Train Station Relocation Feasibility Study
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Prepared for: Upper Moreland Township In Partnership with: DVRPC SEPTA Montgomery County ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Upper Moreland Township Revitalization Task Force DVRPC Karen Houck, Chairperson David Anderson Marian Hull, Township Revitalization Coordinator Robert B. Crippen SEPTA Jonathan de Jonge Byron Comati Jerry DiMarzio Jody Holton Charles Gallub Jo Ann Stover Lance Ginsburg David T. Joss MONTGOMERY COUNTY Joseph Lavalle Wes Ratko Dennis Sakelson Michael Narcowich Brian Shannon Dick Sayer Ralph Storti Others Jack Tarman Gregory T. Rogerson Thomas M. Winterberg Arthur Adams Commissioners Kevin C. Spearing Clifton (Kip) McFatridge Township Staff David A. Dodies, Manager A Catalyst for Sustainable Transit Oriented Development TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................ v 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 1 Study Background ..................................................................................................................................... 1 The Goals Guiding the Study ..................................................................................................................... 4 An Introduction to SEPTA’s Warminster Line Service ............................................................................... 7 Feasibility Study Process ......................................................................................................................... 10 2. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ................................................................................................ 12 Revitalization Task Force – Steering Committee Meetings .................................................................... 13 Public Meetings ....................................................................................................................................... 13 Technical Review Meetings ..................................................................................................................... 16 Public Study Partners .............................................................................................................................. 17 Additional Stakeholder Interaction ......................................................................................................... 18 3. WILLOW GROVE CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT .......................................................... 19 Station Context ....................................................................................................................................... 19 Issues and Opportunities ........................................................................................................................ 23 Market and Real Estate Analysis ............................................................................................................. 30 4. STATION RELOCATION CONCEPTS .......................................................................... 34 Concept Identification ............................................................................................................................. 34 Concept Evaluation ................................................................................................................................. 44 5. STATION DESIGN CONCEPTS AND CAPITAL PROGRAM ELEMENTS ............... 50 Station Design Concepts ......................................................................................................................... 50 Capital Program Elements ....................................................................................................................... 58 6. IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING .................................................................................. 60 Near‐Term Investments .......................................................................................................................... 61 Mid‐Term Investments ............................................................................................................................ 66 July 2012 Page i A Catalyst for Sustainable Transit Oriented Development Long‐Term Investments .......................................................................................................................... 69 7. FISCAL / ECONOMIC ANALYSIS .................................................................................. 72 Methodology ........................................................................................................................................... 72 TOD Scenarios Modeled and Key Assumptions ...................................................................................... 78 Financial Analysis Findings ...................................................................................................................... 80 Additional Commentary .......................................................................................................................... 86 Fiscal Impact Methodology ..................................................................................................................... 88 8. PUBLIC FUNDING SOURCE IDENTIFICATION ....................................................... 97 Grant Programs ....................................................................................................................................... 98 Other Financing Techniques ................................................................................................................. 100 TABLE OF EXHIBITS Exhibit 1‐1: Initial Study Area and Station Relocation Focus Area ........................................................... 2 Exhibit 1‐2: Previous Planning Studies ..................................................................................................... 4 Exhibit 1‐3: Overarching Willow Grove Revitalization Goals Applicable to this Study ............................ 5 Exhibit 1‐4: Revitalization Task Force Goal Survey at Beginning of Study ............................................... 6 Exhibit 1‐5: SEPTA Warminster Line Overview and Willow Grove Alignment Detail .............................. 8 Exhibit 1‐6: Warminster Line Ridership ................................................................................................... 9 Exhibit 1‐7: Feasibility Planning Process ................................................................................................ 10 Exhibit 2‐1: Study Timeline of Outreach Events ..................................................................................... 12 Exhibit 2‐2: Study Stakeholders ............................................................................................................. 18 Exhibit 2‐3: Individual Interviews Conducted During the Study ............................................................ 18 Exhibit 3‐1: Upper Moreland Land Uses in Vicinity of the Willow Grove Station .................................. 20 Exhibit 3‐2: Existing Station Area Photos ............................................................................................... 21 Exhibit 3‐3: Willow Grove Station – Surroundings and Statistics........................................................... 22 Exhibit 3‐4: South Davisville Block Photos ............................................................................................. 24 Exhibit 3‐5: Current Willow Grove Train Station ¼‐mile Walk Distance ................................................ 26 Exhibit 3‐6: Proposed South Davisville Block Train Station ¼‐mile Walk Distance ................................ 26 Exhibit 4‐1: Station Overview Locations ................................................................................................ 35 July 2012 Page ii A Catalyst for Sustainable Transit Oriented Development Exhibit 4‐2: Location Selection Rationale and Site Specific Context Issues ...................................... 35‐36 Exhibit 4‐3: Concept A1 Overview and Sketch Details ........................................................................... 38 Exhibit 4‐4: Concept A2 Overview and Sketch Details ........................................................................... 39 Exhibit 4‐5: Concept B1 Overview and Sketch Details ........................................................................... 40 Exhibit 4‐6: Concept B2 Overview and Sketch Details ........................................................................... 41 Exhibit 4‐7: Concept C1 Overview and Sketch Details ........................................................................... 42 Exhibit 4‐8: Concept C2 Overview and Sketch Details ........................................................................... 43 Exhibit 4‐9: Evaluation Screening Process ............................................................................................. 44 Exhibit 4‐10: Station Concept Evaluation Matrix .............................................................................. 46‐48 Exhibit 5‐1: Refined Station Concept Elements ..................................................................................... 51 Exhibit 5‐2: Potential Grove Siding Track Reconfiguration .................................................................... 56 Exhibit 5‐3: Estimated Project Costs for the Willow Grove Station Redevelopment Concept .............. 59 Exhibit 6‐1: Estimated Near Term Costs for the Willow Grove Station Redevelopment Concept .......