Proposed 2012-2035

Long-Range Transit Plan

Phase II

Public Comment MeetingsFebruary to March 2012

Housekeeping Items

Silence all cell phones.

Be considerate of all meeting attendees and COTA staff.

When it is your turn to make a comment or ask a question about COTA’s Long-Range Transit Plan, remain at your seat and you will be called upon.

Comments and questions are limited to two minutes per person.

Ask one question at a time so the appropriate COTA staff member may address your comment.

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Agenda

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Welcome–Introductions and Purpose of Meeting Phase I–First draft Phase II–Final draft

Presentation–Overview of COTA’s Draft Long-Range Transit Plan (LRTP)

Next Steps–Review the next steps in the LRTP update process

Display Boards–Review display boards and provide comments

Wrap-Up–Final remarks and Q&A

Phase II Public Meeting Dates

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Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012 Monday, March 5, 2012William J. Lhota Building Columbus Public Library33 N. High St., 43215 Franklinton Branch12 p.m. 1061 W. Town St., 43222

6 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012 Thursday, March 8, 2012Calvary Baptist Church Columbus Public Library 3865 N. High St., 43214 Parsons Avenue Branch6 p.m. 845 Parson Ave., 43206

6 p.m.

Thursday, March 1, 2012 Wednesday, March 14, 2012Columbus Public Library William J. Lhota Building Martin Luther King Branch 33 N. High St., 43215 1600 E. Long St., 43203 6 p.m.6 p.m.

Need for Plan Update

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U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) requires the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) to update the Metropolitan Transportation Plan every four years.

This includes all transportation modes, including transit.

It is necessary to update the existing 2006-2030 Long-Range Transit Plan to prioritize community needs.

Respond to changes in current and projected:

Economic conditions Employment–27 percent increase by 2035 Population–28 percent increase by 2035 Development patterns Transportation challenges

• Mobility• Congestion–33 percent increase

by 2035

Timeline–Major Milestones

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Sept. 2011: Six public meetings between Sept. 1 and Sept. 27

Sept.-Nov. 2011: Adjust plans to reflect public input and develop First Draft

Dec. 2011-Feb. 2012: Public Comment Meetings on the First Draft, draft plan provided to COTA Board for review and comment; develop Final Draft

Feb. 2012: Final Draft to COTA Board for review and comment

March 2012: Final Draft public comment period held in coordination with MORPC’s 2012-2035 Metropolitan Transportation Plan Open House

April 2012: Submit Final Plan to Board for adoption

Goals of the LRTP

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Provide safe, reliable, convenient, affordable and user-friendly transportation

Provide transportation alternatives to residents with special needs

Manage public resources effectively and efficiently

Expand support for public transportation and encourage transit supportive land use

Promote environmentally sustainable initiatives

What we heard–Public Involvement Phase I

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More Local and Crosstown service to suburbs

Implement weekend service on select lines

Improve service coverage to neighborhoods within I-270

Real-time information on bus schedules

Remove route deviations to simplify line alignment

Investigate additional corridors for bus rapid transit service

Use smaller buses on lower-ridership lines

Industry Information and External Factors

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External Factors:

Volatile gas prices High unemployment rate Fluctuations in sales tax revenue Unknown federal and state funding levels

Industry Comparison: Change in bus ridership between third quarter 2010 and 2011–American Public Transit Association

Columbus (COTA): +10.75% Cincinnati (SORTA): +1.34% Cleveland (GCRTA): +5.16% Charlotte (CATS): +6.82% Indianapolis (IndyGo): +9.68% Memphis (MATA): -6.79% San Antonio (VIA): +7.73%

Industry Information and External Factors

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As gas prices rise, ridership rises.

Industry Information and External Factors

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Despite a high unemployment rate, COTA’s ridership continues to increase.

Industry Information and External Factors

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In a 2010 APTA survey, 71 percent of agencies saw no growth or a decrease in local or regional funding.

In 2010, nearly 80 percent of public transit systems have either raised fares or cut service to reduce projected budget gaps.

*Source–American Public Transportation Association (APTA) (2011)

Surface Transportation Bill Update

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In September 2009, the most recent transportation act, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) expired and has been funded through temporary extensions.

Currently, three different proposals for transportation funding are being considered:

President’s Proposal: Increases dedicated public transportation funding to $10.8 billion, $233 million over current levels.

Senate Proposal: Continues dedicated public transportation funding at 2012 levels.

House Proposal: Discontinues dedicated public transportation funding through the Highway Trust Fund. A new Alternative Transportation Account would be created, but funding for the account has not yet been identified. An amendment is proposed to remove this change.

