Metro Transit Service Improvement Plan CTS Conference May 21, 2015 Cyndi Harper Manager of Route Planning
What is the Service Improvement Plan (SIP)? Bus service expansion plan Builds on existing network Identifies potential new routes, frequency and span improvements on existing routes Prioritized, specific list of how to grow and improve local and express bus service between 2015-2030 Implementation requires additional operating funds 2
Why create an SIP? Establish a framework of when and how to expand the bus network Buses are the backbone of our transit system Similar plans exist for transitways Demonstrate bus service needs and the need for additional transit funding Inform the 2015 legislative program, Regional SIP, and other transit funding opportunities 3
What Is Included? New bus routes Improved service levels on existing bus routes Arterial BRT (except A Line) Bus services connecting to rail and Highway BRT stations Routing and scheduling improvements Operating costs only Projects in Metro Transit service area 4 What Is Not Included? Reduction or elimination of service to existing destinations Light rail, commuter rail Highway BRT, A Line Improvements to passenger amenities Fare changes Capital investments Projects in suburban provider service areas
SIP Development Timeline Initial stakeholder outreach Nov - Dec 2013 Phase I public input Dec - Feb 2014 Review and process input Feb - Apr 2014 Develop draft SIP May - Oct 2014 Review draft SIP Nov 2014 Refine and finalize SIP April 2015 5
Phase I: Winter 2013-2014 Outreach Engagement Series of workshops for public agencies and community organizations Public survey available online and by paper Monitored responses and focused on underrepresented groups Received approximately 4,000 responses
Guiding Principles Maximize ridership growth Emphasize high productivity/low-subsidy projects Provide faster travel time Enhance connectivity of transit system Support transit-friendly land use and design Expand service for off-peak and non-work trip purposes Improve transit equity 7
Project Identification Methodology Survey asked for three types of information: 1. Origin-destination information and specific suggestions for improvements 2. Current transit usage/behavior and what would encourage people to use transit more often 3. Goals and priorities for what the transit system should accomplish how should we address trade-offs? Customer Relations requests Staff ideas Feedback from Thrive MSP, 2040 Transportation Policy Plan, other recent projects 8
SIP Evaluation Criteria Productivity criteria demonstrate the ridership potential of service improvements using land use and density factors (50% weight) Social equity criteria evaluate how well improvements serve people most reliant on transit (25% weight) System connectivity criteria establish how well projects improve connections and service throughout the Metro Transit service area (25% weight) 9
Productivity (50%) Points Measure 20 Existing population 10 Existing jobs 10 Regional job concentration areas 25 Passengers per in-service hour 20 Subsidy per passenger 10 Intersection density
Social Equity (25%) Points Measure 20 Jobs paying <$40,000 20 Low-income population 20 Communities of color 20 Disabled population 20 Auto availability System Connectivity (25%) Points Measure 20 New populations 15 Key destinations served 15 Connecting routes 15 Educational institutions 10 Non-rush hour service
SIP Scoring Three project priority categories High 75 percent of possible points or greater Medium 55 percent of possible points or greater Low less than 55 percent of possible points High and Medium projects prioritized for implementation Represent resource requirements and ridership growth in SIP Arterial BRT included in resources but not evaluated under SIP Implementation Phases 2015-2017; 2018-2020; 2021-2030
Phase II: Nov. 2014 Public Comment Period Learning about the proposed improvements Project web site: metrotransit.org/sip Five community meetings, one public hearing Libraries, You Tube, social media, Connect, news release, posters and brochures on buses and transit service centers Outreach by community-based organizations Received 570 service suggestions; 176 contacts from individuals and organizations Travel Time General, SIP Process Coverage, Reverse Commute Routing, Structure Frequency, Span of Service 13 0 50 100 150 200 250
Evaluation Results 50 High projects 9.7 Million new rides 87 Medium projects 8.8 Million new rides 11 Arterial BRT projects 10.2 Million new rides Recommended for Implementation 148 projects on 94 routes 58 expand coverage/ improve connectivity 71 improve frequency on existing service 52 expand span of service 7 add reverse commute service 14 48 Low projects 2.7 Million new rides
Ramsey Andover Ham Lake Columbus SIP Projects by Rank Scandia Forest Lake Anoka Marine on St. Croix High Rogers Lino Lakes Dayton Medium Coon Rapids Champlin Blaine Hanover Hugo Centerville Low Arterial BRT May Twp. Circle Pines Lexington Existing Network Osseo Spring Lake Park Transitways Corcoran Brooklyn Park Maple Grove Transit Centers Dellwood North Oaks Stillwater Twp. Areas of Concentrated Poverty Fridley Shoreview White Bear Twp. New Brighton Vadnais Heights Hilltop Birchwood Village Mahtomedi White Bear Lake Willernie Gem Lake Stillwater Columbia Heights T! New Hope Medina Crystal Pine Springs Independence Grant Arden Hills Brooklyn Center Suburban Transit Auth. Service Area Loretto White Bear Twp. Mounds View Greenfield Robbinsdale Plymouth Maple Plain Roseville Oak Park Heights Little Canada St. Anthony Maplewood Bayport North St. Paul Baytown Twp. Medicine Lake Lauderdale Golden Valley Wayzata Orono T! Minneapolis Minnetrista Woodland St. Louis Park! T Mound Deephaven West Lakeland Twp.!!! St. T PaulT T T T Lakeland Landfall Minnetonka Hopkins T! Tonka Bay Minnetonka Beach Spring Park Lake Elmo Falcon Heights Oakdale Long Lake Lake St. Croix Beach Greenwood St. Marys Point Lilydale Shorewood! T Excelsior Woodbury West St. Paul Afton Edina South St. Paul Mendota! Fort Snelling (unorg.) T Richfield Mendota Heights Newport Sunfish Lake Victoria Chanhassen Eden Prairie St. Paul Park Bloomington Laketown Twp. Inver Grove Heights Eagan Chaska Cottage Grove Denmark Twp. Grey Cloud Island Twp. Dahlgren Twp. Jackson Twp. Carver Louisville Twp. 15 Burnsville Shakopee Carver Savage Apple Valley Rosemount Nininger Twp. Hastings
Final SIP Annual Ridership and Resources Total Service Hours 870,000 Additional Buses 161 New Annual Passengers Additional Annual Operating Cost ($2015) Additional Annual Subsidy ($2015) 29 Million $98.3 Million $67.3 Million Subsidy Per Passenger ($2015) $2.35 * Costs do not include capital costs of fleet, expanded bus operating facility 16
Next Steps Minor update in 2017 Major update in 4-5 years Secure additional operating dollars! 17
www.metrotransit.org/sip 18
Metro Transit Service Improvement Plan CTS Conference May 21, 2015 Cyndi Harper Manager of Route Planning