Metrobus 30s Line Study

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Metrobus 30s Line Study Improving Your
Customers Transit Experience Virginia Transit
Association May 20, 2008
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The 30s and M6 Metrobus Lines and DC Circulator
Service
The purpose of the study is to improve the
performance of these bus services
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Study Process
Operational Related Concepts
Rider Survey
Evaluation of Concepts
Identify Issues and Concerns Regarding 30s M6
Line
Develop Recommended Improvements
WMATA and DDOT Project Approval
Service Concept A Enhance Existing Services
Route Analysis
Public Workshops
Service Concept B Split the Line with
Overlapping Routes
Public Workshops
Public Hearing
Public Meetings
Service Concept C Rapid Bus Service
Service Concept D System of Coordinated
Market-Based Routes
We are here
January/February
November/December
October
September
August
June / July
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What Will We Be Doing at Todays Workshop?
Purpose of the meeting is to review the 30s Line
project draft recommendations

• Review the principles that guided recommendations
• Comment on draft recommended service, operations,
  customer communications improvements
• Discuss next steps

During the breakout session, be prepared to
comment on

• How the changes will affect your trip
• Additions or refinements to the recommendations

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What We Learned from Participants at the October
Public Meetings

• Vision
• The 30s Line serves a community that
• Is economically vibrant with expectations for
  continuing growth
• Includes destinations of national, regional and
  local importance
• Has a long tradition of transit service
  alignment, stops, and connections
• Represents multiple travel markets inclusive of
  major activity centers, mixed use corridors and
  residential neighborhoods
• Incorporates major District initiatives to
  accommodate future growth and enhance quality of
  life
• Relies on bus and rail transit as a major
  component of day-to-day life

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What We Learned from Participants at the October
Public Meetings

• Purpose
• Improve customer experience on 30s Line
• Update services and operating plans to sustain
  good performance
• Improve reliability and travel times
• Establish a strategy for implementing
  recommendations
• Plan for future demand, new services and to
  accommodate DC initiatives

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What We Learned from Participants at the October
Public Meetings

• Overarching Principles
• Do no harm. Disfranchisement of existing rider
  access or mobility is not an acceptable trade-off
  
• Serve market purposes - ensure that the plan
  meets the diversity of travel needs
• Avoid inequity all areas along the 30s Line
  merit quality services,
• Consider the needs of seniors, the disabled and
  those who do not drive
• Recommendations must be sustainable and take into
  account funding constraints
• Changes/enhancements can be phased in gradually
• Do something!

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Service Recommendations
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Service Recommendations Maintain Local Bus Routes

• Maintain existing service from Naylor Road and
  Southern Avenue Metro to Friendship Heights
• Serves all stops along the route

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Service Recommendations Add New Limited-Stop
Services

• Adds new limited-stop service in NW and SE that
  overlaps Downtown and avoids Georgetown
  congestion
• Only stops at specially marked stops

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Service Recommendations Existing and New
Neighborhood Connectors

• Maintain M6 route in SE and adds new Routes M5 in
  SE and 31 in NW
• Serves all stops along route

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Operations Recommendations

• Highlights
• Enhanced Service Supervision with supervisors
  stationed all along the route to track vehicles
  and communicate with drivers to reduce bunching
  and improve schedule adherence
• Increased Enforcement of Parking Restrictions so
  no-parking zones arent blocked during peak
  hours
• Adjustments to Signal Timing and queue jump lanes
  at key intersections to improve bus travel times
  and minimize delay
• Explore options for future peak hour Transit Only
  Lanes along H and I Streets NW and Portions of
  Wisconsin Ave NW and Pennsylvania Ave SE.

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Customer Service and Communications
Recommendations

• Highlights
• Completion of DC Shelter Program including new
  shelters and better maintenance
• Updated Schedules that are easier to read with
  new information cases where needed
• Greater use of On Board Announcements when there
  are major delays, detours, or if buses need to be
  held back for schedule adherence
• Improved Safety and Security with enhanced police
  presence at stops near crime hot-spots
• Expanded Route Specific Training and information
  for drivers
• Establishing and distributing information on
  standard and recurring Route Detours

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GROUP DISCUSSIONS
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Workshop Group Reports
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How Can I Continue to Participate?

• Continue to advocate for making changes to the
  30s line happen
• Comment cards
• Daytime Open House on Wednesday December 12 from
  12 pm to 2 pm at WMATA HQ Building
• Riders Advisory Council on the 2nd Wednesday of
  each month at 6pm at WMATA HQ Building
  (contact jpasek_at_wmata.com)
• WMATA Board Meetings (contact
  boardofdirectors_at_wmata.com)
• Public Hearings
• Website www.metrobus-30s-dc.com
• Project Hotline [phone]
• Participate in post-implementation service
  reviews and evaluation

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Next Steps
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Special Thanks To

• Public meeting participants
• Bus riders that completed the surveys
• Riders Advisory Council
• 30s Line bus drivers and supervisors
• St Columbas Church, Pennsylvania Ave Baptist
  Church, and St Francis Xavier Church for
  providing the space for the public meetings
• District Department of Transportation staff
• Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs)
• Neighborhood Associations
• Business Improvement Districts
• Transit, environmental, and civic organizations
• WMATA bus operations, customer service/marketing,
  police, planning, and other staff who
  participated in this process

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