Title
Updates on the GO Enhance Regional Transit System (RTS) Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project and Regional Transit System (RTS) Streetcar Study (B)
This item is an update on the GO Enhance Regional Transit System (RTS) Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project and the Regional Transit System (RTS) Streetcar Study. *ESTIMATED STAFF PRESENTATION 10 MINUTES*
Explanation
GO Enhance RTS Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
Final draft of the report includes:
1. Overview
2. Operating Plan
3. Transit Priority Analysis
4. Running-Way Plans
5. Station Plans
6. Ridership Projections
7. Cost Estimates
8. Environmental Screening
9. Market and Development Potential
10. Overall Corridor Evaluation
11. Potential Funding/Financing Sources
12. Draft Locally Preferred Alternative
The remaining tasks include presentation of the draft recommendations to the project's technical committee and working group, the public, City Commission, Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization (MTPO) and its technical and citizen advisory committees, and updating the draft recommendations report in response to presentation comments. The public meeting is scheduled for February 26, 2014, at 6 p.m. in the GRU multipurpose room. A presentation to the City Commission is scheduled for March 20, 2014 and the MTPO on April 14, 2014.
The consultant's presentation for the February 26, 2014 public meeting has been provided as backup for informational purposes; the consultant will not be in attendance at the February 20, 2014 City Commission meeting. Specific questions on information in the presentation are best addressed to the consultant during the series of upcoming meetings.
The report that includes the draft recommendations and other information on the project is available on the project website (www.go-enhancerts.com). An executive summary of this report will be posted in the near future.
Streetcar:
Six (6) of the ten (10) project tasks have been completed:
1. Project Conceptualization
2. Identification of Initial Streetcar Corridors
3. Assessment of Major Utility and Engineering Impacts
4. Assessment of Traffic, Land use and Parking Impacts
5. Estimate Streetcar Ridership
6. Economic Assessment of Downtown Transit Investment
Pending Tasks include:
7. Assessment of Potential Streetcar Technologies (by March 30th)
8. Develop Streetcar Operating Plan (by March 30th)
9. Develop Capital and Operating Cost Estimates (by April 11th)
10. Develop Potential Funding Structure and Financial Options (by April 18th)
A public meeting with the project technical committee will be held on February 27, 2014 to review the project to date and take comments on each phase of the conceptual study. Another public meeting will be held towards the end of the project prior to presentation of the report to the City Commission on May 15 or June 5. Information is posted on the RTS web site.
Fiscal Note
There is no fiscal impact associated with this discussion.
Recommendation
The City Commission receive an update from City staff on the GO Enhance Regional Transit System (RTS) Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project and the Regional Transit System (RTS) Streetcar Study.