01 Georgia Regional Transportation Authority Annual Report Contents 1 Mission and Vision Statements 2 Letter from the Chairman 3 Letter from the Executive Director 4 Board of Directors 5 Goals and Objectives 6 History GRTA 2001 MILESTONES 8 Getting on the Road C-Tran/Quicklink/Land Use Reviews: Policy and Procedures for Developments of Regional Impact (DRIs) 10 Getting in the Fast Lane-- The Transportation Choices Initiative Arterial Road Improvements/Northwest Corridor Transit Line/ Commuter Rail/Regional Express Bus/Commuter Bus/Regional Vanpool/Activity Center Circulator Systems (ACCESS) 12 Setting the Pace for Regional Stewardship Atlanta's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)/Atlantic Station Green Light Team/Buckhead Transportation Management Association (BATMA)/Citizens' Academy/Georgia Joint Federal Transit Agenda/ Annual Air Quality Report/GRTA State & Regional Cabinet/ GRTA Performance Measures/The Clean Air Campaign 17 Mapping the Future The Regional Transit Action Plan/ The Perimeter Circulator Study/ Northern Sub-Area Study & GA 400 Corridor Analysis/Value Pricing Task Force/ SMARTRAQ/Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Projects/ Atlanta Heavy-Duty Vehicle and Equipment Emissions Study Georgia Regional Transportation Authority/ Governor's Development Council Vision Statement The Authority will work to plan and implement a transportation system that is multi-modal, seamless, and accessible to all citizens. The Authority will encourage land use policies that promote efficient use of infrastructure investments. Mission Statement It is the mission of GRTA/GDC to provide the citizens of Georgia with transportation choices, improved air quality, and better land use in order to enhance their quality of life and promote growth that can be sustained by future generations. The Authority will operate within a decision-making framework that values public participation and connects transportation choices, land use and the overall Quality of Life. The Authority will serve the best interests of the region by working in cooperation with other agencies transportation choices and governments that are involved in planning and transportation. The Authority will measure its effectiveness in improving air quality, traffic, accessibility and land use. improve air quality better land use enhance quality of life promote sustainable growth To the People of Georgia The Board of Directors of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) is leading this agency into a new era of infrastructure development and economic prosperity for the Metropolitan Atlanta region and the State of Georgia. As a member of this Board since its inception, and its Chairman for the most part of 2001, I am proud to see this 15-member Board come together in its formative years and forge a team representing diverse backgrounds and working on a common mission. In his executive order appointing the Board of Directors in June 1999, Governor Roy E. Barnes said the purpose of GRTA is "to address in a comprehensive manner the coordination, planning, construction and operation of transportation systems and facilities in federal nonattainment areas of this state with the goal of improving quality of life in the 21st century by increasing the efficiency of transportation systems and reducing overall vehicle emissions." We take this responsibility seriously. As you can see from the pages to follow, GRTA has hit the ground running by establishing new transportation services, such as the C-Tran Clayton County bus service, working with the private sector to provide the electric shuttle for the Buckhead Transportation Management Association, establishing a new level of public accountability with a series of performance measures and implementing ground-breaking land use guidance with our Development of Regional Impact Review Policy and Procedures. Another important accomplishment was the development of a "Green Light Team" to forge a partnership between public and private sector to keep the innovative Atlantic Station mixed-use project on track. As we begin a new year, we are on the cusp of an exciting and dramatically new time for the Atlanta region as we begin to implement part of Governor Roy Barnes' $8 billion Transportation Choices Initiative in cooperation with the Atlanta Regional Commission, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA), the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and the cities and counties of our 13-county region. In November 2001, our Board reorganized its structure to establish better policy guidance and oversight for what lies ahead. We intend to make our mark "the GRTA way" based on quality and efficiency, customer satisfaction, fairness, public empowerment, openness and accountability, a collaborative and partnering nature and a clear, 360-degree vision. These are our watchwords. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I ask you to join us in a commitment to this region and state to enhance our quality of life and promote growth that can be sustained by future generations. All aboard! Sincerely, Walter "Sonny" Deriso Chairman Board of Directors GRTA 0 2 To Supporters of Improved Mobility and Air Quality Welcome to the inaugural Annual Report of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority. I hope that you will find this report useful in demonstrating where we have been in our short two years since our creation by Governor Roy E. Barnes and the Georgia General Assembly, and where we are going. Our mission is "to provide the citizens of Georgia with transportation choices, improved air quality and better land use to enhance their quality of life and promote growth that can be sustained by future generations." So how do you we get there? First, we work hard to win approval of a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the Atlanta region that conforms to the Clean Air Act and other federal law. Mission accomplished, July 2000. Second, we lay the groundwork for how a new agency like GRTA will operate, and most important, hold itself accountable. We have instituted a set of performance measures that will be our yardsticks on air quality improvements, mobility, jobs access, safety and other measures as we begin to implement new transportation services. We will keep a minimum staff and operating budget, putting our resources mostly into projects. We will have an open, clearly visible method of operating by webcasting our Board meetings. Third, we give people clean-fuel transportation choices that do not worsen air pollution and over time will begin to reduce levels of nitrogen oxide, which helps form the groundlevel ozone that is our most common form of air pollution in Atlanta. In 2001 we were getting on the road, launching the first new bus service in metro Atlanta in 12 years with C-Tran and beginning the Maconto-Atlanta commuter bus service