Long-Range Transit Plan Financial Assumptions

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COTA’s 2012-2035 LRTP sales tax projections are less than previously assumed in the 2006-2030 LRTP.

Long-Range Transit Plan Financial Assumptions

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COTA’s cost per service hour has remained level as costs of other agencies rise.

Long-Range Transit Plan Financial Assumptions

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All service expansion and projects must be within COTA’s projected financial capacity.

Funding level assumptions are as follows:

0.25 percent permanent sales tax 0.25 percent temporary sales tax levy is renewed every 10 years Sales tax grows with inflation Regularly-scheduled fare increases every three years to keep pace

with inflation and rising costs of providing service Federal and state assistance programs continue at current levels

COTA will continue to pursue discretionary grant opportunities for projects that lie outside of COTA’s financial projections.

Financial projections are based upon current and projected economic conditions and other external factors.

Expansion of Service

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Increase in hours of service between 2006 and 2035 are displayed below.

Components of the Plan

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Six components of the Long-Range Service Plan

Fixed-route bus service Mobility services Intelligent transportation systems Strategic investments Customer service Other service improvements

Fixed-Route Bus Service

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Conventional service with fixed schedules and alignments

Local, Crosstown, Express and LINK Key areas of improvement:

• Improved service frequency• Expanded coverage• Expanded hours of operation• Decreased travel times

New and/or Expanded Bus Lines by Service Type

Bus Route Type 2016 Line Numbers

Local 2 1,6

Express 828,29,40x,43x,50x,55a,59x,67

Crosstown 7 83, 84,85,89,93,94,97Selected Alternative for Northeast Corridor 1 Contingent upon approval and

fundingTotal 18

Fixed-Route Bus Service

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Bus replacement and expansion: Increase fleet size by 19

percent by 2016

Replace approximately 1/12 of the fleet every year through 2035

Purchase compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, replacing the current diesel fleet

Maintain COTA’s six hybrid diesel-electric buses

Bus quantities are subject to change based upon approval and implementation of the Cleveland Avenue Bus Rapid Transit and financial conditions.

40-foot diesel bus

CNG bus

Mobility Services

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Demand-response service to disabled, elderly and low-income individuals

Service will increase by 40 percent by 2015 and 50 percent by 2030

COTA’s non-ADA service will expand to provide more service for people with special transit needs in the community

Mainstream will emerge as a one-stop resource for trip planning

Mainstream will cultivate more community partnerships to maximize available funding and resources

An ongoing service evaluation system will continue to review existing operations, and new service delivery methods implemented to improve both service and effectiveness

Mobility Services

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Expand Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) service in conjunction with growth of fixed-route service

Expand fleet by two vehicles every year between 2012 and 2020 and by one vehicle every year between 2021 and 2035, which is an overall increase of 55 percent in fleet size

Replace, on average, 15 vehicles a year between 2012 and 2020 and 20 vehicles a year between 2021 and 2035

Technology Initiatives—ITS

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Alternative fare collection Off-board fare collection Digital payment methods

Traveler information systems Real-time information

Fleet maintenance Vehicle component monitoring

Traffic signal priority

Automatic Passenger Counters (APC) Maintain approximately 20 percent of fleet with APC units Traffic signal priority

Real-time information

Strategic Investments

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Potential transit centers, park and rides, travel corridor investments and other facilities

Northern Lights Conce

McKinley Operations Improvements including CNG

Northern Lights Transit Center concept

Delawanda Park and Ride Expansion

Strategic Investments

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Northeast Corridor Alternatives Analysis

Study to improve transit service along the Cleveland Avenue corridor

Initial evaluation of transit alternatives recommends bus rapid transit in mixed traffic using one of four potential alignments

Study is scheduled to conclude by July 2012

If approved by FTA, COTA will pursue funding for the next phases:

• Project development• Project construction• Projected opening of 2016

Customer Services

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Continue to keep brand of logo and buses modern

COTA Pass Sales Continue to provide quality customer service

Continue All-for-One Programs OSU, CCAD and Columbus City Schools

Maintain and improve website and online presence Google Trip Planner Online real-time customer service Mobile experience Social media Real-time data

Continue public outreach efforts

Other Service Improvements

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Buses on shoulder

Green initiatives

CNG buses, solar lighting at stops, LEED facilities

Continue to purchase approximately 60 passenger shelters a year for replacement and expansion

Improve accessibility to passenger shelters and stops

Bicycle amenities Sidewalk connections

Bus Stop Service Improvement Project

COTA bus on shoulder example–I-70 East

Bus stop with shelter

Next Steps

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Incorporate public comments into plan

Complete recommended final plan by April 1

Present recommended 2012 Long-Range Transit Plan to COTA’s Board for adoption in April

Questions

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Questions or comments?