Paciϐic Beach Corridor Study Final Report - January 2017 SKYWAY LIGHT RAIL Prepared by: In Association with: Prepared for: CHS • KTU+A • CUP • HELIX • AECOM SANDAG Pacific Beach Corridor Study Final Report January 2017 Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 3 2.0 Summary of Findings .............................................................................................................................. 4 3.0 Background of the Study Area ............................................................................................................... 3 3.1 Topography and Demography ........................................................................................................... 3 3.2 Circulation System.............................................................................................................................. 4 3.3 Transit System .................................................................................................................................... 5 3.4 Grand Avenue Alignment ................................................................................................................... 6 3.5 Environmental Conditions .................................................................................................................. 7 3.6 Geotechnical Conditions .................................................................................................................... 8 4.0 Light Rail Transit Mode .......................................................................................................................... 8 4.1 Operating Characteristics ................................................................................................................. 10 4.2 Physical Characteristics .................................................................................................................... 10 4.3 Stations............................................................................................................................................. 12 4.4 Costs ................................................................................................................................................. 14 5.0 Skyway Transit Mode ........................................................................................................................... 15 5.1 Operating Characteristics ................................................................................................................. 16 5.2 Physical Characteristics .................................................................................................................... 16 5.3 Stations............................................................................................................................................. 17 5.4 Costs ................................................................................................................................................. 20 6.0 Conclusions .......................................................................................................................................... 21 6.1 Light Rail Transit ............................................................................................................................... 21 6.2 Skyway Transit.................................................................................................................................. 22 6.3 Summary ........................................................................................................................................... 23 Page | 1 List of Tables Table 1. Pacific Beach Light Rail Capital Cost Estimate (2015 dollars) ........................................................................ 15 Table 2. Pacific Beach Skyway Capital Cost Estimate (2015 dollars) .......................................................................... 20 Table 3. Pacific Beach Skyway Annual Operating Cost Estimate (2015 Dollars) ......................................................... 20 List of Figures Fig. 1 – Portion of SANDAG’s 2050 Revenue Constrained Transit Network in the Regional Transportation Plan ........ 3 Fig. 2 – Light Rail Transit ................................................................................................................................................ 4 Fig. 3 –Skyway Transit .................................................................................................................................................... 4 Fig. 4 - Pacific Beach Study Area .................................................................................................................................... 4 Fig. 5 - Existing Condition - Grand Avenue near Dawes Street ...................................................................................... 6 Fig. 6 - LRT Alignment and Station Locations ................................................................................................................. 9 Fig. 7 - Maneuvers Enabling Light Rail Trains to Connect between the Mid-Coast and Pacific Beach Lines ............... 10 Fig. 8 - Possible Recessed Parking along Grand Avenue .............................................................................................. 11 Fig. 9 - Proposed Condition - Grand Avenue near Dawes Street ................................................................................. 11 Fig. 10 - Proposed Condition - Westbound Station on Grand Avenue near Ingraham Street ..................................... 12 Fig. 11 - Proposed LRT Station Layouts Using the Split Farside Configuration ............................................................ 13 Fig. 12 – Light Rail Structure to Pass over I-5 and Connect to Mid-Coast line ............................................................. 14 Fig. 13 - Skyway Alignment and Station Locations ...................................................................................................... 17 Fig. 14 - Use of Median for Skyway Tower and Station Supports ................................................................................ 17 Fig. 15 - Proposed Skyway Station Layouts.................................................................................................................. 18 Appendices A. Existing Conditions Report B. Transit Inventory Technical Memorandum C. Environmental Constraints Technical Memorandum D. Geotechnical Considerations Technical Memorandum E. Light Rail Worksheets F. Skyway Worksheets Page | 2 1.0 Introduction A high-capacity regional transit line serving Pacific Beach was identified in SANDAG’s 2050 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). It was designated as part of Route 563, a trolley (light rail transit) line that would operate between Pacific Beach and the City of El Cajon via Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, Mission Valley and San Diego State University. SANDAG subsequently decided to examine the physical and financial feasibility of just the westernmost portion of this route, from the Mid-Coast Trolley Balboa Station to the beach, for potential early implementation. The Pacific Beach Corridor Study was therefore formulated to determine if light rail from Mission Boulevard to I-5 would constitute a viable complement to the Mid-Coast light rail line now under development. An extension of this service further east to Kearny Mesa and beyond could be considered in the future; it is not part of this study, however. Fig. 1 – Portion of SANDAG’s Revenue Constrained Transit Network in the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan Page | 3 During the summer of 2015, a proposal was unveiled for an aerial gondola, or “skyway”, between Downtown San Diego and Balboa Park. The skyway would consist of an overhead cable-operated system, similar to that used in recreational areas but applied here to an urban transit situation. SANDAG determined that a skyway alternative should be evaluated in the Pacific Beach Study in addition to light rail transit. The intent was to conduct an assessment of both modes of transit, anticipating a possible, more detailed Alternatives Analysis of transit in the corridor sometime in the future. The assessment was to focus on the technical feasibility of the two modes, understand the constraints they might face, and develop a high-level estimate of their costs. A consultant study team–consisting of David Evans & Associates, CHS Consulting Group, KTU+A, Creative Urban Projects, Helix Environmental Planning, and AECOM Technical Services—was tasked by SANDAG to examine both light rail and skyway modes in the Pacific Beach Corridor. This report constitutes a summary of the team’s work and its conclusions. Fig. 2 – Light Rail Transit Fig. 3 –Skyway Transit 2.0 Summary of Findings Both light rail and skyway transit technologies are feasible in the Pacific Beach Corridor from an engineering standpoint. Both would handle the travel demand expected in this study area. While neither mode is expected to harm the environment of the San Diego region, they differ in terms of their impacts on the local community. Skyway stations could obscure long views down the street, for example, while the light rail structure over I-5 is likely to be very noticeable to residents of the neighborhoods east of the freeway, as well as by drivers and transit users along this segment of Pacific Beach. Light rail is estimated to cost $550 million to build. Much of this expense can be attributed to an