The North American Light Rail Experience: Insights for Hamilton Prepared for the City of Hamilton April 2012 The North American Light Rail Experience: Insights for Hamilton Christopher D. Higgins Mark R. Ferguson McMaster Institute for Transportation and Logistics McMaster University Hamilton, Ontario April 2012 mitl.mcmaster.ca The North American Light Rail Experience Table of Contents Executive Summary .............................................................................................................. iv 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Light Rail Transit Defined ..........................................................................................................2 1.2 Light Rail Transit in North America ............................................................................................3 1.3 The Two Phases of Light Rail Transit Planning ............................................................................4 1.4 Scope and Objectives ................................................................................................................5 2.0 Overview of Policies, Outcomes, and Prerequisites .......................................................... 7 2.1 Key Policies and Perspectives ....................................................................................................7 2.1.1 Network Planning ......................................................................................................................... 8 2.1.2 A Policy Toolbox for Light Rail Transit .......................................................................................... 8 2.1.3 Station Areas as Park-And-Ride or Transit-Oriented Development ............................................ 9 2.1.4 Transportation Demand Management ...................................................................................... 10 2.2 Policies and Perspectives for Transit-Oriented Development.................................................... 10 2.2.1 What is Transit-Oriented Development? ................................................................................... 11 2.2.2 Leadership and Partnerships...................................................................................................... 12 2.2.3 Station Vicinities......................................................................................................................... 15 2.2.4 Policy Tools................................................................................................................................. 17 2.3 Outcomes ............................................................................................................................... 19 2.3.1 Normalized Ridership ................................................................................................................. 19 2.3.2 Impact of Light Rail on Road Congestion ................................................................................... 21 2.3.3 Cost Performance of Light Rail ................................................................................................... 23 2.3.4 LRT and TOD Land Value Impacts .............................................................................................. 25 2.4 Pre-Requisites ........................................................................................................................ 27 2.4.1 Local Economic Conditions ........................................................................................................ 27 2.4.2 Employment Accessibility .......................................................................................................... 28 2.4.3 Road Congestion ........................................................................................................................ 28 3.0 Four North American Case Studies ................................................................................. 29 3.1 Calgary ................................................................................................................................... 31 3.2 Buffalo ................................................................................................................................... 37 3.3 San Diego ............................................................................................................................... 41 3.4 Minneapolis ........................................................................................................................... 45 3.5 Lessons Learned ..................................................................................................................... 50 3.5.1 Light Rail Transit ......................................................................................................................... 50 3.5.2 Transit-Oriented Development .................................................................................................. 52 4.0 Conclusions ................................................................................................................... 55 4.1.1 Leadership and Long Term Vision .............................................................................................. 55 4.1.2 Comprehensive Strategy Required ............................................................................................ 56 4.1.3 The State of the Metropolitan Economy ................................................................................... 57 4.1.4 Light Rail May Work Better in Canadian Cities .......................................................................... 57 4.1.5 Congestion and Light Rail ........................................................................................................... 57 4.1.6 Access to What Matters ............................................................................................................. 58 4.1.7 The Risk Element and Foretelling the Future ............................................................................. 58 5.0 Appendix ....................................................................................................................... 59 McMaster Institute for Transportation and Logistics Page i The North American Light Rail Experience Appendix A Light Rail Transit in North America ............................................................................ 60 Baltimore, MD ..................................................................................................................................... 61 Boston, MA.......................................................................................................................................... 63 Buffalo, NY .......................................................................................................................................... 65 Calgary, AB .......................................................................................................................................... 67 Charlotte, NC ....................................................................................................................................... 69 Cleveland, OH ...................................................................................................................................... 71 Dallas, TX ............................................................................................................................................. 73 Denver, CO .......................................................................................................................................... 75 Edmonton, AB ..................................................................................................................................... 77 Guadalajara, JO ................................................................................................................................... 79 Houston, TX ......................................................................................................................................... 81 Jersey City, NJ ...................................................................................................................................... 83 Los Angeles, CA ................................................................................................................................... 85 Mexico City, DF ................................................................................................................................... 87 Minneapolis, MN ................................................................................................................................. 89 Monterrey, NL ..................................................................................................................................... 91 Newark, NJ .......................................................................................................................................... 93 Philadelphia, PA .................................................................................................................................. 95 Phoenix, AZ ......................................................................................................................................... 97 Pittsburgh, PA ..................................................................................................................................... 99 Portland, OR (1)................................................................................................................................