Chattanooga Rail Implementation Study

Public Meeting 1October 22, 2015

Chattanooga Choo Choo

Agenda

Background

Modes and Technologies

Peer Cities

Existing Conditions

Project Goals

Next Steps Breakouts

2

-1- BACKGROUND

GOALS

2014 Tiger VI grant award

Quality of Life – transportation mode alternative in the central and east core; walkable stations areas

Sustainability – electric propulsion – cleaner air and health benefits from walking

Economic Competitiveness – strengthened by improved job access via transit

Safety Enhancements – reduced automobile vehicle miles traveled and reduced congestion

State-of-Good-Repair Benefits – improvement of existing underutilized freight rail infrastructure

4

Background

5

Historic streetcars – horse drawn

1875 – 1890

1889: electric

Historic rail – steam

1886 – 1920’s

1906: consolidated Chattanooga Railways Company

Historic streetcars – electric

1906 consolidated Chattanooga Railways Company

Replaced by buses in early 1930s

History of Transit

• Streetcars replaced trolleys in 1889

• Incline railway opened 1895

• Buses replaced streetcars 1930s

• CARTA formed in 1973 from Southern Coach Lines

• Zero emission shuttle – 20+ yrs

• Bike-transit system

Benefits of transit

Energy

Economy

Environment

Quality of life

Safety

Capacity

10

Energy

Transit Benefits: Economy

Mode Shift Savings

Living with 1 less car

$9,900 per year

16 miles less driven per day

Source: American Public Transportation Association

from driving to transit

+

Background

Consistent with community plans

» 2040 Regional Transportation Plan

» Comprehensive Plan

» Economic development goals

» CARTA downtown transit center

» Complete streets plan

» Housing affordability studies

12

Plans reviewed

» Multimodal Transportation Center Study

» Development of Form-Based Code

» Downtown Chattanooga Study

» Chattanooga – Hamilton County RPA 2040 Regional Transportation Plan

» Complete Streets Policy

» Amended Final Participation Plan

» Housing Affordability and Vacancy

» Travel Demand Model Peer Review

» On Board Transit Survey

» 2035 LRTP Complete Streets Section

» Mass Transit Alternatives

Growth is coming…

Study Approach

• Use market analysis to better understand travel needs and decision-making process for select travel markets along the corridor

UnderstandTravel Markets

• Work with railroads, businesses, and the public to develop feasible and most beneficial project alternatives

Comprehensive Community Input

• Develop a rail transit project that will maximize economic development along the corridor

Leverage Transit Investment for Economic Development

• Coordinate with Intercity and other transit and transportation planning efforts

• Coordinate with Multimodal Transportation Center

Coordinate with Other Local Transportation Projects

14

Program of Public Meetings

October 22, 2015

January 21, 2016

April 2016 (TBD)

Save the Date!

• Evaluation Framework

• Preliminary Alternatives

• Refined Alternatives• Project

Recommendations

• Project Goals• Peer Cities• Transit

Technologies• Existing

Conditions

What we’ve heard from you…

“we need this project” – multiple benefits

Coordinate rails with trails

Concerned about costs - $20+m/mi in Denver

Address brownfields sites in station areas

16

Preliminary survey results…

Question Agree Question Agree

Support rail? 79% Would you use this frequently? 49%

Links the right places? 57% Would use 3-5 times/week 29%

Will replace car trips? 72% Best transit investment? 57%

-2- MODES AND TECHNOLOGIES

Types of High Capacity Transit

Bus

Enhanced Bus

Light Rail

Bus Rapid Transit

Commuter Rail

Rail Technologies

19

Commuter Rail/Intercity Rail

Heavy Rail

Monorail

Automated GuidewayRail

Streetcar/Light Rail

Streetcar Light Rail Commuter Intercity

Average Speed <15 mph 20 mph 35-45 mph 50+ mph

Typical Station

Spacing

0.1 to 0.5 miles 0.2 to 1 miles 2 to 7 miles 10+ miles

Typical Route Length 2 to 10 miles 10 to 20 miles 20 to 50 miles 100+ miles

Typical Frequency Every 15 minutes or

better

Every 15 minutes

or better

Every 30+ minutes From once daily

up to hourly service

Right-of-way In street, mixed traffic In street, mixed traffic,

dedicated with

at-grade

highway crossings

Dedicated,

with at-grade

highway crossings

Dedicated,

with at-grade

highway crossings

Shared track with

freight trains

No Yes, with temporal

separation

Yes Yes

Examples Memphis Streetcar Charlotte NC Lnyx Virginia Railway

Express

North Carolina Amtrak

Piedmont Service20

Bus Technologies

21

Over-The-Road Bus/

Intercity Bus (OTRB)Bus Rapid Transit(BRT) Standard Transit Bus

Replica “Trolley” Bus Conventional Small Bus Compact Minibus Cutaway Minibus

Bus Rapid Transit(BRT)

