TIGE R 20 1 7 DISCRETIONARY GRANT APPLICATION S UMMERHILL B U S R A P I D T RANSIT TABLE OF CONTENTS I. PROJECT DESCRIPTION ...................................................................................... 1 II. PROJECT LOCATION ............................................................................................ 3 III. PROJECT PARTIES ................................................................................................. 6 IV. GRANT FUNDS, SOURCES, AND USES OF PROJECT FUNDS ................ 7 V. SELECTION CRITERIA ........................................................................................... 9 a. Primary Selection Criteria .................................................................................. 9 i. Safety ........................................................................................................... 9 ii. State of Good Repair ........................................................................... 10 iii. Economic Competitiveness ............................................................... 12 iv. Quality of Life ......................................................................................... 14 v. Environmental Sustainability ............................................................ 16 b. Secondary Selection Criteria .......................................................................... 17 i. Innovation ............................................................................................... 17 ii. Partnership .............................................................................................. 18 VI. RESULTS OF BENEFIT-COST ANALYSIS ...................................................... 18 VII. PROJECT READINESS ......................................................................................... 20 VIII. FEDERAL WAGE RATE CERTIFICATION ....................................................... 22 October 2017 i TIGE R 20 1 7 DISCRETIONARY GRANT APPLICATION S UMMERHILL B U S R A P I D T RANSIT List of Tables Table 1: Capital Cost Estimates Table 2: Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Estimates Table 3: Relevant Plans and Studies Table 4: Select Economic Characteristics Table 5: Benefit-Cost Analysis Summary ($2017M) Table 6: Average Weekday Forecast Summary List of Figures Figure 1: Summerhill BRT Project Map Figure 2: MARTA FY 2017 Operating Revenue Figure 3: Summerhill LCI Plan Study Area Figure 4: Smart Shelter Concept Figure 5: Project Schedule Appendices Appendix A: Letters of Support Appendix B: Benefit-Cost Analysis Technical Memorandum October 2017 ii TIGE R 20 1 7 DISCRETIONARY GRANT APPLICATION S UMMERHILL B U S R A P I D T RANSIT I. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The City of Atlanta’s population is anticipated to grow approximately 40% over the next 20 years. It is essential that as population continues to grow residents continue to have access to employment, services and other amenities. Continued investment along key transportation corridors and integration into the regional transit system will significantly influence land use development, affordable housing choices, diverse communities, access to jobs, mobility options, and quality of life. The Summerhill Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project (the Project) represents an effort led TIGER 2017 Discretionary Grant funds will by the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit support the implementation of the Authority (MARTA), in coordination with the Summerhill BRT project, including the City of Atlanta, Georgia State University and following features: Carter & Associates, LLC (Carter) to address transportation challenges and opportunities 9.4 mile corridor along Juniper/ within the corridor. The Summerhill BRT Courtland St and Piedmont Ave route will address mobility, access and 5 new modern BRT vehicles operating safety challenges in vital corridors within within a mix of exclusive and existing the City of Atlanta. right-of way BRT will produce significant benefits for 30 station locations providing Atlanta by improving access to employment comprehensive service along the route and destinations in the Downtown/Midtown An approximately 16-minute one-way core areas, supporting regional travel time from end-to-end connectivity, linking several higher education and medical institutions and 10-minute all-day headways on serving as a catalyst for transit-oriented weekdays and weekends development and employment growth. This Service to operate 16 hours daily project will enhance several South Downtown neighborhoods. It will also add Enhancements including exclusive a new mode of transit in Atlanta and the lanes, transit signal priority, queue State of Georgia. The proposed BRT route jump lanes, level platform boarding would travel 9.4 miles roundtrip, connecting Use of an existing vehicle maintenance the existing Arts Center MARTA heavy rail facility station to the Summerhill neighborhood, a Expected users include residents, new mixed-use site anchored by Georgia workers, students and tourists State University. October 2017 1 TIGE R 20 1 7 DISCRETIONARY GRANT APPLICATION S UMMERHILL B U S R A P I D T RANSIT The Summerhill BRT project is expected to centers along the corridor, including provide the following benefits along the Atlantic Station, Woodruff Arts Center, route and for the Atlanta region. the Georgia World Congress Center, and Improved Job and University Access the new Mercedes Benz Stadium (home of the Atlanta Falcons NFL and Atlanta The Project will improve access to jobs United Major League Soccer team), the and amenities for the Summerhill and Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic several South Downtown site and Piedmont Park. neighborhoods by providing a more viable transportation option. The Project will significantly improve regional transit mobility by connecting The Project will provide a direct link to to MARTA’s bus and heavy rail system, the new Georgia State University mixed the Georgia Regional Transportation use development that includes Georgia Authority’s (GRTA) Xpress bus service, State University’s new football stadium Cobb County Transit, Gwinnett County (the former Turner Field site). Transit and the Atlanta Streetcar. Increased Access to Transit & Decreased The Project will provide direct access to Travel Time Piedmont Park, Atlanta’s signature and Traffic volumes in this corridor are some largest urban park, as well as the Atlanta of the highest in the City of Atlanta at Beltline. The total green space with approximately 34,400 vehicles per day. direct access by this project is significant at 265 acres. The Summerhill and adjacent South Downtown communities needs better The Project is located in the Midtown access to public transit. A BRT route in and Downtown Atlanta urban core, near this area would significantly increase over 94,000 jobs, with major employers transit usage by its residents. in the corridor including SunTrust Bank, Emory University Hospital, Grady Regional Connectivity Hospital, Georgia Pacific, Georgia Power, The Project will improve access to Deloitte and Bank of America. existing and emerging regional activity TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECT BENEFITS CONNECT WORK REVITALIZE Provides connections to the Connects workers with more Promotes investment by existing Atlanta Streetcar than 850 affordable housing increasing retail space by network, the heavy rail system, units within the Project area. over 6 million sq. ft. with a large number of activity These vital housing additional housing centers, two universities, opportunities promote developments focusing healthcare services, and major opportunities for a viable on mixed-use, mixed- employers throughout the mix of demographics to be income and transit- region. supported in the study area. oriented development. October 2017 2 TIGE R 20 1 7 DISCRETIONARY GRANT APPLICATION S UMMERHILL B U S R A P I D T RANSIT II. PROJECT LOCATION 52.7% minority population. The project will serve a key role in the expansion of Georgia The City of Atlanta, Georgia is located State University. The University, like some within a region of over five million people. fully urban campuses, expands where The Summerhill BRT project will run north- available based on the heavy demands for south along Peachtree, Juniper/Courtland real estate in urban core areas. The former Streets and Piedmont Avenue, between the Turner Field site (site for Atlanta Braves) has Midtown and Downtown Atlanta core. The been purchased by Georgia State University southern terminus of the corridor will be and converted to their collegiate football along Capitol stadium that opened in Avenue/Hank 2017. Additionally, this Aaron Drive to the large 72-acre site has a Summerhill- master plan in place to Georgia State create an iconic University mixed development for use community Atlanta. As the former (See Figure 1). home of the Atlanta The project will Braves, Atlanta Falcons serve 94,000 jobs, and the 1996 Olympic nearly 19,000 Games, this large site is individuals and rich with Atlanta history. 48,000 students Included in this site is a who live vision for 35 acres of private development immediately adjacent to the corridor. Other supporting an additional six million square notable area characteristics are that 23.4% feet of commercial space with Georgia State of the population within a quarter mile of University as the anchor institution of the the project corridor live in poverty with master planned site. The 9.4 mile Project provides new and vital transportation mobility options for the Summerhill community, which has traditionally