Coordination Committee Meeting June 4 2008

							   West Michigan
Transit Linkages Study
     Wednesday, June 4th, 2008
           10:00 a.m.

    Grand Valley State University
          Kirkhof Center
      Conference Room 2266
  Study Parameters

Funding Available: $110,000

 Tentative Start Date: ASAP

End Date: September 31, 2009
          Problem Statement
• There are several transit providers in West Michigan
  that provide limited services in different regions

• Holland MAX/Disability Network recently completed a
  transit needs study which determined that
  transportation-to-work as the number one unmet
  transportation need

• Rising fuel prices
                     Purpose – Page 1
• Conduct a needs assessment and feasibility study of
  commuter transit services in West Michigan
• Why commuter transit services?
     - Need to meet FTA’s definition of “Commuter Bus
       Service”
             1.   Predominantly in one direction during peak periods
             2.   Having limited stops
             3.   Using multi-ride tickets
             4.   Routes of extended length
             5.   Coordinated relationship to another mode of transportation

      - Complementary Para-Transit Services
             1. Must be origin-to-destination service (door to door)
             2. On-call bus service or para-transit feeder service to an
                accessible fixed route
             3. Shall provide complementary para-transit service to origins
                and destinations within a width of ¾ miles of the fixed route
                      Purpose – Page 1
• Three commuter transit needs
      1. Traveling between existing public transit service areas
              -   Harbor Transit
              -   Macatawa Area Express (MAX)
              -   Muskegon Area Transit System (MATS)
              -   The Rapid
      2. Traveling from communities without existing transit systems
              -   Allendale Township (except GVSU campus)
              -   City of Coopersville
              -   Georgetown Township
              -   City of Hudsonville
      3. Traveling to major employers
              - Focusing on employers with 500+ employees (standard)
              - Employers must be located outside of existing public transit
                service areas
              - Employer coordinated pick-up/drop-off service at transfer
                station
          Needs Assessment – Page 3 & 4
• Service Provider Identification
      - Public and private transit providers
      - Non-profit agencies

• Service Provider Assessment
      -   Type of services provided
      -   Service area
      -   Hours of operation
      -   Fare structures
      -   Capabilities (types of riders that can be accommodated)
      -   Population served/demographics
      -   Total number of riders provided (current and historical)

• Locations of major trip originations and destinations
• Survey major employers to analyze specific transportation
  needs
   Commuter Transit Service Options - Pg. 4 & 5
• Commuter Bus Routes
      -   Must meet FTA’s definition of commuter bus service
      -   Provide direct links between existing public transit service areas and
          communities without existing transit systems
      -   Minimize travel time (to the greatest extent possible)

• Commuter Bus Stops
      -   Must meet FTA’s definition of commuter bus service
      -   Accommodate areas where the greatest need for commuter transit
          service is present
      -   Provide service to communities without existing transit systems
      -   Locate stops at or near existing facilities such as park and ride lots

• Frequency of Service (arrival/departure times)
      - Accommodate the needs for commuter transit services
      - Accommodate schedules of major employers
   Commuter Transit Service Options - Pg. 5 & 6
• Transfer Station(s)
      -   Must meet FTA’s definition of commuter bus service
      -   Utilize existing transfer stations
                1) Harbor Transit – Transfer Station (previous Greyhound area)
                2) MAX – Padnos Transportation Center (Amtrak, Indian Trails)
                3) MATS – Herman Ivory Transfer Terminal (Indian Trails)
                4) Rapid – Central Station (Indian Trails, Amtrak potentially)
      -   Provide options for new buildings/facilities if necessary
                1) Locate to as to accommodate areas of greatest need
                2) Must be designed so as to accommodate current and estimated
                   ridership over the next 20 years
                3) Provide options for the infrastructure needs
                4) Meet accessibility requirements of the ADA
      -   Hours of operation and staffing needs
                1) Accommodate the proposed bus route schedule
                2) Accommodate other modes of transportation
      -   Impact of transfer station at peak hours (vehicular traffic)
Commuter Transit Service Options - Pg. 6 & 7
• Vehicle Fleets
      - Meet accessibility requirements of the ADA
      - Most efficient (fuel and cost) for the estimated ridership
      - Ability to accept multi-ride tickets

• Multi-Ride Tickets
      - Requirement of commuter bus service
      - Promotes commuter use as opposed to infrequent usage of the system

• Service Provider(s)
      -   Utilize existing public or private transit providers
      -   Create partnerships among major employers
      -   Creation of a new system
      -   Combination of methods, or others proposed by Consultant
Commuter Transit Service Feasibility - Pg. 7
• Overall Cost
     - Capital, administrative, and operational costs necessary to implement
       and sustain commuter transit services
          1) Annual Basis
          2) Ten-year period, include maintenance/service costs


• Itemized Cost
     - Provide cost to implement and sustain commuter transit services for
       each of the proposed bus route options
     - Determine the cost per ride for each bus route option

• Funding
     - Identify all funding sources and itemize by their intended purpose
     - Determine amount of gap funding that will be necessary to implement
       and sustain commuter transit services
     - Identify revenue sources that could be utilized to eliminate funding
       shortfalls
          1) Fare box revenue
          2) Local millages or other local contributions
          3) Advertising and/or other marketing promotions
Commuter Transit Service Feasibility - Pg. 7 & 8
 • Transfer Station(s)
       - Willingness/ability of transit agencies to allow the use of
         existing transfer stations

 • Major Employers
       - Willingness/ability to adjust hours of operation and/or shifts in order
         to accommodate commuter transit services
       - Willingness/ability to provide pick-up/drop-off service for their
         employees at the transfer station
       - Willingness/ability to initiate commuter incentive programs and/or
         other incentive programs (transit vouchers, flexible hours)

 • Service Providers
      - Willingness/ability of each of the transit service provider options to
        provide commuter transit services
      - Willingness/ability of demand-response transit service providers to
        provide coordinated service at each of the transfer station options
  Recommendations - Pg. 8
• Commuter Bus Service
     - Final recommendation must meet the FTA’s definition of commuter
       bus service

• Final Recommendations
     - Final recommendation must be based on the need, overall cost,
       funding availability, and willingness/ability of the service provider(s)
       to provide commuter transit services.
         Coordination - Pg. 8
• Harbor Transit Study
   - Demand-response efficiency study
   - Explore option to expand service area
   - Feasibility of fixed-route services

• Grand Valley Metropolitan Council Study
   - Determine feasibility of expanding service area

• Disability Network Study
   - Focus area: Hudsonville/Georgetown Township
   - Analyze the impact that lack of transit has on individuals in focus area
Questions?