cycle 2 business and industry presentation
TRANSCRIPT
Business and Industry StakeholderRoundtable Meeting
October 16, 2012
Agenda
• Welcome and introductions• Introduction to the project• Overview of recent studies• Policy Area Discussions• Wrap up and next steps
Welcome and Introductions
Welcome and Introductions
• Welcome!• Project team introductions– Kern COG– PMC team
Meeting Purpose
• To gain a better understanding of the Directions to 2050 project
• To learn about how transportation choices effect priorities for the future, community assets, and funding expenditures
Ground Rules
• Common conversational courtesy • All ideas and points of view have value• Speak up, and share the time• Cell phone courtesy• Be comfortable
Introduction to the Project
Project Funding
• Directions to 2050 is funded in part by:– California utility ratepayers and administered by
South California Edison– Kern COG provides major funding for this project
to encourage activities that lead to long-term, sustainable changes
Relationship to the Kern Regional Blueprint effort
• Directions to 2050 builds on the Blueprint by:– Revisiting the communities’ vision and guiding
principles– Considering a full range of choices and associated
trade-offs– Brainstorming locally-relevant strategies– Identify and prioritize next steps– Incorporate these next steps into the region’s plan
Relationship to Local Government Plans
• Directions to 2050 and the 2014 Regional Transportation Plan:– Guides the development of the planned
multimodal transportation systems in Kern County– Supports local planning efforts– Developed through a comprehensive coordination
effort between local, regional, state and federal agencies
Relationship to Other Activities in the Region
• San Joaquin Valley Blueprint• Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)• Regionwide transportation improvements– Bicycle and pedestrian– Transit– Freight
• Social Equity and Environmental Justice
Directions to 2050 Cycle 1 Community Outreach
• 16 community workshops throughout the region
• RPAC meetings• Stakeholder Roundtable
Meetings• Website with interactive
activities, background information, and online survey
Community Outreach – Key Findings To-date
• Community members prioritized:– Link education/training/youth mentorships with
economic development initiatives.– Maintain and develop comprehensive community
services for health, education, safety, and recreation.– Add, maintain, and improve sidewalks and bike lanes
for safer, active lifestyles.– Maintain local streets and roads.– Improve air quality.– Invest in renewable energy production and
distribution, including wind and solar power.
Potential impact of the 2014 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)
• [placeholder – short video]
Overview of Recent Studies
Overview of Recent Studies
• Kern Regional Transit (KRT) Bakersfield Service Analysis
• High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV)/ Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Study
• Commuter Rail Feasibility Study• Regional Rural Transit Study• GET Long Range Transit Plan• Kern County Bicycle Master Plan• Eastern Sierra Public Transportation Study
Kern Regional Transit (KRT)Bakersfield Service Analysis
• Goal– Determine whether KRT
might be able to take advantage of the GET changes to:• Improve service for its
own customers• Reduce operating costs
Kern Regional Transit (KRT)Bakersfield Service Analysis
• Short-Term Recommendations– Endure rapid repair of critical transportation
infrastructure in an emergency and enhance emergency preparedness
– Promote the use of intelligent transportation system technologies
– Enhance security with transportation infrastructure practices
– Establish a forum for policy-maker education and regional policy development
Kern Regional Transit (KRT)Bakersfield Service Analysis
• Short-Term Recommendations (continued)– Enhance the region’s ability to respond to acts of
terrorism– Enhance capabilities of local and regional
organizations– Provide means for collaboration during a regional
emergency– Refine scheduling practices– Improve customer service with improved
passenger information practices
Kern Regional Transit (KRT)Bakersfield Service Analysis
• Mid- and Longer-Term Recommendations– Plan for the new Downtown Transit Center
location– Retire the existing Downtown and Southwest
Transit Centers– Expand GET network– Increase BRT and possibly light rail transit (LRT)
service– Enhance KRT service– Provide new GET routes on KRT corridors
