Central City Line Steering Committee Meeting #1 Thursday, Spokane Intermodal Center Great Northern Room, #310 221 W. First Ave. Spokane, WA 1
Agenda Welcome, Introductions and Agenda Review Review of Steering Committee Charge Election of a Chair Public Expressions Administrative Tasks o o o Adoption of Interim Rules of Procedure Election of Vice-Chair Establish Regular Meeting Schedule Defining Success of the Project Development Phase Project Development Scope Review Downtown Alignment Alternatives Overlay Plan Next Meeting Target 2
Steering Committee Charge Provide policy and strategic guidance for the project development phase of the Central City Line Provide project-related recommendations and input to the STA Board of Directors and the Spokane City Council Provide connection to the community through participation on this committee Further the vision of the STA Moving Forward Plan through successful collaboration during the project development phase of the Central City Line 3
Steering Committee Members Avista Corporation Steve Trabun Browne s Addition Kathy Fritchie Cheney Free Press (Interests W. of Spokane) Harlan Shellabarger Chief Garry Park Colleen Gardner City of Spokane Scott Simmons City of Spokane Amber Waldref DCI Engineers (Downtown Business) Mark Aden Downtown Spokane Partnership Mark Richard Gonzaga University John Sklut Greater Spokane Inc. Anne Marie Axworthy Logan Neighborhood Karen Byrd People First (Org. Advocating People w/disabilities) John Lemus Riverside Neighborhood Gary Pollard Spokane Community College Ryan Carstens Spokane Public Facilities District Kevin Twohig Spokane Transit Authority E. Susan Meyer University District Mark Mansfield Visit Spokane Cheryl Kilday Washington State University Lisa Brown East Spokane/Valley Representative Unfilled 4
Election of a Chair 5
Public Expressions At this time, the Steering Committee will give the public an opportunity to express comments or opinions pertaining to the project 6
Approval of Interim Rules of Procedure Pursuant to the creation of the Steering Committee, Rules of Procedure must be adopted Interim rules have been provided for consideration and action Rules can be amended and finalized after further input at a later date 7
Election of a Vice Chair 8
Over-Arching Goal Develop CCL project definition and environmental documentation to support a competitive Small Starts Grant Application, and build stakeholder and community support for the project 9
PD Phase Key Objectives 1. Engage Steering Committee to provide input 2. Finalize mode selection 3. Develop NEPA environmental documentation 4. Engage key stakeholders and public 5. Determine station and stop designs 6. Identify policies that advance transit-supportive development 7. Identify potential cost saving and sharing solutions 10
Defining Success of the PD Phase Selection of a downtown alignment Identification of conceptual station and stop locations Development of preferred vehicle specifications Development of traction power infrastructure specifications Identification of land use and economic development opportunities in the corridor Approval by FTA of a Small Starts Grant Agreement 11
Project Development Scope Review 12
Project Development Scope Review The project was approved by FTA in June 2015 for entry into Small Starts Project Development CH2M (prime consultant) has been working on the CCL project since the initial Alternatives Analysis in 2010; the team includes: IBI Group, Inc. (Small Starts/Ridership/Planning) Desautel Hege (Public Outreach) HDR Engineering, Inc. (Traffic Modeling) Coffman Engineers, Inc. (Surveying/Mapping) LTK Consulting Services (Traction Power) Leon Skiles & Associates (Small Starts/NEPA) 13
Project Development Scope Review Small Starts Grant Submittal Small Starts Grant application process requires a substantial amount of information Over the next 10+ months, the project team will be working to: o o o o o o o o o o o Define the downtown alignment Identify station and stop locations Determine preliminary vehicle and power specifications Complete ridership forecasting Complete traffic modeling Prepare a financing plan Identify economic development opportunities Complete NEPA environmental process Complete surveying and mapping Identify Major Right-of-Way Improvements Develop preliminary design and cost estimates 14
Central City Line Project Timeline CCL Public Hearing on LPA Amendment (July 2014) LPA Amendment (July 2014) Approval STA Moving Forward Plan (December 2014) State Funding For Project Development (May 2015) State Funding Match For Construction (July 2015) Submit Small Starts Request Packet (July 2016) Recommend for Federal Funding (February 2017) Request to Enter Project Development (September 2014) Approval to Enter into Project Development (June 2015) Authorization to Begin PE (Sept. 2015) Environmental Approvals (Summer 2016) Complete PE (30%) (December 2016)* Federal Funding Decision by Congress (2017) Decisions/Actions by STA Decisions/Actions by FTA/Congress Complete 60% Engineering (Mid 2017) Other Milestones Washington State Legislative Actions Open for Service (2020) Begin Construction (Mid 2018) Finish Design & Engineering/Begin Procurement (Early 2018) Small Starts Grant Agreement (FY 2018) 15
