Greenville Transit

[gman430]

https://www.greenvillecounty.org/Council/_Agenda/Meetings of 2020/County Council/2020.03.03/GTA land transfer.pdf

[GvilleSC]

4 hours ago, gman430 said:

https://www.greenvillecounty.org/Council/_Agenda/Meetings of 2020/County Council/2020.03.03/GTA land transfer.pdf

So, this could free up the site in the West End?

[gman430]

9 minutes ago, GvilleSC said:

So, this could free up the site in the West End?

Yes. That site is going to be put up for sale and the proceeds from it are going to be used to help pay for the new maintenance facility. 

“The cost of the facility is estimated to be $20 million and the grant requires local matching funds of $2.75 million. GTA will sell its current maintenance facility and the proceeds will be applied to the project. The City of Greenville has committed to provide $1.4 million of the local match.”

Edited March 5, 2020 by gman430

[vicupstate]

The GTA property is under consideration for the new West End garage that is part of the  County Square deal , but I don't think it is a foregone conclusion that the garage will go there.   

[gman430]

More on this here: https://gsabusiness.com/news/government/78085/

[gman430]

Greenlink to receive $14.4 million immediately thanks to Coronavirus funding.

[bikeoid]

The Greenville trolleys resume tonight with new routes and schedules.  Looks like there's no stop yet at Northpointe - it may require more people to move in there first to crete a demand.  http://trackthetrolley.com/ 

[NewlyUpstate]

17 hours ago, bikeoid said:

The Greenville trolleys resume tonight with new routes and schedules.  Looks like there's no stop yet at Northpointe - it may require more people to move in there first to crete a demand.  http://trackthetrolley.com/ 

It stops at Universal Joint which is like almost across the street though, right?

[bikeoid]

Yes, Universal Joint isn't far, and probably a safer place for the trolley to stop.

[vistatiger]

Why would they stop at NP at this point. Probably only a handful of people living there so far and is anything even open yet?

[bikeoid]

I think I heard some others mention this location because of the social events at Community Tap / Methodical Coffee, and now there's the D'Allesandro's Pizza also.      If the residents use it regularly, it would add to that count.  But NorthPointe might be enough of a 'car culture' location that they wouldn't use the trolley.

 

[bikeoid]

https://www.greenvillesc.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=2016

Greenlink Adding Six New Electric Buses to Fleet

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently awarded $130 million in grants to 41 recipients, including Greenlink, through its Low- or No-Emission (Low-No) Grant program. The Low-No grant program funds the deployment of transit buses and infrastructure for the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses and supporting facilities. Greenlink received $5,277,325 to purchase six 35-foot Proterra Catalyst E2 battery electric buses and associated charging equipment to meet the ridership demands linked to service improvements outlined in its current Transit Development Plan. Greenlink was the only agency in SC to be awarded funding.

Greenlink’s current fleet includes four 40-foot Proterra Catalyst E2 electric buses, which were purchased using Low-No funding awarded in 2017 and deployed in June 2019. The new 35-foot buses will provide better maneuverability, allowing Greenlink to utilize them on routes with narrower streets. Greenlink will order the new buses and schedule their delivery date to coincide with the completion of the new maintenance facility project in 2023.

...

[Cityplanner]

Would a "heritage" trolley or vintage/museum railroad ever generate interest in Greenville, and possibly as a spur to increase transit?

Charlotte had an old-style streetcar running between Uptown and the South End, which generated interest in transit (although the light rail line was already on planning boards by then).

Nashville had a museum-style passenger train, which ran on a route similar to the route that its current commuter train takes.

If Greenville had an operating railroad museum or, better yet, a "heritage" streetcar along Main Street and the West End, would that generate interest?  Main is already so narrow that it might be tough to fit, but perhaps somewhere downtown-ish- maybe from August Road all the way to North Main?

