1. Transit Working Group
Meeting
November 18, 2011
1:30 PM – 3:30 PM

2. 1) Welcome & Introductions
2) Meeting Goals and Public Input Process
 Project Connect Outline
3) Regional Needs and Opportunities
4) How High-Capacity Transit fits in CAMPO 2035
 CAMPO 2035 Transportation Modes
 High-Capacity Transit Modes
 High-Capacity Transit Project Development & Status
5) Citizen Comment
6) Adjourn

3. • Review TWG topic outline
• Understand transportation
challenges and opportunities
• TWG input sought
• Challenge and opportunity
statements

4. How will high-capacity transit
components in CAMPO 2035 plan work as
a system?
How will our region
organize to develop and operate the
system?
How will we pay for the system
over the long term?

5. 1. CAMPO 2035 Transportation Plan overview
2. Overview of Project Connect process, goals, and schedule
3. Regional Problems, Needs, and Opportunities
4. Transit planning process
 General agreement on problem statements and goals
1. How high-capacity projects help to address problems and needs
2. Identification of transit service gaps and service ideas
 General agreement on high-capacity transit as a choice for citizens
 Service gaps and new/modified transit service ideas to bring forward

6. 1. High-capacity transit system integration ideas
2. Conceptual organization goals and approach
 General agreement on possible integration ideas and how high-
capacity projects work together as a system
1. Financial analysis and potential revenue and funding sources
 General agreement on conceptual approach to how we organize
1. What does the draft high-capacity transit system look like?
2. O&M costs for the alternatives.
 General agreement on funding – How do we pay for it?

7. 1. Discuss high-capacity transit project phasing and/or priorities
 General agreement on project phasing and/or priorities
 General agreement on work group comments/input
1. Project Connect report complete

8. Bi-weekly (Nov, Dec), Monthly (Jan – Apr)
Nov 18, May
Dec 6, 8 & 9, Mar &
May
Dec 12, Mar & May
Forum (Jan/Feb), as
needed
www.connectcentraltexas.com

9. • Congestion
• Core
• Growth
• Constraints
• Centers

10. • Point 1
• Point 2
• Point 3
• Point 4
• Point 5 or
more

11. What are the most important issues to address
to ensure a positive future for Central Texas?
2008 ECT Survey
Transportation/Congestion 67%
Land Use 34%
Cost of Living 31%
Water Availability 28%
Air Quality 28%

12. Central Texas Person-Hours of
2010 US Worst Travel Time Indices
Delay in 2009 (Millions) 1.4
7.0
1.36
6.0
5.0 1.32
4.0 1.28
3.0
2.0
1.24
1.0 1.2
-
LA DC
Mid 6 AM Noon 6 PM Mid Austin NYC San
Fran
• Our region tied with New York and San
Francisco for 3rd worst Travel Time Index
• Central Texans spend average 44 (ratio of rush hour travel time to free-flow
hours/year stuck in traffic travel time) in US
• Difference is LA, DC, NYC and San
Francisco have options

13. Free Flow
• Mobility
contracts  Peak Flow
during Peak
Periods due
to congestion
Travel Time (Mins)
2.50
5.00
7.50
10.00
12.50
15.00
30 Minute Travel Distances
17.50
20.00
22.50
25.00
27.50
30.00
0 5 10 15
Miles

14. Free Flow
Peak Flow
Georgetown
Georgetown
And Kyle

• Mobility
contracts
during Peak
Periods due Peak Flow
Kyle
to congestion 
Travel Time (Mins)
2.50
5.00
7.50
10.00
12.50
15.00
30 Minute Travel Distances
17.50
20.00
22.50
25.00
27.50
30.00
0 5 10 15
Miles

