Presentation

PATRICK KLASSEN - 04.12.2008

AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE POTENTIAL OF MODERN STREETCARS IN HALIFAX

Source: www.btwt.org Source: www.urbanrail.netSource: www.oldtrails.com

http://www.btwt.org/



INTRODUCTION background + context + rationale

goals + objectives

COMPARATOR REVIEWcomparator selectionresearch + analysissummary of findings

CASE INVESTIGATIONhalifax profileinventory + analysisroute screening

ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS

CONCLUSIONS

RECOMMENDATIONS

outlineoutline introduction comparator review case investigation alternatives analysis introduction comparator review case investigation alternatives analysis conclusions recommendationsconclusions recommendations

OUTLINE + METHODOLOGYSource: www.urbanrail.net

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTIONBACKGROUND + CONTEXT

outline outline introductionintroduction comparator review case investigation alternatives analysis comparator review case investigation alternatives analysis conclusions recommendationsconclusions recommendations

STAGES OF INTRAURBAN GROWTH

Electric Streetcar

Arterial Highways

Freeways

2000

Traditional Urban Core

CONTEXTUAL MAP


Source: halifax.ca

Source: swiftreality.ca

INTRODUCTIONBACKGROUND + CONTEXT

HALIFAX - past + present

Source: halifax.ca

Source: halifax.ca

Growing employment: 30,500 by 2026

Growth in key sectors - education, healthcare, business

Growing population: 84,000 by 2026

75% within urban areas

25% within peninsula (21,000)


Source: Clayton Research, 2006

Population Projection, HRM, 1996-2026

Source: Gardner Pinfold, 2004

Employment Projection, HRM, 1996-2026

INTRODUCTIONBACKGROUND + RATIONALE

Employment

HALIFAX - future


Source: www.nrcan.gc.ca

INTRODUCTIONHALIFAX - Planning and Policy

“Halifax cannot be complacent and expect growth to continue unless we

nurture the conditions for growth.” - HRM Economic Development Strategy, 2004

“...direct change to areas that will benefit from growth”

“...integrate land use planning with transportation planning”

- (HRM by Design, 2008)

“...the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through transportation planing.”

- (HRM Regional Municipal Planning Strategy, 2006)

BACKGROUND + RATIONALE

Catalyze development and redevelopment potential around a transit investment

Increase transit ridership by better connecting local urban neighborhoods with downtown

Increase transit ridership by better connecting destinations within downtown

Better redistribute regional commuters within downtown

Reduce the environmental impacts of public transportation.

Source: urbanrail.net Source: urbanrail.net Source: flickr.com


INTRODUCTIONGOALS

THE MODERN URBAN STREETCAR IN HALIFAX

Primary

Determine the potential for the introduction of a modern downtown streetcar in Halifax

Secondary

Examine the strengths and weaknesses (features) of streetcar systems in comparator cities that

might be valid options for application in Halifax.

Source: urbanrail.net Source: urbanrail.net Source: flickr.com


INTRODUCTIONOBJECTIVES


Modern Streetcar Light Rail Transit

Primary Application

Track Alignment

Vehicle Format

Vehicle Details

Turning Radius

Station Spacing

Commercial Speed

Downtown circulator

Mostly on-street

Single vehicle - articulated

12-25m long, 2.4m wide

12-24m

150-500m

25 km/h or less

Regional/urban commuter

Segregated, some on-street running

Single or multiple linkes

30m+ long, up to ~ 2.65m wide

15-30m

800-1500m

30 - 100 km/h

CHARACTERISTICS

INTRODUCTIONDEFINITIONS

Source: urbanrail.net Source: urbanrail.net


INTRODUCTIONCONTEXT

1,500,000

1,125,000

750,000

375,000

0

Average Population of North American Cities with LRT Systems

Compared to Average Population of Initially Screened Cities with Streetcars

Streetcar LRT

Population

COMPARATOR REVIEW

outline outline introductionintroduction comparator reviewcomparator review case investigation alternatives analysis case investigation alternatives analysis conclusions recommendationsconclusions recommendations

COMPARATOR REVIEWSELECTION CRITERIA

Karlsruhe, Germany Population: 285,800 Area: 173 km Density: 1,356/km

Saarbrucken, Germany Population: 180,500 Area: 292 km Density: 901/km

Orleans, France Population: 263,200 Area: 292 km Density: 901/km

Portland, USA Population: 568,400 Area: 347 km Density: 1,638/km

Tacoma, USA Population: 202,700 Area: 162 km Density: 1,538/km

Kenosha, USA Population: 96,845 Area: 62 km Density: 1,569/km

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

COMPARATOR REVIEWRESEARCH + ANALYSIS


Urban Connectivity

Strong connection to urban cores - CBDs

Integration to key destinations key to success

Population Density

Average overall comparator density: 1,346/km2

Catchment (500m) densities considerably higher

COMPARATOR REVIEW

outline outline introductionintroduction comparator review comparator review case investigation alternatives analysis case investigation alternatives analysis conclusions recommendationsconclusions recommendations

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

Total Population

Streetcars do not require large total populations, due, in part, to their redistributive nature.