[vicupstate]

Presentation recently provided to city council. Next to last page has timeline for replacement of West End transit maintenance facility. 
Transit update

[gman430]

Starting today, Greenlink will begin a phased plan to extend the service hours for its fixed routes – 502, 503, 504, and 507. These routes will now operate Mon.-Fri. from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Previously, these routes and all others only operated until 6:30pm. Saturday service hours will not change. Greenlink expects to phase in later service hours for the remaining routes in early 2021

Edited December 1, 2020 by gman430

[GvilleSC]

2 hours ago, gman430 said:

Starting today, Greenlink will begin a phased plan to extend the service hours for its fixed routes – 502, 503, 504, and 507. These routes will now operate Mon.-Fri. from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Previously, these routes and all others only operated until 6:30pm. Saturday service hours will not change. Greenlink expects to phase in later service hours for the remaining routes in early 2021

I'm glad to see them able to do this. I hope it provides greater employment and mobility flexibility to those who currently ride Greenlink. If they can sustain this service change, it will be something good off of which to build. Fingers are crossed that this pays dividends for Greenville. 

[gman430]

The contract for this work shall include the construction and/or relocation and installation of bus stop infrastructure for the GTA dba Greenlink. Scope of services shall include the construction and installation of bus stop pads, sidewalks, bus stop signs, shelters, benches, solar lighting, trash cans, and other optional amenities such as bicycle racks.

Stop Enhancement Locations:
1. Stop 1010: Nichol Street and Washington Court
2. Stop 1300: Millennium Blvd and Laurens Road
3. Stop 1301: Millennium Blvd and Research Drive (outbound)     
4. Stop 1304: Innovation Drive and Sara Lane
5. Stop 1343: Millennium Blvd and Innovation Drive (outbound)      
6. Stop 1344: 700 Millennium Blvd (outbound)
7. Stop 1345: Carolina Point Parkway and Old Sulphur Springs    
8. Stop 1351: 4 Market Point Drive
9. Stop 1353: Carolina Point Parkway (TD Bank West)
10. Stop 1354: 700 Millennium Blvd (inbound)
11. Stop 1355: Millennium Blvd and Innovation Drive (inbound)    
12. Stop 1438: Lowndes Hill Road and Keith Drive
13. New Stop: Orchard Park Drive and Patewood Drive

B. Shelter Relocation site:
14. Stop 1316: Clark Street and McCullough Drive

C. Prisma Health Bus Stop Enhancements – additional requirements for this location:

15. Stop 1078: Prisma Health (ER Entrance)
1) This project consists of the installation of a curb ramp with detectable warning surfaces and high visibility crosswalk to allow access to the existing shelter located across the street on Prisma’s campus. Contractor is to provide a yellow curb ramp in compliance with ADA requirements.
 

Edited March 5, 2021 by gman430

[gman430]

On July 9, 2021, the Tier 1 Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision (FEIS/ROD) for the Tier 1 Atlanta to Charlotte Passenger Rail Corridor Investment Plan (PRCIP) was published in the Environmental Protection Agency Federal Register. The Federal Railroad Administration and the Georgia DOT worked together with stakeholders in North Carolina and South Carolina to reach this important milestone in the Tier 1 EIS process. In this Tier 1 FEIS/ROD, FRA has identified and selected the Greenfield Corridor Alternative as the Preferred Corridor Alternative based on analysis presented in the Tier 1 DEIS, and input received from the public, stakeholders, agencies during the public meetings and the comment period. 

Following the publication of this Tier 1 FEIS/ROD, the FRA will hold a 30-day waiting period to allow the public, stakeholders, Native American Tribes, coordinating agencies and other interested parties the opportunity to review and provide input on the Preferred Corridor Alternative and the contents of the Tier 1 FEIS/ROD. This will not be a formal review and comment period, and the FRA and GDOT will not respond to individual comments as was required for the Tier 1 DEIS. However, these comments will be considered for any subsequent phases of the Project.