Development Densities by Technology

22

Transit Mode Associated Development Density

Light Rail Transit (LRT) 9 Dwelling Units per acre

Streetcar / Circulator 9 DU per acre

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) 9-12 DU per acre

Enhanced Bus Service 7 DU per acre

Conventional Bus 4 DU per acre

Commuter Rail 1-2 DU per acre

Source: Victoria Transport Policy Institute, based on Pushkarev and Zupan, 1977

-3- PEER CITIES RAIL

Peer Cities

Atlanta

Nashville

Little Rock

Charlotte

Norfolk, Hampton Roads

Memphis

24

Peer Cities

Atlanta

Nashville

25

Peer Cities

Charlotte

26

Peer Cities

Little Rock

Norfolk

27

-4- EXISTING CONDITIONS

Existing Conditions

Community and demographics

Economy

Development area opportunities

Transportation infrastructure

31

Neighborhoods

Demographics

Demographics

Economic Development

Property Value

Property Type

Property Location

Labor and Job Access

Job Location vs. Worker Residence

Education Levels

Property Value

Property Value per Square Foot

Impact of Property Type

Impact of Location

36

Workers in Chattanooga

: 65,144

Workers Outside

Chattanooga: 93,068

Jobs in City of Chattanooga:

158,212Workers in

Rail Corridor:

8,857

Workers Outside Rail

Corridor: 45,265

Jobs in Rail Corridor: 54,122

Jobs vs. Workers

37

0.41 Workers per Jobin City of Chattanooga

0.16 Workers per Jobin the Rail Corridor

Job vs Workers Summary

Ample job opportunities in rail corridor

Shortage of qualified workers in rail corridor

Transit could increase access to jobs in corridor

Transit could also attract additional workers

38

Existing Conditions- Rail Infrastructure

Rail Ownership

Rail Infrastructure- Key Features

Rail Lines Analyzed

» Chattanooga Choo-Choo (CCC): 1.3 miles

» Tennessee Valley Rail Museum (TVRM): 4.7 miles

» East Chattanooga Belt Railway (ECTB): 6.0 miles

Major Clearance

» TVRM – Missionary Ridge Tunnel

• 980 feet long

• 14 – 15.5 feet wide by 17 feet high

• Constructed in 185841

Rail Infrastructure - Key Features

Track Elevations (above sea level)

» CCC: 669 to 678 feet

» TVRM: 695 to 743 feet

» ECTB: 660 to 734 feet

Bridges / At-Grade Crossings

42

Railroad Section Grade Separations

At-Grade Crossings

TVRM 4 1

ECTB 0 21

Chattanooga Choo-

Choo

0 0

CCC and ECTB Features

43

TVRM Features

44

Existing Conditions- Development Area Opportunities

Rail as a catalyst

Vital, active neighborhoods

Access and mobility

Livability

Health

Reinvestment

46

Walkability/human scale development

47

Walkability/human scale development

48

Walkability/human scale development

49

Intersection density

Less More

Campus connections

50

Blue Cross/ Blue Shield

UNUM

TVA

UT Chattanooga

Hospitals

Travel Conditions – Road Congestion

51

Travel Conditions – Transit Today

• 16 fixed routes; incline rail

• Shuttle & Paratransit

– 3M trips

– 10M passenger miles

– 70 vehicles

• Parking

• Bicycles

• Ridership up

Putting it all together

53

Rail potential

Less More

Background

54

South Chattanooga

Alternative Connections

-5- PROJECT GOALS

Goals - Priorities

GOALS

Economic Development/ Redevelopment

Transportation

Land Use

Environment

ObjectivesGOALS OBJECTIVES

Eco

no

mic

D

evel

op

men

t/

Red

evel

op

men

t

Support regional economic growth.

Connect and re-envision neighborhood centers.

Promote equitable transportation access and benefits.

Tran

spo

rtat

ion

Provide a reliable and attractive transportation alternative.

