Use of a Charrette in BRT Station Area Planning

1. 2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference Use of a Charrette in BRT Station Area Planning Thomas W. Williams, PE AECOM / Sr. Project Manager Grand Rapids, Michigan QUALITY TRANSIT ― NOW

2. 2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference Outline of Presentation • Project & BRT Overview • Charrette Overview • The Charrette Timeline • Key Points for Success QUALITY TRANSIT ― NOW

3. 2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference BRT Project Overview • ~10 miles long • Very Small Starts program • Three adjacent cities: • Grand Rapids • Kentwood • Wyoming Stations will have architectural canopies QUALITY TRANSIT ― NOW

4. 2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference BRT Components • Guideway: Existing streets • Vehicles: Hybrid, Low-floor & multiple doors • Operating Plan: 10-minute frequency in peak, 15-minute off-peak, overlays with existing local service QUALITY TRANSIT ― NOW

5. 2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference BRT Components • Technology: • Off-board fare payment • GPS and “Next Bus” Display • Traffic Signal Priority • Stations: Architectural canopy, raised platform (10”), signage, lighting, next-bus display, fare vending, security cameras QUALITY TRANSIT ― NOW

6. Southern 4 miles of corridor were developed in the post-WWII era with very auto-oriented form The southernmost two stations were selected for study in the charrette

7. 2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference Charrette Purpose • “An intense collaboration aimed at developing a solution to a problem” QUALITY TRANSIT ― NOW

8. Our particular problem: How do you transform an auto-oriented land use with a “sea of parking” into a walkable, mixed-use, transit-oriented area?

9. 2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference Charrette Iterations Duration of Charrette must allow the feedback cycles Concept based on the National Charrette Institute’s Feedback Cycles QUALITY TRANSIT ― NOW

10. 2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference Charrette Preparation • Technical Personnel •  Urban Planners •  Architects •  Landscape Architects •  Transit Planners • Traffic Engineers • Municipal Engineers • 10 months: • Selection of study area* • Grant applications* • 3 months: • Receive grants • Determine appropriate technical personnel • Investigate potential charrette facilitators • Investigate availability of area college students in urban planning and architectural programs *The charrette was organized by the local MPO, Grand Valley Metro Council.

11. 2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference Charrette Preparation • 2 months: • Develop requirements for facilities (design team studio and public meeting location) • List land owners, business owners, and developers to invite to charrette • Circulate preliminary schedule and meeting descriptions to elected officials • Data collection • Develop drafts of handouts and invitations QUALITY TRANSIT ― NOW

12. 2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference Charrette Preparation • 1 month: • Checklists for supplies and equipment • Collection of GIS data and printing of maps • Purchase of supplies • Distribute invitations for a kick-off meeting • Kick-off meeting included: • What is BRT? • What is a Charrette? • What is Transit-Oriented Development? QUALITY TRANSIT ― NOW

13. 2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference Charrette Week • Day 1 AM: Development of Concepts in Small Groups • Day 1 PM: Design Team examined concepts for commonalities, differences and interesting features • Day 2: Design Team merged public concepts into a few alternatives QUALITY TRANSIT ― NOW

14. 2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference Charrette Week • Day 3 AM: Continued development of alternatives • Day 3 PM: Presentation to public officials and the interested public. Gathered comments • Day 4: Synthesized preferences into a single preferred preliminary plan QUALITY TRANSIT ― NOW

15. 2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference Charrette Week • Day 5 AM: Stakeholder and technical review • Day 5 PM and Day 6 AM: Production of exhibits • Day 6 PM: Presentation of the preferred plan QUALITY TRANSIT ― NOW

16. Two Concepts from Day 1 Small Groups

17. Day 6 Preferred Plan

18. Before Photo and After Rendering Turn an urban drain into a development asset

19. Before Photo and After Rendering

20. Before Photo and After Rendering

21. Before Photo and After Rendering

22. Before Photo and After Rendering Turn the utility easement and linear bike trail into a development asset

23. 2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference Post-Charrette Activities • Summary Report • Sample form-based zoning code (to assist cities with required zoning changes) • Continued discussion about: • Placement of BRT platforms • “Complete Streets” • Shared Parking and Park-and-Ride QUALITY TRANSIT ― NOW

24. 2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference Key Summary Points • Prepare!Have the data, exhibits, supplies and people needed for success. • Trust!Collaborative development even with a wide range of agendas resulted in an acceptable plan. • Follow-up!Don’t let the work sit on a shelf. Develop a plan to move toward implementation. QUALITY TRANSIT ― NOW

25. Comment from a 70+ year old participant: “I’ve seen over fifty years of planning conducted in this area. Public involvement for this planning typically involved a meeting where the plan was unveiled. [This charrette process] is how planning should be done!”

26. 2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference Use of a Charrette in BRT Station Area Planning Thomas W. Williams, PE AECOM / Sr. Project Manager Grand Rapids, Michigan tom.williams@aecom.com QUALITY TRANSIT ― NOW