Transcript North County Transit Feasibility Study

NORTH COUNTY TRANSIT
FEASIBILITY STUDY
September 29, 2010
Presentation Overview
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Study Objectives
Study Approach
Needs Assessment and Transit Markets
Transit Service Options
Recommended Approach
Study Objectives
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Evaluate potential for public transportation services
in Town of Plymouth and surrounding communities
Understand community’s needs and priorities
Assess feasibility of different service options
Broadly plan for implementation and next steps
Meeting Objectives
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Share study results with members of the community
Gauge support for study concepts
Collect feedback, input and recommendations
Discuss potential next steps
Study Approach
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Community Profile
Demographics
 Existing services
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Outreach (interviews, surveys)
Needs Assessment
Peer Review
System goals
Potential service options
Recommendations
Outreach – your input and feedback
Community Profile
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Map and analyze study area characteristics
 Population
density
 Population growth rates
 Study area demographics
 Major employment and activity centers
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Inventory of available transportation services
Public transportation services
 Specialized transportation services
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Study Area - Composite Needs
Combined density
per square mile of:
- Older Adults
- Persons with
disabilities
- Persons with low
incomes
Map shows relative
concentrations of the
combined populations
Study Area - Employment
Major employers with
at least 100
employees
Density of jobs per
square mile – shows
relative density of
employment
Study Area - Activity Centers
Restaurants
Retail/Shopping
Community Faciltiies
Hospitals and Medical
Offices
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Senior Center
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Hotels
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Human Service Agencies
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Ski Resorts
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Higher Educations
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Places of Workshop
Plymouth Area –
Existing Transportation Services
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Plymouth State University Campus Shuttle
Waterville Valley Transit Authority
Concord Coach Lines
Loon Mountain Shuttle
Shuttle Connection
Private Taxi Services
Plymouth Area
Existing Transportation Services
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Specialized Transportation Services
 Grafton
County Senior Citizens Council
 North Country Medi-Van
 Statewide resources
 Easter
Seals New Hampshire
 Granite State Independent Living
 American Cancer Society of New Hampshire
 Disabled American Veterans
Plymouth State University Shuttle
Plymouth State University
Campus Shuttle
- Open to general public,
but designed for students
- Follows academic calendar
Shuttle service:
Monday – Friday
7:30 am – 12:00 am
10-minute service
Weekend service
1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
20 minute service
Saturday has hourly service
to Walmart
Grafton County Senior Citizens Council
Agency operates 10
vans county-wide
- 3 in Plymouth area
assigned to Plymouth,
Bristol and Linwood
Plymouth and Linwood
- Vans are available M-F
8 am to 3 pm
- Service is structured as
scheduled loop
Bristol
- Operates 3-4 days per
week
- On-demand service
Public Outreach
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Stakeholder Interviews
11 meetings; interviewed 15 people
 Asked about need, potential beneficiaries and how best to
structure
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Telephone survey with area employers
Telephone survey with 13 of region’s largest employers
 Size, shift schedule, challenges, interest in transportation
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Mail back survey with area residents
Mailed out in Penny Saver and distributed locally
 556 responses
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Response rate of 3.6%
Employer
Location
Primary
Shift Times
Employment
(by shift)*
Waterville Valley
Ski Resort
Waterville Valley
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Winter – up to 700
Loon Mountain
Lincoln
7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Winter – up to 800
Tenny Mountain
Plymouth
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Winter – 70
FCI Burndy
Lincoln
7:00 AM - 3:30 PM
3:30 PM – 12:00 AM
100
60
Common Man
Restaurants
Ashland
Lincoln
Plymouth
4:00 pm – Midnight
(all locations)
Walmart
Plymouth
Varies
45-50
45-50
100 (all sites in
Plymouth)
100-300**
Hannaford
Supermarket
Plymouth
7:00 AM – 3:30 PM
12:00 pm – 9:00 PM
77
88
Fruedenburg
Bristol
7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
200
Plymouth
State University
Plymouth
Varies – some shift
work
189 full-time faculty
300 full-time staff
Speare Memorial
Hospital
Plymouth
Varies – some shift
work
356
Desired Destinations for Public
Transportation Services
Plymouth
Concord
Tilton
Lincoln
Lebanon
Laconia
Meredith
Top Ten Origin and Destination Pairs
Within Plymouh
Plymouth –
Concord
Bristol-Plymouth
Bristol-Concord
Ashland - Plymouth
Needs Assessment
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Employment need in Plymouth, Lincoln and Bristol
Demographic need in Plymouth, Ashland and Bristol
Speare Memorial Hospital is key desitnation
Strongest demand:
In and around Plymouth
 Plymouth – Concord
 Plymouth – Bristol
 Plymouth – Ashland
 Plymouth – Campton
 Bristol - Concord
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Service
Characteristics
Transit Dependent
Populations
Commuters
Regional Travelers
Market Size
10,000 – 13,000
(approximately 42% of
the population)
15,000 – 20,000
Plus additional
seasonal workers
2,900
(approximately 9% of
the population)
General Travel
Demand
2-5 days per week
3-5 days a week
Varies
1 – 5 days per week
Days of Week
Weekdays
Weekdays
Weekends (seasonal)
Weekdays for
commuters and medical
appointments
Saturday for shopping
and special events
Times of Day
Some flexibility
Most travel during midday
Timed to work schedule Morning appointments
for medical;
Shopping trips late
morning return in
afternoon
Key Service
Characteristics
Easy to understand
High level of service
(door-to-door for some)
Flexible
Affordable
Speed and reliability
Easy to understand
Flexibility
Drop off close to
destination
Speed and reliability
Easy to understand
Offer cost savings
Access to final
destination
Flexibility – especially
for medical
Transit Service Options
Service Type
Best Suited For
Advantages
Disadvantages
Volunteer Driver
Programs
Medical trips
Ad hoc travel
Low-cost
High flexibility
High service level
Meets specific need only
Challenge to retain
volunteers
Ridesharing
Commuters
Systems in place to
administer program
Low cost
High flexibility
Does not help transit
dependent
Taxi Voucher Program
Medical trips
