WELCOME! [] and... · Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority Right-of-Way (project assumes co-location with Bruce Vento Trail) METRO Green Line The Rush Line BRT Project includes

WELCOME!

Sign up for email updates. Provide comments. Ask questions. Learn more. rushline.org [email protected] 651-266-2760 facebook.com/rushline @rushlinetransit

Thank you for coming.Please sign in.

B R T


PROJECT PURPOSEProvide transit service that satisfies the long-term regional mobility needs for businesses and the traveling public and supports sustainable development within the study area.

PROJECT NEEDS

Serving the needs of people who rely on transit.

Planning for sustainable growth and development.

Meeting increasing demand for reliable, high-frequency transit.

Expanding multimodal travel options.

What is the purpose of the Rush Line BRT project?

!!

!!!!

!!!!!! !! !!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

GEMLAKE

MAPLEWOOD

VADNAISHEIGHTS

SAINT PAUL

WHITEBEARLAKE

WHITE BEARTOWNSHIP

§̈¦494

§̈¦94

§̈¦694§̈¦35E

£¤61

£¤52

¬«36

¬«96

County Road C

Beam Ave E

N J

acks

on S

t

County Road B

County Road D

CSAH 96

E Minnehaha Ave

N A

rcad

e S

t

NM

ckni

ghtR

d

E Maryland Ave

W Larpenteur Ave

Cen

tur y

Ave

N

County Road F

County Road E

Whi

teBe

arA

veN

§̈¦694

§̈¦35E

5th/6th Street Union Depot

Cook Avenue

Rush Line BRT Project[ 0 1.50.75Miles

10th Street

Olive Street

Cayuga StreetPayne Avenue

Arcade Street

Maryland Avenue

Larpenteur Avenue

Frost Avenue

Highway 36

St. John's BoulevardMaplewood Mall

County Road E

Cedar Avenue

DowntownWhite Bear Lake

Buerkle Road

September 26, 2018

14th Street

Mt. AiryStreet

Whitaker Street

`

`

`

`

`

`

UnionDepot

E 4th St5th/6thStreet !!

!!

!!

!!

!!

N Sibley St

E 6th St

N Robert St

N Wacouta St E 5th St

Maplewood MallTransit Center

`

`!!Maplewood Mall

Beam Ave E

Southlaw

n Dr

Route 54

Legend

Proposed Route

Proposed Station

Proposed Station and Park-and-Ride

Station Location to be DeterminedRamsey County Regional Railroad AuthorityRight-of-Way (project assumes co-locationwith Bruce Vento Trail)

METRO Green Line

!!

!!!!

!!!!!! !! !!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

GEMLAKE

MAPLEWOOD

VADNAISHEIGHTS

SAINT PAUL

WHITEBEARLAKE

WHITE BEARTOWNSHIP

§̈¦494

§̈¦94

§̈¦694§̈¦35E

£¤61

£¤52

¬«36

¬«96

County Road C

Beam Ave E

N J

acks

on S

t

County Road B

County Road D

CSAH 96

E Minnehaha Ave

N A

rcad

e S

t

NM

ckni

ghtR

d

E Maryland Ave

W Larpenteur Ave

Cen

tur y

Ave

N

County Road F

County Road E

Whi

teBe

arA

veN

§̈¦694

§̈¦35E


Cook Avenue


10th Street

Olive Street


Arcade Street

Maryland Avenue

Larpenteur Avenue

Frost Avenue

Highway 36


County Road E

Cedar Avenue


Buerkle Road

September 26, 2018

14th Street

Mt. AiryStreet

Whitaker Street

`

`

`

`

`

`

UnionDepot


!!

!!

!!

!!

N Sibley St

E 6th St

N Robert St



`

`!!Maplewood Mall

Beam Ave E

Southlaw

n Dr

Route 54

Legend

Proposed Route

Proposed Station



METRO Green Line

The Rush Line BRT Project includes further exploration of connector bus service north to Forest Lake, along with other transit system improvements.

!226

Route 276October 9, 2018

!276

!276

!276

!276

!276

!!DowntownWhite Bear Lake

!!

!

!

!

