STATEWIDE RURAL REGIONAL BUS NETWORK. Implementing the Colorado Intercity and Regional Bus Network Plan

Transcription

1 STATEWIDE RURAL REGIONAL BUS NETWORK Implementing the Clrad Intercity and Reginal Bus Netwrk Plan DRCOG TAC May 23 th,

2 DIVISION OF TRANSIT AND RAIL CDOT Rle DTR receives and manages $32M annually fr capital, perating & administratin the State s transit infrastructure Administers $1.6M in Federal mney fr rural and intercity transit peratins Administers $1.0M in FASTER perating grants. DTR s rle/missin Plan.Operate.Build Crdinate State and lcal transit services Manage limited dllars t maximize pprtunities at State & lcal levels. 2

3 DIVISION OF TRANSIT AND RAIL (Cnt) Clrad s First Statewide Transit Plan Element in the Statewide Transprtatin Plan develped by the TPR s Identified prjects that: Increase intermdal transit cnnectivity Make transit mre time-cmpetitive with the autmbile Maximize mbility needs and system efficiency Reduce VMT and greenhuse gas emissins 2014 Statewide Intercity and Reginal Bus Netwrk Plan Identified statewide gals fr develpment, statins and cnnectivity needs f the Rural Reginal netwrk Identified plicy, perfrmance and financing issues Defined preferred netwrks fr intercity and reginal bus netwrks. 3

4 RURAL REGIONAL STATEWIDE BUS NETWORK MISSION Develp a statewide netwrk f private and public services that addresses bth reginal & intercity trip needs Uses existing and new services (where pssible) Offers cnvenient reginal mbility between urban and rural areas, and with cnnectins t the natinal and internatinal lcatins. Based n what we learned thrugh the ICB Netwrk Study and SW Transit Plan. 4

5 RURAL REGIONAL BACKGROUND In 2004 the intercity bus cmpanies like Greyhund began shedding ver 2,500 rural stps natinwide affecting 8.4 millin rural residents in an effrt t cut lsses; states west f the Mississippi River were affected the mst. T ease the impact under SAFETEA-LU, FTA implemented a pilt prgram that allwed ICB Cmpanies (Greyhund) t prvide unsubsidized capital r perating miles as in-kind match tward the lcal match t entice peratrs t reinstate the lst rural service. Nw cdified in FAST ACT FAST Act cntinues the Federal plicy f requiring 15% f FTA 5311 prgram dllars g t supprt intercity bus services fr rural areas $1.65M is available fr Clrad annually Current Challenges in Clrad Lng distances and incnvenient schedules fr the travelling public Lack f cmmn r well-aligned brand Cst f Capital is ften peratinalized, thereby making the service mre expensive. Lack f cnnectivity between rural parts f the state and activity centers 5

6 A BETTER SOLUTION: The Washingtn State Mdel In 2007 WSDOT launched a distinctive slutin branded Travel Washingtn Identified and priritized the rutes with Statewide RTPO & MPO assistance. Purchased the fleet Allcated 5311(f) funds thrugh a cmpetitive bid prcess, rather than a grant selectin prcess, t fund services n rutes that the department identified thrugh its planning prcesses. Meets all cnditins f meaningful ICB cnnectins and has brad FTA supprt The Clrad Rural Reginal Bus Netwrk will mimic the WSDOT prject in rder t enhance the existing netwrk Create a mre cmpetitive envirnment t get the best perfrmance ut f limited dllars. Csts savings will g t expanding the netwrk ver time. Addresses multiple markets and needs that aren t met tday Enhanced cnnectivity t the intercity bus netwrk Addresses reginal travel needs fr day trips t reginal center 6

7 CREATING THE MOST EFFECTIVE NETWORK Will require: Cnsideratins f bth markets: Intercity Bus & reginal services Understanding scheduling & perating cnstraints Greyhund Bustang Prpsed CO Rural Reginal statewide services Lcally perated reginal services Maximize lcal funding and Greyhund in-kind match Other means f supprting multiple markets subsidized and prfitable rutes Fares & Ticketing Custmer infrmatin Rutes will need t be priritized due t funding cnstraints 5311(f): apprx. $1.65m available annually FASTER Reginal Operating assistance: apprx. $500k available 7

8 Unsubsidized ICB Netwrk 8

9 RURAL REGIONAL OPERATED BY LOCAL TRANSIT AGENCIES 9

10 Current Subsidized Netwrk 10

11 Prpsed Basic Rural Reginal Netwrk 11

12 Prpsed Basic Rural Reginal Netwrk With Reginal Services 12

13 Ptential Expansin f Basic Rural Reginal Netwrk 13

14 Plicy Areas t Explre with Stakehlders Scheduling What level f service is needed in these crridrs? 3 days a week? 5? 7? Des a trip prvide adequate time at reginal centers five hurs? Fur hurs? Are schedules meaningful and cnvenient? Can we maintain cnnectins with Greyhund within desired/required windw? Fares Shuld we wrk t build a system that maximizes farebx recvery r that maximizes ridership by using lwer fares? What type f fare medium shuld be emplyed? What rle wuld ticket agents have? What rle shuld equity cnsideratins play? Shuld there be a threshld r cap fr maximum subsidy amunt? Hw imprtant shuld cnnectins t lcal transit systems be in the decisins? 14

15 NEXT STEPS Spring 2016: cllabrate with TPR s and MPO s t gather input n plicy questins and finalize the rutes Summer 2016: Seek Transprtatin Cmmissin apprval Summer 2016: Begin t develp a bus specificatin Fall 2016 / Winter 2017: prcure the fleet f OTR small caches with SB-228 funds Calendar Year 2017: Develp Service Cntracts Calendar Year 2018: Implement the Rural Reginal Netwrk 15

16 Questins? Michael Timlin Bus Operatins Unit 4201 East Arkansas Ave Rm 227 Denver, CO (303)