Call for Public Hearing August 2019 Service Changes Operations, Safety & Security Committee January 8, 2019 Rob Smith, AVP Service Planning & Scheduling 1
Recommendation To call a Public Hearing on March 12, 2019 for candidate August 2019 service changes We will brief the Board monthly through September on the August change process and to consider changes to the 2045 System Plan After the Public Hearing, we will return in April with a final August proposal for Board consideration Our objective is to develop a 2045 System Plan for Board consideration by September, including recommendations for anticipated FY20 service changes 2
August 2019 Timeline Call for Public Hearing Operations Committee Public Hearing March 12 Approve Changes April Board Action Changes Start Today s step Call for Public Hearing Board Action 30+ days required Public Meetings Approve Changes April Operations Committee 4 months: Finish schedules, prepare printed and online materials, operator signups, place bus stops, and other implementation elements January February March April May June July August Monthly Board briefings on August Service Changes, including impact of changes on ridership, cost, and job access Monthly Board briefings on 2045 System Plan, including service changes in FY20 and beyond 3
Context: Service Improvement Initiatives 2017 2018 2019 Start Process Service Standards August 2019 service changes are part of a series of initiatives aimed at improving DART transit services Transit System Plan Start Process Adopted Changes Start Process Approve Changes Aug 2019 Changes Bus Service Plan Implement Adopt Plan Early Service Plan work will influence August 2019 changes, and adopted Plan will direct changes in 2020 and beyond Adopt Plan Start to Implement Future Changes Implement ation Implement ation Cotton Belt Design Construction 4
2045 System Plan The System Plan team has started preliminary work, with a focus on bus and mobility on demand service improvements that will be included in the 2045 System Plan The goal of the effort will be to develop a new Service Plan for DART buses and mobility services, framing key service changes including: Establishment of a core frequent route network Creation of faster, more direct bus service New mobility on demand services A review of supporting amenities and facilities needed to support service changes 5
Approach for August We have used a different approach for this Call for Public Hearing, starting with a large list of candidate service improvements that may be considered as a part of the 2045 System Plan Not all of the candidates can fit within the current Financial Plan for FY19 and FY20 Final decisions on items included in the August change would occur in April after the public process finishes and reflect Board input and priorities Changes for FY20 and beyond will be discussed during monthly briefings (through September) as the Plan is fully developed 6
Approach for August In selecting potential candidates for improvements, our general objectives included: Higher service frequency in accordance with new Service Standards Straighter and more direct routes -- fewer deviations off the main route path Building ridership through improved service Improving job access, particularly from lowincome neighborhoods 7
Key Themes for August CORE FREQUENT ROUTES We have identified a number of major routes that will likely be included in DART s core frequent route network (consistent with new Board Service Standards and input from DART Cities), and many of the candidate improvements fit into this category ROUTE RESTRUCTURING March 2018 changes included route restructuring for a number of NE Dallas routes and the former Route 400 corridor, and August would expand the targets including straightening some of the routes that are candidates for core frequent status 8
Key Themes for August DOWNTOWN EXPRESS CHANGES DART s remaining downtown express routes have a number of scheduling challenges that require a series of route changes Revised alignments will create core peak-hour frequent service to major work centers SCHEDULE ADJUSTMENTS August will include all remaining planned schedule adjustments targeting improved on time performance, using a portion of the new buses to improve peak and off-peak schedules (some changes include frequency improvements as well) DART will not achieve OTP performance objectives without these changes 9
August 2019 Resources 41 new buses and $7.9 million budget (annualized) will be available to implement August 2019 service changes Completion of the full core frequent route network will require more resources than available for FY19 changes potentially higher operating costs, additional buses, and a new bus operating facility The 2045 System Plan will identify service improvement options beyond August 2019, including targeted improvements for FY20 and FY21 10
Core Frequent Routes 11
Core Frequent Routes DART s newly-adopted Service Standards create a new category of routes called core frequent routes These routes would include rail-like frequencies: 15 minutes peak, 20 minutes midday, and 20-30 minutes at other times August candidates include a number of core frequent conversions Some of the routes are also candidates for route changes aimed at reducing duplication and straightening route alignments We will share more details on the benefits and impacts of service options in upcoming Board briefings 12
