Development and Overview of the NY 5 Bus Rapid Transit Corridor New York State MPO Conference June 5, 2009
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) n Enhancement of ordinary bus route to offer high quality transit at low cost Why Route 5 First? Strongest transit corridor (±33 million passengers/year)
History of NY5 BRT ntransit corridor worthy of investigation New Visions 1993 nland Use Study 2001 BRT becomes Preferred Alternative nconceptual Design completed in 2005 ncorridor tops 3 Million Riders - 2006 nenvironmental Clearance 2007 nimplementation Begins- 2008 3
BRT Features n Efficiency Limited # of Stops Transit Signal Priority Queue Jump Lanes n Frequency/Reliability Every 10-15 15 minutes during peak commuter times n Distinctive Appearance Branding
BRT Features n Convenience Real-time arrival information Improved shelter amenities Shared-use park-and and-ride lots n Accessibility ADA Compliant n Environmentally Friendly Hybrid electric buses LED Lighting
BRT Service Design n Getting the rapid Limit Stops Call them stations Reduce Dwell Time Move faster TSP Queue Jumpers Exclusive lanes n Underlying Local Service Feeders route restructuring Complimentary (not competitive) 6
Phasing Plan n Phase I (2008/09) --Establish critical mass for BRT Construct 18 BRT stations Create brand identity Purchase new vehicles n Phase II (2009/10) Complete amenities at all stations Construct queue jumpers/state Street lanes n Phase III (if earlier phases successful) Off-vehicle fare collection Articulated buses 7
Service Concept BRT Corridor with Underlying Bookend Locals and Feeders Travel Center Schenectady Balltown New Karner I-87 Wolf Rd Colonie Center Colvin Av Albany Greyhound station Bookend Locals #355 #155 BRT (#905) Park-n-ride ride Union College Ellis Hospital General Electric ShuttleBug ShuttleFly Airport Nursing Home Crossgate s Mall Sand Creek Rd State Campus Corporate Woods
Stations as Focal Points nbrt stations Significant investment to create identity Large set of standard amenities Wide spacing (0.4 mi in city, 2.0 mi in suburbs) nlocal stops New signage Some stop consolidation 9
Stations as Opportunities for Supportive Development nlocal Resolutions Support Land Use Study (2004) ncomprehensive Plan & Zoning Updates CDTA/CDTC Involvement nseqr Reviews Has led to station easements in 3 locations so far! 10
SCHENECTADY Washington Broadway Veeder/Nott 90 Steuben McClellan N. Robinson 890 Lawnwood NISKAYUNA Balltown TOD Study St. Luke s ROUTE 5 Stanford Crossings 87 90 New Karner 87 Village of Colonie COLONIE Colonie Center Colonie Center ALBANY Colvin Convention Center N. Allen N. Manning Quail Lexington Lark S. Swan Pearl SUNY WAMC
Schenectady TOD Study n n n n n CDTC Linkage Study - $100K, 6 months Neighborhoods Adjacent to Downtown BRT Stations as Revitalization Catalysts Strengthen Commercial Strength Cooperative effort Zoning updates 12
Colonie Center n Major Expansion Upscale n Town Support for Transit as part of SEQR review n Relocation off-site except shuttles Rebuild local routes to support future BRT n Pedestrian access n Sears lynchpin station on Central Ave still to secure 13
Stanford Crossings ntown of Niskayuna ncontroversial Project Historic Home nseqr Review as Leverage nresult Easement Pedestrian Gateway Treatment Sidewalks Traffic Light 14
St. Luke s s Church n Early Park and Ride Opportunity Metroplex made the Connection Shared use Mutually beneficial Farmer s s Market n Influenced Station Location Decision and Crosstown/Feeder Route Design 15
WAMC Performing Arts Studio n Partnership Central Avenue BID WAMC Albany Parking Authority n Shared Use, High Tech Parking n BRT Station n Joint Promotions 16
Albany Convention Center n Major Downtown Development -- $200M project n Inclusion of Intermodal Center CDTA Staging BRT End-of of-line Greyhound/ Adirondack Trailways n Relationship to Parking Garage Costs 17
For More Information n See the CDTA website at www.cdta.org Kristina Younger Director of Planning Kristinay@cdta.org 518-437 437-6852 Patrick Campbell BRT Project Manager Patrickc@cdta.org 518-437 437-8370 18