ONORATO TRANSPORTATION ACTION TEAM RECOMMENDATIONS

Transcription

1 ONORATO TRANSPORTATION ACTION TEAM RECOMMENDATIONS The fllwing recmmendatins are utlined as shrt-, mid- and lng-term actins. These target dates are preliminary and may be mdified based n input frm agencies, stakehlders and funding surces. After due cnsideratin and deliberatin, we believe the recmmended pririties fr strategic actin in Allegheny Cunty shuld be as fllws: IMPLEMENT RAPID TRANSIT FROM DOWNTOWN TO OAKLAND AND IN AND AROUND OAKLAND CONSTRUCT DOWNTOWN TO OAKLAND LRT A frequent, rapid and efficient cnnectin is critical as we grw the educatinal, medical and technlgy sectrs at the cre f ur reginal prsperity. This crridr is densely ppulated and cngested. Facilitating grwth here with excellent infrastructure is a key cmpnent needed t assure ur future prsperity. Transit frm Dwntwn t Oakland will cnnect the tw largest ecnmic generatrs in the regin. Numerus studies have investigated many alternatives fr prviding imprved transit service frm Dwntwn t Oakland. The team recmmends a direct Light Rail Transit alignment frm Dwntwn t Oakland be chsen within the shrt term by the Transprtatin Actin Partnership. The best alternative will: Prvide the mst direct and fastest rute t central Oakland frm Dwntwn Pittsburgh; Service University Statin hub in Oakland; Have high ridership ptential; Have best ptential fr develpment pprtunities; If pssible, perate at-grade n its wn right-f-way t reduce cnstructin csts; Directly serve ptential TOD lcatins alng the rute; and Cnsider cnnectin with current and future develpment prjects (i.e., new Penguin arena, Lwer Hill District, etc.) It will be the rle f the Transprtatin Actin Partnership (TAP) t lead this effrt, with the ultimate gal being t select the best alignment and funding strategy. Shrt-Term Actins: Select the Dwntwn t Oakland LRT alignment and Central Dwntwn multimdal hub thrugh public prcess, with public and stakehlder input and participatin. - Include taxi stands at majr hub lcatins Onrat Transprtatin Actin Team Recmmendatins 1

2 - Prvide Oakland area circulatr system cnnectivity - Prvide fr buses and shuttle buses - Prvide fr bike and pedestrian cnnectins - Prvide fr future cnnectivity with ther systems Determine prcurement and funding strategy (ex: design/build, public-private partnerships, use r d nt use federal funds, etc.) Mid-Term Actins: Cmplete LRT envirnmental clearance and design, and grundbreaking/begin cnstructin. Lng-Term Actins: Cmplete cnstructin and begin peratins. CONSTRUCT OAKLAND AREA CIRCULATOR SYSTEM Oakland is the ecnmic wellspring fr future grwth f ur regin because f its cncentratin f research, universities, hspitals and the ptential and current realizatin f spin-ff cmpanies. Transit can play a key rle in cnnecting this develpment t the institutins that are driving this grwth. There are internal mbility prblems within Oakland which can be addressed by cnstructin f an area circulatr system that cnnects Oakland t the Suth Side, Secnd Avenue, Blmfield, Lawrenceville, Shadyside and CMU, bringing tgether greater Oakland s many assets and allwing the parts t functin as a whle. Attractin f new technlgy develpment and retentin f students t enter the wrkfrce here after graduatin are highly dependent n public transprtatin that needs t be readily available and easy t navigate. This effrts need t be clsely crdinated with the plans f the majr institutins in and near Oakland. Shrt-Term Actins: Imprve direct access t Oakland frm thrughut Allegheny Cunty: - Identify remte intercept garages and park-n-rides - Enhanced suburban service and direct service t Oakland - Share the Rad bike/pedestrian markings t and arund Oakland Advance Oakland area circulatr system Phase I (Oakland t Secnd Ave.) - Determine mde, alignment, hub lcatin, phasing and financing - Cmplete envirnmental clearance fr Phase I Grundbreaking/begin cnstructin fr University Statin hub Onrat Transprtatin Actin Team Recmmendatins 2

