ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS/ ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT SCOPING BROCHURE

Transcription

1 I-10 WEST ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS/ ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT SCOPING BROCHURE

2 INTRODUCTION Cricket Pavilion Study Description, Project Background The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and METRO are conducting an 18-month study to analyze potential high capacity transit improvements in west Phoenix and portions of Tolleson. In order to qualify for federal funding the study follows a process known as an Alternatives Analysis. The alternatives analysis is the first stage of the transit planning process required by the FTA. During the course of the study, several potential transit technologies and alignments that could be implemented in the study area will be examined. Upon completion of the alternatives analysis, environmental documentation will be completed according to the National Environmental Policy Act and FTA guidance. The study includes a public involvement component designed to get community feedback, share project details, and ascertain community desires regarding potential high capacity transit service improvements. This will help METRO identify the route and transit technology that will provide the best transportation choices for Phoenix, Tolleson, and West Valley residents. The I-10 West Study is funded by the Proposition 400 half-cent transportation sales tax extension approved by Maricopa County voters in 2004, and is contained in the adopted Regional Transportation Plan as a component of the 57 miles of a high capacity transit / light rail network to be implemented by 2026 (Figure 1). The 20-mile light rail starter line now under construction runs through Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa, and will open for passenger service in December The I-10 West study will evaluate possible connections to the starter line in the downtown Phoenix area. High capacity transit improvements in the I-10 West study area are anticipated to be complete in Other high capacity / light rail corridors are scheduled for implementation as follows: lation will more than triple by 2030, with employment expected to be five times greater. In fact, West Valley cities are expected to be responsible for more than 30 percent of the Valley s population growth and more than 23 percent of employment growth over the next 25 years. The I-10 corridor within the study area is one of the most heavily traveled freeways in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The I-10 Freeway is extremely congested during the morning and evening peak travel periods. Coupled with the increasing volume and associated congestion on parallel arterials such as Buckeye Road, Van Buren Avenue, McDowell Road and Thomas Road, the transportation system fails to meet existing demand. Continued population growth will only contribute to that congestion. Transit services in the study area are limited. One of the highest-volume bus routes in the system is the West Thomas Road Green Line running between Central Avenue and the Loop Freeway. The new Bus Rapid Transit service operating along the RAPID I-10 West route has been successful, serving more than 900 riders a day. State Capitol Downtown Phoenix Northwest Extension Phase I opens in 2012 Northwest Extension Phase II opens in 2017 Tempe South opens in 2015 Central Mesa opens in 2015 Glendale opens 2017 Northeast opens in 2025 Additional travel options are necessary within the study area to relieve congestion. ADOT is beginning to evaluate options for widening I-10 West of I-17 with construction currently programmed for fiscal year The alternatives analysis process will require coordination with ADOT to determine future alternatives. 79th Avenue Park-n-Ride The West Valley, which includes the cities of Goodyear, Buckeye, Tolleson, Avondale, Litchfield Park, Surprise, El Mirage, Youngtown, and portions of unincorporated Maricopa County (including Sun City), encompass the area influencing travel to and from the I-10 West study area. The study area is bounded by the Loop Freeway on the west, Seventh Street on the east, Thomas Road on the north and Buckeye Road on the south (Figure 2). Projections by the Maricopa Association of Governments predict that the West Valley popu- Even with implementation of the projects included in the MAG Regional Transportation Plan, the level of service in 2030 on both the freeways and arterials is expected to deteriorate significantly because of increased demand. The result is a significant increase in congestion. The alternatives analysis will look at the potential for high-capacity transit improvements to address part of this demand by connecting the study corridor with the light rail starter line on Central Avenue.

