The purpose of the meeting is to update the Project Advisory Group about project status and work completed over the last two months; summarize feedback received to date regarding community priorities and values and geographic needs for transit investments; discuss findings of the technical needs assessment; and discuss next steps and application of public input and technical needs.

1. Net
Project Advisory Group
Meeting #2
Wednesday, May 20
William G. Porter Board Room
COTA
William J. Lhota Building
33 N. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215

2. Meeting Agenda
● Introductions
● Project Update
● Findings and Implications: Values and Priorities
● Draft Findings: Geographic Needs
● Next Steps
2

3. NextGen Goals and Overview
● Create a community vision for the future of public transportation
in central Ohio
● Prepare for future growth by identifying transit investments that
integrate with regional goals
● Support local and regional plans with transit investment options
(e.g. Connect ColumbUS and MORPC Metropolitan
Transportation Plan)
● Identify conventional and creative revenue options
3

4. NextGen Study Overview
We are here 4

5. Stakeholder and Community Outreach
● Stakeholder interviews
● Targeted small group meetings
● Two public meetings
● Stakeholder workshops
– Transportation professionals; Economic development staff
● Neighborhood sessions
– Earth Day, Cinco de Mayo Job Fair, Young Professionals
Conference, Connect Columbus, MORPC State of the Region
event
● In total, spoke with more than 300 people
5

6. Findings from Outreach
● Strong level of support for public transportation
● But, others expressed ambivalence
● Some perception that Central Ohio hasn’t fully invested in transit
● Strong preferences for rail among many
6

7. Needs Analysis
● Existing Community Plans
● Planned Transit Investment
● Forecasted Population and Employment
– Congestion, Travel Flows
● Community Input, Priorities and Preferences
7

8. Values and Priorities
8
8

9. 9

10. Caption
Values and Priorities
Round 2 (Before Public Meetings)
10

11. Caption
Values and Priorities
Round 3 (With input from Public Meetings)
11

12. Caption
Values and Priorities
Results
12
Total Votes =
623
(Total number of votes, each
participant was able to vote
for three values)

13. Caption
Values and Priorities
Results
13
Total Votes =
623
(Total number of votes, each
participant was able to vote
for three values)

14. Caption
Values and Priorities
Results
14
Total Votes =
623
(Total number of votes, each
participant was able to vote
for three values)

15. Caption
Values and Priorities
Results
15
Total Votes =
623
(Total number of votes, each
participant was able to vote
for three values)

16. Values and Priorities
1. Make Better Connections
2. Invest in Overlooked Communities
3. Build on Success – Focus the Growth
4. Follow the Growth
5. Save the Earth
16
Key Findings

17. Evaluation Framework
● Tier 1: Screen Needs to Handful of Geographic Areas
● Create and Define Projects for targeted areas
● Tier 2: Evaluate Projects
17
Two-Tiered Approach

18. Evaluation Framework
18
Tier 1: Screening (example)

19. Evaluation Framework
19
Make Better Connections
Theme Potential Evaluation Criteria Favors
Make Better
Connections
Extend transit’s reach
further into the
communities it already
serves
People within quarter-mile
Jobs within quarter-mile
Activity centers and
community “anchors”
Civic and cultural assets
Consistency with plans
Pedestrian and bike
infrastructure
Areas, corridors and
neighborhoods with….
A lot of people and jobs
Access to activity
centers
Planned and existing
multimodal
infrastructure

20. Evaluation Framework
20
Build on Existing Success
Theme
Potential Evaluation
Criteria
Favors
Build on Success
Make existing transit
service more
compelling
Existing ridership
Population and
employment density within
¼ mile of corridor
Transit dependent
population within ½ mile of
proposed service area
Areas, corridors and
neighborhoods with….
Strong Transit Ridership
Population and
Employment Density
Transit Dependent
Populations

21. Needs Assessment
21
21

22. Needs Analysis
● Community Input, Priorities and Preferences
● Existing Community Plans
● Planned Transit Investment
● Forecasted Population and Employment
– Congestion, Travel Flows
22

23. Community and Stakeholder Input
23

24. Community and Stakeholder Input
24
Location Votes
Downtown/Ohio State/High 39
Port Columbus International
Airport
35
Westerville 18
Groveport 17
Gahanna 14
Grove City 11
Dublin 10
Broad Street 8

25. Community and Stakeholder Input
25
Location Votes
Downtown/Ohio State/High 39
Port Columbus International
Airport
35
Westerville 18
Groveport 17
Gahanna 14
Grove City 11
Dublin 10
Broad Street 8

26. Plan Review
● Enhanced service to airport
● Park-and-rides
● High-frequency corridors
● OSU - Downtown
Columbus
● Dublin Circulator
● Dublin BRT
26
Major Transit Investments

27. Plan Review
● Enhanced service to airport
● Park-and-rides
● High-frequency corridors
– Includes service
investment only
– No capital treatments
● OSU - Downtown
Columbus
● Dublin Circulator
● Dublin BRT
27
Major Transit Investments

28. Plan Review
● Enhanced service to airport
● Park-and-rides
● High-frequency corridors
● OSU - Downtown
Columbus
● Dublin Circulator / BRT
– Local service only
– Lacks connection with
regional network
– Plans also rely on Park
and Ride service
28
Major Transit Investments

29. 29
2010 2040
Projected Population and Jobs
Source: 2010 US Census; 2040 Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission

30. 30
2010 2040
Projected Population and Jobs
Source: 2010 US Census; 2040 Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission

31. 31
2010 2040
Projected Population and Jobs
Source: 2010 US Census; 2040 Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission

32. 32
Projected Population and Jobs
Source: 2010 US Census: 2040 Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission

33. Projected Congestion
33Source: 2035 Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
2015 2035

34. Projected Congestion
34Source: 2035 Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
2015 2035

35. Projected Congestion
35Source: 2035 Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
2015 2035

36. PAG Input:
36
Where should
investment go?
Ideas for specific
projects?

37. Needs Assessment
● High Street
– Downtown – OSU
– Continue to Westerville
● Port Columbus International
Airport
– Downtown to Airport
● Northern Tier
– Dublin – Westerville –
Worthington
● Middle Northern Tier
– Upper Arlington – OSU -
Easton
● Broad Avenue
– West to Lincoln Village
– East to Whitehall/Airport
● Parsons Avenue Corridor
– South to Groveport
● Downtown Columbus
circulation
– Expand to more than radial
network
– Downtown transit center
● Dublin circulation
37
Draft List: Geographic Areas

38. Next Steps
38
38

39. Next Steps
● Update Draft Reports for PAG Review
– Needs Assessment
– Findings from Stakeholder and Community Input Report
● Draft Evaluation Framework
● July PAG Meeting
– Draft evaluation framework
– Draft list of geographic areas for transit investment
• Corridors and neighborhoods
39
Wrap Up Phase 1 Activities

40. 40

41. NextGen@COTA.com
Thank You!

42. Evaluation Framework
42
Invest in Overlooked Communities
Theme Potential Evaluation Criteria Favors
Invest in Overlooked
Communities
Direct investment to
specific corridors and
neighborhoods
Number of low income residents
Number of low wage jobs
near/along corridor
Developable land within ½ mile of
service area
Value of developed and
undeveloped land within ½ mile of
service area
Areas, neighborhoods and
corridors with…
Land available for
development
Under valued parcels
Lower income residents
Lower wage jobs