HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 01 Transit Tomorrow AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 2/19/2019
Meeting Type: Work Session
Staff Contact/Dept.: Emma Newman/DPW Staff Phone No: 541.726.4585
Estimated Time: 25 Minutes
S P R I N G F I E L D C I T Y C O U N C I L Council Goals: Encourage Economic Development and
Revitalization through Community Partnerships
ITEM TITLE: TRANSIT TOMORROW COMPREHENSIVE OPERATIONS ANALYSIS
ACTION REQUESTED: Receive presentation from Lane Transit District (LTD) staff on Transit Tomorrow planning and provide input, if desired, to support upcoming LTD Board decision
making.
ISSUE STATEMENT: LTD is evaluating the transit network in the Springfield-Eugene area and will make decisions on how to reconfigure the network and allocate additional transit funding.
ATTACHMENTS: ATT1: Transit Tomorrow Scenario Report Introduction & Summary
ATT2: Transit Tomorrow FAQ Sheet ATT3: Transit Scenarios (Existing Network, Ridership, and Coverage)
DISCUSSION/ FINANCIAL IMPACT:
LTD is doing a comprehensive operations analysis, called Transit Tomorrow, which is looking at the entire public transit network in Springfield and Eugene. In
addition, the recent transportation bill (HB2017) established the Statewide
Transportation Improvement Fund (STIF) by establishing an employee payroll tax. LTD expects an increase of 10-15% in operating revenue from the STIF, and will soon decide how to use those funds.
Transit Tomorrow conducted a first round of outreach and heard from the
community that people most want more evening and weekend bus service. People
also expressed a desire for more frequent daytime service. The second round of outreach started with an online survey (LTD.org/Transit-Tomorrow) that will be
open through the end of February to seek input from community members on
tradeoffs presented in the Scenarios Report (ATT1).
Transit Tomorrow will result in changes to LTD’s service that would go into effect between 2020 and 2023. In making this decision the LTD Board will determine the tradeoffs among various approaches to providing transit service. The first tradeoff
will focus on whether the transit network should be designed in a way that places a higher value on ridership, or on system coverage. Do people have to walk further to the bus, but buses come more frequently? Or, do people have bus service close to
them, but the bus does not come as often? ATT1 and ATT3 provide more information on the Ridership Scenario and Coverage Scenario that lay out a
potential transit network based on each of the two values. The existing LTD
network map has also been included in ATT3 for reference. The second tradeoff focuses on how to allocate the additional STIF funding LTD expects to receive.
Should additional resources go towards increased service (i.e. evening, weekend,
more frequent buses) or reduced fares (i.e. youth pass, low income fare, senior passes, etc.)?
Transit Tomorrow planning will inform key transit network and funding allocation decisions that impact our community. LTD will likely start implementing at least
some of the changes that come out of this process by fall 2020.
| 3Scenarios ReportLane Transit DistrictJARRETT WALKER + ASSOCIATES
Introduction & Summary
Please note: this is the introduction section from the Transit
Tomorrow Scenarios Report. To access a print-quality version of
the full report (41 pgs) or an appendix with Travel Time maps
from 16 locations for each Scenario (42 pages) please visit:
https://www.ltd.org/transit-tomorrow-document-library/
Attachment 1, Page 1 of 6
JARRETT WALKER + ASSOCIATES 0 InTRoDucTIon & SummaRy| 4Scenarios ReportLane Transit District
The Trade-offs
Transit Tomorrow
Lane Transit District (LTD) has launched Transit Tomorrow, an effort to
understand how LTD’s services should be distributed in its service area.
LTD operates a variety of public transportation services throughout
central Lane County. But people are most likely to experience LTD as
-
ship comes from the regularly scheduled bus routes (including EmX and
routes might change in the next three years. Upcoming work will
address how changes in bus service may impact LTD’s other services,
such as the demand response services provided by Ridesource.
Key Trade-offs
This report describes and evaluates four possible ways that LTD service
could change, based on two major trade-offs:
•Ridership vs. coverage: Is it more important to provide frequent
service in places that will attract the most riders, or to provide a little
bit of service to as many places as possible?
•: Is it more important to use LTD’s
resources to provide as much service as possible, or to reduce the
cost of getting on the bus?
