The document discusses Providence's initiatives to develop a robust transit system including providing additional bus service, improving the transit experience, introducing new transit hubs, initiating rapid bus service, building a streetcar system, and expanding programs for commuters. It argues that improved transit yields benefits like job creation, economic development, livability, and the environment. It provides details on specific initiatives like rapid bus corridors and a proposed streetcar system.

1. Why and How Providence is Developing a Robust Transit System (and your city or town should be too) Thomas E. Deller , AICP , Director, City of Providence Department of Planning and Development John Flaherty , Director of Research & Communications, GrowSmart Rhode Island Amy Pettine , Special Projects Manager, RIPTA

2. June 3, 2010 Providence “ ...expanded, modern transit systems are absolutely essential to job creation and the long-term health and prosperity of our nation’s cities.” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood

3. RIPTA’S STRATEGIC PLAN

4. THE CASE FOR URBAN INVESTMENT One of the best things that cities can do to create jobs—especially in the private sector—is to improve the quality of life of their inhabitant s. - Carlos Slim Helú (Mexican business magnate and philanthropist) “ We need to create a city that people want to live in. Talent can move anywhere. Building out places for people to walk…is important for business.” - Janette Sadik-Khan, the commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation

5. METRO PROVIDENCE TRANSIT INITIATIVES: Provide Additional Bus Service Improve the Transit Experience Reinvent Kennedy Plaza Introduce New Transit Hubs Increase Park and Ride Capacity 6. Initiate Rapid Bus Service 7. Build a Providence Streetcar System 8. Strengthen Intermodal Connections 9. Expand Programs for Commuters 10. Capitalize on Transit-Oriented Development

6. INITIATIVES: RAPID BUS

7. 3 year project Corridor studies along 5 highest use transit corridors in Providence Bring together mixed-income housing, jobs, arts & cultural opportunities with transit Improve transit along corridors Rewrite Zoning Ordinance to ensure that is in line with corridor plans, livability and sustainability goals INITIATIVES: HUD COMMUNITY CHALLENGE GRANT

8. INITIATIVES: STREETCAR

9. MODERN STREETCAR OVERVIEW Uses rails embedded in the street Shares traffic lane with automobiles Provides connections within a compact urban setting Not intended for long-distance, high-speed travel Support neighborhoods as “walk extenders” Station platforms enable easy boarding for bikes, wheelchairs, and strollers Accelerates economic development and creates more livable, desirable places Portland opened the country’s first modern streetcar in 2001. INITIATIVES: STREETCAR

10. STREETCAR SYSTEMS IN OPERATION Streetcar Systems in Operation Modern Streetcar Systems INITIATIVES: STREETCAR

11. Streetcar Systems in Planning or Design Washington DC Cincinnati Dallas New Orleans Charlotte Tucson Salt Lake City Los Angeles Portland Seattle Some “Hot” Streetcar Projects Atlanta PLANNING UNDERWAY FOR STREETCAR SYSTEMS INITIATIVES: STREETCAR

12. PART OF A “BIGGER PICTURE” OF BENEFITS Transit investments yield significant benefits Mobility and Access Livability Economic Development Environment Public Health

13. BENEFITS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT >100 acres of vacant and underutilized land Will complement other redevelopment efforts

14. Streetcar construction is expected to generate over 200 jobs and $3.1 million in tax revenue in Rhode Island. Nearly 4 million square feet of new development is expected to be generated by streetcar, equal to THREE Providence Place Malls. Streetcar is projected to produce 6,000+ new jobs , which is almost as many as currently employed by Rhode Island Hospital. Development follows streetcar tracks Permanence of infrastructure investment Rail attracts customers who would not ride a bus Development translates into increased property values and jobs Before Streetcar After Streetcar Portland’s Pearl District BENEFITS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

15. PEARL DISTRICT BEFORE… … AND AFTER BENEFITS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

16. STREETCAR IMPACT: POWELL’S BOOKS Powell’s Books 2000 (Before Streetcar): 2 pedestrians / hour 2005 (After Streetcar): 783 pedestrians / hour 2000 (Before Streetcar): 3 pedestrians / hour 2005 (After Streetcar): 933 pedestrians / hour Streetcar stop Streetcar line BENEFITS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

17. ECONOMIC IMPACT OF STREETCAR BENEFITS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT City Streetcar Infrastructure Cost Development Investment along Route Return on Investment Portland, OR $103.2 million $3.5 billion 34 : 1 Little Rock, AR $28 million $400 million 14 : 1 Tampa, FL $48.3 million $1 billion 21 : 1 Kenosha, WI $5.2 million $150 million 29 : 1 Memphis, TN $104.3 million $2 billion 19 : 1 Providence, RI $126 million $1.1 billion 9 : 1

