DART Comprehensive Operations Analysis Steve Patrinick Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Dallas, TX Tim Crobons Connetics Transportation Group, Lake Mary, FL Andrew Ittigson AECOM, Dallas, TX
DART COA Today s Presentation A Consultant can be.. DART System Today COA Goals Why Now? Scope Approach & Study Results Why did it work? Key Take-Aways 2
DART COA A consultant can be... A. Somebody who asks for your ideas and then sells them back to you in a pretty package B. Somebody who starts with a report that was written for another agency and changes the names and places to match your service area 3
DART COA A consultant can be... C. A partner in research who extends your agency s expertise, knowledge, and resources beyond the capability of your staff, while both teaching and learning from those with the best knowledge of your system 4
Consultant Requirements Agency service planning and scheduling experience! Service Plan Development through Implementation Experience Interdepartmental relationships Flow & Agreement Flexible and Imaginative offer alternative solutions Responsive! 5
The COA Team Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) AECOM Lead consultant contracting with DART for general consulting services Connetics (CTG) Lead Consultant for COA - expertise in analyzing transit systems 6
Overview of DART System Formed in 1983 13 member cities (2 others contract for service) 2.3 million population in service area (6.6 million in region) Longest light rail network in North America (90 miles) 140+ bus routes 654 buses / 163 light rail vehicles 7
Why Now at DART? Current rail build-out is nearly complete Bus routes have been reorganized around phased rail openings At the same time, levels of bus service have been reduced significantly Current emphasis is on coverage throughout the Service Area Can leverage recent data collection to better understand travel and ridership patterns 8
DART COA Goals Evaluate system comprehensively Reallocate resources to improve efficiency, effectiveness, ridership, productivity Ensure services are equitable Develop support through public and stakeholder input Improve understanding of existing and emerging markets Implementation periods short and long term plans Comprehensive Operations Analysis Detailed System Review Advisory Committee Customer Outreach Service Change Options 9
What did DART get? A better understanding of our customer and market needs A 10-Year Service Plan that phases service changes to respond to identified needs and build ridership Alternative Financial Scenarios Solid foundation build on through year 2040 Integrate recommendations into 2040 Transit System Plan 10
Service Plan Development Range of Strategies / Philosophy Radical Clean Slate Complete Restructuring of Transit Network (except rail) Potential change to all bus routes Significant Resource Re-allocation moves resources to areas of highest productivity Moderate Network Build-up Maintains the Most Effective Routes & Services Defines Core Network Builds Supporting Network around Core Network (incl. rail) Moderate Resource Reallocation assigns service levels based on demand and trip flows/volumes Minimal Tweaking Focused on changes / fixes to worst issues Focused on Small Incremental Changes over Longer Period of Time Minimal Resource Reallocation attempts to maintain existing resource distribution 11
Service Plan Priorities Serve new and emerging travel markets Serve Significant Travel Markets (currently unserved) Improve Network connectivity Increase travel speed (route structure and frequency) Maintain coverage / right-size service Address current on-time performance challenges 12
Service Plan Structures High Frequency Rapid Ride Network Regional / Airport Express Network Strengthened Regional / Crosstown Network Improved Uptown Service Consistent Service Headways (Bus- Rail) Direct Routing 13
The Honeymoon Period Data Collected, Analyzed & Understood Priorities and Goals Established 14
The Honeymoon is Over! Harsh Realities! Financial restrictions Political influences Jurisdictional needs Neighborhood concerns Service equity Keys to success: Find Common Ground Focus on Implementable Solutions Ensure Financial Feasibility Teamwork is essential 15
COA Service Plan Overview Data-Driven Development Approach 10-Year Vision, with Phased Implementation Bus Service Layers Ride Regional / Rapid Uptown / Regional Network Local / Airport Activity On-Call Downtown Routes Neighborhood Express Center Zones Express Routes Rapid Ride Network Regional / Airport Express Downtown / Uptown Express Regional Routes Local and Neighborhood Routes Activity Center Routes On-Call Zones (Demand Response service) 16 16
Rapid Ride Network Key Features: Regional Core Network Complements Rail Network Limited Access BRT-Lite Service Underlying all-day local service (match LRT frequencies, 15/20) Addresses regional cross-town travel movements Faster Travel Times Enhanced Passenger Amenities Serves Activity Centers / Major Employment Concentrations 17
Rapid Ride Network Benefits Population Accessibility to Premium Transit: Population Estimate Total Percent of Service Area Existing Rail 202,000 7.93% Rapid Ride Increase 352,600 13.84% Rail and Rapid Total 554,600 21.77% DART Service Area 2,548,000 Employment Accessibility to Premium Transit: Employment Estimate Total Percent of Service Area Existing Rail 472,000 21.23% Rapid Ride Increase 340,700 15.33% Rail and Rapid Total 812,700 36.56% DART Service Area 2,223,000 Catchment areas reflect ½ mile radius around station/stop 18
Design & Implementation Elements: Enhanced Station Amenities Capital Improvements and ITS Safety & Security Procedures Active Management Branding Rapid Ride Network Advertisement Attractive Service Levels 19
Regional / Airport Express Network Key Features: Regional Express to Airport Complements Rail Network Limited Access Express Service 7 day a week/20 hour a day service/ 60 minute service Addresses Airport employment & travel markets Faster Travel Times to Airport from areas not served by rail 20
Regional / Airport Express Network Travel Markets 5-mile Transit Catchments using Mobile Device Tracking Data All Purpose Trip Interactions with DFW Airport Route 290 (Red) = 27,635 Route 293 (Green) = 16,229 Route 292 (Orange) = 15,038 Route 291 (Blue) = 11,483 21
Proposed 10-Year Plan Network Additional Scenarios: Cost Neutral Existing and future running time adjustments Additional service productivity enhancements Moderate Growth Existing and future running time adjustments Scaled version on Full Service Plan 22
Why did it work? Everyone was willing to learn Consultants were willing to go out in the field, ride the system, and learn about how customers use the system DART staff were willing to put aside preconceived notions and keep an open mind to new approaches and unexpected findings The team made it interesting for one another 23
Why did it work? Solutions were not pre-determined We ve always done things this way was cast aside because DART conceded that new approaches would be needed to meet growing needs with available resources Staff and consultants did not twist the findings to fit their own pre-conceived notions 24
Presentation Take-Aways Define Goals & Objectives Early Service Related Staff - Critical Input! Seek Non-Traditional Data Sources Mobile Device Tracking Data Workshop Data Analysis Results Ensure everyone understands the results Tools everyone can use Team consensus on analysis Clearly Define Challenges! 25
Presentation Take-Aways Workshop Draft Service Plans with Agency Staff Find Common Ground Focus on Implementable Solutions Ensure Financial Feasibility Alternative Approaches Tie your plans together (near-term to long-range) Be Flexible! 26
Questions? Contact us Steve Patrinick, Manager of Service Planning, DART, (214) 749-2802, spatrinick@dart.org Tim Crobons, Connetics Transportation Group, (407) 302-5131, tcrobons@ctgconsult.com Andrew Ittigson, AECOM, (214) 672-2858, andrew.ittigson@aecom.com 27