1

Stakeholder Meeting #1October 24, 2016

Providence Downtown Transit ConnectorSTAKEHOLDER MEETING #2

February 2017

2

AGENDA

DTC Goals and Expectations

Street Design Concepts

Potential Benefits and Impacts

Branding Concepts

Next Steps

1

2

3

4

5

3

1. DTC GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS

4

• Enhanced transit corridor will provide fast, frequent connections through downtown Providence

• Align 7 existing bus routes• Range of enhanced bus features

creates faster, more reliable, more appealing service

• Six stations at major nodes in downtown

WHAT IS THE DTC?

5

WHAT WILL THE DTC ACCOMPLISH?

Quantity of Service

Quality of Service

6

• More direct connections

• Better on-time performance for DTC routes

• Better customer satisfaction

• More positive view toward transit from future customers

• Increased ridership– Due to better service

HOW IS SUCCESS MEASURED?

7

2. STREET DESIGN CONCEPTS

8

• Transit priority– Dedicated space for buses

where feasible, especially along the most congested segments

• Complete streets approach– Safe and convenient access

both along AND across the corridor for pedestrians and bicyclists

– Minimize conflicts between buses and pedestrians, especially for turns

– Maintain traffic flow for autos and trucks

STREET DESIGN GOALS

9

STRIKING A BALANCE

DTC Design

Pedestrian & Bicycle

• Sidewalk width• Bicycle

infrastructure

Private Autos

• Traffic flow• On-street

parking

Transit Priority

• Bus lanes• Larger stations

10

TRANSIT PRIORITY CHALLENGESDorrance St. through Downcity• Narrow cross-section • On-street parking is highly utilized• Sidewalk width is already narrow for downtown setting• Buildings constructed to back of sidewalk

11

TRANSIT PRIORITY OPPORTUNITIESDorrance St. through Downcity• Transit lanes would require parking removal• Narrow cross-section north of Pine can fit a transit lane in one

direction only (but wider sidewalk) • Traffic signal priority could be installed• Station amenities with wider sidewalk

DRAFT FOR ANALYSIS ONLY

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE OF MAXIMUM TRANSIT PRIORITY

Transit-only lanesMixed traffic lanes

12

TRANSIT PRIORITY CHALLENGESDyer St. through LINK District

• Not as narrow as Dorrance St.• Newly-reconstructed section• Northbound left turn onto Dorrance requires lane shift for buses

13

TRANSIT PRIORITY OPPORTUNITIESDyer St. through LINK District

• Transit lanes in both directions could be established• Partial removal of on-street parking required for transit lanes• Construct station near Ship St.• Possible queue jump at mid-block crosswalk

DRAFT FOR ANALYSIS ONLY

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE OF MAXIMUM TRANSIT PRIORITY

Transit-only lanesMixed traffic lanes

14

TRANSIT PRIORITY CHALLENGESEddy St.

• Narrow cross-section • Parking lane is narrower than travel lane• Sidewalk width is already narrow• Buildings constructed to back of sidewalk

Eddy St.

South St.

Elm St.

15

TRANSIT PRIORITY OPPORTUNITIESEddy St.

• Transit lanes in both directions could be established north of South St.• Existing bicycle lanes would require removal for transit lanes• Construct station south of Point Street to serve future development

DRAFT FOR ANALYSIS ONLY

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE OF MAXIMUM TRANSIT PRIORITY

Transit-only lanesMixed traffic lanes

Eddy St.

South St.

Elm St.

16

TRANSIT PRIORITY OPPORTUNITIES

17

• Space for two buses simultaneously

• Dedicated transit lane at stations

• Consistent branding• Platforms for northbound

and southbound travel located in close proximity to each other

STATION REQUIREMENTS

18

CHALLENGES IN SITING STATIONS• Narrow sidewalks leaves little

room for amenities• Buildings constructed to back

of sidewalk leaves no room for expansion

• Driveways limit length available for bus boarding area

19

OPPORTUNITIES IN SITING STATIONS• Stations can be located / designed in coordination with other

development projects• Station design can be linked to other streetscape design efforts

20

• Dependent on location of Providence Intermodal Transit Center (PITC)• Will serve as connecting hub for more routes than those operating

through the DTC• DTC corridor design on Exchange St. dependent on PITC location

TRAIN STATION TERMINUS

21

• Exploring locations on-street and off-street near RI Hospital• Layover space at or near terminus required for up to two buses• Future Dudley Street Extension offers new turnaround / layover option

