Final Report December 2009 SHORT TERM IMPROVEMENTS STUDY Challenging the Dream. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter I: Introduction 1 I. Background…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...................... 1 II. MDT Current Services………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1 A. Metrorail…………………………………………………………………………………………………………............... 1 B. Metromover………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 1 C. Metrorail…………………………………………………………………………………………………………............... 2 III. Study Approach…………………………………………………………………………………………………………............... 2 IV. New Technology………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3 A. Easy Card…………………………………………………………………………………………………………............... 3 B. Automatic Passenger Count (APC) System…………………………………………………………………….. 3 V. Network Options……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4 A. Radial………………………………………………………………………………………………………….................... 4 B. Grid Network…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6 C. Hierarchical Network…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6 VI. Trunk and Feeder System………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6 Chapter II: Road to Success 8 I. Vision………………………………………………………………………………………………………….............................. 8 II. Objectives…………………………………………………………………………………………………………....................... 8 III. Assumptions…………………………………………………………………………………………………………................... 8 IV. Transferring………………………………………………………………………………………………………….................... 9 V. Network 86’………………………………………………………………………………………………………….................... 10 VI. Bus Stop Spacing………………………………………………………………………………………………………….............. 11 VII. Regular Routes vs Limited Stops Routes…………………………………………………………………………………… 13 VIII. Theory vs reality………………………………………………………………………………………………………….............. 15 A. Curitiba, Brazil…………………………………………………………………………………………………………....... 15 B. Transmilenio, Colombia………………………………………………………………………………………………… 16 IX. Why These Systems are Successful? ………………………………………………………………………………………. 17 X. Commitment………………………………………………………………………………………………………….................. 17 Service A. 17 Approach………………………………………………………………………………………………………….............. B. Reliability………………………………………………………………………………………………………….............. 18 C. Transferring…………………………………………………………………………………………………………........... 18 D. Concentrate Service………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 18 E. Marketing………………………………………………………………………………………………………….............. 18 F. Monitoring…………………………………………………………………………………………………………............ 18 G. Education and Training………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 18 H. Attract New Riders………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 18 Chapter III: Corridor Analysis 19 I. Corridor Identification…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..... 19 II. Corridor Screening………………………………………………………………………………………………………….......... 22 III. Corridor Selection…………………………………………………………………………………………………………........... 23 IV. Corridor Evaluation………………………………………………………………………………………………………….......... 25 Chapter IV: Biscayne Boulevard 27 I. Existing MDT Service…………………………………………………………………………………………………………....... 27 II. Analysis of Service…………………………………………………………………………………………………………........... 27 III. Proposed Service…………………………………………………………………………………………………………............. 27 A. Rationale…………………………………………………………………………………………………………................ 27 B. Recommendations………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 30 C. Affected Areas…………………………………………………………………………………………………………........ 30 D. Before and After Comparison………………………………………………………………………………………… 32 IV. Estimated Savings…………………………………………………………………………………………………………............. 34 Other V. 35 Recommendations…………………………………………………………………………………………………………........... A. Bus Stops…………………………………………………………………………………………………………................ 35 B. Larger Bus Stops/Transfer Stations/Park & Ride Facilities………………………………………………. 35 Chapter V: Busway 44 I. Existing MDT Service…………………………………………………………………………………………………………........ 44 II. Analysis of Service…………………………………………………………………………………………………………........... 44 III. Proposed Service………………………………………………………………………………………………………….............. 46 A. Rationale…………………………………………………………………………………………………………................. 46 B. Corridor Recommendations……………………………………………………………………………………………. 48 C. Affected Areas…………………………………………………………………………………………………………........ 51 D. Before and After Comparison…………………………………………………………………………………………. 52 IV. Estimated Savings…………………………………………………………………………………………………………............. 54 V. Other Recommendations…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 55 A. Additional Recommendations………………………………………………………………………………………… 63 B. Pre-Boarding Stations……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 63 Chapter VI: Collins Avenue 64 I. Existing MDT Service…………………………………………………………………………………………………………......... 