18. OTHER CITIES WITH STREETCAR BENEFITS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

19. OTHER CITIES WITH STREETCAR BENEFITS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

20. OTHER CITIES WITH STREETCAR Other cities advancing streetcar design include Cincinnati, Tucson, Salt Lake City, Dallas, and Washington, DC. BENEFITS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

21. HOW DOES PROVIDENCE COMPARE TO OTHER “ STREETCAR CITIES”? Data includes the area generally within walking distance of the streetcar route in each city. BENEFITS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT City Total Land Area (sq. mi) Population Employment University Enrollment Hotel Rooms Providence 18 7,926 47,925 20,320 2,159 Little Rock 181 1,942 21,323 0 1,896 Portland 134 20,564 110,684 16,781 3,910 Seattle 83 6,031 22,411 800 1,453 Tacoma 50 2,836 13,296 2,001 641 Tampa 112 1,603 10,358 1,125 1,328

22. WHY ADVANCE THESE INITIATIVES NOW? Long-term vision is key, even during short-term crisis Unified call for more transit investment in Rhode Island Development catalysts are needed to spur recovery Unique ability to weave transit into development plans Change is always happening in transit The federal process is long…

23. THINKING BIG: PROVIDENCE’S CAPITAL CENTER

24. THINKING BIG: PROVIDENCE’S CAPITAL CENTER

25. The CTC calls for a 21st century transportation system that enhances our economy , safeguards the environment and provides all Rhode Islanders with healthy transportation choices . Rhode Island’s urban and town centers are vitally important to our state’s future well-being. Businesses have begun to recognize that the highly-valued cadre of younger talent puts a much greater value on workplaces located in vibrant, walkable, transit-rich centers and corridors.

26. AARP Amalgamated Transit Union American Lung Association in RI Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living Aquidneck Island Planning Commission Audubon Society of RI Blackstone Valley Partnership Blackstone Valley Tourism Council Blueways Alliance Brown emPower Childhood Lead Action Project City-State, the Urban Design Lab at RISD Clean Water Action Conservation Law Foundation Cornish Associates DOT Watch East Coast Greenway Alliance Ecolect Environment Council of Rhode Island Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island Environment Rhode Island Farm Fresh RI Goodwill Industries of RI Grow Smart Rhode Island Head of the Bay Gateway LISC-RI Narragansett Bay Estuary Program Operating Engineers, Local 57 Opportunities Unlimited, Inc. Pawtucket Foundation Providence Foundation Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau Recycle-a-Bike RI Association of Railroad Passengers RI Bicycle Coalition RICOSH RI Consulting Engineers (RICE) RI Interfaith Power & Light RI Land Trust Council RI Rehabilitation Council Transportation Consortium RI Student Climate Coalition Save The Bay SEIU, District 1199 Sierra Club The Providential Gardener U.S. Open Cycling Working RI Youth In Action

27. Multiple Benefits Economy Environment Health

28. Our company “was attracted to downtown Providence by its arts community, proximity to talented students and easy access to public transportation.” Jen McClean, CEO 38 Studios Economy

29. The transportation sector in the Northeast is responsible for 37% of greenhouse gas emissions – more than any other individual sector. Tellus Institute, August 2000 Environment

30. Health Obesity is lower in places where people use bicycles, public transportation, and their feet.

31. “ Complete Streets”

