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Commuter Rail Workshop Proceedings - May 27, 1998

Workshop Proceedings - May 27, 1998

"Commuter Rail Economic Opportunities - Lessons Learned"

presented by

Washington Association of Rail Passengers

Commuter Rail Section

The Washington Association of Rail Passengers (WashARP) sponsored this half-day workshop to assist local leaders in understanding the economic opportunities of a "new start" commuter rail system - the Sound Transit "Sounder" being implemented over the next several years in the Puget Sound region. Forty-five guests representing businesses and cities along the Sounder line participated in three round table groups. While the topic was economic opportunities, the discussion covered a multitude of subjects, all relating to successful implementation. Presenters rotated among three round table discussion groups, sharing their wealth of experience in starting, running, and promoting commuter rail service in three different systems on the west coast. They were:

Jerry Kirzner, Director of Rail for Caltrain, San Francisco Peninsula area

Adrienne Brooks-Taylor, Director of Marketing and Fares for Metrolink, Los Angeles area

Betty Laurs, Program Director for Sound Transit, formerly of San Diego's Coaster

Facilitators kept detailed notes of comments, suggestions, and ideas, as well as adding their own perspectives. Facilitators, each assisting one round table group, were:

Ned Conroy, Puget Sound Regional Council - currently lead for TOD activities.

Henry Marcus, King County DOT, TOD program - recently with Portland LRT program.

Julie Shubuya, Sound Transit Commuter Rail - Community Development Specialist.

Many thanks to all of the above for making the workshop a priority in their busy schedules, and for the knowledge and enthusiasm they shared.

The following summary was compiled from the notes of facilitators and note-takers at each table. They are presented for others to consider, and hopefully to motivate readers to take steps within their own communities to get the most out of the public investment made by a new Commuter Rail system.

General Conclusions

While most conclusions didn't focus on economic development opportunities directly, it became clear that a synergy among a wide variety of positive actions created the desired results. Whether more riders cause more business, or vice versa, is not important. Incremental steps are supportive of each other:

Gradually building ridership and support for the service provides for the increase in demand for housing and retail activities. Likewise, this increase in activity around stations provided more awareness and use of the commuter rail system. Many purchasers of homes within two miles of stations indicate that the rail system influenced their decision to buy. Local businesses make decisions based on good market and retail analyses, and the increase in traffic and population around stations provided the needed incentives to expand.

Participants in the workshop were provided with print materials related to economic development around Commuter Rail Stations. These were gathered from a variety of sources. Special credit is given to Leroy Chadwick, Librarian for King County DOT, for locating published articles - the conclusion is that "not much" is readily available specifically on Commuter Rail station area development.

METRA (Metropolitan Transit Authority) in Chicago, through Lyle Gomm, was amazingly supportive in the quality and quantity of work previously done in this area, and for graciously providing multiple copies of those studies.

APTA (American Public Transportation Association) in New York, through Fran Hooper in the Commuter Rail Department, provided support in both print materials, and advice on participants and content.

Materials provided to workshop participants included:

Finally, credit must go to the members of the Association's Commuter Rail Section for providing time, talent, and money to make this workshop a reality. Thanks to Dennis Fait, VP-Intercity Rail, Hans Mueller-Treasurer, Rob Morrison-N.Corridor lead, Bob Whalen-S.Corridor lead, Warren Yee-Media Relations, Diane Harper- editorial support.

Specific Comments, Suggestions, and Conclusions



Specific comments made during the round table groups were sorted by these general areas:

planning, marketing, parking, service development, security, bus, other modes of travel.

The detailed notes of all groups are presented below. Reading each individual comment provides a better understanding of different viewpoints, and in the aggregate, an emerging picture of consensus.



Abbreviations used within the comments include: CR=commuter rail, LA=Los Angeles, SD=San Diego, PS=Puget Sound, SF=San Francisco, TOD=Transit Oriented Development, JV= Joint Venture.

Planning - Decision Making



Parking Considerations



Marketing of the Service



Service Quality and Implementation



System Security Issues and Fares

System Security:


Fares:



Bus and Rail Intergration



Bicycles and Day Care Opportunities

Bicycles and Trains


Day Care Opportunities





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Web Author: Warren Y. Yee
DeltaPoint,

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