EAST MAIN STREETBUS RAPID TRANSITAugust 2021

A C O L L A B O R A T I V E I N I T I A T I V E C O - S P O N S O R E D B Y

E a s t - W e s t H i g h C a p a c i t y R a p i d T r a n s i t C o r r i d o r

Contents

LinkUS MobilityInitiative

The East-West HighCapacity RapidTransit Corridor

Public Outreach

East Main Street BRT

Study Process & LocallyPreferred Alternative

Who's Involved

Next Steps

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The Best Fit - A TwoStep Evaluation Method

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C e n t r a l O h i o ' s t r a n s f o r m a t i o n a l a n d c o m p r e h e n s i v e p r o s p e r i t ya n d m o b i l i t y i n i t i a t i v e

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LinkUS seeks to provide a complete mobility system along key regional corridors, includinghigh capacity and advanced rapid transit, technology solutions, bicycle and pedestrianimprovements and land use changes. The initiative is a response to the challenges facing agrowing region: traffic congestion, equitable access to jobs and housing, economic vitality,and sustainability. It builds on numerous previous regional planning efforts, such as COTA’sNextGen plan and the insight2050 Corridor Concepts study. Ongoing collaboration with othergrowth management efforts will be essential to its success.

LINKUS

REGIONAL CORRIDOR INITIATIVES Critical regional mobility corridors wereidentified and evaluated during COTA'sNextGen and insight2050 Corridor Conceptsprocesses. The LinkUS Framework Strategywas developed as a guide for implementingthe recommended next steps. Building on thesuccess of COTA's first arterial Bus RapidTransit (BRT) line (the CMAX), the NorthwestCorridor (currently underway through thefirst phase of implementation analysis), andthe East-West Corridor, these series ofprojects will form the backbone of theregion's emerging system of advanced rapidtransit corridors.

FRAMEWORK STRATEGY

Identifiying a network of prioritymobility projectsDeveloping a funding strategy tosupport implementationCoordinating with and supportingregional corridor initiatives

The LinkUS Framework Strategyestablishes the organizing principles andshared goals for implementing a system ofHigh Capacity Rapid Transit (HCRT)corridors supported by other mobilitymodes and transit-supportivedevelopment. It outlines a series of nextsteps that are needed to achieve itsstrategic goals. These include:

1.

2.

3.

OVERVIEW

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LINKUS PRIORIT IESAccess to jobs, housing choices, education, and healthcare are fundamental toequitable opportunity and regional success. Improving mobility in the Columbusregion while focusing on the following LinkUS priorities will create connectionsthat put these goals within reach.

The introduction of mobility options allowsfor increased and equitable access andopportunity for all members of thecommunity. Mobility is critical toimproving equity in the region.

EQUITY

Increased travel choices and connectivitybetter links jobs with the workforce,promoting economic vibrancy and equity.

WORKFORCE ADVANCEMENT

Mobility creates greater opportunities formore innovation between our people, places,and shared prosperity. Technologicalinnovations in transportation make a moreefficient system, promoting the region'seconomy and sustainability.

INNOVATION

Enhanced mobility encourages public andprivate investment in transportation anddevelopment. This promotes local and regionaleconomic vibrancy.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

More transportation choices improves theaffordability of our community by reducingtransportation costs. This reduction ofcombined housing and transportation costsalso creates a more equitable region.

AFFORDABILITY

Increased mobility options lower automobiledependence to reduce carbon emissions.Coupled with compact, walkabledevelopment patterns, growth can occur inthe region while also preserving farmlandand the natural environment.

SUSTAINABILITY

Prair ie Township

Frankl in TownshipHi l l topWestgateFrankl intonDowntown ColumbusOlde Towne EastKing-L incoln/Bronzevi l leNear East S ide

Neighborhoods Served:

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THE EAST-WEST HIGH CAPACITYRAPID TRANSIT CORRIDOR

A 20-mile corridor starting from West Broad Street in Prairie Township in the west,through Downtown Columbus, and on East Broad and East Main Streets towardJefferson Township, Reynoldsburg, and the Franklin County border.

Frankl in ParkEast lawnMideastBexleyWhitehal lFar EastJefferson TownshipReynoldsburgAnd Others

WHO'S INVOLVED

EAST-WEST HIGH CAPACITY RAPID TRANSIT CORRIDOR

THE COMMUNITY Community voices, history, aspirations, needsand cultural make-up are the foundation ofthe East-West Corridor plan. Virtual and in-person engagement with the public andcorridor stakeholders shaped the East-WestHCRT Corridor Locally Preferred Alternative.

STAKEHOLDER GROUP (SG)A broad representation of the community,business, faith, advocacy, and social serviceagency leaders located in or with interests inthe corridor. They serve on the StakeholderGroup and provide guidance on communityissues and values.

TECHNICAL GROUP (TG)Local transportation and development subjectmatter experts from the corridor municipalities,MORPC, and Ohio Department of Transportation(ODOT) serve as agency and community liaisonson the Technical Group. These members providedata, technical expertise, and advisory input.

