Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Webinar Valley Metro Commute Solutions June 24, 2020 Tech Tips • Your microphone is muted. You can ask questions and give input using the controls on your screen. • Click on Handout to open the PDF and access live links or print to take notes. • The symbol indicates an audience poll. Get ready to share your input! • Webinar will be recorded, and a link emailed. 2 Introductions Speakers Joshua Matthews, AICP Sara Kotecki, PE Matthew Taunton Jennifer Valentine Senior Transit Planner BRT Administrator Senior Transit PM Transportation Planner III Valley Metro City of Phoenix HDR MAG 4 Agenda 1. Introductions 2. Overview of BRT 3. City of Phoenix BRT Program 4. MAG Regional BRT Study 5. Q&A Period 5 Overview of BRT What is BRT? • BRT stands for “bus rapid transit” • Higher frequency and greater capacity bus service • Amenities and service levels similar to light rail 7 National Examples Los Angeles G Line Emerald Express Albuquerque Rapid Transit Connecticut CTfastrak Cleveland HealthLine 8 Registrant Feedback No Express/RAPID BRT Responses to the registration question “Have you ridden Bus Rapid Transit and if so, where?” BRT Routes ridden include: East Valley Link in Mesa, the Silver Line in Boston, Seattle's RapidRide C-Line, Kansas City. City of Phoenix BRT Program PhoenixPHOENIXBRTBRT BRT Webinar June 24, 2020 T2050 Overview • In 2015, Phoenix voters approved Prop 104, creating the 35-year street and transit plan • Provide transportation solutions considering growth • Transit is the most space efficient way of moving people • BRT identified as a component of T2050 12 What is Bus Rapid Transit? 13 BRT is • High capacity bus service that focuses on improved speed, Advanced Bus reliability and convenience Service • No universal standard for BRT • Can be planned and designed to best meet the needs of a community • Common elements found in BRT systems 14 Enhanced Stations • Center or side stations • Wide platforms • Level boarding • Large canopies or shelters • Seating and leaning rails • Real-time information • Ticket vending machines 15 Custom Buses • Low floor • Articulated • Multiple doors (both sides if center stations) • Higher passenger capacity • USB chargers • Bikes on board 16 Advanced Fare Collection • Off board fare payment • Mobile fare payment • Reloadable smart cards • Validators 17 Unique Branding • Differentiate this mode from other modes • Naming convention • Overall service and lines • Numbers, colors, letters 18 Potential for Dedicated Lanes • Separate buses from traffic to increase speed and reliability • Can be implemented for a portion of the corridor or entire alignment • Evaluate appropriateness 19 Transit Spot Improvements - Queue Jump Lanes • Tool to improve transit operations • Consists of an additional lane at an intersection • Allows buses to merge smoothly • Gives buses a brief head start ahead of traffic 20 Transit Spot Improvements - Transit Signal Priority • Tool to improve transit operations • Modifies the normal signal operation process to better accommodate buses • Priority request generator – hold green longer or shorten red time • Saves fuel • Fewer delays 21 Corridor Analysis: What we took into consideration Ridership Forecasting BRT Corridors Transit Transit Performance Propensity 22 Potential BRT corridors based on: • transit propensity • transit performance • ridership forecasting 23 Transit Performance, Propensity, and Ridership 24 Phoenix Bus Service 101 Phoenix carries approximately Traveling “across the grid” 2/3 of all transit passengers could be improved Current bus network has Challenge is to improve transit plateaued in some corridors speed and reliability 25 How do Phoenix corridors compare? 12000 Local Bus BRT 10000 8000 6000 Ridership 4000 2000 0 Main A Line D Line Thomas Indian School 35th Ave Kansas City Minneapolis Seattle Phoenix 26 Average Daily Boardings and Boardings per Revenue Mile 27 Ridership by Segment (1-Mile) 28 Composite Transit Propensity • Population • Employment • Low income households • Minority persons • Persons with disabilities • Zero automobile households • Persons under 18 years • Persons over 64 years 29 Ridership by Segment and Transit Propensity 30 Potential BRT corridors based on: • transit propensity • transit performance • ridership forecasting 31 BRT Corridor Optimization 32 Camelback/24th St • Desert Sky Transit Center to future 24th St SkyTrain • 18.5 miles • 11,109 daily boardings (2019) • 18,280 daily boardings (2040) 33 Indian School/24th St • Desert Sky Transit Center to future 24th St SkyTrain • 16.5 miles • 9,580 daily boardings (2019) • 15,029 daily boardings (2040) 34 Thomas/44th St • Desert Sky Transit Center to 44th St SkyTrain • 16.1 miles • 13,502 daily boardings (2019) • 16,078 