Springfield Intermodal Transportation Center Study

In November 2009 the City of Springfield, Ohio, concluded a 10-month study to determine the feasibility of a downtown Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC) and associated parking facility. The ITC would offer an integrated transportation and mixed-use center that would allow a traveler to easily change from one mode of transportation to another.

In a previous study, five sites were considered based on their ability to accommodate future transit and parking needs and perimeter clockwise flow of traffic for bus operations. In addition, baseline facility performance considerations were recommended, including public image, circulation, landscaping, site furnishings, lighting, utilities, climate, information systems, safety and security, Green Design, and ADA compliance.

Each of the five sites were evaluated based on five general criteria: (1) Connectivity, (2) Compliance with the City of Springfield’s Unified Plan, (3) Program elements, (4) Environmental impacts, and (5) Economic impacts.

Based on the results of the study, two locations were recommended for the ITC. The City chose a location for the ITC from the two recommended sites based upon current and anticipated office needs in the downtown.

In the fall of 2010, the City of Springfield submitted an application for grant funding as part of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) Transportation Review Advisory Council’s (TRAC) project selection process.

• As part of the City of Springfield’s ongoing effort to advance the planning, engineering, and construction of the proposed ITC, the City was required to provide the following input variables that would be utilized in ODOT’s Benefit/Cost Analysis model:

• Absolute Vehicle Miles of Travel (VMT) reduction value

• Number of passengers associated with the proposed transit improvements

• Reduction in travel delays per passenger

The TRAC funding process systematically reviews applications for funding as part of a multimodal transportation system plan. The scoring criteria associated with TRAC considers various modes of transportation equally in the competition for funding. As part of this effort, the City of Springfield contracted with Delta to lead this important endeavor.

With less than two weeks’ notice to obtain an executed contract and complete the requirements of this task, Delta staff provided the key data inputs to the City that were utilized in ODOT’s Benefit/Cost Analysis model.