Executive Summary October 2013

Transcription

1 Executive Summary October 2013

2 Table of Contents Introduction... 1 Rider Transit and Regional Connectivity... 1 Plan Overview... 2 Network Overview... 2 Outreach... 3 Rider Performance... 4 Findings... 6

3 Rider Transit Transit Development Plan Introduction Use of Rider Transit is strong and continues to expand. In the coming years, the bus network for the cities of Concord and Kannapolis is expected to carry nearly half a million trips annually. These trips connect people from their homes to their jobs, schools, shopping centers, medical appointments, and other activities throughout the area. The system has become a cost-effective way to ensure that people who may not have access to a car remain productive and independent members of the community. Transit systems, in general, are expected to become increasingly important to the sustained growth of a region. The baby boomer generation, now beginning to reach retirement age, is showing tendencies to prefer locations where transportation options, such as transit, are present. These options can allow them to age in place and remain independent as long as possible. National trends for the younger millennial generation also reveal pragmatism for choosing locations; data show that they tend to place a heavier emphasis on the availability of alternative transportation modes to access job centers and amenities than previous generations before them. With so much opportunity, many challenges also lie ahead for Rider Transit. As the economy continues to recover and growth returns to Cabarrus County, demand for transit and for expanded transit routes will far exceed the amount of resources that are available. Finding new opportunities for revenue or alternative financing will be a key challenge moving forward. Additionally, ensuring that the service remains reliable as it serves more and more patrons will be key to maintaining the growth that has occurred to date. Increasing costs for fuels and rising demand for buses and other capital infrastructure also likely will make it more challenging to maintain today s level of cost effectiveness. Rider Transit and Regional Connectivity The location of Concord and Kannapolis on the northern edge of the Charlotte metropolitan area make these cities significant players in regional grown and transit connectivity. Many of the residents of Cabarrus County commute into Charlotte daily for job opportunities there. Significant regional destinations, including the Veterans Administration and the Concord Regional Airport, also require transit through and into Rider Transit s service area. Regionally-significant transportation investments that are taking place include the pending completion of the I-485 outer beltway loop of Charlotte, the widening of I-85, and reconstruction of highway interchanges around Concord. An extension of the Blue Line light rail from Downtown Charlotte into UNC-Charlotte will bring premium transit to just south of the Cabarrus County line as well. Commuting patterns for Cabarrus County indicate a significant amount of regional demand to access jobs. In addition to Charlotte being the most common work destination for Cabarrus residents, Charlotte residents also make up a considerable portion of those who commute into Cabarrus County for work. These patterns represent an opportunity for any new transit into Charlotte to create additional opportunities for Cabarrus County, but also to greatly broaden the talent pool for companies that might be located in the Rider Transit service area. Rider Transit Executive Summary 1

4 Plan Overview Rider Transit has created a plan to outline how it will address the increasing demand for transit and, in doing so, begin a dialogue with the community. The 10-year Transit Development Plan includes an assessment of Rider s performance as well as suggestions that could improve on-time performance and squeeze even more out of Rider s existing resources. This plan included public feedback gained from the largest local transit-focused outreach effort since the creation of Rider Transit. This effort provided a strong foundation for input from the community and key stakeholders and a survey of current bus riders. The input identified several core community values regarding transit service, including good stewardship of public resources, increased coordination between agencies, and a desire to ensure that transit supports sustained economic opportunity, lessens the impact of traffic congestion, and provides mobility solutions for the community into the future. Network Overview Rider Transit operates seven routes beginning at 5:30 am and running through 8:30 pm Monday through Friday, with weekend service offered from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm Saturday and Sunday. Buses operate every hour except between 12:30 pm and 5:30 pm, during which they operate every 75 minutes to accommodate increased congestion and heavy demand. The network takes maximum advantage of limited resources by operating routes out of a single center to efficiently facilitate transfers between routes. This allows the service to reach a maximum number of people by distributing the buses across the broadest area possible and also simplifies the network for the user. Once on board, transit users can reach any destination on the system with no more than one easy connection. 2 Rider Transit Executive Summary

