Albany Area Metropolitan Planning Organization RTP Project Management Team

Transcription

1 DRAFT MEMORANDUM #5 DATE: September 1, 2015 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). This document summarizes the conditions in which the Albany Area transit services operate, and it provides a comprehensive evaluation of existing services and system performance. This report serves as the foundation for the development of initial service alternatives. Report Organization This Existing Conditions Technical Memorandum assesses demographic and socioeconomic characteristics in the Albany Area, and evaluates the operation and performance of the Albany area transit services. Operator input and information from a previous on-board survey are also included as they are important factors in obtaining a holistic overview of the regional transit system. The Existing Conditions Report consists of five additional chapters and an appendix: Chapter Two provides an overview of Albany Area transit detailing operational characteristics of the fixed-route, demand response and intercity services. Chapter Three evaluates the demographic and socio-economic conditions within Albany that influence demand for transit. Chapter Four reviews the system-level performance for the ATS operated services. Chapter Five details route-level performance of the ATS-operated fixed routes. Chapter Six provides a summary of key findings and highlights important transportation needs. Appendices provide supporting graphics for the route-level analyses, including ridership maps and performance data. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 2

3 Chapter Two: System Overview This chapter presents an overview of the various transit services operating in the study area. These include fixed-route services operated by the City of Albany, and the City s Call-A-Ride demand response service, the regionally-funded Linn-Benton Loop, and the Linn Shuttle. Albany Area Fixed Routes 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. The fourth route, the Linn-Benton Loop, operates as an inter-city route connecting Corvallis and Albany. 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 from 6:25 am until 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday, and 8:00 am until 6:00 pm on Saturday. Service in the morning operates in a counter-clockwise direction; in the evening the Loop operates in the 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. Midday service only operates between LBCC and Oregon State University along Highway 34. On Saturday, service operates in the counter-clockwise direction. Unlike Morning, Afternoon or Midday service, Saturday service does not serve HP or OSU, but does serve the Heritage Mall. In addition to ATS-operated routes, the Linn Shuttle provides regional service connecting Albany, Linn-Benton Community College, Lebanon, and Sweet Home. The Linn Shuttle is not part of the Albany Transit System, but is another publicly provided service in the Albany area. The Linn Shuttle is operated by the Sweet Home Senior and Community Center. The Linn Shuttle operates from 6:25 am until 7:35 pm. Service generally operates every three hours (180 minutes), though peak service is every 60 minutes. Table 1 lists all routes in the Albany Area with their hours of operation and scheduled frequency. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 3

4 Figure 1: Linn-Benton Loop Midday at LBCC Source: Nelson\Nygaard Figure 2 shows the routes within Albany, and Figure 3 shows the routes on a regional level. Table 1: Albany Area Fixed Routes Route Major Destinations Service Span Frequency Route 1 Early Morning Albany Station, Linn-Benton Community College, Samaritan Albany General Hospital 6:30 am 8:30 am 60 min Route 2 Regular East Albany Station, Downtown Albany, Samaritan Albany General Hospital, West Albany High 9:00 am 6:15 pm 60 min School, Linn-Benton Community College Route 3 Regular West Albany Station, Walmart, South Albany High School, Heritage Mall 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 7:35 pm min Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 4

5 Figure 2: Fixed Route Transit in Albany Source: Nelson\Nygaard Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 5

6 Figure 3: Fixed Route Transit in the Albany Area Source: Nelson\Nygaard Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 6

7 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 as 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. Passengers also can transfer between Route 1 or 3 to the Linn-Benton Loop at Linn-Benton Community College. There is a large covered seating area for passengers (see Figure 4) 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. Figure 4: 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. See the Additional Services section on page 20 for more information on these other services. Table 2 provides a summary of the transferring opportunities available to passengers, including the days and times each service arrives. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 7

8 Table 2: 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 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 Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 8

9 Departure Time Service Destination Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 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 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. Fare Payment The fare system in Albany is based on the service used, and the type of passenger (see Table 3). 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. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 9

10 Table 3: 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. 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 1 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 $ Call-A-Ride In addition to fixed-route services, the City of Albany provides a curb-to-curb ADA paratransit and demand responsive service called Call-A-Ride. This service is intended 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. The Call-A-Ride service operates Monday through Friday, from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm, and on Saturdays from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. The service provides trips within Albany city limits and ¾- mile outside Albany city limits. 1 Passengers showing a LBCC ID card must have a valid term sticker to board for free. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 10

11 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. 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 4 offers an assessment of the six ADA service criteria and a description of Albany Call-A-Ride s service in relation to the criteria. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 11

