ROUTE 13G THOMPSON RUN EXPRESS

Transcription

1 ROUTE 13G THOMPSON RUN EXPRESS Route 13G Thompson Run Express provides limited weekday peak period express service between the Park and Ride Lot at the North Park Pool and downtown Pittsburgh via McCandless, Ross, and Evergreen (see Figure 1). Similar Routes Figure 1: Route 13G Thompson Route 13G provides service that is similar to three other routes as follows: Route 1D Mt. Royal provides local service between McCandless and downtown Pittsburgh, and also operates along Peebles Road and Sample Road in McCandless. Route 13B Babcock Express, provides express service between the Showcase Cinemas Park and Ride Lot on McKnight Road and Downtown along the same alignment as Route 13G between the intersection of Babcock Boulevard and Peoples Road and Downtown (and which is also shown in Figure 1). Route R Mt. Royal Flyer also provides express service between McCandless and downtown Pittsburgh, and also operates along Peebles Road and Sample Road in McCandless. Alignment/Service Patterns From the north, service begins at Peebles Road and Sample Road and then travels to the Park and Ride Lot at the North Park Pool. The route then follows Sample Road to Peebles Road where it then winds through the wooded residential neighborhoods east of McKnight Road, traveling along Ennerdale Drive, Laurelwood Drive and Thompson Run Road to Evergreen Road/Peoples Plank Road and Ivory Avenue. The then travels via the I-279 Page 1

2 HOV lane to downtown Pittsburgh where it exits at the Mellon Arena ramp. It then travels to 7 th Avenue and Smithfield Street. Outbound, the route operates from 7 th Avenue and Smithfield Street via the 7 th Street Bridge to the HOV lane and returns northbound via the reverse of the inbound alignment. Schedule Route 13G provides limited weekday peak period service that consists of two AM peak inbound trips and two PM peak outbound trips (see Table 1). Two morning trips depart Peebles Road and Sample Road at 6:42 am and 7:22 am. Afternoon outbound trips depart 7 th Street and Smithfield Street in downtown Pittsburgh at 4:15 pm and 4:55 pm. One-way travel times are approximately 50 minutes. Table 1: Route 13G Schedule Statistics One-Way Trips Headways Span of Service Inbound Outbound (minutes) Weekdays AM Peak 6:42 am 8:15 am PM Peak 4:15 pm 5:47 pm All Day 2 2 Ridership Route 13G carries approximately 133 passengers per weekday, with relatively balanced inbound and outbound ridership. Ridership per trip is approximately 33 passengers per trip in the AM peak, and 30 passengers per trip in the PM peak. All riders travel to and from downtown Pittsburgh, and as a result, maximum loads are the same as total ridership per trip. Inbound, maximum loads are 33 passengers on the first trip and 32 on the second inbound trip. Outbound, maximum loads are 39 on the first outbound trip (at 4:15 pm), and only 20 on the second outbound trip (at 4:55 pm). Inbound, the highest number of passengers that board at any single stop is seven, at the Presidential Arms Apartments on Presidential Drive and on Thompson Run Road at Easley Road. No passengers board at the Park and Ride at North Park Pool, and of the 92 bus stops along this route, passengers board or alight at only 25 (see Figure 2). Due to data collection irregularities, APC data is not available for inbound trips after the stop at Babcock Boulevard and Hahn Road. However, outbound data shows that passengers alight at six of the 12 missing stops, and presumably inbound patterns are the reverse of outbound patterns. Aside from that portion of the route, the segment along Laurelwood Drive has the highest consistent boarding activity, and all of these riders alight in downtown Pittsburgh Page 2