PARTNER AGENCIES A Project Management Team, representingeach partner agency, brings technical expertiseand national experience to develop andengineer proposed alternatives. Membersinclude COTA, City of Columbus, the Mid-OhioRegional Planning Commission (MORPC) andFranklin County.

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13% OF HOUSEHOLDS IN THE EAST-WESTCORRIDOR WITHOUT A VEHICLE

Zero-vehicle households indicate a strong market fortransit and the need to make it a safe and easy placeto walk and bike. A holistic mobility strategy willprovide a network of transportation options thatenhance and preserve the unique characteristics ofthe communities throughout the East-West Corridor.

2.5 MILLIONNUMBER OF EAST-WEST CORRIDORRESIDENTS BY 2040The Central Ohio region is projected to grow to 2.5million residents by 2040, thus generating increasedtravel demand and traffic if we don't take steps nowto provide more mobility options.

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45%OF EAST-WEST CORRIDOR RESIDENTSIDENTIFY AS A PERSON OF COLOR

The communities throughout the East-West Corridorare culturally diverse. We must be sure our plansleave no one behind, reflect the rich history of thecommunity, improve access to jobs and affordablehousing.

MOVING FORWARD.TOGETHER.

The locally preferred alternative (LPA) is how the Federal Transit Administration(FTA) describes a community-selected transit investment that is seeking federalfunds for design and construction. The LPA includes the mode, alignment, guideway,and stations that best fit the needs of the East-West Corridor based on technicalanalysis and public input.

THE LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVES

Shot of a plane landing.

MODE ALIGNMENTS

GUIDEWAY

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STATIONLOCATIONS

Laker Line BRT, Michigan

BUS RAPID TRANSIT (BRT) BRT was selected as the preferred modebased on corridor fit, ridership capacity, costper mile to build/operate and availableright-of-way.

CORRIDOR ALIGNMENTThe East-West HCRT Corridor includes WestBroad Street, East Broad Street and EastMain Street.

DEDICATED BUS-ONLY LANESThe LPA's recommend a combination ofguideways which include dedicates bus-onlylanes in the median or alongside the curb.

ACCESS TO BRT Station locations were selected as a result oftechnical analysis and stakeholder andcommunity input. Stations amenities includenear-level boarding and off-board farecollection.

GRTC Pulse BRT, Richmond VA

The East-West Corridor Study used a phased approach and is structured as a tieredscreening, where alternatives are defined, evaluated and refined or eliminated ineach step of the process. The result is a proposed LPA or LPAs that will be furtherrefined in future design and environmental phases.

THE STUDY PROCESS

Provide greater reliability,more frequent service andfewer stops resulting inshorter travel timesConnect and integrate withexisting and future transitcorridorsProvide increased transitoptions for those withoutcarsImprove access to jobs,recreation and healthcare Spur infill andredevelopment

Bus Rapid Transit will

Purpose & NeedIdentify goals, purpose,and needs as basis for

evaluation criteria

Initial ScreeningEvaluate each mode andalignment and el iminate

fatal ly f lawed alternatives

Define AlternativesAlternatives include guideway,

station locations and al ignment

Detailed EvaluationAnalyze and evaluate viable

mode/alignment pairings

3 Corridors EmergeEast-West HCRT Corridor is

separated into 3 distinctCorridors

Locally PreferredAlternatives

Select alternative(s) thatfares best against the

evaluation criteria

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79%of community survey respondentsindicated they would use rapid transit inthe East-West Corridor.

52%of community survey respondents saidthey rely on another mode other than acar to travel to and from home or work.

Faster, more reliable transit / transit-dedicated lanesBeautified mediansSafe sidewalks and bike lanesArt, diversity and history featured instation design

East Main Street support was strong forthose looking through equity andredevelopment lenses East Broad Street support was strong forthose wanting to go to major attractionslike the Columbus Museum of Art orFranklin Park Conservatory.

300 engagements at 5 roadshow locations5 Virtual public meetingsYouTube recorded open house andFacebook Live eventsOnline Survey

Service and design preferences:

East Broad or East Main Streetspreferences:

Engagement occurred across platforms

WHAT WE HEARD IN EARLY PUBLIC OUTREACH FOR THE EAST-WEST CORRIDOR

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THE BEST MODE FOR THE CORRIDOR A Two-Step Method: Step 1 Initial Screening

I t m e e t s t h e n e e d s o f C O T A ' s e x i s t i n g r i d e r s h i pI t a l l o w s f o r f u t u r e g r o w t h b y 2 0 4 0I t p r o v i d e s f l e x i b i l i t y a s t e c h n o l o g y a d v a n c e s a n d n e w m o d e s e m e r g e

B u s R a p i d T r a n s i t ( B R T ) w a s s e l e c t e d a s t h e p r e f e r r e d m o d e t h a t b e s t m e e t st h e n e e d s o f t h e E a s t - W e s t C o r r i d o r .

