Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Metropolitan Council Project

Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Metropolitan Council – Project Update - May 14, 2008 Improving mobility Easing congestion Strengthening our communities

Today’s Agenda Central Corridor Light Rail Transit • Washington Ave. at-grade alignment – – Bus scenario operational costs Traffic Study #4 update Electromagnetic Interference Mitigation for transit/pedestrian mall • Northern Alignment – Outstanding issues 2

Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Bus Scenario Operational Costs 3

Transit/Pedestrian Mall Scenarios Ridership, Cost and CEI Review Transit/Pedestrian Mall Scenarios 1 2 A 2 B 3 Scenario B Buses Bus service terminate at via 10 th Ave. * via edges of Pleasant* campus * Buses remain on transit/ped mall $909. 1 MM Cost Effectiveness Index $23. 80 $24. 09 $24. 56 $24. 57 $23. 92 Ridership Estimate 41, 970 45, 320 44, 780 45, 040 42, 960 Intermodal Station Construction Costs NA $15 MM NA NA $909. 1 MM $924. 1 MM $909. 1 MM Capital Costs Adjusted Capital Costs * A concern of Scenarios 1, 2 A and 2 B is the diversion of riders from the Uof. M Campus Connector to 4 LRT which may lead to exceeding available train capacity.

Transit/Pedestrian Mall Scenarios Corridor Bus Operation Cost Estimates Transit/Pedestrian Mall Scenarios 1 Difference ($) 3 Buses remain on transit/ped mall 38, 183, 600 36, 765, 650 37, 719, 580 37, 794, 100 38, 183, 600 -- (1, 417, 950) (464, 020) (389, 500) -0 - -3. 7% -1. 2% -1. 0% 0. 0% $24. 09 $24. 56 $24. 57 $23. 92 % Change CEI 2 B Buses Bus service terminate at via 10 th Ave. * via edges of Pleasant* campus* Scenario B Operational Costs ($) 2 A $23. 80 * A concern of Scenarios 1, 2 A and 2 B is the diversion of riders from the Uof. M Campus Connector to LRT which may lead to exceeding available train capacity. Assumptions: • Annual O&M Costs for bus route modifications consistent with comparable Rail Build Alternatives. • 2002 costs escalated to 2007 dollars using 3. 5% • Fleet buses assume a 20% spare ratio • Metro Bus O&M costs represent corridor impacted routes only. 5

Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Traffic Study #4 Update 6

Traffic Study 4 Intra-campus Roadway Network Mitigation Strategies Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Proposed new roadway connections • Stripe NB left turn lane • Modify signal phasing • Install traffic signal • Construct turn lanes Converted to 2 -way streets Intersection traffic control and/or capacity improvements Construct new segment and overlay existing • Install traffic signals • Construct turn lanes • Install traffic signal • Construct turn lanes • Install way stop • Construct turn lanes • Mill and overlay E. River Rd 7

Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Traffic Study 4. 1 VISSIM Traffic Model • VISSIM traffic analysis considers – Pedestrian – Vehicle – Bus • Level of Service – Washington Avenue intersections – Harvard and Delaware intersection 8

Traffic Study 4. 1 Central Corridor Pleasant to Harvard Light Rail Transit B Oak C Walnut B Harvard Washington. A Union Church Pleasant Study to determine impacts to Washington Ave. with LRT transit/pedestrian mall D C Delaware A Level of Service Indicator 9

Traffic Study 4. 1 Central Corridor Pleasant to Walnut Light Rail Transit B Oak C Walnut B Harvard Washington. A Union Church Pleasant Study to determine impacts to Washington Ave. with LRT transit/pedestrian mall D C Delaware A Level of Service Indicator 10

Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Geomagnetic and Electromagnetic Interference 11

Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Locations of Sensitive Equipment 12

Geomagnetic Perturbation Central Corridor Light Rail Transit (Steel Mass) Maximum allowed at 77’ = 2. 0 m. G 13 m. G = millegauss (units of magnetic force)

Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Electromagnetic Measurements 14

Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Electromagnetic Measurements Maximum allowed at 77’ = 2. 0 m. G 15

Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Electromagnetic Technical Solutions 16

Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Washington Ave. Transit/Ped Mall Mitigation 17

