Innovations in Transit Planning and Financing Presentation to the 2003 MPO Conference, Muncie IN October 16, 2003

Innovations in Innovations in Transit Planning Transit Planning and Financingand Financing

Presentation to the Presentation to the

2003 MPO Conference, 2003 MPO Conference,

Muncie INMuncie IN

October 16, 2003October 16, 2003

IntroductionIntroduction

In 1985 there was no public transit In 1985 there was no public transit service in Elkhart or Goshen service in Elkhart or Goshen

TODAY, Elkhart and Goshen have TODAY, Elkhart and Goshen have demand response service, which demand response service, which operates 7 days a week, 24 hours operates 7 days a week, 24 hours a day and is open to the general a day and is open to the general public and is ADA accessible!public and is ADA accessible!

IntroductionIntroduction

AND bus service with four fixed AND bus service with four fixed routes, using left-equipped buses, routes, using left-equipped buses, daily and Saturday daily and Saturday

HOW did this happen?HOW did this happen?

Transit Barriers - 1985Transit Barriers - 1985

No pre-existing transit agency for No pre-existing transit agency for public buyoutpublic buyout

No municipal tax base for transitNo municipal tax base for transit

No source of federal, state, local No source of federal, state, local funds for start up capital purchasesfunds for start up capital purchases

Transit Barriers - 1985Transit Barriers - 1985

Only a small annual apportionment Only a small annual apportionment

Insufficient state and local matching Insufficient state and local matching dollars to start-up and sustain a bus dollars to start-up and sustain a bus systemsystem

What Did We Do?What Did We Do?

Evaluated the need for transitEvaluated the need for transit

Enlisted the aid of Mayors and an Enlisted the aid of Mayors and an Advisory CommitteeAdvisory Committee

Evaluated methods of deliveryEvaluated methods of delivery

Decided to implement a demand-Decided to implement a demand-response User-Side Subsidy programresponse User-Side Subsidy program

User Side Subsidy vs User Side Subsidy vs Fixed RouteFixed Route

User-side subsidy format and User-side subsidy format and contract with cab operators contract with cab operators provided a ready-made fleet using provided a ready-made fleet using a private sector community a private sector community resource.resource.

The service format addressed the The service format addressed the broadest service timeframe – 24 broadest service timeframe – 24 hours 7 days per week.hours 7 days per week.

FTA and state funding for FTA and state funding for these smaller cities was not these smaller cities was not sufficient to establish a bus sufficient to establish a bus

systemsystem


The user side subsidy format only The user side subsidy format only cost the system when a rider cost the system when a rider actually took a ride, thereby actually took a ride, thereby extending the systems efficiencyextending the systems efficiency

Low administrative costsLow administrative costs


The service was immediately The service was immediately available for the general public and available for the general public and ADA riders with virtually no start ADA riders with virtually no start up cost.up cost.

Program costs controlled with Program costs controlled with established rate for fares and established rate for fares and subsidies.subsidies.

Available ResourcesAvailable Resources

Experienced Taxi Cab companies Experienced Taxi Cab companies in Elkhartin Elkhart

Social Service Agencies providing Social Service Agencies providing client transit servicesclient transit services

Cooperative Mayors to commit Cooperative Mayors to commit local fundslocal funds

FTA and INDOT funding FTA and INDOT funding

User-Side Subsidy FormatUser-Side Subsidy Format

Request for operators is conducted Request for operators is conducted annuallyannually

Up to six operators may be Up to six operators may be contracted to participate in contracted to participate in providing service to registered providing service to registered ridersriders


All riders must register at one of 8 All riders must register at one of 8 locations in Elkhart and Goshenlocations in Elkhart and Goshen

Riders must present a picture ID and Riders must present a picture ID and a voucher punch card when riding in a voucher punch card when riding in order to receive the ½ off discount.order to receive the ½ off discount.


The rider pays half of the fare to The rider pays half of the fare to the cab operator and the other half the cab operator and the other half is reimbursed via a billing process is reimbursed via a billing process by MACOG to the cab companyby MACOG to the cab company

What was Implemented?What was Implemented?

Heart City Heart City Rider began Rider began in 1986in 1986

Serves the City Serves the City of Elkhart of Elkhart

Also makes Also makes Inter-City trips Inter-City trips to Goshento Goshen

Goshen Transit Goshen Transit Service began Service began in 1989in 1989

Serves City of Serves City of GoshenGoshen

Makes Inter City Makes Inter City trips to Elkharttrips to Elkhart

Demand Response FleetDemand Response Fleet TaxisTaxis

39 taxis owned 39 taxis owned by service by service providerprovider

ADA AccessibleADA Accessible 7 accessible 7 accessible

minivansminivans

Service available Service available to the general to the general publicpublic 2424 hours per hours per

day day 77 days a week days a week AllAll Holidays Holidays

Registration ProcessRegistration Process

Persons register at one of eight sites Persons register at one of eight sites (located at cooperating social service (located at cooperating social service agencies)agencies)

Must show picture ID, then issued a Must show picture ID, then issued a numbered user card, good for 20 tripsnumbered user card, good for 20 trips

A matching registration card is forwarded A matching registration card is forwarded to MACOGto MACOG

Administrative ProcessAdministrative Process

Each user id and rider information is Each user id and rider information is input into a computer database input into a computer database

Each ride results in a voucher that Each ride results in a voucher that enables MACOG to track 100% of enables MACOG to track 100% of ridership for FTA National Transit ridership for FTA National Transit DatabaseDatabase

Monthly reports and annual reports Monthly reports and annual reports generated from the same database.generated from the same database.

