Northwest Corridor Transit Study

Transcription

1 Northwest Corridor Transit Study Presentation to Windsor Business Breakfast May 7, 2009 Sandy Fry, Capitol Region Council of Governments

2 3 Elements to Study 1. Build ridership in the Northwest corridor to Day Hill Road and Airport areas 2. Evaluate Union Station (condition, role as an intermodal center), recommend improvements 3. Develop downtown transit circulation system that will accommodate busway service.

3 Build Ridership to Corridor Three main outcomes: 1. Plan for improved transit service 2. Plan for improved Park & Ride facilities 3. Provide guidance for transit-friendly land use and development

4 Approach Data Collection: Corridor demographics and development Existing transit system: - Usage - Service design and frequency - Existing Park & Ride Employment - Dun and Bradstreet information - Employer data

5 Study Area Bounded roughly by: Route 305 The river Route 20/Airport Route 189/town line Primary focus: Griffin/Day Hill Road Secondary focus: Route 20/ International Drive/ New England Tradeport

6 Existing Employers Employer locations and size: Three main corridors: Griffin/Day Hill Road Route 20/Bradley Airport Route 305 corridor Relatively few employers above 500 employees, many in the 100 to 500 range Some clusters have no transit service

7 Commute Origins

8 Commute Origins of Study Area Workers Origins are widely dispersed Largest concentrations: Windsor.(9%) Enfield (5%) Hartford - southeast portion.. (4.5%) Manchester...(4%) Other concentrations in Bloomfield, Vernon, Granby, South Windsor No major difference by type of employer CRCOG Northwest Corridor Transit Study Task 1 - Griffin/Day Hill Road Area

9 Development Trends Observations on development trends in the Study Area: 1,100 vacant acres, over 270 acres have been developed in the last 6 years Office space has increased notably Significant new developments: The ING move has added over 2000 new office workers, including many that took transit The Hartford consolidated employees and brought new employees to the corridor Walgreens distribution center 1/3 of work force will be disabled New Plan adopted by Town for Corridor

10 CT TRANSIT Existing Conditions Key questions to consider: Where are people currently using the bus? How well is the current service working? What kinds of problems does it experience? CRCOG Northwest Corridor Transit Study Task 1 - Griffin/Day Hill Road Area

11 Existing TRANSIT Routes and Activity Centers Existing routes in Northwest Corridor Bradley Flyer (Route 30): Downtown Bradley Airport N series (Routes ) T series (Routes ) Transportation activity centers: Amtrak stations (Windsor, Windsor Locks) Park & Rides (Exit 42, 39, 38, 37, 35, and Bloomfield Center) CTTRANSIT has adjusted routes to meet needs of employers and ridership has been growing

12 Existing CT TRANSIT Bus Boardings Existing weekday bus boardings Heaviest boarding locations at Bradley Airport and Exit 42 Park & Ride (several hundred boardings/day each) Other clusters along Route 75, Kennedy Road, Poquonock Park & Ride, and Addison Corporate Park Most Park & Ride have excess capacity ING bus stop growing quickly (not shown here)

13 Difficulties in Serving the Corridor Typical large suburban office developments Setback distances Plentiful, free parking Few pedestrian amenities Weekend and evening shifts Transfers required from most residential locations

14 Proposed Improvements Create transit hub at Exit 38 Park & Ride Create Griffin Park & Ride Lot Modify Existing service: Extend span of service Add trips to meet shift times Improve peak period level of service Divert Enfield Express Service Establish cross town express routes Vernon Manchester to Park & Ride Hub Granby Express via Day Hill Road Establish local network of shuttle buses CRCOG Northwest Corridor Transit Study Task 1 - Griffin/Day Hill Road Area

15 Transit Improvement Concept CRCOG Northwest Corridor Transit Study Task 1 - Griffin/Day Hill Road Area Concept: Strengthen trunk service, improve distribution to employment sites Use Poquonock Park & Ride as hub Provide service to employment locations from hub with regular transit service and employer shuttles This concept will link the Windsor Rail Station to Day Hill Road

16 Improved Express Service New Crosstown Limited-stop link Avoid transfers downtown Use new transit hub CRCOG Northwest Corridor Transit Study Task 1 - Griffin/Day Hill Road Area

17 Improved Express Service Build on Existing Build on existing links into the Study Area Commuter Express 5 Add stop at Poquonock P&R New link from Granby- East Granby Bradley Flyer Continue to serve Park & Ride CRCOG Northwest Corridor Transit Study Task 1 - Griffin/Day Hill Road Area

18 Shuttles to Work Locations Four shuttles, enhancing CTTRANSIT service Addison Road/Marshall Phelps loop Northfield/Marshall Phelps/Great Pond Road Lamberton/Pigeon Hill/Addison/305/West Dudley Town Griffin Road South/W. Newberry/Woodland CRCOG Northwest Corridor Transit Study Task 1 - Griffin/Day Hill Road Area

19 Examples in other areas: Employer Shuttles North Haven-North Branford- Branford R-LINK flex route (GNHTD) Route 128 Business Council: Alewife shuttle (pool of employers) Planned FlexBus service in Orlando area technologyenabled, focused on activity centers (LYNX) CTTRANSIT Operation would be too costly CRCOG Northwest Corridor Transit Study Task 1 - Griffin/Day Hill Road Area

20 Poquonnock Park & Ride Hub

21 Granby Express Peak Direction: Route 189 and Day Hill Off Peak Direction: Route 20 and International Drive

22 Manchester/Vernon Express Originate at Buckland Park & Ride Follow I-291 and I-91 CRCOG Northwest Corridor Transit Study Task 1 - Griffin/Day Hill Road Area

23 Supporting Measures 1. Improved bus stop signage and amenities 2. Improved pedestrian amenities 3. Expanded Guaranteed Ride Home Program open to all transit riders, to fill gaps in service 4. Create a Transportation Management Association (TMA) Private, non-profit association of businesses and government participants Formed to address transport related issues for a defined area Promote alternative transportation Would facilitate the pooling of resources to provide employer sponsored shuttles, marketing and promotional programs CRCOG Northwest Corridor Transit Study Task 1 - Griffin/Day Hill Road Area

24 Cost Improvement Capital Cost Operating Cost Park & Ride Lot Improvements $900,000 Enhanced Peak Service $315,000 Late Evening Service $131,000 Divert Enfield Express $3,850,000 $90,000 Vernon Express $240,000 Granby Express $328,000 Shuttle Service $300,000 $250,000 Establish TMA, Marketing $60,000 TOTAL $5,050,000 $1,414,000 CRCOG Northwest Corridor Transit Study Task 1 - Griffin/Day Hill Road Area

25 Next Steps Public Meeting: May 26, 6 PM Hartford Public Library Adopt Plan Work to develop TMA Locate funding for implementation

26 For Further Information Sandy Fry Capitol Region Council of Governments x220