northwest rail corridor and us 36 brt development · pdf filethis would create a more direct...

Northwest Rail Corridor and US 36 BRTDevelopment Oriented Transit Analysis

Final 4-24 July 2007

4.4.5 116th Avenue Station (Broomfield)

TOD Area Character: The 116th Avenue Station is a shared BRT and CRT station within the City and County of Broomfields Original Broomfield area (Exhibit 4-16). The station area offers large tracts of land for development with good visibility from US 36 (Exhibit 4-17). An industrial area east of the railroad tracks provides an employment base for the station area and larger community. Development is occurring west of the station area at the Arista project, with more than 5 million square feet of development planned. A recreational sports complex southeast of the CRT station offers a green space amenity and opportunity for expansion.

The rail station area is constrained by a lack of access. CDOT, RTD and Broomfield are working in partnership to improve transportation connections the site. Improved access will facilitate the mixed-use character needed for TOD.

Challenges:

US 36 and the rail line restrict east-west connections. Mobility is also limited by a disjointed roadway network.

While a pedestrian bridge across US 36 is planned by RTD, the current configuration may not be situated to enhance TOD opportunity east of the BRT platforms since it would not align with 116th Avenue.

The Arista development will be a catalyst for future development east of the highway. Future development in Arista and Original Broomfield should be complementary and the two should not detract from or compete with each other.

The 116th Avenue Station will have BRT and CRT station in close proximity. The station area contains many large tracts of undeveloped land visible from US 36.

Exhibit 4-15:116th Avenue Station (Broomfield)

Northwest Rail Corridor and US 36 BRTDevelopment Oriented Transit Analysis

Final 4-25 July 2007

Station Area

Corridor Station Area Location

Exhibit 4-16:116th Avenue Station (Broomfield)

Northwest Rail Corridor and US 36 BRTDevelopment Oriented Transit Analysis

Final 4-26 July 2007

TB

W 118th Pl

W 116th Pl

W 116th AVE

REED

WAY

112TH AVE

UPTOWN AVE

BROOMFEILDEVENTS CENTER

BRO

OM

FEIL

D L

N

US36

12

3

4

5Parking Garage

ARISTA

Residential/Commercial

120th Av

e Conne

ction

1/2 Mile: BRT/

CRT

XCEL

Office / Employment /Commercial

116th Avenue Station (Broomfield)

N

Recommendations: (Numbers correspond to the station area map, Exhibit 4-17)

1) Investigate with Xcel the opportunity to utilize the vacant land that surround the substation as additional parking for the transit facility.

Responsibility: RTD, Broomfield, Xcel Energy

Timeframe: Short-term (prior to the final draft of the Northwest Rail EE and US 36 FEIS publication)

2) Shift 116th Avenue south to create a high density residential spine. The shift would provide a more direct linkage between the two station areas and create a buffer from the Xcel facility.

Exhibit 4-17:Station Area Recommendations

Residental/Commercial

Mixed-Use

Station

Parking

Transit Corridor

Employment / Commercial

T

Northwest Rail Corridor and US 36 BRTDevelopment Oriented Transit Analysis

Final 4-27 July 2007

Responsibility: Broomfield

Timeframe: Long-term (prior to project construction)

3) Move the rail platforms south to connect with the realigned 116th Avenue.

Responsibility: RTD, EIS Team, Broomfield

Timeframe: Short-term (prior to the final draft of the Northwest Rail EE and US 36 FEIS publication)

4) Coordinate with CDOT concerning access into the site from the north. Evaluate access into the site from US 36 and the proposed 120th Avenue Connection.

Responsibility: RTD, Broomfield

Timeframe: Short-term (prior to the final draft of the Northwest Rail EE and US 36 FEIS publication)

5) Explore options to shift the proposed configuration of the pedestrian bridge to the south to align with 116th Avenue. This would create a more direct pedestrian linkage and a connection between the rail and BRT facilities.

Responsibility: RTD, Broomfield

Timeframe: Immediate (within the next three months)

6) Link the Broomfield Industrial Sports Complex to 112th Avenue west of the railroad via pedestrian bridge. This would create a new access from the station to the Complex.

