RTD Mobility Hub Guidelines

RTD Mobility Hub Guidelines January 2019 Prepared by: CONTENTS 1. Introduction ....................... 1 1.1 Document Purpose .......................... 3 2. What Is a Mobility Hub? .............. 4 3. Mobility Hub Typologies ............. 6 3.1 Existing Transit and Mobility ................... 6 3.2 Transportation Functions ..................... 9 3.3 Land Use Context .......................... 12 4. Mobility Hub Toolbox ................16 5. Appendix A ........................37 i 1. Introduction Over the last decade the transportation landscape has significantly Given these new pressures and opportunities, municipalities throughout evolved. Demographic shifts, increased urbanization, and changes the greater Denver region and Regional Transportation District in employment types and arrangements have put new demands (RTD) recognize the need to rethink how they deliver mobility. This on existing transportation and transit networks. At the same time, Guidebook, therefore, explores ways for RTD and agencies throughout breakthroughs in technology have ushered in new vehicles, new the region to cost-effectively improve and expand transit access, while services, and new ways to travel. Collectively, this is changing how also offering customers more ways to make more trips. people think about mobility. Why invest in integrated mobility? Many new mobility providers offer on-demand and shared-use options, bringing increased flexibility and convenience while also reducing the need for users to own a car. When successfully paired with transit, these new and emerging services have the potential to help build a transportation system that is more accessible, more sustainable, and more affordable. Studies1 have shown that when people use Household vehicle ownership by shared-mode experience shared-modes they are more likely to also use transit. This is because shared modes provide users with more trip-making options, making it easier for them to live car-free. For example, individuals can use transit for commute trips and local travel, bike share for first-last mile connections, and carshare for large shopping trips or weekend excursions, ultimately allowing them to forgo car ownership entirely. In fact, “supersharers” – those who regularly use multiple shared modes such as carsharing and bike sharing Source: Murphy, “Shared Mobility and the Transformation of Public Transit” – own half as many household cars as those who only use public transit. 1 Murphy, “Shared Mobility and the Transformation of Public Transit”; Masabi, ‘Key Factors Influencing Ridership in North America: The Emerging Urban Mobility Ecosystem.”; Parzen, “Shared-Use Mobility Reference Guide” 1 In addition to improving mobility and transit access, mobility hubs also offer municipalities an opportunity to work in tandem with RTD to improve community livability. The introduction of shared modes has put increased demands on streets and sidewalks, forcing cities and municipalities to rethink how these public spaces are managed. The expansion of Transit Oriented Development (TOD) style development has also put an increased focus on the use of public spaces and the transportation – land use connection. Mobility hubs will provide focal Why are Mobility Hubs important? “The design and configuration of stops and stations impacts Source: DenverUrbanism how everyone on the street interacts with the transit system” – NACTO Transit Street Design Guide To effectively improve transit access and customer mobility, RTD and Stops and stations are the “front door” of transit and can either local stakeholders must first consider some of the core questions attract or deter users based on how they are configured and surrounding mobility: designed. Well-designed stops with basic amenities such as • How do people know about their options? shelters and benches improve perceptions of transit service and 2 • How do they access them? help bolster ridership . Studies from the University of Minnesota and the University of Utah have found that stops with shelters, • How can they use them in conjunction with transit? benches, sidewalk connections, and real-time information grow • How can mobility be better integrated into the community? ridership more than stops without amenities and that those Addressing these questions is complex and requires a multi-pronged same amenities reduce perceived wait-time at stops by nearly 50 approach, which RTD has taken. The recent First-Last Mile Strategic Plan percent3. As the first place most people interact with the transit has defined strategies and policies to improve multi-modal connections system, stops undoubtedly play a crucial role in attracting and to RTD services. These Guidelines complement that effort by looking retaining riders. at what RTD and local partners can do at transit stops and stations to improve mobility and transit access by focusing on the physical As new mobility options continue to spread across the Metro and virtual infrastructure elements that are needed to support multi- Denver area, stops will naturally evolve from transit access points modal and intermodal trip making. Options such as dedicated space to mobility access points. Proactively planning for and guiding this for shared-mobility, enhanced pedestrian connections, integrated trip planning, and local placemaking are all strategies that will allow RTD transition will allow both RTD and its municipal partners to ensure and municipalities to guide the transition of stops and stations to more stops remain attractive useful places and that the transportation comprehensive mobility hubs, ultimately making transit more attractive system remains accessible and equitable for all. to more people. 2 Buchanan et al, “From Sorry to Superb: Everything You Need to Know about Great Bus Stops” 3 Fan et al, “Perception of Waiting Time at Transit Stops and Stations”; Kim et al, “Impacts of Bus Stop Improvements” 2 points as cities around the region work to optimize and manage The Guidelines consist of four main sections: public space in a way that improves the public realm and maximizes 1. Introduction – Provides an overview and document purpose mobility and access for all users. Using mobility hubs to strengthen the connection between mobility, people, and places will allow RTD and 2. What is a Mobility Hub? – Defines mobility hubs and their goals municipalities to collectively maximize the shared value of transit and and objectives the public experience. 3. What are the types of Mobility Hubs? – Establishes mobility hub typologies 1.1 Document Purpose 4. Mobility Hub Toolbox– Provides a toolbox of hub components RTD and municipalities throughout the Metro Denver area have been and guidance on the use of each treatment proactively addressing the evolving transportation landscape by While these Guidelines present strategies and actionable steps, it is adopting principles and goals that support collaboration, strategic important to note that success, above all, will hinge on partnerships, partnerships, placemaking, growth and the integration of new modes. local engagement, and a shared vision for the future. Given the Numerous studies have been done or are currently underway which complexity of urban mobility, a collaborative approach to planning for support the development of a sustainable multi-modal transportation and implementing integrated access will be fundamental to ensuring network, embrace innovative technologies, and explore strategic the transportation system continues to work for people of all ages, mobility partnerships. incomes, and mobility needs. Lastly, this document represents a snapshot in time. The mobility Some examples of recent studies include the Mobility Choice environment is dynamic and continues to rapidly evolve. RTD Service Blueprint Plan (RTD), the North Boulder Mobility Hub project Development anticipates updating these Guidelines as new information, modes, best practices, and opportunities emerge. (City of Boulder, RTD, Boulder County and CDOT), the First and Last Mile Strategic Plan (RTD), Mobility Action Plan (City of Denver), and Denveright (City and County of Denver). These Mobility Hub Guidelines offer a next step for the region by providing different strategies and tools RTD, city and county leaders, and local stakeholders can use as they consider mobility access and how and where alternative mobility can integrate with the existing public transportation system. The Guidelines focus on the factors that contribute to successful mobility hubs by describing the functions, amenities, infrastructure, and services that make it easier for people to access transit and other transportation options. They consider both the physical elements related to access (sidewalks, shared-mode parking, bicycle infrastructure, etc) and the elements that facilitate access (mixed- use environments, real-time information, integrated trip-planning, etc), acknowledging the importance of both. 3 2. What Is a Mobility Hub? Mobility hubs are more than just transit stops. They are community by providing multimodal services and activities at or around transit focal points that seamlessly integrate various transportation modes, stations. This goal can be achieved by focusing on two objectives: provide supportive multimodal infrastructure, and utilize placemaking transit and mobility access and placemaking4. These objectives can be strategies to create activity centers that maximize first–mile last-mile achieved by using several strategies, outlined below, which serve to connections and increase

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