Oct 02 Forums Pres Web

Triad Major Investment Study: 

Triad Major Investment Study Locally Preferred Alternative Selection October 2002

Agenda: 

Agenda Decision at Hand Review Purpose of Improvements Description of Corridors and Alternatives Overview of Cost and Ridership Methods Performance Results Questions and Answers

Decision at Hand: 

Decision at Hand Select Corridors For Improvements Determine If Shorter Initial Segments Are Appropriate Identify Technology Family For Corridor(s) Review/Confirm Station Vicinities

Study Purpose: 

Study Purpose Identify Corridors That Need Transit Improvements Determine Appropriate Transit Technology Family Evaluate Relative Costs And Benefits Select Priorities Satisfy Federal Requirements

Purpose of Improvements: 

Purpose of Improvements Provide Alternative Travel Means Work commuters College/university communities Retail concentrations Special event patrons PTI activity Maintain Air Quality Focus Development Activity

Four Corridors Evaluated: 

Four Corridors Evaluated One East-West Corridor Two shorter segments also considered Three North-South Corridors Stations Assumed at Major Locations Most have parking provided General corridor evaluation; not specific alignment

East-West Corridor: 

East-West Corridor Burlington to Clemmons 60 – 65 miles long Connects Burlington, Elon, Greensboro, PTI Kernersville, Winston-Salem, Clemmons Potential Shorter Segments NC A&T to Hanes Mall 36 – 38 miles long Greensboro CBD to Winston-Salem CBD 30 – 32 miles long

North-South Corridors: 

North-South Corridors High Point to Greensboro 15 – 16 miles long Connects High Point, Greensboro High Point to Piedmont Triad Airport 12 – 15 miles long Connects High Point, airport High Point to Winston-Salem 18 – 23 miles long Connects High Point, Winston-Salem

Two Alternatives Considered: 

Two Alternatives Considered Rail DMU Alternative Uses new tracks in existing railroad corridors Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) technology BRT Alternative Uses exclusive lane in freeway rights-of-way Local street approach to downtowns Represents technology families; specific technology to be selected in later phase

Service Constants: 

Service Constants Frequency 15-minute peak 30-minute midday, Saturday 60-minute Sunday, holiday Span of Service Weekdays from 5 AM to 11 PM Saturdays from 6 AM to 11 PM Sundays, holidays from 7 AM to 11 PM Coordinated With Local Bus Systems Fare Of $2.00 Per Trip

Capital Evaluation: 

Capital Evaluation Conducted Preliminary Route Surveys Initial Selection Of Potential Alignment And Station Vicinities Developed Typical Cross Sections Identified Major Improvements Applied Standard Unit Costs Estimated Schedules

Rail DMU Alternative: 

Rail DMU Alternative East/West Corridor Evaluation Burlington To Greensboro Requires Adding 2 New Tracks Greensboro To Clemmons Requires Adding 1 New Track And Upgrading Existing Track PTI Airport Access Through A Spur Track

Rail DMU Alternative: 

Rail DMU Alternative Burlington Elon Greensboro East Loop NC A&T Greensboro CBD UNC Greensboro Guilford College Road PTI Airport Kernersville East Winston-Salem Winston-Salem CBD Wake Forest Med Center Hanes Mall Clemmons East/West Corridor Evaluation 14 Station Locations

Slide16: 

Map of corridor

Rail DMU Alternative: 

Rail DMU Alternative East/West Corridor Evaluation Major Expenses Additional track in NCRR and NS right-of-way Construct bridge for tank farm access Rebuild Peters Creek Trestle Construct bridge for Hanes Mall access

Rail DMU Alternative: 

Rail DMU Alternative North/South Corridors Evaluation High Point To Greensboro Requires Adding 2 New Tracks High Point To PTI Airport Requires Constructing 2 New Tracks In Highway Right-of-way High Point To Winston-Salem Requires Constructing 2 New Tracks In Highway Right-of-way

