Innovative Partnerships: Silo Hopping to Engage Communities How can we collaborate to educate, inform and involve the public? How can we work together -- across departmental and agency lines -- to engage citizens more meaningfully and efficiently? Large capital projects, especially transit projects, involve many departments, agencies and objectives. Collaborating in an intentional way helps build and strengthen communities. Explore examples of successful teamwork designed to keep the public informed, including social media tools, branding techniques, and more. Moderator: David C Dickey Jr., AICP, Senior Vice President and National Director, Transit & Railroads, URS, Charlotte, North Carolina Kathleen Cornett, AICP, Senior Planning Coordinator, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission, Charlotte, North Carolina Kathryn Hansen, Manager, TOD and Land Use, SWLRT Project Office, Metro Transit, St. Louis Park, Minnesota Liz Walton, Landscape Architect, Minnesota Department of Transportation, St. Paul, Minnesota

1. LYNX Blue Line Extension
Transit Station Area Plans

2. LYNX Blue Line
LYNX Blue Line
• 9.6 miles
• 15 stations
• Opened 2007
• +26,000 daily riders
• Connects south side
at Interstate 485 to
Uptown Charlotte
LYNX Blue Line
Extension (BLE)
• 9.3 miles
• 11 stations
• Implementation 2017
• +25,000 daily riders
• Connects Uptown
Charlotte to UNC
Charlotte

3. CATS LYNX Context & Ridership

4. Lynx Light Rail line
South Blvd

5. • 11 Stations (7 walk-up / 4 park-and-ride)
• Accommodates 3-car trains
• Approximately 3,100 parking spaces
• Congestion-free commute
• Connecting bus services
BLE Profile
• Convenient and safe station amenities
for customers
o Security features
o Bicycle parking
o Public art
o Shelters, garbage cans, benches
o Trees
o Lighting
o Ticket vending machines (TVMs)
o Maps and schedules

6. BLE Update
Milestone Date
State FFGA Executed March 2012
Request to Enter Final Design March 2012
FTA Approval to Enter Final Design July 2012
Federal FFGA Signed October 2012
Advanced Utility Relocation Begins May 2013
Right-of-Way Acquisition Complete January 2014
Complete Final Design May 2014
Start Construction November 2013
Initiate Revenue Service March 2017
*Schedule subject to change

7. TOD Planning Framework
Centers, Corridors & Wedges
(1994)
Transit Station Area Principles
(2001)
Station Area Plans
(BLE Stations - 2013)
Station Corridor City
Zoning Tools
TS
(Transit Supportive Overlay)
TOD
(Transit Oriented Development)
MUDD UMUD UR
Parcel
Implementation Policy & Plan Development
Station Area Vision
Knitting Policy & Implementation Together
Community Vision
Neighborhood Protection
Future Land Use
Transportation
Infrastructure
Open Space
Building Type
Parking
Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
Residential Density (DUA)
Height Plane
Site Design
Building Massing & Form
Station Development Concept
Development Plan
Structure Plan
Mobility Plan
Transit Oriented Development
Transit Supportive Overlay

8. How is the BLE Station Area
Planning Process Different?

9. Staff Team
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning
Department
• Charlotte Area Transit System
(CATS)
• Engineering & Property
Management
• Corporate Communications
• Charlotte Department of
Transportation (CDOT)
• Mecklenburg County Park and
Recreation
• Neighborhood & Business
Services
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities
(CMU)
• Charlotte Fire Department
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
• Solid Waste Services
• Stormwater Services
• Land Use and Environmental
Service

10. How is CATS different?
Most Transit Agencies
• Many are authorities,
operating
independently from
local government
• Authorities have their
own governing boards
CATS
• CATS is part of the City
government structure
• Benefit of the City
budget
• Many decisions must go
through City Council
and sometimes voter
approval

11. New Strategies
Electronic Sign-in &
QR code on postcard
Series of interactive
workshops
Discussed 6 stations
at each workshop
Provide initial
concepts

12. Collaboration
Social Media
Collaboration
Business
Liaison
BLE
Communications
Team (CATS)
Planning
BLE Communications
Team
Contractor
State
Transportation
Engineering
City
Transportation
CATS Project
Management
One Stop-Shop
Public Workshops

13. ESRI ArcGIS Online

14. Station Area Plans

15. Transit Station Area Principles
Land Use Community Design Mobility
Concentrate a mix of
complementary, well-integrated
land uses
within walking distance
of the transit station.
Enhance the existing
transportation network
to promote good
walking, bicycle and
transit connections”
Use urban design to
enhance the community
identity of station areas
and to make them
attractive, safe and
convenient places.

16. Station Area Plan Policies
Development Concept
Development Plan
Structure Plan
Mobility Plan
• Vision & Goals
• General Development
Character
• Neighborhood
Preservation vs. TOD
• Future Land Use
• Community Design
• Infrastructure
• Natural Environment
• Building type/design
• Building Height in
specific character areas
• Capital Projects
• Transportation
Improvements
• Street Design (USDG)
New to BLE Station Area Plans (2013)
Policies
General
Specific

17. One-Stop Shop Document
• One document for six
station plans
• Serves as an easy
reference and facilitates a
predictable development
patterns

18. Lessons Learned
Provide ideas for public to
react to
Group stations into one
planning process when
possible
Provide interactive
opportunities for public
engagement
Incorporate technology
where possible
Collaborate with other
city agencies
Community education is
key

19. Thank You!
www.charlotteplanning.org