Sun Link Tucson Streetcar

NACTO Designing Cities 2013

October 28, 2013

Project Details • Alignment length: 3.9 miles

• 18 stops

• MSF located south of 8th St

• 8 modern streetcars

• Peak/off-peak headways:

* 10/20 minutes

• 2010 ridership estimate: 3,600 per weekday

• Capital cost: $196 million

Funding Local funding source:

• $75 million – Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) - capital

• $14 million – Cushing Street Bridge

• $11 million – Public utilities

• $3.2 million – The Gadsden Company

Federal funding sources:

• $63 million – TIGER Grant awarded Feb 2010

• $6 million New Starts “Exempt” project

• $4 million federal funds

Other funding sources:

• $22 million - City of Tucson and other programs

Project Funding

Project Funding

Project Funding

Project Funding

Benefits • Improves regional transit options

• All aspects of the project are made in America following “Buy America” guidelines

• Increases mobility and reduces congestion

• Promotes Transit Oriented Development

• Foster’s economic development

• Helps UA expand their Campus to Downtown

• Creates an attraction for visitors and locals

• Connects people to events

• Benefits are recaptured throughout the community

New UA Downtown Campus at the Historic Roy Place Building

Fourth Avenue Street Fair

Transit Oriented Development (TOD)

What is it? • Mixed use development pattern that caters to transit riders and pedestrians • Helps to create compact, walkable urban areas with easy access to transit

Benefits of TOD • Revitalization • Public/private partnerships • Sales tax revenue • More affordable housing and mobility • Increases property values • Improves accessibility to employment • Improves foot traffic for businesses • Decreases transportation costs •100,000 people live, work and play in the area

Economic Development • 500 Construction Jobs

• Will add 1,500 + Long term jobs

• $800 million plus in private/public investment along corridor to date

• Attracted 50 + new restaurants, bars and cafes in the downtown area

• Stimulating new housing – 1300 units to date

• Connects neighborhoods and commerce

• Triggers redevelopment and long term community investment

Line Segment Construction

Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF) Construction

Luis G. Gutierrez Bridge Construction

Vehicle Production

Next Steps - Testing

Public Art

Helen Street and Warren Avenue

University Boulevard and 3rd Avenue

Highland Avenue and Second Street

Highland Avenue and Second Street

West bound Granada Avenue

Fourth Avenue and Seventh Street

University Boulevard and 3rd Avenue

Be Streetcar Street-Smart

Be Streetcar Street-Smart

Streetcar Vehicles •Safely operate in mixed environments and in pedestrian zones

•Compatible with on-street parking

•Shares stops with buses

•Vehicles and stops are accessible

− Low floor vehicles

− Multiple doors

− Level boarding

− Bridge plate for ADA access

− Bicycles/strollers on board

Be Streetcar Street-Smart

Bicyclists •Use green pavement markings

− Indicate where to cross streetcar track as close to perpendicular as possible

•More helpful directional markings

− White bike dots help guide the way

•Be Aware of Shared Space

− Sharrows help assist cyclists to position more safely within the lane

•Use Green Bike Boxes

− Gives a bicyclist defined space, separate from vehicles at intersection

− Increases your visibility

− Helps you turn and maneuver more safely

Be Streetcar Street-Smart

Pedestrians •Track tips

− Step over the track to avoid potential spills

•Crossing the street safely

− Use designated crosswalks

− If there is a walk signal obey it

− Keep children close

•New streetcar streetscape changes visibility

− New streetcar stops and vehicles may block those on the road from seeing pedestrians

Be Streetcar Street-Smart

Motorists •It’s ok to drive on the streetcar track

− Vehicle tire may create the sensation of a shimmy

•Honor bike boxes and pavement markings – especially at intersections

− Green bike boxes and pavement markings indicate a bike zone

− Stop behind the white line

− When the light turns green cyclists take the lead and motorists follow

•Park, pause and exit

− When you park check your mirrors for approaching cyclists, motorists and streetcars

− Open your door with caution

Public Outreach Tools • Project website

• “Subscribe Me button”

• Email blasts and updates

• Project information line

• Social media

• QR code

• Fact sheets

• Flyers

• Brochures

• Open houses

• Presentations

• Special events

Thank You For more information please visit or call:

Project Website - www.sunlinkstreetcar.com Project Info Line - (520) 624-5656