High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV)/ Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Study
• Goal– Examine the long-range
feasibility of implementing HOV lanes and/or BRT services
– Assess the performance, benefits, and potential impacts of HOV and BRT
High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV)/ Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Study
• Short- and Mid-Term Recommendations– Improve rapid bus with:• Traffic signal priority systems and queue jump lanes• Exclusive HOV and bus lanes
– Introduce express bus service along SR 178/24th Street/Rosedale Highway
– Construct truck climbing lanes eastbound SR-58– Add express bus services– Introduce ramp meters at identified interchanges– Designate new peak period-only HOV lane on SR-
178
High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV)/ Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Study
• Long-Term Recommendations– Consider converting BRT to LRT– Construct additional peak period HOV lanes– Construct the truck climbing lane on
southbound SR-166 of Maricopa
Commuter Rail Feasibility Study
• Goal– Examine a set of alternatives
for providing commuter rail service within:• Bakersfield metropolitan area• Surrounding portions of Kern
County• Eastern region of the county
– Identify corridors that may be feasible for future service and potential station locations
Commuter Rail Feasibility Study
• Short- and Mid-Term Recommendations– Initiate discussions with:• Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA)• Union Pacific (UP)• State regarding Amtrak San Joaquin stops• Various COGs
– Advance design of the Metrolink Antelope Valley line extension to Rosamond
– If High Speed Rail proceeds, identify a preferred corridor to connect Bakersfield and Delano
Commuter Rail Feasibility Study
• Long-Term Recommendations– Implement extension of Metrolink service to
Rosamond– Select preferred governing and operating agency
for a commuter rail services (if HSR proceeds)– Pursue funding sources for commuter rail
improvements– Explore potential for purchasing existing rail
rights-of-way
Regional Rural Transit Strategy
• Goal– Evaluate alternatives
to its current network of rural transit services
Regional Rural Transit Strategy
• Recommendations– Provide alternative methods of countywide public
transit service focusing on:• Improving efficiency, effectiveness and cost savings
– Conduct a cost benefit analysis to fully assess priorities
GET Long Range Transit Plan
• Goal– Document the relationship
between:• Population growth• Transit ridership demand• Current operations
– Address emerging intracity transit system needs
– Address connectivity between rural areas and major regional transportation facilities
GET Long Range Transit Plan
• Recommendations– Initiate Express Bus Route 101 between:• Taft• The (new) Downtown Transit Center, and • Bakersfield College
Kern County Bicycle Master Plan
• Goal– Assess existing bicycle
facilities– Develop a plan for new
bicycle amenities– Provide recommendations
for complete streets
Kern County Bicycle Master Plan
• Recommendations– 664 miles of new bikeways including:• 30 miles of Class I bike paths• 297 miles of Class II bikes lanes• 46.6 miles of Class III bike routes• 186 miles for Class III bike routes on State routes
– Short- and Long-term bicycle parking facilities– Education, encouragement, enforcement, and
evaluation programs
Eastern Sierra Public Transportation Study
• Goal– Address short-term interregional transit demands– Identify strategies to enhance intra-regional mobility– Present a preliminary feasibility analysis of longer-
term passenger rail service between Mammoth Lakes and the LA region.
• Key Findings– Eastern Sierras have varied geography, sparse
population and long distances.– Despite these conditions, transit operations provide
exceptionally good coverage.
Policy Area Discussions
Transportation Choices Online Activity
• Purpose– To determine your group’s resource investment
preferences for the future• How to Play– Choose six priorities for the future– Allocated resources to transportation policy areas– Watch your budget and priorities for the future
change!
Report Out and Large Group Conclusions
• Which priorities for the future were important to your group?
• Which transportation policy areas were important to your group?
• What surprised you?• What didn’t surprise you?
Wrap Up and Next Steps
We are here
Next Steps
• Upcoming meetings and events– RPAC meeting– Stakeholder meetings– Community presentations
Business and Industry StakeholderRoundtable Meeting
October 16, 2012