Title
Initiating the T2050 Bus Rapid Transit Program
Description
This report requests City Council approval to issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to solicit firms to assess supporting data for specified corridors, conduct an initial study, begin public involvement, and initiate planning, capital system development, conceptual design and preliminary engineering on the T2050 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Program, as outlined on the Proposition 104 ballot approved by voters in August 2015.
Report
Summary
On Aug. 25, 2015, City of Phoenix voters approved passage of Proposition 104, providing a 0.3 percent increase and extension of the transaction privilege and use tax rate to fund Transportation 2050 (T2050). The T2050 plan includes implementing five arterial BRT lines. The proposed corridors are shown in Attachment A and include:
- Baseline Road, between 59th Avenue and Interstate 10
- 19th Avenue or 35th Avenue, between Baseline Road and Happy Valley Road
- 24th Street, between Baseline Road and Biltmore Fashion Park
- Bell Road, between 51st Avenue and Scottsdale Road
- Thomas Road, between 91st Avenue and 44th Street
The objectives of the BRT program are to:
- Provide a premier transit experience on high ridership corridors.
- Provide a safe, secure, and comfortable customer experience.
- Connect Phoenix's major activity centers.
- Operate seamlessly, complementing light rail and local bus services.
- Increase transit reliability.
- Reliably deliver riders faster than driving during the peak periods.
- Improve quality of life by reducing time not spent commuting.
The T2050 BRT Service will be different than the existing RAPID commuter service. RAPID operates solely during morning and evening peak travel times and primarily runs in freeway corridors with direct connections between point A and B. The new BRT corridors will operate on arterial roadways with stop spacing ranging from one-third to one mile. Branding will distinguish this new BRT service from the existing RAPID service.
While there is not a strict definition of what constitutes a BRT line or system, the following elements are major characteristics of bus rapid transit:
- Smart traffic signals and transit signal priority that improves travel in the corridor for all modes and specifically extends green lights to support transit system efficiency.
- Where necessary, dedicated running ways for transit vehicles, increasing speed and reliability of service and efficient movement in general purpose lanes.
- Time of day lane management addressing congestion hot spots and utilizing excess street capacity.
- Enhanced stations that provide level or near-level boarding, off-board payment and all door boarding, real-time arrival information, shade and passenger amenities.
- System branding, colors, naming, and specialized vehicles that provide a strong visual recognition and marketing of the system.
Program Approach
At key milestones throughout the life of the BRT program development, staff will seek approval from the Citizens Transportation Commission and City Council on fundamental direction and decisions to advance the program in alignment with the objectives of T2050. Anticipated milestones in the next year and a half include:
- Consultant selection and notice to proceed (early 2018).
- BRT network development progress (mid-2018).
- Funding and finance strategy (winter 2018).
- Implementation plan and initiation of preliminary engineering (early 2019).
In addition to the key milestones, the BRT team will provide regular updates on community education and engagement work that will occur for all stages of the BRT program. The community education and engagement tasks include meeting with neighborhoods, businesses, and community-based organizations on their turf, at their venues and presenting information clearly. These efforts are in order to provide direction to develop and deliver a strong outreach effort to educate and inform residents about what BRT is, as many are not aware of this technology and service type, which will be new for Phoenix. Staff will offer translation and Spanish-language communications and will include website updates and media requests.
The initial step in the program approach will include a review of the conditions used to determine the initial BRT corridor selection, as included in the Citizens Transportation Commission's and Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee's recommendations for approval. Program and implementation planning will define the BRT Program and provide direction for the successful implementation of the corridors. Each of the corridors have different engineering challenges, community opportunities and needs. This work will set a strong foundation and establish an efficient approach to carry out the long-term program. Key elements include review of conditions used to determine the initial selection of BRT corridors and validation for future implementation, network planning and project management, refinement of a work plan and implementation schedule, establishment of program goals and objectives, development of operating standards and guidelines for investment and advancement of a funding and finance plan.
Capital system development is a focused work element that identifies the significant infrastructure components that constitute the BRT investments. Key components are:
- A system branding and identity plan.
- Vehicle selection and specification support.
- Station prototype and definition of station amenities.
- Signal technology.
- Fare collection and capital system integration with Valley Metro.
- Street elements (lane treatments, bus bays, median and lane modifications).
Corridor conceptual design and preliminary engineering initiates corridor design and concept of operation planning. Preliminary engineering includes civil design up to 15 percent. Key outcomes of this work are:
- Development of corridor conceptual design to support BRT network development and phasing, operation and financial plans, and corridor designs for community and stakeholder reviews and coordination.
- Development of preliminary engineering to advance the design and engineering to identify engineering constraints and constructability, utility coordination, refined project costs and schedules, and delivery methods.
Following preliminary engineering, staff will prepare a project delivery recommendation to advance final design, construction, and operation of the new BRT routes and services.
Financial Impact
The current T2050 Plan identifies approximately $100 million of capital investment (fleet, stations, signals, and infrastructure) for the BRT program and $577 million for operations through 2050. The T2050 programs anticipated leveraging the local funds with federal grants, and other state and local funds, as well as potential partnerships. The BRT implementation planning will include competitive federal and regional grant sources and define how agency and private partners can uniquely support the program. It will also discuss bundling of complementary city or private-sector projects that could improve grant competitiveness.
The BRT Program will introduce transit efficiency, service reliability, and improved travel times. Introducing transit signal progression and transit signal priority in the BRT corridors can decrease transit travel times from 20 to 25 percent. Faster bus run times equates to fewer buses and operators needed to provide the same level and frequency of service.
The request before the City Council is to release the initial RFQ to initiate the supporting data evaluation, and conduct community education and engagement, planning, capital development, preliminary engineering, followed by separate solicitations for final design. Staff will conduct the consultant selection process and bring negotiated scopes, schedules, and budget back to the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee and City Council for approval.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The Citizens Transportation Commission recommended approval of this item on Aug. 31, 2017, adding that the work should also include an assessment of the information used to identify specified BRT corridors to ensure previous conditions considered are still valid for current and future system needs. The CTC addition is included in staff's recommendation.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee recommended approval of this item on Sept. 12, 2017, including the CTC recommendation to include an assessment of BRT corridors to ensure they remain valid for future system needs by a vote of 3-0.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Public Transit Department.