3 Mid-Term Actins: Open University Statin hub and Phase I circulatr Cmplete envirnmental clearance and design fr Phase II circulatin extensins and begin phased cnstructin: - Suth Side - Blmfield/Lawrenceville - Hazelwd LTV and Carrie Furnace Lng-Term Actins: Cmplete cnstructin f Phase II circulatr extensins t: - Suth Side - Blmfield/Lawrenceville - Hazelwd LTV and Carrie Furnace IMPLEMENT RAPID TRANSIT FROM DOWNTOWN TO AIRPORT Several studies have investigated varius alternatives fr prviding imprved transit service frm Dwntwn t Pittsburgh Internatinal Airprt. The technical team believes Light Rail Transit frm Dwntwn t the Airprt utilizing a Parkway alignment, r a mre direct new right-f-way, and establishing a majr intermdal hub at a midway pint fr the West area will prvide the best alternative fr these reasns: Prvides pprtunities fr travelers t ur area t rapidly cnnect t Oakland and ther essential crridrs. Directly serves Pittsburgh Internatinal Airprt hub and a midpint western intermdal hub that will distribute cmmuters t emplyment centers, educatinal facilities and ther pints f interest in Western Allegheny Cunty. Supprts ecnmic develpment, land use pririties and redevelpment pprtunities alng the crridr. Prvides ptential cnnectins frm the intermdal hub t Rbert Mrris University, CCAC West, and ther higher educatin facilities. Prvides mst direct and fastest rute t Pittsburgh Internatinal Airprt. Prvides a link cnnecting t the Dwntwn subway, Nrth Shre and Suth Hills LRT. The team has identified tw stages: Stage I wuld cmplete the LRT frm Dwntwn t the Western Statin intermdal hub; and Stage II wuld cntinue the LRT n t the Airprt Statin hub. It will be the rle f the Transprtatin Actin Partnership (TAP) t lead this effrt, with the ultimate gal being t select the best alignment and funding strategy. Shrt-Term Actins: Nrth Shre cnnectr grundbreaking and cnstructin Onrat Transprtatin Actin Team Recmmendatins 3

4 Identify Airprt Statin and Western Statin intermdal hubs Mid-Term Actins: Begin crridr scping, envirnmental clearance, and design fr tw-phase LRT Phase I: Western Statin intermdal hub Phase II: Airprt Statin intermdal hub Lng-Term Actins: Cmplete final design and cnstructin f LRT Phase I Cmplete final design and begin cnstructin f LRT Phase II CONSTRUCT AIRPORT AREA CIRCULATOR SYSTEM The airprt crridr has seen strng grwth ver the past decade, and Pittsburgh Internatinal Airprt has fueled much f this develpment. Substantial investment fr the develpment f thusands f acres f vacant land surrunding Pittsburgh Internatinal Airprt has already been made. Thse funds have been used t build needed sewer lines, rads and additinal infrastructure t cnnect ptential develpment sites near the airprt t the rest f the regin. The crridr will cntinue t be attractive fr new crprate headquarters, research and develpment facilities, manufacturing plants, and distributin centers in a wide range f industries as pad-ready space cntinues t be made available. T serve this grwing ppulatin f wrkers and residents, as well as the swelling ranks f business peple wh cme thrugh the Pittsburgh Airprt Crridr, mbility will need t be addressed. Future cnstructin f an area circulatr system, fed by the LRT system and intermdal hubs, will serve t cnnect the new industry, universities, retail, and the airprt, bringing tgether many assets and allwing the parts t functin as a whle. These future develpments will need t be cncentrated in dense hubs t be effectively serviced by transit. These develpment effrts need t be crdinated with the plans f the Allegheny Cunty Airprt Authrity and Allegheny Cunty Department f Ecnmic Develpment, as well as airprt-area lcal gvernments and ther area stakehlders A visin f what the Cunty s future transit system culd be, with a light-rail transit system expanded t cnnect Oakland t Pittsburgh and the Airprt crridr, with the Oakland circulatr and the Airprt Crridr circulatr integrated int the system has been develped. Under this visin, buses ultimately feed the cre system thrughut Allegheny Cunty and surrunding cmmunities. Onrat Transprtatin Actin Team Recmmendatins 4

5 ADVANCE TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT AT KEY LOCATIONS In the pre-autmtive age, develpment ccurred where it culd be served by the available transprtatin f the day. This naturally resulted in cmpact, mixed-use and walkable places that have qualities many seek t emulate nce again tday in the frm f Transit Oriented develpment (TOD). TOD can increase transit ridership by creating destinatins, enhancing the effectiveness f transit prjects, and prviding a financial return that can be captured and reinvested. Numerus lcatins alng existing LRT and busway alignments have great TOD ptential. Future TOD lcatins alng the Airprt/ Dwntwn/ Oakland transit crridr culd be very lucrative thrugh lease cncessins, and they have excellent private-public partnership ptential. All f these TODs culd assist in funding prtins f this transit capital imprvement prgram. Ideally, this culd lead t the evlutin f the develpment f Primary and Secndary intermdal hubs thrughut the Cunty. Transit Revitalizatin Investment District (TRID) planning grants have laid the fundatin fr TOD alng Prt Authrity s light rail line in Castle Shannn, Drmnt, and Munt Lebann and shuld cntinue t be utilized. Shrt-Term Actins: Cnstruct Phase I TOD sites at Castle Shannn and East Liberty Design Phase II TOD sites such as: - Mt Lebann Statin, and - In Drmnt at bth Ptmac Statin and Drmnt Junctin. Trend analysis and market evaluatin f TOD ptential n all existing busways and LRT statins t market sites fr private develpment Mid-Term Actins: Cnstruct Phase II TOD sites - Mt. Lebann - Suth Hills Village - Drmnt (2 sites) - Wilkinsburg - Others as determined Design and begin cnstructin fr Phase III TOD sites - Lcatins TBD Lng-Term Actins: Cnstruct Phase III TOD sites Onrat Transprtatin Actin Team Recmmendatins 5

