Transit at the Table II

A Guide to Participation in Metropolitan Decisionmaking for Transit Agencies in

Small and Medium-Sized MPOs

Richard I. Roisman, AICPSenior Transportation PlannerVanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.

rroisman@vhb.com

P. John SprowlsCommunity Planner

Federal Transit Administrationjohn.sprowls@dot.gov

Presentation to Virginia Transit AssociationAnnual Meeting, Arlington, Virginia

May 21, 2008

What This Study is All About

“It all comes back to transit being in fact at the table in a meaningful way, participating over time in all of the MPO’s business, and then making the case for access to funding other than FTA monies. Just showing up and asking for funding, even for a good project, is less likely to be successful.”

--Steven Gayle, Director, Binghamton (NY) Metropolitan Transportation Study

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Presentation Overview• Introduction: study purpose,

methodology, findings• Benefits of participation in the

MPO process– Improve transit agency staffing

resources– Improve transit agency influence– Leverage additional funding

opportunities• Preparing for MPO designation• Accessing the full study

Source: Valley TransitWalla Walla, WA

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Study Purpose (1)

“Why does FTA need to sponsor this research? We get our projects accepted in the TIP [Transportation Improvement Program] and I am sure most agencies have no problem getting their specific projects allocated with the Federal funds they deserve.”

-- Unnamed Transit Manager

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Study Purpose (2)

• Effectiveness of coordination between transit agencies and decisionmaking and funding partners varies nationally

• Broad flexibility among funding programs and the legal requirement for a planning process are the minimum requirements, not the full range of opportunities

• Offer case studies and testimonial support for proactive, consistent transit agency participation in metropolitan planning process

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Study Purpose (3)

• Answer the question: why should transit participate in the metropolitan planning process?

• Assess the experiences of public transportation operators working within the metropolitan transportation planning process in small and medium-sized* regions

• Present success stories for peer exchange*population between 50,000 and 200,000

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Study History (1)

• In 2004, FTA published Transit at the Table: a Guide to Participation in Metropolitan Decisionmaking, for large* urbanized areas

*population greater than 200,000

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Source: FTA

Study History (2)

• Transportation planning issues differ in small and medium-sized areas

• Transit issues different in small and medium-sized areas

• Planning process differs as well• Need for a new study focused on small and

medium-sized areas

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Differences in FTA funding process

• Area population > 200K, TMA designation– Transit operators direct recipients of FTA funds

• Area population > 50K and < 200K– FTA formula funds distributed to state Governor– Governor usually designates State Department of

Transportation (SDOT) to make funding decisions• Transit operators in small and medium sized

areas must work with SDOT• MPO must be actively engaged

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Study Audience

• Transit managers, staff and board members

• MPO staff and management• MPO board members• SDOT staff and management• Elected officials• Anyone interested in improving mobility and regional

planning• Special audience: above groups in areas that may receive

MPO designation following 2010 Census

Kirby Plaza, Duluth, MNSource: Duluth Transit Authority

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Study Methodology• Anecdotal “case studies” from 18 small and

medium-sized regions• Response to email questionnaire and telephone

interviews with– Transit operator(s)– MPO– SDOT(s)

• Study regions selected based on feedback from FTA staff and Technical Working Group

• Sample designed to be geographically diverse

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Transit at the Table II Study Regions

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Study Findings

• Transit agency involvement with the MPO is important

• Increased transit participation in the MPO process can– Improve transit agency staffing resources– Improve transit agency influence– Leverage additional funding opportunities

• Other regions can learn from the stories in the report

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Participation in the MPO Process Can Improve Transit Agency Staffing Resources

“The MPO is an excellent forum for contact with officials who can help your agency, both with current operations and planning and future work or service expansion.”

-- Bill Wright, former Director,

Saginaw (MI) Metropolitan Area Transportation Study

Sylvester Payne, GM/CEO of STARS Transit (L)Sara Kristal-Brandon, Friends of STARSBill Wright, former Director, SMATS (R)

Saginaw, MI

Source: STARS Transit

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Case Study: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

• Kootenai MPO designated in 2002• No fixed route transit service at the time

– Demand response service only

• Staff and funding issues• Native American Tribe (Schitsu’umsh) provided

transit link from urban area to casino– Service started in early 1990s– Approximately $400K / year, funded by casino

revenues15

Case Study: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho (2)

• MPO staff limitations prevented adminstering fixed-route service

• Worked with Tribe, County, and non-profit to develop fixed-route transit

• Tribe provides local match for Section 5307 grant• County receives FTA funds• Non-profit administers contracts• Transit and planning operations directed by MPO

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Improving Agency Resources: Other examples

• Private transit management in conjunction with strong MPO ties

• MPO or City/County as transit planning staff if operator lacks resources

• Staff exchange between transit operator and MPO

• Co-location of offices• Informal meetings

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Improve Transit AgencyStaffing Resources

“In order to provide and advance regional cooperation and improve the transportation planning process, regions need to get past turf issues that serve to circumvent the process.”