!

!!

!

!

!

!275 275

!

!

275

275

275

275288

288

288

288

288

288

288

288

ARDENHILLS

BLAINE

CENTERVILLE

COLUMBUSFOREST LAKE

GRANT

HAM LAKE

HUGO

LEXINGTON

LINO LAKES

MAHTOMEDI

MOUNDS VIEW

NORTH OAKS

SHOREVIEW

WHITEBEARTWP.

DELLWOOD

§̈¦35E

§̈¦35

§̈¦35W

§̈¦35W

§̈¦35W

§̈¦35E

§̈¦35W

¬«97

¬«244

¬«97

¬«96

£¤61

£¤61

£¤61

£¤61

§̈¦35E

§̈¦35W£¤61

£¤61£¤10

£¤10

£¤10

¬«96

Otte

r Lak

e R

d

CSAH 3 Hodgson R

dC

ente

rville

Rd

Ash St

Legend

Proposed Rush Line Route!! Proposed Stations

Proposed Connecting Bus RoutesOthers Bus Routes

B R T


Transit-dependent populations

SERVING THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WHO RELY ON TRANSITThe number of people in the study area who rely on transit to meet their transportation needs is increasing.

AGE:

Growth in the 65+ age group is increasing the need for access to medical services and ability to maintain an active and mobile lifestyle without having to rely on a personal automobile.

INCOME: Individuals below poverty

The percentage of residents below the poverty level is higher in the study area than in Ramsey County or in Minnesota, meaning there are more people who rely on transit to access jobs, education and other services.

VEHICLE AVAILABILITY: From 2014 to 2040, the number of households without a vehicle is forecast to grow at a faster rate than the total number of households in the study area.

MEETING INCREASING DEMAND FOR RELIABLE, HIGH-FREQUENCY TRANSITDemand for reliable, high-frequency transit service is increasing, and the existing high-frequency network does not currently serve the study area outside of Saint Paul.

Only 3 of 41 existing routes within one mile of the proposed Rush Line BRT route are high-frequency.

Metro Transit has seen an increase in ridership on high-frequency routes, including the highly successful A Line BRT.

PLANNING FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENTPopulation and employment are forecast to grow in the study area. As concentrations of jobs and residents grow in different communities, the need to travel between these communities will increase.

EXPANDING MULTIMODAL TRAVEL OPTIONSState and regional transportation policies identify the need to provide multimodal transportation options.

The state of Minnesota and the Twin Cities region are shifting away from investing in cars only to investing in multiple modes including cars, transit, walking, biking and more. This promotes greater travel choice and flexibility and provides opportunities for benefiting health.

WHY IS THE RUSH LINE BRT PROJECT NEEDED?

65 +AGE GROUP fastest growing=

STUDY AREA RAMSEY CO. MINNESOTA

18% 16% 11%

2014 2040 HOUSEHOLDS WITHOUT A VEHICLE 27%TOTAL NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS 20%

3 EXISTING HIGH FREQUENCY ROUTES 41

20%INCREASE

POPULATION

24%INCREASE

EMPLOYMENT2010 2040

Metro Transit A lineRIDERSHIP 30%

since 2016 opening

Percent Change in Commute Time2000 - 2016

0-14 MINUTES

15-29 MINUTES

30-44 MINUTES

45-59 MINUTES

60+ MINUTES 52%56%

32%6%

-23%0%

STAT

E AN

D RE

GION

AL

INVE

STME

NTS

Regional transportation plans include the Rush Line BRT Project as one of multiple METRO lines to be built in the next decade.

MINNEAPOLIS

SAINT PAUL

Why is the Rush Line BRT project needed?

B R T


Why is the Rush Line BRT project needed?

Transit-dependent populations

SERVING THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WHO RELY ON TRANSITThe number of people in the study area who rely on transit to meet their transportation needs is increasing.

AGE:

Growth in the 65+ age group is increasing the need for access to medical services and ability to maintain an active and mobile lifestyle without having to rely on a personal automobile.

INCOME: Individuals below poverty

The percentage of residents below the poverty level is higher in the study area than in Ramsey County or in Minnesota, meaning there are more people who rely on transit to access jobs, education and other services.

