Mass Transit in Charlotte and San Antonio Keith T. Parker, AICP President/CEO
Presentation Overview Charlotte Agency and Customer Profile San Antonio Agency and Customer Profile Attracting New Customers Charlotte Experience Milestones What Would It Take? LRT Next Steps for San Antonio 2
Charlotte Statistics Charlotte Today City ypopulation: p 680,000+ Metro area population: 1.7 million+ City square miles: 287 Transit (total fleet vehicles): 548 Rapid transit (rail) miles: 10 Lane miles (freeway/arterials): 2,180
Charlotte Developed Land:1976 Developed land 1976: 4
5 Charlotte Developed Land: 1985
Charlotte Developed Land: 2006 Population Vehicle Miles Traveled 630,500+ (today) 24.8M (2000) 980,000+ (2030) 30.6M (2007) Employment 470,000+ (2000) 850,000+ (2030) Annual Hours of Delay 23 (1995) 45 (2005) 6
Charlotte Mecklenburg Centers & Corridors Vision Adopted in 1994, update underway Long-term growth framework Five primary transportation t ti and development corridors Goals: Focus most growth in centers & corridors Maximize use of transportation system & infrastructure t Encourage redevelopment & reuse of underutilized sites 7
Charlotte Transit Milestones 1998 2025 Integrated Transit/Land Use Plan developed based on Centers and Corridors Vision Led to voters approving transit sales tax 1999 Metropolitan Transit Commission i established 2000 CATS created Light Rail LPA for South Corridor Major Investment Studies initiated in other corridors 2002 2025 Corridor Plan System adopted 2000-2006 2006 Transit service expanded and improved 2006 2030 Corridor Plan System adopted 2007 Lynx Blue Line opened ½ Tax Reaffirmed: 70% 8
CATS Customer Profile Pre Light Rail Mostly minority Mostly female Full time employed: 83% Do not have driver license: 45% Local customer income: $21K Express customer income: $55K Use CATS for work trips: 72% Customers say CATS is extremely valuable: 98% 9
What Would it Take? 10
11 Transit Success in USA
LYNX Blue Line Opened November 2007 9.6 Miles $462.7 Million 15 Stations (7 park and rides) Operates 7 days a week, 5:30 a.m. - 1:30 a.m. Service Frequency Rush hour: 7.5 minutes 12
LYNX - Year 1 13
Light Rail Revitalizes Communities Revitalizes neighborhoods Stimulates economic development Integrates transit and lifestyles 14
2030 System Plan - Rapid Transit Improvements South Corridor: 9.6 mile LRT with 15 Stations ti North Corridor: 25 mile Commuter Rail Line with 10 Stations Northeast Corridor: 11 mile LRT with 14 Stations (extension of the South Corridor) Southeast Corridor: 14 mile BRT with 16 Stationsti West Corridor:Long Term: Streetcar Line to Charlotte Douglas International Airport Short Term: Enhanced Rapid Bus Service along Wilkinson, West and Freedom Drive 15
VIA Statistics Service area 1,226 miles / 98% of Bexar County Service hours 4 a.m. - 1 a.m. / 7 days a week 93 bus routes Fleet 415 buses, 19 streetcars, and 105 VIAtrans vans 5 park and rides / 4 transit centers Fiscal year 2008 46.8 million passenger trips San Antonio largest all bus city in USA 16
VIA Rider Profile Primarily Hispanic: 58% Female: 52% - Male: 48% Employed: 61% Vehicle Owners: 43% Farebox Recovery: 13 15% Median Household Income: $10,000 - $14,000 Higher Household Income: $50,000+ - 6.8% $75,000+ - 2.5% 17
Long Range Comprehensive Transportation Plan New vision for transportation in Bexar County Identify mobility options Determine high-capacity corridors Regional approach Spring 2010 completion 18
SmartWaySA Vision Conceptual System Plan developed as part of the public process. 19
Intra-City Rail and Streetcar Downtown Circulator Study Downtown Streetcar Feasibility Study Streetcar is to be one of the first projects outlined in Long Range Comprehensive Transportation Plan Integrates Streetcar with Regional Transit System Plan slated for completion in January 2010 20
Community Sustainability Developing a Green System Natural Gas Powered Buses Slated for March 2010 Delivery Hybrid Buses Scheduled d for 2010 Electric (ZERO EMISSIONS) Buses to be delivered d in summer of 2010 Only Transit System in Texas to Receive Grant for Innovative Green Technology 21
2010 Innovation Plan Attracting & Keeping Riders Shaping VIA s Future 22
Provide upgraded service Premium features on new Express buses Bus Rapid Transit Attracting & Keeping Riders 23
Attracting & Keeping Riders Tell our story Community grass-roots roots outreach Marketing 24
The Future Is Now Used with permission, Kevin Siers, The Charlotte Observer 25