Albany Area Metropolitan Planning Organization RTP Project Management Team

Transcription

1 DRAFT MEMORANDUM #5 DATE: December 07, 2016 TO: FROM: Albany Area Metropolitan Planning Organization RTP Project Management Team Scott Chapman Nelson\Nygaard Paul Leitman Nelson\Nygaard SUBJECT: Albany Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Regional Transportation Plan DRAFT Technical Memorandum #5: Transit Existing Conditions P

2 Chapter One: Introduction Purpose The Transit Existing Conditions Technical Memorandum is one piece of Albany Area Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and Transit Development Plan (TDP). The TDP will address regional transit needs in greater detail than the Regional Transportation Plan. It will outline a vision for public transportation in the AAMPO area 1 and will serve as a guide for future investment in transit services. The TDP will also serve as an operational plan for the City of Albany, identifying opportunities for short-term restructuring and program improvements in response to changes that have occurred since the development of the 2011 Albany Public Transit Plan. This existing conditions memorandum summarizes current public transportation services and transit markets in the AAMPO area. This report, along with Technical Memorandum #9: Future Transit Conditions and Needs, serves as the foundation for the development of initial service alternatives. These service alternatives will be constrained by assumptions detailed in Technical Memorandum #12: Transit Funding Assumptions and will be presented in Technical Memorandum #14: Transit Solutions. Planning Context The TDP will focus on current public transportation services and opportunities for future services administered 2 by AAMPO member jurisdictions. For the purposes of this study, these members include those that will be asked to review and adopt the final RTP: Linn County, Benton County, the City of Albany, the City of Jefferson, the City of Millersburg, and the City of Tangent. This existing conditions memorandum provides three levels of analysis based on the degree to which services are under the direct control of AAMPO member jurisdictions and serve the AAMPO area. The following describes these three levels and Chapter Two identifies and describes services in each category. Primary AAMPO-Area Services are either administered by AAMPO member jurisdictions or provide essential services to AAMPO area residents, workers or students. 1 The AAMPO Planning Area includes the City of Albany, City of Jefferson, City of Millersburg, and City of Tangent Urban Growth Boundaries (UGB). 2 This memorandum differentiates the governance of a public transportation service from the operation of a service. In many cases, the entity that administers a service (secures funding, sets fares, determines operating levels, develops policy etc.) is not the same entity that physically operates the service. Administering bodies can contract with public or private organizations to operate service for them if they lack in-house resources to do so or can realize financial savings from contracting out. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 2

3 These services will be analyzed in greater detail in this existing conditions memorandum and the TDP will provide recommendations for strengthening these services. Additional AAMPO-Area Services are administered by AAMPO member jurisdictions and provide additional service to the AAMPO area or facilitate connections into the AAMPO area. This existing conditions memorandum overviews these services and highlights the nature of connections available to AAMPO area travelers. Connecting Regional Services provide connecting service to and/or through the AAMP area. These are administered by public or private entities and primarily provide longerdistance intercity bus and rail service. This existing conditions memorandum overviews these services and highlights the nature of connections available to AAMPO area travelers. Concurrent Public Transportation Planning This existing conditions memorandum and the TDP focus on public transportation (both fixed route and demand response services) for the general public. The following concurrent planning efforts are focusing on services in other jurisdictions and/or for special populations. Linn County and Benton County Coordinated Human Services Public Transportation Plans focus on services for people with low income, seniors and people with disabilities throughout each county. These services have dedicated funding sources and the plans seek strategies to reduce costs by coordinating between health, social service and transportation providers. Linn County and Benton County TSPs focus on transportation projects in the rural parts of each county including opportunities for addressing public transportation needs. Millersburg TSP focuses on transportation projects in the city of Millersburg. Lebanon TDP focuses on the City s administration and operation of bus service within the City. Corvallis TDP focuses on the City s administration of bus service within the City. Report Organization The Existing Conditions Memorandum consists of five additional chapters and a set of appendices: Chapter Two provides an overview of AAMPO area and regional transit service detailing operational characteristics of the fixed-route, demand response and intercity services. Chapter Three evaluates the demographic and socio-economic conditions within the AAMPO area that influence demand for transit. Chapter Four reviews the system-level performance for the Primary AAMPO-Area Services. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 3

4 Chapter Five details route-level performance of the for the Primary AAMPO-Area fixed routes. Chapter Six provides a summary of key findings and highlights important transportation needs. Appendices provide supporting graphics for the route-level analyses provided in Chapter 5, including ridership maps and performance data. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 4

5 Chapter Two: System Overview This chapter presents an overview of the various transit services operating in the study area. These services include: Primary AAMPO-Area Services o Albany Transit System Fixed Route o Linn-Benton Loop o Linn Shuttle o Albany Transit System Call-A-Ride Additional AAMPO-Area Services o Benton County Dial-A-Bus o Corvallis-Albany Connection o Lebanon Dial-A-Bus o Sweet Home Dial-A-Bus o Sweet Home Shopper o Coast-to-Valley Express Connecting Regional Services o Valley Retriever o Bolt Bus o Amtrak o Hut Airport Shuttle o City to City Airport Shuttle The following maps illustrate the routing of these services within the City of Albany, the AAMPO area, and the larger region. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 5

6 Figure 1: Fixed Route Transit in Albany Source: Nelson\Nygaard Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 6

7 Figure 2: Fixed Route Transit in the AAMPO Area Source: Nelson\Nygaard Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 7

8 Figure 3: Regional Services Source: Nelson\Nygaard, ODOT Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 8

9 Primary AAMPO-Area Services The primary AAMPO-area services are comprised of the Albany Transit System (ATS) local service in the City of Albany, the Linn-Benton Loop connecting Corvallis and Albany, and the Linn Shuttle connecting Sweet Home, Lebanon, and Albany. The following sections overview these services. Additional information about fares, capital investments, technology resources, and transit funding are provided in this chapter while Chapters 4 and 5 analyze the operation of these services. Table 1summarizes these services noting their key destinations, hours of operation and scheduled frequency. Table 1: Summary of Primary AAMPO Area Fixed Routes Route Major Destinations Service Span Frequency ATS Route 1 Albany Station, Linn-Benton Community Early Morning College, Samaritan Albany General Hospital 6:30 am 8:30 am 60 min Albany Station, Downtown Albany, Samaritan ATS Route 2 Albany General Hospital, West Albany High Regular East School, Linn-Benton Community College 9:00 am 6:15 pm 60 min ATS Route 3 Albany Station, Walmart, South Albany High Regular West School, Heritage Plaza 9:00 am 6:15 pm 60 min Linn-Benton Loop Albany Station, Hewlett-Packard, Oregon State University, Linn-Benton Community College 6:25 am 7:00 pm 60 min Linn Shuttle Sweet Home Senior Center, Lebanon Walmart, Linn-Benton Community College, Albany Station 6:25 am 7:30 pm min Albany Transit System Fixed Route Albany Transit System (ATS) operates four fixed routes. Three routes operate within Albany, and one operates between Albany and Corvallis. The three Albany routes operate in large, meandering one-way loops, with portions of the routes providing bi-directional service along certain roadway segments. These three routes operate Monday through Friday. Route 1 operates throughout most of Albany only the early morning. After 9:00 am, service is provided by Routes 2 and 3. Route 2 operates on Albany s east side, and Route 3 operates service on Albany s west side. Routes 2 and 3 provide hourly service during their hours of operation. Linn-Benton Loop The City of Albany operates an inter-city service connecting Corvallis and Albany known as The Linn-Benton Loop. The Loop is a partnership between public agencies and private sector businesses. Partners include the cities of Corvallis and Albany (as the designated recipients of the MPO funds), with local match for those federal funds provided by Benton and Linn counties, Linn-Benton Community College, and OSU. Additionally, small contributions are received from Samaritan Health Services and Hewlett-Packard. Linn-Benton Community College, Oregon Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 9

