TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Michael A. Hursh, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer
SUBJECT: Transit Supportive Design Guidelines
BRIEFING ITEM
AGENDA PLANNING REQUEST: ☐
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider receiving an introductory report on the status of the Transit Supportive Design Guidelines.
Staff Contact:
Ramakrishna Pochiraju, Executive Director of Planning & Engineering
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Convenient and Reliable Service
Initiative - Service Quality
The Transit Supportive Design Guidelines will provide guidance to AC Transit staff and external agency staff on developing a project that is supportive of fixed-route and paratransit services.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
The proposed project total is $159,000 and is funded by the District’s operating budget in fiscal years 23/24 and 24/25.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
In October 2018, the Board adopted the Multimodal Design Guidelines. This document provided design recommendations for bicycle facilities at bus stops. The new Transit Supportive Design Guidelines (Guidelines) will update the Multimodal Design Guidelines by expanding its scope and addressing design that improves fixed-route, paratransit operations and riders' experiences. Many of design recommendations included in the Multimodal Design Guidelines do not take paratransit service into consideration. The Multimodal Design Guidelines also resulted in complete street and/or traffic calming project elements on major corridors that reduced travel speed and increased delay, which was not the District’s intention.
The Transit Supportive Design Guidelines will address:
• Both fixed-route and paratransit service needs
• Rider experience at bus stops
• Design features that promote service reliability (i.e., layover space and various bus stop needs for corridors based on service frequency)
• Design elements that were not common in 2018
• Expanded solicitation from a wider range of stakeholders
Schedule
The Project kicked off in April 2023. Staff will work with agency stakeholders, including local jurisdictions and funding agencies to develop the Guidelines. Staff will solicit feedback from various groups, including the Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC), Service Review Advisory Committee (SRAC) and possibly Inter-agency Liaison Committees (ILCs) in fall of 2023. The estimated project duration is 12 months.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
The advantage of developing the new guidelines is to be able to provide a consistent design approach that will promote fixed-route transit and paratransit operations, and improve the rider experience.
The main disadvantage is the cost of developing the new guidelines.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
Alternately, the District may continue using the current Multimodal Design Guidelines. Staff does not recommend this approach as the Multimodal Design Guidelines resulted in design that created streets inaccessible to paratransit service and degraded fixed-route transit service.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
SR 19-063 - Complete Streets and Multimodal Design Guidelines
SR 18-216 - Multimodal Design Guidelines
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Transit Supportive Guidelines Presentation
Prepared by:
Mika Miyasato, Principal Transportation Planner
In Collaboration with:
Jim Cunradi, Transportation Planning Manager
Approved/Reviewed by:
Ramakrishna Pochiraju, Executive Director of Planning & Engineering
Robert del Rosario, Director of Service Development and Planning
Jill A. Sprague, General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer
Chris Andrichak, Chief Financial Officer