Neither of these questions have technically “correct” answers. LTD will
cases, the correct answer depends on what the community values most.
What We’ve Heard
Public input received to date suggests the community does not fall
entirely on one side of either trade-off.
Ridership vs. Coverage
and priorities for future LTD service, through in-person events and a
this effort, with the following primary results:
•Most of the people we heard from were more interested in high
frequency service than maximizing coverage. But not everyone: over
one-third were more interested in coverage.
•When we asked people about their priorities for service, respon-
dents consistently prioritized frequency improvements – especially
weekend and evening frequency – above other possibilities, includ-
ing service to more places.
•Then again, most respondents preferred that LTD make minor
adjustments rather than a network redesign. This argues against
designing a network only for higher ridership and higher frequen-
Service vs. Affordability
Separately, LTD convened an ad hoc Fare Policy Committee with repre-
sentatives from community stakeholders. This committee was convened
in response to repeated requests from the public to expand fare dis-
count programs targeted at youth and low-income populations.
At this time, the Board of Directors has directed LTD to pursue the Fare
Policy Committee’s recommendations, including a new student fare
subsidy program for schoolchildren and an expansion of LTD’s low-
income subsidy program.
-
sidies means those same resources will not be available for service. Yet
many people have expressed a desire for higher frequencies and longer
hours, suggesting parts of the community desire more service.
LTD will soon start receiving new funds from the Statewide
Transportation Improvement Fund (STIF). Some of these will likely be
used to implement the Fare Policy Committee’s recommendations. With
the rest, LTD can pursue both service increases and further fare reduc-
tions, but the more it does of one, the less it can do the other.
Figure 1: Trade-offs. Where should LTD focus its resources in the next three
years? Is it more important to provide frequent service in a few places, or a
little bit of service everywhere? Is it more important to increase service, or to
make service more affordable?
Attachment 1, Page 2 of 6
JARRETT WALKER + ASSOCIATES 0 InTRoDucTIon & SummaRy| 5Scenarios ReportLane Transit District
This report describes four scenarios for metro area bus service. Each
scenario illustrates the full set of service changes that LTD could make in
the next three years, if it moved strongly in one direction1.
Scenarios were developed in two steps. First, to illustrate the trade-off
between ridership and coverage, we designed two different networks:
•High Ridership network. Frequent service on the metro area’s
main streets. Some outlying neighborhoods would be farther from
service than they are right now.
•High coverage network. Based on spreading service to as many
places as possible, taking the existing network as a starting point.
Some areas would experience lower frequencies than they do now.
We then focused on how the balance between service and affordability
impacts both networks. LTD will soon start receiving STIF funds from
service or lower fares, LTD could achieve one of the following2:
•added Service. Similar level of service, 7 days a week. Buses would
come just as frequently on Saturday and Sunday as on weekdays.
Evening service would improve slightly. Fares would not change.
•Lower Fares. Fares reduced by up to 50%. This would be achieved
by reducing the base fare, and offering more targeted discounts
(e.g. for students, low-income, seniors). Weekend and evening
service would not increase.
Figure 2 provides a summary of the service that would be provided in
each scenario. Figure 3 (see following page) compares the outcomes of
each scenarios in terms of coverage and job access.
But you can compare these
scenarios and their outcomes to help you clarify your preferences and
priorities for service changes over the next three years.
the community. It may be similar to one of these scenarios, or some-
where in between, or something closer to existing service.
1 These scenarios were developed collaboratively by staff representing LTD, the cities of Eugene
Four Scenarios for metro area Bus Service
Figure 2: Scenarios. These four scenarios illustrate the far ends of how much LTD’s metro area network
could change in the next three years. This report compares and contrasts the outcomes of each
scenario, to give you the tools to tell LTD where you think it should stand on each of the two trade-offs.
Some people may feel that one of these scenarios is the way to go, while others will prefer something in
between, or something closer to existing service.
