2040 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN

Transcription

1 2040 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN Your RTC. Our Community. 1] 2040 Regional Adopted Transportation May Plan 18, 2017

2 The 2040 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) identifies the long-term transportation investments that will be made in the urbanized area of Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County, Nevada also known as the Truckee Meadows. The plan was founded on a people-based approach, which included extensive collaboration with the community and federal, state and local partner agencies. The RTP process was shaped by four guiding principles derived from community input: Safe and healthy communities Economic development and diversification Sustainability Increased travel choices The projects in this RTP (see Appendix A) support the vision that the Truckee Meadows is the best place to live, work, recreate, visit, and invest. The plan includes transportation projects, programs and services for walking, biking, driving, and riding transit. In addition, the plan provides for maintaining existing infrastructure in good condition and improving the operation of existing services. The goals of the RTP, which are discussed further in each chapter of the plan, include the following: Improve safety Integrate land use and economic development Promote healthy communities and sustainability Manage existing systems efficiently Integrate all types of transportation Focus on regional connectivity Promote equity and environmental justice Improve freight and goods movement, and Invest strategically Programmatic Investments In support of these guiding principles and goals, the RTP includes four programmatic investments that will be ongoing throughout the life of the plan. Accessibility improvements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Ongoing implementation of the ADA Transition Plan is a priority for the RTC. With the segment of the population over 75 years old being the fastest growing demographic in the region, the importance of accessible pedestrian facilities will continue to grow. Annual funding will be programmed for spot improvements throughout the region to upgrade sidewalks, crosswalks, and curb ramps. Pedestrian and bicycle facility improvements Ongoing implementation of the RTC Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan will be funded throughout the RTP planning horizon. These spot improvements will enhance the safety and regional connectivity of the pedestrian and bicycle network. Traffic Signals and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Operations Technology and traffic operations strategies promote faster travel times on the existing roadway network. Investments in ITS have proven to be a costeffective alternative to adding road capacity. The plan identifies annual funding to upgrade traffic signals and associated communications technologies. Pavement Preservation Maintaining roads and bridges in good condition and extending the useful life of pavement on regional roads is a proven way to minimize long term costs. The RTP identifies annual funding to apply the appropriate pavement preservation treatment to regional roads and bridge decks, which can include surface seals, resurfacing, or reconstruction. RTC partners with the NDOT Highway Bridge Program to provide funding to replace or rehabilitate substandard bridges. Transit Investments Transit is recognized as an essential part of the local economy that helps thousands of Washoe County residents get to work and access essential services each day. Transit helps shape development patterns and is an economic development tool that supports a higher density, mixed-use urban form. The Virginia Street RTC RAPID project is an example where a transit investment is helping spur new and revitalized investments from Downtown to Midtown and Meadowood Mall. 4] 2040 Regional Transportation Plan

