DOCSLIB.ORG

4.0 Independence Corridor Transit Improvement Alternatives

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
4.0 Independence Corridor Transit Improvement Alternatives 4.0 INDEPENDENCE CORRIDOR TRANSIT IMPROVEMENT ALTERNATIVES The Independence Avenue BRT Planning and Feasibility Study assessed various alternatives to improve bus-based transit services between Kansas City and the City of Independence. In the past, the corridor has been carefully studied for the feasibility of reintroduction of streetcars to Independence Avenue in the NextRail KC plan. This current planning effort is focused on the demand and feasibility of development of BRT and supporting RideKC Bus and IndeBus services in and around Figure 45: Original MAX BRT Branding, Station, the Independence Avenue corridor and within Vehicle the City of Independence. This section provides details of alternatives considered for alignment accompanying 15-foot-high identifying marker, of BRT and RideKC Bus route improvements that containing a real-time next bus arrival display. To include alignment selection and operations options improve travel time and schedule reliability, Main considered. Finally, this section provides a preferred Street MAX collaborated with the City of Kansas conceptual alignment and service plan that may be City to develop MAX ‘Bus Only Lanes’ in the Main advanced for more detailed planning in the future. Street corridor for the peak hours in the peak travel direction (i.e. northbound in the AM peak / 4.1 MAX BUS RAPID TRANSIT southbound in the PM peak). Another important BACKGROUND component improving reliability was in introduction of Transit Signal Priority (TSP) to the Kansas City BRT systems have developed differently to adapt region. TSP systems communicate between an to their urban environment and to meet the needs Automatic Vehicle Locator (AVL) on-board the BRT of the cities where they operate. In the mid-2000’s, vehicles and TSP equipped traffic signals. When a the KCATA developed an innovative approach to BRT vehicle is operating behind schedule the TSP BRT planning and implementation that was scaled system may hold a green light longer allowing the to the core of Kansas City with the deployment of BRT vehicle to advance through the intersection, or the Main Street MAX (Metro Area Express) BRT in may shorten the duration of a red signal to allow the July 2005. Because of lower traffic volumes and bus to advance. low levels of congestion, the Main Street MAX did not require the construction and high capital cost The MAX BRT model had proven so successful that of dedicated bus guideways to achieve improved planning began for the second route in the Troost travel speeds and reliability allowing the project to Avenue corridor in 2007 and began operation in be delivered more economically than other BRT 2011. Troost MAX greatly improved transit service in projects in the United States at that time. one of the most heavily utilized routes in the Kansas City metro and incorporated new, environmentally The MAX system featured a branded identity that friendly features that built on the foundation of the used specialized BRT vehicles and incorporated Main Street MAX. These ‘green’ features included a uniquely designed stations as seen in Figure diesel-electric hybrid BRT vehicles, rain gardens 45. Stations consist of a lighted shelter with an at select stations, pervious pavement at park and Independence Avenue BRT Planning & Feasibility Study | 55 ride lots and other features. Troost MAX was also 24 Independence operating along Independence the first to incorporate public art as another way Avenue in Kansas City was would remain on that for transit to improve and promote the community street from approximately Charlotte Street to the city it serves. Troost MAX experienced similar success boundary with the City of Independence. Two areas as Main Street MAX and led to the development that presented multiple routing alternatives were of the third MAX line in the Prospect Corridor within the City of Independence and downtown that is currently under construction. Prospect Kansas City. MAX is planned to begin operation late in 2019. If feasible, and implemented, a MAX service in the CITY OF INDEPENDENCE Independence corridor would be the fourth MAX BRT corridor in Kansas City. Through the planning process, four route alternatives were developed for the portion of 4.2 INDEPENDENCE AVENUE TRANSIT 24 Independence in the City of Independence, OPERATIONS PLANNING including the current alignment along Winner Road. These four alternatives are depicted in Figure 46 below. 4.2.1 ALIGNMENT ALTERNATIVES The process for evaluating a preferred route for One of the first steps in assessing the feasibility enhanced bus transit in Independence included a of a future BRT service in the Independence broad range of criteria. The existing bus route along Avenue study area is to determine the most Winner Road was evaluated, along with proposed appropriate alignment. The portion of the existing routes on Truman Road and US Highway 24. Among Figure 46: 24 Independence Alignments in Independence, MO Independence Avenue BRT Planning & Feasibility Study | 56 the categories used for weighing the most optimal Avenue. This stop provides another connection route, were employment density, projected ridership point to the IndeBus system with a transfer demand, existing infrastructure, approximated travel opportunity to/from the IndeBus Orange Route. time, economic development opportunities, and Utilizing an initial scoring system based upon connections to other transit services. these factors, as seen in Table 10, the Winner Figure 47 presents recent average weekday Road corridor was not comparable to the other passenger boarding activity on 24 Independence two corridors in overall suitability. Thus, a more for all bus stops in the City of Independence along detailed comparative study was