METROPOLITAN EVANSVILLE TRANSIT SYSTEM Part I: Comprehensive Operations Analysis Overview July 9 th, 2015 Public Information Meeting

METROPOLITAN EVANSVILLE TRANSIT SYSTEM Part I: Comprehensive Operations Analysis Overview July 9 th, 2015 Public Information Meeting

AGENDA 5:30 5:40 Open House 5:40 6:30 Presentation Comprehensive Operations Analysis - Report Overview 6:30 7:20 Alternative Service Plans - Feedback 7:20 7:30 Final Steps and Closing

COMPREHENSIVE OPERATIONS ANALYSIS (COA) COA - standard business practice recommended every 5 to 7 years Last COA for METS - 1999 Year-long review of METS Service and Operations commissioned by the Evansville Metropolitan Planning Organization (EMPO) Routes, schedules, operating practices, and state of system s physical assets Evaluate versus peer systems

SIGNIFICANT ADDED SERVICE NEEDS Add Sunday service (7 routes) More frequent weekday service (5 routes) Added weekday and Sat. evening service (4 routes) New crosstown service (5 routes) New express routes (2 routes) Route consolidations (2 pairs of routes) Route realignments (7 routes) Improvements in all METS Transfer Centers

CHALLENGES TO GET THERE Age of fixed route fleet Long-term funding projections Need for policy of small, regular fare increases Costs of Mobility service are far higher than peers Some improvements require more than five-year service plan horizon Changes will impact some existing riders

FLEET FIXED ROUTE Key Findings Fixed route bus fleet is NOT in state of good repair Age is major hindrance to expanding service Recommendation Accelerate bus purchases 3 vehicles/year starting in 2016 4 vehicles/year in 2019 & 2020

FACILITIES BUS GARAGE AND MAINTENANCE AREA Key Findings Better interior lighting Repainting Wi-Fi for current diagnostic equipment Limited indoor storage Recommendation Fund in future capital programs

TECHNOLOGY Key Findings Recent fixed-route technology purchases Computer-aided dispatch and automatic vehicle location system Interior Next Stop voice and visual annunciator system Next Bus information systems for smart phones and computers Implementation will overextend current staff Longer-term initiatives Automatic passenger counters Fare collection upgrades

TECHNOLOGY Recommendations Defer further technology investments State of Good Repair pressing priority Staff support needed to implement is not in place Fare collection technology likely to change significantly in near future

SERVICE STANDARDS Key Findings METS does not use formal service standards Recommendation Implement formal Service Standards

PUBLIC INPUT SURVEY AND WEBSITE Major Points of Interest Sunday service More frequent service Longer hours of service Bus stop and transfer terminal improvements (including signage) Geographic areas lacking service Rider safety Bus and equipment condition

MORE FREQUENT WEEKDAY SERVICE CONSIDERATIONS

MORE FREQUENT WEEKDAY SERVICE CONSIDERATIONS Most routes shown improve weekday service from 30 to 20 minutes #7 First Avenue WD service from 60 to 30 minutes Likely to attract additional choice riders Increased annual ridership 150,000 riders Increased annual fare revenue - $65,000 Increased annual operating cost - $614,000

SUNDAY SERVICE CONSIDERATIONS

SUNDAY SERVICE CONSIDERATIONS Operate from 7 am to 7 pm on Sundays and holidays Increased annual ridership 54,000 riders Increased annual fare revenue - $25,000 Increased annual operating cost - $235,000

WEEKDAY AND SATURDAY EVENING SERVICE CONSIDERATIONS

WEEKDAY AND SATURDAY EVENING SERVICE CONSIDERATIONS Operate until about 11:15 pm leaving downtown Replace #18 Stringtown/First Ave. route Increased annual ridership 73,000 riders Increased annual fare revenue - $24,000 Increased annual operating cost - $270,000

