Title
Bus Rapid Transit Program Analysis, Outreach and Initial Corridor Recommendation
Description
This report provides the Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee a summary of the community engagement process held between February and December 2020 regarding the analysis conducted to develop recommendations for establishing Phoenix’s Bus Rapid Transit program. This report also requests the subcommittee recommend City Council approval of an initial Bus Rapid Transit corridor along 35th Avenue and Van Buren Street.
THIS ITEM IS FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
Report
Summary
In 2015, Phoenix voters approved Proposition 104, creating the 35-year street and transit plan known as Transportation 2050 (T2050) which identified Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) as a key component to continue expanding the City’s high-capacity transit network. BRT is a high-capacity bus service that focuses on improved speed, reliability, convenience and the overall transit experience. There are common recurring elements found in successful BRT systems, such as: advanced fare collection; enhanced stations; dedicated lanes; custom buses; transit spot improvements; and unique branding.
In 2019, Phoenix BRT Program staff were tasked by Phoenix’s Citizens Transportation Commission (CTC) and City Council with reevaluating the BRT corridors as originally outlined in the T2050 plan. The reevaluation was sought as the result of the passage of time since the development of the T2050 plan, whereby Phoenix has experienced significant changes in residential and commercial developments, population growth and density, in addition to ongoing regional efforts to identify additional BRT corridors that may travel through Phoenix. The analysis considered various elements of transit propensity (population, employment, low-income households, minority populations, persons with disabilities, zero-automobile households, persons under 18 and over 64 years in age), historical transit performance and ridership forecasting models utilizing the Federal Transit Administration’s scenario-planning software. Using these data points and processes, six potential BRT corridors were identified and are shown below:
- Camelback Road/24th Street;
- Indian School Road/24th Street;
- Thomas Road/44th Street;
- McDowell Road/44th Street;
- 35th Avenue/Van Buren Street; and
- 19th Avenue/Van Buren Street.
The six corridors above were further evaluated to develop potential BRT network options. The network analysis used industry best practices of two-mile spacing between corridors, good connections to light rail and frequent local bus service, intersection with other BRT corridors, and end points with highly used origins and destinations. Based on this analysis, four potential BRT network scenarios are shown below:
- Camelback Road/24th Street, Thomas Road/44th Street and 35th Avenue/Van Buren Street;
- Camelback Road/24th Street, Thomas Road/44th Street and 19th Avenue/Van Buren Street;
- Indian School Road/24th Street, McDowell Road/44th Street and 35th Avenue/Van Buren Street; and
- Indian School Road/24th Street, McDowell Road/44th Street and 19th Avenue/Van Buren Street.
The Phoenix BRT Program facilitated multiple BRT workshops, including an in-depth technical workshop with multiple City departments, Valley Metro, Maricopa Association of Governments, Arizona Department of Transportation and the established program consultant teams. Two executive workshops were also held for CTC and Councilmembers. The purpose of the workshops was to review the six potential corridors based on the results of the transit technical analysis and to obtain input on the four potential BRT network scenarios.
The results of this data-driven process revealed Camelback Road/24th Street, Thomas Road/44th Street and 35th Avenue/Van Buren Street as the most productive corridors with the highest demand and need.
After the workshops, the focus transitioned to community education, engagement and input which is described under Public Outreach.
Regional Efforts
In addition to the Phoenix BRT Program, MAG is conducting a Regional Bus Rapid Transit Feasibility Study to document the potential for the implementation of BRT within the MAG region. Phoenix has been an integral part of this collaboration along with six other member cities: Glendale, Tempe, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, and Gilbert.
Through this study, MAG has identified potential BRT corridors which were evaluated based on quantitative and qualitative criteria. These corridors were identified for further study for a proposed new regional BRT program (Attachment A).
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The Citizens Transportation Commission recommended approval of the initial Bus Rapid Transit corridor of 35th Avenue/Van Buren Street on May 27, 2021, by a vote of 10-0.
Public Outreach
Community Education and Engagement
From February to December 2020, the Phoenix BRT program launched an education and engagement campaign to provide continuous opportunities for the community to learn about the program and provide input on the six potential corridors and four potential networks. To best reach the community, BRT program staff employed both traditional in-person and virtual outreach methods and provided all materials in both English and Spanish. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, outreach efforts shifted to virtual platforms in March 2020. Below is a list of outreach tools and materials used to engage and educate the public and solicit feedback:
- Transit analysis maps;
- Social media;
- Program webpage (www.phoenix.gov/brt);
- Project fact sheet;
- Frequently Asked Questions;
- “BRT 101” videos;
- Online meeting webpage;
- In-person/virtual meetings with all 15 City of Phoenix Village Planning Committees;
- In-person/virtual meetings with community groups;
- News releases and television programs;
- Live virtual public meetings; and
- Shape Your BRT survey.
Survey Results
The Phoenix BRT program developed the Shape your BRT survey to garner community input on potential BRT elements, the six potential BRT corridors, and the four potential BRT network scenarios.
Based on the survey results, respondents’ most preferred BRT foundation network aligns with the technical analysis results and community feedback received during the community education and engagement efforts: Camelback Road/24th Street, Thomas Road/44th Street and 35th Avenue/Van Buren Street.
Community Engagement Summary
The Community Engagement Summary can be found in Attachment B. Highlights include:
- 474 survey responses;
- 26 in-person or virtual meetings;
- Connected with over 1,200 community members;
- Responded to nearly 600 questions and comments;
- 4,581 BRT webpage views;
- BRT 101 video views (1,040 English and 92 Spanish);
- 766 online meeting webpage views;
- Online meeting video views: 300 English and 89 Spanish;
- Residents’ input shows that the selected corridors are preferred because BRT could serve more transit riders; take riders to key locations; closer to home, school, or work; and may reduce commute times;
- Top themes for network modification suggestions were to extend networks further west, extend networks further north and south, and to limit overlap with light rail; and
- Key final comment themes are support for dedicated lanes, extending networks north, south, east, and west; and provide connections to surrounding/outlying areas and avoid overlapping services on 19th Avenue.
Location
Along 35th Avenue and Van Buren Street.
Council Districts: 1, 4, 5 and 7
Recommendation
The Public Transit Department requests the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Planning Subcommittee recommend City Council approval of an initial BRT corridor: 35th Avenue/Van Buren Street (Attachment C).
While the Camelback Road/24th Street and Thomas Road/44th Street corridors were also identified as most preferred during the technical analysis and the community education and engagement efforts, there is ongoing analysis of future high capacity transit planning in west Phoenix that may affect these corridors and the overall future BRT network. It is recommended that a final decision on these east-west BRT corridors be deferred until there is further resolution on high capacity transit corridors in west Phoenix.
Upon approval of the initial BRT corridor, the next steps in the process for the 35th Avenue/Van Buren Street corridor include:
- Refining a BRT program schedule, including the phasing and implementation for the initial BRT corridor and future BRT network;
- Beginning corridor planning (operations and capital) and development of conceptual alternatives;
- Establishing corridor-specific outreach tools and techniques; and
- Identifying a funding plan and potential partners, including working to identify available grants.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Public Transit Department.