Public Workshop #2Presentation
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City Avenue Transportation Connectivity Plan Public Workshop July 30, 2013 Introduction TONIGHT’S WORKSHOP Introduction What we’ve heard from you Results of studies Transit Pedestrian Improvement concepts How can I participate? What is the Connectivity Plan? STUDY AREA CITY AVE. What is the Connectivity Plan? STUDY GOALS • Increase awareness of transit in the City Avenue District • Propose improvements to transit services and facilities • Recommend improved physical pedestrian connections to transit and businesses • Increase use of transit for travel to work destinations in the corridor • Promote walking and bicycling for local trips in the corridor ‒ Reduce auto dependence ‒ Reduce congestion ‒ Create a more desirable environment What we’ve heard from you PUBLIC MEETING #1 Public comments: “Train station at Bala is a critical feature for the community. It is a great marketing tool to have regional rail at your door.” “Increased transit and transit facilities are extremely important. Public transit acts as a hub of activity.” What we’ve heard from you WALKING TOUR Attended by staff from SEPTA, Lower Merion, CASSD, Philadelphia City Planning Commission, DVRPC Bala Station Overbrook Station City Ave. Results of studies EMPLOYEE SURVEY RESULTS Significant Findings: If you commute to work by bus, what improvements would be most helpful to you? 76% said “Being able to know when the next bus will arrive.” If you commute to work by car, please tell us if public transportation is available for your work trip. 33% said “Don’t know”. Survey also indicated interest in an employee shuttle from Overbrook Station to the office center east of Belmont Avenue Results of studies RESIDENT SURVEY RESULTS • 430 responses • 85% from single family homes, 15% from apartments • For respondents who work in Center City: 58% use transit 30% drive alone • For respondents who work in the City Avenue District: 2% take transit 83% drive alone • Most frequently cited reason for not using transit: “It’s quicker to drive.” Results of studies RESIDENT SURVEY • Destinations you’d like to get to and can’t Improvement Concepts PEDESTRIAN YOU SAID : • Not enough time to cross City Avenue • No pedestrian signals • Signals at Drexel/Merion don’t handle rush at train arrivals City Avenue Signal Upgrade project will: • Add pedestrian countdown signals • Provide standard crossing times • Upgrade ADA curb ramps • Provide features for mobility impaired and visually impaired • Add detection and adapt to traffic conditions Improvement Concepts PEDESTRIAN YOU SAID : • The new lighting on City Avenue by St Joes is great. Wish we could have that all along City Avenue. A lighting upgrade for City Avenue has been designed. • 50 th Street to Lancaster Avenue • Funding has not yet been obtained for project • Intend to include some drainage improvements in project Improvement Concepts PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLE YOU SAID : • Fix the Union Avenue Bridge PennDOT project to reconstruct Union Avenue Bridge is designed and funded. Construction may begin in 2014 - a two-year project. Improvement Concepts PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLE YOU SAID : • Extend the Cynwyd Heritage Trail • Extend trail south to Fairmount Park Trail extension from Cynwyd Station to City Avenue is on Lower Merion Township official map Provides an alternative to busy Conshohocken State Road “Parkside City Line Trail” from City Avenue to park is in the Philadelphia Trail Master Plan, categorized as Low Priority Improvement Concepts TRANSIT YOU SAID : • Lack of parking at Overbrook Station • Difficulty crossing City Avenue at Drexel Road/Merion Road with children to get to Merion Park • Wish the underpass connection to Merion Road was restored Improvement concept: • Potential new parking lot on northwest corner • Existing westbound platform extends under bridge • Potential connection between parking lot and station Improvement Concepts TRANSIT Overbrook Station • Potential station parking lot with landscaping on northwest corner of City Avenue and Merion Road View into lot from Merion Rd. driveway POTENTIAL PARKING LOT Lot Mill Creek City Ave. OVERBROOK STATION Outbound platform Connection from existing underpass to lot 63 rd63 Street Drexel Road Drexel and Merion Road requires bridging Mill Creek Improvement Concepts TRANSIT YOU SAID : • An entrance to Bala regional rail station from the City side of the bridge would be INCREDIBLY helpful City Avenue Bridge reconstruction will restore stair entrance from City side Currently closed stair entrance near Conshohocken Avenue and Mansion at Bala apartments Alternative Improvements TRANSIT YOU SAID : • Bala Station lacks signage and has access issues Improvement Concepts TRANSIT Bala Station • Install