Downtown Shuttle System

[DSM celebutante]

I dont know if you all read cityview but they have a City of Des Moines Survey about a downtwon shuttel you can mail in. You all may want to get a copy and send it in [/u]

[dmluvr]

I have read that too, and have already filled it out and sent it back in!


P.s. off the topic here, but since you mentioned C.V. What's up with Point blank having issues getting their weekly out lately?? It seems that it's been a day or two late hitting the stands. Any thuoghts??

[DMRyan]

Being in Fort Dodge during the week, I'm usually not able to even pick up a Pointblank until Friday night or Saturday. I used to like reading it when they published on the web on Wednesdays of every week. Now they seem to only put every other week's issue on the web.

[Ingersoll1978]

What kind of shuttle? I know they have the "link" that connects to the parking ramps to the south and north of downtown. Is it that or something else?

[DMRyan]

Thank you to YoungDSMSocialClub for providing me with these maps.

Below are the three concepts for routes the downtown shuttle is proposed to run on. Also included is a list of recommendations proposed by the DMMC for a nighttime shuttle route to carry bar patrons to events and districts throughout inner city DSM.

Option #1


Option #2


Option #3


Recommendations for night shuttle:


Discuss. That means you too dmluvr.

[DMRyan]

My take:

I like option 1 or option 3 the best. Option 2 has the shuttle going down Walnut Street instead of Grand, which just doesn't seem like as good of an idea. Plus it runs clear out to what is currently no-man's-land in East Village.

Option 3 covers the Principal workers, has a loop down 10th Street and goes near areas that are up and coming with new housing developments. All provide access to Court Avenue, the riverfront, Gateway West and East Village. If costs are a huge concern, I can live with option 1, but would prefer #3.

And this night time shuttle idea is just awesome. This might just be the tipping point that gets the kids going downtown instead of West Des Moines to party. I remember how popular the "Moonlight Express," aka "The Drunkbus" was in Ames. They could even jack up the price slightly during these hours to recoup some costs. A bus going out Drake seems a little far away, but would defintely help bring a very coveted target demographic to downtown to hangout for the evenings.

[Ingersoll1978]

I personally favor option #1. It's simple and easy to know where the shuttle runs. I also think the late night shuttle would be a great idea.

[NOG]

I agree with Ingersoll on #1. Its short, simple and hits all the attractions I am interested in. I think its important to keep it simple since (hopefully) alot of out of towners will be using it. Also its efficient with what looks to be much fewer stops and less distance to cover than option #3. This has to be quick at getting people where they want to go or they will just get in their car and drive to where they want to go.

I am especially excited about the possibility of a night time\entertainment shuttle. Especially if the route makes it up to where I live off of Ingersoll. I would definately take this as opposed to driving downtown to go out.

[DMRyan]

DART is doing a test run for a downtown shuttle, although I'm curious why they chose a route only around the Capitol complex.

From the Register:

Shuttle to link Historical Building, Capitol

A free shuttle will stop - and pick up - at the Capitol's west entrance starting Monday.

The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority will provide a Link trolley that will run continuously from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday from the parking ramp at East Grand and Pennsylvania avenues and the State Historical Building to the Capitol.

The trolley will take about 10 minutes per loop, and the pickup locations will be marked "Capitol Shuttle Stop."

The shuttle service will run through March 9 as a pilot program. If the trial is a success, the service could be expanded to include other buildings on the Capitol Complex and a route linking the complex to downtown.

The cost of the program is being shared by the Iowa Legislature, the city of Des Moines and DART.

[Cyclonefan]

I like all 3 of them. #1 is the easiest to remember (#2 isnt to hard either.)

[speeder]

Where is the need for a shuttle coming from? An East/West Route somewhat makes sense to me... but WFA to Principle Park... is it just me or is that not really very far...?

They (the mini-group I was in) brought up the idea of this shuttle thing in at The Downtown Planing meeting last week; I'm not getting it. Are there other cities like Des Moines that have a shuttle program? Who rides it? Who pays for it?

[4th&Court]

I wish we could have all three and more. However, I like #2 the best, mostly because it's simple but extensive.

[Philby]

Speeder - I know Denver has a free shuttle up and down its 16th st mall area downtown. and while I agree the walk from WFA to Principal park isnt that far, if there was 1 shuttle doing that route, and not 2 (ie one N/S and 1 E/W) it would be nice to be able to take the shuttle from EV or from the central library to either place , so you've got some E/W travel mixed in with the N/S)

I think the cost of this shuttle is going to be a big piece of its effectiveness. If you include its route in the monthly passes, then you've already got some potential riders. If its free you'll obviously get more people riding it, but then how do you pay for it? If it costs 25c will you make any money, and do enough people carry quarters to spend for it. if you make it $1 than are there enough activities/attractions along the route for people to spend that much?

As much as I wish more people rode public transit in DM (and i believe more and more are each month), I don't think we're at a point that people are willing to embrace it, there's just not enough ridership to make it convenient enough for everyone...and cars/parking are still affordable enough most people don't need to look for an alternative. Hopefully a shuttle could start to change that, especially if people get used to just driving downtown, parking and then taking the shuttle anywhere they need to go. If people did start taking it, it would be a big step towards getting people out of the skywalks and onto the street which would spur more street level development!

I will say this, if there is a shuttle from the core over to near the capitol, i'd probably eat at tasty tacos a lot more!

[DMRyan]

Where is the need for a shuttle coming from? An East/West Route somewhat makes sense to me... but WFA to Principle Park... is it just me or is that not really very far...?

They (the mini-group I was in) brought up the idea of this shuttle thing in at The Downtown Planing meeting last week; I'm not getting it. Are there other cities like Des Moines that have a shuttle program? Who rides it? Who pays for it?