with the Greyhound Quicklink. We are getting in the fast lane with the Transportation Choices Initiative-- rail, express and commuter bus, shuttle systems and major arterial road improvements--on line a lot sooner than expected even a year ago. We are mapping the future with new investment studies of the GA 400 corridor and sub-area, a Northwest transit line, improved traffic circulation for the Perimeter Center area and a Regional Transit Action Plan that will be the blueprint for a convenient, reliable and truly regional transit system. Finally, we are setting the pace for regional stewardship by moving along the biggest Transportation Improvement Program in the Atlanta region's history, setting performance targets and reaching out to citizens and elected officials in the region and state to ensure that they are on board with our activities. We want to get from our homes to our jobs, our schools and other destinations without delay. We need our communities to be connected by a safe, efficient system of roads, highways, busways and rail lines. We must--if we can't or don't want to drive--be able to get in a vanpool, on a bus or on a train and go where we need to go. Most of all, we must have clean air. Our goal is a balanced transportation system that serves the needs of the people of Georgia. To put it simply, when you wake up in the morning and want to drive to work--you can. If you don't want to drive--you don't have to! The choices will be there. Sincerely, Dr. Catherine L. Ross Executive Director GRTA 0 3 GRTA Goals and Objectives Goal One: Improve Air Quality Defined as: The increase in the number of days per year in the "good" and "moderate" range and the decrease in the severity of "bad" air days. Objectives Minimize the negative impacts of motorized transportation on air quality. Increase accessibility to and use of walk, bike, carpool, vanpool, bus or rail transportation options, especially clean fuel options. Measures Air Quality Index (under development with EPD). Percentage of low emission vehicles in public fleets. Regional VMT (vehicle miles traveled) and VMT by county (methodology to be determined). Goal Two: Improve Mobility and Accessibility Defined as: The need to move people and goods throughout the region, taking into consideration: Choices (highway, transit, bicycle and pedestrian systems), Accessibility (ability to travel between different activities by highway, transit, and other modes), Travel time (highway and transit), Reliability (highway incidents and transit on-time performance), Safety. Objectives Increase accessibility to and use of bus and rail transportation options. Improve user mobility and accessibility on all transportation modes. Encourage diverse and complementary land uses that increase the opportunity for transportation options. Provide transportation options throughout the region. Enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the transportation system for users, including travel time, transfers between modes and reliability. Develop and promote safety for all modes in the land transportation system. Minimize transportation system user costs. Increase the availability of information about transportation options. Measures Total transit ridership. Total lane miles of HOV facilities. Number of miles of designated bicycle facilities. Total number of vanpools in operation. Average travel time per trip (highway and transit). Total duration of highway and transit incidents. Transit on-time performance. Goal Three: Improve the coordination of land use (the built and natural environments) and transportation decisions. Defined as: Developing regional planning processes to consider land use decisions in relation to regional transportation investments, such that neighborhoods, environmentally sensitive areas and vital regional corridors are protected. Objectives Improve accessibility to jobs and essential activities and services. Encourage diverse and complemen- tary land uses that increase the opportunity for transportation options. Protect neighborhoods, transportation corridors, and transportation investments while supporting appropriate development adequately served by existing or planned transportation infrastructure. Minimize development in environmentally sensitive areas. Measures Percentage of population within .25 mile of a bus route. Percentage of employment within .25 mile of a bus route. Percentage of population within .5 mile of a rail transit station. Percentage of employment within .5 mile of a rail transit station. Percentage of population within 5 miles of a designated park and ride facility. Goal Four: Improve Equitable Transportation Defined as: Striving to provide opportunities for community involvement and acceptable levels of mobility to everyone while minimizing disproportionate negative impacts of transportation decisions. Objectives Increase accessibility to and use of bus and rail transportation options. Improve user mobility and accessibility on all transportation modes. Improve accessibility to jobs and essential activities and services. Increase public involvement opportunities. Consider the benefits and burdens of regional transportation investments. Measures Number of opportunities for public involvement (meetings, presentations, written comments, etc.). 0 4 Board of Directors Georgia Regional Transportation Authority Walter M. "Sonny" Deriso Chairman Sharon A. Gay Vice Chair Andrella Baylis Steven F. Bruning, PE Tim Connolly Eric R. Hovdesven Shi Shailendra John A. Sibley III James E. Stephenson Ken F. Thigpen Richard L. Tucker Michael Tyler Carolyn Williams John Williams 0 5 Establishing the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority Courtesy Brian O'Keary Surging population growth, rapidly expanding commercial and residential development, limited transportation alternatives to the single-occupant vehicle, and one of the highest ratios of miles traveled per vehicle in the country threaten Metropolitan Atlanta's continued high quality of life. With 1.1 million new residents in the past decade, the region grew the fourth fastest of any metropolitan area in the United States. The region includes three of the four fastest growing counties in the nation outside the West. The growth in population, and resulting traffic, has kept the 13county region's air quality classification as "serious" for nitrogen oxide, a key component in ground-level ozone known as "smog." The region pumps about 214 tons of nitrogen oxide a day into the atmosphere. In 2000, the region ranked sixth in the nation in the number of days the air exceeded safe ozone standards. The problem reached a crisis in 1997 when Federal transportation funding for the region was cut off because the region could not win Federal approval of a transportation program that could conform to the air quality requirements of the federal Clean Air Act. Acting in response to the