Core Frequent Routes: August Candidates Route Corridor Notes Cost 10 Jefferson-Maple Includes section of current Route 11 11 Malcolm X/Bexar Remaining part of Route 11 $1,185,582 19 Gaston Northern segment only $561,997 36 Preston Existing route alignment $1,968,418 52 Singleton Realigned, more direct route $896,621 110 East Dallas Existing route alignment $1,006,803 401 MacArthur Combined with 402, 403 changes 402 Belt Line Combined with 401, 403 changes $4,155,611 404 Westmoreland Minor changes to current route $1,446,069 409 Peak/Haskell Shortened route Parkland to MLK $870,577 428 Northwest Hwy Some route changes near NorthPark $909,652 453 Hampton Route changes on southern end $892,400 466 Ledbetter Shorter E-W route 467 Buckner Existing route alignment $2,057,946 486 Forest Lane Existing route alignment $2,628,021 506 Vickery Meadow Existing route alignment $355,685 583 Skillman Rerouted in Village, Timber Creek $898,397 Routes 164 and 592 already offer frequent service 13
Core Frequent Routes: Bus, Rail If all of the 17 candidate frequent routes were implemented along with existing frequent service, the core frequent route network could look like this Orange 401 Green 402 486 428 36 10 Red/Orange 583 506 19 164 110 409 Blue Affected bus+lrt routes represent around 63% of total Weekday bus+lrt ridership 52 10 404 Red 453 Green 11 466 Blue 467 592 14
Route Restructuring 15
Route Restructuring Proposals include a number of changes to straighten out, simplify, and/or improve access on some DART routes Some of the routes involved are candidates to become part of the core frequent route network, and that is noted where applicable (costing covers both route and frequency changes) Potential changes involve routes in West Dallas, Oak Cliff, Medical District, NE Dallas, Irving, and Carrollton 16
Route 52/59 West Dallas Routes would be realigned to serve Singleton more directly Route 52 could be part of the core frequent route network Cost of changes to Routes 52 and 59 combined: $0.90m annualized 17
Route 415 Current Alignment SW Center Mall Social Security Office UNT Dallas Station Home Depot, other Commercial Facilities Texas DPS Facility 18
Route 415/416 Route 415 would be realigned into a straighter E/W crosstown service, with separate routes on Wheatland and Camp Wisdom Several neighborhood route sections of the old Route 415 would lose service Cost of changes to Routes 415 and 416 combined: $0.47m annualized 19
Route 404 Westmoreland Southern end of current route would be truncated at Wheatland, with Route 453 serving Beckleymeade area All trips would follow same alignment between Medical District and South Oak Cliff Route 404 would be part of the core frequent route network Peak 15-minute service is available now on the southern part of the route, but not for the entire alignment Cost of change: $1.45m annualized 20
Route 453 Hampton Route would be extended to Beckleymeade, replacing service provided by Route 404 All trips would follow the same alignment between Medical District and South Oak Cliff Chaucer service provided by Route 547 Route 453 would be part of the core frequent route network Cost of change: $0.89m annualized 21
Route 466 Ledbetter Route would be realigned into a straighter E/W crosstown service and extended to serve AFES Service to Red Bird provided by Routes 404 and 547 Route 466 would be part of the core frequent route network Existing schedule interline with Route 467 would be broken Cost of changes to Routes 466, 467, and 547 combined: $2.06m annualized WalMart served by all trips 22
Route 547 Cockrell Hill Rd-Red Bird Route 547 would be realigned to replace parts of changes to Routes 453 and 466 Cost of changes to Routes 466, 467, and 547 combined: $2.06m annualized Kiest service to Potters House Sunday only 23
Route 10 Jefferson-Maple Combines existing Route 11 Jefferson service with service on Maple Avenue, replacing Route 29 Maple Avenue is a developing corridor with significant apartment development and densification, and the route connects Downtown, Uptown Dallas, and the Medical District Route 10 would be part of the core frequent route network Malcolm X/Bexar service would still be provided by Route 11 Cost of change: $1.19m annualized 24
Route 11 Malcolm X/Bexar Includes remaining Malcolm X and Bexar sections in South Dallas No change to the existing service frequency Route 11 would be part of the core frequent route network 25
Route 409 Peak/Haskell Includes core N-S part of current Route 409 alignment between Medical District and JB Jackson TC Route 409 could be part of the core frequent route network Other sections of Route 409 would become Route 426 without frequent service Cost of changes to Routes 409 and 426 combined: $0.87m annualized 26
Route 426 Corinth Street Rd Remaining sections of the former Route 409 alignment would become a separate route without frequent service Cost of changes to Routes 409 and 426 combined: $0.87m annualized 27
Route 428 Northwest Highway Route would see changes to serve Park Lane and Timber Creek Route 428 would be part of the core frequent route network Cost of changes to Route 428: $0.91m annualized 28
Route 583 Skillman/Audelia Realigned to serve the Village and Timber Creek shopping area; Route 502 would cover former service on Lovers and Abrams Route 583 is a potential candidate for inclusion in the core frequent route network Cost of changes to Routes 583 and 502 combined: $0.90m annualized Served by Route 502 29
Route 401/402 Route 401 would be extended to connect to Route 402 at Downtown Carrollton Station, with direct Green Line and Cotton Belt connections Routes 401 and 402 would be part of the core frequent route network Cost of changes to Routes 401, 402, and 403 combined: $4.16m annualized 30
Route 403 Valwood/Luna With changes to Routes 401 and 402, Route 403 would be shortened to include parts of the route not served by other alignments Cost of changes to Routes 401, 402, and 403 combined: $4.16m annualized 31
Express Route Changes 32