done between its current alignment along Winner Road to the Truman Road and the 24 Highway alternatives. Independence Transit Center. Most bus stops Although both routes were similar in certain along the Winner Road alignment have fewer than regards, the Truman Road corridor proved more five-passenger boardings per day. The two most efficient based upon a set of critical factors. These significant stops in terms of passenger boarding included overall location, proximity to transit- activity are the Independence Transit Center where dependent populations, the presence and condition transferring to and from all IndeBus system routes of connecting sidewalks, existing transit stops, and occur. This location has the greatest boarding directness of service to the Transit Center, which activity in the city. The other important location is reduces overall operations and maintenance costs. the bus stop located on US 24 Highway at Brookside Figure 47: 24 Independence Weekday Boarding Activity in Independence Independence Avenue BRT Planning & Feasibility Study | 57 Approx. Estimated Estimated Corridor Pedestrian Live - Economic Major Alignment Travel Population Employment Length Infrastructure/ Work Development Destinations Alternative Time (1/4 mile) (1/4 mile) (miles) Connectivity Analysis Opportunity Directly Served (minutes) E - 1: Winner 23,905 25,346 12.6 44.0 1 2 5.82 (4) 4 E - 2: Truman 20,257 24,111 11.5 40.5 2 1 25.45 (1) 5 E - 3: 24 Hwy 21,581 23,476 12.0 42.0 4 4 34.02 (1) 3 E - 4: Bess 20,377 23,658 11.7 41.0 3 3 31.04 (3) 3 Truman Table 10: Transit Alignment Selection Criteria and Scoring Each alignment alternative closely examined the corridor for employment. The alignment criteria also number of nearby residents and employment examined the potential for future redevelopment opportunities to the proposed route as well as how along potential alignments. Both Truman Road and directly that alignment reached the Independence 24 Highway scored highest in terms of acres ready Transit Center. Winner Road had the highest number for potential redevelopment. More details on this of residents and jobs within ¼ mile of the alignment. Live/Work Analysis are available in Appendix 4. Truman Road had the lowest number of residents Economic Development Opportunity was measured within ¼ mile while 24 Highway had the lowest assessing the total number of acres of developable number of jobs within ¼ mile. The Truman Road parcels along each alignment alternative. The alternative was the most direct in terms of route numbers shown in parentheses represents an mileage and travel time. informal ranking of development potential for each The analysis also examined the ease of access to alignment based on experience of the development a transit alignment by reviewing the availability community. Results of this examination are in of sidewalks in the area surrounding a proposed Appendix 5. transit route as well as slopes to determine how With these considerations, Truman Road is the easily a transit user could safely walk to a bus preferred route for future RideKC transit service alignment. This is shown as a composite score as within the City of Independence. If 24 Independence ‘Pedestrian Infrastructure/Connectivity'. Winner is moved from its current alignment along Winner Road and Truman Road scored the highest in terms Road further assessment of IndeBus service would of sidewalk availability and more level terrain. be needed to determine best ways to provide transit Details on this walkability analysis can be viewed in service coverage to areas that would potentially lose Appendix 3. direct access to 24 Independence. The alignment selection analysis examined the It was determined early in the planning study that number of people traveling to the areas around the annual operating
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Innovation. Technology. Performance. for the URBAN RAIL COMMUNITY
    Smart cities Tram-trains Ticketing Power Traction CBTC Train control Technology Mobility Telecommunications Innovation Innovation. Driverless Infrastructure Passenger Information Asset management FOR THE URBAN RAIL COMMUNITY Technology. Performance. www.terrapinn.com/railliveamericas Organized by Our Story Hall of Fame Revamped for the new year, RAIL Live! Americas 2019 is moving to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor as we build on the success of World MetroRail Congress Americas 2018, which continued our strong tradition of bringing together top leaders from the Americas’ most influential and innovative transit agencies. Andy Byford Jim Kenney 2018 leaders included Kevin Desmond, CEO of TransLink, Edward Reiskin, President Mayor Director of Transportation for the SFMTA, Jim Kenney, Mayor, City of Philadelphia New York City Transit City of Philadelphia Tom Gerend, Executive Director of KC Streetcar, Robert Puentes, President & CEO of the Eno Center for Transportation, Martin Buck, International Lead for Crossrail in London, and Lorenzo Aguilar Camelo, the General Director of Metrorrey in Monterrey, Mexico. KEY INDUSTRY DISCUSSIONS FOR 2019 WILL BE DIVIDED INTO FOUR Jascha Franklin-Hodge Bill Zebrowski Chief Information Officer BRAND NEW TRACKS: Chief Information Officer Department of Innovation & SEPTA • The Future of Mobility: Discussions around Mobility as a Service, Fare Collection, Technology, City of Boston Intermodality, Ridership, Passenger Information Systems, and First and Last Mile transport. • New Project Development: Examining Funding and Financing, Public-Private Partnerships, Procurement, Designing and Building New Metros, Light Rails, Commuter, and High-Speed Rail Lines. Meera Joshi Adam Giambrone NYC Taxi and Limousine Director, Brooklyn-Queens • Train Control: Covering ATC, CBTC, PTC, as well as the Full Spectrum of Commission Connector [Streetcars and LRT] Modernizing Signaling and Train Control Systems to Increase Safety and Capacity.
