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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12 OCTA'S GO LOCAL PROGRAM 06-03-08Agenda Item Reviewed: AGENDA REPORT City Manager � Finance Director MEETING DATE: JUNE 3, 2008 TO: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT/ENGINEERING DIVISION 12 NIA SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF FINAL REPORT FOR CITY -INITIATED TRANSIT EXTENSIONS TO METROLINK (THE "GO LOCAL STEP 1" PROGRAM) AND AUTHORIZATION TO PURSUE THE "GO LOCAL STEP 2" PROGRAM SUMMARY In order to address future Metrolink service expansion, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) developed a program known as "GO LOCAL" to plan and implement City -initiated transit extension to OCTA's Metrolink Commuter Rail Line. Step 1 of the "GO LOCAL" Program provided each of the 34 cities in Orange County a $100,000 grant to study possible extensions to the Metrolink line. The City of Tustin, through Cooperative Agreement No. C-6-0799 with OCTA, accepted the grant funds to develop project concepts to enhance transit service to the Tustin Metrolink Station. A final report containing recommendations to expand existing transit service and improve bicycle and pedestrian access to the Tustin Metrolink Station has been prepared for City Council review and approval. Once approved by the City Council, these recommendations will be submitted to OCTA for participation in Step 2 of the "GO LOCAL" Program. Step 2 is a process where the participating cities will compete for additional funding to further develop the most promising projects: RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council approve the final report for the "GO LOCAL Step 1" Program and authorize submittal of the final report to OCTA for consideration under the "GO LOCAL Step 2" competitive process. FISCAL IMPACT A local funding match of ten percent, up to a maximum of $100,000, is required under the "GO LOCAL Step 2" Program. It is anticipated that the detailed planning and alternative analysis needed to determine a defined local shuttle system between the Metrolink Station and other Tustin locations could be completed for $75,000. The City's share of $7,500 would be budgeted in the Public Works Department/Engineering Services FY08/09 Operating Budget. BACKGROUND The 'GO LOCAL" Program was established by OCTA in 2006 to implement a four step process to plan and implement City -initiated transit extensions to the OCTA Metrolink Commuter Rail Line. The four step process consists of the following: • Step 1: $100,000 grants for initial needs assessment for interested cities to develop their own future transit vision. • Step 2: Detailed planning and alternatives analysis of the concepts emerging from Step One for interested cities, with projects qualifying through a competitive process. Approval of Final Report for City -Initiated Transit Extensions to Metrolink (the "GO LOCAL Step 1" Program) and Authorization to Pursue the "GO LOCAL Step 2" Program June 3, 2008 Page 2 Step 3: Project development/implementation (preliminary engineering through construction) of those projects, which qualify through a competitive process for continued funding. • Step 4: Additional work on the Metrolink corridor to transform stations into transportation centers. It should be noted that a recommendation from OCTA to advance a "GO LOCAL Step 1" project proposal into Step 2 denotes that the concept has merits for further study; however, it does not imply approval of a specific project. The "GO LOCAL" Program is funded through Measure M. To date, the cities of Anaheim and the joint Santa Ana and Garden Grove proposal have each received $5.9 million to move forward with Step 2. DISCUSSION The "GO LOCAL Step 1" Study developed five recommendations to enhance transit service along with pedestrian and bicycle access to Tustin's Metrolink Station. The Study analyzed existing and future conditions at the station with particular focus on improving access to the station for Tustin residents and businesses. Recommendation Number 1 is to implement a local shuttle connecting the Metrolink Station to City Hall and other downtown locations. Traveling to City Hall from the station requires several transfers and extensive walking between stops. As a result, a trip that takes 10 minutes by car could require an hour when transit is used. Additionally, future transit routes planned for the station will improve access to the City of Irvine (i -shuttle) and other areas of Orange County (Edinger Avenue BRT). It is anticipated that implementing a local shuttle with 6 buses providing 20-30 minute service frequencies during weekday peak hours would require a capital investment from $1.2 to $1.6 million, with annual operating costs of $300,000 to $600,000. Given the number of employees and residents proximity to the site, daily boardings could be in the 400-600 range. Recommendation Number 2 is to provide additional pedestrian connectivity to areas north of the station. This recommendation would involve removing the existing BNSF spur line and constructing a lighted, paved pedestrian walkway to Dow Avenue. The City has been informed by OCTA that OCTA may acquire the spur line right-of-way from BNSF and construct the walkway in conjunction with the construction of the future parking structure. It is estimated that right-of-way acquisition, engineering, and construction could be completed for $500,000. Approval of Final Report for City-Initiated Transit Extensions to Metrolink (the "GO LOCAL Step 1" Program) and Authorization to Pursue the "GO LOCAL Step 2" Program June 3, 2008 Page 3 Recommendation Number 3 is to provide transit service to the Legacy Project. While some of the residential units are within the '/z mile radius typically considered ideal for walk access to fixed guide way or rail transit, all of the non-residential development is outside of the '/2 mile walkshed. It is anticipated that 2-3 shuttles with 20-30 minute service frequencies could be provided for a capital cost of $400,000 - $600,000 with annual operating costs of $100,000 to $300,000. A funding agreement with the Master Developer of the Legacy Project could assist in alleviating some of the implementing costs. Recommendation Number 4 is to enhance the pedestrian connectivity from the Legacy Project across Edinger from the East Connector. These enhancements could include textured concrete, laddered crosswalk striping and additional signing. The improvements could be done in conjunction with roadway construction for under $25,000. Recommendation Number 5 would provide a connection from the station easterly along the tracks to the Peters Canyon Bicycle/Pedestrian Trail. Because of the need for a bridge, the implementation of this recommendation could cost as much as $750,000. During the Step 2 Phase of the "GO LOCAL" Program, cities will compete for additional funding to further develop the most promising projects. Proposed projects will be judged against well-defined and well known criteria, such as project readiness (with priority given to projects that can be implemented with the first 5 years of renewed Measure M), local funding commitments, regional as well as local benefits, ability to attract other partners, etc. With these criteria in place, Recommendation Number 1 would be the most competitive recommendation for Step 2 funding. A scope of services that would meet the requirements of the Step 2 Program to develop a local shuttle that could be implemented in the future through Step 3 funding of the "GO LOCAL" Program is attached. The proposed scope of work includes services that will identify alternatives, develop ridership forecasts, develop an operating plan and determine revenue sources. The proposal would serve as the City's funding request for inclusion in the Step 2 process and would involve the City providing a 10% local match of $7,500 of the total $75,000. It is recommended that the City Council approve the "GO LOCAL Step 1" report and authorize its submittal to OCTA for consideration in "GO LOCAL Step 2" Program, along with a funding request of $75,000. Tim D. Serlet Dana R. Kasdan Director of Public Works/City Engineer Engineering Services Manager Attachment: "GO LOCAL Step 1" final report "GO LOCAL Step 2" proposal S:\City Council Items\2008 Council Items\Approval of GO LOCAL Step 1 Final Report 2.docx f� Ft iii: &�LLI:S TRANSPORTATION CONSULTANTS May 28, 2008 Terry Lutz Principal Engineer -Public Works Engineering City of Tustin 300 Centennial Way Tustin, CA 92780 Re: Scope of Services for OCTA Go Local -Step 2 Support (Ridership and Route Planning) Dear Mr. Lutz: Fehr & Peers is pleased to submit this scope of services to implement Recommendation #1 from our previously prepared OCTA Go Local Step 1 Study. This recommendation identified the need to implement additional local bus service from the Metrolink Station into the Downtown Tustin area. We identified that this route would be needed given the gaps in existing OCTA bus service and the resulting limited transit access from the City of Tustin to the Tustin Metrolink station. SCOPE OF SERVICES Task 1— Review Data from Step I Go Local Study Our initial work on this effort will include a review of the Step 1 Go Local Study to verify that none of the information presented in the report has been changed. For example, we will determine whether any of the existing OCTA bus routes have been updated or there is new employment and population data. It is our expectation that there would be little or no change in the information presented in our previous report that would substantially affect the analysis. Task 2- Verify Previous Route Recommendation Concurrent with Task 1, we will meet with the City of Tustin to verify the route identified in the Step 1 Go Local Study. During this meeting, we will also discuss any potential alternatives which would include additional service within Old Town Tustin and minor modifications to the route to add other employment and population centers. Task 3- Identify Potential Alternatives During this analysis, we will consider up to three alternative routing concepts. We anticipate that these route concepts will serve as minor variations from the route identified in the Step 