10 State University, Samaritan Health Services or Hewlett-Packard ID card holders can ride the Loop for free. All trips operate between Corvallis and Linn-Benton Community College, but additional service is provided during weekday peak and on Saturday to connect directly to Albany Station. The route operates Monday through Friday from 6:25 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., and from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. Loop buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts, on-board securement spaces, and a bicycle rack. Service in the morning operates in a counter-clockwise direction; in the evening, the Loop operates in a clockwise direction connecting Albany Station, Downtown Albany, North Albany Park-and-Ride, Hewlett-Packard (HP), OSU, the Downtown Transit Center in Corvallis, and Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC). During morning and afternoon peak times, supplemental bi-directional non-stop express trips are provided between LBCC and the Corvallis Downtown Transit Center. Mid-day service operates only between LBCC and Oregon State University along Highway 34. On Saturday, service operates in the counter-clockwise direction. Unlike weekday service, Saturday service does not serve HP or OSU, but does serve the Heritage Plaza mall. Morning and afternoon express service provides a more direct connection to OSU and LBCC and captures approximately 65% of ridership. The Loop offers connections with other services at the Albany Station (see Table 4 in the Transfers discussion) and at LBCC, but does not compete with or overlap other services other than it operates on some common roadway segments. The Loop s regional focus, limited number of stops and schedule changes throughout the day results in it serving different markets when compared to the ATS services. Figure 4: Linn-Benton Loop Midday at LBCC Source: Nelson\Nygaard Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 10

11 Linn Shuttle Operated by the non-profit Senior Citizens of Sweet Home, Inc., the Linn Shuttle provides transportation services between Sweet Home, Lebanon, and Albany, making connections to Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC), downtown Albany and the Heritage Plaza. The Linn Shuttle operates seven two-way trips per day between Sweet Home and Albany plus five LBCC Express trips from Lebanon to Albany and back to Sweet Home. The Linn Shuttle operates on a scheduled route except for pre-approved unscheduled stops. It provides service Monday through Friday, 6:25 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. There are no eligibility criteria for riders. Service is offered free for staff and students of LBCC. All Linn Shuttle vehicles are equipped with video cameras, wheelchair lifts or ramps, two on-board securement spaces and bike racks. In Albany, transfers are available to Corvallis through Linn-Benton Loop. Transfer opportunities are also available to the Albany Transit System and to Amtrak at Albany Station (see Table 4 in the Transfers discussion). In Sweet Home, transfers are available to the Sweet Home Shopper, but the schedules are not optimized for this transfer. With three stops in Albany, the Linn Shuttle is used by some riders to travel between Heritage Plaza, Downtown and LBCC. This is particularly the case if making the trip when ATS requires out-of-direction travel or transfers, resulting in a shorter trip on the shuttle. The Linn Shuttle does not completely overlap ATS service in the common corridors as ATS has a number of additional stops between the Linn Shuttle stops. Albany Transit System Call-A-Ride The City of Albany provides citywide curb-to-curb ADA paratransit and demand-response service called Call-A-Ride. This service is for Albany residents who are at least 60 years old, or have a disability that makes them unable to access fixed-route services. To be eligible, residents need to submit an application to Albany Transit System demonstrating that they are residents of the City of Albany and are 60 years old or older or have a documented disability. Three different services are provided: complimentary paratransit/ada service for ATS, senior transportation for individuals 60 years and older, and a senior medical/shopper shuttle. The Call-A-Ride program is staffed primarily by volunteer drivers and dispatchers. The Call-A-Ride service operates Monday through Friday, from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Dispatch is available from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The service provides trips within Albany city limits and ¾-mile outside Albany city limits. Through an agreement between Albany Call-A-Ride and the City of Millersburg, rides are also available to Millersburg residents who are 65 years and older or a person with a disability. The fare is $2.00 per person for each one-way trip, twice the basic cash fare of fixed- Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 11

12 route service. All non-sedan vehicles have two wheelchair stations on-board and are ADA accessible. The sedans are not accessible vehicles. Connections are possible through proper scheduling. The Call-A-Ride service can connect riders to the Corvallis-Albany Connection (provided by Benton County), the Linn-Benton Loop, and the Linn Shuttle, providing access east and west. Requesting a ride to Albany station allows access to Amtrak and intercity bus service. Eligibility Requirements Individuals must be residents of Albany and be 60 years of age or older or be a resident of any age with a documented disability that is unable to access fixed route bus services. People who apply for and qualify for service based on disability are referred to as ADA paratransit eligible riders, and people who apply for and qualify for service based on age are referred to as age eligible riders. Many ADA paratransit eligible riders are 60 years or older, and many age eligible riders would probably qualify as ADA paratransit eligible if they were to apply for this designation. However, riders and the trips they take are referred to as ADA paratransit eligible or age eligible based on how the riders applied for the service. In practice, all passengers receive the same service. To apply for ADA complimentary paratransit service, passengers must complete a 7-page application, available on-line or in person. The website does not clearly state if a passenger must complete the application or not, but a phone number and TDD service number are provided on the webpage to aid applicants When ATS receives the completed application, it is evaluated and eligibility is determined based on the applicant s functional ability to use the Albany Transit System fixed-route transit system. An applicant may be eligible for ADA paratransit service if the applicant is: 1. Unable to travel to or from transit stops within the service area; or 2. Unable to independently board, ride, or exit an accessible fixed-route (bus) vehicle; or 3. Cannot independently navigate the system even if the applicant is able to get to a transit stop and can get on and off the vehicle (e.g., a person who cannot ride the bus independently, recognize bus stops, understand how to complete bus trips, determine the fare, etc.). Fares The fare within the service area is $2.00 per person for each one-way trip, payable by exact change or pre-purchased coupons/tickets. This fare is twice the basic adult cash fare on ATS fixed-route service, as permitted by ADA regulations. Ticket booklets are available at the Albany Senior Center. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 12

13 Summary of Service and Comparison of Paratransit Policies to ADA Requirements Albany s ADA paratransit service levels are equal to those of its fixed-route service with respect to the six criteria specified in the ADA regulations. Table 2 offers an assessment of the six ADA service criteria and a description of Albany Call-A-Ride s service in relation to the criteria. Table 2: Summary of Albany Call-A-Ride Service Criteria and Description Service Criteria Service Area Consistent with ADA Regulation Yes Criteria Description City of Albany and three-quarters of a mile outside Albany City limits plus rides to and from the City of Millersburg which is currently not served by the fixed route transit system Response time Yes Between 4:00 pm day before and two days prior to day of travel Fares Yes $2.00 per person for each one-way trip Trip purpose Yes Equals spans of service Hours and days of service Capacity constraints Yes Yes Monday Saturday, 6:30 am 6 pm; dispatch available Monday Friday 9 am 4 pm No constraints weekdays during ADA-complementary service. Saturday service is based-on time of request, effectively placing a capacity constraint on the service Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 13

14 Albany Transit System Senior Medical-Shopper Shuttle The City of Albany provides a special services senior medical-shopper shuttle that operates on a fixedroute between senior housing locations, retails stores, grocery stores, and medical facilities. The service is open to the general public with no age restrictions. Free transfer slips to Albany Transit System are provided upon request. Table 3: ATS Senior Medical-Shopper Shuttle Overview Fixed-route service to senior housing locations, retails stores, grocery Service Area Description stores, and medical facilities, with possible deviation of up to five minutes. Days and Hours of Tuesday-Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Operation Fare $1.00 for each one-way trip Albany Transit System, Linn Shuttle, Linn-Benton Loop, Amtrak, Coast to Connections to other Valley Express, Cascades POINT, Pacific Crest Bus Lines, and Valley services Retriever Transfers ATS Routes 2 and 3 are timed to arrive and depart at the same time at Albany Station and at the Jackson Street transfer point. Transfers between ATS routes at these locations are free. Passengers are asked to notify the bus operator upon boarding that they plan to transfer to the other route. The operator keeps a tally of transferring passengers and radios the other operator to inform them of how many passengers to expect that will not pay a fare. ATS Passengers also can transfer between Route 1 or 3 to the Linn-Benton Loop at Linn-Benton Community College for trips to Corvallis. There is a large covered seating area for passengers (see Figure 5) who may have to wait or to get out of inclement weather. During Morning and Evening service on the Linn-Benton Loop, passengers may also transfer at Albany Station. Passengers can ride the Linn-Benton Loop to the Corvallis Downtown Transit Center where they can connect with many of the routes in the Corvallis Transit System, or to travel to Philomath on the Philomath Connection. The morning and late afternoon Loop schedules are inconsistent with respect to arrivals at LBCC, but the Route 3 buses arrive 15 minutes before the midday Loop buses heading to Corvallis. Both buses are scheduled at the same time for return trips and coordination between bus drivers may be required to arrange transfers. Linn Shuttle buses also serve LBCC but the schedules do not currently support transfers at this location. The following section details the opportunities for transfers between these services and others at Albany Station. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 14

