Public Meeting #1

January 12, 2012

Todays Agenda
Why this study? What is BRT? Why BRT in Pittsburgh? How to participate?

WHY THIS STUDY?

WHY THIS STUDY?

Identify a transit improvement that will serve the corridor, enhance our communities and catalyze economic development.

Why this study?

Community and economic development Livability and sustainability Improved connections

Community and Economic Development

Linking the 2nd and 3rd largest job centers in the state. Downtown: Legal, finance, corporate headquarters; commercial hub Oakland: The innovation hub for the Pittsburgh region Educational and research institutions

Projected Growth
Study Area Growth 23% increase in employment by 2040 14% increase in population by 2040 Corridor Traffic Growth 18% increase by 2040 Downtown Eastern study area 8% increase by 2040 Oakland Eastern study area 10% increase in transit ridership

Projected Growth
Study Area Growth 23% increase in employment by 2040 14% increase in population by 2040 Corridor Traffic Growth 18% increase by 2040 Downtown Eastern study area 8% increase by 2040 Oakland Eastern study area 10% increase in transit ridership

Livability and Sustainability

Transportation integrated into the community Multimodal transportation options
Transit Pedestrians Bicycles Automobiles

Complete streets

Improve Connections
Goal: Seamless Easy to navigate Convenient Result: Makes both anchors more attractive Creates exciting development opportunities in the corridor
Could a tourist go from CONSOL Energy Center to the Carnegie?

Purpose and Need

Improve travel choices Improve quality of service and amenities at transit stops Improve utilization of existing transportation resources Enhance environmental quality and improve energy efficiency Reduce congestion with effective transportation solutions Coordinate transit and community planning to enhance quality of life Coordinate transit planning and economic development initiatives

Alternatives Analysis/Environmental Process

Alternatives Analysis (AA) and Environmental Assessment (EA) AA will consider service concept, alignment and endpoint options Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) preferred premium transit service Small Starts (maximum $250 million total and $75 million federal share) EA will consider impacts to the social and physical environment and to the transportation system Collaborative effort with other organizations ...not just a Port Authority initiative

Study Area
Downtown Uptown Oakland Eastern neighborhoods

WHAT IS BRT?

WHAT IS BRT?
Bus Rapid Transit
BRT is:
a rapid mode of transportation that can provide the quality of rail transit and the flexibility of buses.

BRT is:
a flexible, permanently integrated high-performance system with a quality image and a strong ID.

What is BRT?
BRT is a flexible technology. BRT can be tailored to each unique corridor with elements including: Rail-like vehicles Transit priority and bus lanes High-quality stations and terminals Intelligent transportation systems Enhanced service plan

BRT in Pittsburgh
East, South and West Busways Among the first busways in the U.S. A combination of local and express service Improved travel between downtown and outlying communities Oakland Service Service every 2-3 minutes Bus lane on Fifth Avenue A combination of local and commuter service

Elements of BRT
BRT is tailored to each unique corridor BRT can be implemented incrementally

WHY BRT IN PITTSBURGH?

WHY BRT IN PITTSBURGH?

Existing transit demand A proven, cost-effective technology Potential to remake the corridor

Existing Transit Ridership

Downtown - Oakland Corridor Served by 8 core routes
61A 61B 61C 61D 71A 71B 71C 71D

46,000 daily riders

20% of total PAAC system

78,000 daily riders in corridor

33% of total system

A proven technology
BRT operates in 21 cities across the US BRT is planned in 40 more cities Pittsburgh led in BRT development:
East Busway South Busway West Busway

Existing and Planned BRT Systems

A cost-effective solution
14,000,000
$10.0 $9.0 OPERATING COST PER PASSENGER MILE $8.0 $7.0 Range $6.0 $5.0 $4.0 $3.0 $2.0 $1.0 Average

12,000,000 URBAN AREA POPULATION

10,000,000

Range Average

8,000,000

6,000,000

4,000,000

2,000,000

0 LRT Streetcar Commuter Rail MODE BRT

$0.0 LRT Streetcar Commuter Rail MODE BRT

Urban Area Population

$80.0

Operating Cost/Mile
$1,600.00 $1,400.00 $1,200.00 $1,000.00 Range $800.00 $600.00 $400.00 $200.00 $0.00 Average OPERATING COST PER REVENUE HOUR

$70.0 CAPITAL COST PER MILE ($MILLION)

$60.0 $50.0 Range Average $40.0

$30.0

$20.0

$10.0

$0.0 LRT Streetcar Commuter Rail MODE BRT

LRT

Streetcar

Commuter Rail MODE

BRT

Capital Costs

Operating Cost/Pass. Hour

Potential to re-make the corridor

Cleveland: $200 million Health Line BRT $5 billion in economic investments
Cleveland - Health Line

Boston: $650M of development occurred along the Washington Street corridor

Boston Silver Line

HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE?

HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE?

Public Meetings Community Meetings Project Website Your Input Today

Phased Public Outreach Approach

Present project alternatives and evaluation to public
Introduce project to public Media outreach, project website, meetings with individual stakeholders, other agencies and study area stakeholders.

Alternative Evaluations
Range of project alternatives presented for stakeholder and public review

Building support/consensus towards implementation

Selection of Locally Preferred Alternative Coordination on next phases of project development

Community Meetings
subareas
Downtown Uptown/Hill District Oakland Shadyside Squirrel Hill

Pittsburgh BRT Website

gettherepgh.org

Next Steps
Develop BRT concepts Identify Pittsburghs BRT solution Conduct transportation/environmental studies Develop a funding and implementation plan

How Can You Participate?

Your input today is essential: 1.Visit the stations around the room 2.Talk to the project staff and stakeholders 3.Complete a comment form And please stay involved as we work together to remake our city!