1 Go Local Study. At the end of this task, we will identify one route for more detailed analysis. Task 4 — Develop Ridership Forecasts In this task, we will develop detailed ridership forecasts for the preferred transit route by considering the location of major employment and residential centers. Specific items we will perform during this task would include: ■ Meeting with major employers along the corridor to determine their interest in this service 15707 Rockfield Boulevard, Suite 155 Irvine, CA 92618 (949) 859-3200 Fax (949) 859-3209 www.fehrandpeers.com Terry Lutz May 27, 2008 Page 2 of 3 F� I M A N S III II IA I' I,N LUN SUI IAN II ■ Conducting surveys of employees to determine their interest and willingness to use this service. These surveys will also note service characteristics and preferences that might encourage usage. For example, we may ask survey respondents about their minimum level of service frequency (15 minutes, 30 minutes), which would inform the Operating Plan developed in Task 6. ■ Reviewing additional sources of land use data to verify the number of households and employees located along this route • Obtaining agreements with major employers to encourage the use of this route through the provision of transit passes and other incentives to maximize the usage of this route. Task 5 — Identify Stop Locations Using the information we developed in Tasks 2-4, we will identify appropriate stop locations. For each stop location, we will prepare approximate ridership estimates based on the overall ridership estimates identified in Task 4. Task 6 — Develop Detailed Operating Plan Using the data from Task 1 through 5, we will develop a detailed operations plan which will include the exact route for the transit service, the stop locations, hours of operations, and vehicle headway. We anticipate that this vehicle headway will reflect both peak and off-peak periods of operations. We will also consider the need for weekend service in addition to weekday service. Task 7 — Identify Appropriate Technology We will also recommend an appropriate technology for this route by evaluating which kinds of transit vehicles are currently being used by OCTA and which vehicles might likely be used by OCTA in the future. To the extent possible, we will recommend the use of alternative fuel vehicles to reduce fuel costs and emissions. Task 8- Develop Capital and Operating Costs We will identify capital and operating costs for the first five years following the implementation of this service. Capital costs will include the costs of the buses while operating expenses will consider labor, bus maintenance, and other factors typically applied. Task 9 — Determine Revenue Sources Concurrent with Task 8, we will also identify potential revenue sources which could include fares from riders and supplementary funding from major employers located along the route. We will also consult with the City of Tustin to determine if there are any available funding sources which the City could use to implement this service. Task 10- Identify Project Phasing We will also consider the applicability of phased implementation of this service. For example, it may be possible to implement a limited form of this service in the short term by reorienting an existing OCTA bus line (Route 75) that currently serves other areas of the City of Tustin. Task 11— Documentation We will summarize the results of Task 1-10 in a Draft Report. We will submit this report initially to the City of Tustin for their review and comment and update the report as necessary. Terry Lutz May 27, 2008 . r Page 3of3 Fii!: & I'[CI,,, I -N III iA IIII 111-I1AIII Task 12- Meetings & Coordination with OCTA For scoping purposes, we are assuming that there would be 10 meetings associated with this project. These meetings would include: ■ Kick-off meeting with City of Tustin ■ Two (2) meetings with OCTA to discuss this study and also to obtain any additional data needed ■ Three (3) meetings with property owners and major employers to discuss potential use of the route ■ Four (4) other meetings with the City of Tustin or other parties as needed COST ESTIMATE AND SCHEDULE Fehr & Peers will prepare this study on a time and materials basis to a maximum fee of $75,000, which will be billed on a percent complete basis. Invoices will be submitted monthly for services rendered and are due and payable upon receipt. The draft traffic impact study can be completed within 10 weeks following the receipt of written authorization to proceed. We look forward to working with you on this project. If you have any questions about this scope of services, please call Chris Gray in the Fehr & Peers Irvine office at 949.859.3200 or by e-mail at c.gray@fehrandpeers.com. Sincerely, FEHR & PEERS Christopher J. Gray, AICP Associate Steven J. Brown, P.E. Principal Final Report TuSTIN METROLINK STATION OCTA GO LOCAL STEP 1 STUDY Fehr & Peers 15707 Rockfield Blvd. Suite 155 Irvine, CA 92618 (949) 859-3200 Fax (949) 859-3209 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 2006, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) initiated a transit planning effort called the OCTA Go Local Program. The purpose of the Go Local Program is to identify transportation improvements which would facilitate the use of the regional Metrolink System. The City of Tustin elected to focus their Go Local efforts on the Tustin Metrolink station. This study outlines existing conditions at the station and provides recommendations related to improvements at the Metrolink station. These recommendations include several items that are potential candidates for future funding under later phases of the OCTA Go Local Program. KEY FINDINGS OF THE STUDY Our study evaluated existing and future conditions at the Tustin Metrolink Station considering transit, pedestrians, vehicular access, and parking. Some key findings included: ■ The Tustin Metrolink Station is a key component of the regional transit system. The station is located mid -way between the heavily used Irvine and Santa Ana Metrolink stations. Station patrons are drawn from areas throughout Southern California with many riders beginning or ending their trips in cities outside of Tustin. ■ Major destinations which can be accessed from the station include the John Wayne Airport, the Irvine Business Center (IBC), the Tustin Market Place, and other locations within the cities of Irvine and Tustin. ■ Transit access to/from Irvine is good and is expected to improve with the addition of the Irvine Shuttle. There are several existing OCTA bus routes which provide direct access into the City of Irvine. ■ Transit connectivity between the City of Tustin and the Tustin Metrolink station could be improved. Travel to locations within the City such as City Hall can require several hours with multiple transfers. The existing OCTA transit system provides limited direct access to the City of Tustin. Even with proposed service improvements, transit access into the City of Tustin will remain inadequate. ■ Existing pedestrian access to the station is adequate but could be improved. A significant number of transit patrons access the station from the north via an unauthorized access. Additionally, there are several existing and proposed recreational trails which could be connected to the station. ■ A major development, the Tustin Legacy Project, is currently under construction south of the station. While this development has adequate vehicular and pedestrian access, there is limited transit access to this project. f? Page 1 F EHR _ PEEM RAN SPO ItIAIION ',0NSULIANIS RECOMMENDATIONS Based on our review of the existing and future conditions at the station, we developed several recommendations to improve access to the station, with a particular focus on improving access to the station by Tustin residents. Recommendation #1- Provide a Local Shuttle Connecting the Metrolink Station to City Hall and Other Locations in Downtown Tustin. There are major destinations within the City of Tustin which have limited connectivity to the Tustin Metrolink Station. This shuttle would connect the Metrolink Station to City Hall and Downtown Tustin. We anticipate that 2-4 buses operating on 20-30 minute peak headways could provide sufficient service. This service would be new service or could replace several existing OCTA routes which either have limited ridership (Line 75) or are duplicated by new service proposed for the study area (Line 470/471). Recommendation #2- Provide Additional Pedestrian Connectivity to Areas North of the Station Under this proposal, an additional path would be constructed north of the Metrolink Station to facilitate pedestrian access. This facility would provide access for station patrons who currently access the station without an authorized access route. Recommendation #3- Provide Transit Connection to the Tustin Legacy Project The Tustin Legacy Project will have sufficient population and employment to justify transit service. This service would connect major locations within the Legacy Project to the Metrolink Station. The existing circulation plan for the Legacy Project already includes physical accommodations for transit via bus stops and bus pullouts. We would recommend this improvement only be implemented if the Legacy Project provides some level of continuing support or assistance. Recommendation #4- Enhance Pedestrian Connection to the Tustin Legacy Project As noted previously, the Tustin Legacy Project is a large development which will be built south of the Metrolink station. A key component of the Legacy Project is a central trail system which extends through the project. To facilitate pedestrian access to the station, we would recommend the addition of pedestrian enhancements where this trail terminates at Edinger Avenue near the station. These enhancements would include textured and colored pavement, additional crosswalk striping, and signage directing pedestrians to the station. It is anticipated that these enhancements will encourage pedestrian access to the station from the Legacy Project. Recommendation #5- Provide Connection to the Peters Canyon Regional Bike Trail One of the major bicycle trails in Orange County is the Peters Canyon trail. Currently, this trail passes