    [Show full text]
  • KC JAZZ STREETCAR ROLLS out for DEBUT the 2021 Art in the Loop KC Streetcar Reveal Set for 4 P.M
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 24, 2021 Media Contact: Donna Mandelbaum, KC Streetcar Authority, 816.627.2526 or 816.877.3219 KC JAZZ STREETCAR ROLLS OUT FOR DEBUT The 2021 Art in the Loop KC Streetcar Reveal Set for 4 p.m. Friday. (Kansas City, Missouri) – The sound of local jazz will fill Main Street as the KC Streetcar debuts its latest streetcar wrap in collaboration with Art in the Loop. Around 4 p.m., Friday, June 25., the 2021 Art in the Loop KC “Jazz” Streetcar will debut at the Union Station Streetcar stop located at Pershing and Main Street. In addition to art on the outside of the KC Streetcar, the inside of the streetcar will feature live performances from percussionist Tyree Johnson and Deremé Nskioh on bass guitar. “We are so excited to debut this very special KC Streetcar wrap,” Donna Mandelbaum, communications director with the KC Streetcar Authority said. “This is our fourth “art car” as part of the Art in the Loop program and each year the artists of Kansas City continue to push the boundaries on how to express their creativity on a transit vehicle.” Jazz: The Resilient Spirit of Kansas City was created by Hector E. Garcia, a local artist and illustrator. Garcia worked for Hallmark Cards for many years as an artist and store merchandising designer. As a freelance illustrator, he has exhibited his “Faces of Kansas City Jazz” caricature collections in Kansas City jazz venues such as the Folly Theater and the Gem Theater. In addition to being an artist, Garcia enjoys Kansas City Jazz – both listening to it and playing it on his guitar.
    [Show full text]
  • Light Rail Transit (LRT) ♦Rapid ♦Streetcar
    Methodological Considerations in Assessing the Urban Economic and Land-Use Impacts of Light Rail Development Lyndon Henry Transportation Planning Consultant Mobility Planning Associates Austin, Texas Olivia Schneider Researcher Light Rail Now Rochester, New York David Dobbs Publisher Light Rail Now Austin, Texas Evidence-Based Consensus: Major Transit Investment Does Influence Economic Development … … But by how much? How to evaluate it? (No easy answer) Screenshot of Phoenix Business Journal headline: L. Henry Study Focus: Three Typical Major Urban Transit Modes ■ Light Rail Transit (LRT) ♦Rapid ♦Streetcar ■ Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Why Include BRT? • Particularly helps illustrate methodological issues • Widespread publicity of assertions promoting BRT has generated national and international interest in transit-related economic development issues Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) Widely publicized assertion: “Per dollar of transit investment, and under similar conditions, Bus Rapid Transit leverages more transit-oriented development investment than Light Rail Transit or streetcars.” Key Issues in Evaluating Transit Project’s Economic Impact • Was transit project a catalyst to economic development or just an adjunctive amenity? • Other salient factors involved in stimulating economic development? • Evaluated by analyzing preponderance of civic consensus and other contextual factors Data Sources: Economic Impacts • Formal studies • Tallies/assessments by civic groups, business associations, news media, etc. • Reliability
    [Show full text]
  • Measuring the Effect of Transportation Policies on the U
    CITY OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI KANSAS CITY DOWNTOWN STREETCAR TIGER DISCRETIONARY GRANTS PROGRAM ECONOMIC ANALYSIS SUPPLEMENTARY DOCUMENTATION JUNE 3, 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................... 2 2. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 6 3. METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK ............................................................................................................ 6 4. PROJECT OVERVIEW .............................................................................................................................. 7 4.1 Base Case and Alternatives ..................................................................................................... 