crisis, Georgia Governor Roy E. Barnes called on the state Legislature to create a new transportation agency for the region that would have powers to establish new transportation services, control regionally significant private and public developments and review transportation planning in the region. The Legislature approved Senate Bill 57, creating the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority in March 1999, and the governor appointed its 15-member Board in June. Under the law, GRTA has the authority to manage, or cause to be managed, transportation and air quality in areas of Georgia that are in nonattainment of federal air quality standards, currently 13 counties in Metropolitan Atlanta. The governor may delegate to GRTA his authority to approve the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the region. The GRTA Board also serves as the Governor's Development Council statewide for purposes of implementing the State Planning Act. In addition, no local government may spend state or Federal funds for transportation services, or access to, a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) unless approved by GRTA. This responsibility allows GRTA to promote compliance with regional transportation plans. In June 1999, the Georgia Department of Transportation settled a federal environmental lawsuit filed by the Georgia Conservancy, the Sierra Club and Georgians for Alternative Transportation, challenging 61 road projects in the Atlanta Region. Under the terms of the settlement, 17 projects were allowed to proceed. Further new construction waited on the approval of a new TIP. In June 2000, GRTA approved a new TIP and helped win approval of the 2001 2003 TIP by the U.S. Department of Transportation a month later. 0 6 Former GRTA Chairman Joel Cowan (seated on left) and Clayton County Commission Chairman Crandle Bray (seated on right) sign the GRTAClayton County contract for GRTA to operate a local bus service in the county as Governor Roy E. Barnes (far left) looks on. Members of the Clayton County Commission, state legislators and GRTA Board members attended the historic occasion in the state Capitol in February 2001. GRTA 2001 MILESTONES Getting on the Road C-Tran A 12-year drought of new mass transit service for metropolitan Atlanta ended October 1, 2001, when 12 clean-fuel buses began rolling in Clayton County as the new GRTAprovided C-Tran bus service began operations. Fourteen months after Clayton County voters said they wanted local bus service, GRTA responded to the Clayton County Board of Commissioners' request by purchasing the initial bus fleet and contracting with MARTA for drivers and facilities. The initial C-Tran fleet includes 12 ADA-compliant, 43-passenger buses. These vehicles travel along two regular routes covering the cities of Riverdale, Forest Park, Jonesboro, Morrow, Lake City, and portions of College Park. Additional services are provided to activity centers of Clayton College and State University, Southlake Mall, and the Southern Regional Medical Center. Both routes connect to the MARTA rail system at Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport. Since the launch, ridership has exceeded all expectations. In the first morning of operation, 830 passengers boarded the buses at Hartsfield Airport, the busiest station for both routes. By early November, ridership had increased to more than 1,400 passengers per weekday. Over the next three years, the fleet will grow to 36 buses and three additional routes will be added, possibly including an express route to downtown Atlanta. Quicklink A month after introducing C-Tran, GRTA responded with further congestion relief for the busy Interstate 75 corridor with an innovative private/ public partnership between GRTA and Greyhound Lines, Inc. The Quicklink commuter bus service runs between Macon and Atlanta with two stops in Henry County and one in the City of Forsyth. Quicklink provides four buses with eight weekday travel options, giving middle-Georgians a transportation alternative for their long commutes. Buses began rolling on November 12, 2001, providing riders safety, reliability, and long-term savings. After leaving downtown Macon, the buses briefly pull off I-75 exits in the cities of Forsyth, Locust Grove ABOVE Members of the GRTA Board of Directors and the Clayton County Commission gather to cut the ribbon and launch C-Tran--the first local bus service in Metro Atlanta in 12 years. LEFT Lt. Governor Mark Taylor (on right) was the featured speaker for the Quicklink kick off in November. GRTA Executive Director Ross greets him at the podium. Greyhound Lines President and CEO Craig Lentzsch (far left) and Locust Grove Mayor Lorene Lindsey joined them on the grounds of the State Capitol in November 2001. and McDonough and then roll on to Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport. There are five stops in Atlanta, including the Sam Nunn Federal Building area, the MARTA Five Points station and Midtown. The Greyhound buses include comfortable upgrades with added legroom, seat trays and cup holders. Riders receive complimentary newspapers and all buses are wheelchair accessible. 0 10 In addition to convenience for commuters, the buses help improve air quality in Metro Atlanta. Each fully loaded bus means more than 31 single-occupant vehicles are not on the road. Land Use Reviews: GRTA's Policy and Procedures for Developments of Regional Impact Transportation investments that fail to consider the associated impact of land use are a major contributor to increased air pollution and traffic congestion, according to most transportation planning experts. Unchecked, automobile-dependent development ultimately leads to more vehicle travel and air quality problems. GRTA was created "for the purposes of managing or causing to be managed land transportation and air quality within certain areas of this state... ." To carry out this responsibility, the Legislature granted GRTA the power to review major projects known as Developments of Regional Impact (DRIs), in order to determine, and potentially control, their impact on transportation and air quality. State and federal funding for transportation services to such projects are prohibited unless the funding is approved by GRTA. As a check on this power, the local county commission may overturn a GRTA decision on a DRI if at least three fourths of the commissioners vote to do so. In November 2001, the GRTA Board of Directors adopted the GRTA Policy and Procedures for Review of Developments of Regional Impact, setting the stage for implementing one of the more far-reaching and innovative transportation investment tools in the United States. The GRTA review criteria address the extent to which a proposed DRI is likely to improve or worsen regional mobility and air quality. The review criteria primarily address trip generation, reduced trip lengths and use of alternative