Approval of August 2019 Service Changes Operations, Safety & Security Committee April 9, 2019 Rob Smith AVP Service Planning and Scheduling 1
Today s Consideration Approve proposed August 2019 service changes Changes to original recommendations include: Modifications to Express route alignments in Downtown Dallas Modifications to Route 547 Addition of DART Rides program for West Dallas (75212) 2
PUBLIC COMMENTS, TITLE VI 3
Public Comments Overview 13 community meetings with 97 attendees 23 speakers at the Public Hearing 85 comment cards 5 letters 11 customer service workflows 2 extra community meetings last week to share final recommendations 4
Public Comments Most of the public comments involved three issues, which we will address in greater detail later in the presentation: Express route changes in Downtown Dallas Changes to Route 547 affecting AAFES (Army Air Force Exchange Service) commuters West Dallas route changes for Routes 52/59 Relatively few comments on proposed frequency improvements, though what we did hear was positive Many questions and issues went beyond the proposed changes, and we will carry these forward for the upcoming Service Plan effort and future potential service changes 5
Title VI Implications The Diversity Department conducted a review of the Title VI service equity analysis to determine compliance with FTA Title VI requirements to evaluate the impacts of proposed service changes on minority and low-income populations. There was no finding of a disproportionate burden to low-income communities since changes borne by the low-income population do not affect the low-income population more adversely than the population as a whole. The results of the analysis findings suggest the impact of proposed service changes borne by the minority population is approximately twelve percent more than the minority population expected share of the service area when factoring in the disparate impact policy threshold of five percent. 6
Title VI Implications Further review of each route to determine the effects of the service changes on the minority population reveal additional walking distances to transit accessibility. Changes in the level of accessibility relative to walking distances conforms to DART s Service Standards. Some routes will experience more frequent service as well as extend beyond its current terminating points to service additional employment centers. The Diversity Department has determined the proposed service changes will have a disparate impact on minority communities. However, there are a number of mitigating measures that will result in a positive impact, such as, increased frequency of service; reduced wait times; access to more job opportunities with new and extended service, as well as measures adopted and retained through the public involvement process. 7
Title VI Implications Because there has been, or will be, sufficient mitigation to eliminate disparate impact it is recommended that DART s Title VI Service Equity Analysis for the August 2019 Service Changes be approved. 8
RECAP AND DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED CHANGES 9
August Service Change Focus Building ridership and improving job access through: Core frequent routes Service restructuring to improve route directness Downtown Dallas Express route changes Schedule improvements targeting on time performance 10
Additional Jobs Accessible Within 60 Minutes: August Service Changes Data: U.S. Census Longitudinal Employer Household Dynamics (LEHD) 2015 Average increase for these locations: 6.1% 11
Core Frequent Routes 12
Core Frequent Routes: Summary of August Final Recommendations Route Corridor Notes 404 Westmoreland Minor changes to current route 409 Peak/Haskell Shortened route Parkland to MLK 466 Ledbetter Shorter E-W route 467 Buckner Existing route alignment 583 Skillman Re-routed in Village, Timber Creek No changes to original recommendations The few comments received were supportive 13
Candidate Core Frequent Route Network: Bus, Rail The five routes proposed for core frequent status (yellow) are part of a larger group that have frequent service (green) or are candidates for future improvements Orange 401 Green 10 402 486 428 36 506 583 19 409 164 Red/Orange 110 Blue 52 Green 467 10 Red 11 592 466 404 453 Blue 14
Route Restructuring 15
Route Restructuring: Summary of Final August Recommendations Most discussion on proposed West Dallas and Route 547 changes We are not recommending changes from the original proposals for the West Dallas routes, but now propose to add DART Rides coverage for this area We are recommending adjustments to the Route 547 proposal to address AAFES concerns No changes for other restructuring proposals, including Routes 466, 404, 453, 409, 426, 428, 583, and 502 16
Route 52/59 West Dallas 75212 75212 Routes would be realigned to serve Singleton more directly Current service frequency 52: 20-30 peak, 30-40 base, future core frequent candidate (not in this proposal) 59: 30 peak, 60 base DART Rides added for 75212 52 59 Issues raised by stakeholders: 1. Service to senior housing at Lakewest and in Kings Bridge area 2. Ledbetter Neighborhood Association service (Tumalo, Leath, etc.) 3. Canada Drive service 4. Walk distance to Bickers and Singleton 17
Route 52/59: Kings Bridge Crossing Access Kings Bridge Crossing is an 800 walk from Singleton Numbers represent total boardings plus alightings at each stop All affected stops would be covered by DART Rides 18
Route 52/59: Lakewest Access Lakewest would be served directly by the new alignment Numbers represent total boardings plus alightings at each stop All affected stops would be covered by DART Rides 19
Route 52/59: Esmerelda Access 65% of riders would be within two blocks of Singleton or Westmoreland service, others up to four blocks away Numbers represent total boardings plus alightings at each stop All affected stops would be covered by DART Rides 20
Route 52/59 Ledbetter Neighborhood, Tumalo Trail Access Affected neighborhoods have limited ridership Numbers represent total boardings plus alightings at each stop All affected stops would be covered by DART Rides 21
Route 52/59: Conclusion Staff is not proposing changes to the original recommendation for these routes Proposed routes are straighter and more direct, with reduced travel times for customers Bernal/Singleton to Downtown: 10 minutes travel time saved (28% reduction in travel time) New service on Singleton east of Bernal/Singleton Transit Center, improved service frequency on Westmoreland We recommend that West Dallas Zip Code 75212 be added to the DART Rides program 22
