Arterial BRT Corridor Concepts
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Arterial BRT Corridor Concepts December 2020 Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Concept Development Methods ...................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Alignment and Termini ................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Concept Station Locations............................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Concept Service Plans ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Downtown Alignments ....................................................................................................................................................................................7 Corridor Concepts ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 11 63rd Avenue/ Zane ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Central .................................................................................................................................................................................................................14 Como/ Maryland .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 18 Grand .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 22 Johnson/ Lyndale ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 24 Lowry ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 28 Nicollet ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 31 Randolph/ East 7th ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 35 Rice/ Robert ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 39 West Broadway/ Cedar ................................................................................................................................................................................. 43 Appendix: Station Location Tables ................................................................................................................................................................ 46 63rd Avenue/ Zane ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 46 Central ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 48 Como/ Maryland .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 51 Grand .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 54 Johnson/ Lyndale ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 56 Lowry ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 59 Nicollet ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 61 Randolph/ East 7th ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 63 Rice/ Robert ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 66 West Broadway/ Cedar ................................................................................................................................................................................. 69 Network Next | Arterial BRT Corridor Concepts 2 Introduction The project team developed corridor concepts for each of the eleven corridors, shown in Table 1, that were advanced through the arterial BRT candidate corridor screening phase. Corridor concepts include alignments, termini, concept station locations, and concept service plans; these elements form the basis of the corridor evaluation. This memo outlines the station siting methods and criteria applied to the corridors and introduces each of the corridor concepts in greater detail. Advancing Corridors Corridor Approximate Length (mi) 63rd Avenue/ Zane 6.0 Central 13.0 Como/ Maryland 16.6 Grand 8.5 Johnson/ Lyndale 17.1 Lowry 10.5 Nicollet 9.2 Randolph/ East 7th 11.5 Rice/ Robert 11.5 West Broadway/ Cedar 10.5 West 7th/ White Bear Corridor Screening In fall 2020, Metro Transit engaged stakeholders around the 11 advanced corridors that emerged from the screening step. During this period, Ramsey County requested that Metro Transit remove the West 7th/ White Bear corridor from continued consideration in the Network Next process as the County advances efforts on the Riverview Corridor Modern Streetcar. The locally preferred alternative for the Riverview Corridor, a Modern Streetcar from downtown St. Paul to the airport and Mall of America along West 7th Street, was adopted into the regional Transportation Policy Plan (TPP) in 2019. The Engineering and Pre-Environmental study phase of the Riverview project began in October 2020 and is planned to continue through 2023. This process will examine impacts and gather detailed information to inform the project’s preliminary design. These efforts will include detailed, corridor-specific analysis of both the Modern Streetcar locally preferred alternative and a BRT alternative. The West 7th/ White Bear corridor will not advance in Network Next, leaving the 10 corridors listed above advancing for technical evaluation and prioritization. Network Next | Arterial BRT Corridor Concepts: Preliminary Alignments, Stations, and Service Plans 3 Figure 1. Advancing Corridors Network Next | Arterial BRT Corridor Concepts: Preliminary Alignments, Stations, and Service Plans 4 Concept Development Methods Corridor concepts are meant to represent the application of arterial BRT in each corridor and provide adequate definition to facilitate corridor evaluation. Concept station locations are shown at the intersection level. Generally, a station intersection is representative of two station platforms, one in each direction; an intersection located on a one-way street represents one station platform. Corridor service plans were developed to represent approximate level of arterial BRT and connecting/ supporting service within the corridors. Further planning and stakeholder engagement will refine station locations and service plans in future phases of corridor development. Alignment and Termini Alignment and termini shown in the corridor concepts are generally consistent with the corridors as defined by Metro Transit for the candidate corridor screening. In the few cases where alternate routing is proposed it is noted in the concept. Concept Station Locations The project team identified concept station locations by creating a base map that incorporated trip generators and future land use, stop-level boarding and alighting counts and schedule transit trips, as well as transit connections. Key stations were assigned near major land use trip generators, stops with high existing ridership, and major transfer points to local and METRO routes. Table 3 lists the data sources used to facilitate the station