ROUTE 21 SERVICE DESIGN Route 21 operates between the Walmart on Main Street and Vista Ridge Mall, primarily along Old Orchard Lane, Bellaire Boulevard, Southwest Parkway, Corporate Drive, Lakepointe Drive, and Hebron Parkway (see Figure 2). Other key destinations served by the route include Target, Hebron Station (A-train), the DCTA Corporate Offices, and several multi-family housing complexes. ALIGNMENT/SERVICE PATTERNS Route 21 operates along a consistent service pattern throughout the service day. From Walmart, buses travel west on College Street before turning south onto Old Orchard Lane. The route continues southeast primarily along Bellaire Boulevard and Southwest Parkway before turning north to the intersection of Watersridge Drive and Bennett Lane. From there, buses continue south primarily along Lakepointe Drive to Hebron Station. The route then continues west to the Vista Ridge Mall terminus. Return trips following the same alignment, but in reverse. SYSTEM INTERACTION AND TRANSFER OPPORTUNITIES Route 21 provides transfer opportunities to both of the other Lewisville Connect bus routes, as well as the A-train, Connect RSVP, and the NCTC Shuttle (see Figure 1). Figure 1 Transfer Opportunities TRANSFER TO LOCATION A-train Route 22 Route 23 Connect RSVP NCTC Shuttle Hebron Station Walmart (Main St) Vista Ridge Mall Southwest Parkway (Btw Route 121 and Corporate Dr) Walmart (Main St) Vista Ridge Mall Southwest Parkway @ Route 121 Walmart (Main St) Walmart (Main St) Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 1
Figure 2 Route Map Note: Map has been rotated and does not point north Source: DCTA Maps and Schedules Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 2
SERVICE SCHEDULE Route 21 operates Monday through Friday, running every 42 minutes from 5:35 am to 7:45 pm. Saturday service operates from 9:15 am to 5:39 pm with a frequency of 84 minutes (see Figure 3). Figure 3 Schedule Statistics SERVICE DAY SPAN OF SERVICE FREQUENCY (MIN) DAILY TRIPS (Northbound/Southbound) Monday-Friday 5:35 AM 7:45 PM 42 21/21 Saturday 9:15 AM 5:39 PM 84 7/7 Sunday - - - Source: DCTA Maps and Schedules RIDERSHIP On average, Route 21 carries 196 passengers on weekdays, or 4.7 passengers per trip. This is 3.6% higher than the Lewisville Connect Bus system average for weekday riders per trip (see Figure 4). Saturday ridership per trip is lower than the rest of the week, and 15.9% lower than the Saturday average for all routes (see Figures 5-8). Figure 4 Ridership Statistics SERVICE DAY TYPICAL DAILY RIDERSHIP TRIPS AVERAGE RIDERSHIP PER TRIP SYSTEM AVERAGE RIDERSHIP PER TRIP Weekday 196 42 4.7 3.6 Saturday 52 14 3.7 4.4 Figure 5 Weekday Ridership by Route 25 2 196 195 System Average (not including Connect RSVP) = 178 15 144 1 5 Route 21 Route 23 Route 22 Connect RSVP 9 Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 3
Figure 6 Weekday Ridership per Trip by Route 1. System Average = 3.6 8. 6. 4. 4.7 4.2 2.4 2.. Route 21 Route 23 Route 22 Note: Ridership per Trip is not available for Connect RSVP Figure 7 Saturday Ridership by Route 25 2 System Average = 69 15 1 5 78 78 52 Route 23 Route 22 Route 21 Figure 8 Saturday Ridership per Trip by Route 1. System Average = 4.4 8. 6. 4. 5.2 4.3 3.7 2.. Route 23 Route 22 Route 21 Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 4
