1. Sustainability Performance Measures for the City of El Paso’s Rapid Transit Systems Kyle Ibarra, Sun Metro Transit Tara Ramani, Texas A&M Transportation Institute 2012 Border to Border Transportation Conference November 13, 2012

2. El Paso Rapid Transit System (RTS) 1.Mesa RTS Corridor – Downtown Transfer Center (TC) to Westside TC 2.Alameda RTS Corridor – Downtown TC to 5- Points TC to Mission Valley TC 3.Dyer RTS Corridor – Downtown TC to 5-Points TC to Northeast TC 4.Montana RTS Corridor – 5-Points TC to Eastside TC to Far East TC

3. El Paso Rapid Transit System (RTS) System Map.

4. El Paso RTS Project Status Mesa RTS Corridor – Advertising for construction February 2013 Alameda RTS Corridor – Final Design Dyer RTS Corridor – Beginning Design Phase January 2013 Montana RTS Corridor – Completed Initiation Phase, submitted for entry into Project Development

5. El Paso RTS Complementary Developments Use of RTS as the backbone for the City’s Comprehensive Plan Transit Oriented Developments (TOD) at respective transfer centers Northeast TC & TOD as the model Montecillo along Mesa RTS Corridor Other plans for TOD’s at 5-Points, Mission Valley, and Far East TC’s in near future

6. TTI Research Project Overall Goal – to develop a framework to apply sustainability performance measures for transit corridors in El Paso Project details – Funded by CIITR, in cooperation with the City of El Paso – Focus on identifying appropriate goals, objectives and measures – Future implementation/application

7. Background Original concept based on interactive workshop series developed for TxDOT Informed by recently- completed NCHRP project Interest from City of El Paso to apply to RTS

8. Approach Understand sustainability Make relevant to City’s strategic plan Interactive workshop process to identify goals, and performance measures City of El Paso Strategic Plan Sustainability Goals for RTS Objectives and Performance Measures for RTS

9. Performance Measure Implementation Framework “what does a transportation agency need to be equipped with?” Framework consisting of: – Fundamental components – Overarching components – Auxiliary components

10. Principles of Sustainability Sustainability entails meeting human needs for the present and future, while: – preserving and restoring environmental and ecological systems, – fostering community health and vitality, – promoting economic development and prosperity, and; – ensuring equity between and among population groups and over generations.

11. Framework of Performance Measures Goal Objective Performance Measure

12. Performance Measurement Applications Quantify individually, or “index” together Application types – Describe – Evaluate – Accountability – Decision Making – Communication

13. Definition of Transit Corridor Terminal nodes and intermediate nodes Links consisting of: – Roadway/General Purpose Lanes – RTS Facility (may occupy same physical space as roadway) – Sidewalks, Bike Lanes Influence area (buffer zone)

14. RTS Sustainability Goals Reduce car dependence Mitigate traffic congestion Improve international mobility Increase livability Promote economic development Ensure system effectiveness and efficiency Promote equity Improve the environment

15. Compendium of Objectives and Performance Measures GoalObjective Performance Measure Reduce car dependence Shift car users to RTS Medium/High income users in RTS corridor influence area Increase the number of persons with access to RTS service No. of residents within the corridor influence area Description Quantification Data sources Potential targets/benchmark values

16. Conclusions Performance measurement framework successfully adapted for transit corridors Goals, objectives and performance measures developed Interactive process and linkage to strategic plan – ensures buy-in Next steps can result in practical application for COEP/Sun Metro