1. 1 Presentation to TAC May 20, 2009 Priority Corridor Network (PCN) Evaluation Project Introduction

2. Introductions Study context – Regional growth – Bus transit’s role – Current bus transit strategies – PCN’s role and description PCN Evaluation Study – Scope and schedule – Technical information – TAC involvement Meeting goal: TAC understanding of project purpose, schedule, and input opportunities Agenda 2

3. Regional Growth 3 Between 2005 and 2030 WMATA Compact members will grow: Jobs: 34% Population: 24% Challenges faced by bus service: Crowding Slowing travel speeds Route and schedule adherence Customer expectations Limited short-term strategies available to meet challenges: Manage current bus and rail system to maximize efficiency Deploy additional vehicles Expand bus network to serve new and growing markets Historic and Forecast Regional Growth Source: MWCOG Round 7.0 Cooperative Land Use Forecasts

4. Bus Transit’s Regional Role 4 Buses provide many types of services throughout the region. Bus is the only mode used for many trips in the region. Bus service expansion plans have previously been prepared but not implemented. Bus is the primary mode in many areas of the region. Investments in Bus contribute to healthy communities. Bus can be expanded in near term with projects to meet regional needs.

5. Key Regional Transit Strategies Regional/Jurisdictional Initiatives: Short Term Buses on freeways BRT starter projects (K Street busway etc) Long Term Regional express bus Completed BRT network Jurisdictionally proposed rail enhancements (LRT, streetcar) WMATA Initiatives: Short Term Metrobus service operational enhancements (skip stop service etc) Regional Transit System Plan to integrate strategies into cohesive plan Long Term ROW dedication for bus Rail expansion 5

6. Bus “Family of Services” Concept The Metrobus Priority Corridor Network is a key component of a future enhanced regional bus network consisting of a true family of bus services, including: Bus on dedicated right-of-way Express bus routes on HOV Lanes and Freeways Limited-Stop Express routes on Priority Corridors Community/neighborhood shuttles Local bus routes Commuter bus routes 6

7. Bus “Family of Services” Concept The Metrobus Priority Corridor Network is a key component of a future enhanced regional bus network consisting of a true family of bus services, including: Bus on dedicated right-of-way Express bus routes on HOV Lanes and Freeways Limited-Stop Express routes on Priority Corridors Community/neighborhood shuttles Local bus routes Commuter bus routes 7

8. 8 Network of 24 corridors High ridership arterial services (half of system) Candidates for multiple types of services Selected by Performance Ridership Land use Service levels Jurisdictional support 6 Year Schedule Proposed Priority Corridor Network

9. Characteristics of Priority Bus Corridors 9 Metrobus has 171 lines with total daily ridership of 450,000 Corridors represent 14% of lines (50% of ridership) Recommended Priority Corridor Plans serve: 220,000 current daily riders 70 million annual riders 246 line miles of service Corridors include: Local Metrobus Express Metrobus MetroExtra (Rapid Bus) Neighborhood Shuttles Proposals add 10 million riders annually (+14%) Average Weekday Passengers9,200 Percent Weekend/Holiday Riders18% Riders per Revenue Hour55 Riders per Revenue Mile4.5 % Corridor Usage on Bus8.0% Bus Vehicles as % of Total0.7% Average Passenger Trip Time (Min)42 Average Scheduled Bus Speed (MPH)12.1 Average Line Trip Length (Miles)9.4 Daily Passenger per Line Mile900 Rail to Bus Transfers6% Bus to Bus Transfers32% Priority Corridor Network Service Characteristics

10. Comprehensive Approach to Bus Service Improvement 10 A Regional Priority Corridor Network Plan will: Integrate service improvements, including new MetroExtra routes Improve performance of all routes in the corridor Coordinate stakeholder investments in stops, roadway improvements and safety/security strategies Implementation: Improves street operations to improve travel times and reliability Manages fleet and garage needs Enhances customer information Focus on Priority Corridors: Benefits the most riders Improves service quality, reliability, performance Builds transit market and influences development patterns

11. Traffic Congestion Adds Costs and Degrades Service 11 Bus priority is a cost-effective way of moving more people by increasing passenger throughput at intersections Since CY 2000 Buses have experienced a reduction in average speed : Suburbs: up to 30% City: nearly 15% A 30% increase in average speed for buses on the Priority Corridor Network (12.1 to 15.7 mph) would be like putting 100 more buses on the road. Saving $50 million in capital Avoiding operating costs of $40 - $50 million per year 7 th St. NW at G St. NW 14 th St NW at Commerce Department

