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The Business Case for an Aspen Trolley System
Trolleys will help Aspen! Cities which have installed trolley systems have benefited, particularly in conjunction with an active community restoration / preservation plan and cooperation of the business community. Aspen's present situation: the City has three plans in place to support the downtown, civic center, businesses, and arts. The business community needs support. The Aspen Chamber Resort Association has reported that many downtown retail spaces are vacant. Realtor and time share sales offices are increasingly present in the City Core., The area needs vitality as in greater diversity and mix of businesses for tourist interest. Parking for easy access to downtown services, restaurants, and retail stores is a continuing problem. Aspen has become a multi-season vacation destination. It is time to shore up our community. Studies show that businesses increase and stabilize where trolley systems have been implemented. Further, rider-ship on trolleys increase over bus use by tourists and locals. Trolleys are particularly designed to easily move people from centralized parking to a downtown and civic areas. A "win-win" situation is demonstrably available if we as a community pull together in cooperation.
Demonstrated Business Benefit
The following information has been gained from articles on the inter-net. Excerpts from some of the source articles are attached at the end of this report. Much more supporting information is found by visiting Railway Preservation, Heritage Trolley, and the individual web sites of the participating communities. Our web-site, www.aspentrolley.com, provides links to all sites referenced.
Since 1976, twenty three communities have implemented trolley systems. At this time seven more are being constructed, and 23 (including Aspen) are in the planning stage. Implemented systems, as reported by participating communities, have brought economic benefits and stability to the areas served. The overall experience in having a trolley system has been reported as positive for locals and tourists. Validating this success is the number of systems across the country being extended and upgraded. These communities are seeking more trolley cars. The general reasons given by communities for installing a trolley are: they are a transportation enhancement, an economic development engine, a tourist attraction, and trolleys are prominent in implementing a restoration of community heritage. The benefits have been particularly significant when done with the business community in conjunction with civic plans to revitalize and strengthen the business core.
Trolleys denote permanence
"The investment in construction of a permanent way, such as a street railway, conveys a long-term commitment to provide a high quality service now and into the future. Bus options, making no such commitment, are too easily rerouted or curtailed. The presence of such permanent facilities has demonstrated tangible, positive, private sector economic and social spin off effects. Real estate values in Brookline, Milton, and Newton (MA)… Often overlooked is the psychological factor where public facilities are concerned. Consider how many government and private institutions conduct their business in structures made of large stone blocks, or other durable materials. This serves to reassure the general public with an appearance of stability and endurance through the ages."
Trolleys inspire economic development
"The permanent commitment demonstrated by the rails …. conveys to potential investors and residents that transportation will be available. Cities such as Portland, Memphis, and Tampa report strong developer interest along heritage lines, in some cases even before the line has opened. Both residential and commercial developments can benefit from the certainty that rail transit will be available. In Tampa, businesses have been so convinced of the benefits that heritage trolleys will provide that many have made financial contributions to the construction and/or operating costs of the line. "
Trolleys provides mobility in a downtown area
"People enjoy riding streetcars and can be lured from their automobiles by reliable, frequent service on heritage trolleys. Motorists are more inclined to park at the edge of a downtown area if they know they can be transported to and from the parking area by an attractive and enjoyable ride on a heritage trolley. "
Trolleys attract riders
The Transportation Research Board Special Report No. 1221, "Impact on Transit Patronage of Cessation or Inauguration of Rail Service" dated 1989, and authored by transportation researcher Edson L. Tennsyson concluded the following: "Because transit use is a function of travel time, fare, frequency of service, population, and density, increased transit use can not be attributed to rail transit when these other factors are improved. When these service conditions are equal, it is evident that rail transit is likely to attract from 34 to 43 percent more riders than will equivalent bus service.
Serving Aspen's Goals
The 2000 Aspen Area Community Plan calls for promoting economic sustainability, managing transportation and parking, and maintaining community character. The 2001 Civic Center Master Plan addresses the need to improve the Rio Grand Park service and civic district, promote vitality, and move people from downtown into the park and civic district. It has been noted that Aspen visitors do not cross Main St. A trolley system in Aspen implements many of the goals and provides many of the needs expressed in these "master plans." It has been repeatedly proven that a trolley system will increase and revitalize business, will provide a needed link between the downtown and the "Civic District" and the Rio Grande Park, and will stimulate vitality and people interaction.
2000 Aspen Area Community Plan Quotes
The Vision
"The image of Aspen as an organized façade needs to be injected with the "messy vitality" that originally created Aspen's renowned cultural and sociological diversity." "The genuine character of our community should be measured by the quality of our human interactions and not by the physical look of our man-made artifacts or the magnificent beauties of the nature surrounding us." "Valuable 'accidental' cross cultural interaction is now being blocked." - All reports indicate trolleys are an experience to be remembered and ridden in preference to buses. They provide "character," but they are a real form of transportation. One goal of the Trolley Group is to create a riding experience where strangers and friends actually meet each other. Low seat backs and seats that are easily flipped in two directions create an open space and invite group conversation of four. Should we consider removing a few seats to create more interactive standing room?
