1. SunRail Station Area Multimodal Mobility Assessment
SunRail Commission Meeting
April 19, 2017
Thank you for having us today. I am Annette Brennan…
In the last couple of years, FDOT, through our modal development office has been working to support the SunRail investment. We have worked closely with our local partners and with the SunRail team on two efforts to improve multimodal mobility and connectivity around SunRail stations.

2. Multimodal Mobility Assessments
SunRail Phase 1 Stations
Bike/ped connectivity for May 2014 opening
SunRail Phase 2 South Stations
Evaluation of transit-supportive land use policies
We conducted assessments of ped/bike connectivity around the Phase 1 stations. Phase 1 SunRail opened May 2014.
Construction on Phase 2 South is currently underway, linking Sand Lake Road in Orange County to Poinciana in Osceola County. The entire Phase 2 South expansion project is a 17.2-mile segment that will feature four additional stations to the existing rail system and is expected to be up and running by early 2018.

3. Why the Multimodal Mobility Assessments?
Need for safe and comfortable pedestrian and bicycle connectivity to and around stations
Desire to maximize economic impact of SunRail
Partnership with local governments to support their vision
This effort was intended to coordinate FDOT and local partners’ activities to plan for safe and comfortable bicycle connectivity to the SunRail stations. In addition, there was a desire from local partners for assistance on communicating the need/opportunity to maximize the economic impact of SunRail.
The work was done in two parts: The first is an assessment on the bicycling and pedestrian connectivity of stations along SunRail Phase 1. The second effort is an understanding of the ped/bike connectivity, as well as an exploration of transit-oriented development (TOD) around the SunRail Phase 2 south stations.
I’d like to turn it over to Jane Lim-Yap to share some highlights of both efforts.

4. Bike/Ped Connectivity Assessment (Phase 1)
Determined key walking and bicycling routes and desire lines
Conducted field reviews with local governments
Identified short, mid, and long-term projects to improve connectivity around stations
In order to help address immediate station needs, a connectivity assessment was undertaken for each station. This included an analysis of the key walking and bicycling routes to each station and the surrounding destinations. Then, field reviews were conducted with local partners, including cities, transit agencies, counties, and other interested parties. From this, short, mid, and long-term projects were identified to improve connectivity and access within a 10-minute walk of each station.
Meadow Woods Station

5. Projects Identified (Example: Lake Mary Station)
BEFORE
AFTER
Many of the recommendations from this phase 1 effort have already been implemented. For example, in Lake Mary, 16 of the 24 recommended projects already have been completed. These included addressing ADA and maintenance issues; building new sidewalks; intersection improvements. Longer term ideas include roadway redesign, adding traffic calming. Many of these projects were taken on by local partners or added to their maintenance and private development efforts.

6. Transit Supportive Land Use Assessment (Phase 2)
Local partners requested assistance in communicating the need for planning for transit- oriented development
Identified key destinations, desire lines, and locations with high development potential
The phase two planning efforts included similar connectivity assessments to phase one. These began by asking the local partners what would be the most helpful types of assistance that FDOT could provide. The local partners requested assistance in communicating the need for transit oriented development planning to build on and assist with the efforts that many of them were already undertaking.
In order to do this, they began with an assessment of the key study area destinations, the best routes to connect those destinations to the stations, and by identifying locations with high development potential. By considering these opportunities together, conclusions were drawn regarding each station to help plan for the future.
Kissimmee Station

7. Transit Supportive Land Use Assessment (Phase 2) Example: Kissimmee Station
Illustrative station area concepts to demonstrate best practices
Concepts based on existing conditions and local plans
Concepts show potential infrastructure investments and development potential
Evaluated potential development potential and economic impact
Based on the understanding of the issues and opportunities, a concept plan was developed for each station to illustrate how transit-oriented development best practices and station area planning principles can be applied to the station areas. The concepts are not meant to convey a formal plan or policy direction and is instead meant to encourage discussion as community members, city leaders and staff, and private partners consider plans and future investments in the station area. The plans highlight the best practices in planning for multimodal mobility, including development of mixed-use nodes around the stations; increasing density through infill development within the walkshed of the stations; enhancing pedestrian and bicycle connectivity; creating a network of streets and walkable size blocks; and creating a variety of sizes and scales of public space around the station.
The concepts are all based on and fully support existing conditions and local plans and are intended to graphically depict potential infrastructure investment and development potential. The concepts also allowed the team to evaluate the development potential and economic impact of multimodal infrastructure improvements and transit supportive development.

8. What can Thoughtful Multimodal Planning achieve?
Thee studies were undertaken to thoughtfully plan for SunRail and the associated multimodal needs. This type of planning can have a number of benefits.

9. Expand Transit Capture & Improve Mobility for All
Understand where population with a higher propensity and need for transit are located
Target multimodal infrastructure improvements to these population concentrations
These studies looked at ways to expand transit capacity and improve mobility, especially for the populations that need it the most. An index was created for each station using a variety of demographic inputs obtained from census data to estimate the propensity of people within 5 miles of each station to walk, bike, or take transit. The inputs included age, people with disabilities, people living below the poverty line, and households with out access to a vehicle. In addition with considering the major destinations within 5 miles of the stations, multimodal connectivity improvements were identified for each station. These improvements are intended to connect people most likely to use SunRail to the stations and from the stations to destinations.