12 Table 4: 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 Capital Assets Fleet The Albany Transit System has 18 active and inactive transit vehicles (nine are fixed route buses, 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 5 lists the vehicles with their make, model and year. In addition to transit vehicles, Albany Transit System has two pickup trucks for nonrevenue use. Table 5: Vehicle Inventory Vehicle Make Model Year Length Number Fixed Route Buses Gillig Phantom ft Gillig Phantom ft ElDorado EZ Ride II ft Gillig Low Floor ft Gillig Low Floor ft Gillig Spirit ft Gillig Phantom ft ElDorado EZ Ride II ft Gillig Low Floor ft Call-A-Ride Vehicles Ford Aero Dodge G Caravan Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 12

13 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 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 5 presents examples of a stop without a bench or shelter, and a stop with a bench, shelter and schedule information. Figure 5: ATS Bus Stops Source: Nelson\Nygaard Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 13

14 ATS does not currently have an asset management plan defining the maintenance and replacement of capital assets. The city currently performs maintenance to equipment manufacturer recommendations. 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. The 2010 Central Willamette Valley ITS Plan outlines a recommended strategy for advancing ITS tools in the ATS system, with an implementation priority 2 associated with each improvement. The proposed strategy is outlined in Table 6, 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 6: 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 2 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 14

15 Transit Funding in Albany Between the and Fiscal Years, the Albany Transit System operating budget has increased by about 96 percent (or approximately 14 percent per year, without taking into account inflation). Table 7: 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 * Approved budget for Fiscal Year ** Proposed budget for Fiscal Year From through the adopted budgets from and , the General Fund accounted for approximately one-fifth of the total operating budget. Federal funds account for approximately one-third of the budget in and , but was increased to almost half for the next three budgets. FTA Section 5311 and 5310 were the primary federal resources, but since , Section 5309 and 5307 are the primary sources. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 15

16 Table 8 provides a breakdown of transit fund resources for the past five fiscal years. Federal sources of funding are listed first, followed by state sources, then local sources, and lastly with revenues directly related to the transit system. Funding from FTA s Section 5311 Grant was replaced with Section 5307 funds in 2013 because of Albany s growth to an urbanized area greater than 50,000 people. Table 8: Public Transit Fund Resources Resource Type * ** FTA Section $ 543,473 $ 1,017,700 $ 767,000 FTA Section 5309 Grant $ 304,000 - FTA Section 5310 Grant $ 152,207 $ 66,481 $ 327,032 $ 248,100 $ 30,400 FTA Section 5311 Grant $ 416,000 $ 424, Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit $ 404, Oregon STF: Linn County $ 23,060 $ 41, $ 59,600 Oregon STF: Benton County $ 8,625 $ 14,000 $ 8,000 $ 8,000 $ 54,000 State (other) $ 94 $ 32,014 $ 8,002 $ 9,600 - Albany General Fund $ 366,100 $ 436,100 $ 440,000 $ 466,700 $ 571,900 Local $ 171,144 $ 269,267 $ 236,360 $ 231,500 $ 238,000 Call-A-Ride Revenue $ 13,753 $ 24,764 $ 26,874 $ 30,000 $ 30,500 Fares $ 34,085 $ 53,178 $ 62,658 $ 49,000 $ 52,000 Advertising $ 15,789 $ 5,338 $ 4,911 $ 4,000 $ 5,000 Miscellaneous $ 66,766 $ 290,829 $ 171,755 $ 311,300 $ 101,800 * Approved budget for Fiscal Year ** Proposed budget for Fiscal Year Source: City of Albany Budget 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 9). 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. Table 9: 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 $ Grants Pass, OR 11,340 $ 613, , $ 4.07 $ Paso Robles, CA 11,138 $ 892, , $ 5.44 $ Carson, NV 13,856 $ 717, , $ 3.79 $ Petaluma, CA 15,881 $1,151, , $ 3.62 $ Lodi, CA 18,036 $1,423, , $ 7.62 $ Longview-Kelso, WA 22,779 $2,663, , $ 7.40 $ Peer Average 14,050 $ 959, , $5.45 $ Source: National Transit Database, Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 16

