Dekalb County Transit Master Plan Final Report - August 2019
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DeKalb County Transit Master Plan Final Report - August 2019 Prepared for Prepared by 1355 Peachtree St. NE Suite 100 Atlanta, GA 30309 What is DeKalb County’s Transit Master Plan? The Transit Master Plan’s purpose is to address DeKalb County’s mobility challenges, help to enhance future development opportunities, and improve the quality of life within each of DeKalb County’s cities and unincorporated communities, both north and south. The plan identifies transit service enhancements for today and expansion opportunities for tomorrow to create a 30-year, cost-feasible vision for transit investments in DeKalb County Table of Contents Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1-1 Background ............................................................................................................................. 1-1 Project Goals ........................................................................................................................... 1-1 Chapter 2 State of DeKalb Transit ................................................................................................. 2-1 History of DeKalb Transit ................................................................................................... 2-1 DeKalb Transit Today .......................................................................................................... 2-2 Current Unmet Rider Needs ............................................................................................. 2-4 Chapter 3 Approach ........................................................................................................................... 3-1 Technical Process .................................................................................................................. 3-2 Public Involvement Process .............................................................................................. 3-3 Chapter 4 Project Evaluation ........................................................................................................... 4-1 Overview .................................................................................................................................. 4-1 Project Universe .................................................................................................................... 4-1 Project Evaluation Measures ............................................................................................ 4-6 Project Scoring ....................................................................................................................... 4-10 Chapter 5 Scenario Development ................................................................................................. 5-1 Financial Forecasting ........................................................................................................... 5-1 Scenarios for Consideration.............................................................................................. 5-6 Chapter 6 Scenario Evaluation ........................................................................................................ 6-1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 6-1 Access to Jobs ........................................................................................................................ 6-1 Economic Development ..................................................................................................... 6-9 Ridership Forecast ................................................................................................................ 6-12 Chapter 7 Factors for Success ......................................................................................................... 7-1 Building Momentum ........................................................................................................... 7-1 Building Trust ......................................................................................................................... 7-2 Key Recommendations ....................................................................................................... 7-2 Steps to Implementation ................................................................................................... 7-5 ii Table of Contents Appendix A Public Involvement Documentation .................................................................... A-1 Appendix B Financial Planning Documentation ....................................................................... B-1 Appendix C Ridership Results for ART and High-Capacity Transit Routes .................... C-1 List of Tables Table 4-1 Arterial Rapid Transit (ART) Evaluation Matrix .............................................. 4-11 Table 4-2 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Evaluation Matrix ...................................................... 4-13 Table 4-3 Light Rail Transit (LRT) Evaluation Matrix ....................................................... 4-15 Table 4-4 Heavy Rail Transit (HRT) Evaluation Matrix .................................................... 4-17 Table 5-1 MARTA Act Sales Tax Characteristics ............................................................... 5-3 Table 5-2 HB 930 Sales Tax Characteristics ........................................................................ 5-3 Table 5-3 Half-Penny Scenario Project List ........................................................................ 5-8 Table 5-4 Full-Penny Scenario Project List ......................................................................... 5-10 Table 5-5 Previously Adopted Scenario Project List ....................................................... 5-12 Table 6-1 Economic Development Potential by Scenario ............................................. 6-9 Table 6-2 Modeling Assumptions in Scenarios ................................................................ 6-13 Table 6-3 Estimated 2040 Ridership on Major Projects ................................................ 6-14 Table 6-4 ART Spreadsheet Ridership Model Variables and Factors ....................... 6-15 Table 6-5 Estimated 2040 Ridership on Arterial Rapid Transit Routes .................... 6-16 Table 6-6 2040 Ridership Estimates for Build Scenarios ............................................... 6-16 List of Figures Figure 1-1 DeKalb Transit Master Plan Goals .................................................................... 1-2 Figure 3-1 DeKalb TMP Technical and Public Involvement Processes ..................... 3-1 Figure 3-2 Public Open House ................................................................................................ 3-4 Figure 3-3 Minneapolis Peer City Tour ................................................................................ 3-5 Figure 3-4 Transit and Land Use Visioning Charrette .................................................... 3-6 Figure 3-5 Display Booth at Community Event ................................................................ 3-7 Figure 4-1 Heavy Rail Transit ................................................................................................... 4-4 Figure 4-2 Light Rail Transit ..................................................................................................... 4-4 Figure 4-3 Bus Rapid Transit .................................................................................................... 4-5 Figure 4-4 Arterial Rapid Transit ............................................................................................ 4-5 Figure 4-5 Translating TMP Goals into Project Evaluation Measures ...................... 4-6 iii Table of Contents Figure 5-1 Projected Sales Tax Revenue for Half-Penny and Full-Penny................ 5-4 Figure 6-1 Access to Jobs from South DeKalb Mall ........................................................ 6-3 Figure 6-2 Access to Jobs from Stonecrest Mall .............................................................. 6-4 Figure 6-3 Access to Jobs from Brookhaven ..................................................................... 6-5 Figure 6-4 Access to Jobs from Northlake Mall ............................................................... 6-6 Figure 6-5 Access to Jobs from Downtown Tucker ......................................................... 6-7 Figure 6-6 Access to Jobs from Dunwoody ....................................................................... 6-8 Figure 7-1 Potential Funding Options beyond HB 930 Sales Tax .............................. 7-3 Figure 7-2 Current Unmet Needs .......................................................................................... 7-4 Figure 7-3 Steps to Implementation ..................................................................................... 7-7 List of Maps Map 2-1 Transit Services in DeKalb County ....................................................................... 2-3 Map 2-2 Current Unmet Rider Needs .................................................................................. 2-5 Map 4-1 Universe of Projects .................................................................................................. 4-3 Map 4-2 Economic Development Target Areas ............................................................... 4-8 Map 4-3 Equitable Target Areas ............................................................................................. 4-9 Map 4-4 Arterial Rapid Transit Projects