3 The environmental benefits of transit are also well recognized: reducing the number of cars on the road reduces traffic congestion and air pollution. With the aging of the population, the public is also concerned with mobility issues that will face many residents over the next 20 years. A clear message expressed during the community outreach process is the need to plan, build, and operate services such as accessible bus stops and sidewalks, transit lines, and roadways that support an aging population. RTC recently developed the Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP), which provides a strategy for transit service over the next five years. The short-term fiscally constrained transit program includes existing service plus the following modifications planned for FY 2018 through 2022: Extension of RTC RAPID on 4th Street/Prater Way (Lincoln Line) Extension of RTC RAPID to the University of Nevada, Reno Reallocation of service hours to achieve greater efficiency Expansion of the RTC Villanova Maintenance Facility to accommodate larger and more technologically complex vehicles as well as an expanded fleet of electric vehicles in FY 2017 Pilot program for 2-3 day per week circulator service in outlying areas, targeted to senior citizens Increase subsidy and expand eligibility for Taxi Bucks/Washoe Senior Ride Program Continue the FTA 5310 grant program to fund non-profit transportation services The vision includes the following elements: Streetcar transit to connect the Reno-Tahoe International Airport to Virginia Street Streetcar service on Virginia Street from the Reno Tahoe Convention Center to the University of Nevada, Reno Expanded downtown circulator bus service Express bus service on South Virginia to serve the Summit and UNR/TMCC Redfield Campus Express bus service on US 395 to serve the North Valleys Service between Reno and Truckee, California, connecting the RTC RIDE and TART system Service between Reno and Lake Tahoe, including Incline Village, and the South Shore transit service provided by the Tahoe Transportation District, Express bus on Pyramid Highway to serve north Sparks and Spanish Springs Express bus service from Reno and Sparks to the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center Commuter rail service from Reno and Sparks to the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center Larger maintenance facility for long-term expansion Complete Streets Investments This RTP includes a package of roadway investments that promote livability and regional connectivity. All of these projects incorporate a Complete Streets design concept, which addresses the needs of all roadway users in a way that is sensitive to the local land use context. The primary purpose of Complete Street projects is to provide safe access and travel for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit users of all ages and abilities. Safety is an important aspect of all project planning, with high crash locations being improved through many of the recommended projects. Complete Street designs have reduced crashes up to 46% on regional roads in Washoe County. Unfunded Vision for Transit The RTP outreach process provided an opportunity to develop a vision for transit in the Truckee Meadows over the next 20 years. This vision is not constrained by available financial resources. A series of community planning workshops and an online survey were used to gather input about the unfunded vision. Projects that focus on regional connectivity link major concentrations of employment and housing across the Truckee Meadows. Completion of the region s outstanding major capacity investments include the SouthEast Connector, Pyramid/ McCarran Intersection, I-80/US 395/I-580 Interchange, US 395 North Widening, I-80 Widening, and the Pyramid Highway/US 395 Connector. Major regional connectivity projects are described on the following page. 5] 2040 Regional Transportation Plan

4 PLANNED RAPID EXPANSIONS Vision for RTC RAPID expansion 6] 2040 Regional Transportation Plan

5 Regional Connectivity Projects Project Name Photo Safety Complete Street Elements Enhanced Bike Pedestrian Auto Transit Facilities Facilities OperStops/ ates/ Route Capacity ITS SouthEast Connector South Meadows Pkwy to Greg St. new 6 lane road Pyramid/McCarran Intersection Enhance safety, operations & multimodal access I-80/I-580/US 395 Interchange (Spaghetti Bowl) Reconstruction & Capacity Expansion US 395 North Widening from Parr Blvd. to Golden Valley Rd. I-80 Widening System Wide Ramps & Freeway ITS Project Pyramid/US 395 Connector Widen Pyramid Hwy to 6 lanes from Queen Way to Los Altos Pkwy. and new 6 lane arterial from Pyramid Hwy to US 395 Other projects focus primarily on neighborhood livability and economic development. While these projects may not add new lanes for autos, they do improve ADA accessibility, connectivity of the regional bicycle network, facilitate safety through traffic calming, and improve the streetscape appearance through landscaping and unified design. Key livability projects are described on the following page. 7] 2040 Regional Transportation Plan

6 Livability Projects Project Name Photo Complete Street Elements Safety Enhanced Bike Pedestrian Auto Transit Facilities Facilities Capacity Stops/ Route 4th St./Prater Way Bus RAPID Transit Project RAPID & multimodal improvements from Evans Ave. to Pyramid Way Virginia Street Bus RAPID Transit Extension RAPID & multimodal improvement from Plumb Ln. to 17th St. Oddie Blvd/Wells Ave. Multimodal improvements from Kuenzli St. to Pyramid Way Sun Valley Blvd. Multimodal improvements from 2nd Ave. to Pyramid-US 395 Connector Sparks Blvd. Multimodal & capacity improvements from Greg St. to Springland Dr. Keystone Ave. Multimodal improvements & bridge replacement from California Ave. to I-80 Mill St./Terminal Way Multimodal improvements from Lake St. to Reno-Tahoe International Airport 8] 2040 Regional Transportation Plan ITS

