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
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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
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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
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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?