Making Transit Sexy: MSTs Hot Partnerships

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Making Transit SexyMSTs Hot Partnerships

• California Transit Assn.
• EXPO 2008 -- Monterey
• November 4 - 7, 2008

Hunter Harvath, AICP AGM Finance
Admin. Monterey-Salinas Transit
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MST Quick Facts

• Monterey Countys Primary Transit Agency
• 5 million passengers/year
• 37 bus routes
• 2.9 million revenue miles/year
• 125 vehicles (78 buses, trolleys, minibuses)
• 215 employees
• Service Area 280 sq. mi.
• Two separate UZAs each under 200,000 people

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MST Service Area

• South
• King City
• Big Sur
• North
• Watsonville
• (Santa Cruz County)
• San Jose

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Why pursue public private partnerships?

• Funding uncertainties shrinking revenues
• State budget cuts -- 4.6 billion shifted from
  transit (FY 01 to 09)
• No local sales tax for transportation
• SAFETEA Federal Reauthorization was nearly 2
  years late
• Soaring fuel prices (up 450), insurance rates
  after Sept. 11th
• Many small operators have high fares (no sales
  tax) and/or have had to cut service.
• Grants often require local match (JARC, NF)
• Private partners bring energy, ideas start up
  funds
• Grow transit ridership!

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Line 24 Carmel ValleyGrapevine Express

• Partners Monterey County Business Council,
  Monterey County Office of Economic Development.

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Line 24 Carmel ValleyGrapevine Express

• Improve environment by reducing auto trips
• Increase visitor traffic to Carmel Valley
• Daylong activity to encourage visitors to stay an
  extra night beyond traditional Fri/Sat
• Improve safety on winding two-lane Carmel Valley
  Road impaired drivers
• Increase bus frequency for employees commuting
  to/from jobs
• Eliminated transfer one seat ride
• Reduced fare by 50 to/from Carmel Valley

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Line 24 Carmel ValleyGrapevine Express

• C2 Competitive Clusters Agriculture Cluster
  project
• 15,000 in funding
• Logo design
• Brochures
• Bus ad design
• Additional hours of operation Fridays Saturdays
  Sundays for a two-month demo
• Ridership 8,200/mo.

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Line 24 Carmel ValleyGrapevine Express
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Line 55 Monterey-San Jose Express

• Partners Santa Clara Valley Transportation
  Authority, Capitol Corridor Joint Powers
  Authority/Caltrans, FTA (JARC Grant), AMTRAK
• 2005 MST passenger Survey San Jose
• Greyhound Amtrak Thruway left Monterey
• Change state law for Caltrans funds
• Implemented Aug 06 3 round trips daily
  connecting to Capitol Corridor, Caltrain, VTA,
  ACE _at_ Diridon Station
• Ridership Growing to over 3,000 / mo. (3,500
  Aug 08)
• NEW! Free Wifi aboard all Line 55 coaches

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Line 12 MontereyNaval Postgraduate School

• Partners Naval Postgraduate School US DOT
• Implemented Sept. 2008 commute hours only
• Connects military housing areas with NPS
• Funded 100 through Navys TIP -- Transportation
  Incentive Program (115 per student)
• 100 minimum students must be enrolled in TIP
• 300 students currently enrolled 1,500 boardings
  in Oct.
• Planning to add more trips in early 2009

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Line 55 Monterey-San Jose Express
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Line 48 East Salinas Airport Business Ctr

• Partners Salinas Airport Business Park Partners
  (primary landlord), Caputo Associates (secondary
  landlord), FTA (JARC grant)
• Salinas One Stop Career Center located far away
  from MST route network but no money to extend
  service
• East Salinas high density, growing population,
  low income, high unemployment, at-risk youth
• Service every 30 minutes weekdays 7am 7pm
• Ridership over 2,000 per month

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Line 56 Monterey-Memorial Hospital

• Partners Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital, FTA
  (JARC)
• Difficult to attract nursing hospital staff
  High cost of living in Monterey County
• High gas prices
• 30-mile round trip commute
• Began with 2 one-way reverse-commute trips AMPM
  peak
• As of Sep 2008 10 one-way trips
• High expectations among staff

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MST TrolleyDowntown Monterey

• Partners City of Monterey, Monterey Bay
  Aquarium, Federal Transit Administration
• City of Monterey/Aquarium fund 20 local match
  for trolleys 100 of operating costs
• Operate during summer/holidays
• 10-year agreement
• First year of trolley service (04) ridership
  jumped by over 65 -- trolleys vs. old transit
  buses

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People Notice thesePartnerships!

• Awards
• Public-Private Economic Development Partnership
  Award from Monterey County Business Council
• Transportation Excellence Awards from
  Transportation Agency for Monterey County
• CTA Small Operators Award -- 2007
• Support from private sector or non-traditional
  allies
• Transportation sales tax campaigns votes
• Attract non-traditional and/or choice transit
  riders
• Advocacy from private sector on state federal
  legislative/funding issues
• Build relationships with Tourism, Ag, Health Care
  industries

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Making Transit SexyMSTs Hot Partnerships

• Hunter Harvath, AICP
• AGM Finance Admin.
• Monterey-Salinas Transit

hharvath_at_mst.org [phone] www.mst.org