Urban Populations

Average Urban Density

Transit Connectivity

Centralization around major transit nodes

Strong connection to regional transportation

Integration, minimizing transfer time key to success

Source: urbanrail.net

COMPARATOR REVIEW


SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

Economic Development Streetcars have exhibited positive impacts on:

productivity - increased transit

property values

investment - targeted

business activity

Livability - Walkability - Accessibility

Traffic - long commute = quality of life reduction

Streetcar as a tool for creating more pleasant, vibrant neighbourhoods - Portland Pearl District

Streetcars have directly reduced car ownership

Topography

Topographic restrictions exist, although have not prevented expansion - technical advances

Portland

COMPARATOR REVIEW


SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

Percent of CBD Development Based UponDistance from Streetcar

Post 1997

Pre 1997

1 Block2 Blocks

3 Blocks3+

Blocks

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Source: ED Hovee & Company,Portland Streetcar Development ImpactsOctober 2005

Portland

COMPARATOR REVIEW


SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

Percent FAR Realized Based Upon Distance from Streetcar

Post 1997

Pre 1997

1 Block2 Blocks

3 Blocks3+

Blocks

80

60

40

20

0

Source: ED Hovee & Company,Portland Streetcar Development ImpactsOctober 2005

Portland

CASE INVESTIGATION - HALIFAX

Source: Stats CanadaCASE INVESTIGATIONHALIFAX PROFILE

ououtline introduction comparator reviewtline introduction comparator review case investigationcase investigation alternatives analysis alternatives analysis conclusions recommendationsconclusions recommendations

Halifax CMA

Halifax Core

HalifaxPeninsula

HALIFAX CORE

Urban Populations

Average Urban Density

Population: 202, 668Density: 1903 /sq. km.

Area: 106.5 sq. km.

CASE INVESTIGATIONHALIFAX PROFILE


Source: Stats Canada

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CASE INVESTIGATIONINVENTORY + ANALYSIS



Strengths

Reasonable peninsula population - 62,000 (additional 26,000 students not counted in census)

Strong existing density on Peninsula - 3,220/km

Centralized employment - 100,000 + jobs (CBD employs 24,000 alone)

Downtown destinations - cultural, retail, entertainment, services, education

Key destination for visitors - 4 million/yr (WTC - 1.2 million, cruise ships 200,000+/yr)

Growing commuter transit - MetroLink, ferries, rural express bus

Weaknesses

Disparities in policy & practice Limited local bus connectivity

Limiting topography & street pattern Limited funding for transit

Abundant, under-priced parking

2



Opportunities

Changing lifestyle - attraction with urban living

Growing population

Densifying Peninsula

Employment growth

Considerable development potential

Growing interest to target development

Growth in tourism

Rapidly pedestrianizing downtown

Constraints

Expensive infrastructure

Limited funding opportunities

Limited political & municipal support for rail based transit

CASE INVESTIGATIONROUTE SCREENING




Route Length..................................................1.8km (4km loop)

500m Catchment Population (500m)........8,700 500m Catchment Density (/sq. km)...........4,300Existing Local Commuters...........................2,280



Route Length..................................................4.3km (9,2km loop)

500m Catchment Population (500m)......19,000 500m Catchment Density (/sq. km)...........3,950Existing Local Commuters...........................4,725



Route Length..................................................4.9km (10.3km loop)




An urban streetcar system 7.4 km long would have a catchment population of over

31,000, with a catchment density of over 4,100 /km2, serving 10,750 existing local (on-route) commuters, providing access to all of the City’s identified

key development areas.

outline introduction cooutline introduction comparator review case investigation mparator review case investigation alternatives analysisalternatives analysis conclusions recommendationsconclusions recommendations


Rail TransitB

us

Tra

nsi

t

Local Bus

Express Bus

Bus Rapid Transit

StreetcarLight RailHeavy Rail

outline introduction cooutline introduction comparator review case investigation mparator review case investigation alternatives analysisalternatives analysis conclusions recommendationsconclusions recommendations

ALTERNATIVES ANALYSISBUS

Greater route flexibility

Greater operational flexibility

Less limited by topography & street pattern

Does not require special facilities

Several routes can converge onto one busway, reducing the need for transfers

Lower capital costs

ALTERNATIVES ANALYSISSTREETCAR

Source: urbanrail.net

outline introduction cooutline introduction comparator review case investigation mparator review case investigation alternatives analysis alternatives analysis conclusions recommendationsconclusions recommendations

Greater ridership demand and public preference.

Greater potential capacity.

Stronger positive neighbourhood/community impacts.

Stronger positive land use impacts.

Stronger potential for external funding

Less air and noise pollution.

Lower potential operating costs

Longer vehicle life span

CONCLUSIONS

SUMMARY & CONCLUSIONS

Source:cooltownstudios.comt Source:imageshack.us

Source:urbanrail.net

ououtline introduction comparator reviewtline introduction comparator review case investigationcase investigation alternatives analysis alternatives analysis conclusionsconclusions recommendations recommendations

Raising awareness & renewed interest with urban core

Growing interest to foster downtown development

Halifax exhibits characteristics supportive to streetcar

Environment increasingly becoming streetcar friendly

Streetcars better suited to achieved projects goals than busses

The findings of this study indicate that, while existing conditions may currently not be optimal,

there is a demonstrated potential for future application within the City’s urban core.

RECOMMENDATIONS

outline introduction outline introduction comparator review case investigation alternatives analysis comparator review case investigation alternatives analysis conclusions conclusions recommendationsrecommendations

RECOMMENDATIONS

Source: Google Earth

Complete a preliminary design, layout & ridership study

Investigate the costs associated with the implementation of streetcars in Halifax

Investigate technical constraints of alignmentForecast ridershipInvestigate potential external (Federal & Provincial) infrastructure funding

Research market demand for transit orientated development in Halifax

Commercial + residentialParticular focus on areas identified within this reportInvestigate the potential for PPPs.

THANK YOUquestions + comments

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