7 Livability Projects (continued) Project Name Photo Complete Street Elements Glendale Ave. Multimodal & safety improvements from Kietzke Ln. to McCarran Blvd. 2nd St. Multimodal & safety improvements from Keystone Ave. to Kietzke Ln Kietzke Lane Multimodal improvements Virginia St. to Galletti Way Conclusion This RTP was driven by the feedback of local residents, businesses, and partner agencies as well as the recognition that transportation plays a critical role in the region s efforts to improve safety and sustain long-term opportunities. This plan identifies a path to improve the quality of life in the Truckee Meadows. Roadways are an important part of the local community and shape the daily experience of the people that travel them, whether on bus, bike, foot, or in a car. This plan supports the economic vitality of the region by promoting safety, providing accessible places to walk and bike, improving connectivity between where people live and work, and conserving resources through environmentally and fiscally sustainable practices. 9] 2040 Regional Transportation Plan

8 In December 2016, the RTC was awarded a silver level Bicycle Friendly Business designation by the League of American Bicyclists. The Bicycle Friendly Business award recognizes local businesses and corporations for creating a bicycle friendly environment for customers and bicycle commuting employees. The program determines how bicycle friendly a business is based on encouragement, engineering, education, evaluation and planning. RTC was recognized for encouraging employees and customers to bicycle through participation in Bike Month, SRTS, and in working with advocacy groups. The League also recognized some of RTC s engineering efforts such as the installation of a free bike repair area with tools and work stand for employees and customers who need to make adjustments to their bike at RTC 4TH STREET STATION, and having parking available in well-lit areas with security cameras. Other efforts the League acknowledged RTC for include educating bicyclists through the production and distribution of free bicycle maps and for providing safety and educational materials for both bicyclists and drivers about sharing the road, best practices, and current laws pertaining to bicycling. 7.3 TRANSIT Transit is an essential part of the local economy that helps thousands of Washoe County residents get to work each day. Transit helps shape development patterns and is an economic development tool that supports local Transit Oriented Development zoning and land use policies. In addition, transit provides a critical public service to residents and visitors that do not drive. The environmental benefits of transit service are also well recognized: reducing the number of cars on the road reduces traffic congestion and air pollution. Short Range Transit Plan RTC recently developed the Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP), which outlines a strategy for transit service over the next five years. The short-term fiscally constrained transit program includes existing service plus the following modifications planned for FY 2018 through 2022: Extension of RTC RAPID on 4th Street/ Prater Way (Lincoln Line) Extension of RTC RAPID to the University of Nevada, Reno Reallocation of service hours to achieve greater efficiency Expansion of the RTC Villanova Maintenance Facility to accommodate larger and more technologically complex vehicles as well as an expanded fleet of electric vehicles Pilot program for 2-3 days per week circulator service in outlying areas, targeted to senior citizens Increase subsidy and expand eligibility for taxi bucks/washoe Senior Ride Program Continuation of the FTA 5310 grant program to fund not-for profit transportation services. Example of a possible road configuration to narrow travel lanes and include bicycle lanes. CH.7 INTEGRATING ALL TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION 98] 2040 Regional Transportation Plan

9 The Lincoln Line bus rapid transit service will operate on the 4th Street/Prater Way corridor. The 4th Street/Prater Way Bus RAPID Transit Project will install 8 RAPID stations, sidewalks, street trees, bike lanes, and will place utilities underground. The Lincoln Line will operate five zero-emission electric buses. CH.7 INTEGRATING ALL TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION 100] 2040 Regional Transportation Plan

