The HOP Offers Route Refinements Hill Country Transit District, operator of The HOP, Central Texas regional public transit system, frequently reviews fixed routes in efforts to ensure the routes are able to maintain published schedules, and to ensure the most efficient route service is made available to the riding public. Effective January 2, 2015, The HOP plans to implement route changes for routes 4, 7, 21, and 30. DESCRIPTION OF CHANGES Route 4 Will no longer travel through the HEB parking lot on Trimmier, and will instead turn from southbound Trimmier onto eastbound Lowe s Blvd. Route 30 serves the HEB with sheltered bus stops both northbound and southbound. Will be extended beyond eastbound Highway 190 access road at Stan Schlueter, continuing on the eastbound access road to serve Modoc stops, currently served by Route 30. Route 30 is excessively long and cannot continue to maintain its published schedule with this change, route 4, which has more time available, will provide the same service stops as route 30 currently serves along this corridor. Upon reaching Stan Schlueter on its westbound return trip, route 4 will resume its current inbound route. Route 7 Route 7 began January 2012. When implemented, it was designed to be longer (18.6 miles) than is typically acceptable for a route, but the intent was to determine the locations with the greatest demand for service. In order for route 7 to be operated safely and be able to make scheduled connections with route 5, adjustments to route 7 are needed. A new Wal Mart is under construction and may open as early as 2015. This is a very important stop for the public transit system, and route 7 must be modified in order to serve the Wal Mart, preferably along southbound Bunny Trail. Specific changes are shown in a map developed to represent the travel for the modified route 7. The primary changes are: modify travel along the southbound Robinette corridor; eliminate travel along Stan Schlueter between Littlerock and Highway 195 instead traveling along Bunny Trail before serving A&M Central Texas. The new route will continue to serve CTC, Metroplex, and A&M, and will still connect with route 5. Additionally, it will be able to serve the new Wal Mart as well as the residential areas growing along Bunny Trail. The route change will also reduce travel distance from 18.6 miles to 16.8 miles, and travel time will be reduced thereby improving the route s ability to safely meet its scheduled connection.
Route 21 Route 21 currently travels outbound, moving south along WS Young, then west along Elms, then south along Trimmier, east along Stan Schlueter, then south again on WS Young; on its return trip toward downtown Killeen, the route travels straight north along WS Young from Stagecoach to Veterans Memorial Blvd. Route 21 will continue to operate the same route as it currently does, except for this specific area, through which it will operate in the opposite direction as it does currently. It will instead travel straight south along WS Young from Veterans Memorial Blvd to Stagecoach on its outbound trip. On its return trip northbound, the route will travel west along Stan Schlueter from WS Young, then north on Trimmier, east on Elms, and back north along WS Young. Route 30 Route 30 carried more than 7,400 passengers in August and again in September 2014, with a performance ratio of 23.8 and 2.4 respectively, one of the highest in the system. It also is one of the longest routes at 17.8 miles, and two factors make it very difficult to perform safely and on time. Changes are needed to correct these two problems. Currently, route 30 travels east along Stan Schlueter to Highway 190 eastbound, thereafter continuing to the Wal Mart on Modoc in Harker Heights. As presented herein, route 4 is proposed for modifications whereby route 4 can serve Modoc instead of route 30. Route 30, with the new change, can also provide new service along Shawn, Pepper Mill Hollow, and Chantz, with only three stops affected each such stop has a stop either directly across the street from the lost stop, or only a block away. Route 30 can also travel inbound toward downtown along westbound Elms, again increasing service area. These changes are greatly beneficial, and result in a new length of 13.8 for route 4 and of 13.3 for route 30. This improves the efficiency of both routes, and improves the safety and schedule adherence for route 30. The speed and cycle length for the routes will be more efficient, as shown herein: ROUTE CURRENT MPH PROPOSED MPH/CYCLE LENGTH 4 10.2 13.8 7 18.6 16.8 21 15.7 15.7 (No change) 30 17.8 13.3 (Total mileage impact: 2.7)
PUBLIC HEARINGS The HOP will hold public hearings in Killeen and Harker Heights at times, dates, and locations shown below to receive comments regarding these proposed changes. The HOP wishes to implement the changes January 2, 2015. Information is also available on The HOP web site at www.takethehop.com. DATE / DAY TIME LOCATION Nov 4, 2014 Tuesday 5:00 PM Harker Heights Council Chambers at 5:30 PM City Hall Nov 6, 2014 Thursday 5:00 PM Killeen Council Chambers at 5:30 PM City Hall Below, please see the current and proposed timetables and route maps for these three route changes.
Route 4 Current Map and Timetable
Route 4 Proposed Map and Timetable January 2, 2015
Route 21 Current Map and Timetable
Route 30 Current Map and Timetable
Route 30 Proposed Map and Timetable January 2, 2015