64 II. Analysis of Service…………………………………………………………………………………………………………............ 64 III. Proposed Service………………………………………………………………………………………………………….............. 66 A. Rationale…………………………………………………………………………………………………………................. 66 B. Corridor Recommendations……………………………………………………………………………………………. 68 C. Affected Areas…………………………………………………………………………………………………………........ 71 D. Before and After Comparison………………………………………………………………………………………… 72 IV. Estimated Savings…………………………………………………………………………………………………………............ 73 V. Other Recommendations…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 75 A. Larger Bus Stops/Transfer Stations/Park & Ride Facilities………………………………………………. 75 B. Other Recommendations………………………………………………………………………………………………. 82 Chapter VII: Flagler Street 83 I. Existing MDT Service…………………………………………………………………………………………………………......... 83 II. Analysis of Service…………………………………………………………………………………………………………............ 85 III. Proposed Service………………………………………………………………………………………………………….............. 85 A. Rationale…………………………………………………………………………………………………………................ 85 B. Corridor Recommendations……………………………………………………………………………………………. 85 C. Affected Areas…………………………………………………………………………………………………………....... 87 D. Before and After Comparison………………………………………………………………………………………… 87 IV. Estimated Savings…………………………………………………………………………………………………………............ 87 V. Other Recommendations…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 88 A. Larger Bus Stops/Transfer Stations/Park & Ride Facilities………………………………………………. 88 B. More Recommendations………………………………………………………………………………………………… 93 Chapter VIII: Kendall Drive 94 I. Existing MDT Service…………………………………………………………………………………………………………........ 94 II. Analysis of Service…………………………………………………………………………………………………………............ 96 III. Proposed Service…………………………………………………………………………………………………………............. 96 A. Rationale…………………………………………………………………………………………………………................ 96 B. Corridor Recommendations…………………………………………………………………………………………… 96 C. Affected Areas…………………………………………………………………………………………………………........ 98 D. Before and After Comparison………………………………………………………………………………………… 98 IV. Estimated Savings…………………………………………………………………………………………………………............ 98 V. Other Recommendations………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 99 A. Larger Bus Stops/Transfer Stations/Park & Ride Facilities………………………………………………. 99 Chapter IX: Miami Gardens Drive 103 I. Existing MDT Service…………………………………………………………………………………………………………........ 103 II. Analysis of Service…………………………………………………………………………………………………………........... 105 III. Proposed Service…………………………………………………………………………………………………………............. 105 A. Rationale…………………………………………………………………………………………………………............... 105 B. Corridor Recommendations…………………………………………………………………………………………… 105 C. Affected Areas…………………………………………………………………………………………………………........ 106 D. Before and After Comparison………………………………………………………………………………………… 108 IV. Estimated Savings…………………………………………………………………………………………………………............ 109 V. Other Recommendations………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 110 A. Larger Bus Stops/Transfer Stations/Park & Ride Facilities……………………………………………… 110 B. Additional Recommendations……………………………………………………………………………………….. 115 Chapter X: NW/SW 27th Avenue 116 I. Existing MDT Service…………………………………………………………………………………………………………......... 116 II. Analysis of Service…………………………………………………………………………………………………………........... 117 III. Proposed Service………………………………………………………………………………………………………….............. 117 A. Rationale…………………………………………………………………………………………………………................ 117 B. Corridor Recommendations…………………………………………………………………………………………… 119 C. Affected Areas…………………………………………………………………………………………………………........ 119 D. Before and After Comparison………………………………………………………………………………………… 121 IV. Estimated Savings…………………………………………………………………………………………………………............. 121 V. Other Recommendations…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 122 A. Larger Bus Stops/Transfer Stations/Park & Ride Facilities………………………………………………. 122 B. Other Potential Locations for End Terminals ………………………………………………………………….. 126 C. More Recommendations………………………………………………………………………………………………… 129 Chapter XI: Recommendations 130 I. Short-Term Recommendations (0-2 Years) ………………………………………………………………………………. 130 A. Transit Service Improvements………………………………………………………………………………………… 130 B. Construction of Transfer Stations and Large Bus Stops…………………………………………………… 130 C. Construction and Expansion of Park and Ride Facilities…………………………………………………… 135 D. Coordination and Plan Development for Future Bus terminals………………………………………. 137 E. Develop a Transit master Plan for Miami-Dade County…………………………………………………… 139 F. Continue Evaluating MDT Services…………………………………………………………………………………. 139 G. Create a Response Team………………………………………………………………………………………………… 139 H. Coordination with the Municipalities and the Private Sector ………………………………………… 141 I. Develop a Transit Operational Manual……………………………………………………………………………