Manor/Dean Keeton Connector Corridor

Manor/Dean Keeton Connector Corridor

Enhancements Short-term improvements to keep Austin moving. Investments Long-term projects to support our future. Mobility Hubs MetroRapid MetroRail MetroExpress Commuters Connectors Circulators Project Connect Project Connect is a plan to create a system of high-capacity transit options that will connect people, places, and opportunities in an affordable, efficient, and sustainable way. Two teams have been working closely with residents, workers, and community groups to addresses our short and long-term needs. The Enhancements Team is working to identify projects that will ensure our existing transit network will operate efficiently as the Austin area grows. The enhancement projects will improve MetroRail, MetroRapid, and MetroExpress services, as well as create Mobility Hubs across the area. The Investments Team is developing plans for a transit system capable of maximizing the amount of people that can move through key corridors. Introducing new transit options will create a more balanced transportation system that benefits all Austinites. Connectors The Connector investment corridors are intended to serve multiple trip purposes and connect people with activity centers primarily within Central Austin. Over 30 corridors were identified by reviewing plans and studies completed by Capital Metro and its partners. Those corridors were narrowed down through a tiered evaluation process that explored each corridor s potential to successfully implement HCT. The eight Connector corridors advanced to Phase 2 are: orth Lamar/Guadalupe South Congress Riverside South Lamar Manor/Dean Keeton* Highland/Trinity/Red River 7th/Lake Austin *The MLK connector corridor was included with Manor/ Dean Keeton as an alignment alternative Key Terms HCT ROW LRT BRT CVC TOD P&R TC PER UT ACC High Capacity Transit Right-of-Way Light Rail Transit Bus Rapid Transit Capitol View Corridor Transit Oriented Development Park & Ride Transit Center Preliminary Engineering Report University of Texas Austin Community College

Manor / Dean Keeton Corridor Corridor Overview Corridor Overview Given the proximity of the Manor/Dean Keeton and Martin Luther King Jr corridors, the Project Connect team considered both to be alignment options that serve the same market area. The MDK/MLK corridor stretches from the University of Texas campus at its western end through East Austin, connecting through or near the Mueller mixed-use neighborhood, and then travels east of US 183 where the City of Austin s Imagine Austin comprehensive plan envisions a series of transit-supportive, complete communities focused along major arteries and at key nodes or centers. 35 Delco Center Expo Center Colony Park 35 183 Legend Priority Corridor Other Priority Corridors Legend Priority Extensions Possible Priority Corridor Corridor Quick Look Extensions 290 Other Priority Corridors Alignment Options Priority Extensions Term PossibleLong Extensions Extension Options Alignment Extensions Options Potential end of line Long Term Extension Options Connections 2025 etwork PotentialHigh-Frequency end of line Corridor Start and Endpoints: University of Texas to Decker Ln Connections 2025 Majoretwork Roads High-Frequency Major Roads Delco Center Capital Metro Service Area Capital Metro Service Area Corridor Length: 8.8 Miles Colony Park Existing Transit Services: Routes 20, 37, 233, 237, 323 Expo Center Current Bus Ridership: 3,112 Jobs (1/2 Mile from Stations): 26,228 Jobs Residents (1/2 Mile from Station): 28,461 Residents 183 Zero-Car Households: 883 Households Households Below Poverty: 2,826 Households 2016 Mobility Bond Eligible? o Bike Lanes Continuous Continuous (W of 183); Some Gaps (E of 183) one (Dean Keeton & Loyola); ROW Constraints Severe (Manor, DK to Airport) Sidewalks 3

Corridor Character Corridor Character (San Jacinto to 51st) Dean Keeton The wide ROW along Dean Keeton between San Jacinto and Manor Rd provides a simple path for HCT implementation and an opportunity to enhance the street for bikes/pedestrians. Source: Google Earth Street View University of Texas UT is one of the largest trip generators in the region, with over 50,000 students and nearly 20,000 employees at the main campus. Source: 365things Austin 2015 Source: Google Earth Street View Cherrywood Manor Rd through this neighborhood has become a popular dining and entertainment destination. Constrained ROW may present challenges for HCT. 4

Corridor Character Source: Google Earth Street View East 51st Between Berkman and Manor, East 51st narrows considerably and is adjacent to Bartholomew Park and single-family homes. Source: Eater Austin 2017 Mueller The Mueller neighborhood has been reborn as a vibrant, dense, mixed-use neighborhood anchored by the Dell s Children s Medical Center. 5

