Item 2C. Blue Line Bridge Update Presentation — original pdf

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Blue Line Bridge at Lady Bird Lake Urban Transportation Commission May 3, 2022 Blue Line Bridge at Lady Bird Lake: Alignment • Runs East from Republic Square to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) • Runs interlined with the Orange Line north of Republic Square • Dedicated transitway • Along portions of MetroBus route 20 • 10 planned stations 2 Blue Line Bridge at Lady Bird Lake: Alignment Rail (underground) Rainey/MACC Station platform (underground) Rainey/MACC Station Entrance Rail Portal Lady Bird Lake Bridge Waterfront Station Rail (at-grade) 3 Key Rail Connections: • South Shore: Above-ground station (“Waterfront”) • North Shore: underground station (“Rainey/MACC””) Other key connections and considerations: • Connections to Butler Hike and Bike Trail and Waterloo Greenway • Waller Creek Tunnel outfall structure • Waller Creek Boathouse impacts Blue Line Bridge Design Options OPTION A: LRT + Shared Use Path OPTION B: LRT + Shared Use Path + Bus L A D Y B I R D L A K E L A D Y B I R D L A K E L A D Y B I R D L A K E L A D Y B I R D L A K E *concept for illustrative purposes only, design subject to change Design Criteria/ Evaluation Design options for the Blue Line Bridge are being evaluated in terms of the following criteria: Transit Need / Benefit City Policy and Operational Support Design/Engineering Environmental Impacts / Federal Process Impact to Butler Trail activities and North shore connectivity Cost Transit Network Need/Benefit The Transit Network: Light Rail (LRT) and Bus working together • Bus and LRT are complementary components of the transit network • We expect transit riders to use both* bus and LRT, as the community grows • Future plans for bus service will continue to develop to coincide with the opening of new LRT infrastructure • The transit network is being designed to provide increased access to transit and serve our community’s needs. *Ridership modeling for the future assumes that fares will be the same for both LRT and bus. Actual fares will be determined by the CapMetro board at the time when LRT begins service. Context: Regional Transit Network • Projected employment and population growth will continue to rely on buses to reach downtown • Designing a bridge to accommodate LRT and Buses provides for reliability, efficiency and future growth • Operational efficiencies would be reinvested to attract ridership and address growth Opportunity: New Corridor Downtown Opportunity for second major transit priority corridor on the east side of downtown • Regionally: Facilitates direct access for future MetroExpress routes from future I-35 managed lanes into downtown • Locally: Provides additional north-south corridor to support Local service to and through downtown Crossing the Lake by Bus Lake crossing a critical congestion point for CapMetro buses • Prioritizing transit across Lady Bird Lake would have a significant positive impact on the speed and reliability of bus service • • South 1st Bridge the most direct connection for buses traveling to/through west side of downtown on Guadalupe and Lavaca Lady Bird Lake Bridge the most direct connection for buses travelling to/through east side of downtown on Trinity and San Jacinto • Precluding buses from using the Lady Bird Lake bridge results in: • Missed destinations, increased travel times, and reduced flexibility as bus service grows and changes in the future Alternative crossing options for east-side routes 1. IH-35 Bridge – Limited access (1a/1b) a. Misses South Central Waterfront (SCWF) and potentially lower downtown 2. Congress Avenue Bridge – Limited transit priority opportunities, 3. longer trip for routes South 1st Street Bridge – Transit priority treatments planned, longer trip for routes headed for east downtown Design/Engineering Evaluation of Bridge Option(s) OPTION A – LRT / Shared Use Path View looking northwest towards downtown *concept for illustrative purposes only, design subject to change OPTION B – LRT / Shared Use Path / Bus View looking northwest towards downtown *concept for illustrative purposes only, design subject to change OPTION A – LRT / Shared Use Path - Impacts shared use path new/ current trail connection accessible trail connection FUTURE DEVELOPMENT LRT guideway Butler Hike/Bike trail accessible trail connection Waterfront Station South Shore Connections: • Butler Hike/Bike Trail • Waterfront Station • South