by the station but lacks a direct connection. Within the study area, the trail travels south generally paralleling Jamboree Road until it reaches the rail tracks east of the station. From there, it travels east along the tracks until it reaches Harvard Avenue, where the trail continues south. We recommend the construction of a pathway from the station to the east to connect with the portion of the trail which f? Page 2 [EHR - PEEM RAN SPO ItIAIION ',0NSULIANIS extends along the tracks. Constructing this connection would require a bicycle/pedestrian bridge over the existing drainage canal east of Jamboree Road. REVIEW OF OTHER ITEMS NOT RELATED TO OCTA GO LOCAL PROGRAM In addition to the recommendations identified above, City staff asked us to analyze other items pertaining to either station operations or additional transit within the City of Tustin, which are not directly related to the OCTA Go Local Program. Many of these items relate to operation and access of the station during construction of a future parking garage. This review concluded the following: ■ We determined that the size of the proposed parking garage is adequate, based on ridership estimates that we developed. ■ It would be feasible to provide a shuttle within the Old Town Tustin area, if an appropriate funding source can be identified. ■ It would not be feasible to provide off-site parking for the station during construction of the garage, unless this parking is provided directly adjacent to the site. ■ It is possible that the combination of existing and proposed transit at the station could result in inadequate bus bays since there are currently only two at the station. We would therefore recommend that the City review the design of the parking garage to ensure that there would be sufficient bus bays. We anticipate that as many as 5 buses or other transit vehicles in the future might need to access the station simultaneously. ■ We would recommend that the City maintain transit and pedestrian access during construction of the garage. ■ We would also recommend that the City pursue a direct connection from the adjacent Jamboree Road southbound connector roadway into the parking garage. f? Page 3 F EHR _ PEEM RAN SPO ItIAIION ',0NSULIANIS �oA ILr' ' E ] rz t' N .0 C a a a C iC T U .�d ■C `� yi T C C z t v ti W . V LLJ u) rz !a i F- ■ /R 1 Z Cl) I W ■ co ■ ■ Cl) ■ Z Ip 1 F- �a • Z W 1 � �O .v LU oC J a V 0 O C) 1 T '�//1� V+ W W 1= _V INTRODUCTION In 2006, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) initiated a transit planning effort called the OCTA Go Local Program. Under this Go Local Program, all of the incorporated cities within Orange County were provided with a grant of $100,000 to initiate transit planning efforts. The purpose of this initial grant was to develop concepts (Step One) which would be subject to further refinement and implementation (Step Two). Only a portion of the recommendations identified in the various Step One studies can be funded in Step Two, given the finite amount of funds available under Measure M. TUSTIN METROLINK The City of Tustin elected to focus their Go Local efforts on the Tustin Metrolink station. This station is located between the Irvine and Santa Ana stations along the Orange County Metrolink line at 2795 Edinger Avenue. Currently, there are 36 northbound and southbound trains which stop at this facility on the weekdays when trains begin accessing the station at 4:30 AM on and with service continuing until 7:30 PM. On the weekends, service begins at 7:00 AM and continues until 10:00 PM with 14 trains (both northbound and southbound) accessing the station. The location of this facility is provided on Figure 1. Regional access to this facility occurs from Jamboree Road which connects to Edinger Avenue. Local access to the station is provided through two driveways along Edinger Avenue. Land uses around the station currently include several automotive servicing establishments (oil change, gas station, etc), a veterinary center, a convenience store, and a fast food restaurant. This facility currently provides an at -grade parking lot with 317 parking spaces. The existing at -grade parking lot will be replaced by a parking structure, with construction anticipated to begin in 2010. STUDY ORGANIZATION This study considers both existing and future conditions at the Tustin Metrolink Station and addresses the following items: ■ Existing Transportation Policies, Plans, and Services (Chapter 3) ■ Existing OCTA Bus Routes (Chapter 4) ■ Ridership Survey (Chapter 5) ■ Future Transit Improvements (Chapter 6) ■ Existing and Future Bicycle/Pedestrian Connectivity (Chapter 7) ■ Key Findings of Our Review of Existing and Future Conditions (Chapter 8) ■ Station Area Enhancements under OCTA Go Local Program (Chapter 9). ■ Additional recommendations pertaining to other planning issues not related to the OCTA Go Local Program (Chapter 10). f? Page 5 [EHR _ PEEM RAN SPO ItIAIION ',0NSULIANIS ` n P � 3 4 � : I°I W� • T '* _..� .� w.. �,. • � a.�: °•� f ,' .��Y.n¢ a:'7 � � • -,w, 'fir , ... �. __� . 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' "` + 9► .r �dv .r .. �- -� _ _ -' �, .'���' 'E �� � ill• ■C C a(IR `C% i a C ■c z C%U i t G t v AM EVALUATION CRITERIA As noted above, OCTA will be using the recommendations from various Step One studies to identify further improvements that will be selected through a competitive process. OCTA staff has indicated that the following evaluation criteria will be used to differentiate between the various proposals: 1. Local jurisdiction funding commitments- Includes discussion of local funding commitments allocated to these improvements. 2. Proven ability to attract other financial partners- Would include information regarding funding commitments from other parities including either existing funding commitments or an action plan to obtain such funding commitments. This evaluation criteria would also address rideshare commitments from employers along the route. 3. Proximity to jobs and population centers- This evaluation criteria addresses the relationship between nearby employees and residents to increase access to Metrolink. 4. Regional benefits- This criteria discusses relationship of the proposed improvements to the larger region. It includes a discussion of cities served by the proposed project and also existing and planned activity centers accessed by proposed improvements. 5. Ease and simplicity of connections- This criteria addressed items such as the new transit connections, the ease of access from the Metrolink platform to boarding location, and the general level of connectivity to the new service. 6. Cost-effectiveness- This criteria considers items such as cost per rider, cost per passenger mile, and other relevant cost items. 7. Traffic congestion relief- Items addressed under this criteria would include estimates of new transit riders and any reduction in daily VMT traveled resulting from this new ridership. 8. Right-of-way availability- This criteria would address items including the need to acquire new right of way or proof that sufficient right of way is available. 9. Sound long-term operating plan- This criteria would include discussion of the 5+ operating plan, projected farebox recovery, and a qualitative assessment of the proposed funding sources. 10. Compatible and approved land use- Under this criteria, we would discuss the general transit supportiveness of the land use served by the proposed project and also any letters of support related to any proposed improvements. 11. Project readiness- This criteria addresses the ability of the project to be implemented within 5 years. 12. Safe and modern technology_- Under this criteria, we would address a qualitative assessment of the safety and reliability of the proposed technology. For each of the recommendations identified in Chapter 10, we have identified how the project relates to the evaluation criteria and scored each recommendation. f? Page 7 [EHR _ PEEM RAN SPO ItIAIION ',0NSULIANIS 2. EXISTING TRANSPORTATION POLICIES AND PLANS This chapter reviews the applicable existing transportation policies and plans. TUSTIN GENERAL PLAN AND CIRCULATION ELEMENT The Tustin Circulation Element is part of the Tustin General Plan. The purpose of the Circulation Element is to provide a safe, efficient, and adequate circulation system for the City. The Circulation Element contains goals and policies designed to improve overall circulation in Tustin and to address circulation issues that concern the City. The Circulation element addresses needs for new transit facilities. For example, the Circulation element states that in order to maximize the use of public transit, new development should be designed to accommodate bus stops. It also suggests there is a need for Park -and -Ride facilities to enhance bus ridership for non -local trips. Many of the Circulation Element goals and policies are supportive of transit, including: ■ Providing a street system that meets the needs of residents and facilitating efficient movement of people throughout the City (p. 10) o Policy 1.11 - Encourage new development which facilitates transit services provides for vehicular circulation and minimizes vehicle miles traveled ■ TSM and TDM strategies (p. 13) o Policy 4.3 - Encourage the implementation of employer TDM requirements and participate in regional efforts to implement TDM requirements o Policy 4.4 - Require that proposals for major new residential developments include submission of a TDM plan to the City including monitoring and enforcement provisions o Policy 4.5 - Encourage the development of additional regional public transportation services and support facilities ■ Public transit (p. 13-14) o GOAL 5 - Support development of a public transportation system that provides mobility to all City inhabitants and encourages use of public transportation as an alternative to automobile travel o Policy 5.1 - Support the efforts of the appropriate transportation agencies to provide additional local and express bus service to the Tustin community o Policy 5.2 - Require new development to fund transit facilities such as bus shelters and turnouts where deemed necessary to meet public needs arising in conjunction with development o Policy 