HOSPITAL DISTRICT TERMINUS

22

• To be determined in conjunction with City / RIDOT planning effort• Street design approaching Kennedy Plaza dependent on alignment

through Kennedy Plaza• City-sponsored public meeting on February 16

KENNEDY PLAZA STATION AND ALIGNMENT

23

BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE• Bikeshare stations

planned at DTC stations• Narrow streets prohibit

comprehensive bike lane provisions on DTC

• Shared bus-bike lane not desirable due to bus volumes

• Focus on logical bike lanes where space available and connections to the DTC

24

PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE• Wider sidewalk on

Exchange St.• Possible wider

sidewalks in portions of Downcity in the vicinity of DTC station

• Station layout and amenities need to consider adjacent sidewalk space

25

3. BENEFITS AND IMPACTS OF TRANSIT PRIORITY STRATEGIES

26

Benefits and Impacts of Transit Priority Strategies

Movement through corridor Access within corridor

27

MOVEMENT THROUGH CORRIDORKey Benefits• Extending routes beyond

Kennedy Plaza will provide more direct (one-seat) rides to train station and Hospital District

o Transfers eliminated for many riders

• Transit priority treatments will mean faster, more reliable service

28

MOVEMENT THROUGH CORRIDORTravel Time

Kennedy Plaza to Rhode Island Hospital(weekday evening peak hour)

Existing Conditions

DTC Service Plan WITHOUT Transit Priority Strategies

DTC Service Plan with Transit Priority

StrategiesTravel time (Bus)Routes 1 & 3 (Inbound)Routes 1 & 3 (Outbound)

8:3211:09

9:53 (16% increase)12:21 (11% increase)

7:42 (10% reduction)8:21 (25% reduction)

Travel time (Auto)Eddy/Dyer/Dorrance (Inbound)Eddy/Dyer/Dorrance (Outbound)

5:075:39

5:24 (6% increase)5:57 (5% increase)

4:46 (7% reduction)5:23 (5% reduction)

“Transit Priority Strategies” scenario includes full extent of transit-only lanes where possible

29

ACCESS WITHIN CORRIDORKey Benefits• High frequency service within this fast

growing corridor will provide residents, workers and visitors increased mobility

o Roughly 2,000 new residents moving into corridor over next three years; about 1,500 new employees in corridor over next three years

• Passenger amenities, distinctly branded stations and intuitive service will also attract new riders

• High frequency transit service brings more people into the corridor

30

ACCESS WITHIN CORRIDOROn-Street Parking

Stillman Street to Ship Street(DTC corridor only)

Existing Conditions

DTC Service Plan WITHOUT Transit Priority Strategies

DTC Service Plan with Transit Priority

StrategiesParking spaces eliminatedParking spaces remaining

0109

1990

8029

“Transit Priority Strategies” scenario includes full extent of transit-only lanes where possible

31

STRIKING A BALANCE

DTC Design

Pedestrian & Bicycle

• Sidewalk width• Bicycle

infrastructure

Private Autos

• Traffic flow• On-street

parking

Transit Priority

• Bus lanes• Larger stations

32

4. BRANDING CONCEPTS

33

BRANDING APPROACHES

34

WHAT TO BRAND?Vehicles• Unique vehicle design• Distinctive look

Running Ways• Bus lanes

Service Plan• Wider stop spacing• High-frequency service• Simple and direct routing

Stations & Stops• Shelter and amenities

ITS & Fare Payment• Transit signal priority• Off-board fare collection• Real-time passenger information

35

• Be clear and consistent• Choose branding that resonates• Communicate a shared vision• Create a community• Lead with brand as symbol of vision• Get CEO/Board Buy-In• Think longer term – implications of expansion

BRANDING DO’S

36

• Don’t overpromise• Don’t undermine brand with service decisions later• Don’t forget to coordinate brand strategies (rail, bus, BRT) but• Don’t overcomplicate• Don’t let crisis go unanswered

BRANDING DON’TS

37

BRANDING FOOTPRINT ATTRIBUTES

38

5. NEXT STEPS

39

OperationsConstructionFinal DesignPreliminary Engineering

Conceptual Engineering

DESIGN PROCESS

Sep 2016 Apr 2017 Sep 2017 May 2018 Jan 2019

40

• Outreach– Hold second public meeting (mid-March)– Additional targeted outreach

• Advancement of Conceptual Engineering– Additional study into benefits and impacts of scenarios– Select preferred design scenario

• Next Stakeholder Meeting– Anticipated April / May 2017

NEXT STEPS