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Stakeholder Meeting #1October 24, 2016
Providence Downtown Transit ConnectorSTAKEHOLDER MEETING #2
February 2017
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AGENDA
DTC Goals and Expectations
Street Design Concepts
Potential Benefits and Impacts
Branding Concepts
Next Steps
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1. DTC GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS
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• 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?
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WHAT WILL THE DTC ACCOMPLISH?
Quantity of Service
Quality of Service
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• 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?
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2. STREET DESIGN CONCEPTS
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• 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
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STRIKING A BALANCE
DTC Design
Pedestrian & Bicycle
• Sidewalk width• Bicycle
infrastructure
Private Autos
• Traffic flow• On-street
parking
Transit Priority
• Bus lanes• Larger stations
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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TRANSIT PRIORITY OPPORTUNITIES
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• 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
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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
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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
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• 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
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• 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
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• 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
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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
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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
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3. BENEFITS AND IMPACTS OF TRANSIT PRIORITY STRATEGIES
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Benefits and Impacts of Transit Priority Strategies
Movement through corridor Access within corridor
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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
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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
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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
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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
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STRIKING A BALANCE
DTC Design
Pedestrian & Bicycle
• Sidewalk width• Bicycle
infrastructure
Private Autos
• Traffic flow• On-street
parking
Transit Priority
• Bus lanes• Larger stations
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4. BRANDING CONCEPTS
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BRANDING APPROACHES
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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
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• 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
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• 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
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BRANDING FOOTPRINT ATTRIBUTES
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5. NEXT STEPS
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OperationsConstructionFinal DesignPreliminary Engineering
Conceptual Engineering
DESIGN PROCESS
Sep 2016 Apr 2017 Sep 2017 May 2018 Jan 2019
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• 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
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