17 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 and Fiscal Years, fuel and maintenance accounted for approximately 20 percent of Materials and Services. Table 10: Public Transit Fund Expenditure Expenditure Type * ** Personnel 57.5% 53.7% 60.8% 39.1% 39.1% Materials & Services 33.8% 46.3% 33.8% 29.7% 29.7% Capital 8.7% 0.0% 5.1% 31.0% 31.0% Transfers Out 0.0% 0.0% 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% * Approved budget for Fiscal Year ** Proposed budget for Fiscal Year Source: City of Albany Budget Call-A-Ride Funding Albany Call-A-Ride budget includes expenses such as personnel wages and salaries, operations maintenance costs, and budgeting for capital equipment. Figure 6 displays the budgets for Call- A-Ride from to the Generally, the budgets show incremental growth over time, with a few notable exceptions. In the budget the vehicle fuel charges budgets grew by 204 percent, later returning near the average in the budget. Also notable is the increase in vehicle maintenance costs and contractual services in the budget. In the budget the Contractual Services budget is about 4.5 times higher than the five year average and the vehicle maintenance budget is about 3.3 times higher than the five year average. The largest budget items are not uniform year-to-year due to changing maintenance and other needs. In the , , and budgets, wages and salaries are the largest budget line items, representing 40, 35, and 32 percent of the budgets, respectively. In the budget vehicle Fuel Charges were the largest budget line item, representing 39 percent of the total budget. Contractual Services were the largest budget line item in the budgets, with 38 percent of the budget. From to and in the Personnel subtotals were the largest budget category, with more than 50 percent of the total in each budget. In , the Personnel subtotal was 38 percent of the total, while the Materials category was the largest budget area subtotaling 62 percent of total budget. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 17

18 Figure 6 Albany Call-A-Ride Budgets, Revenues for the Albany Call-A-Ride service come from a variety of sources. Historically, these sources are not static. Analyzing the last six Call-A-Ride budgets shows a shift in funding from the General Fund to using FTA funding as the main source of revenue. Table 11 and Figure 7 detail this shift in funding sources. In the budget, 69 percent of revenue came from the General Fund. In the budget, the General Fund contributes 26 percent of the total program budget. In , the FTA contributed 14 percent of the revenue; this proportion has changed with shifts in the Federal transportation authorization. In the budget, FTA Section 5310 Grant and FTA Section 5307 funds are budgeted to contribute 59 percent of the total. Other sources of revenue include Oregon Special Transportation Fund contributions from Linn County and Benton County, and Call-A-Ride revenue. For the six year analysis time period, the average farebox contribution to the program is 6 percent, with 5 percent of revenues budgeted for the fiscal year. Table 11 Albany Call-A-Ride Program Revenues to FY Revenues FTA Section 5311 Grant 14% 10% 0% 0% 0% 0% FTA Section 5310 Grant 0% 32% 41% 46% 34% 18% FTA Section % 0% 0% 30% 35% 41% OR Business Energy Tax Credit 7% 3% 0% 1% 0% 0% OR STF: Linn Co 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 8% OR STF: Benton Co 0% 0% 1% 1% 1% 2% Call-A-Ride Revenue 7% 4% 10% 8% 6% 5% Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 18

19 Revenues City of Millersburg 1% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% Gifts and Donation 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% Interest 0% 0% 0% 14% 0% 0% General Fund 69% 42% 45% 0% 16% 26% Capital Equipment 0% 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% Beginning Balance 2% 8% 3% 0% 7% 0% TOTAL 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% Figure 7 Albany Call-A-Ride General Fund and FTA Grant Contributions Figure 8 shows the total revenues in the past six years. Overall, the trend is for a gradual increase in revenues to support the growing budget of the program. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 19

20 Figure 8 Total Albany Call-A-Ride System Revenues, to Additional Services The following programs provide additional transit services into the greater Albany Area. Benton County Dial-A-Bus: Corvallis-Albany Connection Benton County provides special transportation services to Corvallis and the surrounding areas. This service is wheelchair accessible, curb-to-curb transportation for Benton County residents who are older adults 60 years of age and over, or people of all ages with documented disabilities who are unable to access fixed route bus service. The service connects Benton County residents to locations and services in Albany, operating the Corvallis-Albany Connection. The Corvallis- Albany Connection operates nine one-way runs per day, four round trips. A one-way trip costs $3.00. The route operates two days a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Service Description Days and Hours of Operation Fare Connections to other services Curb-to-curb wheelchair accessible transportation between Corvallis and Albany for older adults and persons with disabilities. Tuesdays and Thursday; four round trips/ nine one-way trips; 7:30 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. $3.00 per trip May be used to connect to other services Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 20

21 Coast-to-Valley Express Benton and Lincoln Counties provide four daily round trips between Newport and Corvallis on the Cost-to-Valley Express. Two of these trips continue to Albany Station. Trips from Albany to Corvallis cost $2.00, and trips from Albany to Philomath cost $3.00. Trips from Albany to Toledo and Newport cost $10.00 (passengers 60 and older or 11 and younger pay $7.00 for the same trip). Service Description Days and Hours of Operation Fare Connections to other services Albany, Corvallis, Philomath, Eddyville, Toledo, and Newport via US-20/ Corvallis-Newport Highway Daily service, 6:20 am 7:30 pm $2.00 Albany to Corvallis; $3.00 Albany to Philomath; $10.00 each way to Toledo/Newport; $7.00 each way for older adults (60+), youth (under 12) and people with disabilities Connections to Amtrak, Corvallis Transit System and Lincoln County Transit 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 $ Service Description Days and Hours of Operation Fare Connections to other services Newport to Portland connecting Newport, Toledo, Philomath, Corvallis, Albany, Salem, McMinnville, Newberg, Tigard, and Portland 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 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 run: $59.00 weekdays, $61.00 Sunday; Albany to Newport segment: $25.00 and Albany to Bend segment: $38.00 Connects to Albany Amtrak station, Salem Greyhound, Portland Greyhound 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. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 21