15 Figure 5: Linn-Benton Community College Bus Shelter Source: Nelson\Nygaard Albany Station also provides transfer opportunities to other providers and for regional connections to Eugene, Portland, and the Coast. Table 4 provides a summary of the transferring opportunities available to passengers, including the days and times each service arrives. Table 4: Transfer Opportunities at Albany Station Departure Time Service Destination Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 6:13 am Amtrak Cascades Seattle X X X X X X X 6:25 am Linn-Benton Loop Counter-clockwise X X X X X 6:30 am Route 1 Loop X X X X X 6:55 am Valley Retriever Salem/Bend X X X X X X 7:30 am Route 1 Loop X X X X X 7:35 am Linn-Benton Loop Counter-clockwise X X X X X 7:36 am Amtrak Cascades Eugene X X X X X 7:40 am Linn Shuttle Sweet Home X X X X X 8:00 am Linn-Benton Loop Counter-clockwise X 8:10 am Amtrak Cascades (Thruway bus) Portland X X X X X X X 8:30 am Bolt Bus Eugene X X X X X 8:45 am Linn-Benton Loop Counter-clockwise X X X X X 8:45 am Linn Shuttle Sweet Home X X X X X 8:55 am Coast-to-Valley Express Newport X X X X X X X 8:55 am Amtrak Cascades (Thruway bus) Eugene X X X X X X X Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 15

16 Departure Time Service Destination Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 9:00 am Route 2 Loop X X X X X 9:00 am Route 3 Loop X X X X X 9:00 am Linn-Benton Loop Counter-clockwise X 9:35 am Amtrak Cascades (Thruway bus) Portland X X X X X X X 10:00 am Route 2 Loop X X X X X 10:00 am Route 3 Loop X X X X X 10:06 am Amtrak Cascades Eugene X X 10:30 am Linn-Benton Loop Counter-clockwise X 10:45 am Bolt Bus Portland X X X X X 11:00 am Route 3 Loop X X X X X 11:00 am Route 2 Loop X X X X X 11:40 am Linn-Benton Loop Counter-clockwise X 11:45 am Linn Shuttle Sweet Home X X X X X 12:00 pm Route 2 Loop X X X X X 12:00 pm Route 3 Loop X X X X X 12:20 pm Amtrak Cascades (Thruway bus) Eugene X X X X X X X 12:30 pm Amtrak Cascades (Thruway bus) Portland X X X X X X X 1:00 pm Amtrak Cascades (Thruway bus) Eugene X X X X X X X 1:00 pm Route 2 Loop X X X X X 1:00 pm Route 3 Loop X X X X X 1:22 pm Amtrak Coast Starlight Vancouver X X X X X X X 2:00 pm Route 2 Loop X X X X X 2:00 pm Route 3 Loop X X X X X 2:05 pm Amtrak Cascades (Thruway bus) Portland X X X X X X X 2:10 pm Linn-Benton Loop Counter-clockwise X 2:10 pm Valley Retriever Newport X X X X X X 2:15 pm Linn Shuttle Sweet Home X X X X X 3:00 pm Route 2 Loop X X X X X 3:00 pm Route 3 Loop X X X X X 3:15 pm Linn Shuttle Sweet Home X X X X X 3:35 pm Amtrak Cascades (Thruway bus) Portland X X X X X X X 3:40 pm Linn-Benton Loop Counter-clockwise X 3:45 pm Bolt Bus Eugene X X X X X 4:05 pm Linn-Benton Loop Clockwise X X X X X 4:10 pm Amtrak Coast Starlight Los Angeles X X X X X X X 4:20 pm Route 2 Loop X X X X X 4:20 pm Route 3 Loop X X X X X 4:43 pm Amtrak Cascades Seattle X X X X X X X 4:50 pm Linn-Benton Loop Counter-clockwise X 5:00 pm Valley Retriever Salem/Portland X X X X X X Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 16

17 Departure Time Service Destination Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 5:20 pm Route 2 Loop X X X X X 5:20 pm Route 3 Loop X X X X X 5:20 pm Amtrak Cascades (Thruway bus) Eugene X X X X X X X 5:22 pm Coast-to-Valley Express Newport X X X X X X X 5:40 pm Linn-Benton Loop Clockwise X X X X X 5:55 pm Linn-Benton Loop Counter-clockwise X 6:00 pm Bolt Bus Portland X X X X X 6:15 pm Linn Shuttle Sweet Home X X X X X 6:25 pm Amtrak Cascades (Thruway bus) Portland X X X X X X X 6:50 pm Linn-Benton Loop Clockwise X X X X X 7:41 pm Amtrak Cascades Eugene X X X X X X X 8:40 pm Amtrak Cascades (Thruway bus) Eugene X X X X X X X 9:45 pm Valley Retriever Newport X X X X X X 11:59 pm Amtrak Cascades (Thruway bus) Eugene X X X X X X X Note: Local routes arrive up to 5 minutes prior to departure times. Fares AAMPO-Area Fixed Route Fares The fare system in the AAMPO area is based on the service used, and the type of passenger (see Table 5). The single-ride fare for Routes 1, 2, or 3 is $1.00 for adults aged 18-59, $0.50 for seniors (60 and older), youth (6-17) and disabled individuals. Children 5 and younger ride free. Coupon Books are also available for passengers who want to purchase 20 single-ride tickets in bulk. These books provide a discount of 20 percent to the value of single-ride tickets. Passengers may also purchase a monthly pass that is valid for unlimited rides in one month. A monthly pass costs the same as 30 single trips. Table 5: Albany Transit System Fares Passenger age/status Single-ride Ticket 10-Ride Card 20-Coupon Book Monthly Pass Albany Transit System (Routes 1, 2 and 3) Adult (18-59) $ $17.00 $30.00 Senior/Youth/Disabled $ $8.50 $15.00 Children (5 and younger) Free - Free Free Linn-Benton Loop Adult $ $25.50 $45.00 Senior/Youth/Disabled $ $12.75 $22.50 Linn Shuttle All passengers $1.00 $ Note: Seniors are classified as people aged 60 or above. Youth are aged 6 through 17. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 17

