Mid-City Transit Network Plan Report Table of Contents 1. Introduction....................................................................................................................1 2. Study Area......................................................................................................................1 3. Existing Conditions .......................................................................................................3 4. Mid-City Transit Network Plan...................................................................................27 5. Conclusion......................................................................................................................37 6. Appendix – Advisory Committee Meetings..............................................................38 Page i San Diego Association of Governments Mid-City Transit Network Plan 1 Introduction The Mid-City Transit Network Plan is a long-range comprehensive transit plan to serve the Mid-City area. The idea of preparing a network plan originated from community members as an outcome of discussion about the proposed El Cajon Boulevard Showcase Project. The Showcase Project is a planned rapid transit line between San Diego State University (SDSU) and downtown San Diego, running along El Cajon and Park Boulevards. Various members of the public questioned how the Showcase Project would fit into a network of services for the community and recommended that a plan be prepared as a vehicle to debate community priorities for transit improvements. Therefore, this study was undertaken to define a network of services including the neighborhood, local, corridor, and regional services needed to serve the Mid-City communities. The network plan outlines both a long-term (Year 2030) vision for service improvements in the project area, and a phased implementation plan based on community priorities. This plan was developed with the assistance of an advisory committee consisting of community and business interests. .The study addresses the mobility needs of the Mid-City area, both internally and its connections to the regional network. Transit issues related to the rest of the region are being addressed by the Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA) currently being conducted by the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) study. 2 Study Area The Mid-City network plan study area (Exhibit 1) extends from the south rim of Mission Valley to just south of University Avenue, and from SR 163 east to the San Diego/La Mesa boundary. Page 1 !a Aù D R S R IA R !T %s F !T !T !_ !T !T !_ !_ RD !T V TA !T S A !T VI M !T ?Þ T O DA !T NTEZ N N UM LI A RD U !^ O M !_ R I !T T A S ADAMS AV F !T H T T T L 0 S S 7 B S H K !_ A T BL R N X JO 0 L CA A E E 3 P T %s EL CAJON BL T AV !T S Y IT T ERS S IV RD UN 3 H 4 T ?Þ WASHINGTON ST 4 5 UNIVERSITY AV V A L C D OL I B LE L GE K C AV R U V A E A UPAS ST !T !T P H Aù V RICHMOND ST T V A 6 ?À A R S T D T T N L V G E U T B N V A I O T A S K H D US S M I E !T H !^ R S L R M T H A I LAUREL ST R C CH O 4 T P E A U A H 5 0 P F E S 3 S A M %s ?Þ !T V !T A !^ T E S M O N ?À H R !T E F BROADW!TAY!T !T T V !T S A H D T I 7 L 4 C T ?À ! !T U E MARKET ST !T !T !T ?Þ %s !T !T !T !T !T MExhibit 1 !T Trolley stops Mid-City study area Mid-City Study Area Orange Line Blue Line Bus routes Data: SANDAG, U.S. Census, USGS ° MVE project (open 2005) Coaster Miles 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 San Diego Association of Governments Mid-City Transit Network Plan 3 Existing Conditions A number of planning and transportation studies have been conducted on the transit mobility issues of Mid-City. A brief discussion of each follows. 3.1 Area Planning Studies Mid-Cities Community Plan – August 1998 This plan noted the high density nature of Mid-City the major activity centers nearby, and the fact that a large percentage of the population is transit dependent. The Transit Vision stated for the area was: “an efficient transit system that features fixed rail, electric buses, and intra- community shuttles” The transit goals for the area were stated as follows: ▪ To provide accessible public transit service for all residents, employees, shoppers, and visitors to Mid-City. ▪ To provide a high level of public transit service along major corridors. ▪ To provide direct public transit access to major regional employment centers. The recommendations for transit were as follows: ▪ Provide fixed rail on I-15 as soon as possible (note: light rail was being studied at the time; the corridor is now planned for high speed Bus Rapid Transit). ▪ Reevaluate the feasibility of fixed rail transit along El Cajon Boulevard or adjacent east-west streets. ▪ Consider the expansion of express bus service in Mid-City, linking the population centers to major activity centers in San Diego. ▪ Enhance