5.3 - Ensure accessibility of public transportation for elderly and disabled persons consistent with City responsibilities for accessibility f? Page 8 [EHR _ PEEM RAN SPO ItIAIION ',0NSULIANIS o Policy 5.4 - Encourage employers to reduce vehicular trips by offering employee incentives such as subsidized bus passes and vanpool programs o Policy 5.5 - Promote new development that is designed in a manner which facilitates provision or expansion of transit service and provides non -automobile circulation within the development o Policy 5.6 - Encourage developers to work with agencies providing transit service with the objective of maximizing the potential for transit use by residents and/or employees o Policy 5.7 - Promote the provision of safe transit stops and shelters ■ Transit, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities (p. 14-15) o GOAL 6 - Increase the use of non -motorized modes of transportation o Policy 6.1 - Promote the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists by adhering to uniform standards and practices o Policy 6.2 - Maintain existing pedestrian facilities and require new development to provide pedestrian walkways between developments schools and public facilities o Policy 6.3 - Ensure accessibility of pedestrian facilities to the elderly and disabled o Policy 6.12 - Provide for a vehicular circulation system that encourages bicycle transportation and pedestrian circulation o Policy 6.13 - Maintain a City of Tustin Bikeway Plan that complements and is coordinated with the County Plan as well as neighborhood jurisdictions o Policy 6.14 - Require new development to dedicate land and fund improvement of bicycle and pedestrian facilities where deemed necessary to meet public needs arising in conjunction with development TUSTI N LEGACY The Tustin Legacy project is a large mixed-use development located on the site of a former Marine Corps Air Station. Components of the project include: ■ 4,600 homes ■ 10 million square feet of non-residential space including office and retail uses ■ 275 acres of parks ■ 2 -mile long linear park Figure 2 provides an illustrative graphic for the project. The land use plan for the site concentrates most of the non-residential development south of the Metrolink Station along Barranca Parkway. One issue related to the site plan is that most of the density associated with the site (including both residential and commercial) is concentrated to the south of the site closer to Barranca Parkway and Red Hill Avenue. f? Page 9 [EHR _ PEEM RAN SPO ItIAIION ',0NSULIANIS .tl N LYON Al GO I ELEM . . SCHOOL ComMUNI PARK 0 EDUCATION DISTRICT 4 E I Y 1I 1 -" w crry OF-TusTIN - iKIL M PROPERTY:WARNE AVENUE—' -I MDR STATION ' I I! I TUSTIN f=I'EL0G I' 14HDR LDRi 1 . RIE� a �pp y�I R H00 LDR ADR ' I LAINMKA � I LD pp■` MDR MDR MDR nW IM11I W f X , s i LENNAR LDLDa 1 J i of � fi A MDR MDR Ht _ _ r WARN ENUL THE [DISTRICT ped 1pl v, r Li NEIGHBORHOOD COMMIEI fC ' I W LDR Low DENSITY RESIDEN-no LU f Ing(,'0 j GO�,� M MEDIUM DENSI 'Y RESIDE 51 Figure 2- Tustin Legacy Land Use Plan VEHICULAR CONNECTIVITY As noted in Figure 2, the Legacy Project will construct an internal roadway network within the site. This will include a "loop system" connecting the various internal components of the project. This loop roadway connects to the external roadway system at the following locations: ■ Edinger Avenue ■ Red Hill Avenue ■ Barranca Parkway ■ Jamboree Road f? Page 10 [EHR &_ PEEM RAN SP0kIAIION II SULIANIS Along Edinger Avenue, the connection would occur at the existing traffic signal near the Metrolink Station. From any location within Tustin Legacy, it would be possible to travel to the Metrolink Station via automobile using this internal roadway network. TRANSIT CONNECTIVITY The Specific Plan documents do not reference any planned internal bus system or any plans to reroute existing OCTA bus lines into the Tustin Legacy project. Several of the Specific Plan graphics do indicate that the project would provide some level of transit accommodation by providing bus stops or bus turnouts within the project. PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY Our review of the Specific Plan indicates that a majority of the roadways would accommodate pedestrians via sidewalks. The project will also include a linear park that extends through the site. We anticipate that pedestrians wishing to travel to the Metrolink Station would be able to travel along the provided sidewalk system or through the proposed linear park. f? Page 11 [EHR - PEEM RAN SPO ItIAIION ',0NSULIANIS 3. EXISTING OCTA TRANSIT SERVICE Existing OCTA bus service serving the City of Tustin is shown in Table 1 and illustrated in Figure 3. Transit access to and from the Tustin Metrolink Station includes OCTA Lines 470, 471, and 75. Line 70 which is a higher frequency route than 75, 4707 471, stops outside of station on Edinger Avenue. Lines 470 and 471 are weekday commuter routes while Line 75 is a weekday community circulator with hourly service. Lines 470 and 471 currently operate but will be reconfigured at some point in the future with the implementation of the Irvine Shuttle. Line 75 is not heavily patronized according to information provided by OCTA. Table 1 OCTA Bus Routes Serving Tustin Weekday Weekend (Sat) Line Route Descrintion Tvne Service Snan Max Fran- Service Snan Max Frea_ 60 Downtown Tustin to Long Beach Trunk 24 -hr 7 min 24 -hr 15 min 64 Downtown Tustin to Huntington Beach Trunk 4:30a to 11:30p 10 min 5:00a to 11:00p 12 min 66 Westminster to Irvine via Tustin Trunk 4:00a to 12:30a 10 min 5:00a to 10:30p 10 min 70 Sunset Beach to Dana Point via Tustin Metrolink Trunk 4:30a to 12:00p 10 min 5:00a to 11:30p 20 min 71 Yorba Linda to Balboa via Downtown Tustin Trunk 5:00a to 11:00p 30 min 6:00a to 9:00p 30 min 72 Southeast Tustin to Sunset Beach Trunk 5:00a to 9:00p 20 min 7:00a to 8:00p 45 min 75 Tustin Marketplace to Newport Beach via Tustin Metrolink Feeder 6:00a to 7:30p 60 min No Service No Service 79 Downtown Tustin to Newport Beach Feeder 5:00a to 11:00 30 min 6:00a to 9:00p 60 min 167 Anaheim to Irvine via Downtown Tustin and Tustin Mktplace Feeder 5:00a to 9:00p 45 min 9:00a to 7:00p 60 min 470 Tustin Metrolink to John Wayne Airport Commuter, 5:30a to 7:00p* 15 min No Service No Service 471 Tustin Metrolink to Irvine (FDA) Commuter 6:00a to 6:30p* 1 10 min No Service No Service *AM Southbound Only. PM Northbound Only. No Midday Service Our review of the existing OCTA routes and operations, led to several conclusions including: A majority of the routes connecting to the station are east/west oriented with a few north/south routes Transit connectivity to/from the station is best into Irvine, particularly the IBC through Route 470 and 471 There are several routes which connect to the City of Tustin but connect only indirectly to the --ti Metrolink station We had anecdotal evidence that it was difficult to connect to Downtown Tustin, particularly City Hall (as shown in the photo to the right) from the Metrolink Station. One of our staff members made the trip but needed to perform the following steps: ■ Board Route 75 at the Metrolink Station ■ Travel on Route 75 into the City of Tustin to the stop at EI Camino Real fp Page 12 [EHR - PEEM RAN SPO ItIAIION ',0NSULIANIS ■ Wait 30 minutes for the Route 167 bus ■ Take Route 167 to a stop near City Hall ■ Walk to City Hall We estimated that this trip required a total of 60 minutes. By comparison, this trip by passenger vehicle generally requires only 10 minutes even during peak travel hours. fp Page 13 1� EH R &- EE kS RANSPO kFAIION C�JNSULIANIS .W' • C : • • • • Ir Ir Ir cr • • • • • • • • • • • • I• NO AP All lit 4e' A. TE Wdr six , •i " a *' i n - h • 1 P' P ( r , A 9� n e e _ i• - s . + . ;• a r , r 4 v e. + w.ry rs . jar ^ r - . `P F R 1 F a `� �: •; urs. "" _ .� , , _ s > n H .a Ps 1 � M, .• � ;i� fir. �., • e a , �k ... xa a PON ONr - i P III • �c j., - �'� urPlY a`` Oil a Now r 10 76, IL^ •- ,Vzqeq , P i , t�_ AV G „ ,s �' ,wa•��'.s ` r'SP-.s� ■�y:'r'. �L_•a wa '�c � ..an ^Ih. ' -, o : h -- '' .:_.^! -_.`_ L.;,.s�r,:A,�,�IY i �S. ulen S Aempeoa8 S R� aaMoij S ■m C RC a Q AM W V ■ > LLJ■ cn ■ Z �a F- 0 0 ' Z ♦PPPPPP Y 1 x Iw M ■ ■ W I 1 1 ■ UL 4. RIDERSHIP SURVEY To obtain additional information about the patrons/riders using the station, we conducted an origin/destination survey at the station in December 2007 which asked the following questions: 1. What is your home zip code? 2. What is your work zip code? Data was collected during the morning peak hour (6 AM to 9 AM) and the evening peak hour (3 PM to 6 PM). We surveyed 118 persons in the morning and 206 persons in the evening. A summary of the zip code results are provided in Figure 4, which indicates that a majority of the persons using the Tustin station have either a home or work zip code in the City of Irvine. Approximately 60 percent of the persons using the station were from Irvine, while the remaining 40 percent were split evenly between Tustin and other locations. Figures 5-8 document the results graphically. Figures 5 and 6 show the home and work zip code of those persons getting on the train in the AM; Figures 7 and 8 show the home and work zip code of those persons getting on the train in the PM. From a review of this data we can conclude the following- f? Page 15 [EHR - PEEM RAN SPO ItIAIION ',0NSULIANIS Figure 4 Tustin Survey Respondents 120 100 a� 80 0 0 � 60 0 AM ®PM 4- 0 L 40 E Z 20 0 Tustin Irvine Other Figures 5-8 document the results graphically. Figures 5 and 6 show the home and work zip code of those persons getting on the train in the AM; Figures 7 and 8 show the home and work zip code of those persons getting on the train in the PM. From a review of this data we can conclude the following- f? Page 15 [EHR - PEEM RAN SPO ItIAIION ',0NSULIANIS A majority of the persons accessing the station are from the City of Irvine, which indicates that access to/from Irvine is more than adequate. We anticipate that this access will improve once the City of Irvine implements the proposed Irvine shuttle. The number of persons accessing the station from Tustin is limited. Tustin has an overall population of over 70,000 persons yet contributes little to the ridership at the