TRANSPORTATION BEYOND TOMORROW 2031 Sustainable Transportation Master Plan
Public Information Meeting #2 Agenda • Overview of PIC #1 • Transportation Demand Management • Active Transportation • Preliminary Road Network Improvements • Next Steps • Q & A Session
Study Participants • City of Niagara Falls • Niagara Region • Ministry of Transportation • Niagara Parks Commission Consulting Team • AECOM • Urban & Environmental Management
PIC # 1 – September 2010 • Summary of Public Survey Results – ―Roads/Traffic‖ is the leading local issue – Use of transit and active transportation are very low – Cycling is a popular recreational activity; not generally a commuter travel mode – Opinions on roadway conditions are mixed • Developed Study Goals & Objectives – Optimize the Transportation System – Promote Transportation Choice – Foster a Strong Economy – Support Sustainable Development and Growth
PIC # 1 – September 2010 • Summary of Community Advisory Group Input – What Works? - New buses, grid layout, VIA’s bike train, adequate road capacity – What Doesn’t Work? - Freight rail blocks roads, free parking, overlap of school/private & public transit bus services, bus scheduling, bike trail constraints – Input received from PIC 1 have been considered in developing draft recommendations for the City
Future Travel Demands • 2031 weekday Auto Trips forecast to increase by 39% and weekday truck demands increase by 18% compared to 2006 • 37,375 PM peak hour auto trips to/from Niagara Falls • 51% is internal to city – 49% to from external areas • 7043 tourist trips (19%) – summer weekday • 14, 503 PM peak hour truck trips to/from Niagara Falls • 79% is internal to city – 21% to from external areas • Significant additional truck demand that passes through the City on QEW
Key Recommendations for City • Develop a TDM program to reduce peak hour travel demands and encourage use of non-auto travel options • Invest in Transit - double the share of trips using local transit • Invest in an integrated network of trails, sidewalks, and bike lanes to encourage increased use of active transportation • Invest in Road Network infrastructure to support planned growth • Updated City-wide Transportation Policies to implement and support the transportation goals and objectives
TDM – New and Planned Initiatives • Three pillars of sustainability: Economy (local), the Public, and the Environment, all benefit through the use of an effective TDM program • The STMP TDM strategy will offer potential and opportunity to achieve a multitude of planning goals • Specific STMP policies will support a comprehensive TDM program with strategies and initiatives directed at transportation and land use planning
TDM – Auto Trip Reduction Implementing TDM measures can reduce auto demands by 10% (if targets met) Short Trips (<10km) Long Trips (>10km) TDM Measure 2021 Short to 2031 2021 Short to 2031 Medium term Long term Medium term Long term Percent Reduction in Number of Automobile Trips Improved land use and 1% 2.5% 1% 2.5% transportation integration Ridesharing (numbers reflect 1% 1% 1% 2% potential for overlap with transit) Walking/cycling 3% 5% Minimal (except winter) Telecommuting 0.5% 0.5% 1% 1.5%
TDM – New and Planned Initiatives • TDM recommendations: – build upon existing initiatives underway in the City and Region, – Are based on best practices in other jurisdictions across North America and Europe • A successful TDM program will need – a champion in the municipality and wider community, – leadership in promoting program, preparing marketing material, securing funding and coordinating community programs
TDM – Overarching Recommendations • Appoint a dedicated TDM Co-ordinator for the City • Update the Official Plan to be complimentary with TDM strategies • Initiate discussions with Niagara Region and the Province with respect to modifications to the Development Charges Act to recognize efforts to promote TDM (Transit).
