Short Range Transit Improvement Plan CITY OF HIGHPOINT Sounding Board Meeting Service Recommendations September 9, 2014

Agenda Welcome and Introductions Recap of May Workshop – Goals and Objectives – Comments and Emerging Themes Fixed-Route Service Recommendations – Service Planning Process – Fixed-Route Service Recommendations – Group Exercise – Discuss Recommendations/Mark up Future System Map Demand-Responsive Service Recommendations – Overview of Demand-Responsive Service and Policies – Demand-Responsive Service Recommendations Bus Stop Recommendations Group Discussion Adjourn

Project Schedule Update PartProject TasksStatus 1 Existing Conditions Assessment 2 Future Scenario Development and Recommendations Next Steps: Revise service recommendations based on comments received Conduct public information workshop for community Finalize Short-Range Transit Plan

MAY 29, 2014 MEETING RECAP

Goals and Objectives Meet and exceed customer expectations for transit service quality and delivery Offer a transit service that better corresponds with working hours Provide a safe transit service to community Align investments to meet existing and future demand Improved transit service reliability

Comments and Themes Strong desire for NC 68 service to Palladium District/Deep River Interest in service to Skeet Club Improved service frequencies along key routes Extended service span for entire system – Student populations – Shift workers

Comments and Themes Maximize connection opportunities for efficient use of resources Improved coordination with PART and GTA services Consolidate stops (where available) Consider opportunities to close gaps in system Service northwest of downtown? (Westchester/Lexington)

FIXED-ROUTE SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS

Transit Planning Fundamentals Focus on the customer Keep service simple Provide door to door service Avoid internal competition between routes Maximize opportunities to connect with other services Understand realities – Funding and resource availabilities Tradeoffs – Coverage vs. Frequency

Key Assumptions Neutral Funding Scenario – No additional funding over the life of the SRTP The radial, “pulse”-based operating structure would remain The Broad Avenue Terminal would continue to serve as the operations center – No capital improvements

Operations Planning Focus Focus on reducing duplicative service Reduce the size of end-of-line loops and deviations Improve connection opportunities between routes Maximize spacing between routes to keep service area coverage while improving service frequency Connect housing locations with activity centers and key city destinations Provide service to populations most in need Use fixed route service as opposed to demand-responsive

New Features Maintain pulse-based system Creation of trunk routes and transit spines – Trunk routes: improve service frequency and span – Transit spines: improve north/south, east/west connections, service reliability – Key transit corridors: North/South Main, North Centennial – Passenger advantage: more frequency, faster service – Operating cost nominal (fleet is the issue)

Fixed-Route Service Plan

Summary of Recommendations Anticipated 8.1% increase of in-service revenue hours and miles Total number of trips for most local routes decreased – Tradeoff for providing enhanced service on Main Street and along all routes during peak periods – Extending service to Palladium/Deep River region (Route 13) Sufficient fleet available to satisfy the operating characteristics Major Service Change Recommendations – Eliminate routes 12, 15, 21 Re-invest savings into current and new services – Routes 10 and 11: Designate as trunk routes, creating Main Street transit spine – Route 17: Designate as crosstown route

Exercise As a group, discuss the recommendations Use handout to write comments Use future systems map to mark your ideas or make comments

DEMAND-RESPONSIVE SERVICE OVERVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary of Service Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – Hi-Tran Required to provide ADA-compliant paratransit services for persons with disabilities unable to use general public transit services – Hi-Tran required to offer paratransit services for eligible individuals who begin and end their trip within ¾-mile of a fixed-route during the operating hours of the route Provides a necessary and valuable mobility option to the community Service comes at a significant operating cost – Expanding coverage area will influence demand-responsive service area

Summary of Service Advanced reservation, origin/destination service – Providing curb-to-curb transportation for eligible residents Age 60 and above Persons with disabilities Schedule: 8:00am and 5:00pm Monday through Saturday Ride requests may be made up to two weeks in advance of travel Fare: $2.00 (ADA-maximum 2x base cash fare for fixed- route service)

Service Recommendations Modify service eligibility requirements, particularly the passenger age requirement Institute a transit travel training program for seniors and persons with disabilities Establish a Community Service route to consolidate trips to common locations Consider a free fare policy on fixed-route services for qualified demand-responsive participants

Service Recommendations Create a bus stop improvement program for improved bus stop accessibility Consider a functional assessment test as part of demand eligibility determination Establish a supplemental service agreement with area taxi providers Shorten pre-scheduled trip booking period

GROUP DISCUSSION

TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE

Bus Stops and Amenities Bus stops are the “Front Door” of the transit system Tradeoff – Speed versus Access – More stops means more access, but slower travel times; fewer stops means less access but faster travel times – Are there too many bus stops along portions of a street? Depending on infrastructure, bus stops can range in price from $1,000 to $10,000 Supportive pedestrian infrastructure leading to the stop ADA requirements

Existing Bus Stops

Initial Recommendations Conduct full bus stop inventory – Review warrants for bus stop sizing, spacing, design standards Consider consolidation of stops Increases ridership with faster service Fewer stops result in easier to understand route maps Lowers operating and capital costs Collect updated data on boardings by location – Prioritize bus shelter and other investments based on boardings Consider capital infrastructure improvement fund – Sidewalks, lighting, furniture

GROUP DISCUSSION

FINAL THOUGHTS OF THE PROJECT TEAM

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