adjacent Metrolink station. The lack of usage by Tustin would suggest that the station's connectivity to Tustin could be improved. f? Page 16 FEHR &- PEEM IRAN SPO ItrAIION ',0NSULIANIS U07 w ^w r'1 7GJ�i cla.gEli Cf I: 5. STATION AREA BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY This chapter discusses existing and future pedestrian connectivity to the station. We evaluated the connectivity in each cardinal direction (North, South, West, and East) through a series of field visits and field observations at the site. CONNECTIVITY TO THE NORTH From first glance, it would appear that there is little or no connectivity to the north, since there is no designated or formal path across the unused spur tracks to the adjacent uses to the north. However, several field visits indicated that there is a significant level of pedestrian travel to the areas north of the tracks. While there is a fence designed to prevent crossings, it has fallen over in several areas as shown in the photos below, which are looking north from the station into the adjacent parking lots. At,11as Van Lines 4 ,17 a - :�' , a ,rs ,.F ' . � � �•� rWrf �. i<as'e _yr• During limited observations for several hours on one day, we noted 20 persons walking to/from this northern area. Several persons were seen climbing over the fence to leave the station area. During our field observations related to parking, we determined that several of these persons were employees of Printronix, a major employer within the area north of the station. CONNECTIVITY TO THE SOUTH Currently, the land to the south of the station is vacant. With the development of the previously described Tustin Legacy Project, there will be extensive development to the south of the station. We anticipate that as many as Y2 of the proposed residences within the Legacy Project would be located within the traditional Y2 mile walking area (or walkshed) that is considered to be optimal for transit access at a rail or train station. From our review of the Tustin Legacy plan, we determined that there would be a linear park extending through the site which would connect with at Edinger Avenue across from the Metrolink Station. At this time, there are no detailed plans which describe how this linear park might connect to Edinger Avenue or if the f? Page 21 [EHR - PEEM RANSPORfA11UN CI1MSULIAN1S Legacy project would provide any pedestrian enhancements at Edinger Avenue to facilitate access to the Metrolink Station. CONNECTIVITY TO THE WEST There is a sidewalk which extends from the entrance of the Metrolink Station to the west along Edinger Avenue. However, there are few destinations along this sidewalk, and the sidewalk eventually terminates one-half mile down the roadway. While conducting field observations, we noted one person who walked down from the western end of Edinger Avenue to the train station. The photo to the right shows the termination of the sidewalk. In the future, there will be a sidewalk along the south side of Edinger Avenue once the Tustin Legacy Project is complete. CONNECTIVITY TO THE EAST A sidewalk extends from the Metrolink Station under Jamboree Road and continues past a residential development. We did not observe anyone walking to the station since this development was more than Y2 mile from the station. Edinger Avenue is also a high speed, high volume roadway. The photo to the right shows the sidewalk leading away from the Metrolink Station. In conducting our field reviews, we noted that the Peters Canyon Trail is located to the east of Jamboree Road about Y2 mile away from the platform. This facility is a recreational trail for both hikers and bicyclists and is heavily utilized. We noted that there was no direct connection to this trail from the Metrolink Station. f? Page 22 F EHR _ PEEM RAN SPO ItIAIION ',0NSULIANIS 6. FUTURE TRANSIT IRVINE BUSINESS CENTER SHUTTLE The Irvine Shuttle is one major new transit route that would connect to the Metrolink Station. The shuttle will serve businesses and employers within the IBC area and will connect to the major transit hubs of the Tustin Metrolink Station and John Wayne Airport, as shown in - TuarInmetroh* # �T4 Figure 9. Three routes are planned for the IBC shuttle.,..ro.`ati LF including: Route A- Route A would travel from the Tustin Metrolink Station to the John Wayne Airport via Von Karmen Avenue. Weekday service would start at 5:00 AM and end at 7:30 PM. Weekend and holiday service would be provided from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Service on this route should begin in June 2008. Route B- This route would travel from the Tustin Metrolink Station into the IBC via Jamboree Road and Michelson Drive. Weekday service would start at 5:00 AM and end at 7:30 PM. Weekend and holiday service would be provided from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Service on this route should begin in June 2008. Route C- This route would run internally to the IBC. Service would be provided every 10 minutes from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Serve began on this route in March 2008. • SHUTTLE S1 +� ROUTE A ROUTE B ROUTE 1 II LL'+ Within the IBC, 3,200 residential units are occupied with 5,300 additional under construction or planned. 6,000 Y i businesses and 80,000 employees are located in the IBC. Surveys of IBC employees and residents indicated Figure 9- Proposed Irvine Shuttle Routes that 27.2% of employees and 18.8% residents said they g p would take a shuttle to/from the Tustin Metrolink Station. Ridership projections for the Irvine Shuttle suggest a potential daily ridership of 2,288 passengers. This ridership estimate includes a combination of people who may be able to take the shuttle to get to work (from their residence in the IBC, or from the train station) and people who are expected to still drive their car to get to work, but would take the shuttle to business or lunchtime destinations within the IBC. The Irvine shuttle will serve commute period travel to/from the Tustin Metrolink Station in addition to a midday circulator route that would be limited to the Central IBC area. The commute routes were designed with 10 minute headways and a service span from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 to 7:00 p.m. f? Page 23 RANSPORrAlION CONSULTANTS BUS RAPID TRANSIT OCTA is planning one Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route that will travel into the City of Tustin and provide access to the Tustin Metrolink Station. Line 570 will travel along Edinger Ave between the Tustin Metrolink Station and Goldenwest Transit Center in Westminster. The route is illustrated in Figure 10. Implementation is scheduled for 2018. Planned service frequency is for 12 minute peak headways. According to OCTA, no other service changes are currently planned for the City of Tustin. Figure 10- Proposed OCTA BRT Route f? Page 24 [EHR - PEEM RAN SPO ItIAIION ',,ON SU LIA N IS 7. KEY FINIDINGS This chapter discusses our key findings related to the existing transit service, current station patrons, bicycle/pedestrian accessibility, and future transit service. From reviewing these items, we can identify where additional connectivity could be provided through new/improved transit service or additional bicycle/pedestrian connections. EXISTING TRANSIT SERVICE In reviewing the current OCTA bus routes, we determined that the City of Irvine is well served by the current transit service. For example, several of the current OCTA bus routes provide a direct connection to locations within the City of Irvine. Currently, OCTA operates Route 470/471 connecting to the John Wayne Airport and the Irvine Business Center. It is anticipated that these routes would be reconfigured once the Irvine Shuttle is implemented. Much of the other service that operates within the study area is regional in nature. Of the 11 transit routes that run near the station, only 5 stop at the station. Of these routes, only 1 (Route 75) provides a direct route to any destination within the City of Tustin, which is the Tustin Marketplace. In reviewing the existing transit service, we noted particular difficulty in traveling to and from many of the major destinations in the City of Tustin from the Metrolink station. As noted previously, we encountered significant difficulties while trying to travel to the Tustin City Hall from the station. This trip required several transfers and extensive walking from one transit stop to another. CURRENT STATION PATRONS We also surveyed station patrons to determine their origins and destinations. Our review indicated that a majority of the station patrons were traveling either to or from the City of Irvine. Over 60 percent of the AM or PM respondents either lived in or worked in the City of Irvine. Only 20 percent of the respondents lived or worked in the City of Tustin. Since there are over 70,000 persons living in the City of Tustin, we would question why there is not greater utilization of the station. BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY We determined that the bicycle/pedestrian connectivity could be improved in the following ways: There is no authorized path that is available to access the site from the north. There are currently persons who access the station from the industrial park to the north who must cut across private property to reach the station. ■ There is an existing bicycle trail located to the east of Jamboree Road. There is no direct connection between this trail and the Metrolink Station, except for a bicycle lane along Edinger Avenue. ■ The large Tustin Legacy Project will be located to the south of the station. There will be a linear park which extends through the site and connects to Edinger Avenue. At this time, there are no defined pedestrian improvements at the terminus of this linear park. f? Page 25 RAN SPO ItIAIION ',0NSULIANIS FUTURE TRANSIT SERVICE We determined that there are two major transit improvements within the study area. These improvements include the IBC shuttle and a BRT route along Edinger Avenue. With these improvements, regional access including transit connectivity to the City of Irvine would be improved. However, we could identify no future transit improvements which would provide additional transit connectivity