Iliff and Florida Stations Meeting Q&A RTD FasTracks I-225 Rail Line Iliff and Florida Stations Information Meeting Q & A May 15, 2013, 5:30 p.m. Aurora Association of Realtors Office 14201 E. Evans Avenue, Aurora, CO 80014 Conference Center Room What is the elevation of the Iliff Station? The south end of the platform is 3-4 feet above existing ground and the north end is 10-12 feet above existing ground. The ground on the pedestrian-approaching east side will be gradual and meet ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements. A wall on the I-225 west side will include a retaining wall. How was it decided which direction of lanes Abilene loses? It was determined during the environmental process that it was best to keep the rail closest to the highway and farthest from automobile traffic. What communication was done with businesses on Abilene? All communications thus far have encouraged businesses, residents, HOA/neighborhood organizations and the public to visit the project website for detailed construction information and to sign up for weekly updates detailing upcoming construction activities, traffic impacts, lane restrictions, closures and detours. The contact database developed during the environmental process is being used as a baseline for communications and is continuously updated with information gathered through: Self-registrations through the I-225 Rail Line website "Contact Us" Internet searches, door-to-door visits, and direct phone calls to businesses to obtain owner/manager contact information Property owner information collected as part of the right-of-way process Registered neighborhood and Homeowner Association contact lists provided by the City of Aurora Have all businesses on Abilene and Florida been contacted about construction, traffic and access? Outreach to businesses, residents and neighborhood/hoas began in December 2012 through the following opportunities: Monthly I-225 newsletter emails began Dec. 2012 Groundbreaking ceremony held on March 1, 2013
Special I-225 construction update emailed April 12, 2013 announcing the commencement of construction and encouraging businesses and residents to visit the project website for updated construction information, lane closures, and detours - and to sign up for future construction updates by segment or area of interest via email. Weekly I-225 construction update emails began April 2013 Door-to-door contact with businesses in Segment 1: Yale to Iliff Avenues on April 5, 2013 providing information of the continued road closure and detour put in place by Aurora Water and upcoming construction activities performed by Kiewit crews. Door-to-door contact and phone calls placed to businesses located in Area A: Abilene Street between Iliff and Exposition Avenues to obtain owner/manager contact information the week of April 29, 2013 Station Meeting Invitation emailed May 3, 2013 At least one point of access to businesses will be maintained at all times during construction, although access may be altered, as necessary. Business owners will be contacted directly should impacts to access become an issue. Similarly, on Abilene Street at least one lane in each direction will be maintained at all times; however, lane restrictions and detours may be necessary to accommodate work activities. Businesses will be notified in advance of such work. What is the decision on the entrance at the VA Hospital? Our station location will remain in the planned location above Colfax on a structure. We will continue to coordinate with the VA Hospital to explore access ideas, but the location of our station will not move. If I exit I-225 on Iliff, where will I end up? The current exit ramp for Iliff off of I-225 will remain in the same configuration. Why is there no parking at the Florida Station? It was determined during the environmental phase that the station would be a destination station serving the Medical Center of Aurora. Will there be timing changes at Iliff and Blackhawk due to the already existing and increasing traffic? The City of Aurora conducts re-timing efforts on a scheduled rotation through the regularly scheduled Traffic Signal Timing Study. The next set of re-timing efforts is currently on hold pending the completion of multiple large scale projects including the I-225 Light Rail Line, East Corridor Commuter Rail Line, Peoria Grade Separation, and I-225 widening. The City hopes to accomplish citywide traffic signal timing review and updates once all of the traffic impacts of these projects have been realized and all construction detours have been removed. How many daily riders are expected at the Florida Station? According to model runs, d aily riders at the Florida Station are expected to be 800 in the year 2020 and 950 in the year 2035.
Are you reinstating the G Line? Yes. The line will have a new name and will run from Peoria to Lincoln and eventually to the future RidgeGate Parkway Station. What will happen to the prairie dogs at Iliff Station? The prairie dogs at Iliff are slated to be relocated to the Lowry Range. This property is designated for prairie conservation and is not adjacent to existing private property. A permit for relocation is pending from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife. This permit is needed to proceed with relocation of the prairie dogs. People drive fast and crazy. What safety precautions will be planned on Abilene? The revised roadway section on Abilene, as well as any construction closures or modifications, is being designed in accordance with City roadway standards, and will be equipped with all appropriate traffic control devices including speed limit and warning signage. The Aurora Police Department will be involved in any traffic enforcement issues that need to be addressed. Can we move the H Line to City Center rather than Florida? No parking at Florida will be a problem. The Florida Station was selected as a main point of transfer due to several factors, including the alignment and coordination with other FasTracks lines. Will Exposition be widened at Walmart? The overall width of Exposition (roadway plus train area) will increase-however Exposition itself will be equipped with one through lane for each direction, which is a decrease from the current two lanes in each direction. Additionally, the movements available at some driveway accesses will change for safety reasons due to the presence of the train tracks in the center of the roadway. When will there be a decision regarding parking at Iliff? Will more cars fit in a garage than ground parking? RTD and the City of Aurora are working together to coordinate the most optimal parking within budget. RTD has the budget for 600 parking spaces at Iliff. The City of Aurora is looking into funding alternatives for a parking garage which could house more parking spaces than ground parking. What kind of lighting will be at the stations and in the parking lots? All light rail stations will have standard amenities such as lighting. RTD, Kiewit Co. and the City of Aurora are in discussion regarding the specific lighting that will be at each of the I-225 Rail Line stations.