TDM – Overarching Recommendations • Market TDM throughout the community – target specific markets, including the tourist sector • Develop a separate infrastructure capital program within the annual budget to implement TDM-related initiatives • Reassess traffic impact study guidelines to require consideration of TDM and consider TDM in the context of all development reviews
Specific TDM Recommendations & Priorities • Recommended TDM strategies are grouped into four areas of action: 1. Education, Promotion and Outreach 2. Travel Incentives 3. Land Use and Transportation Integration 4. Transportation Supply • 57 strategies have been recommended • Grouped by implementation time horizon – short, medium and long term
Active Transportation: Cycling & Walking Active Transportation : any form of travel that is self-propelled this component of the sustainable transportation study is focused on walking and cycling active transportation is an important component of a comprehensive, forward-looking strategy for tackling the transportation challenges of the future holistically
Active Transportation: Cycling & Walking Why should Niagara Falls support Active Transportation? cycling & walking are excellent and fast options for the local commuter and visitor to the city cycling and walking are a practical and economical means of meeting the local transport needs There are health , economic and environmental benefits associated with active transportation, and it is a very equitable transportation mode
Active Transportation: Cycling & Walking Trends in Niagara Falls and elsewhere suggest an attitude change on the horizon – In the public survey the most commonly identified barriers are the lack of facilities (bike lanes — 25%, trails — 15%) as well as concerns related to connectivity and safety of available facilities – There is a growing culture of engagement in active transportation activities – There is a developing political environment that is more supportive of Active Transportation plans
Active Transportation: Cycling & Walking What is required to support Active Transportation? • more facilities (sidewalks, trails, bike lanes, etc.) • better-connected facilities (from any point A to B, C or D, wherever they may be) • safer facilities (visible and comprehensible; designed, constructed & maintained to meet established safety guidelines)
Active Transportation: Cycling & Walking Preliminary recommendations… FOUR PRINCIPLES FOR INVIGORATING DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF CYCLING FACILITIES: 1. CONTINUITY of CYCLING FACILITIES 2. VISIBILITY (for promotion and safety) 3. COMPLETE RANGE of FACILITY TYPES 4. CO-OPERATION
Active Transportation: Cycling & Walking Facility Types: • Examples of dedicated, on-road facilities (bike lanes)
Active Transportation: Cycling & Walking PRIMARY CANDIDATE ON-ROAD ROUTES A. Mountain Road B. Thorold Stone Road C. Morrison Street D. Lundy’s Lane E. McLeod Road F. Kalar Road G. Montrose Road H. Dorchester Road I. Drummond Road J. Portage Road K. Stanley Avenue L. Victoria Avenue M. Niagara Parkway & Whirlpool Road
Active Transportation: Cycling & Walking PRIMARY CANDIDATE OFF-ROAD ROUTES 1. Millennium Trail (Phase 1) 2. Haulage Road Trail 3. Niagara Parkway 4. Millennium Trail (Phase 4) 5. Millennium Trail (Phase 3) 6. Olympic Torch Run Legacy Trail 7. NS&T Trail ―A‖ (West) 8. NS&T Trail ―B‖ (East)
Active Transportation: Cycling & Walking PRIMARY CANDIDATE OFF-ROAD ROUTES 9. Gary Hendershot Memorial Trail 10. Hydro Corridor – South West (to Garner) 11. Hydro Corridor – South East (to Stanley) 12. Hydro Corridor – North Diagonal 13. Olympic Torch Legacy Trail (Phase 2) 14. Mitchell Line 15. Hydro Corridor – South Diagonal 16. Hydro Corridor – North to South
Active Transportation: Cycling & Walking Case study #1: Kalar Road Case study #2: Olympic Torch Run Legacy Trail
Active Transportation: Cycling & Walking Other recommendations • Identification of local roads and local cycling routes to access the primary network routes and local destinations • Extension of the network to through rural areas and to neighboring municipalities based on regional plans • Extension of the network to and within new development areas at time of development
Active Transportation: Cycling & Walking Walking: Assets Challenges Recommendations
Identifying Road Improvement Needs • Improved transit and TDM will reduce road improvement needs – Currently at 1.4% transit mode share (2011) – Transit Business Plan will achieve 3.2% transit mode share • Incorporating the TDM targets discussed previous results in a total 18% Non-Auto Mode share by 2031 (up from 8% today)
Model Scenarios Impact on PM Peak Hour Demand Scenario Non Auto Mode Total Internal Auto Trip % Share Auto Trips Reduction From Reduction PM peak hr 1 Base Do Nothing 8% 13,704 Transit 10% 13,453 -251 - 1.8% Improvements Transit + TDM 18% 12,242 - 1,462 - 10.6% • Achieving 18% Non-Auto mode share reduces city-wide auto delay by almost 900 veh-hrs per day • This represents an estimated $7.5 M annual benefit to residents in terms of travel time savings by 2031
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