quad cities coordination and consolidation analysis
TRANSCRIPT
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
MetroLINK CitiBus
October, 2017
Quad Cities Coordination and Consolidation Analysis
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
STUDY PURPOSETo explore further coordination and/or consolidation opportunities to enhance regional transit services.
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus QUAD CITIES Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
Why Consider Coordination?
• Eliminate redundancies• Reduce costs• Economies of scale
• Increase political and public support• Maximize capital investments• Better customer service
• Increase ridership• Expand service area• Access to opportunities
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
EXISTING CONDITIONS•Information Gathering•Stakeholder Interview•Peer Review
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
Stakeholder Feedback
• MetroLINK service quality• CitiBus route restructuring• Davenport transit levy• Lingering issues from previous arrangement• No perceived regional transit advocate
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
Quad Cities Transit Profile
MetroLINK CitiBus BT*
Total Buses 58 19 6
Peak Buses 46 15 3
Budget $17,330,000 $6,801,000 $1,260,000
2017 Current Conditions
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
Peer Review
• Evansville, IN (METS)• Decatur, IL (DPTS)• North Little Rock, AR (CATA)• Topeka, KS (TMTA)• Ft. Wayne, IN (Citilink)• Springfield, IL (SMTD)• Rockford, IL (RMTD)• Peoria, IL (CityLink)
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
Peer Review – Annual Unlinked Trips
1,155,180 1,228,300 1,267,963
1,688,955 1,756,873 1,767,024 1,797,3221,954,716
2,502,741
3,028,220
3,354,584
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
3,500,000
4,000,000Annual Unlinked Passenger Trips, NTD 2016
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
Peer Review – Annual Operating Expenses
$5.4 $5.5 $6.0 $6.0
$10.5 $10.5 $12.1 $12.3
$13.5
$16.0 $17.5
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
$ Millions
Total Operating Expenses, NTD 2016
$60/capita
$133/capita
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
Peer Review – Operating Expense per Hour
$66 $77 $79
$97 $102 $103 $106 $106 $119 $123
$157
$‐
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
$120
$140
$160
$180Operating Expense per Revenue Hour, NTD 2016
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
Peer Review – Passengers per Hour
14.3
17.0 17.1 17.418.4 19.4 19.5
20.8 21.6 22.2
27.1
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0Passengers per Revenue Hour, NTD 2016
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
Peer Review Summary
• Both systems are preforming well relative to peers (high number of passengers per mile and per hour)
• Both systems are achieve an average cost per revenue hour indicating efficient operations
• No “red-flags” were raised from the peer review
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
OPPORTUNITIES•Governance•Operations•Maintenance•Fare Structure•Technology
•Procurement•Service Planning•Paratransit•Marketing & Branding
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
Governance
• RTCC comprised of MetroLINK, CitiBus, BT and regional decision makers from the business community
• Action oriented and supportive of mutual regional priorities
Pursue coordination of services through mutual agreements rather than consolidation into a single transit agency.Establish a Regional Transit Coordinating Council (RTCC) to identify coordination topics and develop work plans for implementation.
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
Operations
• MetroLINK responsible for all facets of operations• City of Davenport responsible for personnel functions• Staff position employed by the City of Davenport to oversee
agreement• Arrangement through IGA or contract for service• Allows for option to conduct service and route planning• Implementation may be impacted by Iowa-Illinois Memorial (I-74)
Bridge construction
Consider contracting CitiBus operations, dispatch, and on‐road supervision to MetroLINK.
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
Maintenance
• MetroLINK has state of the art facilities, potential capacity, and large number of dedicated staff
• MetroLINK could become responsible for all fleet and vehicle maintenance
Consider contracting CitiBus maintenance to MetroLINK.
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
Fare Structure
• Unified fare structure in addition to the $1.00 base fare• Regional Quad Cities monthly pass• Compatible farebox technology (if not consistent)
A unified fare structure across Quad Cities transit systems should be established.
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
Technology
• Automated vehicle locators• Computer aided dispatching• Scheduling software• Automatic passenger counters (APCs)
Procurement and deployment of technology could be integrated through an intergovernmental agreement (IGA).
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
Procurement
• Economies of scale• Consistent regional technologies
Implement joint procurement of vehicles, vehicle technology, mobile phone applications, and planning studies.
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
Service Planning
• Thorough OD study to identify where people are traveling and the magnitude of travel between the two states
• Identify high-volume forced transfer trips that may be eliminated
The parties should consider participating in a regional planning review of existing transit routes.
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
Paratransit for Seniors and Disabled
• Single eligibility process• Single call center• Regional service provision
Consideration should be given to consolidating federally‐mandated ADA services into a single service, including participant ADA eligibility assessment.
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
Marketing & Branding
• Ongoing messaging campaign amongst systems• Elevating the transit platform is beneficial for all entities• Focus initial efforts on other coordination priorities• Single unified brand could be considered in the long-term
A consistent public transit message could be developed in the Quad Cities region.Unified branding is unnecessary for further coordination at this time, but could be a long‐term goal in the region.
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
Financial ImplicationsGovernance RTCC
Operations Expanded MOMC Capacity
Eliminate duplicative functions
I-74 bridge construction?
Maintenance Economies of scale
Fare Structure Effects on revenue
Technology Regional consistency
Procurement Economies of scale
Service Planning Improved regional connectivity
ParatransitSchedule efficiencies
Administrative efficiencies
Enhanced eligibility assessments
Marketing & Branding Robust effort
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
CONCLUSIONS• MetroLINK and CitiBus representatives recognize the positive benefits of closer coordination
• Implementation of opportunities identified will require a concerted and dedicated effort
• Recommendations can be implemented incrementally
• Quad Cities region will be well served by greater coordination among the transit agencies
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
NEXT STEPS• Formalize process to establish regional transit coordinating council
• Prioritize regional coordination initiatives•Develop initiative implementation plans
QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus
QUESTIONS?