rv 2014: innovative partnerships- silo hopping to engage communities
DESCRIPTION
Innovative Partnerships: Silo Hopping to Engage Communities How can we collaborate to educate, inform and involve the public? How can we work together -- across departmental and agency lines -- to engage citizens more meaningfully and efficiently? Large capital projects, especially transit projects, involve many departments, agencies and objectives. Collaborating in an intentional way helps build and strengthen communities. Explore examples of successful teamwork designed to keep the public informed, including social media tools, branding techniques, and more. Moderator: David C Dickey Jr., AICP, Senior Vice President and National Director, Transit & Railroads, URS, Charlotte, North Carolina Kathleen Cornett, AICP, Senior Planning Coordinator, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission, Charlotte, North Carolina Kathryn Hansen, Manager, TOD and Land Use, SWLRT Project Office, Metro Transit, St. Louis Park, Minnesota Liz Walton, Landscape Architect, Minnesota Department of Transportation, St. Paul, MinnesotaTRANSCRIPT
LYNX Blue Line Extension Transit Station Area Plans
LYNX Blue Line
• 9.3 miles• 11 stations• Implementation 2017• +25,000 daily riders• Connects Uptown
Charlotte to UNC Charlotte
• 9.6 miles• 15 stations• Opened 2007• +26,000 daily riders• Connects south side
at Interstate 485 to Uptown Charlotte
LYNX Blue Line
LYNX Blue Line Extension (BLE)
CATS LYNX Context & Ridership
Lynx Light Rail line
South Blvd
• 11 Stations (7 walk-up / 4 park-and-ride)
• Accommodates 3-car trains
• Approximately 3,100 parking spaces
• Congestion-free commute
• Connecting bus services
BLE Profile
• Convenient and safe station amenities for customers
o Security featureso Bicycle parkingo Public arto Shelters, garbage cans, bencheso Treeso Lightingo Ticket vending machines (TVMs)o Maps and schedules
BLE Update
Milestone Date
State FFGA Executed March 2012
Request to Enter Final Design March 2012
FTA Approval to Enter Final Design July 2012
Federal FFGA Signed October 2012
Advanced Utility Relocation Begins May 2013
Right-of-Way Acquisition Complete January 2014
Complete Final Design May 2014
Start Construction November 2013
Initiate Revenue Service March 2017
*Schedule subject to change
TOD Planning Framework
Centers, Corridors & Wedges(1994)
Transit Station Area Principles(2001)
Station Area Plans(BLE Stations - 2013)
Cit
yC
orrid
or
Sta
tio
n
Zoning Tools
MUDD UMUD UR
TS(Transit Supportive Overlay)
TOD(Transit Oriented Development)P
arcel
Po
licy &
Pla
n D
evelo
pm
en
tIm
ple
men
tati
on
Station Area Vision
ParkingFloor Area Ratio (FAR)Residential Density (DUA)Height PlaneSite DesignBuilding Massing & Form
Community VisionNeighborhood ProtectionFuture Land UseTransportationInfrastructureOpen SpaceBuilding Type
Station Development ConceptDevelopment Plan
Structure PlanMobility Plan
Transit Oriented DevelopmentTransit Supportive Overlay
Knitting Policy & Implementation Together
How is the BLE Station Area Planning Process Different?
Staff Team
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Department
• Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS)
• Engineering & Property Management
• Corporate Communications
• Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT)
• Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation
• Neighborhood & Business Services
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities (CMU)
• Charlotte Fire Department
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
• Solid Waste Services
• Stormwater Services
• Land Use and Environmental Service
How is CATS different?
Most Transit Agencies
• Many are authorities, operating independently from local government
• Authorities have their own governing boards
CATS
• CATS is part of the City government structure
• Benefit of the City budget
• Many decisions must go through City Council and sometimes voter approval
New Strategies
Electronic Sign-in & QR code on postcard
Series of interactive workshops
Discussed 6 stations at each workshop
Provide initial concepts
Collaboration
Social Media Collaboration
BLE Communications Team
BLE Communications
Team (CATS)
Business Liaison
Contractor
State Transportation
EngineeringCity
Transportation
CATS Project Management
Planning
One Stop-Shop Public Workshops
ESRI ArcGIS Online
Station Area Plans
Transit Station Area Principles
Land Use Community Design Mobility
Concentrate a mix of
complementary, well-
integrated land uses
within walking distance
of the transit station.
Enhance the existing
transportation network
to promote good
walking, bicycle and
transit connections”
Use urban design to
enhance the community
identity of station areas
and to make them
attractive, safe and
convenient places.
Development Concept
Development Plan
Structure Plan
Mobility Plan
Station Area Plan Policies
• Vision & Goals
• General Development Character
• Neighborhood Preservation vs. TOD
• Future Land Use
• Community Design
• Infrastructure
• Natural Environment
• Building type/design
• Building Height in specific character areas
• Capital Projects
• Transportation Improvements
• Street Design (USDG)
New to BLE Station Area Plans (2013)
Policies
Gen
eral
Sp
ecific
One-Stop Shop Document
• One document for six station plans
• Serves as an easy reference and facilitates a predictable development patterns
Lessons Learned
Provide ideas for public to react to
Group stations into one planning process when
possible
Provide interactive opportunities for public
engagement
Incorporate technology where possible
Collaborate with other city agencies
Community education is key
Thank You!www.charlotteplanning.org