Laredo Transit Management Inc.- El Metro El Metro Operations Proposed FY 2017-2018 Budget Claudia San Miguel Acting General Manager
Mission Statement To provide a safe, reliable, cost effective, and efficient public transportation system that meets the changing needs of our growing community.
El Metro Transportation & Transit Center Services Fixed Route Bus Service 22 routes throughout Laredo 48 buses & 1 Trolley Approximately 1,300 bus stops El Lift Paratransit 18 vans and 3 MV-1 vans Provides shared origin to destination public transportation for eligible individuals with disabilities who are unable to use our fixed route services. Transit Center Parking Facility 4 floors of parking with 425 spaces available Main transfer point to all El Metro bus routes Long term parking contracts (385)
Transit Improvements 2016-2017 $1,391,598 Procured 3 heavy-duty 40 ft. (CNG) low-floor buses. 2 Buses arrived spring 2017 and one is set for delivery this Fall 2017. $4,400,000 El Metro Operations & Maintenance Facility upgrades and repairs: bus yard joint repairs, CNG Plant replacement, roof repairs, and HVAC replacement. $394,776 FTA Grant 5310b funded the purchase of 4 paratransit vans to be delivered Fall 2017. $182,000 Council Members from District 1, 2, 4, & 7 approved discretionary funds for bus stop improvements to include new benches, trashcans, added canopies, concrete boarding pads and the 4 new Transit Bike & Ride Plazas.
Bus Stop Improvements FY 2016-2017 Type of Improvement Quantity Installation of benches on current bus stops 368 Refurbished brick bus shelters 6 Refurbished canopy shelters 17 Repainted / Refurbished bus benches 89 New bus stops (extension of routes) 40 Lamar Bus Shelters 16 Total Improvements 536
Bus Stop Improvements FY 2016-2017 New bus stop design- Rebrand the El Metro logo Refurbished canopy shelters Refurbished brick bus shelters Lamar Bus Shelters
Community Engagement Events Participate in events such as the National Night Out, Pink-to-do Walk, National Bus Safety Week, Environmental Summit, HEB s Feast of Sharing, WBCA parade, Kite Festival, Chamber of Commerce, Career Day, & Travel Training. Display of several artworks from the Be Smart, Try Transit Scholarship Art Contest on billboards. Assist downtown residents in the process to obtain their Transit HEB card; this card will allow eligible participants to receive bus passes to travel to and from the El Mercado and Guadalupe HEB. Monthly visits to Rec. and Senior Centers providing bus route information and issuing Reduced Fare ID card to eligible customers. Meet the Council Member Event 1-22-2016 WBCA Parade Transit Development Plan Public Meeting HEB-El Metro Card
Customer Satisfaction Bus Stop Improvements: installations of Refurbished and new bus benches, canopies and Lamar bus shelters throughout Laredo (536 total bus stop improvements). Route Extensions to service: The Outlet Shoppes. Food desert areas have now direct access to alternative grocery stores and shopping centers such as HEB, KMART, MALL DEL NORTE, HOME DEPOT & WALTMART (Main / Riverside). Hillside area has now service Mall Del Norte (San Bernardo / Calton). Santo Niño to service Larga Vista Rec. Center and Las Ventanas subdivisions. Cheyenne Subdivision and passengers from Guadalupe Villa del Sol now have direct service to WALTMART & TARGET shopping area off Clark Bld. Tilden Route now offers direct service LMC. TAMIU students and residents and visitors to the Del Mar area now have regular services on Sunday and holidays. Transit Center Installed change dispensers. Parking facility and pedestrian safety improvements. Trained all Administrative and key CBA employees on First Aid and AED use.
Community Partnerships. CAPED Summer 2017 Internship Program. Laredo Mainstreet, monthly Farmers Market by providing free parking at the Laredo Transit Center with market purchase. HEB s Annual Feast of Sharing & Downtown HEB shopping bus passes. Active Member of Chamber of Commerce. Presentation to chamber board on Transit services and capital fund needs. Travel Training Classes presentations as requested to LISD, UISD, DARS, community customers. Member of Bike Laredo to help promote Bike & Ride services.