Rail DMU Alternative: 

Rail DMU Alternative High Point to Greensboro (6) High Point CBD Brentwood/US 311 GTCC Hilltop/South Loop Coliseum/UNC Greensboro Greensboro CBD High Point to PTI Airport (5) High Point CBD Brentwood/US 311 US 311/NC 68 Piedmont Centre PTI Airport High Point to Winston-Salem (7) High Point CBD Brentwood/US 311 US 311/NC 68 North Main/US 311 Union Cross East Winston-Salem Winston-Salem CBD North/South Corridors Evaluation Station Locations

Slide21: 

Map of corridors

Rail DMU Alternative: 

Rail DMU Alternative North/South Corridors Evaluation Major Expenses New dual track in US 311 right-of-way New dual track and grade separations in NC 68 right-of-way Additional track in NCRR right-of-way

BRT Alternative: 

BRT Alternative Corridors Evaluation Assumes Exclusive Bi-directional HOV Lane Where Right-of-way Exists HOVs Located Along Highways or Railroad Corridors Streets Used for Approaches to CBDs Existing CBD Transit Centers Served

BRT Alternative: 

BRT Alternative Burlington St. Marks Church Rd Rock Creek Center Greensboro East Loop NC A&T Greensboro CBD UNC Greensboro PTI Airport Kernersville East Winston-Salem Winston-Salem CBD Wake Forest Med Center Hanes Mall Clemmons East/West Corridor Evaluation 14 Station Locations

BRT Alternative: 

BRT Alternative High Point to Greensboro (6) High Point CBD Brentwood/US 311 Vickrey Chapel Groometown/South Loop Coliseum Boulevard Greensboro CBD High Point to PTI Airport (4) High Point CBD Oak Hollow Mall Piedmont Centre PTI Airport High Point to Winston-Salem (5) High Point CBD North Main/US 311 Union Cross East Winston-Salem Winston-Salem CBD North/South Corridors Evaluation Station Locations

BRT Alternative: 

BRT Alternative Corridors Evaluation Major Expenses HOV lane construction Flyover ramps and grade separations

Cost Estimating: 

Cost Estimating Based Upon Preliminary Alignment Surveys and Standard Unit Costs Includes Costs for Vehicles + Spares and Yard & Shops Increased 20% for Contingency and 15% for Engineering & Project Management Expressed in Constant Dollars (no inflation)

Ridership Estimation: 

Ridership Estimation Developed Using Travel Demand Model Originally developed for highway purposes Outside Adjustments Made for Special Situations Airline travelers FedEx employment Market attendance Model Currently Being Updated

Evaluation Factors: 

Evaluation Factors Operating Cost per Passenger Mile Annual Cost per Annual Rider Total Annual Riders Capital Cost per Mile Travel Time Environmental Factors Service Coverage

Performance ResultsOverall: 

Performance Results Overall

Performance ResultsBurlington - Clemmons: 

Performance Results Burlington - Clemmons

Performance ResultsNC A&T – Hanes Mall Segment: 

Performance Results NC A&T – Hanes Mall Segment

Performance ResultsGreensboro CBD – Winston-Salem CBD Segment: 

Performance Results Greensboro CBD – Winston-Salem CBD Segment

Performance ResultsHigh Point - Greensboro: 

Performance Results High Point - Greensboro

Performance ResultsHigh Point – PTI Airport: 

Performance Results High Point – PTI Airport

Performance ResultsHigh Point – Winston-Salem: 

Performance Results High Point – Winston-Salem

Decision at Hand: 

Decision at Hand Select Corridors For Improvements Determine If Shorter Initial Segments Are Appropriate Identify Technology Family For Corridor(s) Review/Confirm Station Vicinities

Next Steps: 

Next Steps Include LPA in Transportation Improvement Program Apply for Federal Funding Refine Alternative(s) Enter into Preliminary Engineering