Valley Transit Center Needs Assessment and Master Plan

Appleton, WI

Background

  • As the population in the Fox Cities and beyond expand, the need for accessible reliable transportation is essential. Valley Transit Center was constructed in 1989 and is need of improvements to better serve existing and future transit riders.
  • The current Transit Center location serves as a central hub for fixed-route transit service in the Fox Cities, including a few intercity bus services that provide daily service. Valley Transit partners with 9 municipalities, 3 counties and many other entities to provide diverse transportation services across the Fox Cities area. Our partners include:

City of Appleton City of Kaukauna City of Menasha City of Neenah Town of Buchanan Town of Grand Chute Village of Fox Crossing Village of Kimberly Village of Little Chute Calumet County Outagamie County Winnebago County Appleton Area School District Appleton Downtown Inc. Fox Valley Technical College United Way

  • Valley Transit is planning to expand the Transit Center, and its downtown location provides a unique opportunity to implement a Joint Development project that accommodates both transit and redevelopment opportunities.

Project Goals

  • Valley Transit is conducting a Needs Assessment and drafting a Master Plan for a new Transit Center Joint Development project.
  • The new Transit Center will:
    • Improve services and safety
    • Incorporate public and private development featuring a mix of commercial and residential uses
    • Include public open spaces
    • Serve a diversity of people working, living and visiting downtown
    • Be urban in character and integrated with surrounding uses
    • Be an adaptable transit hub that can serve multiple modes of transportation
    • Enhance physical infrastructure for current bus riders and increase appeal of transit to new riders
  • The project will support economic vitality by:
    • Encouraging public and private investment to economically benefit Valley Transit partners and downtown Appleton – and –
    • Advance goals established in recent City of Appleton planning documents.
  • Although there has been significant development in Appleton over the past few years, including the ongoing library renovation and the Merge mixed-use building, we have not added enough housing to keep up with our population growth. The new Transit Center and associated development will help meet the need for expanded housing options.
  • It’s important that the new Transit Center reflects community goals and wants. We’re aiming to do this through collaborative and inclusive engagement with all stakeholders. We want to hear from you!

Site Evaluation

Working with the Valley Transit team, and considering the Transit Center project goals, a list of potential sites was identified for the site evaluation process.

The following six sites were selected for evaluation using criteria including site cost, transit operations, parking access, and development opportunities:

  1. Existing Site (Oneida St./Washington St.)
  2. Washington Option 1 (Washington St./Superior St.)
  3. Washington Option 2 (Washington St./Appleton St.)
  4. Franklin (Franklin St./Morrison St.)
  5. Durkee (Durkee St./Washington St.)
  6. Fox River Mall Area

Site Evaluation

Site Concepts

Draft plans for the first and second floors of the new transit center are shown below

Input

Please share your thoughts regarding the Valley Transit Center, the needs assessment and the master plan in the map and survey below.

Public Input Map

We want to hear from you about areas of opportunity for better connections, critical needs, and new development. Add your comments and suggestions in the map. Choose a category on the right to add your comments!

ArcGIS Web Application

Survey

Valley Transit is planning to expand its transit center and construct a new mixed-use development to better serve Valley Transit riders and the Fox Cities. The new transit center is intended to improve accessibility, enhance facilities for transit riders, and increase the appeal of transit to new riders. Please take a few minutes to provide your input on the priorities for this new facility.

ArcGIS Survey123