VEHICLE AVAILABILITY: From 2014 to 2040, the number of households without a vehicle is forecast to grow at a faster rate than the total number of households in the study area.

MEETING INCREASING DEMAND FOR RELIABLE, HIGH-FREQUENCY TRANSITDemand for reliable, high-frequency transit service is increasing, and the existing high-frequency network does not currently serve the study area outside of Saint Paul.

Only 3 of 41 existing routes within one mile of the proposed Rush Line BRT route are high-frequency.

Metro Transit has seen an increase in ridership on high-frequency routes, including the highly successful A Line BRT.

PLANNING FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENTPopulation and employment are forecast to grow in the study area. As concentrations of jobs and residents grow in different communities, the need to travel between these communities will increase.

EXPANDING MULTIMODAL TRAVEL OPTIONSState and regional transportation policies identify the need to provide multimodal transportation options.

The state of Minnesota and the Twin Cities region are shifting away from investing in cars only to investing in multiple modes including cars, transit, walking, biking and more. This promotes greater travel choice and flexibility and provides opportunities for benefiting health.

WHY IS THE RUSH LINE BRT PROJECT NEEDED?

65 +AGE GROUP fastest growing=

STUDY AREA RAMSEY CO. MINNESOTA

18% 16% 11%

2014 2040 HOUSEHOLDS WITHOUT A VEHICLE 27%TOTAL NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS 20%

3 EXISTING HIGH FREQUENCY ROUTES 41

20%INCREASE

POPULATION

24%INCREASE

EMPLOYMENT2010 2040

Metro Transit A lineRIDERSHIP 30%

since 2016 opening

Percent Change in Commute Time2000 - 2016

0-14 MINUTES

15-29 MINUTES

30-44 MINUTES

45-59 MINUTES

60+ MINUTES 52%56%

32%6%

-23%0%

STAT

E AN

D RE

GION

AL

INVE

STME

NTS

Regional transportation plans include the Rush Line BRT Project as one of multiple METRO lines to be built in the next decade.

MINNEAPOLIS

SAINT PAUL

B R T


What is BRT?

Orange Line BRT – Burnsville Parkway Station (Looking North)

HIGH-QUALITY BUS TRANSIT THAT:• Provides frequent service seven days a week from early in the

morning to late at night.

• Operates primarily in dedicated bus lanes.

• Connects people to jobs, education, healthcare and recreation.

• Provides fast and reliable service.

• Has stations with amenities like shelter, light and heat.

• Supports economic development.

Orange Line BRTBurnsville Parkway Station (Looking North)

Source: Metro Transit.

B R T


Why is Rush Line BRT important?

Key component connecting the northeast metro to the regional transit system.

Will serve more than 97,000 people who are diverse in income, race, ethnicity, age, ability and languages spoken.

Will connect to more than 106,000 jobs within a ten-minute walk of the 21 planned stations.

Can reduce traffic crashes and improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.

Metro Transit is considering buying all electric buses, which would reduce air and noise pollution.

Ramsey County has been planning to add transit in this area since the 1990s. Previous studies have shown that BRT is a cost effective transportation solution to meet the needs of the communities served.

WHITE BEAR LAKE

WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP

GEM LAKE

VADNAIS HEIGHTS

MAPLEWOOD

WOODBURY

MINNEAPOLIS

SAINT PAUL

SAINT PAUL

LAKEVILLE

EDEN PRARIE

BROOKLYN PARK

B R T


Planned White Bear Lake stations

Buerkle Road Station

Cedar Avenue Station

County Road E Station

Whitaker Street Station

!!

!!!!

!!!!!! !! !!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

!!