into the City of Tustin. SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS Based on our review of existing transit service, usage patterns of current patrons, bicycle/pedestrian connectivity, and future transit service, we can conclude the following about the Tustin Metrolink station: ■ There is good connectivity to various destinations in the City of Irvine and other areas of Orange County from the station. A majority of the peak period station users (80%) are from cities other than Tustin. ■ There is limited transit access from the Metrolink Station to the City of Tustin. Many destinations in the City of Tustin can only be accessed indirectly from the Metrolink station. For example, traveling to City Hall from the station requires several transfers and extensive walking between transit stops. As a result, a trip that takes 10 minutes by car can requires an hour when transit is used. ■ We determined that the future transit routes planned for the Metrolink Station will improve access to the City of Irvine (Irvine shuttle) and other areas of Orange County (Edinger Avenue BRT). However, we could find no new transit routes that would improve access to existing areas within the City of Tustin. ■ The bicycle and pedestrian connectivity could be improved by providing additional connections to the north, east, and south. ■ The proposed Tustin Legacy Project would benefit from transit connectivity and improved pedestrian connections at Edinger Avenue. f? Page 26 RAN SPO ItIAIION ',0NSULIANIS 8. GO LOCAL RECOMMENDATIONS This chapter presents recommendations regarding improvements at the Metrolink Station which would be included in the OCTA Go Local Program. These improvements include pedestrian enhancements and additional transit service. These recommendations are ranked in order of priority. This chapter also concludes with a discussion of how each recommendation compares against the evaluation criteria developed by OCTA. RECOMMENDATION #1- PROVIDE A LOCAL SHUTTLE CONNECTING THE METROLINK STATION TO CITY HALL AND OTHER LOCATIONS IN DOWNTOWN TUSTIN. We determined that the existing and proposed transit service does not provide a high level of connectivity to the City of Tustin. Consequently, we would recommend that providing additional transit service into the City of Tustin should be a priority. Under this proposal, a local transit route would connect the Metrolink Station to many destinations in the City of Tustin that are not currently served by an OCTA. Therefore, this route would be in addition to the existing service by OCTA. We anticipate that this service would require a mid-size bus such as one shown below. a f� Page 27 FEH &_ PEEPLS FRANSPORfAIION CONSULTANTS F- 'O • W .o rW �LL 'z i J ■O 1 r � I W I Q■ ■ ■ V I ■ z 1 F- Vr i ■ F- ■ 1 LU j T T C) m Figure 11 documents the proposed route for this new transit service. Some key advantages of the proposed route is that it travels by 3 major employment centers in the City of Tustin including City Hall, where over 300 persons are employed in a variety of City Departments. This route also connects to Old Town Tustin and other employments areas. We anticipate that there are approximately 750 employees in various locations. This route also passes by 14 multi -family residential complexes with a total of 2,700 units. Service parameters would likely be as follows: ■ Peak hour service with 4 buses and off-peak service with 2 buses. ■ Service frequencies of 20-30 minutes during peak hours and 30-60 minutes during off-peak hours. ■ Service would be provided both on the weekdays and weekends. On the weekends, limited service hours could be implemented. We anticipate that each of these buses would cost between $300,000 and $400,000 each with a total capital cost ranging from $1.2 to $1.6 Million. Yearly operating costs would range from $300,000 to $600,000. Some benefits of this proposal would include: ■ Providing a direction connection between major destinations in the City of Tustin (City Hall, Old Town Tustin) and the Metrolink Station. ■ Linking some of the largest employers in the City of Tustin to the Metrolink Station. These firms employ over 750 workers who would be able to access the Metrolink Station directly without having to resort to the use of a station car. ■ Providing a more direct connection for 14 multi -family residential complexes with over 2,700 dwelling units to the Tustin Metrolink Station. We anticipate that the daily ridership for this service would range from 400-600 boardings per day. Given the employees and residents proximate to the site, we would consider this estimate to be conservative. If the new service cannot be provided or proves to be infeasible for other reasons, we would suggest modifications to the existing OCTA routes to provide this service. The likely candidate is the existing Route 75, which currently connects the Tustin Marketplace with the Tustin Metrolink Station and currently has limited ridership. We would recommend eliminating the connection to the Tustin Marketplace and instead provide service to the destinations noted above. As this newly proposed route would connect to a similar number of employees but a higher number of residents, we anticipate an increase in ridership. RECOMMENDATION #2- PROVIDE ENHANCED PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY TO AREAS NORTH OF THE STATION Under this proposal, a pedestrian pathway would be constructed north of the Metrolink Station to facilitate pedestrian access. The location of this path is shown on Figure 12 below. This pathway would extend from the existing station platform, cross several existing spur tracks (along the railroad wye), and travel up to Dow Avenue. According to the City of Tustin, OCTA is in the initial planning stages of this improvement and has budgeted up to $500,000 to build the pathway and make the necessary improvements. In addition to this proposed improvement, we would recommend that OCTA rebuild or replace the fence along its right-of-way which previously limited access from the areas north of the tracks. A photo of f? Page 29 RAN SPO ItIAIION ',0NSULIANIS this downed fence is provided on Page 25. Adding this fence, in conjunction with the improvement shown on Figure 12 would provide the following advantages: ■ A means of authorized access would be provided between Dow Avenue and the Station ■ Station area patrons would no longer have to cut -through the office and industrial buildings at 3002 Dow Avenue. Based on our conversations with the property owners of this parcel, they are not interested in providing any access to the station through their property. While they have not acted against any person traveling through their site, we would recommend that the City provide some form of an authorized access so that this cut -through would no longer be necessary. ■ Replacing the fence will ensure that transit patrons are accessing the station at the appropriate location. We noted previously that several persons were seen jumping over the fencing around the station. Pedestrian Pathway Figure 12- Pedestrian Pathway E; f� Page 30 [EHR _ PEEM RAN SPO ItIAIION ',0NSULIANIS RECOMMENDATION #3- PROVIDE TRANSIT CONNECTION TO THE TUSTIN LEGACY PROJECT As noted previously, the Tustin Legacy Project provides some accommodations for transit vehicles in the form of bus turnouts and bus stops. We would recommend providing transit service to this site for the following reasons: ■ There will be over 4,000 dwelling units, which could result in a population between 10,000 and 12,000 people ■ Over 10 Million square feet of non-residential space will be constructed (office, commercial, etc). Much of the commercial space will be concentrated in the District development. ■ Both a regional park and a City park are included in the project. ■ The project provides a high level of pedestrian amenities, which should encourage walking within the project. Given the size of the project, it is unlikely that all of the persons living and working within the site would be able to walk to the Tustin Metrolink Station. While some of the residential units would be within the Y2 radius typically considered ideal for walk access to fixed guide -way or rail _ transit, all of the non-residential development is outside of the Y2k1_ mile walkshed. To maximize use of transit within the Legacy, we recommend the development of a local shuttle service connecting the Metrolink Station. There are already Metrolink passengers who travel to similar destinations in Irvine like the IBC, which shares much of the development scale and type with the Legacy project. We anticipate that this service would take the form of a local shuttle, using a vehicle similar to the one shown to the right. f? Page 31 F EHR _ PEEM RAN SPO ItIAIION ',0NSULIANIS P. IG� cc O a J V V V a 0 LU J Z H U) H M T MW 1.