RIDERSHIP BY STOP The heaviest boarding and alighting activity for Route 21 occurs at Hebron Station, Vista Ridge Mall, and Walmart. All other stops have fewer than 15 boardings or alightings per weekday (see Figures 9-12). Saturday ridership follows a similar pattern to weekday ridership, but with lower overall volumes (see Figure 15-18). RIDERSHIP BY TRIP On weekdays, Route 21 has pronounced ridership peaks during traditional morning and afternoon commuting times, as well as a mid-day peak. This suggests that the route is likely being used for job access and for connections to regional colleges and universities, as mid-day peaks are often attributed to students who split their day between work and school (see Figures 13 and 14). Ridership drops off significantly after 5 pm for southbound trips and after 6 pm for northbound trips. No weekday trips have maximum loads exceeding 15 passengers, thus indicating that overcrowding is not an issue on Route 21. On Saturdays, ridership per trip is generally lighter than on weekdays, and no trips exceed 15 passengers on board at one time (see Figures 19 and 2). Maximum loads on some trips exceed total boardings for the trip. This can occur when passengers board a bus at the most convenient stop in one direction, knowing that it will soon reverse directions at the end of the line. Thus, there may already be passengers on a vehicle at the start of a route, resulting in a higher maximum load than the total number of boardings for a trip. Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 5
Figure 9 Weekday Northbound Daily Ridership by Stop Map Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 6
Figure 1 Weekday Southbound Daily Ridership by Stop Map Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 7
Figure 11 Weekday Northbound Ridership by Stop Chart Boardings and Alightings 6 5 4 3 2 1-1 -2-3 -4-5 Boardings Alightings Load Vista Ridge Mall/ Gate 6 EB Round Grove @ I-35 EB Hebron @ Lakeside EB Lakeside @ 826 EB Lakeside @ Edgewater Hebron Station WB Hebron @ Crescent Cove NB Lakepointe @ Hebron WB Lakepointe @ Lakeway NB Lakeway @ Lakepointe NB Lakeway @ Waste Management EB Corporate @ Lakeway NB Waters Ridge @ North Texas Kidney Disease NB Waters Ridge @ Responsive Education WB Bennett @ Lakeway SB Ridgeview @ Bennett SB Ridgeview @ Motel 6 NB Lakepointe @ Corporate WB Southwest @ Honda WB Southwest @ 121 (east side) WB Southwest @ 121 (west side) NB Southwest @ Country Ridge NB Southwest @ Elam WB Bellaire @ Southwest WB Bellaire @ Timberbrook WB Bellaire @ Catalina WB Bellaire @ Valley WB Bellaire @ Old Orchard NB Old Orchard @ Bellaire NB Old Orchard @ Springwood NB Old Orchard @ Carnation NB Old Orchard @ Main NB Old Orchard @ Beechwood NB Old Orchard @ Forestglen EB College @ Valley EB College @ Summit Ave NB Summit @ Civic Circle 6 5 4 3 2 1-1 -2-3 -4-5 Load Figure 12 Weekday Southbound Ridership by Stop Chart Boardings and Alightings 6 5 4 3 2 1-1 -2-3 -4-5 Boardings Alightings Load NB Summit @ Civic Circle WB College @ Summit Ave WB College @ Valley SB Old Orchard @ Forestglen SB Old Orchard @ Beechwood SB Old Orchard @ Main SB Old Orchard @ Carnation SB Old Orchard @ Springwood SB Old Orchard @ Bellaire EB Bellaire @ Old Orchard EB Bellaire @ Valley EB Bellaire @ Catalina EB Bellaire @ Timberbrook EB Bellaire @ Southwest SB Southwest @ Cody SB Southwest @ Ivan EB Southwest @ 121 (west side) EB Southwest @ 121 Business (east side) EB Southwest @ Honda SB Southwest @ Corporate NB Lakepointe @ Corporate NB Ridgeview @ Motel 6 NB Ridgeview @ Bennett SB Lakeway Dr @ Bennett Ln SB Waters Ridge @ Responsive Educational SB Waters Ridge Dr @ North Texas Kidney SB Waters Ridge Dr @ E Corporate Dr SB Lakeway @ Waste Management SB Lakepoint @ Lakeway SB Lakepoint @ Waters Ridge (Target) EB Hebron Pkwy @ 85 Hebron Station WB Lakeside @ Tuscany Apartments WB Lakeside @ Hebron Vista Ridge Mall/ Gate 6 6 5 4 3 2 1-1 -2-3 -4-5 Load Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 8