12. PCN Evaluation - Project Purpose Quantify regional benefits and impacts resulting from implementation of the PCN Identify and prioritize the most effective running-way improvement strategies for implementation along study corridors, but NOT an implementation plan Develop an analytical framework for evaluating the proposed bus improvements and for inclusion into the CLRP process Build regional consensus for PCN implementation 12

13. PCN Evaluation Administrative Overview Project is being administered through COG and managed by WMATA Funding for project is utilizing WMATA, DDOT, MDOT and VDOT technical assistance funds (portions of 2008 and 2009) Will present key milestones to TAC then JCC and TPB Project timeline coincides with CLRP update Study completion by end of 2009 Technical advice and guidance from a regionally represented Technical Advisory Committee 13

14. PCN Evaluation - Scope Development of Analytical Approach Develop transit network input assumptions Network Evaluation – CLRP Baseline – Full Build Assuming a dedicated transit lane for all 24 corridors Will show the “transit best case” benefit basket of priority corridor implementation – Modified Segments that have low performing transit ridership or too high an impact on adjacent traffic will be assumed to have mixed traffic operations with intermittent intersection improvements (ie queue jumps etc) 14

15. PCN Evaluation - Schedule 15

16. PCN Evaluation – Analytical Approach Divide each PCN corridor into “segments” Compile characteristics of each segment (number of lanes, existing transit ridership etc) Develop list of enhancements by investment level (high or medium) and adjacent urban form (urban, inner suburban and outer suburban) 16

17. Investment Level by Urban Form - Example AREA TYPE INVESTMENT LEVEL UrbanInner SuburbanOuter Suburban High Exclusive Lane Signal Priority Off-Board Fare Collection Peak headway of 5 minutes …… Medium … Exclusive Lane with limited non-exclusive segments Signal Priority On-Board Fare Collection Peak headway of 7.5 minutes … Low …… Bottleneck bypasses Selective Signal Priority Off-Board Fare Collection Peak headway of 10 minutes 17

18. PCN Evaluation – Analytical Approach (continued) Develop benefits per bus treatment (increased bus speed from TSP, queue jumps, exclusive lanes etc) After initial “full build” model run identify PCN characteristics to be applied to each segment Input into model for “modified” network 18

19. PCN Evaluation – Input Assumptions Corridor Name Segment 1: From Street X to Street Y Inputs Length (miles)Length of segment Road Functional ClassificationHighway, Primary Arterial LanesNumber of through lanes (total for both directions) Area TypeUrban, Inner Suburban, Outer Suburban Land Use Any information from comprehensive plan data, i.e. commercial, residential Density2030 density – statement based on Round 7.1 forecasts Existing Headway (peak & off peak) Peak and midday effective headways (average based on buses/hour) Average daily boardingsFor individual segment Access via Metrorail Stns or Park and Rides Any Metrorail stations and/or park and rides within ¼ mile of corridor segment Outputs Investment LevelHigh, Medium, Low Exclusive Lane Features (if applicable )Number of Lanes, How it will be created (conversion, addition, etc.) 19

20. TAC Involvement Project Goals, Objectives and Evaluation Measures PCN Network Characteristics Baseline Scenario Full Build Scenario – Traffic impact thresholds Modified Network Technical Report 20

21. “Transit best case” is meant to show the upper limits of PCN system benefits. – It is a theoretical exercise – It will help inform “modified” network run, which is intended to be a more realistic scenario – Currently, transit best case run is envisioned to show a bus only exclusive lane on all 24 corridors – Model output will be analyzed to discern impacts on traffic, bus ridership etc. TAC input/discussion TAC Involvement (cont.) 21

22. Questions? Next meeting June 17 22

23. Appendix 23

24. 24 The TPB Role The TPB can provide support of this Bus Priority Corridor Plan by: Ensuring that related policy considerations are discussed in various committees and forums available to the TPB: – Regional Bus Subcommittee – Management and Operations Intelligent Transportation Systems (MOITS) Task Force Exploring strategies for acquiring additional funding support for the capital improvements included in the plan: – Existing and future federal programs – Regional pricing initiatives Partnering with stakeholders in the region to develop implementation strategies: – This could include convening meetings of regional stakeholders to discuss policy considerations and develop regional consensus on strategies needed to insure success of the plan.

25. 25 Recommended Priority Corridor Network Schedule as of October 7, 2008, to be presented to the WMATA Board on October 16.

26. Requested Emerging Corridors Corridors for future consideration as Priority Corridor Network candidates. Local concept development studies are to be conducted to refine proposals for future consideration before implementation as part of WMATA plan. 26