Project Backgound BEST: Gratiot Avenue Study Area Why Rapid Transit on Gratiot Avenue? Improve Mobility Options Provide Reliable Service OF HOUSEHOLDS ALONG GRATIOT IT CAN TAKE UP TO 14% AVENUE DON’T HAVE A CAR 85 MINUTES
Downtown TO TRAVEL BETWEEN MT. Mount Clemens MOUNT CLEMENS CLINTON TWP CLEMENS & DOWNTOWN DETROIT DURING RUSH HOUR HARRISON TWP 3 METRO PARKWAY RAPID TRANSIT ON CAN PROVIDE A COMPETITIVE ALTERNATIVE FOR 15 MILE COMMUTERS FRASER 14 MILE Macomb Mall
13 MILE General Corridor ROSEVILLE Study Area & Stimulate the Economy Retain and Attract Residents 1 Mile Buffer 12 MILE
ST. CLAIR SHORES TRANSIT Gratiot Communities lost INVESTMENT 25% 10 MILE WARREN of their population in the last LAKE ST. CLAIR
MACOMB COUNTY MACOMB POTENTIAL OAKLAND COUNTY OAKLAND 9 MILE EASTPOINTE ECONOMIC 15 years N 8 MILE WAYNE COUNTY BENEFIT 7 MILE
DETROIT
Coleman A. Young International Airport Connect Key Destinations
Eastern WARREN Market
MACKRosa Parks Transit Center MAJOR DOWNTOWN MAJOR RECREATION EDUCATION MEDICAL COMMUNITY 5 10 EMPLOYERS DISTRICTS SHOPPING FACILITIES SERVICES MILES Project Schedule BEST: Gratiot Avenue What Type of Transit is Best for Gratiot? BEST: Gratiot Avenue
EXPRESS BUS BRT PREMIUM BRT STREETCAR LIGHT RAIL COMMUTER RAIL
Reliability
Social Equity
Economic Development
Flexibility
Mode Shift
Frequency
Local / Regional Connectivity
Safety / Security
Cost
Multi-Modal Connectivity
Total
Source: BEST: Gratiot Avenue Tier 1 Analysis Report BRT and Premium BRT What are the differences between the two service levels?
BRT PREMIUM BRT
How much will it cost? $2M - $11M per mile $11M - $35M per mile
Where would transit lanes be located? Mixed traffic and some exclusive transit lanes More exclusive transit lanes
Where would stations be located? Side of the street Center of the street
What types of stations? Smaller with a roof for weather protection Larger with a roof and walls for weather protection
What amenities would be available at stations? (ticket vending machines, real-time “next bus” Some amenities at stations More amenities at stations information, WIFI, bicycle parking, seating, etc.)
Examples of BRT Examples of Premium BRT
Kansas City MAX BRT | Source: Urban Indy Grand Rapids Silver Line | Source: CITE Nantes Busway | Nantes, FR | Source: Semitan Cleveland HealthLine | Source: Flickr User Thom Sheridan
King County Metro Transit RapidRide | Source: LA County Los Angeles Metro Rapid | Source: University of Washington Los Angeles Orange Line | Source: Flickr User tracktwentynine San Bernadino SBX | Source: Flickr User theTransitjournal Metropolitan Transportation Authority Department of Architecture What Makes it “Rapid”? Key Bus Rapid Transit Characteristics
Pre-board Ticketing Raised Platforms = Faster Boarding
PRE-BOARD TICKETING LEVEL BOARDING PLATFORM DESIGN HealthLine, Cleveland, OH The Tide Light Rail - Norfolk, VA HealthLine - Cleveland,OH
Transit Signal Priority Fewer Stations for More Efficient Trips Transit communicates with traffic lights to advance the light to green RAPID TRANSIT STATION RAPID TRANSIT STATIONN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A BRT VEHICLE APPROACHES A RED LIGHT?
TRADITIONAL BUS ROUTES FEEDER BUS ROUTES
STREETCAR
Signal controller detects the BRT vehicle, ends green light on cross-street early
STATION SPACING COMPARISON TRANSIT SYSTEM INTEGRATION Exclusive Transit Lanes
Signal will turn green, BRT vehicle proceeds through intersection
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A BRT VEHICLE APPROACHES A GREEN LIGHT?