15. • IH-35: SH 71 to US 183
• US 290: Mopac to RM 1826
• Mopac: US 183 to US 290
• US 183: Mopac to IH-35
• SL 343: US 290 to IH-35
• N. Lamar: US 183 to W. 8th St.
• SL 360: US 290 to RM 2244
• SL 360: US 183 to RM 2222
• US 183: IH-35 to SH 71
• FM 734: Mopac to Tech Ridge
Blvd

16. Congestion
• Core

17. • Over half a million vehicles enter and exit central Austin during a 24-
hour period

18. • 2009: nearly 30% of all jobs in the Austin Region were
located in 78701, 78703, 78704, 78705
• 51,000 students at UT (80% live off campus) and
approximately 9,000 at ACC’s Rio Grande campus downtown
CBD Share of Total Urban Area
• 2000: nearly 18% of all jobs in Employment
Austin Region were located 20%
downtown 18%
16%
 4th highest % in the 14%
nation! 12%
10%

20. Congestion
Core
• Growth

21. • Central Texas has received
numerous accolades in recent years
• Important relocation criteria for
corporations: In 2010 Forbes named Austin
– Good workforce connections 10th Best Place for Business &
Career
– Evidence that cities are doing
everything possible to address
In 2010 Kiplingers named Austin 1st in 10
congestion Best Cities for the Next Decade
• Retention of existing regional In 2008 Kiplingers named Round Rock 6th
In 2010 Monster.com named
companies is key Best Place to Live/Work/Play
Austin Best U.S. City for Jobs
• 63% of existing companies in the
region state transportation or access In 2008 Fortune Magazine named
Georgetown Best Place to Launch a Small
to transit as a concern Business (received only perfect score)

22. Employment Density (2005-2035)
• Employment base will increase by 135%
between 2005 and 2035
• Growth in employment primarily along major
transportation corridors
3,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
Employment
1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2015 2025 2035

23. Population Density (2005 -2035)
• Between 2005 and 2035 our regional
population is projected to increase by 123%
• Population increase will result in additional
1.2M cars by 2035
3,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
Population
1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2015 2025 2035

24. Congestion
Core
Growth
• Constraints

25. Historic East Austin
Oakwood Hargis Hall
John W. Cemetery
Mount Calvary Cemetery
Palm Park
Frank Erwin Center
Austin Police Headquarters
University Medical Center Brackenridge
University of Texas Practice Facilities
Mike Myers Stadium

26. Congestion
Core
Growth
Constraints
• Centers

27. Envision Regional Plans
CAMPO Central
• CAMPO 2035
Texas
Austin Kyle • ECT Greenprint for Growth
• Imagine Austin Comp Plan
– Existing population in • Round Rock General Plan
Centers: 16%; 2020
Round Population Goal: 31% Pflugerville • Georgetown 2030 Comp
CAMPO
Rock by 2035 Plan
– Existing employment • San Marcos Master Plan
in Centers: 36%; • Kyle Comp Plan
Employment Goal: San • Leander 2010 Comp Plan
Leander Update
38% by 2035
Georgetown
Marcos
• Pflugerville 2030 Comp Plan
– Center to Center trips

28. Congestion
Core
Growth
Constraints
Centers

29. • Capacity deficit
• Balanced transportation
system
• Fiscally constrained

30. • “Congestion proof”
• Any form of public transit
that has one or both of the
following:
1. Dedicated lane/right-of-way
for at least a portion of its
route
2. transit priority
• Fewer stops, higher
speeds, more frequent
service, carries more
people

31. Regional Rail
Commuter Rail
Express Light Rail
Distance Bus on
Managed Urban Rail
Bus Rapid
Speed Lanes
Transit
Local Bus
Streetcar
# of Stops
Proximity to Origin and Destination

38. How Different
Modes Fit
Regional Rail
Commuter Rail
Urban Rail
Bus Rapid Transit
Express Bus on Managed Lanes

39. • Different types of high-capacity transit to address
the region’s challenges
• Selecting the right mix and types of high-capacity
transit is critical
•The high-capacity mix works together as a system
• Project Connect and the TWG are the means to
help identify the best fit for our region