Figure 13 Weekday Northbound Ridership by Trip 2 Boardings Max Load 15 1 5 5: AM 6: AM 7: AM 8: AM 9: AM 1: AM 11: AM 12: PM 1: PM 2: PM 3: PM 4: PM 5: PM 6: PM 7: PM 8: PM 9: PM 1: PM 11: PM Figure 14 Weekday Southbound Ridership by Trip 2 Boardings Max Load 15 1 5 5: AM 6: AM 7: AM 8: AM 9: AM 1: AM 11: AM 12: PM 1: PM 2: PM 3: PM 4: PM 5: PM 6: PM 7: PM 8: PM 9: PM 1: PM 11: PM Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 9
Figure 15 Saturday Northbound Daily Ridership by Stop Map Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 1
Figure 16 Saturday Southbound Daily Ridership by Stop Map Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 11
Figure 17 Saturday Northbound Ridership by Stop Chart Boardings and Alightings 6 5 4 3 2 1-1 -2-3 -4-5 Boardings Alightings Load Vista Ridge Mall/ Gate 6 EB Round Grove @ I-35 EB Hebron @ Lakeside EB Lakeside @ 826 EB Lakeside @ Edgewater Hebron Station WB Hebron @ Crescent Cove NB Lakepointe @ Hebron WB Lakepointe @ Lakeway NB Lakeway @ Lakepointe NB Lakeway @ Waste Management EB Corporate @ Lakeway NB Waters Ridge @ North Texas Kidney Disease NB Waters Ridge @ Responsive Education WB Bennett @ Lakeway SB Ridgeview @ Bennett SB Ridgeview @ Motel 6 NB Lakepointe @ Corporate WB Southwest @ Honda WB Southwest @ 121 (east side) WB Southwest @ 121 (west side) NB Southwest @ Country Ridge NB Southwest @ Elam WB Bellaire @ Southwest WB Bellaire @ Timberbrook WB Bellaire @ Catalina WB Bellaire @ Valley WB Bellaire @ Old Orchard NB Old Orchard @ Bellaire NB Old Orchard @ Springwood NB Old Orchard @ Carnation NB Old Orchard @ Main NB Old Orchard @ Beechwood NB Old Orchard @ Forestglen EB College @ Valley EB College @ Summit Ave NB Summit @ Civic Circle 6 5 4 3 2 1-1 -2-3 -4-5 Load Figure 18 Saturday Southbound Ridership by Stop Chart Boardings and Alightings 6 5 4 3 2 1-1 -2-3 -4-5 Boardings Alightings Load NB Summit @ Civic Circle WB College @ Summit Ave WB College @ Valley SB Old Orchard @ Forestglen SB Old Orchard @ Beechwood SB Old Orchard @ Main SB Old Orchard @ Carnation SB Old Orchard @ Springwood SB Old Orchard @ Bellaire EB Bellaire @ Old Orchard EB Bellaire @ Valley EB Bellaire @ Catalina EB Bellaire @ Timberbrook EB Bellaire @ Southwest SB Southwest @ Cody SB Southwest @ Ivan EB Southwest @ 121 (west side) EB Southwest @ 121 Business (east side) EB Southwest @ Honda SB Southwest @ Corporate NB Lakepointe @ Corporate NB Ridgeview @ Motel 6 NB Ridgeview @ Bennett SB Lakeway Dr @ Bennett Ln SB Waters Ridge @ Responsive Educational SB Waters Ridge Dr @ North Texas Kidney SB Waters Ridge Dr @ E Corporate Dr SB Lakeway @ Waste Management SB Lakepoint @ Lakeway SB Lakepoint @ Waters Ridge (Target) EB Hebron Pkwy @ 85 Hebron Station WB Lakeside @ Tuscany Apartments WB Lakeside @ Hebron Vista Ridge Mall/ Gate 6 6 5 4 3 2 1-1 -2-3 -4-5 Load Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 12
Figure 19 Saturday Northbound Ridership by Trip 2 Boardings Max Load 15 1 5 5: AM 6: AM 7: AM 8: AM 9: AM 1: AM 11: AM 12: PM 1: PM 2: PM 3: PM 4: PM 5: PM 6: PM 7: PM 8: PM 9: PM 1: PM 11: PM Figure 2 Saturday Southbound Ridership by Trip 2 Boardings Max Load 15 1 5 5: AM 6: AM 7: AM 8: AM 9: AM 1: AM 11: AM 12: PM 1: PM 2: PM 3: PM 4: PM 5: PM 6: PM 7: PM 8: PM 9: PM 1: PM 11: PM Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 13