7 4.2 Project Cost and Schedule ....................................................................................................... 8 4.3 Disruptions Due to Construction ............................................................................................. 9 4.4 Effects on Long-Term Outcomes ............................................................................................. 9 5. GENERAL ASSUMPTIONS ...................................................................................................................... 11 6. DEMAND PROJECTIONS ......................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • THE KC STREETCAR IS ROLLING to the RIVER Two KC Streetcar Extensions Are on a Roll After Receiving Federal Funding Announcements
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 10, 2020 Media Contact: Donna Mandelbaum, KC Streetcar Authority, 816.877.3219 THE KC STREETCAR IS ROLLING TO THE RIVER Two KC Streetcar Extensions Are On A Roll After Receiving Federal Funding Announcements (Kansas City, Missouri) – The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced this morning that the KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension project will receive $14.2 million in federal funding as part of the FTA’s BUILD Grant Program. This comes shortly after the FTA announced $50.8 million in New Starts Capital Improvement Grant funds for the KC Streetcar Main Street Extension project. As part of the BUILD Grant program, the FTA is allocating $14.2 million in fiscal year 2020 federal funds to the KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension project. This federal funding represents seventy percent of the total project cost, allowing the team to advance design and complete construction for this unprecedented project. The remaining funding for this $22.2 million project is coming from local sources, including $5 million from Port KC. The KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension project team is a collaborative partnership between the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (Grant Recipient), the KC Streetcar Authority, Port KC, and the City of Kansas City, Missouri. “I’m pleased that today Kansas City has secured an additional $14.2 million federal grant—on the heels of a recently awarded $50.8 million grant—to continue our Streetcar expansion efforts,” said Mayor Quinton Lucas. “Since becoming mayor, I have met with administration leaders in Washington and Kansas City to advocate for our community’s transportation and infrastructure priorities, and I appreciate the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Edmonton's Hanover 601 Streetcar Returned to Germany
    Edmonton’s Hanover 601 Streetcar returned to Germany After more than a decade in Edmonton, “Hanover 601”, the red and white streetcar that plied the rails atop the world’s highest streetcar bridge, has been returned to its native Germany to celebrate the 125th anniversary of public transit in Hanover. It will become part of a museum collection in that city. The streetcar was sold for $1.00 and departed Edmonton on September 16th. The six-axle high performance car dates from 1970 and was one of two, 600 built by Linke-Hoffman-Busch with Kiepe electrics, and 601 built by Düwag with Siemens equipment, as prototypes to replace the Hanover streetcar fleet. After testing, the operator ÜSTRA decided on eight-axle cars, and so the pair were returned to their respective builders. Boston and San Francisco wanted to bring 601 over as a prototype for a joint fleet renewal program, but this was nixed by Nixon who insisted on home grown vehicles, resulting in the disastrous SLRV design by Boeing Vertol with bodies from Japan. Düwag modified the 601 design to develop the U2 LRT car for Frankfurt, and it was subsequently modified for Edmonton, Calgary and San Diego. When Edmonton’s LRT line was being designed, ETS’ Robert Clark, having established a connection with the Düwag management, suggested a tour of North American cities with 601, but Düwag’s General Manager replied to the effect that Düwag built the best streetcars in the world and needed no such demonstration. About that time, Siemens decided to diversify its medical operation in Canada and brought along Düwag, going from a sub-contractor to prime, with the Edmonton order being key.
    [Show full text]
  • Beautiful and Damned: Geographies of Interwar Kansas City by Lance
    Beautiful and Damned: Geographies of Interwar Kansas City By Lance Russell Owen A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Geography in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in charge: Professor Michael Johns, Chair Professor Paul Groth Professor Margaret Crawford Professor Louise Mozingo Fall 2016 Abstract Beautiful and Damned: Geographies of Interwar Kansas City by Lance Russell Owen Doctor of Philosophy in Geography University of California, Berkeley Professor Michael Johns, Chair Between the World Wars, Kansas City, Missouri, achieved what no American city ever had, earning a Janus-faced reputation as America’s most beautiful and most corrupt and crime-ridden city. Delving into politics, architecture, social life, and artistic production, this dissertation explores the geographic realities of this peculiar identity. It illuminates the contours of the city’s two figurative territories: the corrupt and violent urban core presided over by political boss Tom Pendergast, and the pristine suburban world shaped by developer J. C. Nichols. It considers the ways in which these seemingly divergent regimes in fact shaped together the city’s most iconic features—its Country Club District and Plaza, a unique brand of jazz, a seemingly sophisticated aesthetic legacy written in boulevards and fine art, and a landscape of vice whose relative scale was unrivalled by that of any other American city. Finally, it elucidates the reality that, by sustaining these two worlds in one metropolis, America’s heartland city also sowed the seeds of its own destruction; with its cultural economy tied to political corruption and organized crime, its pristine suburban fabric woven from prejudice and exclusion, and its aspirations for urban greatness weighed down by provincial mindsets and mannerisms, Kansas City’s time in the limelight would be short lived.
    [Show full text]
  • Main Street Extension Receives Positive Fta Rating
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 25, 2019 Media Contact: Donna Mandelbaum, KC Streetcar Authority, 816.627.2526 or 816.877.3219 KC STREETCAR MAIN STREET EXTENSION RECEIVES POSITIVE FTA RATING (Kansas City, Missouri) – The KC Streetcar project team recently received a positive rating from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the Main Street Extension to University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), marking a crucial step in moving the streetcar extension project towards construction. With the release of the FTA’s annual New Starts report, the KC Streetcar Main Street Extension project received a Medium-High rating, which will position this project to compete favorably with projects from across the country for federal funding. Though this is an important prerequisite to a future federal grant agreement, it is not a formal commitment of federal funding. “This is the rating our team had hoped and worked for,” said Tom Gerend, executive director of the KC Streetcar Authority. “The rating reinforces the success of our downtown starter line and positions our Main Street extension amongst the most deserving projects in the entire country.” The summary report from FTA is available online: https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/docs/funding/grant-programs/capital- investments/131541/fy20-annual-report.pdf "The FTA is keeping their eye on the innovative things happening in Kansas City," said Robbie Makinen, KCATA President & CEO. "This positive rating is an important step to moving forward with streetcar expansion and better integrating our regional RideKC system." “This is good news,” said Joe Reardon, President & CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber.
    [Show full text]
  • Kc Streetcar on Social Media
    APTA JUNE 2017 TOM GEREND, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - OVERVIEW KC STREETCAR AUTHORITY JASON WALDRON, STREETCAR PROGRAM MANAGER - BLOCK RAIL KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI KC Streetcar - By the Numbers ▪ 1 year in service ▪ 2,000,000 passenger trips (most by any streetcar start-up in year 1) ▪ $2,000,000,000+ in adjacent development ▪ 10 surface parking lot conversions to new active uses ▪ 42% of KCMO residents have ridden, 60% in Council District 4 ▪ 40% increase in downtown residential density under construction within 3 blocks ▪ 58% increase in TDD Sales Tax Revenues since start of construction ▪ 77% of riders are satisfied or very satisfied with service ▪ 229 New business licenses issued in TDD since the beginning of construction RIDERSHIP & USAGE RIDERSHIP FACTS ▪TOTAL RIDERSHIP AS OF 5.11.17: 2,137,196 ▪CUMULATIVE DAILY AVG 2016-2017: 5,580 5 RIDERSHIP TRENDS 19000 17000 15000 13000 11000 9000 Passenger Trips Passenger 7000 5000 3000 1000 May-16 Jun-16 Jul-16 Aug-16 Sep-16 Oct-16 Nov-16 Dec-16 Jan-17 Feb-17 Mar-17 Apr-17 May-17 6 TOP 10 RIDERSHIP DAYS SINCE MAY 6, 2016 1. May 6, 2017: 17,267 6. April 22, 2017: 13,998 2. July 16, 2016: 15,780 7. July 30, 2016: 13,841 3. April 15, 2017: 14,965 8. August 6, 2016: 13,610 4. May 7, 2016: 14,648 9. August 20, 2016: 13,504 5. Sept. 3, 2016: 14,013 10.July 23, 2016: 13,491 7 Have you ridden the KC Streetcar in the previous year (Q4)? No Yes (only streetcar) Yes (bus also) Q1: 26% Q2: 31% Q3: 35% 28% Q4: 42% YES: 42% NO: 58% 14% New Business Licenses within TDD 2014: 40 2015: 80 2016: 79 2017 (to May): 26
