vta north county open house presentation april 2014
DESCRIPTION
More info: http://bit.ly/1lEOxm9. This presentation provides an overview of VTA's active and planned projects in the North County, presented at an April 9, 2014 open house in Mountain View. The projects covered include the Light Rail Efficiency Program, El Camino Real Bus Rapid Transit, Silicon Valley Express Lanes, and a study to improve bus service in the area. All the projects are located in or affect Mountain View, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale and surrounding communities.TRANSCRIPT
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Light Rail Efficiency ProjectMountain View Double Track Project
Mountain View Local Projects Open House
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2017 Service Plan
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Mountain View Double Track Project
Phase I: Adds a second main line LRT track (approximately 1,400) feet between Mountain View Transit Center and State Route 85
Caltrain Realignment: Shifts existing Caltrain track to create space for second light rail track
Phase II: Extends second main line LRT track over a distance of approximately 3,000 feet from State Route 85 to Whisman LRT Station
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Why Are We Doing the Project?
Double Track will allow VTA to:
• Introduce new service from Mountain View to Alum Rock
• Increase connectivity with Caltrain and the future Milpitas BART station
• Serve growing residential and commercial development
• Respond to demand at Levi’s Stadium
• Improve system-wide on-time performance, reduce train bunching
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Mountain View Double Track – Phase IPhase I: Construction will occur between mid 2014 to mid
2015. No major impacts to service will occur during this period.
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Caltrain Realignment
Caltrain Realignment: Existing Caltrain Tracks will need to be realigned between Evelyn Station and Highway 237. Construction will occur between mid 2014 to late 2014.
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Mountain View Double Track – Phase II
Phase I: Construction will occur between early 2015 to late 2015. Will require Closure of Evelyn Station.
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Evelyn Station Closure
Evelyn is located where second light rail track will be constructed
Discontinuation of service will begin January 2015
Average Daily Weekday Boardings: 66 (2nd lowest of 59 stations)
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EL CAMINO REAL BUS RAPID TRANSIT
Would upgrade the current 522 Rapid Bus to BRT status by
making changes to El Camino Real and The Alameda that
make transit FAST, FREQUENT AND RELIABLE and make
WALKING and BICYCLING along the corridor SAFER.
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Making Stops Faster
BRT stations would function like light rail stations, allowing
passengers to purchase fares or tap Clipper Cards at
stations and board through all three doors.
Increasing Transit Travel Speeds
In some parts of the corridor, a general use lane could be
converted into a bus-only lane, allowing the BRT to bypass
traffic.
Transit signal priority would allow an approaching BRT bus
to hold a green light.
EL CAMINO REAL BUS RAPID TRANSIT
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Making Bicycling and Walking Safer
El Camino Real is designed for cars and can be a scary
and dangerous place to bicycle or walk. Many bicycle and
pedestrian collisions occur each year and some are fatal.
In parts of the corridor with bus-only lanes, bicycle lanes
could be installed (if the city approves).
Crossing distances would be shortened and new
intersections, signals and crosswalks can be added to
make El Camino Real less of a barrier between
neighborhoods.
Median BRT stations would act as pedestrian refuges.
EL CAMINO REAL BUS RAPID TRANSIT
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How Bus-Only Lanes Work
In some parts of the corridor, the bus-only lane would be in
the center of the street, adjacent to the median. BRT
stations would be in the middle of the street. The eastbound
and westbound stations would be on opposite sides of the
intersection .
Bus-Only Lanes
WB BRT Station
EL CAMINO REAL BUS RAPID TRANSIT
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How Bulbout Stations Work
In parts of the corridor with bulbout stations, the curb
would be extended out to the travel lane. The BRT would
stop in the travel lane while passengers board—
approximately a 20-second duration.
BRT stops in lane
Bulbout BRT Station
EL CAMINO REAL BUS RAPID TRANSIT
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Project Alternatives and Environmental Analysis
Seven project alternatives—ranging from doing nothing to
building 14 miles of bus-only lanes—are currently being
studied by VTA.
A Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR), which
analyzes the impact that the project will have across 17
categories will be released in late Summer, 2014.
VTA’s Board of Directors will choose a locally preferred
alternative after the public comment period for the DEIR.
EL CAMINO REAL BUS RAPID TRANSIT
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Public Outreach and City Coordination
2010 to present Monthly meetings with city staff
Summer, 2011 City Council, committee
presentations
Fall, 2011 Open House community meetings
Spring , 2012 City Council, committee
presentations
Fall, 2012 VTA Board of Directors workshop,
mtg.
February, 2013 Environmental Scoping
meetings
EL CAMINO REAL BUS RAPID TRANSIT
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Silicon Valley Express Lanes
City of Mountain ViewOpen House Council Meeting
April 9, 2014
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What are Express Lanes?
• Express Lanes are converted carpool lanes that offer solo drivers the opportunity to use carpool lanes for a fee.
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Why are Express Lanes being developed?
• To provide congestion relief through more effective use of existing roadways (e.g., use of existing carpool lanes)
• To provide commuters with a new mobility option• To provide a new source of funding for transportation
improvements including public transit
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Who can use Express Lanes?
• SOLO DRIVERS can use Express Lanes for a fee.• CARPOOL USERS Eligible vehicles with two or more
people per car (in addition to transit and motorcycles) travel in Express Lanes FREE of charge.