NEW CROSSTOWN SERVICE CONSIDERATIONS

NEW CROSSTOWN SERVICE CONSIDERATIONS Replace one-way loops with two-way service #6 Walnut, #10 Lynch New Green River and Weinbach/Oak Hill routes Attracts choice riders Increased annual ridership 161,000 riders Increased annual fare revenue - $70,000 Increased annual operating cost - $427,000

ROUTE CONSOLIDATION CONSIDERATIONS

ROUTE CONSOLIDATION CONSIDERATIONS

ROUTE CONSOLIDATION CONSIDERATIONS Remove route segments that serve very few riders Decreased annual ridership 15,000 riders Decreased annual fare revenue - $8,000 Savings in annual operating cost - $314,000

ROUTE REALIGNMENT CONSIDERATIONS

ROUTE REALIGNMENT CONSIDERATIONS 7 routes realigned to rationalize service patterns Confusing pattern of different inbound and outbound routings Eliminate designation of A and B trips Increased annual ridership 17,800 riders Increased added fare revenue - $7,500 No significant change in operating cost

WEEKDAY EXPRESS SERVICE CONSIDERATIONS

WEEKDAY EXPRESS SERVICE CONSIDERATIONS

WEEKDAY EXPRESS SERVICE CONSIDERATIONS 2 new express services proposed Downtown to Warrick County (peak only) Downtown to USI (AM through PM Peak) Increased annual ridership 61,200 riders Increased added fare revenue - $91,800 Increased annual operating cost - $293,300

FINANCIAL/FUNDING PROJECTIONS Observations MPO area of interest as funding agency Current trends in funding and costs unsustainable METS Mobility costs far more than Indiana peers METS fares have not changed since 1999 Recommend fare policy changes Small, periodic fare increases Transfer charge

FINANCIAL/FUNDING PROJECTIONS Observations Fare policy changes on Mobility can bring major cost savings Bringing fixed route fleet to state of good repair can provide major maintenance cost reductions Recommend expanding local funding through Public Transportation Corporation

TRANSFER CENTERS Key Findings Centers are in appropriate geographic locations (Downtown, Eastland Mall, West Side Schnucks, North Park, ITT-Newburgh, and Lawndale) Upgrades and enhancements recommended at all locations

DOWNTOWN TRANSFER CENTER Recommendations New lighting Public information facilities Raise center platform Estimated cost: $73,000

EASTLAND MALL TRANSFER CENTER Recommendations New transfer center on south curb of Vogel Road west of Green River Road Estimated cost: $89,000

WEST SIDE SCHNUCKS TRANSFER CENTER Recommendations New transfer center on west curb of Rosenberger Avenue Estimated cost: $32,000

NORTH PARK TRANSFER CENTER Recommendations New transfer center on south curb of Mill Road east of First Avenue Estimated cost: $30,000

ITT-NEWBURGH CAMPUS TRANSFER CENTER Recommendations Provide passenger shelter, lighting and information kiosk at existing transfer location with Warrick County service (WATS) Estimated cost: $25,000

LAWNDALE PARK AND RIDE/TRANSFER CENTER Recommendations Construct park and ride lot to serve a proposed express service from the ITT-Newburgh Campus transfer center Implement in later years of five-year service plans once fleet age issues are addressed Estimated cost: $1,408,000

METS MOBILITY METS Mobility costs much higher than peer systems in Indiana 2013 INDOT data METS Mobility at 30% of total operating costs Peer average of 13% of operating costs

METS MOBILITY Recommendations Offer free fixed-route service to ADA-eligible Mobility riders Mobility service remains available Offer free fixed-route service to Mobility convenience fare riders Mobility service no longer offered Consider contracting Mobility service METS responsible for service quality and delivery

STAFFING AND ORGANIZATIONAL ASSESSMENT Recommendations Multiple recommendations for existing staff Add two professional staff New Service Planning/Scheduling/Marketing Mgr. Transit route planning, schedules, public involvement, and marketing Service Support Manager Training, extra board, absenteeism, schedule and HR support Operate as Public Transportation Corporation

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS?

