comprehensive campus transportation plan - University of ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

University of Massachusetts Lowell Campus Transportation Plan •• University Avenue Bridge •• Pawtucket Street between Walker and Wannalancit streets •• Pawtucket Street between Father Morissette Boulevard and East Campus •• Broadway Street between Tyng Street and Madonna Circle Although several LRTA routes, including the Downtown Circulator, pass by or through the campus, their long headways, routing, and multiple stops make them an unrealistic alternative to the UMass Lowell shuttles. Despite the constraints of peak period traffic congestion, the UMass Lowell shuttle system provides critical service for large numbers of faculty, staff and students on a day-to-day basis. It is the primary means of travel between the campuses, and has the flexibility to respond to demand, constraints, and new destinations/ridership. A significant challenge faced by the University transit team is the setting of expectations for travel time and schedule adherence. Due to the congestion and routing constraints, travel time between campuses can vary daily or even hourly. An automatic vehicle location (AVL) system based on global positioning system (GPS) technology can provide riders real-time bus location and anticipated arrival time at stops. This information decreases wait time for riders (i.e. they can time their arrival at the bus stop with the arrival of the bus) and allow them to make informed decisions regarding using an alternative mode of transportation (e.g., walking or biking). In addition, AVL systems can provide critical information for shuttle operations, providing them with performance and travel metrics to alter routes on the fly or as part of a comprehensive planning effort. Bike racks on the front of campus shuttle buses also promote multi-modal travel and bike commuting. Campus Shuttle on South Campus Formal and informal discussions with current students yielded additional suggestions to enhance the current shuttle service. Campus Shuttles on East Campus 28 Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.
University of Massachusetts Lowell Campus Transportation Plan •• Providing access to transit is important since other transportation modes are often not an option. UMass Lowell is working to improve options and services for the mobility-limited. •• Shopping / Entertainment Shuttles - Residential students have expressed the desire to travel to off campus locations for shopping and recreational activities. Specific destinations include the Burlington Mall and Nashua, New Hampshire. UMass Lowell transit service currently services the Drum Hill Shopping Plaza on weekends. Other universities (e.g., Curry College) provide charter buses for their students to local shopping centers and movie theaters. The National Park Service, the City of Lowell and the Lowell Plan are working toward a future extension of the existing trolley line in the Downtown, with the participation and support of the University. An Alternatives Analysis draft report was recently completed, defining a proposed route, operations framework and funding strategy for this new transit concept for Lowell. Federal and state funding is being pursued to implement an early phase of the project connecting the Hamilton Canal development area to the Gallagher Terminal/ MBTA commuter rail station. The project’s overall proposed route travels from Downtown along the edge of East and North campuses, and continues to the South Campus. In this alignment the trolley has the potential to serve the University community on some trips to and between campuses, and to the Downtown. C. Opportunities for Infrastructure Change The evaluation of existing conditions for faculty, staff and students to travel around and between the UMass Lowell campuses has identified key safety and mobility issues, as well as challenges presented by roadway congestion. It has provided information to identify opportunities for infrastructure changes that would address existing issues. These include the following special corridor opportunities, as shown in Figure 21: •• UMass Lowell campus “main streets” on each campus, providing multimodal accommodations at the heart of the campuses •• A priority inter-campus connector corridor on Pawtucket Street, also with a multi-modal focus •• A safety focus corridor on Riverside Street to improve pedestrian conditions along this key connection to the North Campus parking facilities In addition, there are opportunities for location-specific improvements in the following categories: •• Intersection and traffic capacity improvements •• Pedestrian and safety improvements •• Bicycle accommodations •• UMass Lowell branding of transportation routes and key locations The recommendations developed from those opportunities are presented in Section VI. Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. 29
Page 1 and 2: Campus Transportation Plan Universi
Page 3 and 4: University of Massachusetts Lowell
Page 33: University of Massachusetts Lowell
Page 53 and 54: University Avenue Potential Improve

comprehensive campus transportation plan - University of ...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?