GEMLAKE

MAPLEWOOD

VADNAISHEIGHTS

SAINT PAUL

WHITEBEARLAKE

WHITE BEARTOWNSHIP

§̈¦494

§̈¦94

§̈¦694§̈¦35E

£¤61

£¤52

¬«36

¬«96

County Road C

Beam Ave E

N J

acks

on S

t

County Road B

County Road D

CSAH 96

E Minnehaha Ave

N A

rcad

e S

t

NM

ckni

ghtR

d

E Maryland Ave

W Larpenteur Ave

Cen

tur y

Ave

N

County Road F

County Road EW

hite

Bear

Ave

N

§̈¦694

§̈¦35E


Cook Avenue


10th Street

Olive Street


Arcade Street

Maryland Avenue

Larpenteur Avenue

Frost Avenue

Highway 36


County Road E

Cedar Avenue


Buerkle Road

September 26, 2018

14th Street

Mt. AiryStreet

Whitaker Street

`

`

`

`

``

UnionDepot


!!

!!

!!

!!

N Sibley St

E 6th St

N Robert St



`

`!!Maplewood Mall

Beam Ave E

Southlaw

n Dr

Route 54

Legend

Proposed Route

Proposed Station



METRO Green Line

Downtown White Bear Lake Station

Whitaker Street Station

Cedar Avenue Station

County Road E Station

Buerkle Road Station

B R T


A. 7th Street and Washington Avenue.

B. 4th Street and Division Avenue – 4th Street or 7th Street routing.

C. 4th Street and Highway 61 – In line platform.

D. 2nd Street and Clark Avenue.

E. Banning Avenue and Highway 61.

F. Arrive at 4th Street and Highway 61; depart from 7th Street and Washington Avenue.

NORTHBOUND STATION (ARRIVE)

FSOUTHBOUND STATION (DEPART)7th Street & Washington Avenue

4th Street & Division Avenue

4th Street & Highway 61 (Inline)

2nd Street & Clark Avenue

Banning Avenue & Highway 61£¤61

2nd St

Cla

rk A

ve

8th St

5th St

3rd St

4th St

7th St

6th St

10th St

Was

hing

ton

Ave

Mill

er A

ve

Div

isio

n A

ve

Coo

k A

ve

Blo

om A

ve

Ban

ning

Ave

Long

Ave

A

B

C

D

E

F

RUSH LINE BRT PROJECT [0 200100

Feet

1/3/2019DOWNTOWN WHITE BEAR LAKE STATIONSUNDER EVALUATION

DRAFT-WORK IN PROCESS

Downtown station options under evaluation

B R T


WHILE EACH OF THE DOWNTOWN STATION LOCATION OPTIONS HAVE QUALITIES UNIQUE TO THEIR LOCATIONS, THEY SHARE SEVERAL CHARACTERISTICS:• Because these station options are end-of-line stations, all

platforms are long enough for two buses.

• Provides space for the bus to turn around.

• Drivers would park the bus and take a short break before restarting their route. A small driver facility with restroom is provided for each station option.

• Station locations are proximate to homes, businesses, and places people want to go.

• The station would be a walk-up station, providing access to many destinations within a short walk. Demand for parking would be met by park-and-ride facilities at other planned stations.

• Any of the station options would likely be served by an electric buses, which are quiet and have no on-site emissions.

Downtown station characteristics

Rendering of 76th Street station for Orange Line BRT, Richfield, demonstrating BRT station elements

Orange Line BRT76th Street Stations (Looking Southeast)

Bus, low-floor hybrid or electric

Bike parking loops

Real-time arrival information

Bench seating

Vertical bike parking

Shelter with heat, light, and seating

Ticket vending machine

Trash and recycling bins

Pylon station marker

NORTHBOUND

SOUTHBOUNDInformation kiosk

Fare card validator

Textured warning strip and raised curb

Source: Metro Transit.

B R T


What we have heard: community preferences for downtown station qualities

• The station should be an attractive facility that fits into and contributes to the character of downtown White Bear Lake.

• The station should be located near places people want to go.

• The station should promote additional economic investment nearby.

• The station design should minimize or avoid impacts to private property.

• The station should be located in a place that minimizes lengthy bus routing on local streets and avoids congestion.

• The station design should prioritize people safely walking, biking and connecting via transit, rather than reserving large areas for parking.

• Pedestrian access across Highway 61 should be improved near the station.

• The benefits of adding a station should outweigh any potential negative impacts.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHEN SELECTING A DOWNTOWN STATION LOCATION? PLEASE TELL US ON YOUR COMMENT CARD.