"We should pioneer in the use of light electric vehicles." The Aspen trolley will use state of the art electronics and controls and use a non-polluting regenerative battery powered system.
Transportation
"Realizing this (Plan) vision will require citizens, developers, elected officials, and others to recognize that a healthy transportation system includes many different modes, not simply the private automobile." "To encourage use of transit and other alternative modes of travel, travelers should feel comfortable on all legs of a trip: from door to door. Walking distances to transit should be minimized." "Reducing automobile congestion in the downtown core, particular in the evening and on weekends is to foster economic sustainability."
- The trolley route selected has been chosen by several consultants and the City to maximize rider-ship and minimize walking distance. A trolley ride will be a comfortable and memorable experience. A trolley, serving the downtown and Rio Grande Park, will shuttle people between these areas and parking. Trolleys attract rider-ship reducing the need for cars and buses and increasing downtown visits.
Economic Sustainability
"Essential to the long-term viability is the unique, varied, high quality, and welcoming experience Aspen offers to both residents and a diverse visitor population."
- A trolley will provide a unique high quality historic transportation system in character with Aspen for both residents and visitors."
"A vibrant economy requires positive working relationships between people and institutions, especially between the private and public sectors."
- This proposal is being presented to the business community, to the Ski Corporation, to the citizens and to the City to gain input and unifying support to assure its success. Since 1976, twenty three communities have implement trolley systems. These system have brought economic benefits and stability to the areas served and it has been noted that the best successes have resulted from joint civic and business efforts..
2001 Civic Center Master Plan Quotes
Principles
1. "Civic uses belong in the heart of town." - The trolley barn will be located in the SCI area. It will contain SCI space which can be occupied to relieve civic congestion. Depending on the location selected, it could serve as a visitors center and house ACRA and Aspen Central Reservations.
2. "Mixed use buildings and mixed use areas create active, vibrant, and memorable places." - Architectural designs being considered are in keeping with the history of Aspen rail and the SCI area in the 1880s.
3. "Galena Plaza could and should be a better public place." - A trolley stop located on the Galena Plaza would increase its vitality. It would also serve to shuttle people parking in the garage below. Moving the visitor center to the youth center would encourage use of the trolley, the garage and the Galena Plaza..
4. "Affordable Housing" ensures viability of civic functions and vitality of town." - A floor of affordable housing is planned above the trolley barn.
5. "Civic planing must address the need for short-term parking while not inducing additional traffic." - Making stops above and below the Rio Grande Garage will encourage people to park in the garage and ride the trolley as a shuttle to and from downtown.
6. "Public-private partnerships can be very advantageous in achieving public goals." - The trolley system is proposed using a COWOP process involving the civic, business, citizens of the community to create a "win-win" situation.
Non-Location - Specific Elements - Shuttle
The Trolley System provides a pedestrian-friendly shuttle linking downtown with the civic area including culture and arts. Trolleys are in character with Aspen. As stated before, trolleys will increase rider-ship over the bus shuttles and invite people into the Civic area across the Main St. "barrier." Trolleys assist in direction - just look for the tracks. The tracks will direct people to the Galena Plaza, the parking, and the re-located visitor center. Trolleys are a "way-finder."
Physical Analysis - SCI District
The ASRC proposal is to locate the trolley barn in the SCI area. Several logical sites exist; the recycle center (originally proposed), the parking lot north of the Community Bank, or behind the Post Office on either side of Puppy Smith Street. The proposed route for the trolley, selected for maximum service and convenience, will draw riders to the Civic/SCI area including the proposed Obermeyer project, Theater in the Park, and Art Museum. If extended, the route can also serve the Gondola and Hunter Creek residents. A trolley will draw businesses into the Civic area. Originally the Rio Grande parking garage was expected to be a bus connection point. The proposed trolley starts at Rubey Park, which is the focus for bus connections.
Making it Happen
In the past professional rail consultants were contracted. They analyzed and presented proposals for an Aspen trolley system. The City of Aspen has been involved, multiple times, in planning a trolley system. Conclusions were that a system running the busy Galena Street corridor down to Rio Grande Park will benefit Aspen, is in scale, and is affordable and practical.
The original plans relied on soliciting funds and selling naming rights to finance the project. The Aspen Street Railway Company, or the trolley group, is considering a new approach.
The newly introduced Aspen City 2002 In-Fill Report proposes a structure for revitalizing Aspen while reducing traffic congestion, and providing housing for the workforce serving Aspen. Securing this work force as active citizens and residents, and revitalizing business is part of this proposal. Using this plan the trolley barn could be built with additional rented affordable housing. The rents would supplement the costs of the housing.
Aspen has recently instituted a land use code for development determined to be necessary for the "Convenience or Welfare of the Public" (COWOP) which can be used in implementing the trolley system. An Aspen Trolley COWOP plan creates a forum of Aspen's government, business community, citizens and historic commission. The Ski Corporation and ACRA should also be part of this. Community input, understanding, and education are needed. All segments of the community must be involved, particularly business. This is the only way to create a win-win trolley system for Aspen and its citizens. The trolley system will supplement transportation, reduce parking congestion, stimulate business and tourism, stimulate vitality, and continue the auto disincentive direction of Aspen.
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