Title
I-10 West Extension Route and Transit Type Recommendation
Description
This report requests the Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee recommend City Council approval of an amendment to the current Locally Preferred Alternative of the 10WEST Project (formerly known as the Capitol/I-10 West Light Rail Extension Phase II Project) by selection of the Desert Sky Transit Center as a future phase (Attachment A). This report also requests the Subcommittee recommend that City Council reaffirm the mode of transit on the 10WEST Project as light rail.
THIS ITEM IS FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
Report
Summary
In 2012, the Phoenix City Council approved the current Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) (see Attachment B), extending light rail from downtown Phoenix to the 79th Avenue/I-10 Park-and-Ride facility. Then in 2016, the Council and Valley Metro Rail Board of Directors approved a phased approach to the Project:
- Phase I - connect downtown Phoenix to the State Capitol Complex; and
- Phase II - extend the system west along I-10 to the 79th/I-10 Avenue park-and-ride.
In 2019, the Phoenix City Council requested additional public input on both phases. Public input was sought in three key areas:
- Identify a preferred Capitol Extension option;
- Explore a potential 10WEST extension to the Desert Sky Transit Center; and
- Review all options for high-capacity, high-frequency transit types for the 10WEST extension.
Technical Analysis Summary
As part of the analysis of other transit types for 10WEST, staff considered other high-capacity transit (HCT) types for the corridor, including bus rapid transit (BRT).
Staff evaluated the following criteria in considering other transit types:
- Community input;
- Ridership potential;
- Capital and operating cost;
- Constructability;
- Operational characteristics;
- Consistency with other local plans; and
- Economic development potential.
The technical analysis involving all of the criteria above revealed that light rail is still warranted as the transit type for 10WEST because it provides the highest ridership potential of all other HCT types considered, with the potential for approximately 50 percent more riders than BRT. Although light rail involves higher upfront capital costs, the total lifecycle cost of light rail when accounting for all associated costs and total project ridership is comparable to enhanced BRT.
Since most of the project corridor is not located within an existing local roadway, traditional light rail constructability challenges (such as utility relocations and right-of-way acquisition) are also significantly lowered. This should produce cost savings and schedule improvements during construction, as compared to other light rail construction projects, as well as improved travel times and reliability during operations.
Operationally, light rail would seamlessly integrate into the region’s HCT system by connecting with the Capitol Extension just west of the State Capitol Complex, providing west valley residents with a one-seat ride to notable destinations (like Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and ASU’s Main Campus, among others). It also would be able to travel approximately 10 percent faster than other HCT types, while providing a higher peak rider capacity. Lastly, the public has expressed support for light rail as the transit type for 10WEST, both during the public meetings summarized below and in local plans, such as the Maryvale Village Core Urban Design Plan and the Maryvale Character Area Plan. Both of these community documents favor light rail due to the associated economic development impacts that light rail can provide compared to other transit modes.
Desert Sky Transit Center Extension
Regarding extending service to the Desert Sky Transit Center, staff looked at the following criteria:
- Ridership potential;
- Competitiveness for federal funding;
- Connections to activity centers and other transit routes; and
- Consistency with local plans and public input.
The technical analysis revealed that extending 10WEST service to the Desert Sky Transit Center is warranted because it will serve additional riders with the potential of generating approximately 18 percent additional passenger boardings. The extension will connect two regional activity centers, Ak-Chin Pavilion and Desert Sky Mall, both of which have been identified as community assets in the Maryvale Character Area Plan. In addition, the added potential ridership is supported by the proximity of two schools, as well as existing and planned multi-family housing. Also, the Desert Sky Transit Center, located adjacent to the mall, provides connectivity to existing and future transit service, including three local routes, a rural route to Ajo, and the MARY neighborhood circulator, as well as the potential to connect with BRT in the future. Lastly, the public has expressed support for this extended service, both during the public meetings and in the Maryvale Village Core Urban Design Plan.
Next Steps
Once approved by City Council, City of Phoenix and Valley Metro staff will:
- Conduct the necessary steps to progress the Project into preliminary engineering and environmental assessment; and
- Continue coordination with West Valley communities.
Financial Impact
Funding for the 10WEST Project is expected to be a mix of local, regional, and federal dollars. Federal funding for fixed guideway transit projects is generally provided through the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grant (CIG) program. Based on current eligibility criteria and preliminary analysis, the 10WEST Project remains competitive for federal funding.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The Citizens Transportation Commission to recommend approval of this item on Aug. 26, 2021, by a vote of 14-0.
Public Outreach
In January 2020, Valley Metro held three public meetings (two in English and one in Spanish) to provide information and seek input on the Project, including the Desert Sky Transit Center extension, phasing options to possibly accelerate the Project, and transit-type options. Approximately 84 percent of the 183 survey respondents favored extension to the Desert Sky Transit Center. Respondents also expressed interest in exploring different transit types.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, outreach shifted to utilizing online platforms between May and June 2020. Throughout the process, members of the public had the ability to submit questions and comments to be evaluated by and responded to by project staff, and all meeting information was presented in English and Spanish. Additionally, four live (call-in) meetings were conducted (two in English and two in Spanish). In total, the online public meeting website was visited 1,355 times, and 334 people provided feedback, either by general questions and comments or through a feedback survey form.
At the public meetings, Valley Metro provided information regarding a potential extension of 10WEST to the Desert Sky Transit Center. In response, 77 percent of the 198 survey respondents felt positive about adding this extension to the Project, with 14 percent neutral and 9 percent negative. The survey also sought input on 10WEST transit-type options (light rail compared to an exclusive bus way). Of the 149 responses to this question, 75 percent stated they preferred light rail over an exclusive bus way, with 16 percent preferring the bus way and 9 percent expressed no preference.
Location
10WEST will extend north to I-10 and along I-10 west to the Desert Sky Transit Center in a future phase via 79th Avenue.
Council Districts: 4 and 7
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Public Transit Department.