10. Expand Transit Capture & Improve Mobility for All
Expanded street network & improved walking and bicycling facilities can:
Encourage more walking and bicycling trips
Facilitate transit ridership
Enhance public health
Reduce congestion
Improve business visibility
The concept plan also illustrate how new development can incorporate enhancement to the existing street network. Each of the conceptual plans included changes to the street network grid. A well-designed, connected street grid makes travel more efficient by providing choice not only in modes, but also in routes. These new streets also can help to create smaller blocks. Together, these change can help to encourage walking and bicycling because of increased connectivity, shorter travel distances, and slower automobile traffic. These changes can also help to improve accessibility to transit, enhance public health, reduce congestion, and can improve business visibility.

11. Leverage Community Investments
Connect and support existing and new public investments
Understand and compliment forthcoming private development
Many local partners have already been taking major strides in planning to leverage the investment in SunRail. In this study, the team worked with the local partners to understand the planning they have already completed and to connect and support the existing and future investments.

12. Example: Kissimmee Station Area
Kissimmee has already leveraged SunRail Investment
Waterfront Park Improvements
Downtown Storm Water System
New Shared Use Parking Garage
Mixed Use Development – Toho Square
Kissimmee provides a good example of how local governments can leverage the SunRail investment. The City of Kissimmee has been working with regional and local partners on various downtown revitalization efforts, many of which align with encouraging transit-oriented development and economic development around the Kissimmee station area. For example, the City has completed significant enhancements to it’s lakefront park, including an off street path that will connect the park to the SunRail station and a planned bicycle path links the lakefront to the marina, commercial areas, and the downtown neighborhoods. FDOT is constructing a 400-space parking garage adjacent to SunRail that will include ground floor retail and share parking with the City’s Civic Center. This will help free up the surrounding area for new, mixed-use redevelopment, and support an overall lower parking demand for downtown. Finally, the city is also working with private developers complete the Toho Square enhancement project, which will transform a surface parking lot into a 400 space parking garage with 50 privately developed resident units. When completed, the project will create a livable community through sustainable development and managed growth while creating a vibrant downtown. 

13. Benefits of Transit SUPPORIVE Development
These studies are intended to help local partners maximize the benefit of SunRail to the community. In addition to the access and connectivity improvements, the studies include suggestions on how to promote transit oriented development. Transit oriented development can have a variety of benefits to cities and to premium transit.

14. Potential Benefits to Cities with Transit Supportive Development Patterns
Up To
Example: Kissimmee Station
150%
Potential Property Tax increase*
+$4M
Kissimmee Station
+$3.2M
One of the many documented community benefits of integrating multimodal mobility and access in developments is the increase in property tax revenues through appreciation in property values. In fact, research has shown that premium public transit itself can increase the development potential of real estate near stations, and thereby increase property values by up to 150%.
In order to evaluate the potential impact of this redevelopment on the study areas, the potential land use programs for the conceptual station concepts were evaluated against existing property values. This analysis showed that the potential increase in property values and taxes could be as much as $3 to $4 million per year with transit supportive land uses around the Meadow Woods, Tupperware, and Kissimmee stations.
Tupperware Station
+$3M
Meadow Woods Station
*Source: National Association of Realtors (2008, December 9). Public Transit Boosts Property Values, If Conditions are Right.

15. Actual Benefits to Cities with Transit Supportive Development Patterns Example: Lake Mary Station Area
Case Study
Station House TOD – Lake Mary Station
2015 Value: Prior to Project Completion
$8M
2015 Assessed Value
$133K
2015 Gross Tax Amount
2016 Value: Post TOD Completion
The increase in property values and the associated dollars is not just theoretical. The Station House apartment complex at the Lake Mary station was built as transit oriented development with easy access to the SunRail station. Since the project was completed, the property vales have gone from $8 million to $25 million. The taxes have increased from $25,000 to over $414,000.
$25M
2016 Assessed Value
$414K
2016 Gross Tax Amount
Source: Seminole County Tax Appraiser, 2015 & 2016
Image Source: Station House.

16. Actual Benefits to Cities with Transit Supportive Development Patterns Example: Lake Mary Station Area
Case Study
Station House TOD – Lake Mary Station
+213%
2015 Value: Prior to Project Completion
$8M
2015 Assessed Value
$133K
2015 Gross Tax Amount
+211%
2016 Value: Post TOD Completion
That works out to an over 200 percent increase in both property vales and taxes, which benefits both the developer and the city.
$25M
2016 Assessed Value
$414K
2016 Gross Tax Amount
Source: Seminole County Tax Appraiser, 2015 & 2016
Image Source: Station House.

17. Contact Reports can be obtained from: Brenda Young, M.S., P.E.
FDOT District Five Modal Development Office