new station identification signage at station driveways Conshohocken State Rd driveway • Restore stair entrances from both sides of City Avenue as part of bridge reconstruction project • Retrofit curb along west Step not platform at the track accessible pedestrian crossing for ADA access Improvement Concepts TRANSIT Bala Station • Clearly post the SEPTA parking area and identify SEPTA spaces with paint color or numbers. • Create visible pathway for ‘kiss and ride’ • Provide bike racks (Overbrook station has racks for 4 bikes, Cynwyd and Bala stations have no bike racks) • Clean areas and apply anti-graffiti coating Improvement Concepts PEDESTRIAN YOU SAID : • Create pedestrian path to better access the center of the shopping center. Currently you must walk across parking lot to access stores Bala Cynwyd Shopping center is obligated by its store leases to provide a certain number of parking spaces. A redevelopment or major change in shopping center could require decked parking in order to provide room to incorporate good pedestrian walkways Improvement Concepts PEDESTRIAN Short Term: Create entries from City Avenue sidewalk in lower conflict areas. Fewer spaces lost. City Ave. Bala Cynwyd Shopping Center Alternative Improvements PEDESTRIAN YOU SAID : • Curb cuts needed at some driveways and intersections St. Asaph’s Rd. and Decker Blvd. 555 City Ave. driveway east of bus stop Driveways need curb ramps to walk along the street AND sidewalks from the street to walk to the buildings Work with PennDOT and with private property owners to ensure curb cuts and related accessibility features are incorporated into future projects. Improvement Concepts PEDESTRIAN YOU SAID : • Need a definite walkway to Target from behind it Provide a sidewalk from Lincoln Green to Target Improvement Concepts TRANSIT • Revisit possibility of a bus stop at Target with store management. • Pursue possibility of reconnecting Presidential Boulevard between Monument Road and Neill Drive, at least for buses. City Ave . TARGET Potential bus stop area, especially if Presidential Boulevard can be reconnected Improvement Concepts TRANSIT YOU SAID : • More covered areas and benches to wait for buses. Specifically the stop in front of Boston Market and Bank of America (47 th St.) Southbound and northbound bus stops near 47 th Street Shelters should be provided at the heavy boarding locations • Southbound at 47 th Street (Bala Cynwyd Shopping Center) • Northbound at 47 th Street, Kings Grant, 53 rd Street Improvement Concepts TRANSIT Give the corridor a “transit presence” by providing added amenities to all bus stops with a consistent look to better promote the transit service. Improvement Concepts PEDESTRIAN YOU SAID : It is intimidating to walk on Presidential Boulevard due to high speeds. Cars sometimes jump the curb. Improvement Concepts PEDESTRIAN Presidential Boulevard • Four lanes not used around curves; cars straddle lane line • Cars speed around the curves, squealing tires, uncomfortable for pedestrians • No sidewalk in short section near 191 Change Presidential Boulevard to three lanes with 5-foot shoulders to calm speed Construct the missing sidewalk link Improvement Concepts PEDESTRIAN Presidential Boulevard • No place to cross from east to west side of Presidential Boulevard. • “NO PEDESTRIAN CROSSING” at City Avenue intersection. Provide pedestrian crossing with center lane refuge island at 555 City Avenue North of crossing, change Presidential Boulevard to three lanes with 5-foot shoulders to calm speed. Improvement Concepts PEDESTRIAN Presidential Boulevard pedestrian crossing Improvement Concepts PEDESTRIAN Montgomery Ave., Bala Ave. and Conshohocken State Rd. Right turn yield lane. Pedestrians are waiting for Poor sight distance between pedestrians and walk signal, but right turns are not signal controlled. right turning drivers. Revise curbline and control westbound right turns with ‘Right Turn on Red After Stop’ Improvement Concepts PEDESTRIAN Montgomery Ave., Bala Ave. and Conshohocken State Rd. Cynwyd Remove small island, expand Station curb at corner, control right turns with RIGHT TURN ON RED AFTER STOP Montgomery Ave Improvement Concepts PEDESTRIAN YOU SAID : • The hardest thing about walking in Lower Merion is the overgrown shrubbery Improvement Concepts PEDESTRIAN • Complete missing links St. Asaph’s Rd., Conshohocken Belmont Ave. south of State Rd. at Montessori School Llandrillo Rd. Conshohocken Ave. at Golf Club Improvement Concepts PEDESTRIAN YOU SAID : Sidewalks between Inglis House and City Avenue need to accommodate wheelchairs. Repair sidewalks on Belmont Ave., Conshohocken Ave., 47 th St. Belmont Ave. sidewalk heaving Conshohocken Ave. Improvement Concepts IMPROVEMENT LOCATIONS Improvement Concepts TRANSIT REAL TIME BUS ARRIVAL INFORMATION • Improve information regarding existing capabilities