Attachment 1, Page 3 of 6
JARRETT WALKER + ASSOCIATES 0 InTRoDucTIon & SummaRy| 6Scenarios ReportLane Transit District
Figure 3: Scenario Outcomes. This table illustrates the big picture of how transit service would change under each scenario. In the Ridership scenarios, many areas would be located farther from transit service, but almost all routes
would be frequent, so travel times would improve, and job access would improve from almost everywhere. In the Coverage scenarios, some new areas would gain service, and a few routes would become more frequent, but travel
times would not improve as much, and on average job access would not improve. On weekends, existing service is much more limited than on weekdays. The Added Service scenarios would increase weekend service, so weekend job
Attachment 1, Page 4 of 6
JARRETT WALKER + ASSOCIATES 0 InTRoDucTIon & SummaRy| 7Scenarios ReportLane Transit District
What’s Included
Chapters 1 through 4 describe each scenario with the following
information:
•
care about, and notice which routes would go there on the Ridership
and Coverage networks. Note the colors of the routes, which repre-
sent their weekday frequencies. Note where else those routes go.
•Weekday, evening and weekend mini-maps. These smaller maps
illustrate how frequencies would vary from one time period to
another. In the existing network, LTD provides a lot more service
during weekdays than on weekday evenings or on weekends.
•. This shows the detailed frequencies
and spans of every route in each scenario. This is where you can see
want them to, and at what frequencies.
»Remember,– start
these tables.
In Chapter 5, we compare the outcomes that would result if any of the
four scenarios were implemented, in the following terms:
•coverage. Under each scenario, how many people and jobs would
be located near transit service?
• Under each scenario, how many jobs could you typically
access in 45 minutes from anywhere in the metro area?
• From selected locations, where could you get to
in 45 minutes?
Future Considerations
. Because these routes account for
mobility.
Knowing the future shape of the metro area bus network will help LTD
the MovingAhead and Main/McVay projects.
However, LTD’s services and LTD’s interest in mobility does not end
there. Achieving clarity on the orientation of the metro area bus network
will make it possible to examine changes or improvements to:
•that connect Coburg, Junction City, Veneta,
•out-of-district services managed and/or supported by LTD in
other parts of Lane County. This includes the Diamond Express con-
•Demand-responsive services, including ADA Paratransit, non-
emergency medical and human services transportation provided by
LTD through the Ridesource program.
Having thoroughly reviewed the purpose and goals of its public trans-
portation services, LTD will then be in a better place to evaluate how other modes (walking, cycling, driving) and (like
ridehailing, bike-sharing, dockless scooters, or others) can best interact
with public transit.
What This Report covers
Attachment 1, Page 5 of 6
JARRETT WALKER + ASSOCIATES 0 InTRoDucTIon & SummaRy| 8Scenarios ReportLane Transit District
Transit Tomorrow combines technical analysis and broad-based com-
munity input to develop a public transit network for the future. The next
steps in the process are the following:
•LTD is asking
the public for feedback on the scenarios presented in this report,
-
tion online and at community events, and seeking public feedback
through a variety of channels, including:
»Meeting the public at community events.
»http://openhouse.jla.
us.com/transit-tomorrow-2
»Project web page: www.ltd.org/transit-tomorrow
»Project e-mail address: transit-tomorrow@ltd.org
•Taking into account
public feedback, the LTD Board of Directors will make a policy-level
decision on the preferred orientation of the future transit network.
•The staff and consultant team will
design a network proposal. Depending on the Board’s direction, the
future network could be similar to what exists today, or it could be
very different. This plan will be presented to the Board of Directors
in late spring.
• The LTD Board of Directors and project staff
will take the steps necessary to turn the Draft Plan into a Final Plan.
This may include further public consultation as appropriate.
•. LTD will make regular seasonal
adjustments to service throughout this process. If the proposed
next Steps
Figure 4:
phase occurred in the summer of 2018, and focused on the public’s values and priorities. In January and February 2019,
Public feedback on alternatives will be critical in shaping Board Direction for the Draft Plan. Ultimately, this process
Attachment 1, Page 6 of 6
JARRETT WALKER + ASSOCIATES 1 IntroductIon and Summary| 6Existing conditions and choices reportLane transit district
Figure 3: LTD bus network in the
Ltd’s existing transit network (may 2018).