Mode Selection

P e e r a g e n c i e s w h o i m p l e m e n t e d e i t h e r B u s R a p i d T r a n s i t o r L i g h t R a i l T r a n s i t s a w c o m p a r a b l e r i d e r s h i p i n c r e a s e s

Bus Rapid Transit Meets Ridership Capacity Demands

1 EAST-WEST HIGHCAPACITY RAPID

TRANSIT CORRIDORNETWORK

3 BRT CORRIDORS

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Reflects communitypreferencesIncreases implementationflexibilityAttracts more federalfunding

All three corridors were foundto be deserving of high capacityrapid transit. As a result, theproject team divided the East-West HCRT corridor into threeseparate LPA projects.

This approach:

West Broad Street East Main Street

East Broad Street

ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITYAREAS OF PERSISTENT POVERTYBRT can help connect the 59% of residentson East Main Street who live in an area ofpersistent poverty to jobs, healthcare,education and other community resources.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTEMPLOYMENTBRT can support access to the 99,730 jobswithin the East Main Street Corridor andconnect people to economic opportunities.

East Main Street Locally Preferred Alternative

MODE: BUS RAPID TRANSIT

13 Miles & 18 Stations

ZERO-CAR HOUSEHOLDSTRIPS ON THE CORRIDOR 48% of the estimated BRT trips by 2040 willbe taken by those who do not have access toa personal automobile.

AREAS SERVEDCities of Columbus, Bexley, Whitehall,

Reynoldsburg and Jefferson Township

CULTURAL DIVERSITYCONTEXT SENSITIVE DESIGN48% of the residents in the East Main StreetCorridor identity as a person of color. The BRTdesign will be responsive to inputs andpreferences of the community being served.

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BRT Stations

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STEP 2: DETAILED EVALUATION

24,000NUMBER OF HOUSINGUNITS WITHIN A HALF-

MILE OF A BRT STATION

E N V I R O N M E N T A LC O N S I D E R A T I O N S

9,500TOTAL WEEKDAY

TRANSIT TRIPS BY 2040

C O R R I D O R R I D E R S H I P

$123,000 - $346,000MEDIAN SINGLE-FAMILY

HOME PRICE IN 2020

E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T

Potential station locations, alignments and guideways were evaluated based on aseries of assessments which included determining estimated capital costs, operatingand maintenance costs, and evaluating transportation and parking impacts, traveldemand, environmental considerations, and potential economic development.

1,400NEW WEEKDAY

TRANSIT TRIPS BY 2040

I N D U C E D D E M A N D

$8,950,000ANNUAL O&M COST

(2021$)

O P E R A T I N G A N DM A I N T E N A N C E C O S T

$212 - $245.7MILLION DOLLARS OF

BRT INVESTMENT (2021$)

C A P I T A L C O S T

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OPERATING FREQUENCYService has been modeled to operate every 10 to 20minutes seven days a week. The BRT is planned tooperate from 5:00 A.M. to 12:00 A.M Monday throughSaturday and 5:00 A.M to 9:00 P.M on Sundays.

WHAT BRT SERVICE LOOKS LIKE AREAS SERVEDThe proposed East Main Street LPA is a 13-mile BRTroute from COTA's transit terminal on Spring Street inDowntown Columbus to Taylor Road in Reynoldsburg.

FEATURESThe BRT will operate in a dedicated guideway for 11miles, switching to mixed traffic in Bexley. Eighteenstations are planned along the route. The exactplacement of these facilities will be coordinated withthe local community during the design phase. EastMain Street BRT will feature large stations with levelboarding, access for people with disabilities andtransit signal priority to reduce BRT travel times.

RECREATION & SHOPPING

Existing COTA Local ServiceCMAX BRTFuture LinkUS Transit Corridors

KEY DESTINATIONS HEALTHCAREColumbus Public HealthNationwide Children's HospitalOhioHealth Eastside Health CenterOhioHealth Grant Medical Center

UNIVERSITIES

Capital UniversityFranklin University

Scioto MileBexley SquareGreat Eastern Shopping CenterMain 270 Shopping CenterReynoldsburg Shopping Center

TRANSIT SERVICE

Riding the East Main BRT

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2022

2023

2024

2027

W H A T ' S N E X T

EAST-WEST HCRT CORRIDOR STUDY Identified purpose and need, conducted a detailed evaluation of thecorridor, eliminated fatal flaw alternatives and recommended the locallypreferred alternatives (LPAs): West Broad Street, East Main Street andEast Broad Street.

PHASING, PRIORITIZATION AND AMENDMENT COTA adopts the 3 LPAs and requests an amendment to theMetropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP). MORPC announces 30-daypublic input period to amend the MTP. Upon completion, the MTP isamended to include the LPAs.

PRELIMINARY ENGINEERINGCOTA requests entry into FTA's Small Starts program, advance design,environmental analysis and continued public engagement.

FINAL ENGINEERING AND DESIGN Design and costs are finalized for construction. Public engagementcontinues.

FTA GRANT APPROVAL AND CONSTRUCTION BEGINSEast Main Street BRT project costs are fully funded and construction begins.

RIDE THE EAST MAIN STREET BRT!

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FINALIZE LINKUS PHASING AND FUNDING STRATEGYThe timeline of the East Main Street BRT is subject to change followingthe determination of the future funding strategy and associated timing.

EAST-WEST HIGH CAPACITYRAPID TRANSIT CORRIDOR

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