modes of transportation as a means of improving and/or avoiding adverse impacts on regional mobility and air quality. The GRTA Board's DRI Committee developed the policies and procedures over the period of a year, dramatically shortening a process from concept development to implementation that usually takes two to three years. A nationally recognized land use expert was brought in to provide technical advice. Three series of extensive workshops were held with local business groups, governments, Regional Development Center (RDC) staffs and technical experts. The final product represents input from a variety of interests and achieves the goal that the process be conducted in parallel and in coordination with the current RDC reviews as much as possible. Before final implementation in January 2002, an additional series of public meetings was held with local governments to go over the procedures. In addition to the transportation impact analysis, in 2002 GRTA staff will recommend to the Board DRI criteria for an air quality analysis. The GRTA Policy and Procedures for reviewing Developments of Regional Impact emphasize criteria that promote "live-work-play" communities which reduce traffic generation and enhance air quality. 0 11 Getting in the Fast Lane-- The Transportation Choices Initiative On June 28, 2001, Governor Roy E. Barnes announced an eight billion dollar program to catapult Georgia transportation infrastructure investment into the fast lane for implementation over the next five years. The Governor directed about half of that funding to metro Atlanta. The Governor said: We all know that our existing transportation system is now facing some challenges. We've seen Atlanta's congestion problems grow from bad to worse--with other metro areas in the state not far behind. And we know that the only way we can move development into other areas of the state is to build the kinds of roads and highways that companies can use to move both products and people. Solving all of these problems hasn't been easy--and it probably never will be. The solutions take time, planning and most of all-- funding. That is why what we are announcing today is so incredible. We are here to tell you about the most comprehensive transportation program this state has ever seen. The proposed $4 billion for the Atlanta region doubled the amount previously planned for the Transportation Improvement Program. The plan will help build a truly regional transportation system. The major components include the following: Implementing the Transportation Choices Initiative--(from left) Emory McClinton, chairman of the State Transportation Board; Dr. Ross; and Jim Croy, executive director of the State Road and Tollway Authority, confer at the state Capitol about Governor Barnes' $8 billion state transportation initiative. Arterial Road Improvements The Atlanta region has long suffered from a poor arterial network that has resulted in more local traffic using interstate highways to move within the region. The primary cause of some of the region's worst congestion lies in this lack of infrastructure. In addition, arterial roads do not provide adequate access to transit stations in the region. GRTA proposes spending $350 million to improve key arterial roads within its 13-county jurisdiction. The project objectives will be to eliminate choke points, improve major intersections and build other improvements that will help reduce traffic congestion throughout the region. In the fall of 2001, GRTA Executive Director Catherine L. Ross and her senior project manager met with each County Commission Chairman and his or her top staff to discuss their county priorities. As a result of those discussions, intergovernmental agreements will be developed in early 2002. Key to congestion relief in metro Atlanta is upgrading its system of arterial roadways. Working in close collaboration with the metro counties, GRTA is providing funds for the counties' priorities in exchange for locally funded operating assistance for the Express Bus System. Northwest Corridor Transit Line Leapfrogging growth along the I-75 and I-575 corridors northwest of Atlanta continues to drive the need for alternative transportation to serve the activity centers at Cumberland, Marietta, and Town Center. A transit line connecting to the MARTA rail line at the Arts Center station in the Midtown area will provide the longsought non-highway link to this important sector of the region. GRTA awarded the contract for a two-year study of the Northwest corridor in August of 2001. The Northwest Connectivity Study will determine a preferred alignment for this new transit service and recommend the appropriate technology, such as light rail or bus rapid transit. The governor's funding program provides $2.8 billion for the first phase of this line to be opened in late 2006. 1 0 Commuter Rail In 2001 talk turned into action on the development of metro Atlanta's commuter rail service. Linking the commercial and governmental center in the heart of Atlanta to its outlying suburbs and regional activity centers --and beyond via a statewide passenger rail network--has been a long-standing goal for the region. In 2001, working in partnership with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and the Georgia Rail Passenger Authority (GRPA), GRTA helped move that goal closer to reality. A Program Management Team (PMT), consisting of two board members each from GDOT, GRPA and GRTA and chaired by GRTA member Sonny Deriso, supervises the Georgia Rail Passenger program. GRTA Board member Sharon Gay also represented the agency on the PMT in 2001. In June, the PMT determined a Macon-to-Griffin-toAtlanta line would be the first priority and approved a preferred alignment for the route. Governor Barnes pledged $446 million in funding through his TCI for funding the line including initial construction of a Multi-Modal Terminal in downtown Atlanta. In November, the federal government, which is expected to fund the lion's share of the commuter rail construction, approved the environmental documentation allowing the project to proceed. In December, the PMT approved the locally preferred alternative alignment for the Athensto-Atlanta line, beginning with a GRTA commuter bus service. Regional Express Bus The key link between the region's rail systems and suburban activity centers will be an express bus system serving all 13 counties. In conjunction with the major expansion of the region's network of High Occupancy Vehicle lanes by the Georgia Department of Transportation, the express bus system provides a transportation alternative for communities not served by passenger rail. GRTA proposes to buy the buses, build the infrastructure to support them and operate the regional express bus service for about $159 million. In December 2001, GRTA kicked off the Regional Transit Action Plan that will recommend measures to implement the