(Cedar Ave. Transitway) Implementation Plan Update
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2010 Cedar Avenue Transitway Implementation Plan Update Final Report August 2011 Amended In Partnership with: Connetics Transportation Group . Sharon Greene + Associates . Holland + Knight URS . Fifth Street Towers . 100 South Fifth Street . Suite 1500 . Minneapolis, MN 55402 P 612-370-0700 . F 612-370-1378 1 Contents 1. Cedar Avenue Transitway: A Lifeline for Dakota County .................................................................... 3 2. Cedar Avenue Transitway Development Timeline ............................................................................ 3 3. Project Overview ................................................................................................................................. 5 3.1. Agency Coordination .................................................................................................................... 6 3.2. Public Involvement and Engagement .......................................................................................... 7 Outreach Activities .............................................................................................................................. 7 Summary of Public and Stakeholder Comments Received ................................................................. 9 4. Transitway Vision and Framework.................................................................................................... 10 4.1 Overview of Existing Transit Conditions ................................................................................ 10 4.2 Overview of Currently Funded Improvements within the Transitway ...................................... 15 4.3 2012 Transitway Vision .............................................................................................................. 16 2012 Service Plan and Ridership ....................................................................................................... 16 2012 Park-and-Ride Facilities ............................................................................................................ 21 4.4 2030 Transitway Conceptual Service Plan ................................................................................. 22 2030 Ridership Forecasts .................................................................................................................. 23 2030 Park-and-Ride Facilities ............................................................................................................ 26 2030 I-35W/Cedar Avenue Transit Travelshed ................................................................................. 27 5. 2010 Implementation Plan Update Recommendations ................................................................... 29 5.1 Runningway ................................................................................................................................ 29 Stage 1: 2009 - 2012 ......................................................................................................................... 29 Stage 2: 2012 - 2020 ......................................................................................................................... 29 Stage 3: 2020 - 2030 ......................................................................................................................... 29 5.2 Stations and Park-and Ride Facilities ......................................................................................... 30 Stage 1: 2009 - 2012 ......................................................................................................................... 31 Stage 2: 2012 - 2020 ......................................................................................................................... 31 Stage 3: 2020 - 2030 ......................................................................................................................... 31 5.3 Transit Fleet ................................................................................................................................ 32 Stage 1: 2009 - 2012 ......................................................................................................................... 33 Stage 2: 2012 - 2020 ....................................................................................................................... 33 Stage 3: 2020 - 2030 ....................................................................................................................... 33 Page 1 2010 Cedar Avenue Transitway Implementation Plan Update Final Report Amended - August 2011 5.4 Vehicle Storage and Maintenance Facility ................................................................................. 34 Stage 1: 2009 - 2012 ......................................................................................................................... 34 Stage 2: 2012 - 2020 ......................................................................................................................... 34 Stage 3: 2020 - 2030 ......................................................................................................................... 34 5.5 Vehicle Layover Facilities ........................................................................................................... 34 Stage 1: 2009 - 2012 ......................................................................................................................... 35 Stage 2: 2012 - 2020 ......................................................................................................................... 35 Stage 3: 2020 - 2030 ......................................................................................................................... 35 5.6 Technology ................................................................................................................................. 35 5.7 Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities ................................................................................................ 36 5.8 Transit Service Modeling Results ............................................................................................... 36 Stage 1: 2009 - 2012 ......................................................................................................................... 37 Stage 2: 2012 - 2020 ......................................................................................................................... 37 Stage 3: 2020 - 2030 ......................................................................................................................... 37 5.9 Other Recommendations ........................................................................................................... 38 6. Cedar Avenue Transitway Funding Plan ........................................................................................... 39 6.1 Funding To-Date ......................................................................................................................... 40 Federal .............................................................................................................................................. 41 State .................................................................................................................................................. 41 Counties Transit Improvement Board (CTIB) .................................................................................... 41 Local: Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority ........................................................................... 42 7. Staging Plan ....................................................................................................................................... 42 7.1 Stage 1: 2009 - 2012 ................................................................................................................... 43 7.2 Stage 2: 2012- 2020 .................................................................................................................... 45 7.3 Stage 3: 2020 - 2030 ................................................................................................................... 47 7.4 Cedar Avenue Transitway .......................................................................................................... 49 8. Completion of Stage 1 Capital Improvements and Implementation of Next Steps……………………………51 APPENDIX 1: Summary of Comments Received and Staff Responses on the Draft 2010 Implementation Plan Update APPENDIX 2: Comments Received on the Draft 2010 Implementation Plan Update Page 2 2010 Cedar Avenue Transitway Implementation Plan Update Final Report Amended – August 2011 3 1. CEDAR AVENUE TRANSITWAY: A LIFELINE FOR DAKOTA COUNTY As a main connection between the southern suburbs and both downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul, the Mall of America, the airport and the University of Minnesota, Cedar Avenue is one of the most traveled roads in Dakota County. More than 150,000 vehicles travel Cedar Avenue daily and that number is expected to almost double over the next 20 years as growth along the corridor continues. If no improvements are made in the corridor, congestion will continue to increase and traffic speeds will continue to decrease from an average of 35 mph today to 12 mph in 2030. Expanded transit service along Cedar Avenue is essential to meeting the needs of residents, businesses and commuters. Communities south of the Minnesota River have been rapidly growing for decades, as has traffic along Cedar Avenue. In the late 1990s, Cedar Avenue was identified as a high priority for light rail