NAPERVILLE METRA STATION BUS DEPOT AND COMMUTER ACCESS FEASIBILITY STUDY Naperville, Illinois March 2012 Prepared for: City of Naperville Prepared by: Traffic Analysis & Design, Inc. 233 S. Wacker Drive - Suite 8400 Chicago, Illinois 60606 www.traffic-ad.com Stanley Consultants, Inc. 8501 W. Higgins Road, Suite 730 Chicago, Illinois 60631 NAPERVILLE METRA STATION BUS DEPOT AND COMMUTER ACCESS FEASIBILITY STUDY TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM MARCH 22, 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 1 Project History ...................................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose and Scope ............................................................................................................................................... 1 Study Area............................................................................................................................................................. 2 Potential Bus Depot Options .............................................................................................................................. 4 STUDY METHODOLOGY ...................................................................................................... 5 EXISTING CONDITIONS ....................................................................................................... 8 Area Roadway Network ..................................................................................................................................... 9 Pace Bus Service ................................................................................................................................................. 12 Metra Station Parking ....................................................................................................................................... 14 Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations ..................................................................................................... 16 STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS .............................................................................................. 19 COMMUNITY OUTREACH .................................................................................................. 21 SITE CONSTRAINTS/OPPORTUNITIES EVALUATION ........................................................... 22 CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................................. 33 LONG‐TERM RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................... 40 Overview ............................................................................................................................................................. 40 South Side of Station.......................................................................................................................................... 40 North Side of Station – Eastern Burlington Lot ............................................................................................ 45 Kiss-and-Ride ..................................................................................................................................................... 45 Station Area Access/Circulation ..................................................................................................................... 48 Parking Impacts ................................................................................................................................................. 50 Naperville Metra Station Bus Depot and Commuter Access Feasibility Study Page i March 2012 SHORT‐TERM RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................. 51 Overview ............................................................................................................................................................. 51 South Side of Station.......................................................................................................................................... 51 Station Area Circulation ................................................................................................................................... 54 North Side of Station – Eastern Burlington Lot ............................................................................................ 54 Parking Impacts ................................................................................................................................................. 54 PARKING MITIGATION ...................................................................................................... 56 NEXT STEPS ...................................................................................................................... 61 Planning-Level Cost Estimates ........................................................................................................................ 64 Environmental Impacts ..................................................................................................................................... 67 CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................... 68 APPENDIX Stakeholder Interview Meeting Minutes 5th Avenue Study Public Input Summary Open House Public Comments Bus Depot Concepts Estimated Impacts to Operating Costs for Pace Suburban Bus Service Preliminary Cost Estimates Naperville Metra Station Bus Depot and Commuter Access Feasibility Study Page ii March 2012 LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1 - Average Weekday Ridership TABLE 2 - Existing Parking Supply and Average Occupancy Rates at Naperville Metra Station TABLE 3 - Opportunities and Constraints Analysis for Potential Bus Depot Locations TABLE 4 - Concept Alternatives Evaluation Matrix TABLE 5 - Impact on Parking Supply with Long-Term Recommendations TABLE 6 - Impact on Parking Supply with Short-Term Recommendations TABLE 7 - Parking Mitigation Options TABLE 8 - Planning-Level Cost Estimates for Study Recommendations TABLE A1 - Preliminary Estimates of Increased Operating Costs due to Relocated Bus Routes LIST OF EXHIBITS EXHIBIT 1 - Study Area EXHIBIT 2 - Existing Station Area EXHIBIT 3 - Existing Pace Bus Routes EXHIBIT 4 - Existing Commuter Parking EXHIBIT 5 - Existing Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations EXHIBIT 6 - Potential Bus Depot Locations EXHIBIT 7 - Pace Bus Design Guidelines and Assumed Adjustments EXHIBIT 8 - Long-Term Recommendation (South of Station - Parkview Lot 1A) EXHIBIT 9 - Long-Term Recommendation (South of Station - Parkview Lot 1B) EXHIBIT 10 - Long-Term Recommendation (South of Station - Parkview Lot 2) EXHIBIT 11 - North Avenue - Recommended Two-Way Conversion EXHIBIT 12 - Long-Term Recommendation (North of Station - Eastern Burlington Lot) EXHIBIT 13 - Long-Term Recommendation (South of Station - 4th Avenue) EXHIBIT 14 - Short-Term Recommendation (South of Station) EXHIBIT 15 - Water Tower West - Parking Mitigation Option 1 EXHIBIT 16 - Water Tower West - Parking Mitigation Option 2 EXHIBIT 17 - Water Tower West - Parking Mitigation Option 3 Naperville Metra Station Bus Depot and Commuter Access Feasibility Study Page iii March 2012 INTRODUCTION The Naperville Metra Station is a unique and critical component of the City’s transportation system. Despite its decidedly residential setting just one block from the Naperville Historic District, the Naperville Metra Station is the second busiest suburban station in the entire Metra system1, serving commuters from the surrounding neighborhoods and adjacent municipalities. The City of Naperville supports a comprehensive, multi modal transportation network that provides commuters with options to access both the Naperville and Route 59 Stations. Commuters access the Naperville Station through a variety of methods, including travel by vehicle (daily fee and permit parking), carpool/vanpool, kiss-and-ride, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian activity. Through this Study, the City of Naperville evaluated the feasibility of a bus depot at the Naperville Metra Station as an opportunity to promote balance across the various means of commuter access to the train station. Project History In 2009, the City adopted the 5th Avenue Study, a land use, transportation, and parking study for the vicinity of the Naperville Metra Station. As part of the 5th Avenue Study, the City identified opportunities to enhance multimodal commuter access (i.e., vehicle parking, kiss-and-ride, transit, bicycle and pedestrian access) to the train station. Among the wide range of multimodal access and circulation improvements was the concept of establishing a bus depot on city owned or leased property near the Naperville Metra Station. Based on an evaluation of commuter parking, transit, existing and future traffic conditions, and public input received throughout the 5th Avenue Study, a bus depot was identified as an opportunity to enhance commuter access and meet the following objectives: Provide a defined transit center for commuters; Improve transit access to/from the train station; Consolidate passenger pick-up/drop-off activity; Reduce congestion and minimize conflicts between Pace bus operations, pedestrians, bicycles, and kiss-and-ride activity; and Minimize bus staging/queuing on adjacent neighborhood streets. A summary of the public input received throughout the 5th Avenue Study is provided in the Appendix.