10 RTC RAPID Expansion The successful RTC RAPID transit service that debuted on Virginia Street in 2009 is poised for expansion. The current Virginia Line RAPID service extends from Meadowood Mall to RTC 4TH STREET STATION in downtown Reno. Construction begins in early 2017 on the 4th Street/Prater Way RAPID extension to RTC CENTENNIAL PLAZA in downtown Sparks. Branded as the Lincoln Line, this new RTC RAPID service will operate five zero-emission, all electric buses and provide eight enhanced stations. This corridor will link the two downtowns and provide enhanced access to employment centers and opportunities for higher education. By constructing sidewalks and bike lanes, the project will provide for multimodal access to transit stops. The extension of the Virginia Line to the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) is currently being designed. This important extension will add a direct link to the University, which is experiencing unprecedented growth in student enrollment. The project will reduce transit travel times between UNR and Meadowood Mall, construct five new RAPID stations to serve the campus, install bike lanes adjacent to the University, upgrade RAPID stations in Midtown, and improve sidewalks and ADA accessibility both in Midtown and on Virginia Street at the University. This project will increase mobility and access in support of revitalization of this corridor. Importance of Transit in the Community Supporting the economy getting people to work Shaping development TODs and economic revitalization Public service mobility for people that do not drive Environmental benefit reducing traffic congestion and air pollution Access to essential services Providing service to healthcare, pharmacies, groceries, and other public services Electric Bus Program The RTC is a leader in the adoption of electric bus technology. The four electric buses put into service in 2014 have eliminated over 53,000 gallons of diesel fuel use. This improves air quality in the Truckee Meadows and reduces operating costs for the RTC transit system. Because fuel costs are a significant part of transit operating expenses, transitioning to a fleet that uses alternative fuels could generate substantial cost savings. RTC currently operates 20 hybrid biodiesel-electric buses and four all-electric buses as part of the 70 bus RTC RIDE fleet. All 50 RTC ACCESS vans operate using compressed natural gas (CNG). Five electric buses have been ordered for use on the 4th Street/Prater Way Lincoln Line and a request for proposals (RFP) for four electric buses to replace diesel buses used on the RTC INTERCITY route to Carson City has been issued. The Virginia Line RAPID extension project will use two additional all-electric 60-foot articulated vehicles. With the expansion and upgrade of the Villanova Maintenance Facility, RTC plans to acquire up to 30 more electric buses to further reduce long term operating costs. RTC has a goal to transition the entire fleet to alternative fuels by Villanova Maintenance Facility Upgrades Upgrades currently under construction at the Villanova Maintenance Facility will extend the useful life of the facility and are a crucial step in the use of electric bus technology. Improvements are necessary to accommodate the taller height of electric buses as well as the required charging infrastructure. Specific improvements to the Villanova facility include the following: Increase storage capacity - Extend bus storage lanes to accommodate one articulated and a 40-foot bus parked end to end - Construct new bus storage garage buildings adjacent to provided required parking spaces - Raise doors in bus storage buildings where feasible to accommodate taller buses CH.7 INTEGRATING ALL TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION 101] 2040 Regional Transportation Plan

11 National Goal RTP Goal Annual Transit Performance Measures Performance Target Table 12-1 Freight Integrate Average truck reliability index TBD* Movement & Economic Vitality Land Use & Economic Development Improve Freight & Goods Movement Focus on Regional Connectivity Environmental Sustainability Promote Healthy Communities & Sustainability Integrate Land Use & Economic Development Integrate All Types of Transportation Meet an RTP Goal Auto emissions Transit fleet mix alternative fueling technologies Alternative mode share by corridor Alternative mode share in the transit service area Maintain emissions under air quality budget 100% electric or CNG fleet by % on Virginia Street; 40% on E. 4th Street/Prater Way 15% by 2040 * Targets associated with these measures have yet to be determined as they are under development in coordination with the FHWA, NDOT, and other applicable agencies. CH.12 MONITORING IMPLEMENTATION AND PERFORMANCE 155] 2040 Regional Transportation Plan