18 Passengers who travel on the Linn-Benton Loop pay $1.50 (a 50 percent premium over the cost of local ATS service) to travel between Albany and Corvallis. However, passengers who travel on the Linn-Benton Loop during Midday service can use the Loop fare to transfer for free to Route 3 at Linn-Benton Community College, only if their final destination is Albany Station. Passengers who start at Albany Station and transfer to the Linn-Benton Loop at Linn-Benton Community College only have to pay an additional $0.50 ($0.25 for reduced far passengers) to continue to Corvallis. Passengers who transfer to/from the Linn-Benton Loop but do not start or end their trip at Albany Station are not entitled the free transfer and are required to pay the additional fare. Passengers with an ID card from Linn-Benton Community College 3 or Oregon State University can ride for free on ATS routes and the Linn-Benton Loop. For passengers with a Samaritan Health Services or HP ID card, rides are free on the Linn-Benton Loop, as well. The Linn Shuttle s fare structure is simple. All passengers pay $1.00 per ride, regardless of distance. A 10-ride punch card can be purchased for $ Capital Assets City of Albany Fleet The Albany Transit System has 18 active and inactive transit vehicles (nine are fixed route buses (ATS and L-B Loop), and nine are Call-A-Ride buses, minibuses, minivans, and sedans). The ages of the vehicles range from a brand new 2015 bus to a 24-year old bus. The average model year of the fleet is 2004 for fixed route buses and 2007 for Call-A-Ride vehicles. All buses use Diesel fuel and all Call-A-Ride vehicles use regular gasoline. Table 6 lists the vehicles with their make, model and year. In addition to transit vehicles, Albany Transit System has two pickup trucks for non-revenue use. Table 6: Vehicle Inventory Vehicle Make Model Year Length Number Fixed Route Buses Gillig Phantom ft ElDorado EZ Ride II ft Gillig Low Floor ft Gillig Low Floor ft ElDorado EZ Ride II ft Gillig Low Floor ft Call-A-Ride Vehicles Ford Aero Dodge G Caravan Passengers showing a LBCC ID card must have a valid term sticker to board for free. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 18

19 Vehicle Number Make Model Year Length Dodge G Caravan Dodge G Caravan Ford E Chevy Uplander Chevy Impala Buick LeSabre Ford E-S Duty Source: Albany Transit System Sweet Home Senior Center Fleet Linn Shuttle, Sweet Home Dial-A-Bus, and Sweet Home Shopper have a combined fleet of 12 vehicles, five of which are dedicated to the Linn Shuttle. This includes one 28-passenger bus, one 30-passenger bus, one 32-passenger bus, and two 39-passenger buses. Two 39-passenger buses are currently on order as two of the smaller vehicles are approaching or in excess of 300,000 miles driven. All Linn Shuttle vehicles are equipped with video cameras, wheelchair lifts or ramps, two on-board securement spaces and bike racks. Facilities Albany Station is the primary facility in Albany. It is where passengers transfer between routes, where most vehicle trips start and end, and where operators take their break. Albany Station is also the location where intercity and regional services stop when they pass through Albany. Throughout Albany, there are approximately 93 bus stops. The Albany Transit System inventory from 2011 indicates there were 17 shelters and 17 benches. The inventory classifies 14 shelters and 14 benches are in good condition, with the other 3 shelters and 3 benches in poor condition. Additional benches were installed during summer Albany Transit System continues to identify stops where benches and shelters are needed based on ridership and other needs. All bus stop signs indicate the routes that serve that stop, but only stops located at a timepoint have additional schedule information for each route. Linn-Benton Community College is one of the busiest stops in Albany. Due to the large passenger volumes, the stop has a large shelter with seating protected from the elements. Figure 6 presents examples of a stop without a bench or shelter, and a stop with a bench, shelter and schedule information. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 19

20 Figure 6: ATS Bus Stops Source: Nelson\Nygaard Three park-and-ride facilities are located in the AAMPO area. These are recognized in the ODOT Transportation Options inventory and include: The recently improved North Albany P&R on Hickory St. which has over 30 spaces and is popular with Linn-Benton Loop riders; The Spicer Drive facility at the Phoenix Inn which serves the Hut airport shuttle; and The lots just west of Hwy 34 & I-5 which primarily serve carpools. ATS has identified the need to replace its current vehicle maintenance facility. Buses are currently serviced at a facility located at the Fire Station on 34 th Ave. SE near Marion St. This location lacks capacity for fleet expansion and the City has initiated the planning for a new facility in the medium to long-term planning horizon. ATS does not currently have an asset management plan defining the maintenance and replacement of capital assets. The City has been addressing preventative maintenance and vehicle replacements, regularly programing these investments into the AAMPO Transportation Improvement Program. The city currently performs maintenance to equipment manufacturer recommendations. ATS will develop an asset management plan in accordance with MAP-21 following FTA and ODOT guidance. Transit Technology ATS currently employs a limited level of transit technologies in its operations. A number of advanced transit Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) tools are becoming embraced by small to medium-sized transit agencies, however, and represent an opportunity area for ATS. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 20

21 The 2010 Central Willamette Valley ITS Plan outlines a recommended strategy for advancing ITS tools in the ATS system, with an implementation priority 4 associated with each improvement. The proposed strategy is outlined in Table 7, although local priorities may have changed from the time the plan was developed. ATS has implemented the onboard security systems on new vehicles and is working with ODOT to update its Google Transit database to support the region-wide strategy for transit trip planning information. In addition, ATS uses RouteMatch computer-aided scheduling/dispatch software to schedule and track paratransit trips. Table 7: Proposed ITS Improvement Strategy (2010) ITS Strategy ATS On-Board Video Surveillance System Linn-Benton Loop On-Board Video Surveillance System ATS Transit Signal Priority (Phase 1) Linn-Benton Loop Transit Signal Priority (Phase 1) ATS/Linn-Benton Loop Bus Dispatch and Vehicle Location System ATS/Linn-Benton Loop Automated Stop Announcement System ATS/Linn-Benton Loop Passenger Counting System ATS/Linn-Benton Loop Transit Signal Priority (Phase 2) ATS/Linn-Benton Loop Real-Time Transit Arrival Signs ATS/Linn-Benton Loop Real-Time Telephone Transit Arrival System Source: 2010 Central Willamette Valley ITS Plan Priority Higher Higher Higher Higher Lower Lower Lower Lower Lower Lower 4 The ITS plan assigned each project with a priority of higher or lower. Higher priority projects will generally have shorter deployment timeframes than those with lower priorities. The project priority was determined by the implementing agency. Actual deployment timeframes for the projects will depend on availability of funding and priority of the project when compared to other regional needs. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 21

22 Transit Funding in AAMPO-Area Historic data and future projections for transit funding in the AAMPO area are detailed in Technical Memorandum #12: Transit Funding Assumptions. This section highlights major findings highlighting the level of funding involved and the nature of the funding sources relied upon. The City of Albany Transit Fund budgets the ATS fixed route, Linn-Benton Loop, and ATS paratransit system (Call-A-Ride and medical/shopper shuttle). Between the FY 2006/2007 and FY 2015/2016 the Fund has more than doubled. The FY 2014/2015 budget included over $800,000 for capital investments. Table 8: City of Albany Public Transit Fund Fiscal Year Total Operating Budget $933, $970, $1,034, $1,370, $1,286, $1,672, $1,657, $1,827, $2,679, $2,010,200 Source: City of Albany adopted budget for Fiscal Year 2015/2016 In FY , the City s General Fund accounts for approximately one-quarter of the transit fund with federal funds contributing about 45 percent of the budget. The remaining is sourced from various programs that are detailed in Technical Memorandum 12. FTA Section 5311 and 5310 were the primary federal resources, but since FY 2013/2014, Section 5309 and 5307 (urbanized area grants) are the primary sources. Figure 7 highlights the nature and level of funding 5 for each of the services operated by the City of Albany. 5 Funding sources include: FTA 5307 (urbanized area); FTA 5310 (elderly and those with a disability); Oregon Special Transportation Fund (STF for elderly, low-income and those with a disability). Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 22

23 Figure 7: City of Albany Transit funding by Service and Source City of Albany Transit Operating Revenues FY16-17 Proposed FTA 5307 FTA 5310 STF Partnerships Local Funding Other Fixed Route L-B Loop Paratransit Source: City of Albany proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2016/2017 The majority of Albany s funds go to the operations of the system (such as personnel and labor costs), though materials and other services do represent a noticeable share of the budget. The largest Materials & Services expenditures are for Vehicle Maintenance and Fuel. During the 2012/13 and 2013/14 Fiscal Years, fuel and maintenance accounted for approximately 20 percent of Materials and Services. The ATS paratransit programs relies on volunteer drivers reducing the personnel cost for these services. Table 9: Public Transit Fund Expenditure Expenditure Type Personnel 53.7% 60.8% 39.1% 55.4% Materials & Services 46.3% 33.8% 29.7% 41.9% Capital 0.0% 5.1% 31.0% 2.5% Transfers Out 0.0% 0.3% 0.2% 0.3% Source: City of Albany adopted budget for Fiscal Year 2015/2016 Compared with many of its peers located in similarly-sized urban areas, transit service in the Albany Area costs roughly the same on a per-passenger basis (see Table 10). While the system also does well in terms of productivity, carrying almost 10 more passengers per hour than the peer average, Albany is not able to provide the same amount of revenue hours with its budget that other agencies can. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 23

