Central Rail Extension Mobility Study Final Report December 2014 Central Rail Extension Mobility Study Contract No. 13DH018 Final Report DECEMBER 2014 Prepared for: Prepared by: Final Report Central Rail Extension Mobility Study Table of Contents Executive Summary………..………………………………………..…………………………….……………………………….………ES-1 1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................... 1 PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY ................................................................................................................................................. 2 STUDY AREA.................................................................................................................................................................. 4 PREVIOUS RTD PLANS AND PROJECTS ................................................................................................................................ 5 Environmental Evaluation ..................................................................................................................................... 5 Streetcar Alternative .......................................................................................................................................................... 7 Post-EE Issues and Analysis ................................................................................................................................. 10 CURRENT DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION ASSUMPTIONS ..................................................................................................... 13 th 38 /Blake Station and Interface with East Rail Line ........................................................................................... 13 OTHER PLANS AND PROJECTS ......................................................................................................................................... 14 City and County of Denver Studies ...................................................................................................................... 14 Blueprint Denver ............................................................................................................................................................... 14 Strategic Transportation Plan .......................................................................................................................................... 14 Northeast Downtown Neighborhoods Plan ...................................................................................................................... 15 Five Points/Welton Street Studies ....................................................................................................................... 17 Five Points Marketplace Initiative .................................................................................................................................... 17 Five Points Sustainable Main Streets Initiative Vision Plan .............................................................................................. 17 Five Points/Welton Corridor TAP Project .......................................................................................................................... 19 Five Points Welton Street Marketplace Vision Plan Implementation & Revitalization Strategy ....................................... 19 CENTRAL RAIL EXTENSION MOBILITY STUDY PURPOSE AND GOALS ........................................................................................ 21 2 Goal 1: The One-Seat Ride......................................................................................................... 23 OPERATIONAL PLANS AND RELATED ISSUES ....................................................................................................................... 23 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................ 23 INITIAL ON-THE-GROUND ANALYSIS ................................................................................................................................ 26 DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVES .................................................................................................................................... 27 Alternative 1: Transfer to the Existing D Line ...................................................................................................... 28 Alternative 2: Use the Downtown Loop with No Infrastructure Improvements.................................................. 30 Alternative 3: Use the Downtown Loop with New Infrastructure ....................................................................... 31 th Alternative 3A: Use Existing Track on 14 Street ............................................................................................................. 34 th Alternative 3B: New Track on 14 Street in Parking Lane ................................................................................................ 36 th Alternative 3C: New Track on 14 Street on North Sidewalk ........................................................................................... 38 th Alternative 3D: Two New Tracks on North Side of 14 Street .......................................................................................... 40 th Alternative 3E: New Through Track on South Side of 14 Street (Sidewalk) .................................................................... 42 th Alternative 3F: New Through Track on South Side of 14 Street (Parking/Taxi Lane) ...................................................... 44 th Alternative 3G: New CRE Track on 15 Street .................................................................................................................. 46 EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVES ....................................................................................................................................... 47 Evaluation Summary ........................................................................................................................................... 48 ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS OF REMAINING ALTERNATIVES ......................................................................................................... 49 Capital Costs and Utilities ................................................................................................................................... 49 VISSIM Analysis ................................................................................................................................................... 51 Travel Times ..................................................................................................................................................................... 52 Train Waiting Times ......................................................................................................................................................... 52 Intersection Delays ........................................................................................................................................................... 53 Page | i Final Report Central Rail Extension Mobility Study Overall Conclusions .......................................................................................................................................................... 54 Urban Design Analysis ........................................................................................................................................ 55 Vehicle Type and Consists ................................................................................................................................................. 55 ADA Accessibility .............................................................................................................................................................. 56 Urban Design Concepts .................................................................................................................................................... 58 Ridership Forecasting .......................................................................................................................................... 62 CONCLUSIONS AND NEXT STEPS ...................................................................................................................................... 65 3 Goal 2: Potential Use of Low-Floor Vehicles ............................................................................... 67 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................ 67 WHAT IS A STREETCAR AND HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM A TRADITIONAL LIGHT RAIL VEHICLE? ................................................... 68 MODERN STREETCARS: KEY ISSUES .................................................................................................................................. 70 Vehicle Options ................................................................................................................................................... 70 Vehicle Overview ................................................................................................................................................. 70 Vehicles Currently Available ...............................................................................................................................