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East/West Connectivity Study_Slide Presentation 7 20 09EastEast--West Corridor West Corridor Connectivity Study Connectivity Study –– City Council UpdateCity Council Update July 20, 2009 Presentation Outline •Review Study Process and Schedule •Corridor Improvements Scenarios –Scenario 1-18 –Scenarios 19-22 •Review Corridor Screening Findings •Concept Development Update Review Review Technical Corridor Draft Study Kickoff ScreeningResults Meeting Public Involvement Public Involvement Corridor ScreeningReview Draft Study Results Review City Council City Council Concepts / Corridor ScreeningReview Draft Study Results Screening Data Collection Corridor Concept Development / Prepare ScreeningTraffic SimulationReport Corridor Screening Traffic Projections (ECIA) Consultant Data Collection Review Data Collected Site Visits Prepare Draft Report Identify Bottlenecks Perform Planning Level Capacity Videotape Corridors Incorporate City / Public Input Identify Potential Improvements Checks Travel Time Runs Prepare Final Report Traffic Simulation Brainstorm Range of Potential Concept Development Improvements Obtain City Data Project Sequencing Perform TransCAD Screening Analysis GIS Document Analysis Master Trail Plan Transit Maps Existing Utilities Evaluation / Refinement Criteria Traffic Operations Evaluation Criteria Obtain ECIA and Construction Costs / Impacts Diversion Potential Iowa DOT Data Diversion Potential Impact on US 20 Traffic LRTP Public / City Council Input General Costs / Impacts Traffic Counts Public Acceptance Public / City Council Input Public Acceptance Previous Work Session –Presented to City Council November 2008 –Reviewed Corridor Screening Scenarios 1 - 18 –General Direction •Major ROW or parking impacts not feasible •ROW impacts may be considered on University Avenue overlap section •Bicycle accommodations should be considered •Requested Additional Scenarios New Corridor Improvement Scenarios –Scenario 19: No Southwest Arterial –Scenario 20: Intensifying the downtown land use. (6,000 residents reallocated to downtown) –Scenario 21: Loras Boulevard and University Avenue, with two lanes in one direction and one lane in the other direction –Scenario 22: conversion of Loras Boulevard and University Avenue into one-way pairs Corridor Screening Findings Phase 2 Corridors Identified •Asbury Road •Loras Boulevard •University Avenue •Pennsylvania Avenue Corridor Screening Findings •General Strategies –Optimize Traffic Control •Verify Existing Signal Needs •Consider Roundabouts, Additional Traffic Signals •Coordinate Signals, Optimize Capacity –Capacity Improvements •Turn Lanes at Selected Locations •Reconstruct Selected Intersections –Evaluate Complete Streets •Bicycles, Pedestrians, Transit Corridor Screening Findings •University Avenue Overlap Area Strategies –Address Overlap Section Bottleneck –Optimize Traffic Control –Additional Lanes –Consider Roundabouts –Evaluate Complete Streets Initiatives Corridor Screening Findings •Pennsylvania Avenue Strategies –Consider Extending 5 lane Section -NW Arterial Thru Hempstead High School –Optimize Traffic Control –Evaluate Complete Streets Initiatives Corridor Screening Findings East West Corridor are Projected to be Significantly Over Capacity •Potential Options to Reduce Future Peak Hour Traffic –Travel Demand Management –Enhanced Transit –Proposed Land Use Changes Travel Demand Management Strategies Aggressive Create Land Use/Trip Reduction Urban DesignOrdinance Create Transportation Update Management Association Transit (TMA)System Travel Demand Management Strategy 1 Aggressive Land Use/ Urban Design •Higher housing/employment densities •Mixed use land use plans •Pedestrian-oriented streetscape to encourage walking/biking activities •Reduce Parking Travel Demand Management Strategy 2 Create a Trip Reduction Ordinance •Regulatory approach that would be tied to the unified development code, and the City would oversee and enforce •Influence new development with programs geared towards employee programs to reach a trip reduction goal •Create standard land use and design elements that support successful employee trip reduction programs and mobility-friendly communities Travel Demand Management Strategy 3 Transportation Management Association (TMA) •Non-profit entity / public-private partnership (employers, developers, government) •Incentive based, potentially use grant money •Ride home programs, incentives for carpools, transit subsidy program, bike program, flex-time, staggered work shifts •Example is TDM-10 in Des Moines Travel Demand Management Strategy 4 Transit System Updates •Keyline Transit study underway •Streetcar, shuttle services, NEV (neighborhood electric vehicle) •Millwork district-vehicle sharing could have appeal •Park-n-ride: can subsidize this instead of constructing a parking structure Phase 2 - Concept Development Update •Adjusted Projected Population and Land Use –IBM –Millwork District •Developed Peak Hour Traffic Projections •Began Development of Specific Corridor Concepts •Evaluating Incorporation of Complete Streets Complete Streets Incorporating into Proposed Improvements Bike Lanes A “Complete Street” is safe, comfortable and convenient for travel via automobile, foot, bicycle, and transit. Why Complete the Streets? •Americans want to bike or walk more •About 1/3 of all Americans do not drive •Many streets are inadequate –No sidewalks –Too narrow to safely share with bikes Bike Lanes –Dangerous to cross –Uninviting for transit users Complete Streets Example High Visibility Crosswalk What is a Sharrow? A shared lane marking –Used in lanes shared by bicycles and motor vehicles when road is too narrow for a bicycle lane –Lateral positioning guidance for bicyclists Sharrow: When Should It Be Used? •On roadways too narrow for bicycles and motor vehicles to share side by side •On roadways with on-street parking •Where there are gaps in bike lane (before bike lane begins/after bike lane ends) •For bike routes Concept Development Next Steps •Develop Corridor Specific Concepts to Optimize Capacity and Operations •Incorporate Complete Streets •Hold Stakeholder Meetings •Refine Concepts •Prepare Report Discussion/QuestionsDiscussion/Questions