24 Table 10: Comparison of Peer Transit Systems, 2013 Revenue Hours Operating Cost Passengers Passengers per Hour Operating Cost per Passenger Operating Cost per Revenue Hour Albany 9,908 $838, , $3.67 $84.66 Grants Pass, OR 11,340 $613, , $4.07 $54.06 Paso Robles, CA 11,138 $892, , $5.44 $79.77 Carson, NV 13,856 $717, , $3.79 $51.76 Petaluma, CA 15,881 $1,151, , $3.62 $72.49 Lodi, CA 18,036 $1,423, , $7.62 $78.91 Longview-Kelso, WA 22,779 $2,663, , $7.40 $ Peer Average 14,050 $959, , $5.45 $80.19 Source: National Transit Database, In FY2015/16, revenue for the Linn Shuttle was primarily provided by FTA 5311 and Linn County STF funds. Other major revenue sources included FTA 5310, Linn Benton Community College (LBCC), and fares. The City of Lebanon also dedicates funding to the Linn Shuttle for the FTA 5310 required match. Funding sources, amounts, and percent of total revenue are listed in Table 11. Table 11: Linn Shuttle Revenue for FY 15/16 Funding Source Amount Percent of Total Revenue 5310 $62,000 19% 5311 $100,100 31% STF $66,600 21% LBCC $50,000 16% City of Lebanon (5310 Match) $7,200 2% Fares $34,000 11% Total Revenue $319, % Source: Sweet Home Senior Center. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 24

25 Additional AAMPO-Area Services The following programs provide additional transit services into the greater Albany Area. Benton County Dial-A-Bus Benton County residents (including those in North Albany) 60 years of age or older and persons of any age with a documented disability qualify for Benton County s STF Demand Response service. Passengers enrolled in the Corvallis Transit System (CTS) ADA paratransit program are automatically qualified for the County s program, but the reverse is not true (i.e. enrollment in the Benton County STF service does not automatically enroll the passenger in the CTS ADA service). The STF service is available seven days a week: 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. To reserve a trip, customers must schedule at least one day in advance Monday through Friday between 8 am and 5:30 pm. Fares for the STF service are based on zones and one-way trips range from $2.50 to $5.25, depending on the number of zones traveled. Zone 1 includes Corvallis city limits outside the ADA complementary paratransit service buffer. (Service is free within the CTS service area.) Zone 2 includes the area surrounding Corvallis, including Lewisburg, Philomath, and Kiger Island Road. Zone 3 includes Adair Village, North Albany, and Wren, and Zone 4 includes outlying Benton County areas, including Alsea, Bellfountain, Blodgett, Kings Valley, Monroe, and Summit. The service offers ADA accessible vehicles with at least one wheelchair securement space. Passengers must request wheelchair accommodations when scheduling a trip. The County contracts with Dial-A-Bus of Benton County to provide the STF service. The service cost of $466,410 is covered by FTA 5310 grants and STF and local funds. Ridership for FY 2013/2014 was 25,833 trips, a monthly average of 2,153 trips. Approximately 91% of the FY 2013/2014 trips were classified as day trips, with the remaining 9% as evening or weekend trips. For FY 2014/2015, the total number of trips increased to 26,167, and the monthly average to 2,181. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 25

26 Table 12: Benton County DAB Overview Service Area Description Origin-to-destination wheelchair accessible transportation throughout Benton County for older adults and persons with disabilities. Days and Hours of Operation Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Fare $2.50 to $5.25, depending on the number of zones traveled Connections to other services May be used to connect to other services. Corvallis-Albany Connection Through contract with Dial-A-Bus, Benton County provides the Corvallis-Albany Connection service to Albany three days a week. The service is demand responsive and will pick up and drop off riders at the designations of their choosing in Albany and Corvallis. This service is wheelchair accessible, curb-to-curb transportation for Albany and Corvallis residents 60 years of age and over and for persons with disabilities. Passengers must request wheelchair accommodations when scheduling a trip. The Corvallis-Albany Connection operates nine one-way runs per day on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The service area is within the city limits of Corvallis and Albany. A one-way trip costs $4.00. The service is registration based and provides rides on a first-come, first-served basis. There are two buses used in this service with 12 seated spaces and two wheelchair securement spaces. The FY2015/2016 service is funded with $53,000 of FTA 5310, STF, and local funds. Annual ridership for FY 2013/2014 was 1,480 trips, a monthly average of 123 trips. FY 2014/2015, this total decreased slightly to 1,270 annual trips and a 106 monthly trip average. The Corvallis-Albany Connection connects to public transportation services serving Albany, including Albany Transit Service (ATS), the Linn Shuttle, Amtrak, Boltbus, and other intercity services. Table 13: Corvallis-Albany Connection Overview Service areas are locations within city limits of Corvallis and Albany; locations Service Description between the two cities are accommodated when possible. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; four round trips/ nine one-way trips; 7:30 Days and Hours of Operation a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Fare $4.00 per trip May be used to connect to other services including the CTS and ATS fixedroute and demand-response services and all connections available in Albany Connections to other services and Corvallis. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 26

27 Lebanon Dial-A-Bus Lebanon Dial-A-Bus provides curb-to-curb wheelchair accessible dial-a-ride transportation service for older adults, persons with documented disabilities, and the general public within the city limits of Lebanon. Rides are provided for a variety of purposes, including shopping, doctor appointments, and access to social services and recreation. While the Lebanon Dial-A-Bus does not serve the AAMPO area, riders can use the Dial-A-Bus service to connect with the Linn Shuttle for trips into the Albany area. The Dial-A-Bus service operates Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Dial-A-Bus provides transportation for the public with no ride restrictions, but service is prioritized for older adults and persons with disabilities. The focus of the service is for transportation within Lebanon, but the Dial-A-Bus could be used to access the Linn Shuttle, making further connections to Albany and beyond. Lebanon Dial-A-Bus also serves the Willamette Valley Rehabilitation Center in Lebanon for persons with developmental disabilities. This provides a morning pick-up and afternoon drop-off for registered clients, Monday through Friday. There are four different Dial-A-Bus vehicles. A 16-passenger vehicle and a 14-passenger vehicle each have two wheelchair securement spaces. A 12-passenger vehicle and a 7-passenger van are each equipped with one wheelchair securement space. In FY 2014/2015, administrative expenses were paid by the City of Lebanon. County, state, and federal grants and fares contributed to operational expenses. Annual ridership was 19,839 trips in FY 2014/2015, a slight increase of 1.3% from 19,590 rides in FY 2013/2014. Table 14: Lebanon Dial-A-Bus Overview Service Area Description Within Lebanon city limits Days and Hours of 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, no weekend service Operation $2.00 (general public), $1.00 (seniors/disabled), free (children and care Fare attendants) per one-way ride Connections to other Linn Shuttle connects through Lebanon to Sweet Home and Albany services Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 27

