Transcript Slide 1

Twin Cities Case Study:
Hiawatha Corridor
Twin Cities Regional Transit Vision
●
By 2030, region expected to grow by nearly 1
million, with 91% to 95% of new growth forecast
to be located in the urban area
●
In a 2003 regional survey, metro area residents
listed traffic congestion as the region’s top
problem
●
Combination of Light Rail, Commuter Rail, and
Busways to provide a comprehensive transit
network
●
Encourage development and reinvestment in
centers that combine transit, housing, offices,
retail, services, open space and connected streets
that support walking and bicycle use
●
Improve access to jobs and choices in housing
Ridership in Transit Zones
Transit Dependent:
● 74% of households in transit zones own 0-1 cars,
compared to 40% for the Region
● 32% of workers in transit zones walk, bike or
take transit to work, compared to only 7% for the
region
● Even before the light rail line, transit ridership,
walking, and biking were substantially higher in
the Hiawatha corridor than in the region
Diversity of income levels
● 35% of households in transit zones earn less than
$20,000 per year
● 57% earn less than $35,000 per year
● Hiawatha median income was $31,000 in 1999 as
compared to regional median of $54,000
Demand for Housing Near Transit
● By 2030, between 110,000 – 124,000 Twin
Cities’ households will have a potential
demand for living near transit (roughly 6% of
region’s households)
● Nationally, demand for housing near transit
could double to over 15 million households.
●
Household size is shrinking, with singles and
couples without children being the new
majority.
● 49% of the households with a potential
demand for living near transit qualify as Low
Income
● 4,000-9,000 new housing units could
potentially be located on underutilized sites in
the Hiawatha corridor to accommodate
projected future demand
Snapshot of the Hiawatha Corridor
●
Light Rail corridor that runs 12 miles and includes 17
stops.
●
Connects multiple regional destinations and
residential neighborhoods between downtown
Minneapolis and the Mall of America in Bloomington.
●
Service Began in 2004, with over 30,000 riders reported
in June 2006 – well exceeding forecasts.
●
Residents Within ½ Mile Radius
–
–
●
Population – 42,377,
Households – 17,870
Residential Density:
18 Dwelling Units per Residential Acre
●
Median Income in 1999
–
–
●
Corridor (1/2 mile radius of stops) - $30,571
Region - $54,304
Strong neighborhood organizations
Tremendous Development Response in Last 3 Yrs.
● 11,931 housing units and 1,054,436 square feet
of commercial space have been built, are under
construction, planned or proposed within a half
mile of the 17 stations.
● 7,000 units of housing have already been either
proposed or built within a half mile of the
Hiawatha Line since 2000.
● The majority of these projects, (65 out of 108
total projects and 45 out of 72 residential and
mixed use/residential projects), are within the
half-mile areas surrounding the four Downtown
stations
● Transit investment has leveraged higher-density
TOD in historic industrial areas
● “Hot Market” for Downtown station areas
Recent Planned and Proposed
Development, since 2003
Courtesy Metropolitan Council
Need to Ensure Long-Term Affordability
● Corridor has a median household income
of $31,000, versus $54,000 for region
● Only 37% of units are owner-occupied
(versus 70% for the region) creating
potential for displacement
● Out of 72 new residential projects since
2003, only 25% (18) are affordable or
mixed income
Residential Development along
Hiawatha since 2003
Land Constraints in the Corridor
● Variety of distinct land uses and
development types
● Civic uses (i.e. airport, VA Hospital, Fort
Snelling) dominate the corridor at 54%
of total land uses and limit
redevelopment potential
● Multiple funding sources and
jurisdictions, including Federal, impede
coordination
Lessons & Opportunities
● Little coordination of housing and transit policies have resulted in missed opportunities
● 504 underutilized acres identified as potential redevelopment sites along the corridor
● Many new development projects outside downtown are smaller infill projects and not the larger
“catalytic” projects necessary to promote a rider-transit link
Station Example: High Lake
●
Located roughly mid-point on the Hiawatha line, divided by transportation infrastructure, with a number of
large underutilized sites. The majority of households are low-income (median income in 1999 of only
$23,342) and transit-dependent.
●
Available sites are being bought up by speculators or developers building small projects that are not
making highest and best use of property near the station.
●
Plans for improvements and connections are now in place or moving forward but better coordination
during initial planning and design would have ensured critical development.
2001 preferred concept
Moving Forward…
● Market response is strong and positive
● Clear need for increased coordination
to link housing and transportation
● Multiple jurisdictions require greater
regional coordination
● A variety of tools and interest exists
at local, county, regional and state level
– how to leverage?
● Need to address infrastructure, cleanup, and pedestrian issues at future
redevelopment sites
● Capitalize on market strength to achieve
community benefits
Breadth of Policies at Work
Housing
– Unified Housing Policy
– Inclusionary Housing Account
Grants
– Family Affordable Housing
Program
– Local Housing Incentive Account
Transit Oriented Development
– Livable Communities Funding
– POD overlays and station area
planning
– Hennepin County TOD program
Lessons from Other Regions for the Twin Cities
● Boston – power of local community
development corporations joining together to
address and create corridor opportunities
● Denver – power of a regional TOD
framework to guide investments and change
zoning
● Charlotte – power of incentives to create
affordable housing and infrastructure
upgrades
● Portland – power of large scale
development sites to achieve broad
community benefits
Government leadership is key.
To Learn More..
http://www.reconnectingamerica.org
Local Resources:
● The City of Minneapolis
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cped/
● Hennepin County
http://wwwa.co.hennepin.mn.us/portal/site/HCInternet
● The Metropolitan Council
http://www.metrocouncil.org/transportation/lrt/lrt.htm