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 li!il � NYCE DC
Utica Avenue - 100 years of Promised Rapid Transit
ATLANTIC AVE.

Utica is one of the best potential corridors for rapid EASTERN PKWY.
BROOKLYN

transit investment after Second Avenue in NYC. .

""
::
43,000 people ride a bus on the 5 miles \iII
l UTICA AVE.
everyday. < LINDEN BLVD. II
II
II
II
II
An estimated 10,000 daily pay $2 to ride 11 KINGS
II -HWY.
II
'Dollar Vans" FOSTER AVE. II
I\. ,i<r-·
\1 s'f
�<:J
Expansion of Subway service along Utica Avenue has II �"

II �
,,
Av

Ii
been proposed for over a century. Ii
Area of II
\!I',
detail
T-••·New Yorlc Tlmn Jun• 4, 1969
A 2015, $5M subway feasibility study may be awarded Broken lines mark the new 'f,{<,:�
Brooklyn subw:iy routes.

in early summer and take 12-18 months.

■
■ May consider LRT/Streetcar
A 5 mile 4 station line is expected to cost $68-
- ....:.. .

$88 in and take 15 years to design and

construct
75,000-83,000 riders per day
Station distance would be 2-3x greater than
in other parts of the city
�-----�--=-:1rt:=--:::-=--:=-==----=-:�=-=--=-"r:-:-------------------------------2
 li!il � NYCE DC

LRT Proposal & Ridership along Utica Avenue

SBS B46 Route
An LRT/streetcar route of 5 miles with 10 stations along -�.,
,.

Utica Avenue from Fulton Street to Kings Plaza.

Cost of $1.258 in 2017$

Utica LRT would carry double the per mile ridership of

-·
BOX.

Land use in southern section of route is industrial and

appropriate for maintenance facility.

@ 13'16 SOS G1op

- 846 t.oeol routo

� 846 SOS routo o.....

o-==·
•• ==-o•-•.,

43,400 10,000 20% LRT Premium (LOW) = 56,500K/day

30% LRT Premium (HIGH) = 61,000K/day

100% 75%
2050 Ridership = 79,000 to 86,000K/day
(40% above 2028 ridership ...same as BQX)
43,400 3,750
Total 47,150
�------------------------------------------3
 li!il � NYCE DC

LRT Proposal & Ridership along Utica Avenue

SBS B46 Route
An LRT/streetcar route of 5 miles with 10 stations along -�.,
,.

Utica Avenue from Fulton Street to Kings Plaza.

Cost of $1.258 in 2017$

Utica LRT would carry double the per mile ridership of

-·
BOX.

Land use in southern section of route is industrial and

appropriate for maintenance facility.

@ 13'16 SOS G1op

- 846 t.oeol routo

� 846 SOS routo o.....

o-==·
•• ==-o•-•.,

20% LRT Premium (LOW) = 56,500K/day

43,400 10,000
30% LRT Premium (HIGH) = 61,000K/day
100% 75% 2050 Ridership = 79,000 to 86,000K/day
(40% above 2028 ridership...same as BQX)
________________________________
43,400 3,750
Total 47,150
�------------------------------------------4
 li!il � NYCE DC
Challenges

State and location of Utilities are unknown.

Would not connect to BQX without a 3 mile ($750M) extension through Bed-Stuy.

Requires stand alone maintenance yard.

Much of the route is 4 lanes wide, requiring removal of all parking

■ But dedicated lanes (for SBS) have already been installed with associated
parking loses and vehicle lanes already implemented.

Little potential for value capture

1����:��0
"""'

�------------------------------------------5
 Utica Avenue – LRT/Streetcar Option
1. Executive Summary
The Proposal

 LRT/Streetcar for Utica Avenue from Fulton Street (A,C train) via Eastern Blvd (2,3,4,5) to
Kings Plaza

 5 miles with 10 stops, with projected ridership of 48K to 52K per day on opening day in 2028,
growing to 68K to 73K in 2050 as compared to 43K riders on the SBS route

 The construction cost is estimated to be $1.25B in 2017$ or $250M per mile, verses $6B-
$7B++ to build subway. The subsidy would be around $35 million per year

Proposed Subway Line

 An extension of Subway service along Utica Avenue has been proposed several times, with a
2015 $5M feasibility study ongoing likely to start in the summer and take 12-18 months

 The line would run approximately 5 miles with 4 Subway stations

o Construction costs are estimated at $1.25B++ per mile
o Stop spacing would be more than 2x the average of city wide stop spacing at 1.25 miles

Utica Avenue Today

 Utica Avenue has 4 distinct cross-section profiles.

