FasTracks:FasTracks:Quality of Life StudyQuality of Life Study

Transportation Systems Performance Measurement  ConferenceMay 19, 2011

OverviewOverview

Quality of Life Study

• Background/Purpose

• Study Scope

• Reporting• Reporting

• Example Measures

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RTDRTD• Regional authority operating

transit in eight countiestransit in eight counties

o Funded by sales & use tax

15 b B d f Di to 15-member Board of Directors

o 2,300 sq. mile service area

• Family of services to meet diverse needs of the region

o 35 miles of light rail

o 150 fixed bus routes

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FasTracks ProgramFasTracks Program• In 2004, Denver region voters

passed a 0 4% tax increase topassed a 0.4% tax increase to fund regional transit expansion

• FasTracks Program:o 122 miles of new commuter and

light rail

o 18 miles of bus rapid transito 18 miles of bus rapid transit (BRT)

o 21,000 new parking spaces at il d b t tirail and bus stations

o Enhanced bus service to facilitate bus/rail transfers across the 8-county district

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Study BackgroundStudy Background

• In the 2004 FasTracks Plan, the RTD Board adopted th l f F T kthree core goals for FasTracks:

o Balance transit needs with future regional growth

o Increase transit mode share during peak travel times

o Provide improved transportation choices and options

• The Plan also outlined anticipated benefits to the region

How do we know the FasTracks ProgramHow do we know the FasTracks Program is achieving these goals and providing

benefits?

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benefits?

QoL Study: What Is It?QoL Study: What Is It?

• Quality of Life (QoL) Study is a multiyear FasTracks• Quality of Life (QoL) Study is a multiyear FasTracks monitoring program with the primary goal to:

Obj ti l t k d h th io Objectively track and measure how the region changes as FasTracks is planned, constructed and opened for service

• The Study also serves to fulfill the Before and After Study data requirements for corridors receiving y q gFederal New Starts funding

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Summary of Study MeasuresSummary of Study Measures

7* High Level measures are shown in bold.

Summary of Study MeasuresSummary of Study Measures

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* High Level measures are shown in bold.

Study ScopeStudy Scope

• Study measures the effects of h F T k Pthe FasTracks Program at three geographic levels:

R io Region

o Rapid transit corridors

o Rapid transit station areas

• Only “representative stations” used for station area data collection

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ReportingReporting• Detailed Reports

o 2006: First report established a baseline of data for full set of 70+ measures

o Detailed reports issued every 3 to 5 years

• High Level Measures reports

o Issued annually between detailed reports

o Provides updates on a subset of 11 measuresof 11 measures

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Example Measures

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Provide Opportunities for Development Near TransitDevelopment Near Transit

• Critical measure of the economic strength of the Denver

Economic ActivityTaxable Retail Sales Within the District

• Critical measure of the economic strength of the Denver region

• General increase between 2004 & 2007• Significant decrease associated with economic recession has

continued into 2009

$35

$36

$37

(Billions)

$31

$32

$33

$34

Taxable Re

tail Sales 

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$30

$31

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Provide Opportunities for Development Near TransitDevelopment Near Transit

Economic ActivityCompleted Development Near Rapid Transit Stations

• New development within ½ mile of existing and future rapid transit stationsstations

• Completed development is a lagging indicator as projects were started several years earlierstarted several years earlier

• Majority of development completed in 2009 occurred downtown and along the Southeast Corridor

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Provide Opportunities for Development Near TransitDevelopment Near Transit

• The total property value for ½ mile station areas as a price per

Property ValueProperty Values• The total property value for ½ mile station areas as a price per

square foot

• US 36/Northwest Rail Corridor shows higher property values at stations as compared to the surrounding area

US 36 BRT/Northwest Rail Property Values

$20

$25

$30

$35

$20

$25

$30

$35

$0

$5

$10

$15

$20

$0

$5

$10

$15

$20

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Downtown Louisville

Boulder Transit Village

Downtown Longmont

US36/104th BRT

Flatirons Crossing

2006 2008

US 36 Sub‐Area

Transit UsageTransit UsageRidership

Annual Transit Boardings per Capita40

Annual Boardings per Capita

• 29% increase in transit ridership between 2000 & 2009 34

36

38

40

2000 & 2009• Significant increase in

transit boardings between 2006 & 2007

30

32

34

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009between 2006 & 2007 with the opening of the Southeast Corridor li ht il