SERVICE PRODUCTIVITY Route 21 carries 6.7 passengers per service hour on weekdays, which exceeds the system average by nearly 12% (see Figures 21 and 22). On Saturdays, the route has below-average service productivity, at 5.3 passengers per service hour (see Figures 21 and 23). Figure 21 Service Productivity SERVICE DAY TYPICAL DAILY RIDERSHIP SERVICE HOURS AVERAGE PASSENGERS PER HOUR SYSTEM AVERAGE PASSENGERS PER HOUR Weekday 196 29.3 6.7 6. Saturday 52 9.8 5.3 7.2 Figure 22 Weekday Ridership per Service Hour by Route 1. 8. 6.7 6.4 System Average (not including Connect RSVP) = 6. 6. 4.9 4. 2. 1.5. Route 21 Route 23 Route 22 Connect RSVP Figure 23 Saturday Ridership per Service Hour by Route 1. 8. 8.7 7.9 System Average = 7.2 6. 5.3 4. 2.. Route 22 Route 23 Route 21 ON-TIME PERFORMANCE During the survey period, fewer than 6% of Route 21 time points were served on-time (see Figure 24). Low weekday service reliability is primarily caused by early arrivals, especially on southbound trips. Buses are considered early when they depart a time point before their Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 14
scheduled departure time. Buses are considered late when they arrive at a time point more than five minutes behind schedule. Poor service reliability on Saturdays is almost exclusively caused by early arrivals. However, almost all early arrivals are within two minutes of schedule. Figure 24 On-Time Performance PERFORMANCE MEASURE Weekday Saturday On-Time Performance (%) 55.6% 59.5% Early (%) 31.1% 4.5% Late (%) 11.3%.% POTENTIAL SERVICE IMPROVEMENT OPTIONS Opportunities to strengthen Route 21 are listed below. Some suggestions may be contradictory, as there is usually more than one approach to improving a route. Operate Service at Consistent, Easy-to-Remember Intervals. The current 42- minute service frequency of Route 21 is neither frequent enough to be convenient, nor regular enough to be easy to remember. DCTA could consider clock-face headways for Route 21 (i.e. service every 3 or 6 minutes) to improve the over-all user experience. Adjust Schedules to Match Variable Demand. Weekday ridership demand on Route 21 fluctuates throughout the service day. To ensure the highest possible service productivity, DCTA could offer higher service frequency during peak periods and lower frequency in the off-peak. For example, Route 21 service could operate every 3 minutes in the morning and afternoon peaks, and hourly at all other times. Coordinate Schedule with A-train. A significant portion of weekday riders appear to use Route 21 as a feeder service to and from the A-train. Route 21 schedules, however, are not coordinated with A-train arrivals and departures. As a result, passengers transferring between the two services often wait as much as 2 minutes at Hebron Station. This transfer penalty increases total travel time and decreases the likelihood that riders will use the services in combination. Given the irregular schedule of the A-train, coordination is difficult. If possible, a review of the A-train schedule should be considered as well. Streamline Route in the Vicinity of Corporate Drive. Very few boardings or alightings occur in the industrial parks north and south of Corporate Drive. Streamlining Route 21 to operate along Corporate Drive from Lakepointe Drive to Southwest Parkway could shorten the route and reduce out-of-direction travel for many passengers. Designate Hebron Station as the Southern Terminus for Route 21. Given the sharp change in direction that Route 21 takes after serving Hebron Station, it would be appropriate to designate the A-train station as the end of the line for Route 21, and the start of the line for Route 22 and/or Route 23. This change could also help improve ontime performance if lay-over time is built into the schedule at Hebron Station, ensuring that buses are on-schedule when they depart the station to start their next trip. Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. 15