1. Southwest LRT Project Craig Lamothe, AICP Senior Project Manager
2011 MN State Planning Conference September 29, 2011

2. Twin Cities Transit System Profile
Today’s Topics
Twin Cities Transit System Profile
Previous Regional New Starts Projects
Hiawatha LRT
Northstar Commuter Rail
Central Corridor LRT
Federal New Starts Program Primer
Southwest LRT Project
Alternative Analysis Phase Recap
Preliminary Engineering Phase Preview

3. Twin Cities Ridership

4. Metro Transit Ridership (2010)

5. Peer Comparison: 2009 System Ridership

6. Peer Comparison: Ridership per Capita

7. Buses Artic Buses: 163 Standard 40’ Buses: 735 Hybrid Buses: 97
Metro Transit Fleet
Buses
Artic Buses: 163
Standard 40’ Buses: 735
Hybrid Buses: 97
Light Rail
27 cars
Commuter Rail
18 Passenger Cars
6 Locomotives

8. 2030 Transitway System

9. Project Cost: $715.3 million
Hiawatha LRT (Blue Line)
12 miles
19 Stations
Project Cost: $715.3 million
2011 Annual Operating Budget: $26.7 million
Avg. Weekday Ridership (Aug ‘11): 35,069
2010 Total Annual Ridership:
10,500,000

10. Project Cost: $320 million 2011 Annual Operating Budget: $17.0 million
Northstar Commuter Rail
40 miles
6 stations
Project Cost: $320 million
2011 Annual Operating Budget: $17.0 million
Avg. Weekday Ridership (Aug. ‘11) 2,696
2010 Total Annual Ridership: 710,400

11. 2015 Est. Operating budget: $25.4 million 18 new stations
Central Corridor LRT (Green Line)
11 miles
2015 Est. Operating budget: $25.4 million
18 new stations
Projected weekday ridership: Over 40,000 by 2030
$957 million

12. New Starts Overview Systems Planning Alternatives Analysis Select LPA,
Full Funding
Grant Agreement
Alternatives Analysis
Final Design
Commitment of Non-Federal Funding,
Construction Plans, ROW Acquisition,
Before-After Data Collection Plan,
FTA Evaluation for FFGA,
Begin Negotiations
Proj Mgmt Over-sight
Construction
Preliminary Engineering
Complete NEPA Process
Refinement of Financial Plan
Select LPA,
MPO Action
PMP
FTA Decision on entry into PE
FTA Decision
on entry into FD
Systems Planning

13. Evaluate the mode and alignment options for a particular corridor
Alternatives Analysis (AA) Phase
Evaluate the mode and alignment options for a particular corridor
Benefits, costs and impacts of transportation options
Complete with the selection of the locally preferred alternative (LPA) and adoption of the LPA into the region’s long range transportation plan

14. Consider design options to refine LPA and complete the NEPA process
Preliminary Engineering (PE) Phase
Consider design options to refine LPA and complete the NEPA process
Hone the estimates of project cost, benefits, impacts and schedule
Finalize management plans
Demonstrate technical capabilities to develop the project
Commit local funding sources

15. Final Design (FD) Phase
Prepare final construction plans, contract packages, detailed specifications and bid documents

16. New Starts Evaluation Process

17. Peer “New Starts” Projects
July 2011 Status P N
Pending FFGA
New FFGA E
Existing FFGA E
Seattle, WA
St. Paul- Minneapolis N
Portland, OR E
Hartford, CT P
Sacramento, CA
New York, NY E E
Salt Lake City, UT P E
N. Virginia-Dulles, VA E P
San Francisco N E E
Denver, CO N
San Jose, CA
Dallas, TX E E P
Houston, TX
Orlando, FL
Honolulu, HI P P

18. Peer “New Starts” PE Projects
September 2011 Status
Minneapolis,- St. Paul, MN
Vancouver, WA
Pawtucket, RI
Portland, OR
Sacramento, CA
San Jose, CA
Salt Lake City, UT
Los Angeles, CA
Charlotte, NC
Los Angeles, CA
Houston, TX
Honolulu, HI

19. SWLRT: Historical Timeline
Alternatives Analysis LPA Selected LPA Amended into TPP MC requests to Enter PE FTA approves Entry into PE
Nov. 4, 2009
May 26, 2010
Aug. 31, 2010
Sept. 2, 2011

20. SWLRT: AA Phase Transit Technology Review
Identification of Alignments and Stations
Initial Set of Alternatives
No Build
Enhanced Bus
Build Alternatives (BRT & LRT)

21. Est. Project Cost: $1.25 billion
SWLRT: Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA)
15 miles
17 new stations
Est. Project Cost: $1.25 billion

22. $30.6M in Local Funds Committed to Date
SWLRT: Project Budget
$375 million
$625 million
$125 million
$125 million
$30.6M in Local Funds Committed to Date

23. Preliminary Engineering Final Design Construction Revenue Operations
SWLRT: Anticipated Schedule
Preliminary Engineering Final Design Construction Revenue Operations
2018

24. Procurement of Engineering Services Complete 30% Design
SWLRT: PE Phase
Procurement of Engineering Services
Complete 30% Design
Procurement of Environmental Services
Complete Final Environmental Impact Statement
Establishment of a Project Office
Secure Municipal Consent from 5 Cities

25. For Further Information and Updates
Mark Fuhrmann, Program Director – New Starts Rail Projects
Chris Weyer, Project Director - Southwest LRT