22 Passengers can connect to other Bolt buses in Portland for service further north to Seattle, Bellingham and Vancouver. 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 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. 3 Service Description Days and Hours of Operation Fare Connections to other services Amtrak Cascades routes connects Albany to Vancouver, BC and Eugene; 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 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 Varies based on route and mode Connections to local transit service at most stations 3 Amtrak Government Affairs. Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2014: State of Oregon. November Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 22

23 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 12: 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 13: 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 23

24 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 14 shows the changes by demographic group between 2000 and Table 14: 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 9 through Figure 16) 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. 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 hours). Additionally, industry experience suggests that as densities increase, transit demand increases at a higher rate, most dramatically for densities above people per acre. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 24

25 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 17 presents the combination of population and employment densities in the region. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 25

26 Figure 9: Density of Poverty, 2013 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Table B17017 Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 26

27 Figure 10: Density of Transit Commuters, 2013 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Table B08301 Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 27

28 Figure 11: Household Income, 2013 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Table B19013 Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 28

29 Figure 12: Density of Limited English Proficiency Households US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Table B16002 Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 29

30 Figure 13: 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 30

31 Figure 14: Density of Youth (Age 10-17), 2013 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Table B01001 Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 31

32 Figure 15: Density of Zero Vehicle Households, 2013 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Table B25044 Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 32

33 Figure 16: Density of Individuals with a Disability, 2013 US Census Bureau, American Community Survey, Year Estimates: Table B18101 Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 33

34 Figure 17: Population/Employment Density, 2010 Source: CALM Model Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 34

35 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 15: 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 16: 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 17: 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 35

36 Chapter Four: System-wide Performance This chapter analyzes the performance of the ATS services against a set of industry standard measures. 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. 4 Except for Saturday service on the Linn-Benton Loop, 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 18: Albany 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, TOTAL (Weekday) 210, Ridership Trends The Albany Transit System has experienced steady growth within the last decade (see Figure 18). From to , the average annual ridership was approximately 70,000 boardings. Between and , annual ridership increased by 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 19 shows that annual ridership has been steady over the previous few years. 4 National Transit Database, Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 36

37 Figure 18: Albany Area Historical Boardings ( to ) 160, , , ,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 Routes 1, 2 and 3 Linn-Benton Loop Figure 19: Albany Area Annual Boardings ( to ) Routes 1, 2 and 3 Linn-Benton Loop 140, , , , , , , ,000 93,056 86,240 88,983 91,169 86,149 80,000 60,000 40,000 20, The busiest months for ATS are usually October through May, which is consistent with when LBCC, OSU, and local public schools are in session. October is traditionally the busiest month. This is a result of Try Transit Week, during which passengers can ride all Albany Transit Routes and the Linn-Benton Loop for free. In general, ridership by month over the past few years has remained fairly constant (see Figure 20). Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 37

38 Figure 20: Albany Area Monthly Boardings ( ) ,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun 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. 5 Table 19: 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 , ridership was 17,429. Figure 21 shows annual ridership trends for Call-A-Ride service. 5 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 38

39 Figure 21 Call-A-Ride Annual Ridership: ,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 No trends emerge for busiest months, year-to-year, but, on average, October is the busiest month on the Call-A-Ride system. Figure 22 shows the average boardings, by month, from 2010 to 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. 6 6 Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database. City of Albany (ATS) Profile, Accessed online August 4, 2015: Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 39

40 Figure 22 Call-A-Ride Monthly Boardings ( ) ,000 1,750 1,500 1,250 1, Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Overall, rider satisfaction with the Call-A-Ride service is very high, at 90 percent satisfied for the past three years of surveys. Table 20 presents rider satisfaction as well as some system performance data. Table 20: 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 Call-A-Ride Service Analysis Albany Call-A-Ride Origins-Destinations Analysis An analysis of the origins and destinations 7 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 24 illustrates the geographic distribution of the most 7 Origin and destination data from two week period in April 2015 was examined for the O-D analysis. Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 40

41 common pick-up locations as well as the time when pick-ups take place. A concentration of pickups 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. Figure 23 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 23 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% Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 41

42 Figure 24 Call-A-Ride Origins Map Albany Area MPO Regional Transportation Plan 42