3 STUDY PURPOSE Identify a transit alternative that improves efficient access to employment opportunities throughout the Central Phoenix/ West Valley region. Identify an improvement that provides transit options to relieve peak period congestion. Identify a transit improvement alternative, with a recommended alignment and technology, to connect the METRO light rail system with the West Valley. Identify a transit alternative that will facilitate continued development of a comprehensive and inter-connected regional transit network that is multi-modal, that offers a range of choices for current and future transit riders, and that attracts new transit riders to the regional system. THE SCOPING PROCESS Scoping is a study process designed to inform the public interest groups and participating agencies about the proposed project, potential alternatives under consideration, and issues needing review and input. The goal is to encourage early and active participation in the decision-making process. The scoping process defines the alternative routes and alignments that will be examined in the study, identifies potential impacts that could arise from implementation of each alternative under consideration, and establishes the goals and objectives that will guide the evaluation of the alternatives. Citizens, agencies and community organizations are encouraged to comment early in the process in order to help guide the direction of the study, including defining project goals and objectives and identifying issues and impacts. Figure 2 I-10 WEST STUDY AREA Figure 1 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN TRANSIT CORRIDORS Beardsley Rd Bell Rd Thunderbird Rd Peoria Ave Northern Ave Bethany Home Rd Indian School Rd McDowell Rd Buckeye Rd Broadway Rd Baseline Rd 99th Ave Peoria 83rd Ave Glendale 10 67th Ave 51st Ave South 35th Ave 17 Phoenix Phoenix 19th Ave Central Ave Light Rail Starter Line / Station City of Phoenix City of Tolleson th St 202 Mountain Freeway th St Paradise Valley th St Scottsdale 2015 Tempe Rural Rd LEGEND Chaparral Rd Chandler Santan Freeway Price Rd Alma School Rd Thomas Rd McQueen Rd Mesa Gilbert Rd Gilbert Val Vista Dr LEGEND Initial 20-mile Light Rail Alignment (Scheduled to open Dec. 2008) Northwest Extension Phase 1 (Scheduled to open 2012) Future High Capacity / Light Rail Corridors for Further Study I-10 West Corridor Note: Dates indicate calendar year openings McKellips Rd University Dr Southern Ave Guadalupe Rd Warner Rd Chandler Blvd Germann Rd Unincorporated Maricopa County Landmark Railroad Identify an alternative that improves the efficiency of transit operations. Identify an alternative that provides cost-effective transit improvements and expands access to corridor destinations. Identify a transit alternative that supports economic development, including transit-oriented development, and ensures connectivity among existing and planned activity centers and attractions. Thomas Rd McDowell Rd Van Buren St UPRR Buckeye Rd 99th Ave Univ. of Phoenix 91st Ave Downtown Tolleson 83rd Ave 75th Ave Desert Sky Mall Cricket Pavilion 79th Avenue Park-n-Ride 67th Ave 59th Ave 51st Ave 43rd Ave 10 35th Ave Beth El & Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemeteries 27th Ave Encanto Park and Golf Course 17 BNSF 19th Ave State Fairgrounds City State Hall Capitol Maricopa. County.Admin. 7th Ave Central Ave Arts District Downtown Phoenix 7th St

4 PROJECT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS The Alternatives Analysis/Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared in accordance with National Environmental Policy Act and its implementing regulations issued by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR Parts ) and with the FTA/Federal Highway Administration regulations Environmental Impact and Related Procedures (23 CFR Part 771). In accordance with 23 CFR (a) and , FTA will comply with all Federal environmental laws, regulations, and executive orders applicable to the proposed project during the environmental review process to the maximum extent practicable. These requirements include, but are not limited to: The project-level air quality conformity regulation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (40 CFR part 93); The Section 404(b)(1) guidelines of EPA (40 CFR part 230); The regulation implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (36 CFR part 800); The regulation implementing Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (50 CFR part 402); Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act (23 CFR ); and Executive orders on environmental justice, on floodplain management and on wetlands. Other Alternatives At a minimum, the alternatives to be considered include the following: No-build. Implements modified existing and committed road and transit improvements as defined by the Regional Transportation Plan and coordinated with the cities of Phoenix and Tolleson. Transportation System Management. Cost-effective transit service improvements short of a major capital investment in a fixed guideway. This alternative implements all of the projects in the no-build alternative. Build alternatives. All build alternatives will include the projects contained in the no-build alternative and the highway element of the Transportation System Management alternatives. Technologies would include: 35th - 39th Avenue PROJECT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS The Alternatives Analysis/Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared in accordance with National Environmental Policy Act and its implementing regulations issued by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR Parts ) and with the FTA/Federal Highway Administration regulations Environmental Impact and Related Procedures (23 CFR Part 771). In accordance with 23 CFR (a) and , FTA will comply with all Federal environmental laws, regulations, and executive orders applicable to the proposed project 5th Street Off Ramp The environmental and public hearing provisions of Federal transit laws (49 U.S.C. 5301(e), 5323(b), and 5324); Downtown Phoenix and State Capitol Alternatives under Consideration A range of transit modes and alignment alternatives will be evaluated for the corridor. Modal alternatives would include both light rail and bus rapid transit technologies operating in exclusive guideway. Project alternatives will also include the consideration of express buses operating in High Occupancy Vehicle lanes on I- 10 and alternatives that are developed through the project scoping process. Express Bus in HOV lanes Bus Rapid Transit in HOV or exclusive lanes Light Rail Transit 7th Avenue Bridge The preliminary set of alignment alternatives will be oriented along the I-10 Freeway rightof-way or other major roadways into downtown Phoenix. Alignment alternatives along the major east-west arterials such as Buckeye Road, Van Buren Avenue, McDowell Road and Thomas Road will be considered. East of I-17, alignment alternatives will need to follow city streets to make connections to the downtown Phoenix transit facilities including the downtown Phoenix Transit Center and the Central Phoenix/East Valley light rail line.