B R T


A. 7th Street and Washington Avenue

• Station is farthest from the core of downtown and has longest travel time.

• Pedestrian facilities would be improved at the 7th Street and Highway 61 intersection.

• Bus operations are straightforward; no major sightline or turning radius issues.

• Off-street parking impacts would need to be mitigated.

• Northbound and southbound passengers would arrive and depart from the same platform.

B R T


B. 4th Street and Division Avenue – 4th Street or 7th Street routing

4th Street and Division Avenue - 4th Street routing

• Station is close to the downtown core.

• Division Avenue would be extended from 4th Street to 5th Street with the station platform and driver facility on the east side of the street.


• Bus operations are straightforward; no sightline or turning radius issues.



4th Street and Division Avenue - 7th Street routing

• This option is the same station location as Option B, but buses would use Division Avenue and 7th Street to reach Highway 61.

• Compared to the 4th Street routing option, the 7th Street option adds travel time.

4TH STREET ROUTING 7TH STREET ROUTING

B R T


C. 4th Street and Highway 61 – in line platform

STATION

BUS LAYOVER

STATION AREA ENLARGEMENT

RAILROAD PARK AREA ENLARGEMENT

• Station is close to the core of downtown.

• The railroad tracks on the west side of Highway 61 constrain the highway from expansion to the west.

• To fit the station platforms, the highway would be shifted approximately 15 feet into the westernmost part of Railroad Park.


• Bus operations are straightforward. No sightline or turning radius issues.

• A driver facility would be located at 7th Street and Washington Avenue. This would only be a bus layover and turn-around facility; customers would not be able to board there.

• Parking impacts at the layover location would be mitigated.

• Northbound and southbound passengers would arrive and depart from platforms across Highway 61 from each other.

B R T


D. 2nd Street and Clark Avenue

• Station location is closest to the downtown core.

• Access is maintained to local businesses on Clark Avenue.

• Pedestrian facilities would be improved at the 2nd Street and Highway 61 intersection.

• Bus operations are straight-forward. No sightline or turning radius issues.

• On-street parking impacts would need to be mitigated.


B R T


E. Banning Avenue and Highway 61

• Station is close to the downtown core.

• Mid-block station location does not provide options for safe and convenient crossing of Highway 61.

• Unique intersection configuration at Banning Avenue/7th Street/Highway 61 presents safety concern for pedestrians and drivers.

• Bus operations are difficult. Turn on to Banning Avenue presents sightline issues. Turn on to 7th Street/Highway 61 presents turning radius issues. May be difficult for buses to reach station in inclement weather.

• On and off-street parking impacts would need to be mitigated.


B R T


SOUTHBOUND STATION (DEPART)

NORTHBOUND STATION (DEPART)

F. Arrive at 4th Street and Highway 61; depart from 7th Street and Washington Avenue

• The southbound platform location is farthest from downtown destinations.

• Northbound and southbound passengers would use platforms approximately ¼ mile apart, which may be confusing for customers.

• Avoids impacts to Railroad Park presented in Option C.

• Pedestrian facilities would be improved at the 4th and 7th Street intersections with Highway 61.

• Bus operations are straightforward; no major sightline or turning radius issues.


B R T


DOWNTOWN WHITE BEAR LAKE STATION LOCATION SELECTION PROCESS

Ongoing Public Engagement

FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION PROCESSBRT Chosen as Locally

Preferred Alternative

3 Years

Project Development

2 Years

Final Engineering

2 Years Operations

Construction

3 Years

Environmental Analysis Phase

2 Years

WE ARE HERE

Next steps

Project staff will gather input from the public and review technical information from project partners on the

downtown station location options.

The preferred station location will be studied in the Environmental Assessment to better understand the

potential benefits and impacts.

The Rush Line Policy Advisory Committee will receive input from the White Bear Lake City Council on the

preferred downtown station location.


Thank you for coming. Please leave your

comments in the box.

Documents

WELCOME! [] and... · Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority Right-of-Way (project assumes co-location with Bruce Vento Trail) METRO Green Line The Rush Line BRT Project includes