Denver Moves: Transit Task Force

Meeting #3 – December 1, 2016

Insert transit picture

1. Welcome & Introductions

• Opening remarks

• Task Force and audience introductions

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2. Task Force Assignment #2: Take a Transit Trip

• Summary of common themes

• Highlights from select trips

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Your Trips: What Worked Well• Rail is on time, clean, fast, not too crowded

• Finding a route is easy with RTD planner

• Transit app is “a lifesaver”

• Easy to buy tickets if you know what you need; Ecopass makes it easy to pay fare

• Signage to train station is clear

• Shuttle is frequent and free

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Your Trips: What Didn’t Work Well• Bus stops lack sidewalks and

amenities• Buses late, crowded, unpredictable• Connectivity is challenging• Traffic speeds make it hard for bus

to merge after stopping• Signage to airport terminal is

confusing• Fares are high and confusing

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• Interactive kiosk at final station would help improve wayfinding

• Smart Pass • More visible information about how to buy

day passes on the bus, validation machines• Better connections outside of downtown for

people traveling E/W or N/S• Easier bike connections and places to put

bike on train

Your Trips: What Would Make It Better

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Task Force Transit Trip Observations• “There were benefits to being able to

read/work/spend time with my son while on the bus…just took too much time to be a practical option…with the trips I had to make that day.”

• “I had the luxury of just seeing how it went, not worrying about a manager who will write me up for tardiness.”

• “Due to the nature of our city, route access and connections is not a one size fits all system.”

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3. Our Challenge & Opportunity: Why Denver Moves: Transit

• Transit as a solution for growing cities

• Need for Denver Moves: Transit

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Denver’s Mobility Challenge

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Congestion Safety

Percentage of Crashes Resulting in a Fatality by Mode

3-Year Average (2013-2015)

Denver’s Mobility Challenge

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Avg 2-2.5% growth/year Same Street Network

Need to move more and more people in a fixed amount of space.

Denver Metro Area3.8 mil in 2030

One 10-foot lane can carry how many people per hour?

Transit’s Opportunity

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4. Translating Desired Outcomes to Goals & Measures of Success

• Denveright values and vision elements• Desired outcomes and State of the System

findings• Building goals and measures of success

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Definition and Role: Provide forward-looking direction and aims, set expectations for what each plan can do to help achieve the vision, and establish a decision-making framework21

Community Values

Goals/Guiding Principles

Objectives

Vision Statement

Vision Element 1

Vision Element 2

Vision Element 3

Vision Element 4

Vision Element 5

Vision Element 6

Denver Moves: Transit Goals

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Definition: Measurable, time-bound outcomes that help to achieve higher-level goals and principles

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Community Values

Goals/Guiding Principles

Objectives

Vision Statement

Vision Element 1

Vision Element 2

Vision Element 3

Vision Element 4

Vision Element 5

Vision Element 6

Denver Moves: Transit Objectives

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Your TurnIdentifying Goals & Measures of

Success for Denver Moves: Transit

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Focusing on Three Key Topics• Making Transit a Great

Choice • Improving Access,

Connections, and the Experience

• Enhancing Opportunity and Equity

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Resources for Each Topic

• Desired Outcomes: What have we heard?• State of the System Findings: What have

we learned?• Peer Measures & Targets: What are other

cities doing?

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Sample Goal & Objective or Measure

• Goal: Provide compelling and competitive transit options to a broad cross-section of Denver’s residents

• Objective: X% of Denver residents within a Y-min walk of a frequent transit route (service every 15 min) by year Z

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Topic #1: Making Transit a Great Choice

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What have we heard?• Reliability• Speed• Frequency• Convenience• Choices• Perception

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What have we learned?• Rail provides high-quality service• Limited bus frequency outside of peak• On-time performance varies• Bus ridership has declined• Mode share lower than peer cities

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RailRail investments provide a fast and high quality transit experience where available

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FrequencyThere are limited frequent all-day routes; many bus lines run only every 30-60 minsoutside of peak hours

