june 2011 route operations & riders benefits construction operations & maintenance ...

Lowell StreetcarMoving Forward

June 2011

Route Operations & Riders Benefits Construction Operations &

Maintenance Potential System

Manager Next Steps &

Conclusion

Overview

Why are we considering a trolley?

Practical Benefits: Car-free travel

Economic Benefits: Increase in property values and tax revenue

Intangible Benefits: Enhanced experience for LNHP visitors and UMass Lowell

What was the goal of the trolley study?

Answer some key questions about how to make the trolley a reality: Where will it go? How much will it cost? How will we pay for it?

Provide a framework for

constructing, funding and operating the trolley

Proposes a specific, defined route

Serves UMass Lowell’s extensive campus system

Includes a balanced O&M plan

How is this study different?

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ROUTE

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OPERATIONS AND RIDERS

Trolleys arrive every 10 minutes 20 Station Stops Hours of Service

Monday through Thursday: 6 am – 10 pm

Friday and Saturday: 6 am – Midnight

Sunday: 10 am – 8 pm

Level of Service

Comparison of Weekday Service

Newly-built streetcars designed to look historic Feature A/C, Handicap Access, Electronic Fare

Payment Cost - $1 million per car A total of nine trolley vehicles for the Lowell

Trolley

Photo Courtesy of Jim Schantz

Streetcar Vehicles

Projected Ridership (per year)

Ridership Source Projected Ridership

National Park Service 52,589

Local Residents (within 1/4-mile of rail line) 44,730

Folk Festival 10,800

Entertainment Events 67,176

UMass Lowell 297,011

Lowell Regional Transit Authority 185,130

Total Existing Trips 657,436

New Residential 6,848

New Office 130,492

New Lowell Trial Court 38,780

Total Future Trips 176,119

TOTAL TRIPS 833,555

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Moving ForwardBENEFITS

Increase in Value of Existing Properties: $86 million or 5% over a 10-year period. Higher rents Increased sales prices Proposition 2½ Limits

Trolley will support a higher volume of development and at a faster pace – than without it Over $147 million in additional value $2.6 million in annual tax revenue

Economic Development Benefits

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CONSTRUCTION

Construction Cost Estimate (millions of $)

Track $37.4

Power Stations $1.4

Streetcars $7.4

Maintenance Facility $4.4

Subtotal $50.6

Plus Contingency (15%) $7.6

Plus Design and Project Management

$7.5

Total $65.7

Comparison of Construction Cost Estimate

Construction Revenue Sources

Name of ProgramFunding Available

Per Project

Small Starts Up to $75 million

Urban Circulator Up to $25 million

Transit in Parks Program

Up to $6 million

Earmarks Varies

Public Works Economic Development Program

Up to $1-2 million

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OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE

O&M Cost Estimate (Year 1)

Vehicle Operations $1,749,408

Vehicle Maintenance $676,496

Non-Vehicle Maintenance

$107,648

General Administration

$444,754

Sub-Total $2,978,30510% Cost Reserve $297,831

Total $3,276,136

Comparison of O&M Cost Estimate

O&M: Revenue Sources (Year 1)

Fares $307,826

Sponsorships $105,000

Advertising Revenue $50,000

Redirected Costs(UML, LRTA, LNHP)

$1,337,450

Government Transportation Programs/Other

$1,000,000

Special Assessment District

$576,489

Total $3,376,775

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O&M Revenue Breakdown

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POTENTIAL SYSTEM MANAGER

Trolley will most likely be privately operated

Manager could be one of two entities: LRTA Non-profit: typically formed by an

agreement between the city and transit operator

Potential System Manager

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NEXT STEPS & CONCLUSION

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40% of the operating dollars are already being spent

20% of the line is already in place

Key Takeaways

Little Rock/St. Louis Trolley Trip

Length of system: 7 Miles Construction cost: $65.7 million O&M cost (per year): $3.3

million Number of riders (per year):

833,555 Gallagher to South Campus: 25

minutes Maximum time between

streetcars: 10 minutes Earliest first year of operation:

2017

Key Figures

Lowell StreetcarMoving Forward

June 2011

Trolleys every 10 minutes 20 Station stops Hours of service

Photo Courtesy of John Smatlak - RPR Consulting

Heritage Streetcar

Trolley Design

Unit CostCalculation Methodology

Little Rock Unit Costs

Cost of Living

Differential

Lowell Unit Cost

Revenue Hours

(Cost Driver)

Total Annua

l Operat

or Wages

Operator Wages

$20.43 1.31 $26.67 36,007 $960,146

 Lowel

l

Comparable Streetcar Systems

Average Low High

Per Revenue Mile

$10.70 $15.19 $8.76 $25.39

Per Hour$90.9

9 $109.59 $64.33 $185.04

O&M Cost: Lowell vs. National

Average

Comparable Streetcar Systems: Kenosha, Wisconsin Little Rock Memphis

Portland, Oregon Tampa

Construction Cost: Lowell vs. National

Average

Lowell

Comparable Streetcar Systems

Average Low High

Per Mile $8.81 $9.78 $2.60 $22.08

Per Streetcar Vehicle $6.66 $5.47 $1.04 $14.60

Comparable Streetcar Systems: Kenosha, Wisconsin Little Rock Memphis

Portland, Oregon Tampa

Photo Courtesy of Jim Schantz

Little Rock

2.5-mile system Construction Cost: $28.5

million New Development: $260 million

Photo Courtesy of John Smatlak - RPR Consulting

Memphis

6.5-mile system Construction Cost: $24 million

New Development: $137 million

Photo Courtesy of John Smatlak - RPR Consulting

Lowell

6.8-mile system Construction Cost: $60 million New Development (HCD Only):

$740 million