Connecting to the Future

Transcription

1 Connecting to the Future R a p i d T r a n s i t i n Wat e r l o o R e g i o n I n f o r m at i o n H a n d o u t Phase 2 Step 3 Summer 2009 Study says Light Rail Transit is the preferred rapid transit system for Waterloo Region. A Light Rail Transit (LRT) system from Conestoga Mall in the City of Waterloo to the Ainslie Street Terminal in the City of Cambridge provides the best long-term, environmentally sustainable solution to help manage our community s future growth and transportation needs.(see Map 2) And implementing the system in stages to meet ridership demand and growth potential provides the greatest balance of costs and benefits for our community. Those are the key conclusions of the Region s Rapid Transit Project Team and an Expert panel who reviewed their findings based on the results of three years of study and evaluation as part of the Rapid Transit Environmental Assessment. The most recent study, a Multiple Account Evaluation (see page 4), measured the benefits and costs associated with two different rapid transit systems and found that an LRT system would provide the greatest benefits to the community, but also has the highest costs. The projected ridership and intensification potential along the LRT route varies: it is higher in the northern portion of the route (Conestoga Mall to Fairview Park Mall) than in the southern portion of the route (Fairview Park Mall to downtown Cambridge). While LRT along the whole route is the long-term goal, the Project Team supports a staged implementation that best matches the transit technology to the ridership. Continued on page 2

2 ...continued from page 1 The first stage would include (see Map 1): Light Rail Transit (LRT) from Conestoga Mall in Waterloo to Fairview Park Mall in Kitchener: In Waterloo, the route would either follow the Region-owned rail spurline through the Research + Technology Park or follow King Street North and University Avenue; In Uptown Waterloo, it would split into a one-way system going north on King Street and south on Caroline Street, and along Allen Street to rejoin as a two-way system along King Street; In downtown Kitchener, the route would split into a one-way system going north on Duke Street and south on Charles Street, and back to a two-way system at Frederick/Benton Streets; From downtown Kitchener, the route would follow Charles Street, Ottawa Street, the CN corridor, Hayward Avenue, Courtland Boulevard and Fairway Road (or the hydro corridor) to Fairview Park Mall; Dedicated lanes for light rail vehicles would be provided along the complete length of the route. Map 1 Adapted Bus Rapid Transit (abrt) from Fairview Park Mall in Kitchener to Ainslie Street Terminal in Cambridge: The route would follow Highway 8 to Highway 401, using regular traffic lanes and bus by-pass shoulder lanes to avoid traffic congestion; BRT vehicles would follow Hespeler Road into downtown Cambridge and along Water Street to the Ainslie Street Terminal using High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, queue jumping and a signal priority system at intersections to avoid traffic congestion. 2 Connecting to the Future Information Handout Phase 2 Step 3 Summer 2009

3 Re-aligned Grand River Transit (GRT) bus system to provide an expanded level of service to the rapid transit stations along primary feeder corridors; Express bus service, modeled after the current ixpress service, to high ridership centres throughout the region (e.g. Conestoga College); Connections to intercity transit such as GO Bus, GO Train, Greyhound and Via Rail. Both the LRT and Adapted BRT portions of the route will operate as one system and will feature the same amenities such as: Enhanced stations Modern vehicles Express schedules Automated ticketing Real-time passenger information system Enhanced station design features Bicycle and pedestrian amenities Connections to intercity transit Park and ride facilities To prepare for future stages of the preferred rapid transit system, the Region will also develop a program to acquire any necessary land needed to protect key transportation corridors for future LRT expansion, and review incentives to help attract the type of development needed to build ridership in the area. The Region will review ridership and demand in the system at regular intervals to determine the best timing to undertake future stages, such as expanding LRT south from Fairview Park Mall. The LRT and Adapted BRT portions of Stage 1 will cost approximately $790 million. This cost includes the costs to design and build the system, purchase property, relocate utilities, build storage and maintenance facilities for transit vehicles and construct park and ride lots, and it is anticipated that costs will be shared by regional, provincial and federal governments. The Region s share of this cost will depend on the level of provincial and federal funding. The yearly overall cost to operate and maintain the system, after revenue from the farebox has been counted, is approximately $10.5 million in That cost drops to $3.8 million in 2031 because of the expected increase in farebox revenues. Connecting to the Future Information Handout Phase 2 Step 3 Summer