Responsibility: Broomfield

Timeframe: Long-term (prior to project construction)

General Recommendations (not highlighted on station area map)

Complete the Original Broomfield Plan, including identifying a street network, open space connections and land uses to support TOD opportunities.

Responsibility: Broomfield

Timeframe: Short-term (prior to the final draft of the Northwest Rail EE and US 36 FEIS publication)

Northwest Rail Corridor and US 36 BRTDevelopment Oriented Transit Analysis

Final 4-28 July 2007

4.4.6 South Westminster

Station Area Character: The South Westminster Station is projected to be one of the busier stations along the corridor (Exhibit 4-19). The station planning area is on 100 acres between Lowell and Federal boulevards in an industrial section of the city (a view of the station area is shown in Exhibit 4-18). The site requires substantial infrastructure improvements in both the short and long term to phase in projected development. The City has a strong TOD plan in place; leadership needs to continue to implement the vision for the station area. Partnership with RTD in the long term will help to refine transit and development design.

Approximately 30-40 acres south of the station are located on a floodplain within open space along Little Dry Creek. A plan has been completed to create a park within the floodplain and to improve the trail connections through the area. An opportunity exists to connect the park with the station to provide a nearby amenity and place of activity. The park could also accommodate the drainage requirements of future development north of the station.

Challenges:

Major infrastructure improvements are required.

The site has over 90 individual owners in the area. Fragmented land ownership makes land assemblage a challenge.

Parking requirements for the park-n-Ride could limit TOD opportunities at this station.

Access into the site poses a challenge for future bus circulation into and out of the station.

Westminster station area. The station will be located on the north side of the rail corridor. The southern portion of the rail corridor is currently planned to be a park.

Exhibit 4-18:Westminster Station Area

Northwest Rail Corridor and US 36 BRTDevelopment Oriented Transit Analysis

Final 4-29 July 2007

Station Area

Corridor Station Area Location

Exhibit 4-19:Station Location Map

Northwest Rail Corridor and US 36 BRTDevelopment Oriented Transit Analysis

Final 4-30 July 2007

Fede

ral B

lvd.

1

2

3

1

4

6

5B

US 36

US 36

71st Ave.

70 th Ave.

71st Pl.

72nd Ave.Hoo

ker S

t.

Irvin

g S

t.

Julia

n S

t.

Low

ell B

lvd.

Westminster Station Area

NRail Corridor

T

Station

T

Recommendations: (Numbers correspond to the station area map, Exhibit 4-20)

1) Create incentives for TOD supportive redevelopment of parcels with an adopted Master Plan and TOD supportive zoning.

Responsibility: Westminster

Timeframe: Short-term to long-term (between the final draft of the Northwest Rail EE and US 36 FEIS publication and project construction)

2) Evaluate options for structured parking to free up land for future development.

Responsibility: Westminster, RTD

Exhibit 4-20:Station Area Recommendations

Northwest Rail Corridor and US 36 BRTDevelopment Oriented Transit Analysis

Final 4-31 July 2007

Timeframe: Short-term (prior to the final draft of the Northwest Rail EE and US 36 FEIS publication)

3) Create a focal point or plaza at the station platforms. Connect the TOD with the park to the south through a pedestrian linkage.

Responsibility: Westminster, RTD

Timeframe: Short-term to long-term (between the final draft of the N o r t h w e s t Rail EE and US 36 FEIS publication and project construction)

4) Develop an implementation plan for park improvements south of the alignment. Prioritize capital improvements budget to include funds for park improvements.

Responsibility: Westminster

Timeframe: Short-term to long-term (between the final draft of the N o r t h w e s t Rail EE and US 36 FEIS publication and project construction)

5) Integrate transit parking into the station area without detracting from private development opportunity. Evaluate on-street bus circulation and drop-off areas to maximize TOD potential.

Responsibility: RTD, EE design team, Westminster

Timeframe: Short-term (prior to the final draft of the Northwest Rail EE and US 36 FEIS publication)

6) Consider attractive gateways into the site along Federal Boulevard at cross streets such as 70th, 71st and 72nd avenues. Utilize these entrances as wayfinding to the station at the interior of the site.

Responsibility: Westminster

Timef