Fixed Route Performance ACTUAL 15-16 ESTIMATED 16-17 PROJECTED 17-18 Number of passenger / Ridership 3,007,041 2,985,047 2,999,500 Number of miles 1,705,954 1,710,000 1,715,000 Number of hours 147,586 147,900 148,000 Total operating revenue $3,138,850 $3,126,918 $3,480,000 Total operating expenditures $7,194,716 $7,763,871 $8,085,126 Number of passengers per total mile 1.76 1.75 1.75 Number of passengers per hour 20.37 20.18 20.27
Fixed Route Ridership 3,240,000 3,200,000 3,160,000 3,120,000 3,080,000 3,040,000 3,000,000 2,960,000 2,920,000 2,880,000 2,840,000 2,800,000 3,238,720 3,178,759 Fixed Route Ridership 3,097,759 3,007,041 2,985,047 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Est. Projections 2,999,500 2018 Est. Projections
ParaTransit Performance ACTUAL 15-16 ESTIMATED 16-17 PROJECTED 17-18 Number of passenger/ridership 48,688 48,688 51,950 Number of miles 258,691 255,869 256,100 Number of hours 27,020 26,919 27,000 Total operating revenue $35,107 $39,357 $39,500 Total operating expenditures $1,676,354 $1,689,661 $1,763,686 Number of passengers per total mile 0.18 0.19 0.19 Number of passengers per hour 1.76 1.81 1.82
El Lift ParaTransit Passenger Ridership 58,000 El Lift Paratransit Ridership 56,000 55,673 54,000 52,000 51,753 51,828 51,482 51,950 50,000 48,688 48,000 46,000 44,000 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Est. Projections 2018 Est. Projections
El Metro s FY16-17 Proposed Progressive Fare Adjustment Fare CURRENT FY 17-18 Oct. 1 st. 2017 FY 18-19 Regular Adult $1.50 $1.75 $2.00 Student $1.25 $1.50 $1.50 Child $0.50 $0.50 $0.75 E&D (62) $0.35 / $0.25 $0.75 / $0.50 $1.00 / $0.75 Medicare $0.75 $0.75 $1.00 Transfer $0.25 $0.50 $0.75 El Lift $1.00 $3.50 $4.00 Based on a recent peer comparison for the 5 Year Transit Plan, El Metro is a top ranking Transit System providing public transportation services to a large $14,596,819 geographical area with late hour services and Sunday service for all routes. Fare Increases have been recommended by a 2013 Technical Study for El Lift, and most recently in the Year Transit Plan as presented to the LUTS, MPO and the Mass Transit Board in spring 2017.
El Metro s FY17-18 Fare Adjustment Revenue Impact Current Fare / Ridership Regular Adult $1.50 1,759,852 Student $1.25 183,302 Child $0.50 88,901 El Lift $1.00 45,950 Elderly & Disabled $0.25 237,563 $0.35 507,609 FY 17-18 FY 18-19 $439,963 $879,926 $45,825 $45,825 $0.00 $22,225 $114,875 $137,850 $59,391 $126,902 $14,596,819 $118,782 $253,805 Transfers $0.25 203,952 $50,988 $101,976 Totals $837,944 $1,560,389
Capital Improvement Program Replacement of 7 Buses - 40 ft. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). $3,423,000.00. Bus delivery time is 18-24 months. Replacement of 8 paratransit vans Light Duty (Diesel). $762,049.00. Fare Box Upgrade $291,000.00. Fix Route Fleet (44 total). 2 2017 Gillig CNG heavy duty (12 years). 9 2015 Gillig CNG heavy duty (12 years). 2 2011 Champions medium / light duty (10 years). 12 2011 Gillig Diesel heavy duty (12 years). 10 2009 Gillig Diesel heavy duty (12 years). 1 2009 Gillig Trolley medium/light duty (10 years). 5 2006 Blue Birds CNG medium / light duty (10 years). 3 2003 Blue Birds CNG medium / light duty (10 years). Paratransit / El Lift Vans (21 total). 18 2009 Champion Vans Diesel (light duty 5 years). 3 2014 MV-1 Vans Unleaded (light duty 5 years).
El Metro s FY17-18 Revenue Vehicle Dedicated Transit Fee Flat Assessment Projected Revenue $13.00 $313,927.00 $15.00 $365,685.00 $17.00 $414,443.00 Transit Capital Fee shall be waived from seniors, disabled, veterans, and those eligible Medicare recipients. $14,596,819 Generated revenue will be 100% dedicated to revenue fleet replacement (fix route buses and paratransit vans).
El Metro s Major Challenges & Efficiency Improvement Strategies Pursue Bus Pass implementation to incentivize ridership. Develop an in house Bus Stop - Bench Advertisement Program for additional revenue. Pursue additional funding to bring technological features to the system I.e. Wi-Fi, electronic monitors at heavy-ridership locations with real time bus information, and possibly to include electronic monitors with advertisement aboard the buses. Further promote Transit Oriented Development. Partner with local organizations that promote walkability and related initiatives. Possible adjustment of service hours for low performing routes, Sunday services and paratransit service.
El Metro s Challenges Pursue funding to contract strategically located Transfer Centers to better meet the growing demand for public transportation that connects all City Districts East, West, North and South. Fix Route Bus replacement is the overriding funding priority followed by the remaining unfunded 14 paratransit vans that have met their service life expectancy. Ten (10) fix route buses are coming up for replacement in 2021. Procurement of the Fare Box upgrades required to enable the selling of bus passes.
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