express bus system in 2002. Regional Express Bus--GRTA proposes a system of express buses connecting all 13 counties with the MARTA rail system. Commuter Bus Following the lead of the pilot Quicklink commuter bus program from Macon to Atlanta, GRTA proposes a $162 million plan to provide similar commuter bus services from Athens to Atlanta and from Canton to Atlanta. In December 2001, the Georgia Rail Passenger Program Management Team recommended an early start express bus service in the Athens to Atlanta corridor to establish a customer base for the future alternative transportation service in the corridor. Regional Vanpool To ensure that everyone in the region has access to job opportunities GRTA will develop a regional vanpool program. This program primarily will serve people who need to travel at times outside of the traditional rush hours and in areas where an express bus service might not be feasible. GRTA anticipates creating a variety of partnerships with this program. Major employers are already using vanpools successfully in the region and with GRTA's help even more companies should agree to participate. GRTA will also partner with public agencies to create service in some areas and in other cases GRTA may contract with private vanpool companies to provide the service. The anticipated cost for vanpool services over the next five years is $11 million. This smaller scale service addresses mobility needs that are not always appropriate for fixed route public transportation. ACCESS Activity Center Circulator Systems Getting around the shopping and commercial center after you have arrived by passenger rail will be a lot easier with GRTA's proposed ACCESS-- Activity Center Circulator Systems. Shuttle buses will link transit centers and the major employment and shopping centers in Buckhead, Perimeter Center, Cumberland, Town Center, Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, and Atlanta's Midtown and Downtown areas. The estimated cost of implementing this program will be $38 million over the next five years. Planning for this project will begin in early 2002. 113 1 Setting the Pace for Regional Stewardship Approval of the 20022004 Transportation Improvement Program for the Atlanta Region Governor Roy Barnes proposed the creation of GRTA as a regional agency to work across local jurisdictions to improve mobility and air quality. From left, GRTA Board member Ken Thigpen, Atlanta Regional Commission Executive Director Chick Krautler, Governor Barnes and GRTA Board member Steve Bruning discuss regional issues. In November 2001, the GRTA board of directors approved the 20022004 fiscal year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the Atlanta region. The $4.7 billion three-year program is the largest ever approved for metropolitan Atlanta and reflects fundamental shifts in the direction of transportation investment in the region. More than a third of the spending will be used for public transportation projects. About 30 percent is set aside for new roads, widenings and bridge and interchange improvements primarily benefiting single-occupant vehicles. Approximately 18 percent of the funding will go for High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes used for carpooling, express buses and alternative-fuel vehicles. The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is responsible for the development of the TIP for 10 counties in metro Atlanta. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) programs project funding for the three additional counties in metro Atlanta (Paulding, Coweta and Forsyth) that also do not meet federal air quality standards (a condition classified as "nonattainment") but are not members of the ARC. The Atlanta Regional Commission prioritizes federally funded highway, public transportation, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, transportation demand management and emission reduction projects for inclusion in the TIP in consultation with state and local transportation agencies, local governments and other project sponsors. Projects in the TIP are drawn from a longer range Regional Transportation Plan that conforms to the level of air pollution permitted by the U.S. EPA. For a transportation project to receive federal transportation funds, it must be included in an approved TIP. The ARC Board approved the TIP in October 2001. The GRTA Board approved the TIP on November 14, 2001. GRTA's authority to approve the TIP was delegated by the governor as provided under legislation which created the agency. Atlantic Station Green Light Team In 2001, GRTA continued to fashion a new model in cooperation among various government agencies, the private sector and community groups. In early 2000, Governor Barnes asked Executive Director Catherine Ross to lead a "Green Light Team," an interagency group involved in re-developing the abandoned Atlantic Steel mill site on Atlanta's Westside. To turn this brownfield into a major residentialcommercial-entertainment complex requires the cooperation of several state and federal agencies and the City of Atlanta. The project will be linked to midtown Atlanta by a new, multi-modal bridge at 17th Street. The Atlantic Station 'live-work-play' community, designed as a major new western gateway for Midtown Atlanta, will showcase transportation alternatives and in-fill redevelopment features that will be a model for new urban developments across the country. GRTA Executive Director Catherine Ross leads the Atlantic Station "Green Light" Committee, an interagency group that keeps the project on track. The Green Light Team has kept the project on track by ensuring that the public agencies meet their commitments. GRTA staff also worked to assuage community concerns and avoid litigation. In 2001, the GRTA worked with GDOT on design changes to the bridge project to establish broader public acceptance of this new gateway to central Atlanta. GRTA will continue to use the "Green Light" model to create a new mindset of cooperation between government agencies and the private sector. Buckhead Transportation Management Association (BATMA) Key to the success of new transportation alternatives is not only the support but also the active involvement of the business community. GRTA is assisting the Buckhead Improvement District, through its transportation management association known as BATMA, to purchase an electric shuttle system linking MARTA's two rail stations in this premier commercial and entertainment district. 