5 Outreach Public outreach activities were held at various locations throughout the Rider Transit service area and focused on transit users and stakeholders. Outreach efforts included stakeholder interviews, an on-board survey of bus riders, public information sessions, an online survey, and discussions with bus operators. It is clear from the results that there is a broad-based demand for service improvements. A total of 75 percent of riders said they used transit to get to work or school. The most common request from both riders and nonriders was all-day service to Charlotte/UNC Charlotte. Outreach Event On-board Survey of ridership Online Survey Steering Committee Meeting Bus rider discussion group Non-rider discussion group Stakeholder interviews Operator group interviews Community drop-in sessions Input Source 283 surveys 74 surveys 16 members 17 attendees 17 attendees 14 interviews 2 groups 2 events 2013 Public Outreach Highlights Current Riders Where Riders Want to Go General Public Where Potential Riders Want to Go Huntersville/ Davidson, 6% Other, 12% UNC Charlotte Campus, 24% Salisbury, 8% Harrisburg, 13% All day service to Charlotte, 23% (multiple answers chosen) Verizon Amphitheatre, 6% Charlotte Motor Speedway, 7% Improvements Riders Want Improvements Potential Riders Want Rider Transit Executive Summary 3

6 Rider Performance Rider Transit used a comprehensive data-gathering and analysis process to paint a clear picture of its performance to date and identify opportunities for improvement for the next 10 years. In addition to an extensive public outreach process, a detailed assessment of baseline conditions and a comprehensive peer review of transit systems with characteristics similar to Rider were conducted. A performance assessment used input from these efforts along with data from the National Transit Database to draw conclusions on where Rider has had success and offer opportunities for improvement. Operating Expense per Revenue Hour More fuel-efficient vehicles were needed to control increasing fuel and maintenance costs. These vehicles were purchased and placed into service in early Typical Peak Delay per Route Delays are a cause for concern across the Rider Transit system due to tight schedules, high ridership, and increasing congestion. 4 Rider Transit Executive Summary

7 New Fleet Total Ridership Fare Revenue Increased ridership and fare revenue are representative of growth in the greater region and the increasing importance of transit as a transportation option. Rider Transit Executive Summary 5

8 Findings Rider transit has come a long way with limited resources; however, there are mounting pressures on the service. Fuel costs and other expenses are generally increasing faster than revenues, and congestion and record ridership levels contribute to frequent delays on routes, straining system resources. Additional services that are desired will need new funding sources. Adjustments to existing routes are proposed that are intended to streamline service and add efficiency, enabling Rider to improve its on-time performance without additional operating costs. Happy to see that Rider is making connections to other bus systems it is very important to make that connection. Donna Tool, Cabarrus Accessibility Action Committee The short-term improvements shown in the plan require relatively low capital costs associated with constructing a handful of stops for newly-served areas and relocation of stops where service is modified. Operationally, the routes are designed to be accommodated within existing Rider Transit resources. Other opportunities that were identified during public outreach are shown as long-term strategies and are currently unfunded. Through strategic planning, Rider Transit can continue to leverage existing resources to the greatest extent possible; however, new funding sources will be necessary to realize additional transit benefits. Short-Term Improvements Implement route-specific short-term efficiency measures and planned bus stop projects. Increase the accessibility of transit agency personnel with additional in-house staff. Adopt a formal role for transit in the MPO process, land development review, and CCTS. Form a transit advisory group that can continue community dialog. Develop service standards and review fare policies and purchase locations. Study a bus-on-shoulder system for the Red route, similar to Raleigh s program. Long-Term Strategies Improve bus stop infrastructure and pedestrian safety. Implement new all-day service to Charlotte. Extend service hours to 11:30 pm. Increase frequency systemwide to 30 minutes. Develop a long-term vision plan and stronger regional partnerships. Construct an operations and maintenance facility. Implement new local routes and additional regional service. Establish a schedule for regular operational analysis and review of purchased transportation. 6 Rider Transit Executive Summary

9 Short-Term Network Modifications Thank you for your interest in transportation for Concord and Kannapolis. Rider Transit is committed to providing an efficient transit system that provides mobility for its users and continues to be a sound use of public resources. Rider does a really good job and presents a good image. Diane Young, Downtown Development Corp. To learn more about Rider Transit, get more information about the plan, to hear about upcoming public outreach events, please contact: Rider Transit Center 3600 Ridge Ave. Concord, NC (704) 920-RIDE * Rider Transit Executive Summary 7

10 Rider Transit Center 3600 Ridge Ave. Concord, NC (704) 920-RIDE *

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12 8731 Citizens Drive New Port Richey, FL (727) Galen Wilson Boulevard Port Richey, FL (727)