Corridor Character Corridor Character (51st to Expo Center) Source: Google Earth Street View US 183 Crossing Vacant land north of Loyola Lane could provide a simple route for HCT to connect from Manor Rd across US 183. Just east of 183 unique topography presents challenges to HCT implementation. Windsor Park An eclectic mix of small apartments and single-family homes sits adjacent to Manor Rd between 51st and Loyola Lane. Source: Google Earth Street View 6

Corridor Character Source: Farr Associates 2014 Colony Park The City of Austin is currently seeking a master developer for this 208 acre site that is envisioned to become a transitsupportive neighborhood similar to Mueller. Source: Google Earth Street View Johnny Morris Rd. Loyola crosses the potential Capital Metro Green Line near Johnny Morris Rd., which could become an important transfer opportunity for commuters traveling to Mueller or UT from east Travis County. Expo Center A potential terminus of the MDK corridor, this public property could serve as a Park & Ride and special event destination to anchor the end of the corridor. Source: My Statesman 2016 7

Options Considered HCT Options Service Assumptions To better gauge the level of investment warranted along the Manor Dean Keeton corridor, the project team created options that assumed different combinations of transit service and guideway profiles. Transit service profiles were developed that would satisfy a range of ppotential transit demand depending on the capacity and frequency of vehicles. Vehicles have a wide range of person carrying capacity, but also have different limitiations on the space needed at stations, operating speed, or type of guideway required. The lower investment option assumes smaller vehicles operating individually, while the higher investment option assumes larger vehicles operating in pairs. Emerging Technologies ew technologies, such as autonomous or electric transit vehicles, may introduce new efficiencies for HCT. Autonomous vehicle (AV) technology could be adapted to both bus and rail vehicles and will be considered as Capital Metro advances each corridor through the project development process and as the technology evolves. Lower Investment Service Assumptions Vehicle Assumption Up to 100 people per vehicle Peak Frequency 10 Min (6 vehicles/hour) Off-Peak Frequency 20 Min (3 vehicles/hour) Source: Getty 2018, Shenzen AV HCT Source: ACTO 2018, antes Busway Peak Capacity 600 passengers/hour/direction Higher Investment Service Assumptions Vehicle Assumption Peak Frequency Up to 225 people per vehicle, two vehicles per pair 10 Min (12 vehicles/hour) Off-Peak Frequency 20 Min (6 vehicles/hour) Source: Rail Life 2018, Tempe LRT Source: Jon Bell 2013, DART Peak Capacity 2,700 passengers/hr/direction 8

Options Considered HCT Options Guideway Assumptions The project team tested three guideway profile options on the Manor Dean Keeton corridor that were combined with the service profiles to generate a range of HCT performance indicators. The lower investment option assumes 100% of the dedicated guideway is at street level. A moderate investment option introduces grade separation at key locations to overcome physical barriers - in this case, elevated at the north end of the corridor to cross US 183, existing freight rail near Jonny Morris Rd, and the Red Line crossing on Manor west of Airport Blvd. The higher investment option includes additional grade separation where ROW or roadway operations are constrained - at the Airport Blvd intersection and from Lafayette Ave to the Red Line where ROW narrows along Manor. Lower Investment Higher Investment Street Level Guideway Grade-Separated Guideway 9

OAKMOT Manor / Dean Keeton Corridor High Capacity Transit Overview HTC Overview (San Jacinto to 51st) PARK HARMO WISTED WEST LY LEGED ILES 0 0.25 0.5 Mile Manor Dean Keaton Corridor Potential Station (Exact Location TBD) WIDSOR Alignment Option Grade Separation Option (See Alternatives Description) 1/2 Mile (10-Min Walk) Station Area G Parks Existing Red Line & Stations Hospitals Roads Connections 2025 High-Frequency Other Connections 2025 Route 15TH 25TH RIO GRADE 32D San Jacinto ROBERT DEDMA 35 G Lafayette 38TH HALF 10 UECES 11TH G Connection to /S Corridors Connection to Guadalupe or San Jacinto depends on final HCT choice for MDK corridor. Limited ROW Tight ROW between Lafayette and Airport may require grade separation or ROW acquisition. PLEAS

High Capacity Transit Overview HARMO PLACE EAST OLA G Mueller Manor/E 51st 38TH HALF tte ATOE Airport/Manor Berkman HEFLI Redline Crossing HCT will require grade separation across the Red Line, although street grade is favorable for implementation. Grade separation could continue over Airport to optimize service. 12TH SAMUEL HUSTO Mueller Although shown serving Mueller via Berkman Drive, there are several options for serving the Mueller community. TRAC 11