More info: http://www.dot.ga.gov/IS/Rail/AtlantatoCharlotte?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2021.07.13 GVL&utm_term=GVLtoday Subscribers - MASTER#tab-4

 

[wellen]

The path laid out in the study shown here:

http://www.dot.ga.gov/InvestSmart/Rail/EIS/16-Appendix A - Part 7 - Map Books - Greenfield Corridor Alternative and NS Approach.pdf

GSP is shown on page 38.  Not shown on that page is all the new neighborhoods that have been built since the study began that block the proposed path.   The Brockman McClimon/Abner Creek area is going to be built up fairly soon.  What is the timeframe for them to buy the land? 

[GvilleSC]

Has anyone heard about the potential for low speed, electric vehicles to potentially be available in Greenville this summer?  There's an article on the GSA Business website. They describe it as a cross between a golf cart and a smart car. The rental process would be by the hour and work similarly to scooter rentals that are available in other cities. The City of Greenville has given approval for 5 initial parking/charging stations spread out around downtown parking garages and lots. Somewhat related: Clemson University is one of four schools chosen for a pilot program on campus. 

I'm very curious about this. I think there's a chance it could be great, or a nuisance. Scooters are convenient in cities, but the users create problems with where and how they park them. Ensuring that folks follow the rules of the road, stay off the trail, and return the cars will be important. Hopefully, it proves successful!

ARTICLE: https://gsabusiness.com/news/automotive/81850/

[gman430]

Construction to start on new $50 million Greenlink maintenance facility, headquarters, and county park in August. Once the new facility is completed which is expected in December 2023, Greenlink will be able to add 19 new routes, rotate buses every 30 minutes at stops instead of every hour, add more maintenance space, extend operation hours, run buses on Sundays, and continue the switch to make all Greenlink buses electric from Proterra. The current maintenance facility next to Fluor Field will be put up for sale in hopes of it being redeveloped into a mixed use development. 

More info here: https://www.greenvillesc.gov/1725/Maintenance-Facility-Project

Site plan: 

Renderings: 

 

Edited July 10, 2022 by gman430

[Horatio Nelson]

2 hours ago, gman430 said:

Construction to start on new $50 million Greenlink maintenance facility, headquarters, and county park in August. Once the new facility is completed which is expected in December 2023, Greenlink will be able to add 19 new routes, rotate buses every 30 minutes at stops instead of every hour, add more maintenance space, extend operation hours, run buses on Sundays, and continue the switch to make all Greenlink buses electric from Proterra. The current maintenance facility next to Fluor Field will be put up for sale in hopes of it being redeveloped into a mixed use development. 

More info here: https://www.greenvillesc.gov/1725/Maintenance-Facility-Project

Site plan: 

Renderings: 

 

I rode Greenlink for the first time last week and again this weekend. It ended up lining up in a way that was faster than calling for an Uber. The app to pay was easy to set up and the buses arrived and departed exactly on time. 

I'm glad they are increasing the frequency, because every hour is horrible if you miss your bus. 30 mins is still not wonderful, but it makes the system a lot closer to usable as an alternative to driving some places. 

Edited July 11, 2022 by Horatio Nelson

[vicupstate]

Great news if they are starting this next month, but I thought the News and Courier said they had a $19mm shortfall from the increased construction costs.

[gman430]

9 minutes ago, vicupstate said:

Great news if they are starting this next month, but I thought the News and Courier said they had a $19mm shortfall from the increased construction costs.

There is a $19 million shortfall which they’re planning to make up through grants and other federal funding. You can read more on it here: https://www.foxcarolina.com/2022/07/07/greenville-public-transportation-is-moving-forward-with-plans-relocate-its-bus-depot-expand-services/?outputType=amp

[PuppiesandKittens]

Thanks for sharing the info about the new garage.  I may have read too quickly, but it looks like the service increases are aspirational--maybe they'll happen, but it looks like funding (and more buses) would be needed.  Hopefully I'm wrong and the significant service increases are definite.