    [Show full text]
  • Examining the Development Effects of Modern-Era Streetcars: an Assessment of Portland and Seattle
    Project 1798 October 2018 Examining the Development Effects of Modern-Era Streetcars: An Assessment of Portland and Seattle Jeffrey Brown, PhD Joel Mendez, PhD MINETA TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE transweb.sjsu.edu MINETA TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE MTI FOUNDER LEAD UNIVERSITY OF Hon. Norman Y. Mineta Mineta Consortium for Transportation Mobility MTI BOARD OF TRUSTEES Founded in 1991, the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI), an organized research and training unit in partnership with the Founder, Honorable Norman Richard Anderson (Ex-Officio) Steve Heminger* (TE 2018) Dan Smith (TE 2020) Lucas College and Graduate School of Business at San José State University (SJSU), increases mobility for all by improving the safety, Mineta (Ex-Officio) President and CEO Executive Director President Secretary (ret.), US Department of Amtrak Metropolitan Transportation Capstone Financial Group, Inc. efficiency, accessibility, and convenience of our nation’s transportation system. Through research, education, workforce development, Transportation Commission (MTC) and technology transfer, we help create a connected world. MTI leads the four-university Mineta Consortium for Transportation Vice Chair Laurie Berman (Ex-Officio) Paul Skoutelas (Ex-Officio) Hill & Knowlton, Inc. Director Diane Woodend Jones (TE 2019) President & CEO Mobility, a Tier 1 University Transportation Center funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of the Assistant California Department Principal & Chair of Board American Public Transportation Secretary for Research and
    [Show full text]
  • KANSAS CITY STREETCAR MAIN STREET EXTENSION Project Narrative
    KANSAS CITY STREETCAR MAIN STREET EXTENSION Project Narrative Submitted by Kansas City Streetcar Applicant: City of Kansas City, Missouri Partner: Kansas City Streetcar Authority Partner: Kansas City Area Transportation Authority September 7, 2018 i Kansas City Streetcar Main Street Extension Project Project Narrative Table of Contents 1.0 Project BackgrounD....................................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 Project Partners ............................................................................................................................................ 3 3.0 Project Setting .............................................................................................................................................. 4 3.1 Existing Transit Service ...................................................................................................................... 5 3.1.1 Streetcar Service ............................................................................................................... 5 3.1.2 Local Bus Service ............................................................................................................... 6 3.1.3 Intercity Passenger Rail Service ......................................................................................... 7 4.0 Current ConDitions.......................................................................................................................................11 5.0 Project Purpose
    [Show full text]
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis of Constructing and Operating a Streetcar System in Buffalo, NY
    State University of New York College at Buffalo - Buffalo State College Digital Commons at Buffalo State Applied Economics Theses Economics and Finance 12-2020 Cost-Benefit Analysis of Constructing and Operating a Streetcar System in Buffalo, NY Daniel Kevin Zielinski State University of New York College at Buffalo - Buffalo State College, [email protected] Advisor Bruce Fisher, Ph.D. First Reader Bruce Fisher, Ph.D. Second Reader Frederick Floss, Ph.D. Third Reader Nicole Hunter, Ph.D. Department Chair Frederick Floss, Ph.D. To learn more about the Economics and Finance Department and its educational programs, research, and resources, go to https://economics.buffalostate.edu/. Recommended Citation Zielinski, Daniel Kevin, "Cost-Benefit Analysis of Constructing and Operating a Streetcar System in Buffalo, NY" (2020). Applied Economics Theses. 43. https://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/economics_theses/43 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/economics_theses Cost-Benefit Analysis of Constructing And Operating a Streetcar System in Buffalo, NY Daniel Zielinski An Abstract of a Thesis in Applied Economics Submitted in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements For the Degree of Master of Arts DecemberAugust 2020 Buffalo State College State University of New York Department of Economics and Finance i. Abstract In about 30 of the largest 300 US metro areas, fixed-rail electric streetcars have been reintroduced or refurbished after 75 years of policy favoring petroleum-powered buses. Unlike buses, new streetcar systems are designed to enhance or regenerate economic activity along their routes in urban centers that lack the population density to support subway systems. This paper assesses the criteria utilized by the US Department of Transportation in its decision-making process for supporting streetcar projects.
    [Show full text]