 Vehicle lanes vary from 2-4
 A dedicated bus lane for SBS is present along the entire route

Current Utica Avenue Transit Options

 The proposed route is currently served by the B46/SBS, with weekday ridership of 43,000
between Williamsburg and Kings Plaza.. Roughly 75% of the bus route and ridership lies
between Fulton Street and Kings Plaza

 18 other bus lines with 244,000 weekday riders crossing Utica. Some of these may plan to
transfer earlier in their route

 Dollar vans ($2 fare) serve an estimated additional 10,000 riders in the corridor

Utica Avenue vs. Other MTA Projects

 With 44,000 people/jobs per square mile, is less dense than other similar corridors with
subways like the Nostrand Avenue (69,000 people/jobs per mile) which may suggest the the
development potential of the corridor.

 Expected ridership of 5K to 6K in the peak hour/peak direction (phpd)) is well below NYC
subway average of 16K phpd while being in the perfect range for LRT of 4K to 12K)
1 
Utica Avenue – LRT/Streetcar Option DRAFT
 2. Proposal & Previous Transit Improvement Intitiatives

 Expansion of service along Utica Avenue has been proposed for over a century,
beginning in 1910, again in 1928, and most recently in the “Program for Action” of the
1960/70s

 Mayor de Blasio proposed a feasibility study ($5M) into the extension of Subway service
on Utica Avenue in 2015
o Initial proposals have centered on the extension of 3 and/or 4 train service from
Eastern Parkway down to Avenue U/Kings Plaza

o The route would likely resemble the 5 mile, 4 station plan previously presented
in the Program for Action in the 1960s.

o Costs are expected to be less than the average of $2B per mile to build subways
in Manhattan due to lower property values and fewer technical difficulties in
constructing along Utica as compared to Manhattan.

o A 5 mile subway with 4 stations is estimated to cost a minimum of $1.25B per

mile leading to a total cost in the $6B to $7B range.
 Station distance would be twice to three times what it is in other parts of
the City at 1.25 miles between stop. This would likely mean parallel local
bus service would be run.

2 
Utica Avenue – LRT/Streetcar Option DRAFT
  Previously, Utica Avenue also hosted a streetcar line, which was discontinued in 1951

3. Utica Avenue’s Streetscape

 Utica Avenue runs 5 miles from Fulton Street to its termination at Kings Plaza, and can
be subdivided into four distinct sections:

 From Fulton Street to Eastern Parkway

 

o 4 lanes total
 2 vehicle travel lanes
 1 dedicated bus lane

3 
Utica Avenue – LRT/Streetcar Option DRAFT
  1 parking lane

o Built Form
 2-4 story residential structures
 1-2 story commercial buildings
 Side streets are mostly 2 story residential units

 From Eastern Parkway to Carroll Street

o 4 lanes total
 2 vehicle travel lanes
 2 bus lanes/parking

o Built Form
 2-4 story mixed residential/commercial structures
 Side streets are mostly 2 story residential units

 From Carroll Street to Empire Boulevard/East New York Ave

o 6 lanes total
4 
Utica Avenue – LRT/Streetcar Option DRAFT
  4 vehicle travel lanes
 2 bus lanes

o Built Form
 6-10 story residential buildings
 2-4 story mixed used developments
 Side streets are largely residential
 Empire Boulevard/East New York Ave – Linden Boulevard

o 6 lanes total
 2 vehicle travel lanes
 2 bus lanes
 2 parking lanes

o Built Form
 Single story commercial buildings
Some 6-10 story residential developments
 Side streets are predominantly 4-6 story residential and single story
commercial buildings

 Linden Boulevard – Flatbush Avenue

o 6 lanes total
 2 vehicle travel lanes
5 
Utica Avenue – LRT/Streetcar Option DRAFT
  2 bus lanes (clearly denoted)
 2 parking lanes

o Built Form
 Predominantly single story commercial
 Some 2-4 story mixed-use development
 Side streets are 2 story semi detached residential units

4. Utica Avenue Transit Today

 With more than 150,000 people living within a half mile and 269,000 living within 1 mile,
Utica Avenue is one of the most heavily-used traffic corridors in the outer boroughs

 The B46/SBS operates along the entire length of Utica Avenue. Average ridership is
43,000 in 2016

 18 additional bus lines cross Utica Avenue south of Fulton Street, with ridership ranging
from 786 to over 27,000 riders per weekday (see appendix)

 Utica Avenue is served by a number of commuter vans (“dollar vans”), due to a

perceived lack of transportation options along the street.
o Citywide ridership is estimated at 120,000 riders per day

 While no up-to-date numbers are available, daily ridership along Utica Avenue can be
estimated at around 10,000

 Utica is relatively less dense than areas around other major transit projects in the city
o With nearly 150,000 residents and 22,000 jobs long its route, Utica Avenue has a
density of approximately 44,000 people/jobs per square mile

6 
Utica Avenue – LRT/Streetcar Option DRAFT
  In comparison, the area around the Second Avenue Subway has a density
of 253,000 people/jobs per square mile

 Nearby Nostrand Avenue has nearly 160,000 residents and 24,000 jobs, leading to a
density of 69,000 people and jobs per square mile, which might be an indication of the
levels that could be expected to come on Utica Avenue in the event of the construction
of an LRT or subway. 
 