3 Figure 2: Route 13G Ridership by Stop: All Day Inbound All Day Inbound Passengers Total Ons Total Offs Load Out From Stop Load Out from Stop 0 PEEBLES SAMPLE SAMPLE EASTVIEW #1 SAMPLE EASTVIEW #2 SAMPLE RINGEISEN SAMPLE #1848 SAMPLE OPP HIGH MEADOW SAMPLE ARDEN SAMPLE OPP NORTHGATE HEMLOCK SAMPLE FS HEMLOCK HEMLOCK'S #1 HEMLOCK #4424 HEMLOCK HEMLOCK'S #2 HEMLOCK NORTH PARK POOL (P-N-R) HEMLOCK BABCOCK PRESIDENTIAL OPP WASHINGTON PRESIDENTIAL ARMS PRESIDENTIAL OPP JEFFERSON PRESIDENTIAL OPP MADISON (LEASE PRESIDENTIAL OPP JACKSON PRESIDENTIAL COOLIDGE PRESIDENTIAL HARDING PRESIDENTIAL OPP CLEVELAND PEEBLES SPRINGFIELD SPRINGFIELD SHADY OAK SPRINGFIELD NORTHGATE NORTHGATE #9396 NORTHGATE SAMPLE SAMPLE ARDEN SAMPLE HIGH MEADOW SAMPLE OPP #1848 SAMPLE COLLINGTON SAMPLE OPP EASTVIEW #1 SAMPLE OPP EASTVIEW #2 SAMPLE PEEBLES PEEBLES LOCUST PEEBLES KNOLL PEEBLES DUNCAN FS PEEBLES PEEBLES SCHOOL RD PEEBLES OPP PARKWAY PEEBLES #8495 PEEBLES OPP ELAINE PEEBLES REMINGTON REMINGTON HAZLETT REMINGTON BINGAY REMINGTON BALMORAL #1 REMINGTON REGENCY REMINGTON BALMORAL #2 REMINGTON WALDWICK REMINGTON DOUNREAY ENNERDALE LAURELWOOD LAURELWOOD #125 LAURELWOOD OPP FENWICK LAURELWOOD CHARTERWOOD CHARTERWOOD MCINTYRE MCINTYRE THOMPSON RUN AMITY THOMPSON RUN FS AMITY OPP CARRIAGE AMITY OPP LINGAY AMITY #213 AMITY OPP BLAZE AMITY SUTTER SUTTER THOMPSON THOMPSON RUN WHITE OAK THOMPSON RUN SANGREE THOMPSON RUN CHERRINGTON THOMPSON RUN OPP HORIZON THOMPSON RUN OPP HODIL THOMPSON RUN SUNSET THOMPSON RUN BARNWOOD THOMPSON RUN SEIBERT THOMPSON RUN EASLEY THOMPSON RUN SUNNYHILL THOMPSON RUN MILLER THOMPSON RUN #218 THOMPSON RUN OPP WOODBRIDGE APTS THOMPSON RUN RADCLIFFE THOMPSON RUN EVERGREEN THOMPSON RUN BABCOCK-NO STOP BABCOCK OPP ROSECLIFF BABCOCK OPP HAHN 7TH SMITHFIELD 0 Productivity Route 13G s performance is close to average relative to most measures (see Table 2): Table 2: Route 13G Productivity Express/ Flyer Route 13G Average Operating Cost/Passenger $6.21 $5.07 Passengers/Revenue Vehicle Hour Passengers/Total Vehicle Hour Passengers/Revenue Mile Total Vehicle Hours/Rev Vehicle Hours Average Speed Bus Stops/Mile Directness Number of Variations Operating Cost/Passenger: Route 13G operates at an average cost of $6.21 per passenger, which is 22% higher than the average for express routes. Significant deadhead combined with moderate boardings negatively impact the operating cost per passenger. Ridership per Unit of Service: The four daily one-way trips average 35 passengers per revenue hour or about 20 passengers per total vehicle hour. These figures are close to, or Page 3

4 slightly below, average. Passengers per mile, at 1.9, is slightly better than average for express and flyer routes. Total Vehicle Hours versus Revenue Vehicle Hours: The ratio of total vehicle hours to revenue vehicle hours is This is high, and reflects the high amount of deadheading hours that is associated with the limited number of runs on this route. - Average Speed: Route 13G operates at an average speed of 18.0 mph in revenue service, which is slower than the average for express and flyer routes. Bus Stops/Mile: Route 13G has 92 bus stops. This means the route has an average of 5.6 stops per mile, or a stop nearly every 940 feet. This is much higher than average for express routes, and most stops are unused. Number of Variations: Route 13G has one inbound pattern and one outbound pattern. Service Design Route 13G provides commuter service in some areas that are otherwise not served by Port Authority buses, but offers such limited service (two trips on each direction) that the route addresses only a niche commuter market. Based on the demographics and limited schedule, Route 13G s productivity and effectiveness is better than expected. Service Improvement Opportunities As described above, Route 13G s performance is close to average for express and flyer routes. Opportunities for improvement include the following: Convert to Feeder Service: Route 13G could be modified to serve as a feeder route, providing timed connections and more frequent service to a route operating along McKnight Road for efficient transfers and connections to downtown Pittsburgh. Combine with Route 13B Babcock Express: The southern portion of the route, beginning at Evergreen Road, is also served by Route 13B. Routes 13B and 13G could be combined to eliminate the service along McKnight Road, providing an additional trip along Thompson Run Road and a portion of Babcock Boulevard, as well as more consistently spaced service along Evergreen Road, Peoples Plank Road and Ivory Avenue. Shorten Route: Consider eliminating the first 15 bus stops and make a new route end at the Presidential Arms Apartments. Only two passengers board at the outer end of the route, and it could be shortened to begin and end at the Presidential Arms Apartments with little ridership impact. Promote the North Park Pool Park and Ride: Located away from major arterials and in a large park, the North Park Pool Park and Ride Lot is difficult to find and many residents in the area may be unaware of it. Marketing of this lot could improve utilization. Page 4

5 Eliminate the North Park Pool Park and Ride: With no passengers boarding or alighting, the Park and Ride can be eliminated and prospective users directed to the Showcase Cinemas Park and Ride Lot. Consolidate Stops: Route 13G has 92 stops. Although there are some irregularities with the inbound APC data, the data that is reliable does show conclusively that most are not used. The consolidation of stops would reduce stop maintenance costs. Page 5