Steering Committee Meetings September 26, 2016 | October 3, 2016 Where We Are, Decisions and Next Steps
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Powell-Division Transit and Development Project Steering Committee meetings September 26, 2016 | October 3, 2016 Where we are, decisions and next steps On June 1, 2016, the committee: y Discussed the public outreach and technical feasibility of an inner Division alignment y Reviewed the bus rapid transit (BRT) characteristics of this project y Discussed information desired to reach a decision On September 26 the committee will: y Discuss technical findings and community input for all remaining route decisions y Learn more detail about the Powell-Division Corridor-wide Strategy y Discuss upcoming timelines and process for LPA decision-making On October 3 the committee will: y Seek consensus on LPA recommendation for routing of the BRT Contents Page 2 Project goals and outcomes Page 3 Locally preferred alternative timeline Page 4 Corridor-wide Strategy Page 6 Route decisions: overview Page 8 How do we fund a quality project? Page 9 What will the project bring? Page 10 Recommendation: East terminus and route Page 12 Recommendation: Inner Portland Page 14 Recommendation: Willamette River crossing Page 15 Recommendation: Downtown Portland Page 16 Project timeline Powell-Division Transit and Development Project Steering Committee September 26 and October 3, 2016 Project goals and outcomes Why here, why now? The Powell-Division Transit and Development Project aims to create a better experience and quicker ride for the thousands of people who ride buses to get to school, go to work or go shopping. Improved bus rapid transit service on Division Street could be operating in 2021. • 10,000 daily riders • Investing in existing, currently ride Line popular service 4-Division • Faster, more • Too many buses are reliable service overcrowded, too • Greater ridership many riders passed capacity up at bus stops The Steering Committee adopted the following goals and outcomes on June 23, 2014. • Improved buses • Powell-Division is a and stations Project outcomes growing and diverse 1. Create a vision and development strategy for key places that promotes community driven corridor in our region • BRT is part of a comprehensive and supported economic development and identifies tools and strategies that mitigate • Regional High strategy to improve the impacts of market pressures that cause involuntary displacement. Capacity Transit Plan transit, safety priority 2. Identify a preferred near-term high capacity transit solution for the corridor that safely and community and efficiently serves high ridership demand, improves access to transit, is coordinated stabilization with related transportation investments, and recognizes limited capital and operational funding. The solution will include mode, alignment and station locations with supporting transportation improvements. Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) decision making and timeline Project goals The Steering Committee is charged with making a recommendation on the LPA for the y Transportation: People have safe and convenient transportation options − including transit project that determines the mode of transportation, the route and the station efficient and frequent high capacity transit service that enhances current local transit locations. The path forward involves the Steering Committee meeting 3-4 more times to service − that get them where they want to go and improves the existing system. make the remaining LPA decisions. y Well-being: Future development and transit improvements create safe, healthy neighborhoods and improve access to social, educational, environmental and economic Sept. 26, 2016 Oct. 3, 2016 Oct. 26, (Nov. 7 Winter 2016-2017 opportunities. Steering Committee: if needed) 2016 • Review Steering Committee: Steering Committee: Local jurisdictions y Equity: Future development and transit improvements reduce existing disparities, technical findings, • Select route • Select station adopt LPA benefit current residents and businesses and enhance our diverse neighborhoods. There community input locations is a commitment to prevent market-driven involuntary displacement of residents and on route choices businesses and to equitably distribute the benefits and burdens of change. y Efficiency: A high capacity transit project is efficiently implemented and operated. Ongoing design, technical analysis and community engagement: open houses, community meetings, one-on-one outreach with businesses, Continues with new residents and property owners Community Advisory Committee 2 POWELL-DIVISION TRANSIT AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT POWELL-DIVISION TRANSIT AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 3 Powell-Division Transit and Development Project Steering Committee September 26 and October 3, 2016 Beyond the LPA— Highlights: Division