40. – big picture, corridors, likely projects
– interconnectivity, organization, sequencing
– alignments, consensus, funding basis
–
detailed, impacts, refined budget, schedule
– really detailed, final budget, funding details
– build, test
– open to the public

41. Commuter Rail
Congestion proof service
between NW, NC and East Austin to
downtown core, connect major activity
centers, improve transit system, and
support economic development
Operational March 2010
Phase I
• 32 miles, 9 stations in operation
• Meeting all targets
Phase II
• Near, mid, long-term improvements
• Capital Metro Rail Committee

42. •Ridership is meeting projections
•More than 1,700 passenger trips each weekday
•Up to 6,000 trips per day with weekend service
FY 2011
Performance
Goal Actual Measure
On Time
Score 9.66 98% 99.12% Performance
MetroRail Customer
Satisfaction Index
<2 .5 Vehicle Accidents
<1 0 Passenger Accidents
Customer
<5 .36 Complaints/20,000
Miles Between
< 5,000 15,000 Mechanical Failures

43. 500
1500
2000
2500
3000
1000
0
Mar-10
Apr-10
May-10
Jun-10
Jul-10
Aug-10
Sep-10
Oct-10
Nov-10
starts
All day
service
Dec-10
Jan-11
Feb-11
Mar-11
Apr-11
May-11
Jun-11
Jul-11
Aug-11
nd weekends
SXSW, nights, a
Sep-11
Oct-11

44. • More than $90M
in direct
investment at
MetroRail
Stations to date

45. Bus Rapid Transit
High quality, high
capacity and frequent service for
major corridors designed to attract
new riders while improving service to
existing customers
Final Design, Route1:
Open 2013; Route 2: Open 2014
• Signal prioritization
• 37.5 total route miles; 77 stops
• 10 min peak / 15 min off peak
• Route 1: N. Lamar – S. Congress
• Route 2: Burnett – S. Lamar

46. Express Lanes
Improve mobility, transit
reliability, and emergency response in
the MoPac corridor
Environmental Study and
Public Involvement underway
• Add one Express Lane in each
direction
• Construction of sound walls
• Un-tolled, reliable travel for public
transit buses and registered
vanpools

47. Urban Rail
Connects regional
system to core employment
destinations; Provides increased
capacity; Implements city’s
planning goals; Reinforces and
accelerates economic activity
Conceptual engineering
complete, phasing in
progress, environmental impact
statement in progress

48. • 16.5 miles double track
• Electric powered
• In-street running and dedicated
track way
• Compatible with urban
form/geometry
• Phased and Expandable

49. Regional Rail
Connects major
metropolitan areas; very high capacity;
can be built in existing railroad
corridors, and can operate mixed with
freight trains
Environmental Impact Study
and Alternatives Analysis
• 117 miles
• 16 stations
• 20 round trips per day
• 90 maximum operating speed
• Will connect with Urban Rail and San
Antonio Streetcar systems

50. To Be Determined
Substantial population and
employment growth coupled with limited
transportation options
Alternatives analysis to start in 2012
• Transportation improvements to be
considered include:
– Upgrades and/or extension to the
existing MetroRail Red Line
– New Rail Line
– Implementation of BRT
– Roadway Improvements
• Integral to this study is a review and
refinement of the CAMPO travel demand
model (currently underway)
50

51. • Different challenges within region require a
multimodal and balanced transportation
solution
• The region’s high-capacity transit system
is comprised of a range of modes that
complement each other

52. • Central Texas transportation corridors
• High-capacity transit projects in corridors
• Integrated organization for high capacity
transit system

53. • 15 minutes allotted
• 3 minutes per speaker
• Speakers heard in reverse order of previous meeting

54. Meeting Adjourned
Next Meeting December 2, 2011
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
City Hall, City of Austin