Downtown Transit Development

N a s h v i l l e C i v i c D e s i g n C e n t e r

Goals of Downtown Transit Systems

Improve the existing downtown economy and encourage housing and business development downtown

Goals of Downtown Transit Systems

Decrease car congestion

Goals of Downtown Transit Systems

Improve air quality

Goals of Downtown Transit Systems

Reduce demand for downtown parking

Goals of Downtown Transit Systems

IncentivesT r a f f i c a n d P a r k i n g

Traffic & Parking

Parking Shuttles

Free/cheap shuttles from parking areas to downtown attractions and places of employment reduce demand for parking in the city center and mitigate downtown congestion.

Traffic & Parking

Portland, Oregon

In exchange for increased parking restrictions downtown, Portland’s TriMet agreed to offer public transportation in tiered fare zones, with the center zone becoming a “Fareless Square.”

Traffic & Parking

Chattanooga, Tennessee

CARTA’s free electric shuttle service in Chattanooga is partly funded by parking revenue and retail leasing within the parking facilities built at the Shuttle’s stopping points.

Traffic & Parking

IncentivesD o w n t o w n L u n c h

Downtown Lunch

Downtown Lunch

Lunch Shuttles

Free or reduced lunchtime fares are offered in many cities’ downtown areas to encourage local restaurants and prevent the lunchtime traffic rush.

Downtown Lunch

Memphis, Tennessee

The Memphis Trolley Service offers a half-priced fare during lunchtime hours.

IncentivesT h e E n v i r o n m e n t

The Environment

The Environment

“Reducing pollution” is listed as a priority in most cities’ downtown transit initiatives. Providing cheap, convenient alternatives to private vehicle use downtown improves air quality locally and regionally.

The Environment

Indianapolis, Indiana

In 2007, IndyGo reduced its emissions by 90% when buses were fitted with new air filters and switched to biodiesel. The biodiesel also supports Indiana’s soy industry.

The Environment

Chattanooga, Tennessee

CARTA’s Downtown Electric Shuttle was developed by the Electric Transit Vehicle Institute to reduce emissions in Chattanooga and contribute to the technology options of public transportation.

IncentivesE n t e r t a i n m e n t a n d T o u r i s m

Entertainment & Tourism

Downtown transit is often established to allow locals and tourists easy access to attractions in the city center.

Entertainment & Tourism

Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville’s trolley service runs on weekdays and Saturdays and also offers monthly “Trolley Hops” to take locals, students, and tourists to downtown galleries.

Entertainment & Tourism

Entertainment & Tourism

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga’s Electric Shuttle route was created to tie hotels to major attractions in the downtown area.

DevelopmentT r a n s i t a s a n I n v e s t m e n t

Portland, Oregon, developed its streetcar proposal in 1990, with the specific plan to “encourage development

of more housing and businesses in the Central City.”

portland, or

Photo Courtesy of www.sitphocus.com

Portland, Oregon, developed its streetcar proposal in 1990, with the specific plan to “encourage development

of more housing and businesses in the Central City.”

Since 1997, when the streetcar route was determined, Floor Area Ratio (FAR) increased to reach higher percentages of its potential the closer the property was located to a streetcar line.

Development Report, April, 2008http://www.portlandstreetcar.org/

portland, or

Photo Courtesy of www.sitphocus.com

Portland, Oregon, developed its streetcar proposal in 1990, with the specific plan to “encourage development

of more housing and businesses in the Central City.”

55% of new development in the Central Business District is now located within one block of streetcar lines (up from 19% before 1997).

Development Report, April, 2008http://www.portlandstreetcar.org/

portland, or

Photo Courtesy of www.sitphocus.com

Portland, Oregon, developed its streetcar proposal in 1990, with the specific plan to “encourage development

of more housing and businesses in the Central City.”

Since 1997, areas within two blocks of the streetcar line have seen: 3.5 billion dollars of new investment, over 10,000 new housing units, and 5.4 million square feet of office, retail, hotel, and institutional construction.

Development Report, April, 2008http://www.portlandstreetcar.org/

portland, or

Photo Courtesy of www.sitphocus.com

memphis,tn

memphis,tn

Memphis’s historical trolley system was developed as a preliminary to a new light

rail system on the same lines.

http://www.railwaypreservation.com/vintagetrolley/memphis.htm

charlotte, nc

Photo Courtesy of http://fullyarticulated.typepad.com/sprawledout/2007/12/index.html

charlotte, nc

Photo Courtesy of http://fullyarticulated.typepad.com/sprawledout/2007/12/index.html

In Charlotte, NC, the trolley and light rail systems are part of a 25-year transit corridor plan. This plan incorporates a center city development vision with a broadening transit system, which will include 21 miles of light rail and 16 miles of streetcar track.

http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/CATS/Rapid+Transit+Planning/2030+Transit+Corridor+System+Plan.htm

charlotte, nc

Photo Courtesy of http://fullyarticulated.typepad.com/sprawledout/2007/12/index.html

charlotte, nc

Photo Courtesy of http://fullyarticulated.typepad.com/sprawledout/2007/12/index.html

Charlotte’s light rail system exceeded its target ridership by 35% and increased midday train frequency a year after opening.