32. Urban-Advantage.com “ Complete Streets”

33. Resolutions Passed Newport Middletown South Kingstown Portsmouth Woonsocket Pawtucket Resolution Pending Providence Resolutions In Process Barrington Smithfield Resolutions “In Line” Bristol Glocester Warwick East Providence Cranston “ Complete Streets” <?xml version=&quot;1.0&quot;?><AllQuestions /> <?xml version=&quot;1.0&quot;?><AllAnswers /> <?xml version=&quot;1.0&quot;?><Settings><answerBulletFormat>Numeric</answerBulletFormat><answerNowAutoInsert>No</answerNowAutoInsert><answerNowStyle>Explosion</answerNowStyle><answerNowText>Answer Now</answerNowText><chartColors>Use PowerPoint Color Scheme</chartColors><chartType>Horizontal</chartType><correctAnswerIndicator>Checkmark</correctAnswerIndicator><countdownAutoInsert>No</countdownAutoInsert><countdownSeconds>10</countdownSeconds><countdownSound>TicToc.wav</countdownSound><countdownStyle>Box</countdownStyle><gridAutoInsert>No</gridAutoInsert><gridFillStyle>Answered</gridFillStyle><gridFillColor>0,0,0</gridFillColor><gridOpacity>50%</gridOpacity><gridTextStyle>Keypad #</gridTextStyle><inputSource>Response Devices</inputSource><multipleResponseDivisor># of Responses</multipleResponseDivisor><participantsLeaderBoard>5</participantsLeaderBoard><percentageDecimalPlaces>0</percentageDecimalPlaces><responseCounterAutoInsert>No</responseCounterAutoInsert><responseCounterStyle>Oval</responseCounterStyle><responseCounterDisplayValue># of Votes Received</responseCounterDisplayValue><insertObjectUsingColor>Blue</insertObjectUsingColor><showResults>Yes</showResults><teamColors>User Defined</teamColors><teamIdentificationType>None</teamIdentificationType><teamScoringType>Voting pads only</teamScoringType><teamScoringDecimalPlaces>1</teamScoringDecimalPlaces><teamIdentificationItem></teamIdentificationItem><teamsLeaderBoard>5</teamsLeaderBoard><teamName1></teamName1><teamName2></teamName2><teamName3></teamName3><teamName4></teamName4><teamName5></teamName5><teamName6></teamName6><teamName7></teamName7><teamName8></teamName8><teamName9></teamName9><teamName10></teamName10><showControlBar>Slides with Get Feedback Objects</showControlBar><defaultCorrectPointValue>100</defaultCorrectPointValue><defaultIncorrectPointValue>0</defaultIncorrectPointValue><chartColor1>187,224,227</chartColor1><chartColor2>51,51,153</chartColor2><chartColor3>0,153,153</chartColor3><chartColor4>153,204,0</chartColor4><chartColor5>128,128,128</chartColor5><chartColor6>0,0,0</chartColor6><chartColor7>0,102,204</chartColor7><chartColor8>204,204,255</chartColor8><chartColor9>255,0,0</chartColor9><chartColor10>255,255,0</chartColor10><teamColor1>187,224,227</teamColor1><teamColor2>51,51,153</teamColor2><teamColor3>0,153,153</teamColor3><teamColor4>153,204,0</teamColor4><teamColor5>128,128,128</teamColor5><teamColor6>0,0,0</teamColor6><teamColor7>0,102,204</teamColor7><teamColor8>204,204,255</teamColor8><teamColor9>255,0,0</teamColor9><teamColor10>255,255,0</teamColor10><displayAnswerImagesDuringVote>Yes</displayAnswerImagesDuringVote><displayAnswerImagesWithResponses>Yes</displayAnswerImagesWithResponses><displayAnswerTextDuringVote>Yes</displayAnswerTextDuringVote><displayAnswerTextWithResponses>Yes</displayAnswerTextWithResponses><questionSlideID></questionSlideID><controlBarState>Expanded</controlBarState><isGridColorKnownColor>True</isGridColorKnownColor><gridColorName>Yellow</gridColorName><AutoRec></AutoRec><AutoRecTimeIntrvl></AutoRecTimeIntrvl><chartVotesView>Percentage</chartVotesView></Settings>

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37. Transportation Investment and Debt Reduction Act Creates Highway Maintenance and Public Transit Trust Fund. Funds state, municipal and public transportation needs. Reduces debt and borrowing by the state to fund transportation.

38. 1) Rhode Island Highway Maintenance and Public Transit Trust Fund $20 increase in annual auto registration. $23 million per year. Additional sources of revenue can be added to this Trust Fund to meet additional demands.

39. 2) Funds state, municipal and public transportation needs Money in the Trust Fund would be divided: 50% to RIDOT 35% to Transit 15% to Local Roads

40. 3) Reduces debt and borrowing by the state to fund transportation For every $10 million directed to RIDOT from the Trust Fund, reduces the next bond issue by $5 million. Reduces future debt-servicing obligations – while increasing the funding available to RIDOT.

42. The Coalition for Transportation Choices calls for a 21st century transportation system that enhances our economy and provides all Rhode Islanders with healthy transportation choices.

43. Questions?

44. Why and How Providence is Developing a Robust Transit System (and your city or town should be too) Thomas E. Deller , AICP , Director, City of Providence Department of Planning and Development John Flaherty , Director of Research & Communications, GrowSmart Rhode Island Amy Pettine , Special Projects Manager, RIPTA