1 AGENDA OPEN HOUSE 6:00 PM  Review materials  Ask questions  Provide feedback  Sign up for list  Fill out comment cards PRESENTATION 6:30 PM QUESTIONS & ANSWERS OPEN HOUSE7:00 PM

PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE #2 FEBRUARY 28 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Neighborhood House

INTRODUCTIONS 3 WHO IS ON THE PROJECT TEAM?  Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority  Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority  Consultant Team (led by Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.)

PURPOSE OF OPEN HOUSE WHY ARE WE HERE TODAY?  Provide information on:  Project progress since Open House #1  Final Purpose and Need Statement  Preliminary Screening Results  Get your input on:  Preliminary alternatives for detailed evaluation 4

PROJECT UPDATE SEPTEMBER OPEN HOUSE  September 12 & 13  39 attendees  Feedback provided on:  Project Purpose & Need  Project Goals & Objectives  Alignment & Mode Alternatives 5

PROJECT UPDATE WHAT IS A TRANSITWAY? “Transitways include bus and rail transit that enable fast, reliable travel times and an improved passenger experience on high-demand corridors in the region. Transitways help travelers avoid congestion by providing a dedicated right-of-way or other transit advantages such as ramp meter bypasses, signal priority or bus-only shoulders. Transitways link major employment centers and destinations in the region and promote transit- oriented development patterns.” (TPP, Chapter 7 “Transit”) 6

PROJECT UPDATE PROJECT PURPOSE The purpose of the Robert Street Transitway is to provide the necessary transit infrastructure and service to meet the long-term regional mobility and local accessibility needs between downtown St. Paul and areas within Dakota County. PROJECT NEED  Forecasted growth in travel demand  Limited transit service and time-efficient transit options  Needs of people who depend on transit  Roadway congestion and shift toward multimodal investments  Regional objectives for growth 7

SCREENING PROCESS 8 WHAT IS PART OF SCREENING? Describe the initial modes and alignments considered for the Robert Street Transitway AA Describe screening criteria Present screening results Identify next steps for alternatives development

SCREENING CRITERIA 9 SCREEN 1: PROJECT PURPOSE …run north-south within the study area? …fit the preferred context for a transitway? …serve downtown St. Paul? Does the segment…

SCREENING CRITERIA 10 SCREEN 2: RIDERSHIP POTENTIAL …population? …employment? …key activity centers? …transit dependence? Does the segment serve…

SCREENING CRITERIA 11 SCREEN 3: MODE …recommended facility type? …typical system length? …physical needs? Does the alignment match the mode’s…

ALIGNMENTS

SECTORS

UNIVERSE

SCREENING RESULTS

SCREEN 1 RESULTS

SCREEN 2 RESULTS

SCREEN 3 RESULTS

SCREENING RESULTS

20 PRELIMINARY ALTERNATIVES AlignmentTermini (North/South)Modes Robert Street Downtown St. Paul/Mendota Road or Dakota County Northern Service Center (DCNSC) Arterial BRT Streetcar TH 52 Downtown St. Paul/Concord Blvd or Inver Hills Community College (IHCC) Highway BRT Dedicated Busway LRT Concord Avenue Downtown St. Paul/494 or Southview Boulevard Arterial BRT Streetcar Potential Service Extension (for sensitivity analysis) Robert Street alignment southern terminus/future site of UMore Park or Dakota County Technical College Express Bus or Highway BRT

PROJECT TIMELINE 21 Conceptual detailing of alternatives Preliminary evaluation of alternatives Spring 2013 Detailed technical analysis Summer 2013 Final evaluation of alternatives Identification of preferred alternative(s) Fall/Winter 2013 Open House #3 is tentatively scheduled for Fall 2013.

NEXT STEPS TODAY WHAT’S NEXT TODAY? We invite you to:  Review materials  Ask questions  Sign up for list  Fill out comment cards  Provide feedback on preliminary alternatives 22

TRANSIT PLANNING BASICS WHAT IS SUCCESSFUL TRANSIT?  Transit that carries people  Transit that is a cost-effective use of public funding  Transit that supports efficient development 23

TRANSIT PLANNING BASICS WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING TRANSITWAYS How can the investment…  Improve customer service  Convenient, frequent direct service  Travel time competitive  Cost savings: vehicle, fuel, parking  Improve parking availability and cost  Downtown Minneapolis, Downtown St. Paul, U of M  Relieve congestion  Better serve employment and population densities 24

TRANSIT PLANNING BASICS 25

TRANSIT PLANNING BASICS 26 VEHICLES AND STATIONS Local Bus BRT Streetcar Light Rail

TRANSIT PLANNING BASICS 27 PLATFORM COMPONENTS

TRANSIT PLANNING BASICS 28 PARK-AND-RIDE COMPONENTS

QUESTIONS? 29

SCREEN 1

SCREEN 2

SCREEN 2 CONT…

CROSS SECTION STREETCAR

CROSS SECTION LRT

CROSS SECTION ELEVATED LRT