EXCHAGE Manor / Dean Keeton Corridor High Capacity Transit Overview HTC Overview (51st to Expo Center) ADERSO L 290 HWY 290 HWY ED BLUESTEI BLVD Windsor Park Improved pedestrian accessibility to HCT within Windsor Park. US 183 Crossing Grade separation may be needed to connect to Loyola across US 183 and environmental features like parks and wetlands. PECA BROOK Loyola Joh ORTHEAST LOYOLA GASTO PLACE Wheless SPRIGDALE ROGGE A 12

High Capacity Transit Overview Expo Center Opportunities exist to create a multimodal hub, including Park & Ride facilities, at the existing Expo Center site. Johnny Morris COLOY LOOP Colony Park Expo Center DECKER LAKE 0 0.25 0.5 Mile Green Line Crossing HCT will require grade separated where the freight rail intersects Loyola. LEGED DECKER Manor/Dean Keeton Corridor Potential Station (Exact Location TBD) Alignment Option Grade Separation Option (See Alternatives Description) 1/2 Mile (10-Min Walk) Station Area G Parks Existing Red Line & Stations Hospitals Roads Connections 2025 High-Frequency Other Connections 2025 Route 13

Manor Dean / Keeton Corridor Alignment Options Mueller Alignment Options Mueller Community The Phase 1 alignment of the Manor/ Dean Keeton corridor skirts the Mueller development along Manor Rd (Option A). The Mueller development is designed with the connected street pattern and intensity of building types needed to support HCT, so the Project Connect team has developed several options for how a HCT service could directly serve the development and integrate with the rest of the transit network. The alternatives described at the beginning of this section assumed Option B for the purpose of estimating cost, travel time, and ridership for the system planning exercise - however, all options preferred by the community should be carried forward into preliminary engineering for further analysis. Source: Lars Plougmann (flickr) Option A - Manor Road Option A is the original alignment studied in Phase 1. It would include a station at Berkman and Manor, which would only serve the Tower District mixed-use node and the moderate density, mostly detached home neighborhoods of the Mueller development. This option would be the most efficient to operate (fewer turns, ample ROW between Berkman and 51st), but would miss important concentrations of jobs and housing in the Mueller Town Center. Option B - Berkman Option B would use the median of Berkman - which has been explicitly reserved for future transit use - to serve the heart of the development. This option would include stations along Berkman at both Manor and Philomena, providing excellent accessibility to the entire Mueller development. A major concern is the turn from Berkman to 51st, which may be infeasible for a HCT vehicle to navigate at street level. HCT could potentially travel east on Philomena and pass near the Texas Film Society to meet 51st St. Option C - Airport/Mueller Blvd Option C would serve Mueller by using the median of Airport Blvd to reach Aldrich Street and eventually Mueller Blvd. This option would include a station at Mueller Blvd and Philomena, which would be located in the heart of the Town Center (the densest part of Mueller) as well as directly adjacent to the Dell Children s Medical Center, which could provide tremendous benefits for ridership. Option C would leave most of the moderate density Mueller neighborhoods southeast of the Town Center outside of the 1/2 Mile station area. Although the turn from Mueller Blvd to 51st St is less technically challenging than the turn from Berkman, this alignment would introduce a challenging movement from Airport to Mueller Blvd via the existing roundabout at Aldrich Street. Option D - Mueller Blvd (via Highland Corridor) Another option for serving Mueller would be to introduce a branch of the Highland/Trinity/ Red River corridor using Airport Blvd to reach Aldrich Street (and then function the same way as Option C does through the development). The City of Austin s adopted Airport Blvd Corridor Plan includes dedicated transit guideway in this portion of the corridor - however, navigating the transition from the Hancock station along Highland/Red River through the Airport/IH 35 intersection could prove logistically challenging, especially given the ongoing design efforts related to TxDOT s IH 35 master plan. 14

Alignment Options Manor/E 51st E 51st St Barbara Jordan Blvd B (BRT Only) Dell Children s Medical Center Mueller Blvd/ Philomena Mueller Blvd Town Center (Highest Job/Resident Density C Philomena St Berkman/Philomena Berkman Dr B A D Tower District (High Density) Manor Rd Hancock Airport Blvd Berkman/Manor E 38th 1/2 St Airport/Manor 15

