2035 Transit System Plan Approach

DART Planning Committee

Kay Shelton
January 22, 2013

Discussion Items
2030 Transit System Plan Background
Key Issues/Opportunities for Next Plan Update Recommended Approach Next Steps

2030 Transit System Plan - Then

Adopted in October 2006 Was capital project intensive Focus on completing rail projects identified in earlier plans Added 43 miles of additional rail Included Rail Vision Element (good ideas, not affordable by 2030) Assumed continued DART share of HOV capital program Introduced Enhanced and Rapid Bus Corridors, including budget for key corridor capital and service improvements
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2030 Transit System Plan - Now

FY2011 Financial Plan removed all 2030 plan recommendations CBD 2nd Alignment also removed from Financial Plan Planning funds for CBD project remain SOC-3 was accelerated in FY2012 due to cost savings Bus service has generally been flat since 2007 major reductions in 2003-4 and 2010 Last major Transit System Plan capital project (SOC-3) will be under construction this year and open 2016.
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2030 TSP Bus Recommendations

2030 TSP Previously Approved Projects

All complete or under design/ construction except D2 2nd CBD Alignment

2030 TSP Rail Corridor Recommendations

All removed from Financial Plan

2030 TSP Rail Vision Element

Corridors that:

Are technically sound, but not affordable through 2030 Need additional land use planning to maximize rail potential

Corridors will be:

Monitored and reevaluated in future Transit System Plan updates

What this means for 2035 Update

Financial reality will reduce capital project focus Focus on: Optimizing the existing system Smaller projects/service level improvements to enhance access, performance and ridership Enhance system core capacity to keep up with growth Sustain the system in state of good repair Transit oriented development Regional strategy and policy issues

2035 Opportunities
Build Ridership, Sustain System, Operational Flexibility Bus Focus Bus Rapid Transit, corridor improvements to improve travel time/connections Linkages/circulation Streetcar, Pedestrian/Bicycle, APT Core Capacity Platform extensions to allow 3-car trains and be in place for planned fleet replacement Focus on D2 Second CBD Alignment Key to accommodating regional growth and improving headways to build ridership Land Use Partnerships for TOD
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2035 Opportunities

NCTCOG Regional Rail Plan

Regional Leadership, Strategic Expansion Understand system impacts of regional connections Build relationships, identify key opportunities and educate potential non-DART communities on benefits and costs of transit options Update policies, tools to reflect DART regional strategy
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2035 Population/Employment Density

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2035 Plan Approach

Establish Guiding Principles based on changed focus Document existing and future conditions Conduct comprehensive evaluation of existing transit system, standards, policies
Where are needs and opportunities in relation to existing and future conditions?

Establish financial capacity Identify and evaluate opportunities for programs, services, projects within financial plan Define regional strategy to guide future efforts

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2035 Plan Next Steps

Department Interviews to refine scope, support development of Guiding Principles Focus on Regional Strategy early Understand financial assumptions/capacity through 2035 Initiate early tasks to define key opportunities Regular DART Board briefings to gain feedback and update on progress

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HOV Element

Consistent with Regional Plan 116-mile network $250 million for DART share (10%)

DART HOV Capital Project Share Removed from Financial Plan in FY2011

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Bus Element

77-mile Enhanced Bus network 20 miles of Rapid Bus service Strengthened Express Bus service $160 million capital cost

All 2030 Bus Corridor Recommendations Removed from Financial Plan in FY2011

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Rail Element
Cotton Belt

West Dallas

Scyene

West Oak Cliff Extension

Southport

All 2030 Rail Corridor Recommendations Removed from Financial Plan in FY2011

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