4 AINSLIE ST N Map 2 Woolwich Northfield/Parkside R&T Park WESTMOUNT RD N WEBER ST N University of Waterloo Parkside Drive NORTHFIELD DR W The results are in! Multiple Account Evaluation: What is it and what did it tell us? The Region s consultants completed a Multiple Account Evaluation to evaluate the economic, social and environmental benefits of different rapid transit routes and technology combinations. The purpose of this evaluation, the final step in the Rapid Transit Environmental Assessment, is to determine which rapid transit system would best meet the goals of the Regional Growth Management Strategy and provide the greatest transportation, environmental, land-use and economic development, and social and community benefits to the region. The Multiple Account Evaluation process is also being used for regionalscale transit projects in British Columbia and the Greater Toronto Area. The Region of Waterloo s Multiple Account Evaluation was used to evaluate two rapid transit systems one LRT and one BRT that were short-listed earlier through the Environmental Assessment process. Both systems began at the St. Jacobs Farmers Market and ended in downtown Cambridge. COLUMBIA ST W UNIVERSITY ST W Waterloo Conestoga Mall CONESTOGA PKY ERB ST E BRIDGE ST W King/Weber Wilfrid Laurier University North Waterloo Route Choice - King St. Railway Corridor Wilfrid Laurier University Conestoga Mall King/Weber University of Waterloo WEBER ST N Woolwich The Project Team also evaluated two route options for each technology in the Waterloo portion of the system: one following King Street and University Avenue from Conestoga Mall into Uptown Waterloo and the other following the Region-owned rail spurline from Northfield Drive into Uptown Waterloo. Both systems were assessed for things such as: Travel time savings, cost savings associated with not owning and operating a vehicle and reduced costs associated with accidents for those using transit; Reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and other air contaminants; Ability to attract growth and jobs to station areas and bring overall economic development opportunities to the community; The benefits associated with active transportation, air quality improvements, and overall community livability; and Overall project costs and ridership forecasts. Rapid Transit Initiative Preferred Alternative Wilmot FISHER-HALLMAN RD Uptown Waterloo North Waterloo Route Choice Railway Corridor Northfield/Parkside WEBER ST N Railway Corridor R&T Park Conestoga Mall ERB ST W ALLEN ST E King/Victoria Downtown Kitchener VICTORIA ST S HIGHLAND RD W KING ST W Kitchener Market WESTMOUNT RD E FISCHER-HALLMAN RD WEBER ST W QUEEN ST S OTTAWA ST S WESTMOUNT RD E FRANCIS ST S LANCASTER ST W Grand River Hospital VICTORIA ST N DUKE ST FREDERICK ST WEBER ST E CHARLES ST E COURTLAND AVE E Shelley/Blockline University of Waterloo BLEAMS RD BRUCE ST Duke/Ontario HAYWARD AVE Hwy 7/86 KING ST E DIXON ST Kitchener Charles/Ottawa ECKERT ST OTTAWA ST N KINGSWAY DR FAIRWAY RD S MANITOU DR Fairview Park Mall LACKNER BLVD RIVER RD E KING ST E FAIRWAY RD N HWY 8 Sportsworld KOSSUTH RD MAPLE GROVE RD FOUNTAIN ST N Cambridge PINEBUSH RD Hespeler/Pinebush Cambridge Centre TRUSSLER RD HOMER WATSON BLVD FOUNTAIN ST S SHANTZ HILL RD BLAIR RD BISHOP ST N CORONATION BLVD HESPELER RD CAN-AMERA PKY Hespeler/Can-Amera Legend Rapid Transit Station Light Rail Transit Railway Corridor Regional Roads Municipal Roads River Municipal Boundary Study Area Km North Dumfries ROSEVILLE RD Ainslie Street Terminal WATER ST N BEVERLY ST DUNDAS ST N CONCESSION ST CLYD Galt Collegiate The Regional Municipality of Waterloo 4 Connecting to the Future Information Handout Phase 2 Step 3 Summer 2009