Alignment Options MLK Jr Blvd Alignment Option The MLK Corridor scored relatively well during the initial Phase 2 screening, and was carried forward into detailed alternatives development during Phase 2. Most of the MLK corridor is less than ½ mile away from the Manor/Dean Keeton corridor, and was therefore considered as an alignment alternative. The MLK corridor serves UT and the new Dell Medical School at its western end, and transit-supportive neighborhoods between IH 35 and Airport. However, MLK was not recommended as the preferred alignment to serve this corridor due to the ROW constraints, travel lane impacts, and topographic challenges described here. ROW & Travel Lane Impacts West of IH 35 the ROW is relatively sufficient to accommodate dedicated HCT lanes. However, between IH 35 and Airport Blvd, the ROW narrows to between 60 and 70. Although the ROW in this segment is not substantially different from the ROW along Manor Road, MLK currently carries four lanes of vehicular traffic in this section (compared to two along Manor), and so any HCT implementation would likely have both ROW impacts and a reduction of travel lanes along MLK. Furthermore, the properties most likely to be impacted along Manor are almost exclusively commercial, whereas the majority of properties that would be impacted near MLK are singlefamily residential. Topography Another major constraint between IH 35 and Airport is the substantial change in grade in this section of the alignment. Although just a few block south of Manor (which features few street segments with grades exceeding 5%), MLK features several segments which exceed 5% grade, and some that even exceed 10% grade. This level of grade difference presents operational challenges to HCT and would likely increase construction costs. This also presents a barrier to exploring a grade separated solution to minimize ROW impacts in this part of the corridor since any elevated structures would likely need to maintain a consistent grade, meaning that the height of the structures could range from 20 at the peaks along MLK to more than 60 tall where MLK reaches its lowest points. Recommendation - Rapid Transit While dedicated HCT may not be feasible along this alignment, Project Connect still realizes the importance the MLK corridor could play in the regional transit system. The City of Austin is currently exploring potential improvements to MLK Blvd from US 183 to Lamar Blvd, and enhancements to improve transit speed and reliability like signal priority or queue jumps should be explored to maximize the potential of a higher-capacity transit route along MLK and provide high quality transit service to this part of Austin. 16

Manor / Dean Keeton Corridor Alignment Options A DE RS O L 290 HWY ED BL U 49 BR LOYOL R CK E MA 51 ST G TH IFF RK 38 CL BE 35 DU VA L G G TH I A IAR 46 TE DE TH ES OR A M OLD RO GG E 30 TH G G 12TH HU R RIVE Sendero Hills MLK/Decker DE C Y AD D O 0 7T H CESAR CHAVE OL T OP MO D EA LA PL OD SA T IS VA LL EY Z WO 0.25 0.5 Mile LEGED SH 2 PED MA CO ER L ALE S RED UPE GUA DAL Springdale DS GRE S S US 183 H CO DI Cedar Airport/MLK ORT AIRP BO UL 11T H ER G Manor Dean Keeton Corridor Parks Potential Station (Exact Location TBD) Existing Red Line & Stations Alignment Option Hospitals G 5TH L COMA Trinity/Dell Medical MC B Chicon Berkman EE 27TH 24TH Grade Separation Option (See Alternatives Description) Roads 1/2 Mile (10-Min Walk) Station Area Other Connections 2025 Route Connections 2025 High-Frequency O TZ 17

Street Sections Street Sections Segment 1: Dean Keeton (San Jacinto to Manor) East of San Jacinto the 120 of ROW along Dean Keeton provides ample room to accommodate the existing two travel lanes in each direction and provide an opportunity to further enhance street scape elements, safety and connectivity. Segment 1 shows future center running HCT that could provide an opportunity to improve sidewalks and bike lanes. Some of these elements may be constrained at locations where ROW is 100 and/or at station locations or streets where left turn movements are desired. East of the Dean Keeton and Manor intersection the ROW narrows to 60 and carries one travel lane and bike lane in each direction and one middle turn lane. In order to maintain one lane of travel in each direction, street-level HCT will require acquisition of additional ROW (with larger impacts at station location or streets with left turns). Elevated HCT would lessen the need to acquire additional ROW and could enhance HCT travel time and reliability in Segment 2 but would cost more and produce a strong visual impact on the corridor. orth of Manor along Berkman, Segment 3 with the ROW of 132 that was designed with a wide median with the intent of housing HCT to the Muller Community. HCT in this segment would not impede the existing ROW. This profile would also maintain bike lanes and/or on-street parking where appropriate. Segment 1: Dean Keeton to Airport San Jacinto Existing Street Level HCT Center Running Street Level HCT Center Running At Station 18

