Title
Discuss Pflugerville 2030 Comprehensive Plan, proposed master transportation plan objectives and emerging transit development opportunities.
Summary
The Pflugerville 2030 Comprehensive Plan was adopted in October 2010. The overall purpose of this item is to evaluate the potential for developing public transportation options in Pflugerville, as referenced in Policy 1.2 of the plan. Among the transportation goals included in the current transportation element are to "have a regional transportation presence to ensure connectivity between emerging destinations and centers both within and external to Pflugerville and to maintain a voice in regional transportation planning and funding cycles" (Goal 1), and to "balance land use and transportation infrastructure to make living, working, shopping and playing in Pflugerville safer and more convenient for residents and visitors" (Goal 2). Contemporaneously, Capital Metro has recently completed and unveiled Project Connect concept plans as well as a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for the North Corridor area. While rail is not currently contemplated to serve the North Corridor specifically, various forms of bus transit are. These rubber tire alternatives are much less expensive to develop, but do have significant operating costs. Route flexibility is greater, but a lack of certainty along the route to secure a transit oriented development can sometimes result. This can be off set by the thoughtful integration of a park and ride facility that not a surface parking lot, but a transit oriented community hub for various transportation modes offering opportunities to live, work and shop. Each of these overlapping components is central to our suburban evolution described in the 2030 Vision Statement and developed and embraced by the steering committee in which "Pflugerville is the most desirable community in Cental Texas." In addition, while the LPA shows the MoKan Corridor (between Dessau Road and SH 45) without transit improvements, it does say that it should be preserved for future use, consistent with City of Pflugerville resolution 1324-12-06-12-0085 opposing the development of rail service within the MoKan Corridor. Action 1.2.2 of the 2030 Plan states that the corridor should continue be used as a hike and bike trail corridor; however, the abandoned rail right-of-way is currently owned by the State of Texas and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) retained RS&H to perform a MoKan Corridor Study due for completion soon. A reevaluation of the present circumstances may be necessary to assure that the MoKan Corridor is utilized for local and regional transportation purposes but in a manner that maximizes community benefit and does not compromise existing modes of transportation along the route.
Prior City Council Action
On March 11, 2014 the City Council passed resolution 1397-14-03-11-0186 in support of the Project Connect High Capacity Transit System Plan Efforts.
Deadline for City Council Action
N/A
Fiscal Impact
None at this time.
Staff Recommendation
This item has been prepared for discussion purposes only.
Drafter
Trey Fletcher, AICP
Assistant City Manager