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 rd 63 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 to access bus arrival information. • Work with the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Innovation and Technology and/or local universities to explore low cost opportunities to develop apps for sharing real time information for SEPTA bus routes. Develop pilot program in City Avenue District. Improvement Concepts
TRANSIT BETTER INFORMATION • Create customized brochure highlighting current bus service and local destinations served. • Work with SEPTA Marketing and Customer Information staff to promote and distribute transit information to district employers.
• Develop a “local transit” guide for the City Avenue Corridor that summarizes in a clear and concise manner, transit service available in the district and where to make connections from Center City. Improvement Concepts
Not all comments could be addressed in this study
Some comments involved locations outside the study area. • If in Lower Merion, will refer to the Circulation Plan committee. • If in Philadelphia, will refer to city planner.
Some comments involved traffic requests, e.g. for left turn signal arrows, outside scope of this study. • Will refer these to Township or City as appropriate.
Some requests not feasible at this time. Examples: More frequent train service on the Cynwyd line Exclusive WALK signal to cross City Avenue Where are we in the study process?
STUDY TASKS
• Existing transportation facilities inventory • Existing transit operations review Inventory • Corridor demographics and destinations • Ridership survey • Train station access analysis Analysis • Bus transit service analysis • Transit plan We are here • Passenger information plan Recommendations • Pedestrian and bicycle facilities plans • Report Where are we in the study process?
NEXT STEPS
• Development of preferred concepts
• Draft report
• Fall 2013: presentation of the draft report and implementation plan How can I participate?
PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON IMPROVEMENT CONCEPTS • Team members are stationed nearby to answer questions. • Take a survey sheet to tell us which of the concepts presented tonight are most important to you. • On your survey sheet, please tell us about any concerns that were not covered or modifications you would like to see. Questions?