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On-Time PerformanceThe rail system has the best on-time performance; bus routes serving downtown have the lowest

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Ridership and Service Hours Bus ridership in Denver has declined slightly in the past 5 years while rail ridership has grown

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Use of TransitShare of commute trips on transit is lower in Denver than most peer cities

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What are other cities doing?• Increase transit mode share to 10% of all

resident trips and 12% of all non-resident trips (Boulder)

• Increase walk, bike, and transit trips per capita annually (Los Angles Mobility Plan 2035)

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What are other cities doing?• 75% of residents within 10-min walk of

frequent transit line by 2035 (MTC)• % of transit trips that are no more than 10%

longer than an average trip (TCRP Report 88)• % of routes that are on-time (TriMet)

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Topic #1 Report Out

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Thank you for lunch, Downtown Denver Partnership!

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Topic #2: Improving Access, Connections, and the Experience

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What have we heard?• Comfort and safety• Convenience and ease• Accessibility • Sidewalks and crossings• Bike parking• Amenities and information

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What have we learned?• Access to transit is challenging• Bus stops lack basic amenities• Some downtown facilities are wonderful• Passenger information can be hard to

find

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AccessBike/ped access to rail stations is challenging in many areas

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AmenitiesOnly 25% of bus stops with 40+ boardings have shelters

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Downtown Facilities and Circulation Mall Ride and Union Station contribute to a vital downtown core, but other amenities and facilities should be enhanced44 12/01/2016

InformationLimited information available to help riders understand how to use the system

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What are other cities doing?• % of streets that have sidewalks within ½ mile

of a frequent transit network stop (Salt Lake City)• % of light rail stations with bike parking (Seattle)• Provide real-time information at all major transit

stations by 2020 (LA Mobility Plan 2035)

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Topic #2 Report Out

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Topic #3: Enhancing Opportunity and Equity

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What have we heard?• Economic mobility• Healthy neighborhoods• Affordability• Connections • Fill gaps• Equity49 12/01/2016

What have we learned?• Nearly half of local bus riders rely on

transit• Service may need to be improved in

neighborhoods with many low income households

• Fares are high compared to peer cities50 12/01/2016

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Transit Reliance46% of Denver local bus riders do not have a personal vehicle available for their trip

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Low IncomeHouseholdsLow income households are concentrated near downtown, in Montbello, and in West Denver

$3.50

$3.00

$4.00

$4.40

$4.00

$3.75

$5.50

$4.50

$1.25

$1.75

$1.75

$2.20

$2.50

$2.50

$2.50

$2.50

$2.60

$0 $1 $2 $3 $4 $5 $6

Austin, Capital Metro

Minneapolis, Metro Transit

Washington DC, WMATA

Charlotte, CATS

Atlanta, MARTA / GRTA

Seattle, Metro / Sound Transit

Portland, TriMet

Salt Lake City, UTA

Denver, RTD

One-Way Fares

FaresFares are relatively high compared to peers; may be inequalities in zone fare structure for low-income neighborhoods

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What are other cities doing?• % of transit dependent populations within ¼

mile of frequent transit network (Salt Lake City)• % of jobs accessible within 45 minutes by

transit in congested conditions (Plan Bay Area)• Decrease share of household income spent on

transportation costs annually (LA Mobility Plan 2035)

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Topic #3 Report Out

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5. Next Steps• Task Force roadmap and meeting schedule

• Upcoming engagement activities

• Next Task Force participation opportunity

• Task Force Meeting #4: February 2, 2017

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Task Force Roadmap

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Upcoming Engagement Activities

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• Youth Stakeholder Group kickoff

• Feedback on Denverightvalues and vision

• Think Tank Meeting #2

• Build Your Own Transit System tool (Q1 2017)

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https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/denveright/share-your-voice/your-voice.html

Read the State of the System Report

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• Tell us what’s most interesting or important to you

• Share what you learned and engage with your community

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6. Questions and Comments

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www.denvergov.org/denveright