6 LEVERAGE OUR ASSETS Cnsistent with abandning the business as usual apprach and an almst ttal reliance upn federal funds, we need a new strategy. We need t inventry ur assets that have ptential t prvide direct and indirect basis fr innvatin in the future funding f transprtatin investment. INVENTORY OUR ASSETS Cnduct review related t lng term leases and assess ptential yields t determine revenue generating pprtunities. Create Surces and Uses f Funds Sheet as prjects surface. FORM PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS (P3S) Pass Cmmnwealth legislatin permitting P3s. Put int practice the use f innvative agreements with the private sectr t fund systems and facilities - P3 s can save between 5 and 40% f the cst f cnstructin and can dramatically limit the ptential fr cst verruns. OPTIMIZE USE OF BUSWAYS The brader use f busways translates int brader ecnmic develpment impact thrugh revenue generatin and develpments and has huge untapped ptential. A current successful natinal trend is the cnversin f High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes int High Occupancy Tll (HOT) lanes. The revenue generated frm such a cnversin, in particular the West Busway, culd bth alleviate cngestin n the Parkway West and generate revenue fr the pririty capital prjects identified in this reprt. They can als prvide bth greater mbility as well as leverage adjacent real estate develpment ptential in the frm f Transit-Oriented Develpment. The team als recmmends a multi-mdal intercept terminal/garage in Carnegie utilizing existing ramps leading directly t and frm the Parkway West via the West Busway. The Carnegie Terminal/Intercept Garage is anther example f utilizing ur existing assets. By allwing cmmuters access t the West Busway ramps, the intercept garage can becme a majr park-n-ride facility with express transit t Dwntwn Pittsburgh. Nt nly can this relieve Parkway cngestin, but it can als encurage develpment f a TOD adjacent t the multimdal terminal/garage facility and increased transit usage. Shrt-Term Actins: Cmplete business plan fr lease/cncessin rights f busways, including ptential extensins Design autmated tll and fare cllectin systems with EZ Pass technlgy Develp perating/financial plans t cnvert West Busway t high-ccupancy tll (HOT) facility Onrat Transprtatin Actin Team Recmmendatins 6

7 Begin envirnmental clearance and design fr West Busway Extensin t I-79 Design and begin cnstructin f Carnegie Multimdal Intercept Garage and Terminal facility Mid-Term Actins: Cmplete cnstructin f West Busway Extensin t I-79 Cnversin f West Busway t high-ccupancy tll (HOT) facility Implement autmated fare and tll cllectin system (EZ Pass) Cmplete cnstructin f Carnegie Multi-mdal Intercept Garage and Terminal Lng-Term Actins: Study Cnversin f East Busway t LRT (LRT Phase II) USE EXISTING RAIL LINES The use f existing rail lines fr cmmuter rail service shuld be explred, especially in the Rute 28 crridr. Onrat Transprtatin Actin Team Recmmendatins 7

8 ONORATO TRANSPORTATION ACTION TEAM MEMBERS David Hicktn, Chair Burns, White & Hicktn Lynn Heckman, Crdinatr Allegheny Cunty Ecnmic Develpment Al Ahmed A & A Cnsulting Jim Burn Allegheny Cunty Cuncil Dennis Davin Allegheny Cunty Ecnmic Develpment Lynn DeLrenz Natinal Assc. Industrial Office Prperties Tm Dnatelli, PE Allegheny Cunty Public Wrks Shawn Fx Allegheny Cunty Chief Executive s Office Sally Haas Airprt Area Chamber f Cmmerce Chuck Hammel Pitt Ohi Express Ashley Henry Allegheny Cunty Chief Executive s Office Maureen McFalls Carnegie Melln University Je Phillips (deceased) University f Pittsburgh Jim Smith Merrill Lynch Transprtatin Grup Richard Taylr Prt Authrity f Allegheny Cunty Jhn Verbanac Idea Mill / City f Pittsburgh appintee Jhn Whitefrd Michael Baker Crpratin TRANSPORTATION TECHNICAL SUPPORT TEAM MEMBERS Bruce Ahern, PE Michael Baker Crpratin Sheri Cramblit Maguire Grup Lu Rcchini, PE Maguire Grup Keith Jhnsn, PE URS Crpratin Tm Dnatelli, PE Allegheny Cunty Public Wrks Lynn Heckman Allegheny Cunty Ecnmic Develpment Gerge Daraks Allegheny Cunty Ecnmic Develpment Ellen Brks Allegheny Cnference n Cmmunity Develpment Onrat Transprtatin Actin Team Recmmendatins 8