28 Sweet Home Dial-A-Bus The non-profit Sweet Home Senior Center operates the Sweet Home Dial-A-Bus program. This is a curb-to-curb wheelchair-accessible transportation service operating within the Sweet Home city limits. The current service area is a reduction from a prior service area that included the Sweet Home School District. Riders can use the Dial-A-Bus service to connect with the Linn Shuttle. The Sweet Home Dial-A-Bus service operates Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. With at least 24 hours advance notice, an early pick-up can be arranged to meet the Linn Shuttle s 6:45 a.m. run. The service is open to all residents of Sweet Home, but preference is given to older adults and persons with a disability. Fares are $1.00 one-way. Dial-A-Bus passengers may use the service to connect to the Linn Shuttle and connections throughout the community. Ridership for FY14/15 totaled to 7,109 rides. Sweet Home vehicles are equipped with video cameras, wheelchair lifts or ramps, and two onboard securement spaces. Dial-A-Bus drivers are trained to assist persons with disabilities. Linn Shuttle, Sweet Home Dial-A-bus, and Sweet Home Shopper have a combined fleet of 12 vehicles. One of them, a Dodge Grand Caravan minivan, is used for the Dial-A-Bus service. Sweet Home Dial-A-Bus is in the process of acquiring a second van. This service is funded through federal grants, STF funds, the City of Sweet Home, and farebox revenue. Table 15: Sweet Home Dial-A-Bus Overview Service Area Description Within Sweet Home city limits Days and Hours of Operation Fare Connections to other services Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the possibility of early pick-up to meet 6:45 a.m. Linn Shuttle $1.00 for each one-way trip Connections possible to Linn Shuttle and Sweet Home Shopper Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 28

29 Sweet Home Shopper A service of Linn Shuttle, the Sweet Home Shopper connects people to shopping trips, medical appointments, and other downtown Sweet Home destinations. The Shopper operates limited service on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., using the Sweet Home Senior Center as its base. There are six daily trips. The service costs $1.00 for each one-way trip. Service design promotes local use for shopping and accessing downtown Sweet Home, but does not facilitate regional transit connections. While it is not conveniently timed, it is possible to access the Linn Shuttle via the Senior Center, requiring a layover that ranges up to 90 minutes. All Sweet Home Shopper vehicles are equipped with video cameras, wheelchair lifts or ramps, two on-board securement spaces, and bike racks. Linn Shuttle, Sweet Home Dial-A-Bus, and Sweet Home Shopper have combined fleet of 12 vehicles. Four 20 passenger buses are used for this service. Three of the four buses have an international engine making maintenance a challenge. The service is funded through federal grants, STF funds, the City of Sweet Home, and rider revenue. FY 2015/2016 monthly ridership has averaged about 411 riders. Table 16: Sweet Home Shopper Overview Service Area Description Destinations throughout Sweet Home Days and Hours of Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Operation Fare $1.00 for each one-way trip Connections to other Possible to connect to Linn Shuttle using service, designed for local access services Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 29

30 Coast-to-Valley Express Benton and Lincoln counties co-operate the Coast to Valley Express Route, connecting Albany/Corvallis to Newport seven days per week. Each agency provides two round trips per day. The service travels along State Highway 20, making connections in Albany, Corvallis, Philomath, Eddyville, Toledo, and Newport. The Coast to Valley Express serves passengers accessing medical facilities, job training, shopping, recreation, and educational opportunities. The service is also marketed to visitors through the North by Northwest Connector Alliance. The service operates seven days a week from 6:20 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. with eight total trips per day, four eastbound and four westbound. The fare for cross-county trips is $10.00 each way or $7.00 for adults 60 years or older, youth under 12, and persons with a disability. Short duration trips are $1.00 for Toledo to Newport, $1.00 for Philomath to Corvallis, and $2.00 for Corvallis to Amtrak in Albany. Benton County Dial-a-Bus has a dedicated vehicle fleet for the Coast to Valley Express. All buses are ADA accessible and include a wheelchair lift, two on-board wheelchair securement spaces, and capacity for two bicycles. Funding sources include Benton County FTA 5311, STF, and local funds. Ridership in FY 2013/2014 totaled 3,374 trips with a monthly average of 281 trips. In FY 2014/2015, these totals increased to 3,639 trips, with an average of 303 trips per month. Table 17: Coast-to-Valley Express Overview Albany, Corvallis, Philomath, Eddyville, Toledo, and Newport along State Service Area Description Highway 20 Days and Hours of Operation Daily service, 6:20 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Inter-County:$10.00 each way; $7.00 each way for older adults (60+), youth Fare (under 12) and people with disabilities Local (Toledo to Newport): $1.00 each way In Newport connections to Newport Loop and Intercity bus; in Philomath Connections to other connections to Philomath Connection; in Corvallis connection to CTS, Linnservices Benton Loop and 99 Express; in Albany connection to ATS, Linn Shuttle, and Amtrak Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 30

31 Connecting Regional Services Valley Retriever Valley Retriever is a private bus service that operates twice a day between Newport and Salem (with stops in Philomath, Corvallis and Albany). Service continues to Portland and Bend, each with one trip a day. Service operates Sunday through Friday. One-way travel between Albany and Newport costs $25.00 and one-way service from Albany to Bend costs $ Table 18: Valley Retriever Overview Newport to Portland connecting Newport, Toledo, Philomath, Corvallis, Albany, Salem, McMinnville, Newberg, Tigard, and Portland Service Description Newport to Bend connection Newport, Toledo, Philomath, Corvallis, Albany, Salem, Sisters, and Bend Sunday Friday; Newport to Portland 3:30 pm 7:15 pm; Portland to Days and Hours of Operation Newport 7:30 pm 11:00 pm; Newport to Bend 5:30 am 10:40 am; Bend to Newport 10:55 am 4:10 pm Newport/ Portland run: $49.00 weekdays, $52.00 Sunday; Newport/ Bend Fare run: $59.00 weekdays, $61.00 Sunday; Albany to Newport segment: $25.00 and Albany to Bend segment: $38.00 Connections to other Connects to Albany Amtrak station, Salem Greyhound, Portland Greyhound services Station Bolt Bus Bolt Bus provides service from Albany south to Eugene, and north to Portland. There are two trips in each direction daily, Thursday through Monday. Trips can cost as low as $1.00, though the cost increases as seats are booked. As of late July 2015, most tickets for travel from Albany to Eugene cost between $6.00 and $6.50. Tickets to Portland cost between $7.00 and $8.50. Passengers can connect to other Bolt buses in Portland for service further north to Seattle, Bellingham and Vancouver. Table 19: Bolt Bus Overview Service Description Days and Hours of Operation Fare Connections to other services Connections throughout I-5 corridor: Los Angeles to Vancouver, BC Daily trips at 8:30 am and 3:45 pm to Eugene; daily trips to Portland at 10:45 am and 6:00 pm $1.00+ (generally, approximately between $6.00 and $8.50 for Albany to Eugene or Portland) Amtrak/Greyhound and local service connections Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 31

32 Amtrak Amtrak provides service to Albany along the Amtrak Cascades and the Coast Starlight routes. Including the Amtrak Cascades Thruway bus along the I-5 corridor and the Amtrak train lines, Albany Station is served by nine northbound and nine southbound trips each day of the week. During Amtrak s 2014 Fiscal Year, approximately 35,100 passengers traveled to or from Albany Station. 6 Table 20: Amtrak Services Overview Amtrak Cascades routes connects Albany to Vancouver, BC and Eugene; Service Description Coast Starlight connects Albany to San Francisco and California locations From Albany: Northbound trains at 6:13 am, 9:35 am, 12:30 pm, 1:22 pm, 1:43 pm; northbound thruway buses at 8:10 am, 2:05 pm, 3:35 pm 6:25 pm Days and Hours of Operation Southbound trains at 7:36 am, 10:06 am, 1:00 pm, 1:10 pm, 6:20 pm, 7:41 pm, 11:59 pm; southbound thruway buses at 8:55 am, 12:20 pm, 8:40 pm Fare Varies based on route and mode Connections to other Connections to local transit service at most stations services Hut Airport Shuttle Hut Airport Shuttle operates to and from Albany, Corvallis, Eugene, OSU, Salem, and Woodburn to Portland Airport. In Albany, the pick-up location is the Phoenix Inn. Fares range from $30 to $85 to for one way trips, depending on pick up location. One vehicle is equipped with a wheelchair lift. Table 21: Hut Shuttle Overview Service Description Connects Albany, Corvallis, Eugene, OSU, Salem, and Woodburn to and from to Portland Airport Days and Hours of Operation Sunday-Saturday; 1:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Fare Pick up city determines price Connections to other services Portland Airport 6 Amtrak Government Affairs. Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2014: State of Oregon. November Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 32

