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Waterloo Region Rapid Transit. Docs xxx May 2011. Presentation Outline. Why rapid transit Why LRT instead of BRT Which LRT option for Stages 1 & 2 What increase in bus service Next steps. Growth. Nearly 200,000 people and 80,000 jobs added by 2031 - like adding another Kitchener. Growth.
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Waterloo RegionRapid Transit Docs xxx May 2011
Presentation Outline • Why rapid transit • Why LRT instead of BRT • Which LRT option for Stages 1 & 2 • What increase in bus service • Next steps
Growth • Nearly 200,000 people and 80,000 jobs added by 2031 - like adding another Kitchener
Growth • Want to intensify, not grow out – control urban sprawl
Growth • Like the decision to build the expressway in the 1960s, the Region faces tough decisions regarding rapid transit
Costs of Business-as-Usual No rapid transit • Road expansion costs of $1.4 to $1.5 billion • More lanes, more congestion in mature areas
Westmount Road – 4 lanes Westmount Road near Glasgow Street
Westmount Road – 6 lanes Westmount Road near Glasgow Street
Costs of Business-as-Usual No rapid transit • Road expansion costs of $1.4 to $1.5 billion • More lanes, more congestion in mature areas • With rapid transit • Road expansion costs reduced by $400 to $500 million • Provincial & Federal funding up to $565 million
Less urban sprawl – maintenance of rural lifestyle • Protection of some of the best farmland in Canada • Less traffic • Protection of water source areas • Protection of sensitive environmental landscapes
Intensification in the core – maintenance of suburban lifestyle • Less congestion on local and arterial roads • Fewer disruptive road widenings through mature neighbourhoods • Better bus service to major destinations, integrated with rapid transit • Attractive destinations in the core for daytime, evening and weekend activities
“I live in the central transit corridor.What's in rapid transit for me?”
Fast, convenient transit: • within walking distance • coming every 7.5 minutes • for work, school, shopping, entertainment • connecting to GO, VIA & major destinations • Less traffic congestion • Better health • Attractive, liveable, vibrant urban spaces • A prosperous region
Rapid transit is preferred over business-as-usual
Rapid Transit Technology • Aerobus • Automated Guideway Transit • Bus Rapid Transit • Commuter Rail • Diesel Multiple Units • Light Rail Transit • Magnetic Levitation • Monorail • Personal Rapid Transit System • Subway
Rapid Transit Technology • Aerobus • Automated Guideway Transit • Bus Rapid Transit • Commuter Rail • Diesel Multiple Units • Light Rail Transit • Magnetic Levitation • Monorail • Personal Rapid Transit System • Subway
Rapid Transit Technology rapidway rapidway
Moving Forward Transit Program • Rapid transit • GRT re-orientation & expansion • Integration with GO & VIA • Intelligent Transportation Systems • Smart card technology • Transit stations • Road improvements • Park ‘n’ ride facilities
Evaluation of Technology social social environmental environmental cost user land use cost user land use
Comparing BRT & LRT: CAPACITY standard bus articulated bus two-car train
Comparing BRT & LRT: CAPACITY Ottawa: BRT at capacity
Comparing BRT & LRT: CAPACITY BRT LRT Capacity beyond 2031 More room for passengers More doors Signal priority • Over capacity by 2031 • Signal priority impractical • No room for more buses
Converting to LRT Very difficult to convert BRT to LRT • High investment • BRT at capacity • Service disruption
LRT Staging: Other Municipalities Length of LRT Constructed (km)
LRT Staging: Waterloo Region Existing Passenger Activity in CTC passenger boardings / weekday 6,400 29,200 north of Fairview Park Mall south of Fairview Park Mall
aBRT VIVA ZÜM
aBRT Bus by-pass shoulders (for BRT & aBRT)
Implementation Options L1, L2, L3 & L4 36 km of rapid transit from Conestoga Mall to the Ainslie St Terminal Changes from LRT to aBRT at: L1 – Ottawa St L2 – Block Line Road L3 – Fairview Park Mall L4 – Sportsworld Dr
Implementation OptionsL5, L6, L7 & L8 34 km of rapid transit from Northfield Dr to the Ainslie St Terminal Changes from LRT to aBRT at: L5 – Ottawa St L6 – Block Line Road L7 – Fairview Park Mall L8 – Sportsworld Dr
Implementation OptionsL9, B10 L9, B10: rapid transit from St Jacobs Farmers’ Market to the Ainslie St Terminal L9 – all LRT (39 km) B10 – all BRT (38 km)
February-March Public Consultation Which rapid transit option provides the best value?
February-March Public Consultation 615 respondents support LRT, BRT or business-as-usual
February-March Public Consultation 464 respondents support LRT
February-March Public Consultation Of all 705 respondents: • 78% support rapid transit • 66% support LRT
Peer Review Panel Expertise in: • Transportation • Transit • Urban planning • City-building
Peer Review Panel • George Dark: Partner, Urban Strategies Inc. • Eric Miller: Director of Cities Centre, University of Toronto • John Hubbell: Associate VP, HDR iTrans • Ashley Curtis: Associate, Steer Davies Gleave • Alan Jones: Director, Steer Davies Gleave
Peer Review Panel LRT : a critical step towards meeting the Region’s growth and revitalization objectives
Peer Review Panel aBRT will provide excellent service in a financially prudent manner All transit systems are built in phases
Peer Review Panel L3 has the greatest potential to build success
LRT is preferred over BRT
L3 is preferred for Stage 1