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Rail Transit Feasibility Study

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Rail Transit Feasibility Study Rail Transit Feasibility Study submitted for City of Chattanooga submitted by Cambridge Systematics, Inc. with Gresham Smith & Partners Kimley-Horn Associates Younger Associates September 2016 Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1-1 2.0 Study Area Needs and Challenges ................................................................................2-1 2.1 Community Engagement and Coordination ......................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Prior Plans and Studies ......................................................................................................... 2-5 2.3 Regional Mobility Choices .................................................................................................... 2-7 2.4 Existing Rail Infrastructure .................................................................................................... 2-7 2.5 Travel Conditions ................................................................................................................ 2-11 2.6 Economic Conditions .......................................................................................................... 2-11 2.7 Mobility Needs and Opportunities ...................................................................................... 2-16 2.8 Project Goals and Objectives .............................................................................................. 2-17 3.0 Project Alternatives .................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Transit Technologies ............................................................................................................ 3-1 3.2 Passenger Rail Alternatives .................................................................................................. 3-2 3.3 Evaluation of Project Alternatives......................................................................................... 3-9 3.4 Preferred Alternative .......................................................................................................... 3-16 4.0 Study Recommendations ........................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Rail Service ........................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.2 Shuttle Bus Connections ....................................................................................................... 4-1 4.3 Stations Areas ...................................................................................................................... 4-2 4.4 Non-Motorized Network .................................................................................................... 4-12 5.0 Project Implementation .............................................................................................. 5-1 5.1 Project Phasing and Schedule ............................................................................................... 5-1 5.2 Funding ................................................................................................................................ 5-2 5.3 Economic Development ....................................................................................................... 5-4 5.4 Next Steps ............................................................................................................................ 5-7 i List of Figures Figure 1-1 Passenger Rail Study Corridor ........................................................................................... 1-2 Figure 2-1 Survey Response to “What will provide the biggest bang for the region’s bucks?” ............ 2-7 Figure 2-2 Example Rail Infrastructure Assessment Categories ......................................................... 2-9 Figure 2-3 Potential Station Areas ................................................................................................... 2-13 Figure 3-1 Preferred Alternative .......................................................................................................3-17 Figure 4-1 Station Area Placetypes .................................................................................................... 4-4 Figure 4-2 Main/Central Station Area Development Concept ............................................................ 4-6 Figure 4-3 Holtzclaw Avenue Station Area Development Concept .................................................... 4-7 Figure 4-4 Glass Street Station Area Development Concept .............................................................. 4-8 Figure 4-5 Glass Street Station Area Massing Diagram image ........................................................... 4-9 Figure 4-6 Glass Street Avenue Station Area rendering of Chamberlain Avenue ............................. 4-10 Figure 4-7 Proposed Multi-modal Trail Element .............................................................................. 4-13 Figure 4-8 Complete Streets Connections: Main/Central Station ..................................................... 4-14 Figure 4-9 Complete Streets Connections: Holtzclaw Avenue Station ............................................. 4-14 Figure 4-10 Complete Streets Connections: Glass Street Station ...................................................... 4-15 ii List of Tables Table 2-1 Relevant Plans and Studies ............................................................................................... 2-6 Table 2-2 Infrastructure Assessment Summary .............................................................................. 2-10 Table 2-3 Average Value per Square Foot by Property Type ........................................................... 2-12 Table 2-4 Property Value per Square Foot by Potential Station Area.............................................. 2-12 Table 2-5 Property Values by Potential Station Area ...................................................................... 2-14 Table 2-6 Workers per Job .............................................................................................................. 2-15 Table 2-7 Workers to Job Ratio by Development Area ................................................................... 2-16 Table 3-1 Transit Technology Descriptions ....................................................................................... 3-2 Table 3-2 Transit Technology Characteristics Summary ................................................................... 3-4 Table 3-3 Quantitative Alternative Evaluation Measures .................................................................. 3-9 Table 3-4 Project Service Span and Headways ............................................................................... 3-10 Table 3-5 Projected Future Ridership ............................................................................................. 3-10 Table 3-6 Operations And Maintenance (O&M) Model - Unit Cost ................................................. 3-11 Table 3-7 Alternatives Evaluation Summary Results ...................................................................... 3-15 Table 3-8 Public Input Results on Preferred Alternative ...................................................................3-17 Table 4-1 Preferred Alternative Evaluation Measures ....................................................................... 4-1 Table 4-2 Service Plan Description ................................................................................................... 4-1 Table 4-3 Placetype Overview .......................................................................................................... 4-3 Table 4-4 Station Area Population and Employment at Buildout ...................................................... 4-5 Table 5-1 Project Implementation Milestones .................................................................................. 5-1 Table 5-2 Potential Capital Funding Sources .................................................................................... 5-3 Table 5-3 Potential Operating/Maintenance Funding Sources.......................................................... 5-4 iii List of Appendices Appendix A Public Involvement Plan Appendix B Review of Plans Appendix C Existing Conditions Assessment Appendix D Economic Development – Current State Appendix E Transit Technologies Appendix F Ridership Forecasting Appendix G Environmental Screening Analysis Appendix H Shepherd East Area Bus Recommendations iv Page Intentionally Left Blank v 1.0 Introduction The City of Chattanooga has experienced an urban renaissance A RETURN TO RAIL in the last 30 years. Emerging from a past of severe industrial air pollution, it has become a thriving and revitalized community Chattanooga’s railroad history began in that attracts young professionals who might otherwise have 1850 with the arrival of the Western and chosen Nashville, Austin or other “new economy” cities to make Atlantic line, followed in 1858 by the East their homes and grow their families.. Downtown Chattanooga Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia Railroad. has added mixed-use developments, enhanced pedestrian and The City soon became the “gateway to the bicycle facilities, and enhanced green spaces. Also referred to as south” and maintained a dominant the “scenic city,” most parts of Chattanooga are directly position as a transportation hub for many accessible to rivers and trails and the city has made
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