-- Roger Foster, General Manager, Cities Area Transit, Grand Forks, ND

Source: Cities Area Transit

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Participating in the MPO Process Can Improve Transit Agency Influence

“The transit operator can always be more involved with the process. They must keep the conversation going outside of meetings…and while this might be hard and time-consuming and engender the attitude that the transit agency can’t afford such an effort, in reality they can’t afford not to…”

--Ron Epstein, Director, Transit Bureau, New York State Department of Transportation

New Bus, Ben Franklin Transit, Tri-Cities, WASource: Ben Franklin Transit

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Case Study: Cedar Rapids, Iowa

• Director of transit agency heavily involved in regional planning efforts

• Commissioned regional rail study to connect Cedar Rapids and Iowa City

• Worked with MPO to establish off-peak transit service to serve growing industrial park– Initially single bus / shuttle service– Service expanded to eight buses, over 50K

unlinked trips (2006)20

Case Study: Cedar Rapids, Iowa (2)

• Transit agency has created culture of cooperation

• Iowa DOT: “we are very impressed with Cedar Rapids’ willingness to take on innovative projects”

• MPO very supportive of transit initiatives

Bus, Cedar Rapids, IASource: Five Seasons Transportation

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Case Study: Fort Smith, Arkansas

• Fort Smith Transit wanted to move early on United We Ride program

• Worked with MPO to identify membership and goals for new group of regional transit operators– Fixed-route, demand response, and human services

transportation

• Bi-State MPO provided three years of funding– Planning and pre-implementation stages of River Valley

Transportation Providers (RVTP) Coordination Plan

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Case Study: Fort Smith, Arkansas

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• Resulting work gained attention from Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD)

• AHTD used Fort Smith as demonstration for other Arkansas MPOs to implement United We Ride

• AHTD funded second phase of Fort Smith coordination plan Ken Savage, Director, Fort Smith Transit

Source: Fort Smith Transit

Improving Agency Influence:Other Examples

• MPO works with transit operator to select regional travel demand forecasting software– Ability to model transit trips key selection factor

• Transit operator hires additional staff to ensure full coverage at MPO meetings

• Transit operator develops “vision plan” to engage MPO leadership on transit issues– Resulted in several detailed studies

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Participation in the MPO Process Can Leverage Additional Funding Opportunities “CMAQ funds have been

crucial to providing additional amenities. We used CMAQ funds to purchase and install bike racks on buses that have proven to be a fairly popular addition to our fleet.”

-- Ron Chicka, Director, Duluth-Superior (MN/WI) Metropolitan Interstate Committee

Source: Duluth-Superior MIC

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Case Study: Duluth, Minnesota

• Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) developed transit “vision plan” with MPO

• Long-range plan supported short-term studies– DTA co-located new

transit center with university student center

– Local match was CMAQ funds

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Interior of Kirby Plaza, DTA Transfer Centerlocated on the campus of the University

of Minnesota Duluth (UMD)Source: DTA

Case Study: Duluth, Minnesota• Downtown transit study

supported by new origin/destination survey funded by MPO and FTA

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• DTA and FTA funded construction of on-street “super shelters” with real-time bus information, heating, other amenities

Downtown Duluth bus stop enhancement planSource: DTA

Case Study: Portland, Maine

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• PACTS MPO has funded transit capital projects with STP funds for the past 10 years– Buses, signs, shelters

• Standing MPO transit committee established in 2004

John Duncan, Director, Portland AreaComprehensive Transportation Committee (PACTS),

Portland, MESource: PACTS

• Resulting funds used for downtown transit center revitalization– and ITS improvements for transit riders

Case Study: Portland, Maine• Transit committee

recommended that 7% of STP funds be set aside for transit in the TIP– Overall STP allocation

formula revised every two years

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Passenger ferries, Portland, MESource: http://www.cascobaylines.com

Additional Funding Opportunities: Other Examples

• Local Colleges and Universities

• Dedicated funding source (with MPO support)

• Other federal agencies

• Business community

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Richland County Transit Bus, Mansfield, OHSource: Richland County Transit

Preparing for MPO Designation• Several study areas received

MPO designation following 2000 Census

• Many new areas may receive MPO designation following 2010 Census

• There is a learning curve– Transit operators who previously

received FTA funds directly will need to work with MPO and SDOT

• Developing relationships early is very important

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Riders boarding a Regional Transit System (RTS) bus,Gainesville, FL (Source: RTS)

Preparing for MPO Designation (2)

• Each agency must understand the other’s mission, activities, and processes

• Resources for planning are available– Contact agencies in new MPO

regions– Contact agencies cited in this

study– Other FTA / FHWA resources on

the web

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Transfer Center, Missoula, MTSource: Mountain Line Transit

Accessing the Full Study

• Available Summer 2008• On the web:

http://www.fta.dot.gov/planning/metro/planning_environment_212.html

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Questions?

Mountain Line Transfer Center, Missoula, MT (source: Mountain Line)