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U.S. 281 North Park and Ride

9/21/2012 Meeting Presentation
US 281 North Park & Ride Fact Sheet
Summer 2012 Newsletter

A New Passenger Facility Improving Mobility for Commuters Between the North Side and Central Business District

VIA is transforming San Antonio through multimodal solutions. It’s the result of an extensive two-year public involvement effort to develop a comprehensive long-range transportation plan. The U.S. 281 North Park and Ride is just one of six significant improvements in transit services which are scheduled for completion within the next five years.

The availability of a park and ride facility will increase mobility, promote transit-oriented development, improve air quality, stimulate economic development, promote pedestrian and bike-friendly neighborhoods, and enhance access to the City’s Central Business District.

U.S. 281 North Park and Ride is a Smart Move.

• This project will help alleviate the traffic congestion in one of the fastest growing regions of the City
• This park and ride is one facet of a diverse multimodal system that touches each section of the City and provides more travel choices
• Mass transit is one commuting option that saves people money
• Improving mobility means that people will enjoy an enhanced quality of life and greater accessibility to amenities where they live, work and play

During the first quarter of 2012, Express Bus ridership along the 281 North corridor increased 8.6 percent. Ridership will continue to increase as more people discover the benefits of Express Bus service. The VIA initiatives are the well-planned response to improving our community’s transportation and economic needs.

The U.S. 281 North Park and Ride is in Motion

All of VIA’s initiatives are moving forward. As the project progresses VIA will provide regular updates.

Key Facts

• On average, monthly ridership on the US 281 North Express route in 2012 averages over 10,700 passenger trips
• Express Service commuters will benefit from improved travel times
• The park and ride site will feature a comfortable waiting area with bicycle racks, appropriate lighting and real-time bus information
• Approximately 300 parking spaces for daily commuters
• The site will utilize new, more environmentally-friendly buses, that will lower carbon emissions as ridership increases. These buses will feature improved and more comfortable seating, ample storage, and free WiFi technology

Transit Priority Lanes are being considered as we develop the U.S. 281 North corridor near the Loop 1604 interchange on the city’s North Side. As the population in this growing region continues to increase, this type of transportation infrastructure enhancement can help improve traffic flow and reduce congestion. These lanes help save time and fuel while offering people another option to get to, and from, this area of our community.

There are several benefits to having transit priority lanes, including:

• More reliable and effective public transit schedules and carpools
• Moving more people with fewer vehicles (e.g. a transit bus can carry the equivalent of up to 47 single-occupant cars)
• Direct access to facilities providing efficiency and ease of access for both commuters and transit vehicles
• Improved travel times by avoiding congestion in the other lanes
• Emergency vehicles can use priority lanes at all times

Once operational, the U.S. 281 North Park and Ride will improve mobility between the Far North Side and the City’s Central Business District. It will reduce traffic congestion, improve travel times and stimulate economic growth.