� _V M Service parameters would likely be as follows: ■ 2 buses or shuttles during peak hours and 1 bus or shuttle during off-peak hours ■ Service frequencies of 20-30 minutes during peak hours and 30-60 minutes during off-peak hours. ■ Service would be provided both on the weekdays and weekends. On the weekends, limited service hours could be implemented. We anticipate that each of these buses would cost between $200,000 and $300,000 each with total capital costs ranging from $400,000 to $600,000. We estimate yearly operating costs would range from $100,000 to $3007000. Some benefits of this proposal would include: ■ Reducing the need for Legacy residents and employees to drive to the Metrolink Station, which should reduce the need for further parking garage expansions or additions. ■ Provides some trip reduction benefits to the Legacy Project by diverting some vehicular trips to transit. With a projected daily trip generation ranging from 100,000 to 200,000 trips, even a limited use of the shuttle would result in daily patronage ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 boardings. ■ Facilitate the use of the recreational facilities within the site. It is likely that some of the persons visiting either the regional or local park would be shuttle patrons. In providing this recommendation, we note that it would be difficult to implement this service without the support of the Tustin Legacy project. Potential options to support this service could include: ■ Purchasing of the shuttle vehicles to initiate the service ■ Providing some contribution to operate the shuttles ■ Providing a combination of the above in various combinations (some support for the capital purchases combined with continued operating support, etc) This proposal would also lend itself to a phased implementation in that OCTA and the City of Tustin could purchase a single shuttle and operate the service on a trial basis. If there is sufficient ridership, then this shuttle could be continued and expanded. A map showing a potential route for this service is shown on Figure 13. f� Page 33 [EHR _ PEEM RAN SPO ItIAIION ',0NSULIANIS RECOMMENDATION #4 -ENHANCE PEDESTRIAN CONNECTION TO THE TUSTIN LEGACY PROJECT As noted previously, the Tustin Legacy Project is a large development which is being built south of the Metrolink station. A key component of the Legacy Project is a central trail system which extends through the project. To facilitate pedestrian access to the station, we would recommend the addition of pedestrian enhancements where this trail terminates at Edinger Avenue near the station. These enhancements would include textured and colored pavement, ladder crosswalk striping, and signage directing pedestrians to the station. It is anticipated that these enhancements will encourage pedestrian access to the station from the Legacy Project. The location of these enhancements is shown on Figure 14 below. TRANSIT S tl STATION 14 . _ a-: -• � .��� •. n e � E �I I Enhancements MDQ R� 9LAING NIHIRoJR N t_ D M F FF,T AVF,,F Md, r0 • • � .. ' . � -, �� . Vd 94� ems,_ �-� MDRI ii _ �, ; �� Figure 14- Tustin Legacy Pedestrian Enhancements We estimate that the cost of these improvements would be relatively minor and would range from $15,000 to $25,000. One reason why the costs would be limited is that they would be constructed in conjunction with the Tustin Legacy Development. f� Page 34 [EHR _ PEEM RAMSPORfA11UN CI1NSULIAN1S Some of the potential pedestrian enhancements are shown in the photographs below. f� FEHR &- PEEM IRAN SPO ItIAIION ',,ON SU LIA N IS Stamped or Textured Pavement Ladder crosswalk Page 35 RECOMMENDATION #5- PROVIDE CONNECTION TO THE PETERS CANYON REGIONAL BIKE TRAIL One of the major bicycle trails in Orange County is the Peters Canyon trail. Currently, this trail passes by the station but lacks a direct connection. Within the study area, the trail travels south generally paralleling Jamboree Road until it reaches the rail tracks east of the station. From there, it travels east along the tracks until it reaches Harvard Avenue, where the trail continues south. We would recommend the construction of a pathway from the station to the east to connect with the portion of the trail which extends along the tracks. Constructing this connection would require a bicycle/pedestrian bridge over the existing Peters Canyon Channel east of Jamboree Road. We estimate that this connection would require the construction of a bicycle/pedestrian bridge across the Peters Canyon Channel that is located to the east of Jamboree Road. Because of this bridge, the estimated cost of this pathway would be a minimum of $750,000. The route for this connection is shown on Figure 15 below. .- am a a 401 At OP Figure 15- Peters Canyon Bicycle/Pedestrian Trail f� Page 36 F LHR &- PEEM PANSP0krA110N C11NSue7ANIS COMPARISON WITH EVALUATION CRITERIA For each of the five proposals identified previously, we determined their consistency with the evaluation criteria identified by OCTA. For each of the evaluation criteria, we rated each item on a Low, Medium, and High scale. The results of this comparison are provided in Table 2. fp Page 37 1�EHR&- PE RANSPO kFAIION C�JNSUi1ANIS cncn C U p0 a) -0 cn _ m OC) G�C aC: 0 to O p >%E 0 O O t6 O U > m > Z C: E V m � C: C: 0 cn � ) 0 • — a Ln J J . _ U) C a) U) p ^' cn L) � cn 0 -0 a) � a) a) O O_ � 4-0 •O �' p 0 'N cn W Q) j L~(D 0 0 ca to O L L) p U U) C M O a) C }, , N a) to cn U •� 0 0 }- 0 •0 � O �+ 0 O Q 0 O c 0 .0 U) 0 E -a •O 4.0 O �1�J Y>J �� W W c: E L 0 0 a) v a) > cn m W t� m Tl1 O L U •— YJ V! 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JC 0) CL a) ,� N O — U U i V O J = c •— a) -EoMIMEMEa) U p O O z-- C:V N Ocu cuc O 4= ca V M +� _� L O O }' J a) in cn a) N E� O +r 4-0 a) c ca L ��a)UW LLo04-00—Uo +W 0 U>, ) a�0cCnU E a) L o !E U }a)ocn � O o c�N E ooc°a) o.— cn •�cva) aH ' N C) 8- >, -0 cn C S a) O O4— O 4 U 0-0 O L J U a_ U O L !Q ai IEEEEE cn O O t o _� L- cu cn �O ! a)% �O-0 : c�—oE ��}'a) ��� — cn 'v O .IMEMEca O L. <},_0 > �•� , o U oa `� LIQ O N Vt �oO�o� U ca c ,cn C ca .i �o'�� (DZ 0 a )U 0_-o t6 E N '� U 2 .� O V c cn cu IEEEEEcoc.cn�cn O +r +r a) _ .2 O a) O ��CU� +r a) a) -a a)O •� o� M cnO acn M-0 L U a) O cn p > U -P cn iEEEEE O a) co�c �'�a)a) E C:a) • U ������ G� O Z 0 0 Ecna) E L O a) a) L U L CL O cn cn a) a) �+ nL' O E }. O U0 W 0 0 •o L = (U 0 9. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS During the course of our study, we developed several recommendations related to the Tustin Metrolink station. These recommendations relate to the adequacy of the proposed parking garage, provision of a local trolley within Old Town Tustin, off-site parking locations, operation of the station during construction, and access to the future parking garage. Although these items were not directed related to the OCTA Go Local program, we have included them in this report for future reference. PARKING GARAGE ADEQUACY Background To address limited parking at the Tustin Metrolink Station, OCTA is proposing to construct a multi -story parking garage at the station. At the request of the City of Tustin, we evaluated whether the garage was appropriately sized. Our analysis assumes that if the ridership forecast used in the design of the parking garage are accurate, then we can reasonably conclude that the parking garage is adequacy sized. We applied a Direct Ridership Model to estimate ridership, which is documented below. Direct Ridership Mode/ Fehr & Peers began work on the Direct Ridership process to help the Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART) evaluate a potential system expansion in 2004. The Direct Ridership model was developed mainly due to the inability of the regional travel demand model to produce acceptable forecasts at a local transit station. The regional model was perceived to be insensitive to changes in land use and was also thought to be a "black box" which was only accessible to a few modelers. In response to these concerns, we developed a model based on existing statistical relationships between ridership and land use data at BART stations in the Bay Area. These statistical relationships were defined using 30 years of research about the interaction of land use and transportation. We also built on our nationally -recognized research into the impact of the 4D's (Density, Diversity, Design, and Destination) on transportation behavior during the development of the Direct Ridership model. Our Direct Ridership model is based on statistical relationships between boardings and station area data. These relationships are estimated using regression analysis. The model development process is as follows: ■ Identify applicable variables ■ Collect station area data ■ Apply regression equations ■ Determine validity of the model by verifying goodness of fit (R2 value) The model applied to Tustin is a regression -derived equation to estimate daily boardings using the following variables: ■ Total population within 1/2 mile ■ Retail employment within 1/2 mile ■ Non -retail employment within Y2 mile f� Page 43 [EHR _ PEEM RAN SPO ItrAIION ',0NSULIANIS ■ Catchment area population (area that might drive to the station) ■ Number of feeder buses during peak periods ■ Station area parking How Reliable Are the Models From a statistical perspective, direct ridership models are very reliable. The initial models had an R2 value of 0.87 which indicates that the model accounted for 87 percent in the variation among stations. Since then, we have continued to refine and apply these models. Our latest models have a much higher R2 value of 0.98 indicating the model explained nearly 100 percent of the variation in the number of riders at each station. Assumptions and Data Sources Much of the data required by the model was directly available from the data collected. When data was not available, we made the following assumptions: ■ The catchment population is based on the total population of the City of Tustin. ■ Factors that were contributing to increased ridership are: o Change in catchment area population and employment o Increased service to the station o More feeder buses (Irvine shuttle) o More parking spaces Using the process outlined above, we applied the ridership models to estimate daily boardings at the Tustin station in 2030. Our estimates are as follows: Future Ridership Forecasts Based on the change in population and employment, we estimate that the ridership would increase by 500- 600 riders by 2030. The main catalyst for this increase will be the substantial increase in population and employment outlined in the latest demographic forecasts within the catchment area. While this increase is substantial, there appear to be several factors which limit future ridership, including: ■ There is little growth expected within a Y2 mile radius of the station. Much of that area is built out and most of the Tustin Legacy project is outside of the half -mile radius. ■ We anticipate that the Irvine shuttle might draw from existing transit routes that currently serve the Tustin Metrolink station. For example, the IBC shuttle overlaps with the existing Routes 470 and 471, which are heavily patronized at this time. f? Page 44 [EHR _ PEEM RAN SPO ItIAIION ',0NSULIANIS Conclusions We determined that the results of this forecasts are consistent with previous studies cited by Parsons - Brinkerhoff (PB), who is preparing the design plans for the Metrolink Garage. Therefore, we can conclude that the parking garage is sized appropriately. OLD TOWN TUSTIN TROLLEY In addition to the transit improvements we identified in relation to the Tustin Metrolink Station, we also determined that the City could