70

80

90

apita

Peer Cities Review Boardings per Capita

Dallas

Denver

light rail• Boardings dropped

between 2008 and 30

40

50

60

Boardings pe

r Ca

Minneapolis

Portland

Sacramento

Salt Lake City

San Jose

2009

150

10

20

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Seattle

Travel Safety & SecurityTravel Safety & SecurityCrime

Crime Rate on RTD Property

• Downward trend observed between 2004 & 2009

• Decrease of approximately 1 00

1.20

• Decrease of approximately 30% between 2008 & 2009

• Light rail crime rate % 0 60

0.80

1.00

00,000

 Boardings

decreased by 46% and bus crime rate decreased by 19% between 2008 &

0 20

0.40

0.60

Crim

es per 1

20090.00

0.20

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

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System MobilitySystem MobilityTravel Times

Corridor Travel TimesAM Peak Automobile Travel Times to Downtown Denver

• Travel time to reach downtown Denver during the AM peak period

Southeast:Lincoln

• Automobile travel time increased on both corridors

• Transit travel time decreased on

Southwest:Mineral

2006

2009

• Transit travel time decreased on both corridors

• Southeast Corridor light rail i d t it t l i th

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

AM Peak Transit Travel Times to Downtown Denver

improved transit travel in the southern I-25 corridor by reducing travel time by 15

i t

Southeast:Lincoln

2006

minutes

170 10 20 30 40 50 60

Southwest:Mineral

2009

System MobilitySystem Mobility

• Additional time required to

Travel Time VariabilityTravel Time Variability

West:JeffCo Govt Center

2009 AM Peak Automobile Travel Time Variability to Downtown Denver

Additional time required to arrive on time at downtown destination during AM peak period Southeast:RidgeGate

Southwest:Lucent Blvd

US 36 BRT:Table Mesa

Northwest Rail:Longmont

West:JeffCo Govt Center

T l Tiperiod• Refinement to travel time

variability method shows an overall increase in automobile

East:DIA

Gold Line:Ward Road

I‐225:Aurora City Center

North Metro:120th AveTravel Time (min)

Variability (min)

overall increase in automobile travel time variability

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Northwest Rail:Longmont

West:JeffCo Govt Center

2009 AM Peak Transit Travel Time Variability to Downtown Denver

I 225 A Cit C t

North Metro:120th Ave

Southeast:RidgeGate

Southwest:Lucent Blvd

US 36 BRT:Table Mesa

Travel Time (min)

180 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

East:DIA

Gold Line:Ward Road

I‐225:Aurora City Center

Variability (min)

Travel Choices & AccessibilityAccessibility

Destination AccessRegional Destinations Served by High-Frequency

Transit High‐Frequency Service Area

• High-frequency transit service areao ½ mile radius of rail stations

Transit

o ½ mile radius of rail stationso ¼ mile radius of bus stops with

15-minute or better peak & off-peak headwayspeak headways

• 30% of Denver’s regional destinations are served by high-frequency transitfrequency transito 25% prior to opening of

Southeast Corridor light rail

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Travel Choices & Accessibility

Transit AccessPopulation within Walking Distance of Representative Stations

Accessibility

• Half mile walkshed used versus half mile radius

Representative Stations

• Walkable streets include all roadways except limited access freewaysfreeways

20½ mile walkshed at Belleview Station

Travel Choices & Accessibility

Land UseTransit-Supportive Zoning Changes

Accessibility

• Zoning changes around existing and future rapid transit station areas that increase densities & encourage mixed use development

10 t ti h d i• 10 stations had zoning changes in 2006 & 2007

• Louisville station zoning gchanged in 2008

• No transit-supportive zoning h i 2009changes in 2009

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Challenges & Opportunities

Transferring academic research to an agencyLong Term Performance Monitoring Program

Challenges & Opportunities

• Transferring academic research to an agencyo Quantity of data

o Presenting results to non-technical audienceo Presenting results to non technical audience

• New data sources and methodologies o Clear about program goalsp g g

o Decide when to change or remain consistent

o Housing + Transportation Costs

• Objectivityo Correlation not causation

o Partnerships

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Questions

Lacy Bell P E

Questions

Lacy Bell, P.E.Senior Transportation Planner

RTD FasTracksRTD FasTracks

303‐299‐2341

Lacy.Bell@rtd‐fastracks.comLacy.Bell@rtd fastracks.com

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