Lower cost
Ad hoc/emergency travel Flexible
Low start-up costs
Requires oversight
Difficult to control service
quality
Transit Service Options
Service Type
Best Suited For
Advantages
Disadvantages
Dial-A-Ride (DAR)
Older Adults
Persons with Disabilities
Non-Drivers
Higher level of service
Less attractive to
commuters
Requires advance
scheduling
High per-trip costs
Fixed-Route Bus
Commuters
Ambulatory older adults
and persons with
disabilities
Non-Drivers
Easy to understand/use
Builds on existing system
Low fares
Low per passenger cost
Lower level of service
Set route and schedule
Limited flexibility
May not serve all markets
Deviated Fixed Route
Commuters
Flexible
May be difficult to
More attractive service
understand
Satisfies ADA requirements Requires advance
scheduling
Transit Service Options
Service Type
Best Suited For
Advantages
Disadvantages
Flex-Services
Older Adults
Persons with Disabilities
Non-Drivers
Combines key advantages
of fixed-route and DAR
service
Increases service area
Can be designed to flex in
key areas only
Without proper design,
may not be attractive to
commuters
Requires education
Requires advance
scheduling
Regional Services
Commuters
Potential for medical trips
Easy to understand
Potential to build on
existing service
Assumes distribution
system on destination end
Likely higher cost service
in terms of cost per
passenger
Review of Peer Systems
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North Country Transit
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Advance Transit
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Carroll County
Deerfield Valley Transit Association
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Upper Valley NH – VT
Carroll County Transit (planned)
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Coos and Grafton counties
southern VT
Greater Laconia/Winnepesaukee Trasnit
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Lake Winnepesaukee area
Review of Peer Systems
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Baseline fixed-route system plus demand response
Transit operators coordinate several different
functions
Flexible in terms of routing and stopping
Services tailored to individual markets
Make use of private funding
Several operate loop services
 good
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coverage but slow travel times
Several systems operate as free fare systems
Transit System Goals
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Cost effective and efficient use of public resources
Coordinated with existing transportation services
and programs
Easily communicated, reliable and reflects industry
innovations
Oriented towards ensuring regional economic
development goals and access to employment
Transit System Goals
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Focused on needs of individuals who are transit
dependent
Cognizant of the role of Plymouth as area
geographic center, but also meet demand for
regional service
Built on realistic costs, demand and population
served
Financially sustainable and sufficiently flexible to
meet the changing needs over time
Service Options Considered
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Full Build Out
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Mobility Management
Fixed-route commuter services
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Dial-A-Ride
Focus on Commuters
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Mobility Management
Fixed-route commuter
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Expanded service during winter months
Expanded service during winter months
Flex service during non-commuter hours
Focus on Transit Dependent
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Mobility management
Dial-A-Ride
Regional service
Recommended Approach
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Mobility Management Services
Expanded Dial-A-Ride Options
Fixed or Flex Route Service for Commuters
Regional Transportation to regional medical
facilities
Seasonal Service aimed at ski industry
Mobility Manager
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One-stop center for regional mobility needs
 Physical
and electronic location for information and
assistance about transportation
 Develop flexible transportation services that have
minimal capital investment
 Lead transportation coordination efforts
 Work
with Plymouth State, GCSCC and local taxi companies
 Represent
discussions
the region in statewide transportation policy
Coordinate/Expand Dial-A-Ride
Services
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Expand/coordinate with existing demand response
services
 Grafton
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County Senior Citizens Council
Oversight assigned to mobility manager
Two services:
 Northern
District – Campton, Thorton, Ellsworth, Rumney,
Woodstock and Plymouth
 Southwestern District – Hebron, Groton, Dorchester,
Alexandria, Ashland, Bristol and Plymouth
Create Fixed and/or Flex Services
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Ashland Plymouth Commuter
Lincoln Plymouth Commuter
Both Services
 Timed
to meet major employer shift times
 In Plymouth travel to Tenney Mt Highway
 Designed as fast and direct services
 Could be implemented as “flex” service
 Operate during weekdays only
Regional Services
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Important service for area residents
Operate over six days
Alternating service to:
 Lebanon/Hanover
 Laconia
 Concord
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Designed to support medical appointments but
offer flexibility to support other trips
Seasonal Commuter Services
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Fixed-route service between Plymouth, Campton
and Loon Mountain Resort
Operate during ski season
 Late
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November to early April
Operate seven days per week
Coordinated with other commuter services
Implementation
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Phased approach
 Build
on existing knowledge, strenghts and capabilities
 Introduce new service slowly over time
 Reassess area needs
 Gain experience and funding
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Address most critical needs first
 Most
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transit dependent
Work towards commuter services
Implementation
Funding
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Federal funds
Competitive grants available
 Require local match – not including fares
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20% for capital
 50% for operating
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Mobility management is capital expense
$100,000 annual expense
 $20,000 from local sources
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May include in-kind match/services
Federal transportation bill under way
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Some uncertainty about future
Next Steps
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Your comments and input
Finalize report
Start thinking about grant writing
Identify partners and supporters
Raise local match
Thank you!
Questions?