5 Rapid Transit METRO Light Rail Orange Line in Los Angeles, California TRANSIT TECHNOLOGIES Transit technologies under consideration are Bus Rapid Transit, Light Rail operating in exclusive guideway and Express Bus in HOV Lanes. Bus Rapid Transit Bus Rapid Transit is a limited-stop bus service developed in the 1990s that relies on technology to help provide speedier service and travel times. BRT can operate on exclusive transit corridors, in HOV lanes, on expressways or in mixed traffic on city streets. A BRT line combines intelligent transportation systems technology, priority for transit, convenient fare collection and integration with land use policy in order to substantially upgrade bus system performance. The Orange Line in California is one example. These features characterize Bus Rapid Transit: Exclusive busway or HOV/limited travel lanes Busways are special lanes designed for the exclusive use of buses. Use of HOV lanes can improve service for long-distance commuters. Traffic Signal Priority Traffic signals are designed to give preference to buses. As the bus travels along its route, electronic sensors cause traffic signals to shorten or eliminate intersection wait times for buses. Boarding and Fare Collection Improvements Rapid fare collection through prepaid or electronic passes and low-floor/wide-door boarding results in time savings. Level boarding and precision docking may be a feature of BRT, similar to light rail and street car operations. Improved Stations and Shelters Bus terminals and unique stations or shelters differentiate BRT service from standard bus service. Intelligent Transportation Systems Technologies Advanced technology can maintain more consistent distances between buses and inform passengers when the next bus is arriving. Streamlined vehicles Improved vehicles offer a variety of seating options, easier boarding, smoother rides, and greater appeal to the riding public. Light Rail Light rail features single cars or multi-car trains (up to three vehicles). Light rail is powered by electrified overhead wires, allowing light rail to travel alongside mixed vehicle traffic and pedestrians, typically in a semi-exclusive right-of-way. Light rail can operate on tracks embedded in the street, on at-grade rights-ofway with street and pedestrian crossings, and on exclusive rights-of-way. Light rail stations are typically spaced a half-mile to one mile apart. Top speed is 55 miles per hour, with average speeds of miles per hour. Vehicles generally carry 175 passengers; light rail has the highest passenger carrying capacity of all of the transit modes. The ride is very smooth and quiet. Examples of light rail are the METRO 20- mile starter line in the Valley, the Portland MAX, and Dallas DART system. Express Bus in HOV Lanes Express Bus operating in high occupancy vehicle lanes on I-10 will be considered as a project alternative. Characteristics of Express Bus include limited service stops and vehicles typically designed and intended for longerdistance commuters. Limited Stops Increasing distances between stations or shelters increases speeds. Valley Metro in Phoenix, AZ

6 OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Opportunities for community input will occur at each important milestone as the study progresses. If you have questions or want more information on how to provide input you are encouraged to contact METRO. PROJECT HOTLINE RAIL WEBSITE MetroLightRail.org/I-10West MetroLightRail.org To receive this information in alternative formats call (602) / TTY (602) Para recibir esta información en formatos alternativos favor de llamar al /TTY