Regional Transit Study Project Update

Four open houses held between November , 2009 Informed and engaged the public in the study process Provided information regarding the regional transit needs as a basis from which future, more detailed studies related to regional transit can be launched Purpose of Open House Meetings

Project formally initiated at March 2009 CRTPA Board Meeting This study is coordinated with other studies within the four county region, including the Regional Mobility Plan. The study is scheduled to be complete in March Study Goals/Tasks Prepare an assessment of future transit needs for the region (transit service recommendations based on near-term ( ), mid-term ( ) and long-term ( ) plan periods) Develop a long-term vision for transit in the Capital Region Identify and assess funding strategies Develop an implementation strategy and timeline (create a service development strategy and business plan to implement recommended improvements and institutional structure) Development review guidelines and design standards to incorporate transit oriented design features for new developments Study Background

The study area consists of the four counties in the Capital Region including: Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon and Wakulla counties. Study Area

Conduct an initial assessment of future travel needs for the Capital Region (Gadsden, Jefferson, Wakulla and Leon counties) Collect data on demographic, travel patterns and existing transit operators Administer a transit survey to measure current travel needs and attitudes regarding transit Transit Needs Assessment Provide future projections (Year 2030) of population and employment based on existing CRTPA’s travel model Identify future transit needs on a corridor-level to for short-term ( ), mid-term ( ) and long-term ( ) periods based on trip analysis

Growth in population and employment are two primary contributing factors that identify potential transit need. Population and employment estimates reflect each county’s annual rate of growth based on the regional travel demand model. Population and Employment Trends Population and employment are projected to increase by 52% between the years of 2007 and 2050, in the Capital Region.

Types of trips include: Internal and external commute trips to/from Tallahassee Inter-county (between counties) commute and local non-work trips Intra-county (within a county) commute and local non-work trips. Future Travel Patterns A majority of trips are projected to occur in the northern sections of Leon County and the City of Tallahassee. In 2007, approximately 1.2 million total daily trips are made in the region. In 2050, approximately 1.9 million total daily trips are projected in the region. Year 2050 Projected Trip Flows Future trip flows were analyzed based on projected origins and destinations in the region by all transportation modes (i.e. automobile, transit, biking and walking).

Preliminary transit improvements were developed that meet the future transit needs in the region. Transit improvements include a combination of service improvements and capital investments. Proposed transit corridors and facility sites were identified based on transit needs assessment. Preliminary Transit Improvements Transit Plan Periods Near-term ( ) Mid-term ( ) Long-term ( ) Proposed Transit Improvements

Transit service improvements include the expansion of existing local bus service and the introduction of new express bus routes connecting activity centers and rural communities in the region. Service Improvements StarMetro Local Fixed Route Bus Service - Local fixed route bus service within the City of Tallahassee, with potential expansion into unincorporated Leon County Near-term/Mid-term/Long-term ( ) Express Inter-County Bus Service Limited-stop bus service, typically utilizing over-the-road motor coaches, connecting activity centers and rural communities Near-term/Mid-term/Long-term ( ) Rural Local Fixed Route Bus Service - Local fixed route circulator service in the outlying communities of the CRTPA region Mid-term/Long-term ( )

Capital investments would require additional planning, funding, engineering and construction to implement and include the following types of transit investments Capital Investment Projects Facilities Satellite Transfer Centers - facilities designed with pedestrian, bicycle and bus amenities to provide for bus-to-bus transfers Near-term/Mid-term ( ) Regional Park-and-Ride Facilities - facilities with easy access to major highways and designed with parking spaces, pedestrian and bus amenities. Commonly used for commuting trips on express inter-county bus service Near-term/Mid-term/Long-term ( )

Premium Transit Modes Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) - limited-stop bus service along defined corridors. Technology enhancements such as transit signal prioritization and infrastructure improvements such as level-boarding allow for faster travel times Mid-term/Long-term ( ) Modern Streetcar – electric-powered, in-street running transit that typically geared to dense travel corridors and short trips Mid-term ( ) Light Rail Transit (LRT) - electric-powered commuter-based rail transit in exclusive or shared- guideway Long-term ( ) Commuter Rail – commuter-based passenger rail service utilizing existing freight rail corridors Long-term ( ) High-Speed Rail - high-speed passenger rail service between major cities Long-term ( ) Capital Investment Projects

The Regional Transit Study project team will continue to refine draft recommendations. Consultants meeting individually with key elected officials to discuss regional transit issues. Working on governance and finance issues portion of study. A final newsletter and presentation will be made to the CRTPA Board in March 2010 highlighting the final recommendations of the study. This study will serve as a foundation for future, more detailed studies to be launched. Next Steps

Contact Information For more information about the Regional Transit Study, please visit the website at or contact: Greg T. Burke, AICP Capital Region Transportation Planning Agency 408 N. Adams Street, 4th Floor Tallahassee, FL Phone: | Fax: Visit the Regional Transit Study table to view study materials, ask questions and provide comments Visit the Regional Transit Study website to view detailed study materials, latest updates and provide comments at: – click on Regional Transit Study to the left How to get involved and stay informed: