South Corridor Study Update - February 2022

South Corridor Study Update - February 2022

Steering Committee Meeting

February 04, 2022

STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING

Today’s Agenda

1. Welcome and Agenda Review 2. Draft Deliverables 3. Final Reporting 4. Next Steps and Reminders

Invited Participants • Steering Committee members including local elected officials, city administrators, representatives from Maury Alliance, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, Williamson, Inc., Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee, local and regional transit agencies, TDOT, FHWA, and FTA. • WSP Consulting Team • GNRC and WeGo Public Transit Project Teams

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Meeting Objectives

1. Ensure committee members have a final opportunity to review and comment on draft deliverables produced to date. 2. Solicit feedback on the proposed outline and contents for the final report. 3. Identify key agencies and stakeholders that should be a focus of ongoing outreach and coordination.

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Impetus & Objectives

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Regional Support

GNRC.org/Transportation

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Regional Transit Initiatives

CORRIDOR LEVEL TRANSIT STUDIES: • Regional Commuter Rail Study (1998) • Southeast Corridor Alternatives Analysis (2007)

• Northwest Corridor Conceptual Feasibility Study (2010) • Downtown East‐West Connector Alternatives Analysis (2011) • I‐24 Corridor Study/ Monorail Assessment (2014) • Southeast Area Transportation and Land Use Study (2016) • Northwest Corridor Transit Study/ AA (2017) • High‐Capacity Transit Study (2017) • South Corridor Transit Study (CURRENT)

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Study Purpose • Advance recommendations from the publicly adopted Regional Transportation Plan and nMotion Transit Master Plan • Inform the regional Transportation Policy Board as it updates the regional plan and makes associated funding decisions • Identify potential capital and operational improvements for TDOT, local government, and transit agency implementation • Recommend a locally preferred alternative for introducing regional rapid transit along the corridor • Help inform site selection for economic development opportunities along the I‐65 and US 31 corridors • Identify opportunities to align local plans, design guidelines, and zoning ordinances to ready the landscape for a major investment

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Key Outcomes

A Community‐Driven Recommendation for Rapid Transit

Corridor‐level transit project with conceptual design, costs estimate, and advanced analysis on community and environmental impacts

1

Project Implementation Guidance

Guidance for funding, project phasing, and minimizing disruption

2

Recommendations for Short‐Term Actions that will Ready the Environment for a Major Investment

• Optimization and augmentation of existing transit service • Guidance for local planning pertaining to land development and right‐of‐way preservation • Suggested considerations for pursuing changes to local or state policies and legislation • Useable information for continued education and outreach

3

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Study Approach

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Study Phases

PHASE 2 Initial Screening of Alternatives Status: Outreach and analysis complete; Final draft deliverables available for review and comment

PHASE 3 Evaluation & Optimization

PHASE 1 Community Visioning

Status: Build alternatives and land use scenarios defined; Forecast models updated; Final draft deliverables available for review and comment

Status: Outreach and analysis complete; Final draft deliverables available for review and comment

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Build Alternatives

Bus Rapid Transit 2 Alignment Options Faster alternative to local bus service in major corridors Uses exclusive or semi‐ exclusive lanes.

Light Rail Transit 2 Alignment Options Smaller electric rail vehicles Can operate on‐street or in exclusive ROW Higher capacity than buses

Commuter Rail CSX & NERR Corridors Longer trips Regional travel between suburbs/downtown Can utilize freight infrastructure or roads

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Baseline Assumptions • Implement programmed roadway and intersection improvements • Provide more frequent commuter bus service with potential for limited Bus on Shoulder service • Increase frequency and availability of local transit service • Upgrade technologies to bring the corridor on par with the I‐24 Smart Corridor • Increase the amount of mixed‐use and higher density development according to local plans and transit development potential

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Evaluation Approach

Technical Engineering Analysis

Community Benefits and Impacts

Public Support and Political Feasibility

Measures of Social, Economic, Environmental Cost and Benefit

Evaluation of political champions and policy or legislative hurdles

Metrics Related to the Transportation Project or Facility include Capital/ Operating Costs and Transportation Performance

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Agenda Item 2. Final Draft Deliverables

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GNRC.org/FileShare/SouthCorridor

Study Deliverables • Community and Stakeholder Engagement (AVAILABLE NOW) • Existing Conditions and Trends Report (AVAILABLE NOW) • Definition of Alternatives Report (AVAILABLE NOW) • Technical Evaluation Report (AVAILABLE NOW) • Final Report (DUE EARLY MARCH)

Final committee feedback on available deliverables requested by February 25 GNRC and WeGo will compile a list of approved edits by March 4 WSP will incorporate approved edits by March 18

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Agenda Item 3. Final Reporting & Outreach

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In theWeeds Previously presented information available for committee discussion upon request

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Technical Analysis of Transportation Alternatives

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Design & Engineering Analysis Outcomes Commuter Rail LRT Interstate LRT Hybrid (Arterial) BRT Interstate

BRT Hybrid (Arterial) 70,881 annual service hours

Annual Service Level

37,176 annual service hours Rapid Service: 15 min. PK, 30 min. OP Commuter Service: 15 min. PK, 120 min. OP

60,959 annual service hours

49,814 annual service hours

55,678 annual service hours

15 min. PK, 15 ‐ 30 min. OP

15 min. PK, 15 ‐ 30 min. OP

15 min. PK, 15 ‐ 30 min. OP

15 min. PK, 15 ‐ 30 min. OP

Frequency

Daily Service Hours

Weekday: 6:00 AM – 12:00 AM Weekend/Holiday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Reliability

Very High

High

High

Medium ‐ High

Medium ‐ High

20.5 miles (rail) + 20 Miles Express Bus Connection

23.4 miles (rail) + 22.5 Miles Express Bus Connection

21.5 miles (rail) + 20 Miles Express Bus Connection

20.6 miles (rail) + 20 Miles Express Bus Connection

Alignment Length

47.5 miles

Top Travel Speeds

60 mph

60 mph

60 mph

65 mph

65 mph

Right ‐ of ‐ Way

269 Acres

96 Acres

84 Acres

98 Acres

20 Acres

Implementation Challenges

Medium

High

High

Medium

Low

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Mobility, Performance, Cost Outcomes Commuter Rail LRT Interstate LRT Hybrid (Arterial)

BRT Interstate

BRT Hybrid (Arterial)

Connections to Transportation System

57 connections

57 connections

52 connections

55 connections

58 connections

Estimated Ridership

Approximately 9,850 Approximately 10,300 Approximately 9,700 Approximately 12,850 Approximately 13,350

Capital Cost

$2.8B

$3.3B

$3.1B

$840M

$320M

Operating and Maintenance Costs

$21.4M

$10.7M

$9.06M

$9.07M

$13.5M

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Growth and Development Potential

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Growth and Development Potential Outcomes

GOAL  Create land use and development patterns supportive of transportation/transit

Transit supportive looks different in different places.

Rural

Exurban

Suburban

Urban

City Center

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Growth and Development Potential Outcomes

GOAL  Create land use and development patterns supportive of transportation/transit

• Identify existing land use and zoning policies along corridor. • Identify high level criteria

needed to support station area readiness (permitted uses, intent of districts, etc.) and obstacles. • Document the ability of existing policies to support development and transit investment.

Already transit supportive Somewhat transit supportive Some changes needed Significant changes needed

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Growth and Development Potential Outcomes

Columbia

The Gulch

 General Industrial  Medium ‐ High Residential  Mixed Use Residential/ Commercial Service  General Commercial Service Rezoning and potential remediation of IG areas likely needed.

Current Zoning

Downtown Code (DTC)

Current Zoning

Current Obstacles

None

Current Station Area Readiness

Already Transit Supportive

Current Obstacles

Current Station Area Readiness

Some Changes Needed

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