I think a shuttle will really come in handy in getting people around downtown over the lunch hour in the daytime. I won't realistically be walking from my work place in East Village to a place in Gateway West, but a quick shuttle trip would make it easier to patronize the businesses in this area during lunch time. I suppose it would have some benefits in getting people from the Iowa Events Center to the Court Avenue Area or East Village, even if it really isn't that far of a walk. As with any form of transit, the shuttle would likely need to be subsidized. I can't see this being a money making proposition, but it's still something I think our downtown is large enough to need.

[Cyclonefan]

If I had to pick one, Id say number 2. I think people would use the north/south one mainly during events but not much else (except for the court avenue area).

[Des Moineser]

I was just wondering, isn't this about what The Link already does?

[DSMman]

Is this just a bus shuttle like link or is it going to be like electric light rail. If its like the link I dont think there is a need for it. Bet if it is light rail I would like to see this. It would be a good starting point that could be open to expansion in the future.

[DMRyan]

I could someday see a downtown trolley being built way into the future, but realistically could only expect bus rapid transit to serve commuters in further flung suburban areas.

The Link just kind of shuttles people from parking garage to employer, and primarily operates out of the 6th Avenue Park and Ride.

[Ingersoll]

I attended the DART public meeting on Wednesday and the Director of DART said we will have a shuttle/trolley in downtown within the next year. He said the route will likely be from the State Capitol to Meredith. He did not say the hours of operation or the cost.

[josh]

I'd vote for a segway service!

[Philby]

I'd vote for a segway service!

While i have no problem with support for segway's, how does a segway service help transport people around downtown?? Say I work at ING and I want to get over to the EV for dinner/drinks after work...I'm not gonna want to go rent a segway (which is probably quite involved with deposits etc) and drive it over to EV and drop it off...plus the segway service would have to have little stands everywhere to make it convenient to drop off and a way to get the segway's around if one of the stands is running low.

Just seems like the logistics involved don't really support a segway as a downtown shuttle for lots of people to get around.

Now if you're talking about the ability to rent one for a day to tool around downtown, along the riverwalk maybe down to gray's lake then i think that's a great idea!

[josh]

Of course segway's aren't going to transport people, it would be run to have little rental stations around downtown though. Even mopeds or vespas would be fun during the summer.

The downtown shuttle probably is a good idea, but I kind of thought that's what the skywalks were for?

I think a trolly would be cool, but I can't imagine that makes much sense with the changes needed to the roads and things. Who knows?

[Cyclonefan]

HOw about converbelts in the skywalks going pretty fast! lol

[Mastermind]

AWESOME NEWS. THANK YOU NATIONWIDE!

Nationwide Moves Downtown Plan Forward with Tram Feasibility Study

The City of Des Moines, Downtown Community Alliance, and Polk County announced today that Nationwide will provide funding for a tram feasibility study for Downtown Des Moines. The study will focus on a tram linking Downtown’s Western Gateway to the East Village.

"Nationwide has been excited to be a partner in the development of the Western Gateway over the past eight years with the development of our campus on Locust Street," said Kim Austen, President of Allied Insurance. "Our commitment today to provide funding of a downtown tram keeps the momentum we’re experiencing throughout downtown Des Moines moving forward."

The announcement is a result of the new Downtown Plan, a collaborative effort between the City, County and business community through the Downtown Community Alliance (DCA). World renowned architect Mario Gandelsonas, along with a steering committee comprised of a broad representation of the downtown community held numerous public forums and got broad citizen input in the development of the Downtown Plan that will guide the next 20 years of development downtown.

"Two major areas of focus for the future of downtown are movement and development," explained City of Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie. "Central to the plan is the transformation of Walnut Street, currently a bus transit mall, to a main transportation corridor for vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists and a new tram."

The study will determine factors such as cost, type/style of tram, routes, infrastructure needs and timeline. The Downtown Community Alliance and the City of Des Moines are establishing a formal steering committee to oversee the study. The next steps for this process will be a request for proposal.

"We are thrilled to receive this gift from Nationwide," said Mary Lawyer, President and CEO, Downtown Community Alliance. "The idea of a tram will help transform Walnut Street and will be integral to the continued energy and development in downtown Des Moines."

The funding for the feasibility study was provided by the Nationwide Office of Corporate Citizenship.

For more information regarding the Downtown Plan and this first step in the progress, visit http://www.downtowndesmoines.com.

[Mastermind]

We need to change the title to Dowtown Tram! Take that Omaha!

[dogbo]

Take that Omaha!

I know you aren't really serious, but everytime people make comments like this on the forum (and it seems to happen often) IMHO it screams inferiority complex!

Back to point, this is great news!

[Mastermind]

whatever dogbo quit being so serious all the time. Olive Garden is coming, its the end of the world!!!!

[Better Life dude]

Great: another study. How about the idea of getting the trolley car to make the circuit this year while the study is being conducted? I'm tired of waiting!

[dogbo]

The shuttle is coming very soon, no matter what comes of this study. They even gave out little flyers announcing it was "Coming Soon!" to those who participated in the skywalk golf a few weeks back.

Could someone enlighten me to what exactly a tram is?

Mastermind - I didn't say this, so please don't italicize the line as it gives the impression it was a quote.

[Ingersoll1978]

This is what I think of when they say "tram":



Berlin Tram (which shows how stations could be placed):


I think it is awesome that Nationwide sees the importance of transportation Downtown. They are obviously a progressive player in Downtown's evolution.

I just hope the study realizes that connecting the inner residential areas (Sherman Hill, Drake, Ingersoll-Grand, and the University Ave. corridor) would ensure the system is used more than just as a novelty.

With the cost of a barrel of oil reaching $109 today...using electricity would be far more cheaper in the future than trying to plan around the volatility of gas.