TUCSON URBAN CORRIDOR COMMUNITY LIAISON GROUP MEETING #7
November 1, 2007,
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
UA University Services Annex Building, 220 West 6th Street
Meeting Summary
1. Welcome and Introductions
Shellie Ginn, Tucson Department of Transportation Project Manager, welcomed everyone to the meeting. She introduced Freda Johnson the meeting facilitator, who asked the CLG, project team members and observers to introduce themselves. Next Freda reviewed the CLG meeting ground rules and mentioned that everyone should have four handouts; an agenda, alignment map and two pages of conceptual drawings of the alignment.
2. Environmental Assessment
Matthew Taunton from HDR gave a presentation providing background on the project noting that the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) was approved by the City Mayor and Council in April of 2007. He said that capital costs are estimated to be $144 million and that $72 million of the capital cost funding will come from the RTA plan which was approved by the voters in May of 2007. The federal contribution of $72 million from the Federal Transit Administration is from their Small Starts grant program, currently underway. Matthew presented a map showing the alignment noting it is 3.9 miles long, with 19 stations, and will have seven modern streetcars providing 10-20 minute headways depending on the time of operation. Matthew showed that ridership forecasts are 3,250 per weekday at the start of operations in December 2010 and rise to 4,217 per weekday in 2020.
Matthew explained the FTA project development process and the multiple steps and reports that must be completed. On September 28, 2007 the City submitted an Administrative Draft of the Environmental Assessment (EA) and once FTA comments are received, it will be circulated for 30 days of public comments after which the EA will be resubmitted to the FTA for a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). He provided an overview of the major environmental impact categories, including air quality, noise and vibration/electromagnetic interference, traffic, visual and aesthetic qualities and historic properties. Matthew noted that part of the process is a cultural and historic impact assessment. This document has been completed and scheduled for a public meeting on November 14, 2007, 6:00pm at the Pennington Street Garage conference room.
Joyce Schuman an observer from Tri Delta House, asked when the report that shows station locations and proposed mitigation would be available. Matthew said that this information was part of the Administrative Draft EA and once the FTA has provided their comments, it will be available for public review.
Ellen Adelstein from Catalina Vista Neighborhood, asked how the streetcar can operate if the RTA funding is not available until 2012. Matthew responded that the RTA fiscal year for 2012 starts July 2011 so the funding only needs to be from December 2010 - July 2011 and there are ways to acquire the funding for that short of a period. He also noted that part of the FTA Small Starts process, a detailed costs estimate will be completed which must show cost and funding sources.
State Legislature Representative Steve Farley, representing the Blenman-Elm Neighborhood asked if the process of purchasing the streetcars had begun. Matthew said yes but the project must receive the FONSI before a Request for Proposal (RFP) can be issued and after the RFP it would take about two years to obtain the streetcars. Steve requested that since the lead time for receiving streetcars is at least 2 years after the RFP is issued, could we start the process of figuring out the specifications of the streetcars now. Then as soon as the FONSI is received the specifications will have already been approved and the purchasing process can begin immediately.
Another person asked why off-the-shelf streetcars couldn't be purchased to decrease the lead time. Terry Nash from HDR responded that no one can purchase off-the-shelf cars. Every buyer needs some type of unique feature due to the power line heights, weather conditions and interior layouts. For Tucson a unique feature will be the need for air conditioning.
Ellen asked if every streetcar will stop at every station. Matthew said that has not been decided but most likely each streetcar will stop at every station. Ellen asked how long the ride from each end of the route to the other will be if the streetcar stops at all 19 stops. Matthew noted that the route will take about 22-25 minutes (the exact route time will be determined during final design).
Claire Fellow a representative of Freemont Avenue residents, asked if the Transit Oriented Development meetings and study was a requirement of the FTA process. Matthew answered yes because it is needed to ensure that land use can support the system.
3. Review of Conceptual Engineering Plans
MA pair of 11" x 17" color conceptual engineering plans was provided to each attendee. Matthew Taunton continued his presentation explaining the two drawings. He explained that there have been a couple revisions since the last meeting and the EA submission. The first revision was to move two of the 4th Avenue area stations. The station submitted in the EA in front of Epic Cafe on 4th Avenue has been moved south to the block between 4th Street and 5th Street. The station on University Boulevard east of 2nd Avenue has been moved to west of 3rd Avenue, in front of Time Market. This move was to facilitate travel during special events on 4th Ave.
The second revision was to revise the east end-of-line station to be located at Helen and Campbell. Since the previous end-of-line station at Warren would benefit from the Warren Avenue north-south pedestrian and bicycle path, that station was kept as an in-line station. He also said that forthcoming are new drawings using recent aerials, which will show the construction of Avenida De Convento where the west end of the alignment will end.
Don Durband representing the Tucson Downtown Alliance asked if these station location revisions would mean the EA needed to be resubmitted. Matthew stated no. They are not major enough to warrant resubmittal of the EA and can be addressed in the Engineering Phase.
Steve asked if an alignment change such as having the streetcar move out of the roadway and instead cut through a piece of property to navigate a corner, would that require resubmittal of the EA. Matthew answered no. A major impact would be to change the direction of the alignment, not just moving from the roadway to private property. As long as the alignment continues heading in roughly the same direction, and we are not adding more stops, the EA should be sufficient as submitted.
David Bachman Williams representing the Bicycle Advisory Committee said he had attended an open house showing the different developer proposals for the new Arena Hotel and they did not show any incorporation of the modern streetcar along Granada. He was told that the developers were not told of the modern streetcar route and was concerned that if they change the alignment of Granada it would cause the EA to be deficient. Shellie responded that there are continued communications with those involved with the arena hotel project and that the City does not intend to do anything that would jeopardize the schedule of the modern streetcar project.
Claire asked if the Federal Courthouse had been involved with the streetcar alignment. Matthew said that they had not directly been contacted but that the project team was following blast zone regulations and that is why there is not a station in front of the courthouse.
Matthew also explained that the Fourth Avenue improvement project includes the streetcar track under the bridge and a loop track on 5th Avenue. This project has started construction so the track will be installed before the construction of the streetcar project starts. Until the modern streetcar operates, Old Pueblo Trolley will use this new track.
4. Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Workshop Update
Matthew gave a brief update on the TOD workshop held for the 4th Avenue and University areas on October 23. The workshop provided an overview of the TOD planning process and the results of the economic market analysis. These workshops are part of the overall TOD plan and feasibility study that will be part of the land use report submitted to the FTA as part of the Small Starts document.
5. Next Steps
Matthew said that the next CLG meeting would most likely be early 2008. Freda asked if anyone had further questions or concerns. There were none and the meeting was adjourned.
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