Project Development Scope Review Authorization to begin Project Development September 2015 Project Schedule 2015 Aug Oct Dec 2016 Apr Jun Aug 2016 Today Refine Station and Stop Locations March 2016 STA/City Decision on Downtown Alignment March 2016 Conceptual Design Complete March 2016 STA Decision Vehicle and Power March 2016 Preliminary Engineering Design and Estimates July 2016 FTA NEPA Determination July 2016 FTA Small Starts Grant Agreement Application Submitted August 2016 Section 106 Agency Concurrence June 2016 STA SEPA Determination September 2016 Planning and Conceptual Design Preliminary Engineering FTA Small Starts Grant Agreement Application NEPA Documentation Strategic Overlay Plan 16
Project Development Scope Review Decision Drivers/Milestones Determine downtown alignment Finalize vehicle type and power characteristics Refine station and stop locations Identify infrastructure investments strategy Finalize Small Starts grant and financial strategy Complete the NEPA process Complete preliminary engineering The Steering Committee will be integral to these decisions 17
Downtown Alignment Alternatives 18
Alignment Evaluation Criteria Discussion Review Draft Criteria Changes/Additions Seek General Consensus Decision Making Process 19
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Alignment Alternatives Worksheet 24
Initial Criteria for Discussion Number 1 2 3 4 Evaluation Criterion Directness and quality of station area access Transit travel time reliability Vehicular travel time Supportive of established downtown vision and plans 5 Parking impacts 6 7 Bicycle system benefits and impacts Pedestrian benefits and impacts Description Performance Measures Notes Does the alignment allow for siting of stations that provide direct pedestrian access to the front door to major destinations in downtown, including the STA Plaza and connecting transit routes? Does the alignment avoid service delays that would impact reliability of the CCL (e.g. congested segments and intersections, required left turns) Does the alignment impact existing or future traffic congestion? Is this alignment consistent with the goals and opportunities identified in plans for the downtown core? (Including development aspirations and bicycle and pedestrian accommodation) To what extent is downtown on-street parking impacted by this alignment? To what extent are existing or planned bicycle projects impacted or supported To what extent will the CCL improve pedestrian conditions (sidewalk width/condition, safe crossings, ADA improvements, etc.) Number and nature of issues and opportunities Number and severity of Identified Issues Comparative delay based on traffic modeling Qualitative based on consistency with established plans Number of spaces impacted Qualitative based on consistency with existing and planned bicycle network Extent and quality of pedestrian improvements that accompany CCL 25
Number 8 Evaluation Criterion Infrastructure and planning coordination opportunities Initial Criteria for Discussion Description Performance Measures Notes Does the alignment alternative present opportunities to align infrastructure, urban design and development initiatives? Qualitative based on number and nature of opportunities 9 Compatibility with adjacent land uses Are the alignment and station locations compatible with adjacent land uses with minimal safety and access conflicts (e.g. driveway curb cuts)? Number and severity of identified issues 10 Catalyze Redevelopment 11 Construction Cost Extent to which the CCL provides access to undeveloped or underdeveloped parcels with potential to redevelop What are the relative order-of-magnitude construction costs of each alignment? Number of undeveloped or underutilized parcels adjacent to station locations Preliminary order of magnitude cost estimate based on major alignment elements (signals, moving curbs, street reconstruction, etc) 26
Downtown Alignment Alternatives 27
Central City Line Strategic Overlay Plan 28
STEERING COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION CENTRAL CITY LINE Central City Strategic Overlay Plan Economic and Land Use Impacts Report (2014) Small Starts Grant Application Preliminary Engineering Strategic Overlay Plan Successful Project Implementation of the Product 29
Central City Line Strategic Overlay Plan Objective - examine a range of potential policy changes to: o Maximize economic opportunity and community benefits o Increase ridership o Catalyze transit-supportive development o Increase the project s competitiveness for Small Starts funding Gather public input on opportunities and strategies 30
Central City Strategic Overlay Plan Final Product - A plan containing policy recommendations in key focus areas: Pedestrian Facilities Zoning Design Standards Affordable Housing Parking Incentives 31
Strategic Overlay Timeline 32
Opportunity Focus Areas CENTRAL CITY LINE Workshop Tonight @ 6 PM Stevens Elementary Chief Garry Park Browne s Addition / West Downtown University East District Downtown Focus Areas 33
Next Meeting Target Next Steering Committee meeting tentatively held in January 2016 34