Fare Structure Fare Structure Heart City Rider / Goshen Transit Heart City Rider / Goshen Transit

ServiceService

Ambulatory: $3.00 first mile, $2.40 Ambulatory: $3.00 first mile, $2.40 each additional mileeach additional mile Program pays ½ the cost of cab fare Program pays ½ the cost of cab fare

up to $3.00 per one way tripup to $3.00 per one way trip

Persons using Wheelchairs: $12 first Persons using Wheelchairs: $12 first

three miles, $1.40 each additional mile three miles, $1.40 each additional mile Up to $9.60 of fare paid by the Up to $9.60 of fare paid by the

programprogram

Fare Structure Fare Structure Heart City Rider / Goshen Transit Heart City Rider / Goshen Transit

ServiceService

Ride Share and split the fare:Ride Share and split the fare: Second adult(or child) freeSecond adult(or child) free Additional adults 40Additional adults 40 each each Additional child 20Additional child 20 each each

Example: If 4 people share a trip Example: If 4 people share a trip with total fare of $5.00, each can with total fare of $5.00, each can pay only $1.25.pay only $1.25.

Serves a Broad Range of Serves a Broad Range of NeedsNeeds

Service 24 hours per day 7days per week, accommodates all shifts and weekends

• Addresses welfare to work problems with daycare and job site proximity

• Three minute wait rule

• Driver assists with up to two packages

•Accessible to disabled and general public in one service

•Half the cost of cab fare

•Requirement to ride

•Ride Sharing incentives

•Curb to curb service

Serves a Broad Range of NeedsServes a Broad Range of Needs

HCR/GTS RidershipHCR/GTS Ridership1986-19961986-1996

020,00040,00060,00080,000

100,000120,000140,000160,000180,000200,000

1986 1998 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002

HCR/GTS 2003 RidershipHCR/GTS 2003 Ridership

HCR marked over 2 million passenger trips HCR marked over 2 million passenger trips GTS ridership surpassed the 300,000 GTS ridership surpassed the 300,000

passenger trip markpassenger trip mark

HCR Productivity Measures:HCR Productivity Measures: Avg. passenger trip is 2.5 miles Avg. passenger trip is 2.5 miles Avg. cost to the rider per trip is $2.65Avg. cost to the rider per trip is $2.65 Avg. cost to HCR program per passenger Avg. cost to HCR program per passenger

trip is $2.93, for a total trip cost of $5.58 trip is $2.93, for a total trip cost of $5.58

Funding Demand Funding Demand Response Response

Revenue SourcesRevenue Sources FTA Section 5307FTA Section 5307 INDOT PMTFINDOT PMTF City of ElkhartCity of Elkhart City of GoshenCity of Goshen Passenger FaresPassenger Fares

44% fare recovery 44% fare recovery rate !rate !

2002 Funding Sources

FTAPMTFCitiesFaresOther

Fixed Route Comes on Board Fixed Route Comes on Board

In response to demand for more transit In response to demand for more transit service, a fixed route bus system was service, a fixed route bus system was established in Elkhart and Goshen in 1999 established in Elkhart and Goshen in 1999

After more than 20 years of service, now After more than 20 years of service, now HCR and GTS not only fulfill the general HCR and GTS not only fulfill the general public and paratransit need for ADA but public and paratransit need for ADA but also provide the required complementary also provide the required complementary service to fixed route bus systemservice to fixed route bus system

Innovative Financing:Innovative Financing: Fixed routes in a small urban Fixed routes in a small urban

areaarea Trustee local funds paid for one Trustee local funds paid for one

route from 1986 thru presentroute from 1986 thru present

Cooperative Agreement with Cooperative Agreement with Concord Township Trustee, Concord Township Trustee, leveraging local funds as a leveraging local funds as a match to FTA fundingmatch to FTA funding

RFP and contract with RFP and contract with established private bus established private bus operatoroperator

Federal, State and local Federal, State and local partnerspartners

The BUS The BUS

Two route system began October Two route system began October 19991999

The existing Concord Township route The existing Concord Township route serves the west side of Elkhart and serves the west side of Elkhart and has since 1986 – funded 100% localhas since 1986 – funded 100% local

The MACOG route added an intercity The MACOG route added an intercity route between Elkhart and Goshenroute between Elkhart and Goshen

2002 Fixed Route 2002 Fixed Route Revenue Sources Revenue Sources

Fares

FTA

PMTF

Concord

Cities

Fixed Route RidershipFixed Route Ridership

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

1999 2000 2001 2002

Route Expansion add two Route Expansion add two more routes – May 2003more routes – May 2003

$300,000 in CMAQ $300,000 in CMAQ funds flexed from funds flexed from highway to transit to highway to transit to support expansionsupport expansion

Added cross town Added cross town route in Elkhartroute in Elkhart

Added cross town Added cross town route in Goshen, route in Goshen, using vintage using vintage trolleytrolley

Current Bus RoutesCurrent Bus Routes

How Can this Work for You?How Can this Work for You?

Identify your private sector Identify your private sector and community resources:and community resources:

Who has vehicles? Develop a fleet Who has vehicles? Develop a fleet inventory for your communityinventory for your community

Look for contracting opportunitiesLook for contracting opportunities Are there existing partners that Are there existing partners that

can be used to leverage funds?can be used to leverage funds?

How Can this Work for You?How Can this Work for You?

Replace or enhance costly late night Replace or enhance costly late night fixed routes with a user-side subsidy fixed routes with a user-side subsidy formatformat

Consider the impending mobility needs Consider the impending mobility needs of a growing elderly population NOW!of a growing elderly population NOW!

Work with Trustees, Commissioners, Work with Trustees, Commissioners, Mayors and others to identify alternative Mayors and others to identify alternative fundingfunding

Documents

Innovations in Transit Planning and Financing Presentation to the 2003 MPO Conference, Muncie IN October 16, 2003