5 AINSLIE ST N Woolwich Waterloo Key findings of the Multiple Account Evaluation (MAE) The LRT option delivers the greatest benefits to the community, and best meets the goals of the Regional Growth Management Strategy. Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by up to 22,260 tonnes per year by 2031 compared to up to 12,210 tonnes peryear for BRT Up to 23,000 new jobs to station areas compared to about 11,500 for BRT Up to $370 million in increased land-values, compared to up to $75 million for BRT $523 million in transportation user benefits,compared to $360 million for BRT 70 per cent of the projected ridership on a rapid transit system in Waterloo Region is between Conestoga and Fairview Park Malls. BRT in this portion of the route would be at capacity by 2030 because of the operational difficulties that would result with articulated buses running every two to three minutes. 74 per cent of the projected development potential is between Conestoga and Fairview Park Malls. Ridership to the St. Jacobs Farmers Market in 2031 would not be high enough for rapid transit. The capital costs associated with each rapid transit system (Conestoga Mall to Ainslie Terminal) are: LRT: $1.3 billion 52 per cent of this cost is for the north portion of the route, 47 per cent for the south BRT: $ million 74% of identified intensification potential 70% of ridership The cost range reflects the two Waterloo route variations For the complete results, please visit the website at or contact the Rapid Transit team. 52% of the cost Wilmot WESTMOUNT RD N FISHER-HALLMAN RD WEBER ST N Based on the results of the MAE, the Project Team then looked at two staging options for implementing rapid transit that would bring the greatest benefits to the community while providing the rapid transit technology that best meets the ridership potential in different sections of the route. LRT/BRT option: LRT between Conestoga and Fairview Park Malls and BRT south of Fairview Park Mall. This option would cost $892 million to construct. LRT/Adapted BRT option: LRT between Conestoga and Fairview Park Malls and adapted BRT south of Fairview Park Mall (adapted BRT has most of the features of full BRT, except it doesn t require separate bus lanes). This option would cost $790 million to construct. After comparing the benefits and costs of the staging options to the full LRT and BRT options, the Project Team concluded that LRT from Waterloo to Cambridge is the preferred rapid transit system for Waterloo Region. However, implementing the system in stages, starting with the LRT/Adapted BRT option as the first stage, is the preferred option for the following reasons: Best matches the ridership potential with the rapid transit technology to meet future growth and transportation needs of the region; Provides the best value when considering benefits and costs; Has the most flexibility to convert to a full LRT system in the future. Parkside Drive NORTHFIELD DR W ERB ST W COLUMBIA ST W VICTORIA ST S HIGHLAND RD W TRUSSLER RD UNIVERSITY ST W ALLEN ST E CONESTOGA PKY ERB ST E KING ST W WESTMOUNT RD E FISCHER-HALLMAN RD OTTAWA ST S VICTORIA ST N 20% of identified intensification potential BRIDGE ST W WEBER ST W QUEEN ST S WESTMOUNT RD E 30% of ridership 47% of the cost FRANCIS ST S LANCASTER ST W DUKE ST FREDERICK ST WEBER ST E CHARLES ST E COURTLAND AVE E BLEAMS RD BRUCE ST HAYWARD AVE Hwy 7/86 KING ST E DIXON ST Kitchener ECKERT ST OTTAWA ST N KINGSWAY DR FAIRWAY RD S MANITOU DR LACKNER BLVD RIVER RD E KING ST E FAIRWAY RD N HWY 8 HOMER WATSON BLVD Woolwich KOSSUTH RD MAPLE GROVE RD North Dumfries FOUNTAIN ST N FOUNTAIN ST S SHANTZ HILL RD BLAIR RD ROSEVILLE RD Cambridge BISHOP ST N CORONATION BLVD HESPELER RD WATER ST N PINEBUSH RD CAN-AMERA PKY BEVERLY ST DUNDAS ST N CONCESSION ST C Connecting to the Future Information Handout Phase 2 Step 3 Summer

6 Why rapid transit? Waterloo Region continues to be one of the fastest growing communities in Canada with expected population growth from 520,000 to 729,000 over the next 25 years. Both the Regional Growth Management Strategy and the Province s Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe identify rapid transit as a key element to help meet future growth and transportation needs. With little to no opportunity to add or expand the road networks in our core areas, rapid transit provides a sustainable transportation solution to meet our community s future transportation needs. Rapid transit also facilitates intensification, which makes it an important tool to help direct development to our urban areas where services like water, sewers, garbage collection and transit already exist. This will help protect our countryside and environmentally sensitive areas from future development. How will rapid transit benefit the community? Waterloo Region is at a crossroads poised to become a large urban centre and an even larger national economic engine in Canada. The benefits of implementing rapid transit are far reaching, and the return on investment is considerable. Rapid transit benefits the community by: Promoting a more sustainable form of development that encourages intensification and development in core areas, which helps protect the farmland, environmentally sensitive landscapes and water protection areas around our urban boundaries; Improving air quality by helping to reduce auto use, and therefore greenhouse gas emissions; Promoting economic development by attracting jobs and the talented people who contribute to our nationally significant economy; Improving public health through the development of more compact urban communities that reduce travel distances and promote walking and cycling. Why does the Region want to promote intensification? Intensification leads to more compact neighbourhoods consisting of a mix of homes, apartments, local shopping and public facilities, all within walking distance of each other, and all accessible by transit. People living in these areas typically use cars less often to get around, because they can do most of their daily business on foot, by transit, or by bike. Encouraging intensification helps us to maximize the investments made in costly infrastructure like roads, sidewalks, water and wastewater systems and transit, while protecting the farmland, environmentally sensitive landscapes and water protection areas outside our urban boundaries from future development. 6 Connecting to the Future Information Handout Phase 2 Step 3 Summer 2009