Street Sections Segment 2: Manor (Dean Keeton to Airport) Segment 3: Berkman (Manor to 51 St.) Lafayette Airport/Manor Berkman Mueller Segment 2: 51st St. to Springdale Elevated HCT Street Level HCT Center Running Segment 3: Manor to 51st. Street Level HCT Center Running At Station Street Level HCT Center Running Existing Existing 19

Street Sections Street Sections orth of 51st St. along Manor, Segment 4 has a ROW of 80 with a single lane in each direction, median turn lane, and bike lanes in each direction. In order to maintain a travel lane in each direction street-level HCT will require acquisition of additional ROW (with larger impacts at station location or streets with left turns). Elevated HCT would lessen the need to acquire additional ROW and could enhance HCT travel time and reliability in Segment 4 but would cost more and produce a strong visual impact on the corridor. Segment 4: Manor (51st to Loyola) Manor / 51 St Wheless Existing Loyola East of Manor the 120 ROW along Loyola Segment 5 carries two travel lanes in each direction, bike lanes in each direction, and a center median. HCT in this segment would not impede the existing ROW and maintaining existing lanes and bike lanes. Future center running HCT could also provide an opportunity to improve sidewalks and bike lanes. Segment 4: 51st St. to Loyola Street Level HCT Center Running Street Level HCT Center Running At Station 20

Street Sections Johnny Morris Segment 5: Loyola (US 183 to Decker) Colony Park Expo Center Segment 5: US 183 to Decker Street Level HCT Elevated HCT Existing Center Running 21

Comparing Options Comparing Corridor Options Capital Metro evaluated the performance metrics for the considered alternatives to further inform the evaluation process. Estimated costs are based on recent and similar transit investments in other U.S. cities. Anticipated ridership was obtained using FTA s Simplified Trips-on-Project Software (STOPS) model. Travel time was estimated using assumptions about roadway speed limits vs. grade separated speed limits. Throughput capacities are based on assumed vehicle capacities and service frequencies. ROW and travel lane impacts are based on the street sections analysis and are rated as low, moderate or high. The results of the comparison of investment options suggests that themetrics suggest that the Manor/Dean Keeton corridor could support a higher HCT investment. Although the ridership on the low investment option is fairly high, the high investment option serves more than double the existing ridership along the corridor at a lower operating cost per rider than the low investment option. The project team will continue to gather feedback on community preference for the mode and guideway combination that can best serve MDK as the system plan is refined during Spring 2018. Lower Investment Higher Investment Average Daily Boardings (2025): 8,000 15,000 Peak Hour Boardings: 310 590 Peak Hour Passenger Capacity: 600 2,700 Annual Trips (2025): 2.4M 4.6M Capital Construction Cost (2018): $520M $1.6B Annual Operations & Maintenance Cost (2018): $6.4M $20.2M Travel Time: 29 min 22 min ROW Impacts: HIGH MOD Travel Lane Impacts: MOD LOW *Preliminary planning-level evaluation results; subject to change during preliminary engineering 22

Comparing Station Areas Comparing Station Areas Capital Metro conducted an analysis of possible stations along the orth Lamar/Guadalupe corridor to inform the alternatives evaluation process. Stations were rated as High (3 points), Medium (2 points), or Low (1 point) in transit-supportive character for each of the seven metrics (listed below). The H/M/L point values were aggregated into an Overall Score that describes the transit supportive quality of each station given current conditions. The Manor/Dean Keeton corridor contains few stations that score highly overall, although the stations closer to UT generally score higher than those east of US 183. The Mueller station will likely see enhanced population and employment density as the development continues to build-out, as will the Colony Park station. The remaining stations would benefit from a smallarea planning effort by the City to maximize the potential of the corridor to support HCT. High Medium Low San Jacinto Lafayette Airport Berkman Mueller Manor/E 51st Wheless Loyola Johnny Morris Colony Park Expo Center Overall Score Population Density Employment Density Major Destinations Transit Connectivity Affordability Walkability Market Strength 23

Led by Capital Metro with support from the City of Austin. Want to learn more? Go to capmetro.org/projectconnect to read more about the work we re doing through Project Connect. Tell us what you think, take the Phase 2 Survey https://www.capmetroengage.org/en/provide-input Prepared by Alliance Transportation Group, AECOM, and elson\ygaard Consulting Associates with support from Bronner Group and Robin O Connell Design Cover Image Source: Alliance Transportation Group Additional Project Connect briefing books: High Capacity Transit 101 Briefing Book Long-Term Investment Program Briefing Book and corridor flip books Short-Term Investment Program Briefing Book and project flip books Project Connect Funding and Financing Briefing Book