Integrate Pedestrian Investments.

Improve management of roadway congestion in the core and East Chattanooga areas.

Deploy Electric Vehicle Technology.

Lan

d U

se

Coordinate Land Use and Transportation Investments

Provide efficient jobs-to-housing connections.

Ensure consistency with local land use plans.

Envi

ron

men

t Minimize adverse impacts to the natural and built environment.

Develop a financially feasible and sustainable mobility solution.

Support active healthy lifestyles by reducing dependence on private automobile.

Promote environmental benefits including improving air quality.

Evaluation CriteriaGOALS OBJECTIVES MEASURES

Eco

no

mic

D

evel

op

men

t/

Red

evel

op

men

t

Support regional economic growth. Increase in property tax base

Connect and re-envision neighborhood centers. New jobs and housing units

Promote equitable transportation access and benefits. % zero auto HH with access

Tran

spo

rtat

ion

Provide a reliable and attractive transportation alternative. Ridership

Integrate Pedestrian Investments. Pedestrian facilities added (ft)

Improve management of roadway congestion in the core and East Chattanooga areas.

Reduction in VMT

Deploy Electric Vehicle Technology. Use of electric vehicles?

Lan

d U

se

Coordinate Land Use and Transportation Investments Change in ridership over baseline

Provide efficient jobs-to-housing connections. Worker/job flows

Ensure consistency with local land use plans. No. of supportive LU plans; Consistent?

Envi

ron

men

t Minimize adverse impacts to the natural and built environment. No. of sensitive species and sites impacted

Develop a financially feasible and sustainable mobility solution. Capital cost; Operating cost

Support active healthy lifestyles by reducing dependence on private automobile.

Ridership; Reduction in VMT

Promote environmental benefits including improving air quality. Reduction in VMT

Do you support rail transit in Chattanooga?

A. Yes

B. No

Yes No

8%

92%

Have you used transit regularly to get to work?

A. Yes

B. No

Yes No

68%

32%

Project GOALS:Enter priorities in order from highest to lowest

A. Economic development/ redevelopment

B. Transportation

C. Land Use

D. Environment

Econom

ic deve

lopm

ent/

r...

Tran

sport

atio

n

Land U

se

Enviro

nmen

t

30%

19%19%

32%

Goal: Economic Development / RedevelopmentOBJECTIVE priorities in order - highest to lowest

A. Support regional economic growth by connecting neighborhoods.

B. Connect and revitalize neighborhood centers with multimodal facilities.

C. Promote equitable transportation access and benefits for all.

Support

regi

onal e

conom

ic ...

Connect a

nd revi

taliz

e neig.

..

Prom

ote e

quitable

tran

spor..

.

31%34%35%

Goal: Transportation OBJECTIVE priorities in order - highest to lowest

A. Provide a reliable and attractive transportation alternative.

B. Integrate Pedestrian Investments in transit activity centers.

C. Improve congestion by leveraging underutilized transportation assets .

D. Deploy Electric Vehicle Technology to leverage local electric transit experience.

Provid

e a re

liable

and a

ttrac..

.

Inte

grate

Ped

estria

n Inve

s...

Impro

ve co

ngest

ion b

y le

ver..

.

Deploy E

lect

ric V

ehicl

e Tec..

.

23%

32%

23%22%

Goal: Land UseOBJECTIVE priorities in order - highest to lowest

A. Coordinate Land Use and Transportation Investments to provide the densities to support premium transit service.

B. Provide efficient jobs-to-housing connections and support efficient land use patterns.

C. Ensure consistency with local land use plans.

Coordin

ate La

nd Use

and T

r...

Provid

e effi

cient j

obs-to

-ho...

Ensu

re co

nsiste

ncy w

ith lo

ca...

33%

27%

40%

Goal: Environmental OBJECTIVE priorities in order - highest to lowest

A. Protect the natural and built environment

B. A financially sustainable solution

C. Support active healthy lifestyles by encouraging alternative modes

D. Minimize future vehicle emissions.

Prote

ct th

e natu

ral a

nd built

...

A finan

cially

sust

ainab

le so

l...

Support

act

ive

health

y life

st...

Min

imize

futu

re v

ehicl

e em

i...

25% 25%

31%

19%

Next Steps!

Breakout groups after the presentation

» Get your friends and neighbors involved

» Talk to your neighborhood businesses

Next meeting

» January 21, 2016

» Refine project corridor connections

67

Thank You!