existing urban level bus service to the extent possible by increasing the frequency of service, adding express service, reducing headway between buses, allowing buses to pre-empt traffic signals, and improving transit stops and surfacing of streets along bus routes. ▪ Consider the feasibility of restoring the fixed rail service on University Avenue between I-805 and Euclid Avenue, or provide a “rubber tire trolley” service. ▪ Provide shelters on all transit corridors. Page 3 San Diego Association of Governments Mid-City Transit Network Plan Greater North Park Community Plan – November 1986 Greater North Park Community Plan includes public transit objectives as follows: ▪ Provide a high level of public transportation service linking Greater North Park with Mission Valley and downtown. ▪ Evaluate the feasibility of fixed rail transit service to the community. Uptown Community Plan – February 1988 The Uptown Community Plan includes the following public transit objectives: ▪ Provide a high level of transit service and promote usage. ▪ Establish a focal point of transit service within the community. This plan identifies the 4th and 5th Street corridors as high intensity public transit corridors where density should be enhanced to promote better access by residents to transit. This corridor is immediately west of the Mid–City study area. Mid-City Bus Study – April 1999 The purpose of this study was to analyze the current transit service and needs in the Mid-City area and to recommend alternatives to improve service. Transit issues were identified as follows: ▪ The Mid-City area has a strong grid network of line-haul routes and crosstown bus routes, with one peak period express route connecting to Downtown San Diego. ▪ There are no unmet needs in terms of service coverage. ▪ Travel data suggests a need for transit service to Kearny Mesa, an important work trip destination for Mid-City residents. Current transit connections are either very circuitous and/or require a transfer at the Fashion Valley Transit City. ▪ Travel time is a major concern of transit riders. The El Cajon Boulevard corridor is an excellent candidate for a priority corridor demonstration project. Such a project offers maximum benefits if done at the corridor level instead of only at one or two intersections. ▪ Automated Vehicle Location technology would provide additional benefits in ensuring on-time performance and reducing costs if integrated with a priority treatment scheme for buses. Recommendations of the study were as follows: ▪ Implement express bus service on El Cajon Boulevard between downtown and SDSU in the “peak of the peak” period. Page 4 San Diego Association of Governments Mid-City Transit Network Plan ▪ Conduct a signal priority demonstration project along El Cajon Boulevard through Mid-City. ▪ Provide a new express bus service to Kearny Mesa and continuing to the University City/Sorrento Mesa area. ▪ Extend Route 8 to the proposed new transit plaza on El Cajon Boulevard at I-15. ▪ Reroute service along along Fairmount Avenue to connect to the trolley. ▪ Provide streetscape improvements at current on-street transfer locations. Mission Valley East Bus Study - 2003 The purpose of the Mission Valley East (MVE) Bus Study was to identify potential changes to the existing fixed route bus network serving MVE stations to enhance access from surrounding communities, modify the transit network as needed to reduce duplication with the new trolley line, and improve travel throughout the affected communities. The following recommendations for route revisions were made: 1. Discontinue Route 81 and establish a new shuttle route between Fashion Valley and Grantville, including new service along Camino del Rio South. 2. Provide weekend service on Route 27 between Pacific Beach and Fashion Valley, 3. Reroute Route 1 to use Montezuma east of SDSU 4. Reroute Route 936 to terminate at the 70th Street Station 5. Streamline Route 13 via Fairmount Avenue and replace the Allied Gardens–Del Cerro loop with new Route 13. 6. Truncate Route 15 at the El Cajon Transit Center and replace service east of the transit center with a new County route. 7. Add frequency on Routes 13 and 936 during peak periods. University Avenue Mobility Plan – June 2004 The University Avenue Mobility Plan (UAMP) analyzed existing and future transit needs of University Avenue residents and visitors in the context of a plan to calm traffic, improve pedestrian safety, and beautify University Avenue through North Park. The transit portion of the UAMP study evaluated how best to use the transit lanes recommended in the new street design and how to modify the existing bus routes to provide improved service. In this plan, consideration was given to a variety of transit priority strategies to improve service attractiveness and to make more efficient use of resources.