provide a local trolley within Old Town Tustin. We have not included this recommendation previously as this improvement would occur outside of station area improvements. We would recommend providing this local trolley service for the following reasons: ■ The Old Town Tustin area is currently underserved by transit with no local circulating service ■ This area is composed of smaller mixed-use developments which are accessible to each other through walking ■ The City of Tustin has long considered the Old Town area suitable as a tourist destination, particularly on weekends. Providing a trolley service could serve as a catalyst for future development or activity in Old Town. Other successful trolley services operate in tourist oriented areas. ■ Funding for this kind of service could be provided through a business improvement district (BID), since this type of financing mechanism would be ideal for a local trolley service. Absent such a financing mechanism, financing for this service would have to be provided by the City of Tustin. Service parameters would likely be as follows: ■ 2 rubber tire trolleys during peak hours and 1 trolley during off-peak hours ■ Service frequencies of 20-30 minutes during peak hours and 30-60 minutes during off-peak hours. ■ Service would be provided both on the weekdays and weekends. On the weekends, limited service hours could be implemented. We anticipate that each of these trolleys would cost between $200,000 and $300,000 each with a total capital cost ranging from $400,000 to $600,000. Yearly operating costs would range from $100,000 to $300,000 depending on the number of vehicles, the hours of operation, the frequency of service, and other considerations. Instead of a traditional bus or shuttle, we would recommend the use of a rubber tire trolley vehicle as shown in the photos below. A suggested route for the trolley is shown in Figure 16 f? Page 45 [EHR _ PEEM RAN SPO ItIAIION ',0NSULIANIS Tustin Metrolink Station — OCTA Go Local Step 1 Study- Final Report May 2008 " . �: �►-�,�.��;�`� ems_ _ _ _ — � �- LENKATt 4 %Liao jL-- IWA ` � IWW IL•KS. ' �!• _ - rp 11i -I 4u -- - ➢ a • o — n " S Ilk u •a - - — d ■ nl r � - � - `� �'�� � � � ■ � +� � 'LIQ I:, • o Ir 46 mr p16 'Jill - ➢ Apt _ph 4f, m - . U ,. m 1 -V , r LP n •• r y. .�"9r. h ■ AL_ " �. F. a • ® ". W _ Q 41 - • 3 4w m i ur II AN ° ➢ n 3 *0 _ - D w LIP 1.III j L I k I Li- -,� �� _ � � � n = •., _ � ®vX ■ -. ■ ■ �* mL _ " 116 _ i _ I3 u S y ` y W 1 r I ➢', ➢, 1 or It k rr, - Fr WL LW -OL-- - � JU MIL Y4 c L I Itl a ,: did � " � r + • �, � ° -, - �IF ' � _. rl �. ° -„ � : a� mr z ... s VIP Tli dm 9'1 AL " : - � r ; 7r ' 1 NOW LIZ All IF u � - B I— r , r . Etwo_soNew, 30 al aid I Mid Ar IL OFFSITE PARKING DURING PARKING GARAGE CONSTRUCTION As noted previously, the existing at -grade parking lot will be replaced by a multi -story parking garage. Construction is anticipated to last approximately 1-2 years. During this construction period, we anticipate that the existing parking lot will be inaccessible. At the request of the City of Tustin, we considered how parking demand might be accommodated during this construction period. To accommodate the anticipated parking demand, we considered several options: ■ Provide off-site parking within walking distance of the station in an existing parking lot ■ Provide off-site parking within walking distance of the station on vacant parcels ■ Provide off-site parking within walking distance along an existing street location that might have available parking ■ Provide off-site parking in a location which would connect to the station by a shuttle ■ Provide no off-site parking Our recommendation was to provide no temporary parking for the following reasons: ■ The businesses currently adjacent to the station have approximately 100-150 spaces available. This number of spaces is insufficient for the likely parking demand. Also, these businesses currently enforce parking restrictions to limit use of their spaces by Metrolink Patrons ■ There are vacant parcels on the south side of Edinger Avenue from the station. However, these parcels are on the site of the Tustin Legacy Project and may be under construction while the parking garage is being built. ■ The City could provide parking on Dow Avenue north of the station which would accommodate some or most of the diverted parking. However, it is not possible to walk to Dow Avenue from the station without trespassing on private property. Until the pedestrian pathway identified in the previous chapter is constructed, this option is not viable (Recommendation #2) ■ We were able to identify several locations where an off-site parking lot could be located. Many of these locations are located to the south of the Metrolink Station; however; a majority of the persons using the Tustin station live or work in the City of Irvine. If we locate off-site parking in Irvine and provide a shuttle to the station, potential users might be opposed to using it as they would be traveling a circuitous route to access the station ■ The riders who use station cars and store them at the station might be hesitant to utilize an off-site parking lot ■ There are several adjacent stations on the Metrolink line which could accommodate any riders who would temporarily divert from the Tustin Station. For example, these riders could travel to the adjacent Irvine or Santa Ana station Construction Worker Parking The City of Tustin also asked us to consider how construction worker parking might be accommodated during the construction process. As there are no detailed plans for the garage complete at this time, we were able to evaluate this item in general terms. Based on our previous experience in preparing traffic studies for similar projects, we determined that workers would likely be accommodated on-site for most of the construction f? Page 48 [EHR _ PEEM RAN SPO ItIAIION ',0NSULIANIS period. For example, as the upper floors of the garage remain under construction, the lower floors of the garage would be available for worker parking. However, there may intermittent periods when the site may not accommodate worker parking. This situation could occur when the first floor of the garage is under construction. Given the limited parking available nearby (as discussed previously) there would be little opportunity to use nearby surface parking spaces. If no proactive measures are taken to ensure that there is sufficient worker parking, there may be spillover onto adjacent properties, which would negatively affect these property owners. As OCTA will be overseeing the construction of the parking garage, the City of Tustin should coordinate with OCTA to ensure that there are no negative impacts resulting from worker parking spillover during construction. Some potential measures that OCTA could implement to address this issue would include: ■ That the parking garage construction phasing be designed to provide sufficient on-site parking at all times ■ Providing an off-site parking location when on-site parking can not be provided ■ Disclosing in the Environmental Document (Environmental Impact Report, Negative Declaration, Mitigated Negative Declaration) for the Parking Garage how worker parking will be accommodated ■ Providing a contact number for adjacent businesses to call if they note workers parking in their lots By implementing these and other measures, OCTA can limit any worker parking spillover and the resulting impacts to the adjacent businesses. STATION ACCESS DURING CONSTRUCTION Since the parking lot will not be accessible during construction, we also considered if there should be additional access restrictions. We determined that it would be appropriate to allow access to both pedestrians and transit vehicles during the construction process for the following reasons: ■ There are currently pedestrians accessing the project and there would be little impact on construction if pedestrians would continue to do so ■ Transit is currently a major mode of access at the station. There are 4 existing OCTA bus routes which access the station ■ The City of Irvine will begin operation of a shuttle in June 2008 connecting the Metrolink Station to various locations within the City of Irvine. If the station is completely closed and inaccessible to transit, then it is doubtful that this shuttle could operate. TRANSIT ACCESS TO THE STATION AFTER GARAGE CONSTRUCTION Following the completion of the parking garage, there would be sufficient parking for persons driving to the station. However, there could be problems with transit vehicle access because of the increased transit usage at the site. This increase transit usage would result from the addition of the IBC shuttle, the proposed OCTA BRT, and other transit vehicles such as those identified previously in Recommendation #1 and #3. Currently, there are only two transit access bays at the station. We would recommend that the parking garage be designed to allow access of up to 5 transit vehicles. Since there are no design plans for the parking garage, we can not determine whether the parking garage would provide sufficient transit access. As f? Page 49 [EHR _ PEEM RAN SPO ItIAIION ',0NSULIANIS these design plans are prepared and finalized, we would suggest that the City of Tustin ensure that adequate transit access and queuing is provided. VEHICULAR ACCESS AFTER CONSTRUCTION The City of Tustin also asked that we consider vehicular access to the completed parking garage. While the parking garage would be accessed at Edinger Avenue, we considered whether additional access should be provided. We determined that additional access to the garage could be provided from an access road adjacent to Jamboree Road. This access road connects to Jamboree Road and provides access to Edinger Avenue. To determine if it would be feasible to connect from this access road to the parking garage, we first conducted a speed study of this roadway. The results of this speed study are provided in the Appendix. The speed survey determined that the 85t" percentile speed on this access road was 50 miles per hour, meaning that we would have to provide appropriate deceleration into the parking garage from the adjacent access roadway. 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