Title
West Phoenix High Capacity Transit Route and Transit Type Recommendation
Description
Request City Council approval of the recommended mode and route for high-capacity transit in west Phoenix based on the results of the West Phoenix High-Capacity Transit Alternatives Analysis Study conducted by the City of Phoenix and Valley Metro. Further request to restore T2050 funds that were previously redirected out of the T2050 Transit Program back to the Program as part of long-term funding needed for the West Phoenix High-Capacity Transit Project.
Report
Summary
The Public Transit Department, in partnership with Valley Metro, is recommending light rail as the transit mode for the West Phoenix High-Capacity Transit Extension. The recommendation is based on the results of the West Phoenix High-Capacity Transit Alternatives Analysis (West Phx HCT AA) Study conducted by the City of Phoenix and Valley Metro. As shown in Attachment A, staff recommends a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) Alignment on Indian School Road to 75th Avenue, south on 75th Avenue to Thomas Road with termination at the Desert Sky Transit Center. The LPA also includes two potential alternatives as connecting points to the existing light rail system: one at Central Avenue/Indian School Road and the other at 19th Avenue/Camelback Road.
Background:
The West Phx HCT AA Project is part of the high-capacity transit programs outlined in the Maricopa Association of Governments’ approved MOMENTUM 2050 Regional Transportation Plan. The City of Phoenix and Valley Metro were awarded a federal Route Planning Restoration Grant in the amount of $514,045 on June 2, 2022, to aid in the alternatives analysis on how to best improve transit in the underserved, high-transit usage Maryvale area in West Phoenix. The study area was bounded by McDowell Road to Camelback Road, and Central Avenue to 99th Avenue.
Technical Analysis Summary:
The West Phx HCT AA Project emerged as a means to improve multimodal connectivity in the Maryvale, Encanto, and Alhambra urban villages, as well as to provide connections to the anticipated I-10 West Extension Project and Phoenix’s Bus Rapid Transit Project. Accordingly, the West Phx HCT AA Project's analysis investigated ways to serve the three urban villages, as well as providing connections to the existing light rail system and future planned HCT investments. The Project examined multiple alignment alternatives and different HCT modes; input was solicited from the public and local stakeholders in four series of public outreach meetings.
The process for the West Phx HCT AA Project was a two-tiered analysis. The Tier I analysis evaluated ten alignments. Based on technical analysis and public input, two alignment options (mode neutral) were identified to advance into the Tier II process. These options were:
1. Green Alternative: Central Avenue/Indian School Road - 75th Avenue/Indian School Road - 79th Avenue/Thomas Road.
2. Red Alternative: Central Avenue/Indian School Road - 51st Avenue/Indian School Road - 79th Avenue/Indian School Road.
Tier II furthered the screening process using quantitative evaluation criteria to compare the two alternatives by three operating scenarios (mode): center-running light rail, center-running bus rapid transit, and side-running bus rapid transit. Each alternative and mode were evaluated and scored based on its performance using six criteria: mobility improvements, access, potential impacts, land use/economic development, cost, and efficiency. The recommended alignment option was the alternative and mode that received the highest score.
The technical analysis revealed that the recommended alternative, the Green Alternative with light rail as the mode (see Attachment B), outperformed the other alignment options in the following aspects:
- It is projected to generate the highest number of daily transit trips, especially transit-dependent trips;
- It has the fastest transit travel time to key activity centers;
- It has the best access to nearby resources and opportunities, including affordable housing units, bikeways, and activity centers;
- It has fewer potential impacts on existing infrastructure and buildings, impacting fewer parcels, buildings, and square footage of parcel portions; and
- It also has the highest crash-reduction potential, indicating a higher safety level.
Next Steps:
If approved by the City Council, the recommended alignment will become the City of Phoenix’s LPA for future service to the West Phoenix study area. Specific project elements will be addressed as the design advances; these include options for the easternmost starting point, the option for project extension west of 79th Avenue along Thomas Road, station locations, street configuration, and turnaround tracks, among other project components. The potential to phase project implementation will also be studied. Staff will continue to coordinate with other city and regional transit projects in the area and continue community outreach efforts.
When the West Phoenix High-Capacity Transit (HCT) Project proceeds to the construction phase, Valley Metro and the City of Phoenix will need to enter into a separate funding agreement to advance the Project.
Financial Impact
In March 2019, the City Council approved a measure to remove the previously planned light rail extension along Camelback Road to 43rd Avenue by delaying any initial expenditures to the end of the T2050 program. Council also directed that future T2050 funding associated with the Camelback Extension Project be planned for street maintenance. Because the West Phoenix HCT Project provides an alternative that would extend light rail to West Phoenix residents, staff requests the restoration of approximately $153 million in T2050 funds that were previously redirected out of the T2050 Transit Program back to the Program as part of long-term funding needed for the Project.
The T2050 program will need to be continually evaluated during its term through 2050 to ensure a positive fund balance by the end of the program. Although T2050 funds are currently expected to remain positive for the next 16 years, the impact of the state’s removal of residential rental tax revenues may result in a significant future deficit in the program beginning as soon as FY 2040-41. Capital project costs, operating costs, sales tax performance, federal funding levels, and other contributing factors will need to be closely monitored. Plans for capital projects and operational improvements will likely need to be revised if revenue is not addressed long term.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
Citizens Transportation Commission recommended approval to initiate the West Phoenix High Capacity Transit Study on Aug. 26, 2021, by a vote of 14-0.
Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee recommended approval to initiate the West Phoenix High-Capacity Transit Study on Oct. 20, 2021, by a vote of 4-0.
City Council approved initiation of the West Phoenix High-Capacity Transit Study on Nov. 3, 2021.
Citizens Transportation Commission recommended approval of this item on April 25, 2024, by a vote of 9-1.
Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee recommended approval of this item on May 15, 2024, by a vote of 4-0.
Public Outreach
Concurrent with the technical evaluation, the project team pursued an extensive public engagement effort between February 2023 and March 2024. Public outreach for this effort occurred at different scales and through different modes that included:
- Meetings with community groups;
- Meetings with key stakeholders and businesses along the corridor;
- Individual stakeholder canvassing;
- Participating in community events;
- Engagement through media and social media outlets;
- Four Maryvale Village Planning Committee meeting presentations;
- Four Encanto Village Planning Committee meeting presentations;
- Four Alhambra Village Planning Committee meeting presentations;
- 2 Coffee Chats in District 4; and
- Four series of public meetings. All public meetings were conducted in English with Spanish interpretation available.
Based on public feedback on the Green Alternative, the team re-evaluated the easternmost portion of the alignment of where it would connect to the existing light rail system. Additional analysis was conducted on the connection point at Central Avenue/Indian School Road and the connection at 19th Avenue/Camelback Road. The results of this technical analysis were presented to the public for feedback and discussion. After this series of public outreach, the project team recommends advancing both potential connection options for the easternmost section of the alignment for Council’s consideration, as shown in Attachment A. The project team anticipates additional discussion to occur on these options in future stages of the West Phoenix HCT Project.
Location
The LPA will advance light rail transit with an alignment on Indian School Road to 75th Avenue, south on 75th Avenue to Thomas Road with termination at the Desert Sky Transit Center (connecting with the I-10 West Extension). The LPA also includes two potential connecting points to the existing light rail system: one at Central Avenue/Indian School Road and the other at 19th Avenue/Camelback Road in two phases. There is an option to extend the alignment further west on Thomas Road to 91st Avenue.
Council Districts: 4, 5 and 7
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Public Transit Department.