Density in Selected Transit Corridors

5. LRT Ridership
 The proposed LRT would run along Utica Avenue from Fulton S. to Kings Plaza for 5
miles, and include around 10 stations.

 Ridership projections show the robust capture of commuters already utilizing Utica
Avenue mass transit options

7 
Utica Avenue – LRT/Streetcar Option DRAFT
 20% LRT Premium (LOW) = 48,000K/day

30% LRT Premium (High) = 52,000K/day

2050 Ridership = 68,000 to 73,000K/day

(40% above 2028 ridership…same as BQX)

Notes: 75% of the bus route lies between Fulton Avenue and Kings Plaza and accounts for
around 75% of ridership. There are 122,000 Dollar Vans in the City spread out over 8-10 lines,
with the 3 busiest carrying 55,000 a day.

6. Subway Ridership Estimates

 A 5 mile subway ridership is estimated is 75,000 – 83,000.

 Best comparison to base an estimated subway ridership on is nearby Nostrand

Avenue’s 7 station 2.6 mile subway.
o Carries 61,000 riders per day (or 23,500 per mile).
o Similar but denser urban form to Utica Avenue

 With 1/3rd the stations and less development compared to Nostrand Ave, ridership is
estimated at 2/3rd (66% = this would generate 15,500 per mile or 78,000 per day) of the
per mile ridership in the first 20 years of operation to 2050. The range upper range is
calculated by adding 10% to the estimate.

 Another way of comparing subway and LRT ridership is by adding a premium in the
same formate as the bus to LRT ridershipship comparison. This generates a 57,600 to
67,600 ridership estimate for a subway on Utica of 57,600 to 67,600.

LRT Cost Estimate and Construction Schedule

 The Utica Avenue LRT would cost an estimated $1.25 billion in 2017$

 From approval of study to opening is 8-9 years.

 No work has been done on the location of utilities or other issues that might impact the
budet or schedule LRT other than a visual inspection. Our existing BQX cost per mile in
2017$ is $250M.
8 
Utica Avenue – LRT/Streetcar Option DRAFT
  Included in this estimate are the following, which while not an exhaustive list highlights
areas for cost savings/risk:
o $18M for a maintenance yard (total of $90M over the 5 miles of track)
o $55M for contingency (22% of total costs)
o $60M for utilities
o $29M for bridges ( total of $145M over the 5 miles of track)

 A maintenance yard would cost approximately $180M. As bridge construction is not

necessary for this route, the $145M budgeted for such a structure can be combined with
the $90M already reserved for a yard in the base estimate to more than cover
construction costs
o The remainder - $55M – could then be invested in an off-street loop at Eastern
Parkway to facilitate transfers to the subway

Appendix

Appendix 1
 Off Street loops at grade and inside buildings

  

9 
Utica Avenue – LRT/Streetcar Option DRAFT
Appendix 2

80x50 Initiative

 New York City will aim to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 80% of its 2005
levels by 2050.
o Announced in September of 2014, the program has an interim goal of reducing
emission levels by 40% of 2005 levels by 2030 (“40x30”).

 With transportation accounting for 20% of all greenhouse gas emissions, green
solutions for mass transit will be instrumental in reaching the goal of 80% reduction.

 The City seeks to focus on mass transit in the following ways:

o Modernize the City’s mass transit system to meet expected demand increases
and improve overall network efficiency

10 
Utica Avenue – LRT/Streetcar Option DRAFT
 o Encourage eco-friendly and zero-emission vehicles, and accelerate the purchase
of these vehicles in the City’s transportation fleet

o Institute parking schemes that will encourage mass transit use in favor of
personal vehicles

Appendix 2
Bus Ridership over Utica Avenue South of Fulton Street (2016) 

 
Average Weekday
Bus Route Cross Point
Ridership (2016)  
B25 Fulton Street 10,048
B65 Dean St & Bergen St 3,398  
B15 Dean St & Bergen St 22,282
B45 St John’s Pl 6,019  
B17 Eastern Park. & Lincoln Rd 11,279
B12 Empire Blvd/Lefferts Ave 15,380
 
B35 Church Ave 31,886
B8 Avenue D 19,616
BM2 Avenue H 786
 
B6 Avenue H 41,320
B103 Avenue H 14,448  
B7 Kings Highway 6,066
BM1 Avenue K 1,140  
B41 Avenue N 27,082
B100 Fillmore Ave 5,387  
B2* Flatbush Ave 2,464
B9* Flatbush Ave 14,404  
B3* Avenue U 11,803
Total Ridership Crossing 244,808  

11 
Utica Avenue – LRT/Streetcar Option DRAFT