Greater Minnesota Transit Plan

1
Greater Minnesota Transit Plan

• Transit Plan Videoconference
• 4/24/09

2
Purpose of the Plan

• Engage stakeholders
• Refine the vision for transit service to provide
  guidance for future investments
• Identify level of unmet passenger demand
• Estimate costs to meet future demand levels

3
Stakeholder Involvement

• Regional workshops identify needs and
  opportunities
• Structured interviews future directions
• On-line survey gaps and barriers
• Advisory Committee guide study and review
  outcomes

4
Key Stakeholder Themes

• Expansion of service hours and areas
• Expansion of core services
• Incorporate technology
• Address commuter needs
• Expand coordination and mobility management
• Increase information and marketing

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Snapshot of Public Transit in Greater MN

• 75 of 80 Greater MN counties have some public
  transit service
• Over 500 vehicles in service
• Over 11 million passenger trips in 2008
• 54 million for public transit services in 2008

6
Current Environment

• Unserved
• 5 counties
• Underserved
• 7 counties with city service only

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Urban Services

• 7 fixed route and 5 ADA services
• 40 of statewide fleet
• 70 of statewide passengers
• 54 of statewide operating cost

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County Services

• 38 systems covering 68 counties
• 51 of statewide fleet
• 22 of statewide passengers
• 39 of statewide operating cost

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Small Urban Systems

• 16 systems
• 9 of statewide fleet
• 8 of statewide passengers
• 7 of statewide operating cost

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Challenges

• Maintaining and Expanding Public Transit Systems
• Mobility Needs of Individuals
• Mobility Needs of the Workforce
• Other Transit Options
• Coordination of services

11
Challenges Maintain and Expand Existing Systems

• Looking for stability of funding to allow
  services to
• Expand to new growth areas
• Extend service later and on weekends
• Increase frequency during core times

12
Challenges Mobility Needs of Individuals

• Growing Population
• Increase of 32 between 2000 and 2030
• Changing Population
• Disabled population is increasing across the
  state
• Minority population doubled between 1990 and 2005
• Low income percentage of the population is
  increasing slightly
• Aging Population
• Senior population to double between 2000 and 2030

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Challenges Mobility Needs of the Workforce

• Growing Employment
• Long-term growth in employment statewide will add
  350,000 jobs by 2030
• Changing Travel Patterns
• Only 2/3 of workers live in the same county where
  they work
• Commuter shed patterns show that workers are
  traveling further to access employment
  opportunities

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Challenges Other Transit Options

• Commuter Rail/Bus
• Intercity Rail/Bus
• U-Pass
• Rideshare
• TMOs/TMAs
• Bus-Only Shoulder

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Challenges Coordination of Services

• Client specific services
• 5310 services
• Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
• Head Start
• System to System Connections

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Strategic Directions

• Vision
• Meet the mobility needs within Greater MN by
  providing access to a high quality, coordinated
  public transit network. Transit investments will
  leverage partnerships, embrace innovation,
  promote community vitality, and deliver
  cost-effective services.

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Goal 1

• Maintain viability of existing systems
• Allocate funding first to systems that meet
  accountability targets
• Blend transit and human services to meet needs
• Use measures to identify improvement areas
• Identify stable funding sources

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Goal 2

• Provide service in unserved areas
• When adequate funding is available, fill
  geographic gaps in service 5 counties currently
  with no service
• Use performance measures to set targets for new
  services

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Goal 3

• Expand service in underserved areas
• Expand core frequencies and span of service
• Expand small urban to county-wide 7 counties
• Focus commuter services on job-training needs
  initially, expand to corridor-based services
• Identify best opportunities for travel between
  communities

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Goal 4

• Prioritize infrastructure investments to match
  local commitments
• Invest in size-appropriate ADA vehicles
• Invest in maintenance and storage facilities that
  meet guidelines
• Follow industry standards for fleet replacement
• Park and ride lots need local plan and commitment
• Roll out advanced technology projects where
  benefits are largest

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Goal 5

• Enhance coordination and improve management of
  investments
• Work with DHS to coordinate planning and
  operations for special populations
• Work with human services to address medical trip
  needs
• Work with locals on land use/transit interaction
• Encourage locals to expand marketing
• Support a peer-to-peer network
• Establish regional mobility management
  organizations

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Measures

• Current
• Coverage number of counties fully served
• Quantity number of service hours
• Infrastructure age of fleet
• Emerging
• Availability days of service countywide, span of
  service countywide
• Coordination number of regional mobility
  management organizations

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Future Demand Estimates

• Two per capita trip rate methods tested
• Rates from national exemplary systems applied to
  seniors, persons with disabilities and low income
  persons in each county
• Minnesota peer system rates applied to general
  county population
• gtMinnesota peer system method deemed best fit

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Future Passenger Demand

• 2020 2030
• 9.8 11.0
• 5.3 5.6
• 0.7 0.8
• 0.4 0.4
• 16.2 17.8

• Urban Services
• Non-urban Services
• Underserved Areas
• Unserved Areas
• Total
• Expressed in millions of riders

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Future Service Needs
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Financial Analysis
Expressed in millions Source 2008 Transit
Report, p.125 and p.132
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Next Steps

• Finalize study report and Plan
• Present findings to stakeholders
• Information Video Conference (April 24)
• Transit Plan Open Houses (April 21-May14)
• Public hearing (June TBD)
• Implementation Plan

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Commenting Process
We would like to hear your thoughts, comments,
concerns and/or questions regarding the Greater
Minnesota Transit Plan.

• How to comment
• Via the website www.dot.state.mn.us/transit/trans
  itplan
• Via email TransitPlan_at_dot.state.mn.us
• By mail or phone (see next slide)
• Comment Period through June 5, 2009
• Responses to comments will be posted on the
  website

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For more information

• Mn/DOT
• Office of Transit
• Noel Shughart, Coordination Planner
• 651-366-4181
• Noel.Shughart_at_dot.state.mn.us
• 395 John Ireland BlvdMail Stop 430Saint Paul,
  MN 55155