33 City to City Airport Shuttle City2City Shuttle provides shuttle service to and from locations along the I-5 Corridor and Portland International Airport (PDX). In Albany, the pick-up location is the Comfort Inn. Fares depend on the pick-up location but range from $33 to $110 per ride. Vehicles can accommodate wheelchairs. Table 22: City to City Airport Shuttle Overview Service Description Connects Albany, Eugene, Portland, and Salem to and from Portland Airport Days and Hours of Operation Sunday-Saturday; 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. Fare Pick up city determines price Connections to other services Connections to Portland Airport Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 33

34 Chapter Three: Market Analysis This chapter presents an evaluation of the primary factors that influence the use of transit in region. These include demographics associated with transit dependent populations, the overall demand for travel in the region, and local land uses. Demographic Characteristics From 2000 to 2013, Albany s population grew by approximately 24 percent. Albany has grown by approximately 10,000 people between 2000 and In 2010, the region grew to more than 50,000 people, requiring the region to set up a metropolitan planning organization to handle transportation policy and finance for the area. Table 23: Historical Population City of Albany 2000 a 40, b 50, c 50,828 Sources: (a) US Census Bureau, 2000 US Census Summary File 1: Table P001; (b) US Census Bureau, 2010 US Census Summary File 1: Table P1; (c) US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Table B In terms of the demographic makeup of people in the Albany area, residents of Oregon, Linn County and the Albany urbanized area are very similar. Residents in Albany and the urban area are more likely to have lower incomes and have a disability than residents in Linn County or the state of Oregon. Table 24: Demographic Summary ( ) Demographic Category City of Albany Urbanized Area Linn County Oregon Total population a 50,158 56, ,672 3,831,074 Youth (persons aged 10-17) a 10.8% 11.1% 11.0% 10.2% Older Adults (persons aged 65+) a 13.1% 13.0% 15.4% 13.9% Minority a 17.1% 17.0% 12.9% 21.5% Low-Income Population b 19.5% 19.3% 17.8% 16.2% Persons with a Disability b 16.9% 16.7% 17.6% 14.6% Households Without a Vehicle b 7.5% 7.1% 5.4% 7.9% Population Speaking English Less than Well b 2.2% 2.2% 1.1% 3.5% Notes: Minority includes non-white persons of one race, persons of two or more races, and Hispanic/Latinos of any race. Lowincome population are those earning below the federal poverty level. Disability is for the civilian non-institutionalized population aged 5 years or older. Population speaking English less than well is based on persons aged 5 years or older. Sources: (a) US Census Bureau, 2010 US Census Summary File 1: Tables P1, P9 and P12; (b) US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Tables B16004, B25044, C17002, S1810. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 34

35 Between 2000 and 2013, Albany s population grew approximately 24%. During that same period of time, the population of people who identify themselves as Hispanic/Latino grew by 159%, and people earning below the poverty line grew by 109%. The population of youth grew by about the same rate as population growth (26%), while older adults decreased by almost 12%. Individuals with limited English proficiency also grew faster than the overall rate of population, at 62%. Table 25 shows the changes by demographic group between 2000 and Table 25: Demographic Changes (City of Albany) Change Demographic Category Number Pct. Number Pct. Number Pct. Total population a,b 40, % 50, % 9, % Youth (persons aged 10-17) c,d 4, % 5, % 1, % Older Adults (persons aged 65+) c,d 7, % 6, % % Hispanic/Latino e,f 2, % 6, % 3, % Minority (including Hispanic/Latino) e,f 4, % 9, % 5, % Low-Income Population g,h 4, % 9, % 5, % Persons with a Disability i,j 7, % 7, % % Households Without a Vehicle k,l 1, % 1, % % Population Speaking English Less than Well m,n % 1, % % Notes: Minority includes non-white persons of one race, persons of two or more races, and Hispanic/Latinos of any race. Lowincome population are those earning below the federal poverty level. Disability is for the civilian non-institutionalized population aged 5 years or older. Population speaking English less than well is based on persons aged 5 years or older. Sources: (a) US Census Bureau, 2000 US Census Summary File 1: Table P001; (b) US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Table B01003; (c) US Census Bureau, 2000 US Census Summary File 1: Table P012; (d) US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Table B01001; (e) US Census Bureau, 2000 US Census Summary File 1: Table P4; (f) US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Table B03002; (g) US Census Bureau, 2000 US Census Summary File 3: Table P087; (h) US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Table C17003; (i) US Census Bureau, 2000 US Census Summary File 3: Table P042; (j) US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Table S1810; (k) US Census Bureau, 2000 US Census Summary File 3: Table H044; (l) US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Table B25044; (m) US Census Bureau, 2000 US Census Summary File 3: Table P019; (n) US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Table B The maps on the following pages (Figure 8 through Figure 15) display demographic factors in the Albany area and surrounding communities that usually correlate with higher transit use (lowincome households, persons with a disability, seniors, and youth). In general, downtown Albany and the area immediately to the south have higher concentrations of community members more likely to rely on public transportation. It should be noted that two sources of data are used in the maps: the US Census and the Corvallis Albany Lebanon Model (CALM travel demand model). As Sweet Home is not included in the CALM, some maps do not have data to display for the Sweet Home inset. In addition to these demographic factors, high density areas are prime markets for transit. Higher concentrations of people and jobs tend to increase transit use, and decrease the per capita cost of operating the system (as transit can provide more passenger trips without an increase in revenue Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 35

36 hours). Additionally, industry experience suggests that as densities increase, transit demand increases at a higher rate, most dramatically for densities above people per acre. Since denser areas are more likely to have a greater diversity of groups and activities, the transit market is much more geographically focused. This concentration of origins and destinations increases the demand and productivity of transit services. Figure 16 presents the combination of population and employment densities in the region. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 36

37 Figure 8: Density of Poverty, 2013 American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Table B17017 US Census Bureau, Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 37

38 Figure 9: Density of Transit Commuters, 2013 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Table B08301 Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 38

39 Figure 10: Household Income, 2013 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Table B19013 Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 39

40 Figure 11: Density of Limited English Proficiency Households US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Table B16002 Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 40

41 Figure 12: Density of Older Adults (Age 65 or Older), 2013 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Table B01001 Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 41

42 Figure 13: Density of Youth (Age 10-17), 2013 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Table B01001 Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 42

43 Figure 14: Density of Zero Vehicle Households, 2013 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Table B25044 Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 43

44 Figure 15: Density of Individuals with a Disability, 2013 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Table B18101 Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 44

45 Figure 16: Population/Employment Density, 2010 Source: CALM Model Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 45

46 Employment Travel Patterns Journey to work data provide an indication where regional workers are traveling for work purposes. A portion of these commute represent potential transit trips if made during normal transit hours of operation. The majority of employees in Albany commute from surrounding communities. The most common home location is Corvallis-Philomath, followed by Salem- Keizer and Lebanon. Approximately a third of Albany residents work in Albany. The residents who commute outside of Albany most often work in Corvallis-Philomath, Salem-Keizer and Portland. Table 26: Albany Employee Flows (2012) Home Location Work Location Albany Outside Albany Albany 7,094 12,216 Outside Albany 14,827 - Source: US Census Bureau, Center for Economic Studies Table 27: Top Home Locations of Albany Employees (2012) Home Location Number Percent Albany 7, % Corvallis-Philomath 1, % Salem-Keizer 1, % Lebanon % Portland (metro) % Eugene-Springfield % Sweet Home % Millersburg % Jefferson % All other locations 7, % Source: US Census Bureau, Center for Economic Studies Table 28: Top Work Locations of Albany Residents (2012) Work Location Number Percent Albany 7, % Corvallis-Philomath 3, % Salem-Keizer 1, % Portland (metro) 1, % Eugene-Springfield 1, % Lebanon % Millersburg % Tangent % Medford % All other locations 5, % Source: US Census Bureau, Center for Economic Studies Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 46