EXCLUSIVE BRT LANE EXCLUSIVE TRANSIT LANE Boston, MA Minneapolis, MN
Signal controller detects the BRT vehicle, extends green light
SEPARATE TRANSIT LANE IN MEDIAN BRT vehicle proceeds through intersection Eugene, OR on extended green light BEST: Gratiot Avenue Roadway Options - Downtown Mt. Clemens
Study Area Options
#1: One-Way Pair #2: BRT Northbound Side #3: BRT Southbound Side #4: BRT on Main Street
Factor Option #1 Option #2 Option #3 Option #4
Impact to Traffic Small Impact Largest Impact* Large Impact Smallest Impact Impact to Transit Short Long Shortest Longest Travel Time Impact to Parking None None None Loss of 178 spaces Proximity to Close Closer Farthest Closest Downtown Single Station No Yes Yes Yes Location in Downtown *Would require significant roadway widening
= Roadway and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Options Examined Routing Options - Downtown Detroit BEST: Gratiot Avenue
How will transit navigate 5 MINUTE WALK COMERICA PARK Downtown Detroit? FORD FIELD GRATIOT
By using Congress and Larned Streets, BRT vehicles will be able WOODWARD to quickly navigate Downtown Detroit, avoiding major conflict points MACOMB and getting travelers to their destinations on time. This alignment will ROSA PARKS CAPITOL PARK provide direct access to the Rosa Parks Transit Center, where both TRANSIT CENTER Michigan Avenue and Woodward Avenue BRT lines will terminate, and to M-1 Rail. MICHIGAN MONROE 8 MINUTE WALK GRAND CIRCUS PARK What destinations will I be able to THEATER DISTRICT GREEKTOWN CASINO get to? LAFAYETTE 3 MIN. WALK LAFAYETTE Although specific streets are yet to be determined, all routing options RANDOLPH WASHINGTON BEAUBIEN GRISWOLD will connect people to many of Downtown Detroit’s major destinations BRUSH SHELBY and to other transit lines serving the region. CASS CAMPUS MARTIUS Campus Martius FORT Capitol Park FORT Central Business District Cobo Center
Comerica Park CONGRESS Ford Field
Greektown COBO Hart Plaza CENTER LARNED M-1 Rail Renaissance Center Rosa Parks Transit Center COLEMAN A. YOUNG LEGEND MUNICIPAL CENTER Tunnel to Canada M-1 Rail Michigan BRT JEFFERSON People Mover Gratiot Avenue BRT - Griswold Alignment Woodward BRT Gratiot Avenue BRT - Washington Alignment HART PLAZA TUNNEL TO RENAISSANCE CENTER Where Will Transit Fit in the Street? BEST: Gratiot Avenue Side Running How will “Michigan” Lefts work? Pros • More familiarity among transit users with side running operations • More space on sidewalk at stations for amenities / waiting users • Less impact to center turn lanes / medians • Less left-turn restrictions
Cons • Less reliabile than center running • More conflict between right-turning automobiles and local buses
Center Running (Left Lane) Pros • More reliable than side running • More exclusive through delineation or possible curb separation • More visible, shared island platform stations • More refuge for pedestrians crossing the street • Less capital cost than center running (median) option
Cons • More conflict with left-turning automobiles • More expensive than side running
Center Running (Median) Pros • Most reliable • More exclusive through physical separation (median) from traffic • More visible, split platform stations • More refuge for pedestrians crossing the street
Cons • Some conflict with left-turning automobiles • More expensive than side running and center running (left lane) options Where Will Transit Be Placed? BEST: Gratiot Avenue in Detroit Existing Side Running
Center Running (Left Lane) Center Running (Median) Where Will Transit Be Placed? BEST: Gratiot Avenue in Macomb County Existing Side Running
Center Running (Left Lane) Center Running (Median) Station Location Exercise BEST: Gratiot Avenue
Where are the most important locations for stations along Gratiot Avenue?
Use the provided handout to show which stations are most important along Gratiot Avenue.
Factors to Consider when choosing station locations: • Need to balance convenience (more stations) with rapid service (fewer stations) • The relative population and employment within walking distance • Proximity to major employers, shopping, higher education, recreation and other destinations • Intersection with existing transit routes (easy transfers) • Potential for future development near the transit station • Potential park and ride lot locations to create transit riders • TOD potential
Handout Instructions:
Place a Green Dot at the transit station where your trip would begin
Place a Blue Dot at the transit station where your tip would end
See a place without a station that needs one? Place a Red Dot there.
Draw an Arrow to the Stations you would use most often.
Please provide additional comments via comment card at the final table!