I85 Corridor Light Rail Transit Feasibility Study Gwinnett

I-85 Corridor Light Rail Transit Feasibility Study Gwinnett Place CID Board Presentation August 12, 2009

Study Overview • 8 -Month Study (September 2008 – May 2009) conducted by HDR Engineering, Inc. • Co-sponsored by Gwinnett Village CID and Gwinnett Place CID • Evaluate the technical feasibility of a light rail transit (LRT) system serving the I-85 corridor in Gwinnett County • Position the project to move forward to the next phase to potentially receive grant funding through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

Study Tasks • Project Goals Workshop (October 29, 2008) • Technology Assessment (Heavy Rail, Light Rail and Streetcar) • Route Alignment and Station Locations • Operating and Capital Cost Estimates • Limited Environmental Assessment • Evaluation based on LRT Peer Analysis • Funding Opportunities • Station Renderings (Gwinnett Village, Brook Hollow and Gwinnett Place Stations)

Study Priorities • The development of potential LRT alignment options was based on priorities established by the Gwinnett Village CID, Gwinnet Place CID and other stakeholders at the Project Goals Workshop: • Economic Development • Congestion Relief • Redevelopment Potential • Impact Avoidance • Cost-effectiveness

Technology Assessment • Light Rail Transit (LRT) was selected as the preferred technology since it provides sufficient passenger capacity and operating speeds at less cost than heavy rail (MARTA).

I-85 Corridor LRT Alignment

I-85 Corridor LRT Characteristics • Limits from Norcross to Gwinnett Arena • Approximately 14 -miles in length • 9 potential stations • Six preliminary route alignment options were developed and screened based on: • Right-of-way availability • Land use compatibility • Future land use plans • Topographic constraints • Potential impacts to street traffic operations • Availability of adjacent land for maintenance facility

Potential Station Locations Station Layout Type Norcross At-Grade Intermodal; connection to MARTA Gwinnett Village At-Grade Commuter Brook Hollow At-Grade Neighborhood Indian Trail Aerial Commuter Liddell Road At-Grade Neighborhood Pleasant Hill At-Grade Commuter Gwinnett Place At-Grade Intermodal; GCT bus transfer facility Duluth Highway At-Grade Neighborhood Gwinnett Arena At-Grade Commuter

Station Renderings • Gwinnett Village (west of Jimmy Carter Boulevard @ OFS Site)

Station Renderings • Gwinnett Place (Satellite Boulevard @ Old Plantation Way)

Station Renderings • Brook Hollow Parkway @ Center Way

Estimated Operating and Capital Costs Capital Cost $962 million – $1. 05 Billion Annual Operating Cost ~$25. 5 Million Length ~13. 8 Miles Stations 9 • Costs estimated in 2009 dollars

Next Steps • Phase II of Feasibility Study • Travel Market Analysis • Travel Demand Forecasting • FTA New Starts Support and Strategic Planning • Position project to enter the Alternatives Analysis phase of FTA’s New Starts process

Questions? ? ?