstates

5-minute drive time

Work Collaboratively with the Work Collaboratively with the Work Collaboratively with the Work Collaboratively with the Development Community Development Community Development Community Development Community

• TOD Facilitators – Economic Development and Transit Offices

• Development Response Team

–Sponsor Design Charrettes for “Real” Development Projects

Wilkerson Blvd.

Suttle Ave.

West Corridor/Suttle Avenue Station – Existing Conditions

Suttle Ave. Transit

Station

Wilkerson Blvd.

Future Residential

Office/Employment

Bryant Park

New Suttle Ave.

Morton St. Ext.

Gay St.

Arty St. Ext.

Suttle Avenue Station

Lessons LearnedLessons LearnedLessons LearnedLessons Learned• You can’t wait until you are building transit to think about TOD

• Planning for transit and TOD is a multi-disciplinary effort

• Include the development community as a partner

• Try to expedite transit planning to meet developer needs

• Plan to compromise

Thank YouThank YouThank YouThank You

for more information, for more information, for more information, for more information, see see see see Charlottefuture.comCharlottefuture.comCharlottefuture.comCharlottefuture.com