Stakeholder-Identified Improvement Needs Washington Avenue Transit Mall Central Corridor Mitigation Participation* $11, 100, 000 Free Fare Zone Stadium Village to West Bank Stakeholder Granary Road - I 35 W to TH 280 Stakeholder U of M Fairview Hospital Loading Dock Stakeholder Traffic light improvements on Washington Ave. , intersections Base Scope Intersections directly impacted by CCLRT (Study #3) Intersections not directly impacted by CCLRT (Study #3) $2, 800, 000 Stakeholder East River Road/Harvard Street/Fulton Street $1, 200, 000 East Bank Campus Area Street Connections (Study #4) $5, 100, 000 Modify Huron Blvd/University Ave. /23 rd Ave. /25 th Ave. Environmental Issues Base Scope $6, 800, 000 Impact on Freeway System Stakeholder Signage and Wayfinding Base Scope Cedar Riverside Small Area Plan Stakeholder Total Central Corridor Mitigation Participation * CCLRT Participation subject to FTA approval $27, 000 18

Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Northern Alignment 19

Comparison of Northern Alignment and Washington Avenue Alignment 20

Northern Alignment: West Bank 21

Typical Sections: West Bank 22

Northern Alignment: Dinkytown 23

Typical Sections: Dinkytown 24

Northern Alignment: Stadium Village 25

Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Northern Alignment Outstanding Issues 26

Central Corridor Environmental Issues Light Rail Transit • #9 Bridge is eligible as a historical structure • #9 Bridge demolition impacts to bike/pedestrian trail • Removal of Section 8 housing financed by HUD, impacts to remaining units • Soil contamination 27

#9 Bridge is eligible historic structure 28

Demolition impacts bike/ped trail 29

Path to Bridge #9 Impacts to Section 8 housing 30

Soil contamination from former gas works 19 th Av en ue So u th 1956 Washington Avenue 31

Soil contamination from former gas works Former Gas Works Site Former Gas Holding Location 32

Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Additional Environmental Permits • Federal Transit Administration • Corp. of Engineers • National Park Service/ MNRRA • FEMA • Coast Guard • HUD 33

Central Corridor Design Issues Light Rail Transit • 25’ deep open trench required between 19 th Ave. and Law School for LRT to cross Washington Ave. at-grade • US Coast Guard jurisdiction as a navigable waterway 34

Trench required between 19 th Ave. and Law School to run atgrade with Washington Ave. 35

Coast Guard looking for opportunities with bridge reconstruction to remove piers 36

Central Corridor Constructability Issues Light Rail Transit • 19 th Avenue trench requires retaining walls – Impacts to Law School and 19 th Ave. structure – Construction impacts and method • Structural integrity of Bridge #9 coffer dam 37

19 th Ave. Law School 30’ wide 25’ deep Structural and construction impacts to Law School and 38 19 th Ave. roadway and bridge

Structural integrity of coffer dam unknown 39

Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Operations and Maintenance Issues • Fire, life and safety access – Difficult in 19 th Ave. trench – Limited in Dinkytown trench • Snow removal from 19 th Ave. trench • Maintenance crew access limited due to restricted adjacent available right-of-way 40

Fire, life, safety, maintenance and construction access limited 41

Central Corridor Railroad Issues Light Rail Transit • Requires right-of-way acquisition from BNSF Railway • Does not meet track separation requirements between freight and light rail • Results in $200 MM insurance, indemnification package due to proximity of passenger rail to freight rail 42

Requires negotiating with freight railroad company for right-of-way acquisition 43

Proximity to operating freight railroad does not meet minimum standards 14 th Avenue University Avenue h g i L il a r t t h ig e r F ad o y. R l rai G e r tu r a n ra Fu 44

Roy Wilkins Hall 1212 University Ave SE Proximity to operating freight railroad requires insurance, indemnification in case of an accident or derailment 45

Project Schedule Impacts CCLRT Master Schedule Start SDEIS environmental review Define Project Alignment and Elements May 9, 2008 Northern Alignment Schedule July 9, 2007 Feb. 27, 2008 Restart SDEIS environmental review for Northern Alignment May 21, 2008 June/July 2008 Complete environmental analysis, prepare SDEIS April 4, 2008 Feb. 2009 Provide final administrative draft SDEIS to FTA April 29, 2008 March 2009 Receive SDEIS comments from FTA May 28, 2008 May 2009 Publish SDEIS in Federal Register June 27, 2008 June 2009 Hold Public Hearing July 21, 2008 July 2009 Adopt Revised LPA by Met Council Aug. 27, 2008 Aug. 2009 Submit New Starts Application Sept. 5, 2008 Sept. 4, 2009 Publish draft FEIS Jan. 11, 2009 Jan. 2010 FTA issues Record of Decision on FEIS (min. of 30 days) Feb. 25, 2009 Feb. 2010 May 6, 2009 May 2010 FTA approves project to move into Final Design

Central Corridor Light Rail Transit More Information Check out our website: • www. centralcorridor. org Contact Central Corridor Project Office: • 540 Fairview Avenue North St. Paul, MN 55104 • Comment Line: 651 -602 -1645 • Email: centralcorridor@metc. state. mn. us 47