Street Highlights: Powell Boulevard Highlights from the Powell-Division Corridor-wide Strategy • Division BRT (Locally Preferred • Advance Powell Blvd. as a priority in Developing a more reliable, rapid bus system on Division Street that carries more passengers Alternative): More reliable service, regional High Capacity Transit Plan is one key component to achieving the goals of the Powell-Division Transit and Development greater capacity, station improvements. • Line 9: Improved frequency, faster project. And while a major transit improvement is important, the greater Powell-Division Also includes pedestrian crossings, ADA limited stop service and sidewalk improvements to access corridor needs more than a Division BRT to meet the range of needs and priorities of • Pedestrian crossings, ADA, sidewalk, transit stations communities throughout the area. While the Steering Committee is responsible for bus stop and safety improvements recommending the BRT Division Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA), their input has helped • Rapid flash beacons to make • 25 traffic signal upgrades shape the corridor-wide strategy. pedestrians more visible to motorists (Portland to Sandy) • Bike safety improvements The Powell-Division Corridor-wide Strategy represents the commitments of project partners • Outer Powell modernization (TriMet, City of Portland, City of Gresham, ODOT, Multnomah County and Metro) to actions that improve transit service, safety, walking and biking access, community development, and housing and business stability along Division Street, Powell Boulevard, and key North/South Highlights: Other Streets Highlights: Corridor-wide streets. Bus service improvements from • Catalyze live, work development near Detailed maps that describe improvements in the corridor will be available in late Service Enhancement Plans, including transit stations in Gresham: Focus on September. reallocation of redundant service hours: 182nd/Division, Eastman/Division, Gresham Transit Center, Stark and Kane • Potential frequency improvements on Powell-Division Corridor-wide Strategy lines 70, 73, 80, 81, 87 • Affordable housing development at 82nd/Division • Potential new lines on 148th, 162nd Steering Equitable Housing • Secure funding for new affordable Safety and Active • Potential Kane Dr bus stop Committee Transit Investment and Community housing units; preserve affordable responsibility: Transportation enhancements Define LPA Development housing units - mode, • Intersection safety along 82nd Ave. alignment and • Portland creating • Division: Safety station locations • Division BRT • Construct bikeway improvements Locally Preferred and stabilizing improvements, and enhanced crossings on 20s, 70s, Alternative affordable housing bicycle and 100s, 130s, 150s neighborhood pedestrian projects • Powell transit • Gresham greenways enhancements promoting homes • Powell: Safety and businesses improvements and • Other local near transit pedestrian projects transit service enhancements • Transit-oriented • Pedestrian projects development and bikeways on North/South Streets 4 POWELL-DIVISION TRANSIT AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT POWELL-DIVISION TRANSIT AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 5 Powell-Division Transit and Development Project Steering Committee September 26 and October 3, 2016 Route Overview Downtown Portland Inner Portland: Division Outer Division Route decisions remaining for the Portland Transit Mall (more promising) y BRT would be 15-20% faster y The Steering Committee Locally Preferred Alternative y Serves existing stations on Portland Transit Mall than 4-Division recommended an alignment along map more with many transit connections y Serves existing high ridership outer Division from 82nd Avenue to number information the Gresham Transit Center for further y Union Station area would be the likely terminus y Inner Division is less congested study on September 29, 2014 Downtown Portland p. 15 and provide connection to Amtrak than inner Powell y Analysis and design are context Columbia/Jefferson (less promising) y Minimal property impacts, fits Willamette crossing p. 14 sensitive and ongoing y Fewer connections within current street character Inner Portland p. 12 y Investments focused where y Numerous design constraints y More information on p. 12 improvements are most needed East Terminus p. 10 Willamette River crossing Powell Boulevard East Terminus Hawthorne Bridge y Not a feasible near-term Gresham TC terminus could work MHCC needs better transit y Faster to Pioneer Courthouse Square because it project y Connects to MAX Blue Line and 8 bus routes y Upgrading the Line 20 would travels more directly y Would not provide desired travel y Has park-and-ride and bike facilities provide strong connections to MHCC y Bridge lift delay during off-peak hours time or reliability without major Getting from Gresham TC to MHCC is difficult