DART Rides Transportation assistance program for registered residents of qualified cities or zip codes Enrollment for 65 or over, or persons with disabilities Program would be extended to zip code 75212, which includes all of the areas affected by this change 75212 23
Route 547 Cockrell Hill Rd-Red Bird Route 547 would be realigned to replace parts of changes to Routes 453 and 466 Recommendation modified to serve AAFES via Exchange Service, Joseph Hardin, and Bronze Way (including same AAFES stops as current service) AAFES location 24
Route 466 Ledbetter Route would be realigned into a straighter E/W crosstown service and extended to serve AAFES and Barbara Jordan housing complex Service to Red Bird provided by Routes 404 and 547 Route 466 would be part of the core frequent route network AAFES WalMart served by all trips 25
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 Beckleymeade 26
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 Future candidate for core frequent service (not part of this proposal) Chaucer area 27
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 Cedar Crest/ML King sections of Route 409 would become Route 426 without frequent service Covered by 426 28
Route 426 ML King/Cedar Crest Remaining sections of the former Route 409 alignment along ML King and Cedar Crest would become a separate route without frequent service 29
Route 428 Northwest Highway Route would see changes to serve Park Lane directly Timber Creek Shopping Center which cannot safely be accessed now from Northwest Hwy would be served on Skillman Areas along Greenville are served by Route 84 Future candidate for core frequent service (not in this proposal) Timber Creek 30
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 would be part of the core frequent route network Served by Route 502 31
Express Routes 32
Express Routes: Summary of Final August Recommendations Original proposals included Downtown Dallas route changes for six Express Routes (205, 206, 208, 210, 278, 283) Extensive customer feedback on the proposed changes We are recommending modifications to the original proposals for all six routes, incorporating customer feedback 33
Why Make Express Changes? We believe changes to Express routes are essential to improve reliability and access for these services Express routes consistently perform below system averages for on time performance, with one route below 50% (goal 82.5% for FY19) One of the contributing factors: current route alignments are loops that do not allow for recovery time or locations for the bus and without recovery, an early or late bus remains early or late for multiple trips Loop routes were introduced years ago during an era with less traffic congestion and before central development patterns changed (e.g. emergence of Uptown) But loops are fundamentally incompatible with the addition of recovery time for these routes 34
Why Make Express Changes? Some of our express routes do not cover growing employment zones such as the Harwood District in Uptown Dallas Many of the changes aim to improve job access and build ridership over time Estimated job access improvements for 5 routes shown to right Route(s) Expanded Job Access 205 Addison +5,000 206 Glenn Heights 278 Red Bird +16,000 208 Northwest Plano 210 Jack Hatchell +13,000 283 Lake Ray Hubbard +400 Source Data: LEHD 2015 35
205 Addison N 205 Few comments overall Federal Reserve customers and Bank of American / Pearl Street customers requested more service Changes made: Inbound via Pearl rather than St Paul Adds service to Chase Tower, Trammell Crow Center Current Alignment Proposed Alignment 36
205 Major activity points preserved in adjusted proposal Main corridor West Transfer Center Potential increased ridership due to extended Pearl service a previous request of regular customers Numbers represent total boardings plus alightings at each stop 37
206 / 278 206/278 Major source of comments Federal Courthouse customers El Centro customers Customer preference for stops on Field rather than Griffin Changes made: Outbound Field/Griffin Inbound Field Makes use of current stops Preserves most service to Pearl and Ross Adds Young service 38
206 Major activity points preserved in adjusted proposal Main @ Griffin Field @ Pacific San Jacinto Minimal walking distance for most Lamar, Pearl activity Most Cesar Chavez activity is Boardings (PM Peak customers) who alighted on Field their service would be preserved Numbers represent total boardings plus alightings at each stop 39
278 Major activity points preserved in adjusted proposal Pearl corridor Main @ Griffin Main @ Field 1-2 block walking distance for most Lamar, Main St. activity Potential new ridership via Uptown service and Red Bird / Uptown commuters Numbers represent total boardings plus alightings at each stop 40
208 / 210 208/210 Source of significant comments Customers requested Pearl be preserved Changes made: Restore service to Pearl and San Jacinto corridors Maintains nonlooping Elm / Commerce couplet Adds service to Young St, West End / Lamar 41
208 Major activity points preserved in adjusted proposal Pearl corridor Main corridor Minimal walking distance for most Ross Ave., Main St. activity Numbers represent total boardings plus alightings at each stop 42
210 Major activity points preserved in adjusted proposal Pearl corridor Ross corridor Minimal walking distance for most Ross Ave., Main St. activity Numbers represent total boardings plus alightings at each stop 43
283 Major source of comments TRE / LRT transfer customers Young St customers Changes made: Extend route to Houston Change layover to Convention Center Station (crew room available, improved recovery time) Young customers served at Wood @ Lamar; Commerce 44
283 Numbers represent total boardings plus alightings at each stop 45
Schedule Adjustments 46
Schedule Adjustments For the past several years, DART has been working to adjust schedules to allow for adequate recovery time, appropriate running speeds, and improved on time performance For August 2019, we will complete the process, including all remaining changes planned for 2019 and 2020 Routes targeted: 11, 81, 82, 111, 350, 428, 504, 513, 525, 536, 541, 571, 841 47
Recommendation 48
Recommendation Approve proposed August 2019 service changes Changes to original recommendations include: Modifications to Express route alignments in Downtown Dallas Modifications to Route 547 Addition of DART Rides program for West Dallas (75212) 49
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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 51