Planners Present Rapid Transit Vision to City Officials

Transportation planners gave Royal Oak's Downtown Development Authority (DDA) an update on the future of public transit along the Woodward Avenue corridor at City Hall on Wednesday.

Barbara Arens, of Parsons Brinckerhoff, and Brad Strader, of LSL Planning, outlined the process of the Woodward Rapid Transit Alternatives Analysis Study and the the Complete Streets project for directors.

The ongoing $2 million Woodward Rapid Transit Alternatives Analysis Study  seeks to develop a transportation plan along 27 miles of Woodward Avenue from Detroit to Pontiac. 

The Complete Streets Initiative for the Woodward corridor was first announced in August, 2011 when the Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3) received a $752,000 Federal Scenic Byway Grant to prepare a Complete Streets Master Plan for Woodward.

Subsequently, the WA3 convened a steering group comprised of representatives and policy makers from Wayne and Oakland counties, the 11 municipalities along Woodward, MDOT, M1 Rail, SEMCOG and associated advocacy groups to help shape and guide the process.

The goals of the WA3 are to significantly enhance public transit and provide residents with choices, Arens said. Modes of transportation being considered include enhanced buses, bus rapid transit and light rail.

The new wave of transportation

"Bus rapid transit is the new wave around the world to get a lot of the amenities of light rail but at half the cost," Strader said. "Some of the attributes of bus rapid transit is it has leveling boarding, so instead of having to step up to the bus you just walk right on or you can put a bike right onto the vehicle."

In addition, stations are built, just like light rail, with pre-boarding ticketing. Buses also have priority at traffic signals and quite often they have a dedicated lane.

Strader and Arens said there have been seven public meetings to get input from communities. 

"Most of the public was very enthused about having increased rapid transit. Really, we are one of the only major metropolitan areas in the U.S. that doesn't have anything, and one of the few in the world," Strader said.

Decisions for Royal Oak

Strader said planners are charged with having a recommended alternative by the fall that will consist of the types of vehicles, whether transit stays on Woodward or goes off, and where stations will be.

Planners are considering bringing the line down Washington and 11 Mile. The factors being considered include whether they would lose time and therefore ridership by going off Woodward to get downtown, whether students at Oakland Community College would use it, whether parking would be lost on Washington and does Washington have enough width to accommodate rapid transit.

Share your ideas, Royal Oak

Royal Oak residents are invited to share their ideas about the alternates modes of transit being considered, potential stops and routes between stations. The next workshop will be held from 6-8 p.m. on April 25 at the Berkley Community Center located at 2400 Robina Ave.