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Public Meeting

Explore why Nashville is undertaking efforts to enhance its transit system, backed by reports and stakeholder priorities, to meet growing demands. Assess current system strengths and weaknesses, compare with peers, and consider potential improvements such as high-capacity services, frequent transit networks, emphasis corridors, new service areas, speed enhancements, and transit priority measures.

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Public Meeting

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Public Meeting 4.7.15

  2. Why Undertake the Effort? • Nashville is growing rapidly – from a small city to a large city • As the city and county have grown, so have transit demands • Transit improvements have greatly lagged overall growth

  3. Why Undertake nMotion? • Nashville Vital Signs Report: • “The ability of our residents to movearound the region in their cars is quickly deteriorating and will continue to do so unless we provide better transit options.” • NashvilleNext: • Improving transit was second highest priority for stakeholders • Preferred future includes much stronger transit system • The AMP Controversy: • Disagreement on project and approach, but agreement that Nashville needs better transit

  4. System Assessment: Challenges • Difficult operating environment • Nashville is one of the most sprawling metro areas in the country • Densities are not sufficiently high in many areas for high levels of transit service • Wide arterials are difficult for passengers to cross

  5. System Assessment: Strengths • Strong core network of routes to and from downtown Nashville • Started development of higher-quality services (BRT Lite) • Other improvements based on available resources: • Music City Central • Music City Circuit • More frequent service

  6. System Assessment: Weaknesses • Service isn’t attractive or convenient enough for most • Infrequent service • Limited hours • Much service is slow • Nearly all service to/from downtown; makes travel to other locations inconvenient MTA Route Types

  7. System & Market Assessment Peer comparison: • 14 current peers: Metro areas that are similar to what Nashville is today • 6 “aspirational” peers: Metro areas that are similar to what Nashville is growing to become

  8. System & Market Assessment Green = highest peer Grey = 2nd highest peer Red = lowest peer • Compared to aspirational peers, Nashville MTA: • Spends much less than all but one • Provides much less service • Carries are fewer riders Operating Spending per Capita $261 Atlanta $80 Raleigh $180 Austin $87 Nashville Service perCapita (VSH) 0.8 Nashville 1.9 Atlanta 1.1 Kansas City 1.6 Austin Ridership per Capita 86 Atlanta 15 Nashville 20 Raleigh 39 Austin

  9. Potential Improvements • Frequent Transit Network/High-Capacity Transit Network • Robust transit systems are built around a network of fast and frequent services. • Depending upon size andarea: • Regional rail • Rapid transit • Light rail • BRT • Bus • How should Nashville develop a High-Capacity Transit Network?

  10. Potential Improvements • High-Quality/High-Capacity Services • A High-Capacity Network will need to provide high-quality service • What types of high-quality service should be developed, for example? • Light rail • Streetcar • Full BRTBRT Lite • Other • Where?

  11. Potential Improvements • Transit Emphasis Corridors • Some high-volume corridors are served by multiple routes • Priority can be provided to transit to make service faster and more comfortable • Should Transit Emphasis Corridors be developed? • Where?

  12. Potential Improvements • Much More Frequent Service for Longer Hours • Convenient service takes you where you want to go when you want to go in a reasonable amount of time. • How frequently would service have to run for you to consider it convenient? • How late should it run? • In what areas should this be done?

  13. Potential Improvements • Service to More Places • To and in newly developing areas • Better connections outside of downtown • New crosstown routes • New regional routes • New express routes • Which places have the greatestneed for new service? • How important is it to expandto new places versus improvingexisting services?

  14. Potential Improvements • Faster Service • Except for the BRT Lite lines, much service is slow with frequent stops and indirect routings • Service can be made faster by making alignments more direct, consolidating stops, and implementing transit priority • How important is speed? • Is it more important than short walk distances to stops? • Which speed improvements would you prefer most?

  15. Potential Improvements • Transit Priority • Transit can be made faster through the use of: • Exclusive bus lanes • Peak period only bus lanes • Queue jump lanes • Transit signal priority • The use of freeway shoulders by express buses • Do you support transit priority? • Where and which types? • Under what conditions? Queue Jump Lane Signal Priority

  16. Potential Improvements • Simpler Service • Some service is very complicated • Long indirect and circuitous routings • Different variants • Complicated schedules • Is service too complicated? • Would you use it more if it were simpler?

  17. Potential Improvements • More Comfortable Facilities With Better Amenities • Waiting for the bus is a major part of the transit experience • Most MTA stops have relatively limited facilities • How important is providing more comfortable facilities? • What amenities are most importantto you? Benches, real-time passenger information, etc.? • Where?

  18. Potential Improvements • Real-Time Information • Real-time information allows riders to better time theirarrival at stops and reduces wait times • It eliminates the uncertainty often associated with transit use – did I miss the bus, is it still coming, etc. • How important is real-time information?

  19. Potential Improvements • Other • Many other improvements are also possible, for example: • Improving public information • Rebranding services (and maybe the MTA) to improve legibility and image • Improving schedules • Better coordinating routes • Developing outlying transit centers • Increasing park and ride opportunities • Access and pedestrian improvements on major arterials with bus service • Are there specific improvements that you would like us to examine?

  20. Summary • All reasonable options are on the table • Project will include extensive civic engagement • Plan intended to determine what will be needed to develop a great transit system

  21. Project Overview & Work to Date • Extensive stakeholder involvementThroughout • System and market assessmentApril • Develop transit visionJune • Identify opportunitiesSeptember • Develop system improvement scenarios October • Evaluate and vet scenarios December • Conduct financial analysis October • Develop Recommendations March ‘16

  22. Stakeholder Involvement DISCUSS YOUR IDEAS ATPUBLIC MEETINGS VISIT THE PROJECT WEBSITE www.nmotion2015.com DISCUSS YOUR IDEAS ON OUR MINDMIXER TOWN HALL ON THE PROJECT WEBSITE COME ONBOARD OUR nMOTION BUS BOOK A PLANNER FOR YOUR OWN EVENT DESIGN YOUR OWN TRANSIT SYSTEM ON THE PROJECT WEBSITE AND MORE…

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