Attachment 2, Page 1 of 3
96
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Multiple routes
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EmX every 30 minutes
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In-Session Service79x
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High Ridership AlternativeLane Transit District
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Attachment 2, Page 2 of 3
GATEWAY
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95 to Junction City
91 to Mckenzie
Bridge
92 to Dexter
& Lowell
98 to Creswell &
Cottage Grove
Multiple routes
Every 15 minutes11
Every 30 minutes55
Limited or peak-only27
Transit station
One-way split*
*Routing and one-way splits are
simplified in and around downtown
Weekday midday frequencies
EmX every 7.5 minutes
EmX every 30 minutes
EmX every 15 minutes
In-Session Service79x
Route ends
Every 60 minutes19
50 50 Route continues at lower frequency
35
34 Routes combine forhigher frequency
High Coverage AlternativeLane Transit District
Every 20 minutes79x
0 1 2 miles
Attachment 2, Page 3 of 3
Transit Tomorrow
Transit Tomorrow is Lane Transit District’s (LTD) effort to find out how we can better move the people
we serve to the destinations that are important to them. Our region is growing, our travel patterns are
changing, and it is time to update our public transit system.
Project Purpose
Transit Tomorrow will take a deep look at LTD’s current bus system and ask two important questions:
This project will combine technical analysis and broad-based community input to answer these
questions and to develop a public transit network for the future in Eugene and Springfield for
implementation in the next three years.
How can LTD help people get to where they are going?
What shape should LTD’s services take in the future?
Your Transit. Your Vision. Your Future.
web: LTD.org/Transit-Tomorrow email: Transit-Tomorrow@LTD.orgLane Transit District
Scenarios Under Consideration
This region’s transit system must reflect the priorities of the communities it serves. One of the biggest
dilemmas in planning transit service is matching transportation priorities with limited resources. As
a responsible public steward, LTD must make choices about what services to offer and balance the
demands of our diverse community with thoughtful use of public funding. LTD engaged the community
through several public outreach events last summer to better understand their transit priorities and
values. LTD used what we heard from the public to create four distinct transit system scenarios. The
scenarios illustrate two major trade-offs:
Ridership vs. Coverage
In designing bus service, we need to consider two competing
priorities: ridership and coverage. LTD’s transit network will always
be a balance of these goals, but the more money you invest in one,
the less money you have to spend on the other. Is it more important
to provide frequent service in places that will attract the most riders,
or to provide a little of service to as many places as possible?
Service vs. Affordability
The more LTD chooses to reduce fares, the less it can afford to
increase service. Is it more important to use new resources to
increase service, or to reduce the cost of getting on the bus?
Attachment 3, Page 1 of 2
We Are Listening!
Engage Online
Share your opinions and learn more about
the project from your phone or computer.
Provide feedback through our System Scenarios
Online Survey at the project website for a chance to
win a bus pass or gift card.
Community Meetings
Join project staff to discuss system
scenarios under consideration, and to
share your opinions and insight. You are experts in
your communities, organizations, and neighborhoods.
Help us understand the choices and priorities that are
most important to you. Bring a friend, grab a neighbor,
spread the word. Check the project website for
meeting dates and locations.
Schedule a Presentation
Invite project staff to your neighborhood
association, community group, or agency
to talk about the Transit Tomorrow project,
and to discuss the four scenarios and their
potential outcomes.
Find Us Out and About
Catch up with LTD and the Transit
Tomorrow project at Community Events
and Tabling Sessions.
Process Overview:
Establish
Community
Priorities
Technical
Analysis
Review
Alternatives
Draft
Plan
LTD Board
Decision
Summer 2018
Summer -Fall 2018 Mid-Winter2019
LTD Board
Direction
Early Spring2019 Spring2019 Late Spring2019
Interactive
Survey
StakeholderForum
Listening
Sessions
Interactive
Survey
StakeholderForum
COMMUNITY INPUT COMMUNITY INPUT
Decision made
leading to
transit system
improvements beginning in 2020
Design
preferred
network scenarioDesign
alternatives
for the transit
system
Analyze
communityinput
Analyze
community
input
Provide
preferred
direction on scenario
tradeosCommunity
Open House
web: LTD.org/Transit-Tomorrow email: Transit-Tomorrow@LTD.orgLane Transit District
Attachment 3, Page 2 of 2