METROPOLITAN EVANSVILLE TRANSIT SYSTEM Part II: Service Plan Discussion

SERVICE PLAN ALTERNATIVES Plan 1 Emphasizes service intensity Existing, well-patronized bus corridors Plan 2 More emphasis on expanding service Moderate increase in existing corridors New crosstown services New express routes Plan 3 Reflects lower fleet purchases

ALTERNATIVE 1 Improved frequencies Routes 1 Washington, 2 Riverside, 7 First Ave., 8 Lincoln, and 9- Covert between 2016 and 2019 Provide Sunday service Routes 1 Washington, 2 Riverside, 5 Mary/Tekoppel, 6 Walnut, 7 First Ave., 9 Covert and 14 Shoppers Shuttle in 2016 Consolidate Routes 5 Mary/Tekoppel and 12 Howell and Routes 14 Shoppers Shuttle and 15 East Connection in 2016

ALTERNATIVE 1 Realign Routes 2 Riverside, 3 Fulton, 4 Stringtown, 5 Mary/Tekoppel, 8 Lincoln, 13 Downtown Trolley; 18 Stringtown/First Ave., 23 US Highway 41 N Connection in 2016 Add evening service Routes 4 Stringtown, 6 Walnut, 7 First Ave., and 10 Lynch in 2017 Implement USI Downtown Express in 2020

ALTERNATIVE 2 Sunday service Routes 1 Washington, 2 Riverside, 5 Mary/Tekoppel, 6 Walnut, 7 First Ave., 9 Covert and 14 Shoppers Shuttle in 2016 New northeast side crosstown services, replacing existing one-way loops; affects Routes 6 Walnut, 10 Lynch and 11 Morgan (new) in 2016 Consolidate Routes 5 Mary/Tekoppel and 12 Howell and Routes 14 Shoppers Shuttle and 15 East Connection in 2016

ALTERNATIVE 2 Realign Routes 2 Riverside, 3 Fulton, 4 Stringtown, 5 Mary/Tekoppel, 8 Lincoln, 13 Downtown Trolley; 18 Stringtown/First Ave., 23 US Highway 41 N Connection in 2016 Implement USI Downtown Express in 2016 Add evening service on Routes 4 Stringtown, 6 Walnut, 7 First Ave., and 10 Lynch in 2017

ALTERNATIVE 2 Add new Green River Road Crosstown in 2017 Add Warrick/Lawndale/Downtown Express in 2019 Add new Oak Hill/Weinbach Crosstown in 2020

ALTERNATIVE 3 Assumes only two new fixed route buses per year Recommendations are 3 4 per year through 2020 No service requiring more peak period buses Sunday service on Routes 1 Washington, 2 Riverside, 5 Mary/Tekoppel, 6 Walnut, 7 First Ave., 9 Covert and 14 Shoppers Shuttle in 2016

ALTERNATIVE 3 Consolidate Routes 5 Mary/Tekoppel and 12 Howell and Routes 14 Shoppers Shuttle and 15 East Connection in 2016 Realign Routes 2 Riverside, 3 Fulton, 4 Stringtown, 5 Mary/Tekoppel, 8 Lincoln, 13 Downtown Trolley; 18 Stringtown/First Ave., 23 US Highway 41 N Connection in 2016 Add evening service on Routes 4 Stringtown, 6 Walnut, 7 First Ave., and 10 Lynch in 2018

ALTERNATIVES COMPARISON

NEXT STEPS Submit comments via project website (www.metstransitstudy.info) or using comment form Comments accepted through July 17 Submit written comments to: David Goffinet Lochmueller Group, Inc. 6200 Vogel Road Evansville, IN 47715 dgoffinet@lochgroup.com Late July finalize single five-year service plan after consideration of all comments and input

TRAVELING CITY HALL When: July 29 from 5:30 to 6:30 Where: METS Offices 601 John Street What: Mayor Discussion on Final Report

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS?