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 Square 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
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