141 2 GRTA Projects in the fiscal year 20022004 Transportation Improvement Program (November 2002) ARC number AR 251 A, A2 AR 251 B, B2 AR 251 C, C2 AR 259 AR 259 B AR 365 A AR 365 D AR 365 B AR 365 E AR 365 C AR 365 F AR 367 A AR 367 B AR 367 C AR 368 AR 369 A AR 369 B AR 370 AB AR 371 A AR 371 B AR 375 AR 375 BE AR 385 AB AR 389 AR 390 AB AR 391, 392, 393 Project description Midtown to Town Center Fixed Guideway Cumberland Fixed Guideway FY 0304 Buckhead Transportation Management Association (BATMA) Shuttle System Start-Up and Southern Coalition for Advanced Technology Earmark for Alternative Fuel Vehicle Acquisition Emory Area Shuttle System Vehicle Purchase and Southern Coalition for Advanced Technology Earmark for Alternative Fuel Vehicle Acquisition Atlantic Station Shuttle System Vehicle Purchase and Southern Coalition for Advanced Technology Earmark for Alternative Fuel Vehicle Acquisition Regional Transit Study (GRTA) Phase 13 Comprehensive Study of Regional Transit Needs Regional Vanpool Program (GRTA)--13-County Non-Attainment Area Perimeter Rail Circulator Analysis: Phase 12 Northwest Connectivity Study Purchase of Clean Fuel Buses for Express Service Purchase of Compressed Natural Gas Buses MARTA West Line Draft Environmental Impact Study (DEIS) Purchase of Regional Express Buses Facilities to Support Express Bus Service- Year 13 continued on next page 1 3 GRTA Projects in the fiscal year 20022004 Transportation Improvement Program (November 2002) continued from previous page ARC number Project description AR 394 Smart Card Study and Implementation for Express Bus Service AR 395 AtlantaMacon Prototype Bus Service AR 396 AR 397 Purchase Vehicles for Access Program--Phase III AR 398, 399, 400 Facilities to Support Access Program-Year 13 AR 401 Access Planning and Vehicle Specification Study AR 402 Northwest Corridor Financing and Development Process Analysis AR 403 Arterial Improvement Program Refinement Study AR 404 Regional Express Bus Congressional Earmark AR 405 Regional Smart Corridors Congressional Earmark AR 406 Trip Planning Congressional Earmark CL-AR 238AE Clayton County Public Transportation System Compressed Natural Gas Bus and Paratransit Vehicles Purchase, Phase 13 CL-AR 239AB Clayton County Public Transportation System--Operations Phase 12 CL-AR 240AB Clayton County Bus System-- Eight Paratransit Vehicles and Maintenance/Support Vehicle CL-AR 241AB Clayton County Bus System-- Start-Up/Operational Planning and Paratransit Operating Assistance CL-AR 242A Clayton County Bus System Bus Stop Amenities including Shelters and Benches CL-AR 242B Clayton County Bus System-- Preventive Maintenance CL-AR 242C Clayton County Bus System-- Fare Collection/Advanced Vehicle Locators/Radios/APC 1 4 GRTA Citizens' Academy The Citizens' Academy (CA) was created as a part of GRTA's public outreach to involve citizen volunteers in the regional transportation planning process. The Academy, with more than 300 citizen members, is divided into four issue groups: air quality, transportation, "green" infrastructure and planning/land use. Each group has worked to develop policy recommendations, which include issue papers, reports and surveys for use by GRTA staff in specific policy areas and for consideration by the GRTA Board. Alternative Street Design Comprising concerned citizens, engineers and planners committed to expanding the use of safe, pedestrianand environmentally-friendly street design, this group is focusing on regional standards for street designs that accommodate pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and automobile use in urban, suburban and rural settings. For the past year, the alternative street design group has worked with area groups such as PATH to enhance alternative street design concepts for current and future regional developments. Public Involvement Comprising business and other civic leaders, lay people and representatives from various grassroots organizations, the public involvement committee provides the GRTA Board of Directors and staff with policy recommendations that reflect GRTA's commitment to broad public involvement. The committee, at present, is developing a Best Practices manual and performance measures for evaluating public outreach effectiveness Former DeKalb County CEO Liane Levitan speaks to GRTA's Citizens' Academy. The Academy uses experts and lay people to help advise the agency on air quality, transportation and land use issues. Transportation Greenways Project Focusing on establishing a platform for advocating a regional network for non-motorized transportation modes, the Greenways group has worked in conjunction with the Greenspace Program of the Department of Natural Resources to identify funding mechanisms for acquisition of land. Current projects include the development of a map outlining a regional network to support pedestrian use of nonmotorized transportation mode alternatives. Regional Performance Indicators As an advocate of regional stewardship, the effective implementation of programs to address regional concerns is a part of the planning process for GRTA. For the past year, this team of citizen experts has drafted a matrix for performance evaluation for projects ranging from air quality to public involvement. These recommendations were presented to the GRTA Board and further refined by GRTA staff as a component of the strategic planning process and internal performance measures. Georgia Federal Transit Agenda Alternative transportation is not only a metro Atlanta solution, but also a growing need for urban areas throughout the state of Georgia. In recognizing strength in unity, GRTA joined with MARTA, the Georgia Department of Transportation Office of Intermodal Programs, Cobb Community Transit and Gwinnett County to produce a booklet, the Georgia Joint Federal Transit Agenda, in early 2001. The booklet's purpose was to demonstrate to the state's congressional delegation and the powerful appropriations committees the growing need for bus transit funding in the state and to put Georgia on par with the level of funding in other states. The booklet included an overview of the growing population in the state and the need for bus funding to help reduce air pollution and congestion. Each agency provided specific project requests. As a result, the federal transportation appropriations bill provided public transportation agencies in the state $19.6 million in earmarked funding for bus and bus facilities for fiscal year 2002-- more than double the state's fiscal year 2001 total of $8.25 million. For fiscal year 2002, GRTA received $6 million funding for its express bus program, $1 million for a Smart Corridors traffic technology project, and $400,000 for trip planning technology. 