Express Routes Many of DART s express routes follow loops or loop-like alignments in Downtown Dallas While good for circulation, this design causes a series of schedule challenges especially where there is bi-directional travel If an inbound bus arrives early to Downtown, we have bad choices: kill time and delay customers on the bus, or run early and end up missing outbound customers on the return trip We have been working on new express route alignments that would provide nearly comparable coverage while eliminating loops, providing designated recovery locations, and improved core frequency in parts of Downtown, Uptown, and Cedars All remaining express routes would be relocated from Main Street Combined cost of these changes on all express routes: $0.94m annualized 33
Example: Route 208 Route 208 (NW Plano) is an example of the changes The Ross/Ervay/Main loop would be replaced by a N/S alignment and extended to Cedars Station 34
Schedule Adjustments 35
Schedule Adjustments For the past several years, DART has been working on a five-year plan to adjust schedules to allow for adequate recovery time and appropriate running speeds For August 2019, we will complete the process, including all remaining changes planned for 2019 and 2020 Unlike previous phases, the focus for August will be on peak schedule adjustments we have not had the equipment to do them sooner Combined cost of these changes on all routes: $2.38m annualized Routes targeted: 11, 81, 82, 111, 283, 350, 409, 428, 466, 467, 504, 513, 525, 536, 541, 571, 841 Part of this initiative will use new data and software to analyze bus running times and adjust schedules to match observed conditions 36
Recommendation 37
Recommendation To call a Public Hearing on March 12, 2019 for candidate August 2019 service changes 38
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Supplemental Slides 40
Schedule: August 2019 Changes Item Timing Call for Public Hearing, Operations Committee January 8, 2019 Call for Public Hearing, Approval January 22, 2019 Board Retreat Session (Tentative) February 2, 2019 Briefing and update, Operations Committee February 12, 2019 Public Meeting on August changes, Bus Service Plan, Transit Service Plan February-March, 2019 Briefing and update, Operations Committee March 12, 2019 Public Hearing on August changes March 12, 2019 Approval of August changes, Operations Committee April 9, 2019 Approval of August changes April 23, 2019 Briefing and update, Operations Committee May 14, 2019 Briefing and update, Operations Committee June 11, 2019 Briefing and update, Operations Committee July 9, 2019 Implementation of August changes August 12, 2019 Briefing and update, Operations Committee August 13, 2019 Approval of Transit System Plan (Tentative) September 2019 41
Other Core Frequent Route Candidates 42
Route 19 Gaston Gaston Avenue section of Route 19 Potential core frequent network route Cost of changes to Routes 19 and 30 combined: $0.56m annualized 43
Route 30 Marsalis Marsalis section of Route 19, broken off as a separate route due to potential frequency changes on Gaston side of current route No changes to existing service frequency Cost of changes to Routes 19 and 30 combined: $0.56m annualized 44
Route 36 Preston No changes to current route alignment Potential core frequent network route Cost of change to Routes 36: $1.97m annualized 45
Route 110 Samuell/John West No changes to current route alignment Potential core frequent network route Cost of change to Route 110: $1.01m annualized 46
Route 402 Belt Line Route 402 would be part of the core frequent route network No changes in route alignment Cost of changes to Routes 401, 402, and 403 combined: $4.16m annualized 47
Route 467 Buckner Route 467 would be part of the core frequent route network Existing schedule interline with Route 466 would be broken Cost of changes to Routes 466, 467, and 547 combined: $2.06m annualized 48
Route 486 Forest Lane No changes to current route alignment Potential core frequent network route Cost of change to Route 486: $2.63m annualized 49
Route 506 Vickery Meadow No changes to current route alignment Potential core frequent network route Cost of change to Route 506: $0.36m annualized 50
Other Route Restructuring Changes 51
Route 502 Vickery Meadow Realigned to serve Abrams and Lovers Lane; Route 583 would cover former service in the Village and on parts of Skillman Alignment serves an unusual mix of high density and nongrid street networks Cost of changes to Routes 583 and 502 combined: $0.90m annualized 52
Downtown Express Route Changes 53
Express Route Changes 205 206 54
Express Route Changes 208 210 55
Express Route Changes 278 283 56
Schedule Adjustment Details 57
August Schedule Adjustments Route(s) Location Changes Cost 11 81/82 Jefferson- Malcolm X Live Oak- Zang Only if Route 10/11 route changes do not happen; added recovery time $165,697 Added recovery time $107,527 111 Skyline Added recovery time $56,021 283 350 409 Lake Ray Hubbard Addison to Parker Rd Peak/ Haskell Only if express route changes do not happen; added recovery time $185,710 Added recovery time $394,606 Only if Route 409/426 route changes do not happen; added recovery time $123,125 58
August Schedule Adjustments Route(s) Location Changes Cost 428 NW Hwy 466/467 Ledbetter- Buckner Only if Route 428 route changes do not happen; added recovery time Only if Route 466/467 route changes do not happen; added recovery time $26,968 $161,451 504 Story Ln Added recovery time $133,633 513 Firewheel Center Added recovery time; frequency to 30 minutes from 60 $178,987 525 Regal Row Due to Route 10/11 changes $121,026 536 Keller Springs Added recovery time $86,852 541 Kiest Added recovery time $74,346 59
August Schedule Adjustments Route(s) Location Changes Cost 571 Buckingham Added recovery time $131,368 841 Plano Pkwy/ Renner Rd Added recovery time; frequency to 45 minutes from 60 $84,834 60