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Why drivers use Express Lanes• Drivers choose to use Express Lanes for a variety
of reasons at different times, but the most reported reasons are:
• Time Savings• Ease of Commute• Convenience
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FasTrak
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NO TOLL BOOTHS
FEES AUTOMATICALLY DEDUCTED FROM
ACCOUNT
FASTRAK
TRANSPONDER
ATTACHES TO WINDSHIELD
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How Much Do Solo Drivers Pay?• Range of cost on SR 237 has been
between $0.30 and $4.75, with an average toll less than $2.00
• Pricing changes as the number of drivers increases and decreases to ensure a free flow of traffic
• When more cars are on the roadway, the price to enter express lanes is higher. When there are fewer cars driving, the cost is lower
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Digital Signage and Pricing
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How Do I Pay?
• Step 1: Visit bayareafastrak.org to learn about FasTrak
• Step 2: Purchase a toll tag through FasTrak or at retail locations
• Step 3: Register your new toll tag immediately to a new or existing FasTrak account online or by phone at (877) 229-8655.
• Step 4: After you have completed the registration process, mount toll tag in your vehicle and begin enjoying the benefits of FasTrak.
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How Are Toll Revenues Used? • Operations, maintenance and
enforcement• Revenue to stay within corridor • Any remaining revenues to be used
for transportation improvements including transit
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Where /When Can I Use Express Lanes?
• SR 237 Express Lanes• Phase 1 (in operation March 2012)• Phase 2 (2016 pending funding)
• SR 85 Express Lanes - 2017 pending funding• US 101 Express Lanes - 2017 pending funding
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SR 237 Express Lanes Data• Up to 10,000 solo drivers use the SR 237 Express
Lanes each week• Solo drivers have saved up to 20 minutes • Drivers in the general purpose lanes are saving up to
seven (7) minutes
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SR 237 Express Lanes – Phase 2
• Project Description• 1-lane Express Lane (convert 1-lane HOV lane from
existing Phase 1 terminus to approximately Mathilda Ave.)• Project length: 4 miles
• Environmental Clearance• Summer 2014
• Project Opening• Targeting 2016, funding dependent
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SR 85 Express Lanes• Project Description
• 1-lane Express Lanes (convert 1-lane HOV lane from US 101 interchange in San Jose to US 101 interchange in Mountain View)• 2-lane Express Lanes (add another lane between the
SR87 and I-280 interchanges)• Project length: 24 miles
• Environmental Clearance• Circulation December 2013• Approval Fall 2014
• Project Opening• Targeting 2017, funding dependent
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US 101 Express Lanes• Project Description
• 1-lane Express Lanes (convert 1-lane HOV lane from Cochrane Rd. in Morgan Hill to SR85 interchange in Mountain View)• 2-lane Express Lanes (add a new lane between Dunne
Ave. and SR85 interchange in San Jose, between Blossom Hill Road and Mathilda Dr. in Sunnyvale; and convert 2-lane HOV lanes from SR85 interchange in Mtn View to the county line in Palo Alto)• Project length: 36 miles
• Environmental Clearance - Fall 2014 • Project Opening - Targeting 2017, funding dependent
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NORTH CENTRAL COUNTY BUS IMPROVEMENT PLANPURPOSE
The planned Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services on El Camino Real and
Stevens Creek may change travel demand on local bus routes that cross
these corridors. Additionally, the cities in this area (Mountain View,
Sunnyvale, Santa Clara and Cupertino) are intensifying land uses in areas
that are not easily accessible by BRT so it may be necessary to make
changes to local bus service to meet a changing rider demand. The Plan
will make recommendations that will flow into VTA’s scheduled service
adjustment process.GOALS
Improve connectivity of local routes with the BRT routes
Explore whether new service types or new routes are needed
Improve overall transit service in the study area while being cost effective
Collect input from the communities in the study area
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NORTH CENTRAL COUNTY BUS IMPROVEMENT PLANSTUDY AREA
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NORTH CENTRAL COUNTY BUS IMPROVEMENT PLANSCHEDULE
2014
April Existing Conditions Analysis
May Development of Draft Recommendations
June Review Draft Recommendations with City Staff
July Community and City Council Meetings
August Final Recommendations released
2015
VTA’s Biennial Service Changes
2018
Service Changes relating to opening of BRT routes
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Rider Surveys
New Bus Stop Designs
Easy To Work With
TRANSIT PASSENGERENVIRONMENT PLAN
Prioritizing Improvements
Stop Percentiles
Rid
ers
hip
Perc
enta
ges
Most of VTA’s bus riders come from a small
percentage of stops. 21% of bus riders
come from the top 1% of bus stops. 50%
of bus riders come from 5% of bus stops.
That tells us we need to prioritize
improvements to high-ridership stops to
ensure the maximum rider benefit per
dollar spent.
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Prioritizing Improvements
New Bus Stop Designs
Easy To Work With
TRANSIT PASSENGERENVIRONMENT PLAN
Rider Surveys
In the past, decisions about how to
improve bus stops were made with good
intentions, but not with data regarding
which bus stop amenities riders value
most.
VTA surveyed riders in the summer of 2013
and found that transit information is the
most desired amenity, followed by shelter
and seating. This information will inform
which types of improvements are installed.
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Prioritizing Improvements
Easy To Work With
TRANSIT PASSENGERENVIRONMENT PLAN
Rider Surveys
New Bus Stop Designs
Many of VTA’s boxy, blue shelters are
approaching the end of their 20-year
lifetime. They will need to be replaced in
the coming decade so we’re looking at new,
more functional, more aesthetically
pleasing shelter designs.
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Prioritizing Improvements
TRANSIT PASSENGERENVIRONMENT PLAN
Rider Surveys
New Bus Stop Designs
Easy To Work With
In the past, VTA’s thinking about bus stop
design has been somewhat rigid and it
hasn’t been easy for cities, developers and
the public to know how to work with VTA.
The Transit Passenger Environment Plan
explains all of VTA’s policies about bus
stops and makes it easy to work with us.