Central Waterfront District OPTION B – LRT / Shared Use Path / Bus - Impacts new/ current trail connection shared use path accessible trail connection FUTURE DEVELOPMENT LRT guideway Bus guideway Butler Hike/Bike trail accessible trail connection Waterfront Station South Shore Connections: • Butler Hike/Bike Trail • Waterfront Station • South Central Waterfront District • CapMetro Bus Stops OPTION A – LRT / Shared Use Path View looking northwest towards downtown *concept for illustrative purposes only, design subject to change OPTION B – LRT / Shared Use Path / Bus View looking northwest towards downtown *concept for illustrative purposes only, design subject to change OPTION A – LRT / Shared Use Path /Tunnel Outlet *concept for illustrative purposes only, design subject to change OPTION B – LRT / Shared Use Path / Bus /Tunnel Outlet *concept for illustrative purposes only, design subject to change OPTION A – LRT / Shared Use Path *concept for illustrative purposes only, design subject to change OPTION B – LRT / Shared Use Path / Bus *concept for illustrative purposes only, design subject to change Trinity Street OPTION A – LRT / Shared Use Path *concept for illustrative purposes only, design subject to change Trinity Street OPTION A – LRT / Shared Use Path / Bus *concept for illustrative purposes only, design subject to change Trinity Street Proposed Parking Garage Parking Lot Residences Loading/unloading Residences Parking access Access to Lakeside Parking Lakeside Apartments Four Seasons Residences Hotel Loading/unloading Four Seasons Hotel Employee pick-up/drop off Turn around for delivery trucks, AFD Rainey/ESB-MACC Station Entrance 24 Waller Creek Tunnel Outlet Access Trinity Street Existing Section Trinity Street Proposed Section – LRT / Shared Use Path / Bus 9’ Travel lane Travel lane OPTION A – LRT / Shared Use Path 27 OPTION B – LRT / Shared Use Path / Bus 28 OPTIONS A and B View from Shared Use Path looking northwest *concept for illustrative purposes only, design subject to change City Policy and Operational Support City Policy and Operational Support Policy changes necessary to realize the benefit of buses on the bridge: • Update codes / special events ordinances to ensure continuous access on Trinity and San Jacinto for buses • 6th Street crossing on weekends / festivals • Maintain Trinity St. access for buses during special events Supported by ASMP Closures and Detours Policy 3 o • Regulate deliveries and use of curb space for loading/unloading where it conflicts with bus access to bridge o Supported by ACT Plan Needs Assessment City Policy and Operational Support Street network changes that are necessary to realize the benefit of buses on the bridge: • Introduce transit priority infrastructure on Trinity and San Jacinto streets downtown • Explore limited two-way conversion of Trinity Street north of Cesar Chavez, and related signal improvements at Cesar Chavez Street o Conceptual design in development Federal Process and Cost Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Rating Considerations Mobility Improvements: Transit-dependent population use of routing adjustments Congestion Relief: Evaluate ridership Cost-Effectiveness: Evaluate balance of cost & ridership • • • Overall Program Cost Considerations • Original cost estimates were based on 5% design and peer transit system comparison data. • Since then, costs have increased significantly (up to 70%-80%), due to the following drivers: • Real estate and right of way (Austin market) • • Program scope changes as a result of community input and technical requirements Inflation (labor, supply chain) • e.g. Tunnel length increase from 1.5 to 4 miles • 30% cost estimates will be released this summer. • Project phasing will be used to keep within available funding sources. • Taxes will not be increased to implement the program. Blue Line Bridge Cost Comparison* Light Rail, Bike/Ped Only Light Rail, Electric Bus, Bike/Ped Estimated Capital Cost (2022 $) $150M $210M *rough order of magnitude; bridge not yet designed Next Steps • April 26, 2022: Community Design Workshop • June 2022: • Aug. 2022: • Sept. 2022: • Dec. 2022: • March 2023: • feedback@capmetro.org Staff recommendation due for DEIS submission to FTA DEIS Notice of Availability, 45 Day Comment Period begins Blue Line Public Hearing Consensus on 30% Design and Project Phasing FTA Record of Decision (ROD) Questions? OPTION A & B – Shared Use Path *concept for illustrative purposes only, design subject to change 37