1 5 GRTA is responsible for an annual Air Quality Report that presents a set of measures and targets to track the progress made toward improving air quality in metro Atlanta. GRTA Air Quality Report In January 2002, GRTA submitted to the governor its first Annual Air Quality Report, as required by GRTA's authorizing legislation. The report is the result of a collaborative effort between the staffs of GRTA and the Air Protection Branch of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. A panel of four technical experts from across the country reviewed the report. The report provides a brief background on air quality issues in the Atlanta area and how they led to the formation of GRTA and discusses GRTA's roles and responsibilities. The report also presents a set of measures and targets developed by GRTA and its planning partners designed to track the progress made toward improving air quality in the Atlanta area. The report contains practical information to design strategies to reduce air pollution from transportation sources. Finally, the report provides an overview of existing and potential air quality related initiatives in the Atlanta area. GRTA will track the air quality measures during 2002 and report on progress made toward achieving the targets in the 2002 Annual Air Quality Report, which GRTA will submit to the Governor in December 2002. GRTA Executive Director's State & Regional Cabinet It always helps to hear from a variety of people who are experienced in the public arena. That was the thinking behind the establishment of the State & Regional Cabinet, composed of local elected officials who meet quarterly with GRTA Executive Director Catherine L. Ross. The 17-member Cabinet provides advice, counsel and feedback on the air quality and transportation activities of the Authority and assists Authority staff to better understand the needs and concerns of local government with regard to these issues. Representatives from the Georgia Municipal Association and the Association County Commissioners of Georgia also participate. GRTA Performance Measures Legislation creating GRTA requires the agency to formulate measurable targets for air quality improvements and standards within the Atlanta ozone nonattainment area. In March 2001, the GRTA Board of Directors adopted the agency's performance measures system's goals and objectives. The GRTA Performance Measures provide a regional snapshot of progress made towards goals and objectives related to air quality, mobility and accessibility, coordination of transportation and land use decisions, and equitable transportation. A set of performance measures, along with specific near-term and long-term targets, where quantifiable, is being developed in order to assess progress toward improving air quality, mobility and accessibility, and land use in the region. These measures are not static, but able to change, depending upon the available data, collection methodologies or the establishment of new standards. In June 2001, the board adopted preliminary air quality measures. A performance measures report will be published annually as both a technical and an educational document. The GRTA Citizens' Academy Regional Performance Indicators group will be providing citizen guidance throughout the process. Next steps include meeting with GRTA's planning partners in the region to identify data sources, and their availability for analysis by GRTA, and to begin discussion regarding a long-term data collection strategy. A preliminary report will be produced in 2002. The Clean Air Campaign Raising awareness of air-friendly commuting options and other actions that benefit the quality of our air will contribute significantly to GRTA's success in improving our region's air quality. In Atlanta, the Clean Air Campaign serves as a clearinghouse for organizations that have programs in place to improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion. The Campaign is best known for its series of television and radio advertisements promoting alternative commuting options--actions that can contribute significantly to improved air quality. GRTA plays an active role in The Clean Air Campaign with Dr. Catherine Ross serving on its board of directors and Mr. Nayef Haddad, GRTA's manager for transportation operations, serving on the executive committee. 1 6 Mapping the Future The Regional Transit Action Plan How do you connect the current and future rail and bus transit systems in metro Atlanta into a seamless regional transportation network? How do you establish a regional fare structure that is equitable to the transit providers and affordable and convenient to the customers? How do you implement a regional express bus system for 13 counties of metro Atlanta where only five counties currently have public transportation of any kind? And, what is an equitable and practical way of financing transit operations and maintenance in this region? laying the foundation for the future of Georgia transit Odalys Delgado, a member of GRTA's consultant team on the GA 400 project, leads a work session of its regional steering committee to recommend improvements to the major transportation corridor. First, develop a blueprint for the region. This is the intent of the Regional Transit Action Plan, a twoyear study that will recommend the foundations for an Atlanta regional public transportation network. Representatives from public transportation providers in the region, the Atlanta Regional Commission, the Federal Transit Administration, the metro counties and other experts serve on a steering committee to help guide the study. The study began in December 2001 and is expected to produce an implementation plan for the express bus system by the summer of 2002. Additional elements include a short-range transit action plan up to the year 2010, a longrange plan for 2025, a recommended regional fare collection strategy, and a framework for integrating local transit services into a seamless regional system. 1 7 GA 400 The Perimeter Connectivity Study One of the key activity centers in metro Atlanta is the Perimeter Center area in North DeKalb County. This center is home to one of the largest concentration of Fortune 500 company offices in the Southeast and lies at a major crossroads at Interstate 285, GA 400 and the MARTA North Springs line. The Perimeter Connectivity Study, to begin in early 2002, will evaluate fixed guide-way and bus alternatives to provide vital connecting links between MARTA stations and local trip generators within the Perimeter Center Major Activity Area. The study comprises a detailed assessment of the transportation alternatives and associated costs, along with comprehensive public input, and a detailed environmental assessment of the selected alternatives. Northern Sub-Area Study & GA 400 Corridor Analysis In 2001, GRTA, in cooperation with the Georgia Department of Transportation, began one of the most comprehensive land-use and transportation studies ever conducted of the Atlanta region. The Northern Sub-Area Study & GA 400 Corridor Analysis features a "micro" study of transportation alternatives for the GA 400 corridor and a "macro" study of the larger North Atlanta region, called the "sub-area." This area is a fan-shaped section that extends from three miles west of I-75 to three miles beyond I-85 on the east and from three miles beyond GA 20 on the north to I-285 on the south. The purpose of the study is to evaluate transportation, land use, economic growth and air