47 Chapter Four: System-wide Performance This chapter analyzes the system-level performance of the Primary AAMPO-area services against a set of industry standard measures. Chapter 5 examines these services at the route level. Ridership is a key factor when evaluating system performance as is productivity or the ratio of ridership to the level of investment in terms of revenue hours. Fixed Routes Service Performance According to transit industry standards, a transit system or an individual route is operating well if it has between 15 and 20 passengers per hour. Albany s peer cities have an average productivity of 14.7 passengers per hour, and the average productivity for all transit agencies in an urbanized area less than 200,000 people is 15.1 passengers per hour. 7 Except for Saturday service on the Linn-Benton Loop and the Linn Shuttle, each route exhibits a respectable level of performance in terms of productivity. The Linn-Benton Loop s weekday productivity 29.6 passengers per hour is the highest in the Albany Area. A relatively large transit dependent population (including community college students) in conjunction with a limited frequency of service results in higher passengers per hour of service. Table 29: AAMPO-Area Transit System Performance (FY ) Annual Daily Daily Revenue Boardings per Route Riders Riders Hours Revenue Hour Route 1 Early Morning 7, Route 2 Regular East 42, Route 3 Regular West 35, ATS Subtotal 86, Linn-Benton Loop (Weekday) 124, Linn-Benton Loop (Saturday) 128, Linn Shuttle 67,565 N/A N/A 9.6 TOTAL (Weekday) 210, Source: City of Albany and Sweet Home Senior Center Note: The productivity values are based on provider data which may include layover on other non-revenue time. The route profiles in Appendix B presents productivity based on running times between stops and reflect higher values. Ridership Trends The Albany Transit System and Linn-Benton Loop have experienced steady growth within the last decade (see Figure 17). From to , the average annual ridership was approximately 70,000 boardings. Between and , annual ridership increased by 7 National Transit Database, Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 47

48 22 percent. Since , the average annual ridership has been approximately 89,000. In 2012, Route 4 was discontinued in March 2012 and replaced by later service on Routes 2 and 3. Figure 18 shows a similar growth in ridership for the Linn Shuttle until 2015/16. Students have made up about 40 percent of Shuttle riders over the last four years and the number of students riding dropped by over 20 percent in the last year, largely in response to the improvement in the economy. At the same time the Linn Shuttle added an additional trip each day in 2005/16 lowering the productivity to 7.0 riders per service hour in 2015/16. Figure 17: ATS and L-B Loop Historical Boardings (2000/01 to 2014/15) 160, , , ,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 Routes 1, 2 and 3 Linn-Benton Loop Source: City of Albany Figure 18: Linn Shuttle Historical Boardings (2009/10 to 2015/16) Source: Sweet Home Senior Center Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 48

49 All three services have their busiest months between October and May (see Figure 19) when LBCC, OSU, and local public schools are in session. October is traditionally the busiest month. This is the timeframe for Try Transit Week, during which passengers can ride all Albany Transit Routes and the Linn-Benton Loop for free. Figure 19: AAMPO-Area Monthly Boardings (2014/15) Source: City of Albany and Sweet Home Senior Center Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 49

50 Call-A-Ride The demand response service also exhibits a typical level of productivity relative to industry norms. The 2.5 passengers per hour is on par with ADA paratransit systems, but at the low end for general public systems. 8 Table 30: Call-A-Ride Performance Route Annual Riders * Daily Riders Daily Revenue Hours Passengers per Revenue Hour ATS Call-A-Ride 17, * Albany Transit System, Call-A-Ride FY ridership Albany Transit System, Call-A-Ride Productivity, January 2011 to June 2015 Ridership Trends Between 2003 and 2015, average annual ridership was about 16,750 boardings. In that 12-year period, Call-A-Ride s ridership peaked in with 19,142 trips. During 2014/15, ridership was 17,429. Figure 20 shows annual ridership trends for Call-A-Ride service. Figure 20 Call-A-Ride Annual Ridership: ,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 Source: City of Albany No trends emerge for busiest months, year-to-year, but, on average, October is the busiest month on the Call-A-Ride system. Figure 21 shows the average boardings, by month, from 2010 to KFH Group et al, Guidebook for Measuring, Assessing, and Improving Performance of Demand Response Transportation, TCRP Report 124 Transportation Research Board, National Academies, Washington, D.C., Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 50

51 An analysis of January 2011 to June 2015, 1,157 weekdays of service, shows that 43 percent of all trips on Call-A-Ride are for seniors and 57 percent are for ADA paratransit trips. During that analysis period there were an average of 63 trips per day or an average 1,374 trips per month. On average, from January 2011 to June 2015, Call-A-Ride operated 1,417 miles per day, 57.4 service miles per revenue hour, and an average of 24.7 revenue hours per day. When comparing the average number of passenger hours to revenue hours, passenger hours are 65 percent of average revenue hours. Cancellations and No Shows are an issue that may burden the Call-A-Ride system. On average, Call-A-Ride receives 5.4 cancellations per day and.7 no shows per day or 14.8 no shows per month. In total, from January 2011 to June 2015, No Show hours were spent by Call-A- Ride. Assuming the $48.32 per revenue hour from the National Transit Database, No Shows cost the system more than $9,050 without considering the opportunity cost of potential denied or delayed rides. 9 Figure 21 Call-A-Ride Monthly Boardings ( ) 2,000 1,750 1,500 1,250 1, Source: City of Albany Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun 9 Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database. City of Albany (ATS) Profile, Accessed online August 4, 2015: Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 51

52 Overall, rider satisfaction with the Call-A-Ride service is very high, at 90 percent satisfied for the past three years of surveys. Table 31 presents rider satisfaction as well as some system performance data. Table 31: Paratransit and Demand Responsive Performance Performance Criteria Percent of riders satisfied or very satisfied with service 90% 90% 90% Number or rides per month 1,429 1,384 1,417 Number of miles driven per month 7,000 7,600 8,200 Number of volunteer hours 4,950 5,000 5,000 Operating cost per ride $16.38 $17.78 $21.48 Source: City of Albany Call-A-Ride Service Analysis Albany Call-A-Ride Origins-Destinations Analysis An analysis of the origins and destinations 10 of Albany Call-A-Ride passengers provides a picture of where people are coming from, where they are going and the frequency of travel by different passengers. The most common destinations include Walmart, Fred Meyer, the Fresenius Dialysis Center, Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC), and various locations in and around Heritage Plaza such as the Bi-Mart, Safeway, Hobby Lobby, Grocery Outlet, and Target. The most common pick-up locations are the Fresenius Dialysis Center, Wal-Mart, LBCC, and Fred Meyer and the Heritage Plaza locations. Figure 23 illustrates the geographic distribution of the most common pick-up locations as well as the time when pick-ups take place. A concentration of pick-ups occur near the Fred Meyer, Safeway, and Heritage Plaza area to the east of downtown. Also to the east of downtown is the Walmart south of Santiam Highway. To the west of downtown, the Fresenius and Samaritan Albany General Hospital locations are grouped together, representing a strong service node. 10 Origin and destination data from two-week period in April 2015 was examined for the O-D analysis. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 52

53 Figure 22 helps explain the time distributions seen in the Origins map. Most pick-ups take place before noon (60 percent), with a noticeable decline in pick-ups taking place in the afternoon hours. Figure 22 Call-A-Ride Pick-up Time Distribution 20% 18% 15% 14% 15% 10% 9% 10% 9% 8% 9% 5% 0% 1% 3% 4% 2% 0% Source: City of Albany Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 53

54 Figure 23 Call-A-Ride Origins Map Source: City of Albany Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 54