City/Park STREETCAR Feasibility Study Prepared by: Metropolitan Transit System 1255 Imperial Avenue San Diego, CA 92101 In Association with: Parsons Brinckerhoff 401 B Street, Suite 1650 San Diego, CA 92101 FINAL REPORT October 2012 This study is made possible through the financial participation of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Office of Community Planning Environmental Justice Community-Based Transportation Planning Grant Program. TABLE OF CONTENTS TTCC TABLE OF CONTENTS ES EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................... ES-1 1.0 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................1-1 1.1 Study Funding and Guidance ................................................................................................................... 1-3 1.2 Study Purpose and Objectives ................................................................................................................. 1-3 1.3 Need ......................................................................................................................................................... 1-3 1.4 History of Streetcars in San Diego ............................................................................................................ 1-6 1.5 Report Structure ...................................................................................................................................... 1-7 2.0 EXISTING CONDITIONS .........................................................................................................2-1 2.1 Interstate 5 Bridge ................................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Prado Pedestrian Bridge........................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.3 Land Use ................................................................................................................................................... 2-2 2.4 Park Boulevard Right-of-Way ................................................................................................................... 2-4 2.5 Parking ..................................................................................................................................................... 2-7 2.6 Transit Service ........................................................................................................................................ 2-10 2.7 Bicycle Facilities ...................................................................................................................................... 2-10 2.8 Traffic ..................................................................................................................................................... 2-11 2.9 Utilities ................................................................................................................................................... 2-12 2.10 Topography ............................................................................................................................................ 2-12 2.11 Planned Future Facilities ........................................................................................................................ 2-13 2.12 California Public Utility Commission Requirements ............................................................................... 2-17 2.13 Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 2-17 3.0 SYSTEMS REQUIREMENTS ....................................................................................................3-1 3.1 Right-of-Way Needs ................................................................................................................................. 3-1 3.2 Lane Design and Width ............................................................................................................................ 3-1 3.3 Station Accommodations ......................................................................................................................... 3-2 3.4 Catenary Wires and Suspension Poles ..................................................................................................... 3-3 3.5 Substations ............................................................................................................................................... 3-4 3.6 Turnaround Locations .............................................................................................................................. 3-6 3.7 Maintenance and Storage Facilities ......................................................................................................... 3-6 3.8 Mid-Block Crossovers ............................................................................................................................... 3-7 4.0 STREETCAR VEHICLES ...........................................................................................................4-1 4.1 Vehicle Types ........................................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.2 Vehicle Specifications ............................................................................................................................... 4-4 4.3 Directional and Access Capabilities .......................................................................................................... 4-8 4.4 Compatibility with San Diego Trolley ....................................................................................................... 4-9 4.5 Availability .............................................................................................................................................. 4-10 4.6 Reliability ................................................................................................................................................ 4-10 4.7 Cost ........................................................................................................................................................ 4-12 4.8 Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 4-13 CITY/PARK STREETCAR FEASIBILITY STUDY TC-1 TTCC TABLE OF CONTENTS 5.0 OPERATIONS PLAN ...............................................................................................................5-1 5.1 Existing Services ....................................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.2 Route Options .......................................................................................................................................... 5-3 5.3 Scheduling ................................................................................................................................................ 5-5 5.4 Vehicle Requirement ................................................................................................................................ 5-7 5.5 Operations and Maintenance Cost Estimate ........................................................................................... 5-8 6.0 ALIGNMENT CONCEPTS AND EVALUATION ...........................................................................6-1 6.1 Selection of Park Boulevard Alignment .................................................................................................... 6-1 6.2 Alignment Concepts ................................................................................................................................. 6-4 6.3 Concepts: North of Interstate 5 to Zoo Place ........................................................................................... 6-7 6.4 Concept: South of Interstate 5 to C Street ............................................................................................. 6-13 6.5 Concept: Interstate 5 Bridge .................................................................................................................. 6-14 6.6 Concepts: End of Line ............................................................................................................................. 6-18 6.7 Station Locations .................................................................................................................................... 6-26 7.0 RIDERSHIP ESTIMATE ...........................................................................................................7-1 7.1 Existing Ridership ..................................................................................................................................... 7-1 7.2 Implications of Future Transit Service ...................................................................................................... 7-2 7.3 Current Transit Markets Served and Ridership Characteristics ............................................................... 7-3 7.4 Ridership Assumptions ............................................................................................................................. 7-3 7.5 Peer Analysis ...........................................................................................................................................