quality issues in the study area; fulfill the requirements of the Georgians for Transportation Alternatives v. Shackleford legal agreement; and provide recommendations for the Transportation Improvement Program and Regional Development Plan. Workshops and public meetings were held throughout the GA 400 corridor area in the fall of 2001 to help prepare recommendations by March 2002 on near-term improvements to the GA 400 congestion and air quality problems. GRTA's consultants then will turn their attention to potential mid- and long-term transportation, land use and environmental strategies for the Northern Sub-Area. The recommendations also will include financial plans for three strategic options developed by the study. Final study recommendations are expected in early 2003. GA 400 Corridor and Northern Sub-Area bringing together Value Pricing Task Force In October 2001, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), GRTA, and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) sponsored a one-day regional forum on value pricing, an innovative approach that applies market pricing concepts to traffic congestion problems. The forum brought together local, regional and national experts and leaders to share strategies and formulas for using value pricing as a tool for regulating transportation demand during peak hours. While there are no cookie-cutter formulas, value pricing can be applied to parking, transit passes, under-utilized HOV lanes-- even car insurance--wherever demand exceeds supply. The same concept is used routinely to purchase theater tickets and make telephone calls. Following the forum, an Advisory Task Force was convened, bringing together community and transportation leaders to discuss value pricing initiatives in the Metro Atlanta region. State Senator Gloria Butler and Terry Lawler, president of Georgians for Better Transportation, co-chair the task force. Members are currently investigating traffic congestion in Atlanta and exploring the potential of pricing and other market-based solutions in reducing traffic congestion regionally. community and transportation leaders SMARTRAQ The distances between where people live, work, shop and recreate in the Atlanta region are high when compared with national averages. This high dispersion of development and lack of intermixing of uses in the Atlanta region has resulted in one of the highest vehicles miles traveled (VMT) per capita in the U.S., a distance of more than 32 miles per day in 1999. As a result, 1 8 Atlantans in the 13-county study area travel, on average, more than 100 million miles a day, a distance greater than from the sun to the earth. To better understand the relations between land use and transportation, GRTA, the Georgia Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, the Atlanta Regional Commission, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Turner Foundation, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Georgia Division of Public Health, the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the Urban Land Institute formed a partnership. Its goal is to develop a framework for assessing land use and transportation policies having the greatest potential for reducing the level of auto dependence and vehicle emissions in the Atlanta metropolitan area while sustaining the economic vitality and environmental health of the region. Conducted by researchers at Georgia Tech, SMARTRAQ will produce state of the art activity-based travel data representing travel patterns for all socioeconomic classes in the 13county Atlanta region. When matched with data from the detailed land use data bases (Geographic Information System) and a series of survey data, SMARTRAQ will produce results that will be critical in developing a comprehensive regional transportation plan and in evaluating regional land use and transportation investment policies. Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Project GRTA has joined with MARTA, Fulton County and the Clean Cities program administered by the U.S. Department of Energy to conduct a project to promote alternative fuel infrastructure in the region. In October 2001, GRTA finalized contracts for four projects: Electric Charging Stations MARTA and Georgia Power will construct infrastructure to support electric vehicle chargers at nine MARTA stations. Fulton County CNG Station Fulton County and Atlanta Gas Light Company will provide CNG (compressed natural gas) fueling at Fulton County Airport just off Fulton Industrial Boulevard. Propane Fueling Facilities Suburban Propane and U-Haul International will install six facilities at existing designated U-Haul locations in the Atlanta area. Buckhead Multi-Fuel Station The first facility in the Atlanta region providing three fuels: electric, CNG and propane. GRTA has joined with MARTA, Fulton County and the Clean Cities program under the U.S. Department of Energy to conduct a project to provide alternative fuel infrastructure in the Atlanta region. Atlanta Heavy-Duty Vehicle and Equipment Inventory Emissions Study In collaboration with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and the Georgia Department of Transportation, GRTA is conducting a study of the potential benefits and costs of reducing emissions from heavy-duty on-road vehicles and offroad vehicles and equipment in the Atlanta area. Heavy-duty vehicles and equipment (both highway and offroad), emit significant amounts of fine particulate matter air pollution and the precursors that lead to ground-level ozone and particulate matter pollution formation in the Atlanta area. In 2001, GRTA developed a scope for the study that will be conducted by a private sector consultant(s). The consultant will perform a detailed inventory of the heavy-duty on-road vehicles and off-road vehicles and equipment operating in the prospective 21-county Atlanta 8-hour ozone nonattainment area. The inventory will include the numbers, types, ages, and current and anticipated future levels of activity of the vehicles and equipment. In addition, the selected consultant(s) will utilize the inventory to develop a costbenefit analysis (e.g., dollars per ton of emissions reduced) of controlling emissions from these sources in the Atlanta region. The consultant(s) will use the results of this analysis to identify strategies and make recommendations to GRTA and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division regarding which emissions reductions strategies are cost-effective and feasible and should receive further consideration for implementation. The study will be completed in 2003. 1 9 Dr. Catherine L. Ross Executive Director Jim Ritchey Deputy Director The Georgia Regional Transportation Authority 245 Peachtree Center Ave., NE Atlanta, GA 30303 404-463-3000 www.grta.org The Georgia Regional Transportation Authority 245 Peachtree Center Ave., NE Atlanta, GA 30303 404-463-3000 www.grta.org