HomeMy WebLinkAboutTransit Vision For the Future (requires additional funding)VISION FOR TRANSIT
The Iowa City Area Transit Study (ICATS) ‘Vision for Transit’ is based on public feedback and is
not cost-constrained. This vision imagines a transit system that connects most parts of the Iowa
City area, operates frequently, and serves riders early in the morning and late at night. The
‘Vision for Transit’ imagines a transit system that is free to Iowa City Transit riders and includes
on-demand service for people living in lower-ridership neighborhoods.
Summary of Improvements:
▪ All Iowa City Transit service is fare-free
Communities that have switched to fare-free service have seen ridership increase by between 30% and 100%
▪ Eleven corridors in the Iowa City area have 15-minute service between 6:30 AM and 7:00 PM and 30-
minute service at other times:
Approximately 65% of all Coralville and Iowa City residents would be within a ½-mile walk of 15-minute
service
Coralville Corridors:
o Iowa City to Iowa River Landing
o Iowa City to 5th Street to Coral Ridge Mall
Iowa City Corridors:
o Dubuque Street to the north
o Westwinds Drive – Melrose Avenue – downtown Iowa City
o Westside Drive – Highway 6 Walmart – downtown Iowa City
o E Court Street
o E Jefferson Street/E Market Street between downtown Iowa City and Dodge Street
o Oakcrest route
o South Iowa City – downtown (Broadway route)
o Mall route
o Towncrest route
▪ Sunday service on all routes from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM, every 30 minutes
▪ Saturday service on all routes from 7:00 AM to midnight, every 30 minutes
▪ Service operates until midnight on weekdays
▪ On-demand ‘Night Owl’ service, operating from approximately 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM
A partnership with Lyft/Uber/taxi that provides subsidized rides during the late-night period when fixed-
route service is unavailable or sporadic
▪ On-demand service in municipalities that aren’t within ¼-mile of fixed routes, including late at night
A partnership with Lyft/Uber/taxi that provides subsidized rides to people living in areas that aren’t served by
fixed-route transit
▪ A new crosstown route connects key destinations in South Iowa City and West Iowa City without
requiring a downtown transfer
Summary of Approximate Costs:
▪ Approximately $12,000,000 in startup capital costs to operate the service
▪ Approximately $18,000,000 per year in additional operating costs