Will there be roundabouts at Blackhawk and Wesley? If so, why? A roundabout will be constructed at the intersection of Harvard/Blackhawk with Anaheim/Iliff Station access for a number of reasons, including the ability to best serve the traffic flow in the area with minimal delay as well as preserving and improving the character and accessibility of the area. A future roundabout may be possible to the north of that roundabout depending on what happens with future development on either side of Blackhawk. If and when there is overflow parking at Iliff and Florida, where will people park? What will be done to mediate? Permits? The City is in process on the development of a Citywide Parking Management effort, which will include options for both the public streets surrounding the station areas as well as the neighborhoods in their vicinities. The City is keenly aware that there is significant and appropriate concern regarding this issue, and that current policies and options, including current parking enforcement levels, will have to change to address this issue. What will be done about the double turning lanes off of Blackhawk onto Iliff? Some modifications will occur at the intersection of Iliff and Blackhawk as defined in the construction plans. Will the I-225 Rail Line be single or double track? Double track How will the train turn around at Florida? The light rail cars are double-ended and have control cabs on each end of the car. To change directions at the end of a line, the operator simply walks to the other end of the train. How many fare zones will this line run through? This will be determined by the service planning department as we get closer to the opening date. At this point, it looks like the line will run through two fare zones but this can change as development and the addition of other lines occurs. Will RTD check fares more thoroughly in the future? Fare inspection is performed daily by those in RTD uniform, Wackenhut Security Officers and undercover police officers. Approximately 70 percent of riders have already paid their fares because they have passes (like a monthly pass or Eco Pass) and don't need to buy tickets. The average percentage of fare evaders who are caught during the daily random fare checking averages about 3 percent. A person receiving a summons for Fare Evasion must pay a fine or appear in court to answer the charges. Multiple contacts for fare evasion may result in a rider being barred from using RTD services.
Is it possible to ban smoking on platforms? This is something that the RTD Board of Directors would need to decide. A smoking ban on train platforms has occurred in places such as New York, Chicago, Denmark and Australia. Will the development near the Iliff Station be residential or commercial? The Iliff Station Area Plan envisions a change in zoning to allow Transit-Oriented Development with a mix of uses for the area. Development could then be either commercial or residential or both in the future. The area is currently zoned for commercial uses. Is access from I-225 and Iliff going to change? What will it look like? Access will remain essentially the same. The northbound on and off ramps may shift a few feet but will operate the way they do now. Can we reduce the speed on Abilene Street? Can we wait to progress on the idea of formal bike lanes on Florida until the speed is reduced on Abilene Street? The changes that will be made to the current Abilene Street are not anticipated to require changes to the existing posted speed limit on Abilene. Abilene will continue to function as an arterial roadway and an important connection in the City's street grid. Sections of Abilene with curves and/or high driveway accesses are already posted at 30 mph. What is the station naming process? The general RTD policy on station naming is that they should be at major intersections, major streets or destinations that are easily recognized by the general public. However, the RTD Board of Directors has a station naming policy and will consider certain names under this policy. Will there be art at the stations? What is the process? Currently, there is no funding available for commissioned art in the FasTracks budget. However, local communities are invited to explore potential funding to provide art at future stations. The City of Aurora has a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Ordinance which provides for the acquisition of outdoor works of art for developments located in TOD districts. The TOD districts are areas surrounding the I-225 Rail Line. When will Iliff Station open? The Iliff Station will open with the entire I-225 Rail Line in 2016. Prior to 2012, the line only had funding for the segment from Nine Mile to Iliff. In 2012, RTD received an unsolicited proposal from Kiewit Infrastructure Co. to build full line. Initially the Nine Mile to Iliff segment was set to open in 2014 but has since been adjusted to open with the complete I-225 Rail Line from Nine Mile to Peoria/Smith in 2016. When is the grand opening party?
The grand opening party will be when the line opens in 2016 and everyone on our mailing list will be invited. Please put tonight's Q & A on the website. Done!