FINAL REPORT Grand Rapids Streetcar Route Refinement Study Grand Rapids, Michigan October 2014 The Rapid | Table of Contents | i TABLE OF CONTENTS Message from the Streetcar Advisory Committee Chair v Next Stop – Grand Rapids! ............................................................................................................ v Executive Summary vi Backround ................................................................................................................................... vi Streetcar Advisory Committee ..................................................................................................... vi Selection of a Preferred Streetcar Route ..................................................................................... vii Recommended Alternative Cost Characteristics ........................................................................... x Funding Options ........................................................................................................................... x Governance................................................................................................................................... x Next Steps ................................................................................................................................... xi Section 1 | Introduction 1 Mission Statement ........................................................................................................................ 1 Section 2 | Streetcars in North America 5 Streetcars – What Are They? ......................................................................................................... 5 Streetcar Characteristics ....................................................................................................... 5 Streetcar Communities ......................................................................................................... 7 Section 3 | The 2014 Streetcar Advisory Committee 8 Committee Structure .................................................................................................................... 8 Section 4 | Governance – Implementing and Operating the Grand Rapids Streetcar 10 Background ................................................................................................................................ 10 Governance Roles ................................................................................................................ 10 Governance Models of Streetcar Systems ........................................................................... 12 Recommended Governance Structure for Grand Rapids ...................................................... 13 Section 5 | Development and Evaluation of Potential Streetcar Alignments 15 Route Analysis Approach ............................................................................................................ 15 Preliminary Route Screening....................................................................................................... 16 Conceptual Alignment Options .................................................................................................... 17 Development and Evaluation of Final Alternatives ...................................................................... 20 Selection of Recommended Route .............................................................................................. 23 Potential for Expansion ............................................................................................................... 23 www.hdrinc.com Grand Rapids Streetcar Route Refinement Study The Rapid | Table of Contents | ii Section 6 | Characteristics of the Recommended Alternative 26 Recommended Route ................................................................................................................. 26 Proposed Stop Locations ............................................................................................................ 28 Operating Cost ........................................................................................................................... 29 Capital Cost ................................................................................................................................ 30 Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Standard Cost Category Format (SCC) ....................... 31 Unit Costs ............................................................................................................................ 32 Escalation and Inflation factor .............................................................................................. 33 Summary of Total Project Costs ........................................................................................... 33 Estimated Capital Cost Summary ......................................................................................... 33 Ridership Forecast ...................................................................................................................... 34 Design/Infrastructure Issues ........................................................................................................ 34 Grade .................................................................................................................................. 35 Street Geometry ................................................................................................................. 35 Bridges/Structures ............................................................................................................... 36 Vertical Clearances .............................................................................................................. 36 Utility Impacts ...................................................................................................................... 37 Lane Geometry .................................................................................................................... 37 Section 7 | Potential Capital and Operating Funding Sources 38 Capital Costs and Potential Revenues ......................................................................................... 38 Potential Federal Sources .................................................................................................... 42 Potential State Sources ....................................................................................................... 46 Potential Local Sources ....................................................................................................... 47 Conceptual Capital Funding Strategies ................................................................................ 52 Operating Costs and Potential Revenues .................................................................................... 55 Section 8 | Vehicle Storage & Maintenance Facility 59 Vehicle Maintenance and Storage Facility .................................................................................. 59 Section 9 | Next Steps for Implementation 61 Environmental Analysis & Design Engineering ............................................................................ 61 Community Engagement ............................................................................................................ 62 Transit Funding ........................................................................................................................... 62 www.hdrinc.com Grand Rapids Streetcar Route Refinement Study The Rapid | Table of Contents | iii LIST OF TABLES Table ES-1: Cost Summary ..................................................................................................................... x Table 5-1: Evaluation Criteria ............................................................................................................... 16 Table 5-2: Evaluations of Options ......................................................................................................... 20 Table 5-3: Final Analysis Criteria ........................................................................................................... 22 Table 6-1: Streetcar Operating Costs ................................................................................................... 30 Table 6-2: Capital Cost Summary ......................................................................................................... 34 Table 7-1: Streetcar Funding Strategies................................................................................................ 41 Table 7-2: FTA Local Financial Commitment Evaluation Measures and Criteria ................................... 44 Table 7-3: M1-Rail Donations ................................................................................................................ 49 Table 7-4: Scenario 1 Maximum Private Participation ........................................................................... 53 Table 7-5: Scenario 1 Moderate Private Participation ........................................................................... 53 Table 7-6: Scenario 1 Minimal Federal Participation ............................................................................. 54 Table 7-7: Scenario 2 Minimal Federal Participation ............................................................................. 54 Table 7-8: Scenario 3 Maximum Federal Participation .......................................................................... 55 LIST OF FIGURES Figure ES-1: Initial Streetcar Alternatives 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