7 Expert Panel endorses Region s preferred rapid transit option An independent panel of North American transportation, transit and land-use experts reviewed the results of the Region s Rapid Transit Environmental Assessment and has endorsed the preferred option. The Region should be commended for the significant amount of solid technical review and work to date, said the Panel in their report to the Region following their review of the project. This creates a strong foundation to understand the feasibility, range of alternatives and implications of this significant investment in rapid transit for Waterloo Region. The Region invited the panel to meet in Waterloo Region on March 31, 2009 to discuss the Region s preferred rapid transit system. In advance of the meeting, all panel members were asked to review the results of the Multiple Account Evaluation. Panel members were unanimous in their endorsement of Light Rail Transit from Waterloo to Cambridge, as an innovative transportation and urban planning solution that will help Waterloo Region achieve its growth management goals. The ability for LRT to catalyze change and focus citybuilding initiatives over the long term far outweigh the cost difference. LRT should be a long-view project constructed both to take immediate advantage but also as a pre-investment to force positive urban change and economic investment. The panel encouraged the Region and its residents to think of an investment in rapid transit as a significant first step in the creation of a robust regional and intercity transit system that will extend to, and connect with, Guelph, Hamilton, Pearson Airport, the GTA and beyond. The Expert Panel members are: Dr. Jeff Casello: Assistant Professor at the University of Waterloo, specializing in urban transportation systems, transportation modeling, and transportation and land use impacts, and a member of the Region s Public Advisory Committee for the Regional Growth Management Strategy and Rapid Transit Initiative. George Dark: A partner at Urban Strategies Inc., a Toronto-based fullservice planning and urban design firm, with an expertise in urban design and landscape architecture. Melanie Hare: A partner at Urban Strategies Inc., with an expertise in sustainable urban planning and transitoriented development. Eric Miller: Professor at the University of Toronto, Director of the Urban Transportation Research and Advancement Centre, Director of the University of Toronto Cities Centre and Chair of the International Association for Travel Behaviour Research. Glenn Miller: Director of Education and Research at Canadian Urban Institute, a Toronto-based non-profit organization dedicated to providing solutions to important issues that have an impact on the quality of life in cities, such as land use, growth management, transportation, economic development and sustainable buildings. Glen Murray: Former Mayor of Winnipeg and chair of the Canadian National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, currently President of the Canadian Urban Institute. Connecting to the Future Information Handout Phase 2 Step 3 Summer

8 What happens next? Public Consultation and Community Outreach May-July 2009 In addition to three Public Consultation Centres in May, look for information about rapid transit at community events throughout the spring and summer. Check the rapid transit website for specific times: Uptown Public Square Opening Ceremony May 30, 2009 at King Street and Willis Way, Waterloo Cambridge Riverfest June 6, 2009 at Riverbluffs Park, George Street, Cambridge City of Waterloo Annual Open House June 13, a.m. to 3 p.m. at City of Waterloo Service Centre Yards 265 Lexington Court, Waterloo K-W Multicultural Festival June 20 and 21, 2009 at Victoria Park, Kitchener Special Council Meeting June 10, 2009 Council will hear delegations from the public about the preferred rapid transit option and staged implementation plan. If you would like to register as a delegation, contact the Regional Clerk at regionalclerk@region.waterloo.on.ca or Regional Council June 24, 2009 Council will review public input and consider the recommendation by the Rapid Transit Project Team for the preferred rapid transit system and staged implementation plan. See instructions above to register as a delegation. Another way to have your say! The Region invites you to participate in i engage, the newly launched rapid transit consultation portal on the website. New and interactive features on the site are designed to make it easier for you to provide your input. These features include the discussion board, online comment form, regular polls, a photo gallery to view and share rapid transit photos, an improved video viewer and a hot topics space to catch up on the latest project announcements and details. Add your voice to the discussion! The Rapid Transit Project Team would like to hear your comments on the preferred rapid transit system and the staging plan. To submit your comments, please: Visit the project website and fill in our online public comment sheet Send an to rtinfo@region.waterloo.on.ca with your comments Use the public comment sheet and place it in the comment box at one of the public meetings Mail/fax the public comment sheet to the address below The deadline for comments is 4:30 p.m. on June 5, Region of Waterloo Rapid Transit Initiative 150 Frederick Street, 8th Floor Kitchener, ON N2G 4J3 Phone: ext Fax: rtinfo@region.waterloo.on.ca