daily boardings (2040) 35 McDowell/44th St • 35th Ave (future Capitol/I-10 LRT) to 44th St SkyTrain • 9.8 miles • 5,064 daily boardings (2019) • 7,344 daily boardings (2040) 36 35th Ave/Van Buren • Metrocenter Transit Center to Central Station • 13.6 miles • 8,641 daily boardings (2019) • 9,626 daily boardings (2040) 37 19th Ave/Van Buren • Sunnyslope Transit Center to Central Station • 11.3 miles • 5,463 daily boardings (2019) • 8,470 daily boardings (2040) 38 What makes a • Geographic coverage and spacing (minimum 2 miles good BRT network between corridors) scenario? • Intersecting BRT corridors • Connections with light rail and frequent local bus service • Termini that are also origins and destinations 39 What are potential BRT network scenarios? 40 BRT Network Comparison Camelback/24th St Camelback/24th St Indian School/24th St Indian School/24th St Thomas/44th St Thomas/44th St McDowell/44th St McDowell/44th St 35th Ave/Van Buren 19th Ave/Van Buren 35th Ave/Van Buren 19th Ave/Van Buren 41 Updates, Next Steps, Goal • Webpage went live February 27, 2020: Phoenix.gov/BRT • BRT 101 Video, Survey, and Factsheet live June 2020 • BRT public education & outreach on the six potential corridors • June to December • Present at Citizens Transportation Commission and Transportation, Infrastructure & Innovation subcommittee for BRT foundation network approval • Identify BRT foundation network consisting of 3 corridors 42 Phoenix.gov/BRT MAG Regional BRT Study REGIONAL BUS RAPID TRANSIT FEASIBILITY STUDY JUNE 24, 2020 STUDY OVERVIEW • Gauge the interest in and feasibility of implementing BRT in the MAG region • Recommend a preliminary set of locations where a regional BRT network could connect to planned City of Phoenix investments • Include significant coordination with ongoing City of Phoenix BRT Program, especially the outreach component • Focus on public and stakeholder education 47 48 49 STUDY AREA 50 REVIEW AND ANALYSIS 51 POTENTIAL CITY OF PHOENIX BRT ROUTES 52 TRANSIT PROPENSITY • Minority populations • Low-income residents • < 18 years old • > 64 years old • Zero-vehicle households • People with disabilities • Public transit users 53 ACTIVITY CENTERS 54 BRT CORRIDOR TOOLBOX 55 BRT EXAMPLES Transit Lanes & Bus Bulbs Transit Corridor Bus Boarding Islands & Bike Lanes In-street Transit Center 56 COLLABORATION + OUTREACH • Educational video • Online survey • Interactive comment map • Technical advisory group • Stakeholder interviews • Public meeting 57 Q&A Period Links & Contact Info • Valley Metro (Link) • Joshua Matthews: [email protected] • City of Phoenix BRT Program (Link) • Sara Kotecki: [email protected] • Matthew Taunton: [email protected] • Phoenix Educational Videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL22YB12L5NbTEP2tAJvSBBwDfnU872o3t • MAG Regional BRT Feasibility Study (Link) • Jennifer Valentine: [email protected] • MAG Educational Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkdDJyD65mg 59 Thank You Transportation Coordinator Update June 24, 2020 ShareTheRide is Evolving • Later this summer, the smart commute landscape is changing! • ShareTheRide.com is unveiling a new platform and app that will revolutionize your commute! • The new system helps people organize carpools, check traffic, select transit routes, participate in challenges, and win rewards. • Special options for TCs. • Details coming soon. TRP Variance Extended In a continuing response to COVID-19, the TRP Regional Task Force has extended the original annual survey and plan submittal variance through September 30, 2020. The variance extension suspends organizational deadlines for TRP surveys and initial travel reduction plan submittals and suspends the requirement for issuing incentives to employees during the variance extension period. It does not exclude, limit, or exempt companies from program participation. We encourage organizations to continue to promote their travel reduction programs. If your organization is subject to the variance but you would like to submit the required surveys and travel reduction plans as normally scheduled, or you have additional questions, please contact TRP staff. E-Survey Special Webinar • In response to the COVID- 19 pandemic, Maricopa County Travel Reduction Program (TRP) surveys will be done electronically moving forward. • Join us for a special session June 25 at 10 a.m. to learn more. COVID-19 Response • Valley Metro now requires riders to wear face coverings on all public transit: bus, light rail, paratransit, Dial-a- Ride and vanpools. This includes on board vehicles and at stops, stations and transit centers. • We encourage riders to practice social distancing of six feet while waiting and onboard. See how we’re keeping riders safe. Public Transit Survey • Valley Metro has enhanced the cleaning