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HomeMy WebLinkAboutVirtual Public Presentation - April 29 2021Pitch Deck Title Darian Nagle-Gamm; Director of Transportation Services April 29th, 2021 Transit Operations: Staff Introductions Darian Nagle-Gamm; Host –Director of Transportation Services Mark Rummel; Q&A Moderator –Associate Director of Transportation Services Susan Bethel -Training & AM Operations Supervisor Scott Amlong –Fleet Operations Supervisor Curtis Brenton –Mid-Day/PM Operations Supervisor Gus Gustaveson –Evening Operations Supervisor Mark Fay –Operations Supervisor Danny Bissell –Operations Supervisor Tonight’s Agenda Housekeeping/FYI Iowa City Area Transit Study -Mission, goals, objectives -Background/timeline -What we heard / what we did This Summer -Proposed changes by route -Proposed fare and transfer policy changes What’s Next -Vision for Iowa City Transit -Electric buses -Sunday Service 2-yr pilot -Exploring late-night/overnight on- demand service Housekeeping and FYI Staff presentation followed by Q&A -Ask questions by using “chat” feature -Or “raise hand” during Q&A Webinar/presentation is being recorded and will be available on the Iowa City Transit website: www.icgov.org/transit Proposed changes to bus routes, stops, and bus schedules coming August 2nd Changes to fare & transfer policies coming July 6th New bus schedule has not yet been finalized (coming in June) Mission & Goals •Faster, more frequent and more reliable service •Simplify the system •Improve communications •Improve transit stops •Double ridership in next 10 years •Improve coordination with Coralville Transit and CAMBUS •More consistent fare and transfer policies Make transit more dependable for those who rely on it, and an easier choice for others! Objectives •Learn how we can optimize and improve the transit system using our existing funds and resources •Determine what enhancements are desired by the community if additional funding is acquired Iowa City Area Transit Study Iowa City Area Transit Study Timeline Aug 2019 -Launched study / data collection Fall 2019 –Phase 1 Public Outreach, service & market evaluation January 2020 –Presented 3 alternate service scenarios, Phase II Public Outreach Mar to Aug 2020 –Development of single proposed transit system redesign Oct and Nov 2020 –Presented study recommendations to City Council work session and received preliminary feedback regarding preferred transit system design and theme, fare recommendations, and the priority of potential transit service enhancements March 2021 –Presented potential transit service enhancements to City Council at their work session, received direction to pursue a two -year Sunday Service pilot and further explore later evening/overnight on-demand transportation options April 2021 –Present proposed transit service changes to the public 6 Public Input Phase 1: Sept 2019 On-board survey (1,000 responses) Phase 2: Fall 2019 meetings with community stakeholders, hosted open house events with 90 attendees, “Design Your Own Transit System” online survey (1,325 responses), direct outreach to transit dependent/housing insecure populations Phase 3: Jan 2020 stakeholder meetings, open house events with 150 attendees, online survey of three potential transit scenarios (1,400 responses) Emails, phone calls, social media, and legacy media inquiries responded to throughout the process Desired Improvements What we heard... “More frequent buses please” •Focused routes on arterial streets, less diversion into local streets/parking lots •Out/back, more direct routes for faster service/reduced travel time •Routes with very low ridership were absorbed into adjacent routes or service was reallocated to areas of greater need •Reduced duplicative service/service overlap areas •Some areas have farther to walk to service •Consolidated some bus stopsWhat we did…•All buses to run every 30 minutes during peak times, with two routes running every 15/20 min •Over half the routes will have buses every 30 minutes or less during mid-day What we heard... “We need better Saturday Service” •More bus service on Saturdays •Currently, only 6 routes run on the weekend, and they run on a different route than weekdays •All routes will be the same no matter time of day or day of week •All routes will run Saturdays approximately 7 am –7 pm (except Eastside loop and Downtown Shuttle, which currently do not run on weekends)What we did… What we heard... “More reliable service –more on-time” •Focused routes on arterial streets, less diversion into local streets/parking lots •Out/back, more direct routes •This allows us to build in “wiggle room” into the schedule What we did… What we heard... “We need Sunday Service” •Beginning in late 2021 or 2022, Iowa City Transit will begin a 2-year pilot of Sunday Service •Schedule will mirror Saturday service schedule What we did… What we heard... “Can you simplify transit?” •Routes will all have a name AND a number 1 –13 •No more night/weekend routes –routes are the same no matter time of day or day of week •Routes mostly out/back on same arterial streets •All bus passes can be used on Coralville Transit (CT) •Transfers allowed at any bus stop; free transfers to CTWhat we did… What we heard... “We need more late evening transportation options” •6 routes run until 10 pm, 2 until 9:30 pm, 2 until 8/8:30 pm, 1 until 7 pm and 1 until 6:30 pm •New later evening service to far eastside, far westside, and the Lower Muscatine/Kirkwood areas •Exploring on-demand partnership options to provide late-night/overnight service when transit not in serviceWhat we did… What we heard... “Can you make transit more affordable?” •Those 65+, disabled, Medicare card holders, and SEATS card holders will ride for free, any time of day •Youth 5-18 years will receive a 50% discount on fare and passes What we did… What we heard... “We need more reliable on-time information and trip planning tools” •Transit app introduced! •Arrival times •Trip planning •Bus locator •Service notifications •Will be updated with new routes and stops on August 2ndWhat we did…Download from your app store Average Weekday Passengers by Route •7th Avenue, Cross Park, and Melrose Express routes have fewest weekday passengers •Plaen View, Free Shuttle, Westwinds and Oakcrest have highest number of daily passengers Average Weekday Passengers/Service Hr •Manville Heights, 7th Avenue, Melrose Express & Eastside Express have fewest passengers per service hour •Plaen View, Towncrest, Oakcrest, and Free Shuttle have greatest number of passengers per service hour Developed Recommendations •Three cost- constrained transit service scenarios developed using existing funding, staffing, and vehicles available •Based on best practices and guiding principles •Final proposed routes based on public response to these alternatives Proposed Bus Route System Proposed Bus Routes This Summer Bus Route & Service Changes Coming New Routes begin August 2nd •Hollywood area walk to transit 5-8 min 2 7 2 9 3 1 Broadway 3 9 4 1 4 5 4 6 Street Fares, Passes, and Transfers –Effective July 6th •Standard $1 fare remains •Make metro area trips using transit easier; easier transfers •Lessen the financial burden and inconvenience for seniors, those with disabilities, and youth What’s Next?What’s Next? Vision for Iowa City Transit: Public Transportation Enhancements Enhancements Direct response to community needs Far more needs than current funding available Operat- ing Costs One- Time Capital Costs Prioritized Public Transportation Enhancements Sunday Bus Service Later Evening Service Night-Owl Overnight Service In the fall of 2020, the City Council prioritized the following potential service enhancements: At their March 6th, 2021 Work Session, the City Council directed staff to: Plan for Sunday Service 2-year bus service pilot, commencing in late 2021 or early 2022 (mirroring proposed Saturday schedule) Further explore on-demand transportation options for late evening/overnight service Introducing Battery Electric Buses Cleaner, greener, unbelievably quiet, and a more comfortable ride! Reduced Carbon Emissions Reduced Air & Noise Pollution Cleaner Iowa City Four diesel buses will be replaced with Proterra ZX5 Battery Electric Buses this fall 61% of the energy used to power the buses will be renewable (mostly wind) June 1st –Host a Public Hearing on proposed changes at the City Council Meeting. City Council will also formally consider adoption of the Iowa City Area Transit Study Plan. July 6th –Launch fare and transfer policy changes August 2nd –Begin using routes, stops and new bus schedule. 54 -Launch Iowa City’s first Battery Electric Buses (Fall) -2-yr pilot Sunday bus service (late 2021/early 2022) -Evaluate late evening/overnight on-demand service -Bus stop improvements -Improve communications tools -Improve ticket availability / evaluate mobile ticketing -Evaluate options for potential low-income program Next Steps Questions or Comments? ICTransit@iowa-city.org 319-356-5151 www.icgov.org/transitstudy Public Hearing at City Council 6/1 Darian Nagle-Gamm; Director of Transportation Services Email: darian-nagle-gamm@iowa- city.org Phone: 319-356-5156 Website: www.icgov.org/transit