Newington Station Siting Due Diligence October 2018 1 Benefits of Transit on Economic Development 2 3 What is TOD? . Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is physical development influenced by and oriented to transit. TOD is largely defined by its context and role in the community. TOD provides the freedom of mobility choice and helps improve quality of life. 4 Scaling TOD in Connecticut . Station areas in Connecticut can be categorized into three geographic scales: . Urban . Small City . Village . TOD functions differently at each scale 5 Connecticut is experiencing out-migration of young working professionals . Outmigration of younger generations: . Total net outmigration of more than 20,000 people per year . 57% of college-bound high school graduates leave Connecticut for college . Connecticut has fewer 18-24 year olds than the U.S. average 6 Demand for transit is growing in CT . Connecticut transit ridership is increasing . Connecticut transit capacity is increasing . We are becoming less automobile dependent TOD responds to our changing lifestyles 7 TOD provides opportunity to capture younger markets Reduction in drivers licenses from 1978 – 2008 Nationally 16 yr : -38% 17 yr : -35% 18 yr : -21% 19 yr : -16% Teens are much less likely to drive Transit Investment Spurs Economic Growth and 8 Increases Property Value Source: RPA’s “How better transit boosts home values & local economies” Sources: American Public Transportation Association (APTA); Regional Plan Association (RPA), “How Better Transit Boosts Home Values & Local Economies” (2010) 9 TOD homes values per sq. ft., 1996 - 2014 Homes near Transit Value Index National Home Value Index TOD Index, Dr. John Renne, PhD, AICP, 2014 Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Study Overview 10 FTA Pilot Program for TOD Planning Goals of the FTA Pilot Program (Established Under Section 20005(b) of MAP- 21): • Support comprehensive planning in Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Program project corridors • Maximize chances of comprehensive planning implementation through partnerships • Support planning work that goes beyond what local agencies would usually fund themselves Sources: Federal Transit Administration (FTA) webinar (10/8/14); State of Connecticut 11 Hartford Line Corridor TOD Overview Station Area Typologies 12 Corridor Market Assessment Based on Regional (Hartford and New Haven Metro Areas) and Local Data: • Population/Demographics • Housing • Economy Hartford MSA vs. Connecticut Location Quotient by Employment Sector, 2017 Historical Office New Deliveries, Net Absorption, and Vacancy Rate, North Haven, 2007 - Q1 2017. 140,000 10% Financial Activities 1.30 120,000 Government 1.10 8% 100,000 Information 1.07 80,000 6% Manufacturing 1.05 60,000 Professional & Business Services 1.00 40,000 4% Square Feet Vacancy (%) Education & Health Services 0.97 20,000 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities 0.89 2% 0 Leisure & Hospitality 0.87 -20,000 0% Mining, Logging, and Construction 0.86 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Q1 13 Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics; CoStar (2017) Net Absorption (SF) Deliveries (SF) Vacancy (%) Project Overview & Summary of Options 14 Springfield MA CT Enfield Project Overview Windsor Locks Windsor Hartford Union • Project Purpose: Station • Assess alternate sites for Hartford Line West Hartford Newington Junction station in Newington that may be more Cedar Street suitable for TOD & Economic Development and more amenable to Berlin community support than Newington Junction Meriden Wallingford North Haven New Haven State Street New Haven Union Station 15 Comparison of Station Sites 16 Summary of Options 1. No-Build condition (no Hartford Line station in Newington) 2. Advance Newington Junction Station 3. Advance Cedar Street Station 17 Evaluation Criteria & Station Site Comparison 18 Evaluation Criteria for Comparison Evaluation Category Evaluation Criteria Ridership Potential Station Spacing Trip Generators/Attractors Access Local Vehicular Access Regional Vehicular Access Multi-Modal Connectivity Pedestrian/Bicycle Accommodations Construction Feasibility / Environmental Impacts Constructability Constraints Environmental Conditions Station-Related TOD & Economic Opportunity Acreage of Site(s) Acquired for Station Order-of-Magnitude Cost Estimate Station Construction Property Acquisition Complete Streets / Pedestrian Improvements Long-Term Development Build-Out Potential Acreage of Redevelopment Potential Local Support 19 Ridership Potential: Newington Junction Less balanced station spacing than Cedar Street Lack of proximate anchor institutions Lack of near-term development opportunities 20 Ridership Potential: Cedar Street More balanced station spacing than Newington Junction Proximity to anchor institution (CCSU), with planned expansion Proximity to Fenn Road Plaza:, High School, Newington Center Near-term development opportunities (e.j. National Welding site) 21 Access: Newington Junction No direct access to regional highway system (Approx. 2 miles to I-84) No sidewalks on Francis Avenue (only direct access Recent improvements on road to station). Willard Ave near CTfastrak station CTfastrak multi-use trail ends at station Direct access to station only provided by Frances Direct cross-platform Ave.; Limited potential to access between CTrail and accommodate additional CTfastrak vehicular traffic from east Inconsistent/incomplete sidewalk network on connecting streets to station 22 Access: Cedar Street CTfastrak multi-use trail continues north and south of the station No direct cross-platform connection between Proximate regional highway CTfastrak and CTrail station access via Route 9, with (although walkable) connection to I-84 (Approx. 1 mile) East-west connectivity between station and Newington Center as well Existing traffic congestion; as CCSU Potential capacity constraints to accommodate additional traffic Inconsistent/incomplete sidewalk network on Cedar St. and other connecting streets Potential need for access and pedestrian improvements Completed construction to widen Cedar St. Bridge over Amtrak 23 Environmental Conditions: Newington Junction Flood Zones Wetlands No anticipated significant No anticipated significant impacts to flood zones impacts to wetlands 24 Environmental Conditions: Cedar Street Flood Zones Wetlands No anticipated significant impacts No anticipated significant to flood zones impacts to wetlands 25 Construction Feasibility: Newington Junction Station Limited space between CTfastrak and rail may require an additional year or more to construct station Non standard/irregular western stair tower due to limited space, requires additional design time Rail No additional work required for this design Pedestrian Improvements Improvements are minor with no impact on constructability time or cost 26 Construction Feasibility: Cedar Street Station Standard Station design no issues affecting construction Rail Requires realignment of track curve to maintain 110mph operating speed Realignment must be completed prior to West Platform construction – one to two month additional construction time Pedestrian Improvements Improvements are minor with no impact on constructability time or cost 27 Order-of-Magnitude Cost Estimate: Newington Junction $37.3M – Station Construction $38.2M Total $0.9M – Property Acquisition (Note: excludes land to be leased for $0 from Amtrak) $4.1M – Initial Pedestrian Improvements (Francis Avenue from Willard Avenue to Day Street) 28 Order-of-Magnitude Cost Estimate: Cedar Street $48.2M – Station Construction (Includes track work to maintain the 110mph speed and elevator from west platform to Cedar St) $49.25M Total $1.044M – Property Acquisition $6.1M – Initial Pedestrian Improvements (Connection from CTfastrak multi-use path to Hartford Line station.) 29 Breakdown of Cost Estimates Station Newington Junction Cedar Street Station Site $ 3,100,000.00 $ 2,800,000.00 Station Platforms & Tower $ 28,100,000.00 $ 28,600,000.00 Additional Elevator $ 00.00 $ 5,300,000.00 Railroad Support (Flagging) $ 6,100,000.00 $ 6,100,000.00 Track Realignment $ 00.00 $ 5,400,000.00 Acquisition $ 900,000.00 $ 1,044,000.00 Total $ 38,200,000.00 $ 49,244,000.00 Newington Junction Cedar Street Other Ped. Improvements Ped. Improvements Roadway and Bike Trail $ 4,100,000.00 $ 6,100,000.00 Total $ 4,100,000.00 $ 6,100,000.00 Grand Total $ 42,300,000.00 $ 55,344,000.00 30 TOD & Economic Development Opportunity Comparison 31 Long-Term Development Build-Out Potential: Newington Junction 1 32 33 32 Long-Term Vision (CRCOG Concept Memo): Newington Junction * Not supported by the Town of Newington 33 Long-Term Development Build-Out Potential: Cedar Street 3 45 35 15 98 34 Long-Term Vision: Cedar Street 35 Transit Oriented Development Potential 120 100 15 83 Acres Near or Mid- term 80 Developable Land 45 Long-Term TOD Opportunities 60 Planned/Proposed Development ACRES Mid-Term TOD Opportunities Station Related TOD Opportunities 40 35 20 32 1 Acre Near or Mid-term Developable 0 1 Land 3 Newington Junction Cedar Street 36 Evaluation Summary 37 Summary of Options 1. No-Build condition (no Hartford Line station in Newington) 2. Advance Newington Junction Station 3. Advance Cedar Street Station 38 Summary 1. No-Build condition (no Hartford Line station in Newington) 2. Advance planned Newington Junction Station 3. Advance Cedar Street Station 39 Newington Station Siting Due Diligence October 2018 40.