Development Report, April, 2008http://www.portlandstreetcar.org/

FundingF e d e r a l F u n d s

Federal Funds

Portland Streetcar HUD Grant (US Department of Housing and Urban Development)

Chattanooga Electric Shuttle 80/20 FTA Grant(The Federal Transit Authority gives 80% of startup funds, the remaining 20% of which must be matched by local funds)

Indianapolis Red Line 80/20 FHA CMAQ Grant (The Federal Highway Authority’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Grant--also 80/20)

Memphis Trolley Reallocated FTA interstate funds

FundingL o c a l T a x e s a n d R e v e n u e

Local Taxes and Revenue

Charlotte LYNX (light rail) 34% of the $462.7 million needed for Charlotte’s Blue Line was raised by a ½¢ local sales tax for transit

Denver FasTracks 32.5% of Denver’s light and commuter rail system is funded by a .4% increase in sales tax

Chattanooga Electric Shuttle Operation costs of $500,000 are covered by parking and retail lease revenues in the new facilities constructed at the shuttle’s endpoints

FundingP a r t n e r s h i p s

Partnerships

Portland’s “Fareless Square” Local transit authority, TriMet, agreed to waive bus fare in the center city in exchange for more parking restrictions in the downtown region

Chattanooga Electric Shuttle Half of the shuttle’s local startup funds came from TVA

Cincinnati Riverfront Parking Shuttle Subsidized by Duke Energy

OpportunitiesT r a n s i t P l a n n i n g S e s s i o n

Nashville’s Downtown Transportation Plan

2000 to 2020

http://www.parkitdowntown.com/ Take into account Nashville’s existing parking and shuttles.

Keep in mind Franklin Conaway’s 21 Point List:

Criteria for Assessing the Viability of Streetcar RoutesTwenty One Point Checklist for Rating the Efficiency of Streetcar Circulators

Franklin Conaway’s 21 Point List:A. Physical Considerations

1. Existing street grid and traffic patterns are conducive to streetcars and automobiles operating smoothly within shared right-of-way.

2. Topography is friendly to streetcar operations within operational areas of the proposed streetcar system.

3. There is an absence of physical barriers.

B. Planning Considerations4. Operates directly on central business district’s principal street corridor(s).

5. Operates through center of the central business district’s highest employment concentrations.

6. Connects directly to residential concentrations.

7. Connects directly to entertainment district(s) with venue(s) of at least 5,000 person capacity per event.

8. Connects directly to mixed-use areas outside of the CBD.

9. Connects directly to registered historic districts and significant historic sites.

10. Connects directly to major city hospital(s).

11. Connects directly to main convention center.

12. Connects directly to principal hotels.

13. Connects directly to principal art museum(s) and/or arts districts.

14. Connects directly to major urban parks.

15. Connects directly to multiple performing arts theaters.

16. Connects directly to important centers of government.

17. Connects directly to planned mixed use development areas, including future residential concentrations.

18. Connects directly to principal center city library or libraries.

19. Connects directly to significant urban educational institutions.

20. Connects directly to basic residentially oriented commercial activities.

21. Connects efficiently to other modes of transportation throughout length of the system.

Photos and InformationConaway, Franklin B., Planning Streetcar Routes for Maximum Sustainable Economic and Social Benefit. 2005-2006.http://allsystemsgo.capmetro.org/capital-metrorail.shtmlhttp://allsystemsgo.capmetro.org/circulator-system.shtmlhttp://charlotte.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2008/03/17/daily26.htmlhttp://fullyarticulated.typepad.com/sprawledout/2007/12/index.htmlhttp://studentorgs.vanderbilt.edu/wilskills/biodiesel.htmlhttp://www.bjcta.org/index.php?id=226http://www.capmetro.org/riding/routes_400.asphttp://www.carta-bus.org/routes/elec_shuttle.asphttp://www.charlottetrolley.org/abouttrolley.htmlhttp://www.charmeck.org/Departments/CATS/LYNX/Trolley.htmhttp://www.charmeck.org/Departments/CATS/Rapid+Transit+Planning/2030+Transit+Corridor+System+Plan.htmhttp://www.charmeck.org/Departments/CATS/Rapid+Transit+Planning/Center+City/Home.htmhttp://www.go-metro.com/riverfront.htmlhttp://www.indygo.net/news.asp?ID=89http://www.indygo.net/news.asp?ID=114http://www.indygo.net/red_line.htmhttp://www.lightrailnow.org/news/n_newslog2008q1.htmhttp://www.lightrailnow.org/news/n_newslog2008q2.htm#FTL_20080405http://www.matatransit.com/RidingMATA/TrolleyService/tabid/64/Default.aspxhttp://www.parkitdowntown.com/http://www.portlandstreetcar.org/history.phphttp://www.railwaypreservation.com/vintagetrolley/memphis.htmhttp://www.ridetarc.org/trolleys.asphttp://www.ridetarc.org/uoflloop.asphttp://www.rtd-fastracks.com/main_30http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/main_33http://www.sitephocus.comhttp://www.slcgov.com/transportation/dtp/pdf-ppt/portlandtrans.pdfhttp://www.smartcommunities.ncat.org/success/chattano.shtmlhttp://www.trimet.org/fares/fareless.htmhttp://www.utbioenergy.org/TNBiofuelsInitiativeNashville’s Downtown Transportation Plan, August, 2000.