HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 06/19/2001 - RESOLUTION 2001-81 APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE TRAN AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 33
DATE: June 19, 2001
FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: John Daggett
Thomas L. Frazier
SUBJECT:
Resolution 2001-81 Approving and Adopting the Transfort Service Plan as an Element of the
Transfort Strategic Operating Plan.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no immediate financial impact on the City. All financial impacts are controlled through the
annual budget process. Although the Plan identifies targeted implementation dates,the City Council
will have complete control over the extent and timing of implementing transit improvements and
making transit investments.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Transfort Strategic Plan is a plan for the development of transit services in the Fort Collins
urban growth area through 2010. Staff is asking City Council to adopt the Service Plan Element of
the Transfort Strategic Plan as the City's guide to the implementation of transit services over the next
nine years.
In brief, we are making some service adjustments in the recommended base service (Scenario 1)
to meet the Council goal of increasing the productivity of the Transfort bus system. To accomplish
this,the following changes will be made to Transfort's existing routes:
• Existing routes 9, 10, and the Southside shuttle will be eliminated and those resources will
be used elsewhere in the Transfort system
• Frequency on Route 1 will be increased from the existing 30-minute service to 20-minute
service
• Existing route 4 will be restructured into two routes
• The new route 4 will provide 30-minute transit service an area northwest of the CSU
campus
• A new route 15 will provide 20-minute transit service between the CSU campus and
Downtown
DATE: June 19, 2001 2 ITEM NUMBER: 33
• Existing route 5 will be straightened in the Lemay corridor to provide more consistent and
timely service on the east side of the city
• Existing route 7 will be restructured to serve higher density housing and employment areas
and more direct transit service to the Senior Center
• Existing route 14 will be restructured to eliminate duplicative service it shares with route 8
and to increase its frequency from 60-minute service to 30-minute service
• Existing routes 2, 3, 6, 8, 11, and Foxtrot(Loveland)remain unchanged
Service enhancements,such as those discussed by City Council at the June 12,2001 Study Session,
will be considered as the 2002-2003 biennial budget is reviewed.
The attached Service Plan Executive Summary briefly describes each of four transit service levels
(scenarios). Each scenario should be viewed as a building block culminating in Scenario 4. The
Service Plan represents the overall recommended service improvements for Transfort for the period
covered by the Transfort Strategic Plan. This Strategic Plan will be used in updating the North Front
Range Transportation&Air Quality Planning Council's Regional Transportation 2025 Plan.
BACKGROUND:
Recent Developments
Staff brought the Transfort Strategic Plan to Council for adoption on May 15. At that meeting,
Council deferred a decision on the Plan and asked staff to provide several additional service
alternatives.
Staff prepared the Transfort Service Options report detailing six service options and met with
Council in study session on June 12. At that meeting,Council discussed the six service options and
their associated advantages and disadvantages. Concern for service in other parts of the city was
expressed by several of the Council members.
In addition, several Council members spoke to the issue of youth riding for free on Transfort buses
and expressed a desire to explore the concept of charging a fare of twenty-five cents a ride. No clear
consensus emerged during the meeting,but Council members requested additional information from
staff on fare(price)elasticity,revenues that could be realized from instituting a fare,working with
the school district on transportation for young people, and other cities that provide free access to
youth on transit.
Staff identified three issues: (1)Adopting a Service Plan for Transfort;(2)Bus service to other parts
of the city; and(3) Operational issues including examining fare policy. The Service Plan is being
addressed with this agenda item. The latter two issues will be addressed during the 2002-2003
budget process.
Transfort Strategic Plannin@ Process
The Transfort Strategic Plan process began in December 1999.
The Transfort strategic planning process incorporates four primary stages: (1) Examination and
analysis of existing conditions;(2)Identification and agreement on the values,goals,and objectives
to govern future transit services;(3)Development of a service plan designed to achieve those goals
DATE: June 19, 2001 3 ITEM NUMBER: 33
and objectives;and(4)Preparation of an operational plan for use by City staff in implementing the
• service plan.
Existing Conditions
The analysis of existing Transfort services provided a wealth of data and information about the
operation and performance of the bus system. This area included efforts to document and
understand on-time performance, staffing, and boarding patterns. The analysis also examined
various demographic conditions existing in the City such as housing density and an examination of
the various markets currently using Transfort.
Identification of Values, Goals. and Objectives
During this stage in the planning process, the consultant team interviewed nearly one hundred
individuals from a broad cross section of the community including City Council members. This
stage culminated with a discussion of the purpose of transit in Fort Collins.
That discussion centered on the choice between providing a bus service designed to cover a
geographic area(coverage) or one designed to maximize ridership (productivity).
Policy direction for the plan was set in early summer 2000. At that time, City Council asked staff
to develop a transit service plan that would enhance Transfort's productivity.
Service Plan Development
• Staff first developed four draft hmupr rhr llrnhp 'ee chramr
incremental service scenarios designed ` ohn need ii' thr raw*
to increase the productivity of the t.
Transfort bus system. Each draft CoVEraeJe
scenario and each subsequent iteration DispersedService Everywhere i aiid
(refinement) was modeled and analyzed r =
to test that the proposed bus system
designs enhanced Transfort productivity. — 3
Staff and City Council met in study s
session on February 17 for a review of
the proposed draft service plan prior to CowRtaeistfp
ntaNh� rapt►.
sharing the plan with the public. Since
that meeting further refinements to the ry
Service Plan have been made.
An extensive series of meetings have been held with City boards and commissions and the general
public. Staff met with the Tiansportation Board,the Planning and Zoning Board,the Commission
on Disability,the Senior Advisory Board,the Youth Advisory Board,and the Air Quality Advisory
Board. In addition, staff held a series of public open houses and a public meeting at Fort Collins
High School.
Staff notified 5,500 affected properties(businesses and households) of the public process by mail.
Announcements have been posted on all Transfort buses since March 1. A web site was also created
DATE: June 19, 2001 4 ITEM NUMBER: 33
and maintained by the City's Transportation Planning and IT staff over the course of the Transfort
Strategic Plan process.
Preparation of an Operations Plan
After City Council adopts the Service Plan element of the Transfort Strategic Plan, staff and
consultants will prepare an Operations Plan to assist staff in the implementation of the new service
designs. Any service changes requiring new resources will be addressed by City Council during the
budget process(es).
0 Public Meeg Schedule
Boards & Commissions Date Time Location Status
Transportation Board February 17th 6:00 p.m CIC Room Complete
P &Z (Study Session March 9th 12:00 p.m. 281 N. College Complete
Mass Transit Committee March 12th 1:00 p.m. CSUPD Conference Complete
Youth Advisory Board March 14th 7:00 p.m. Old Ft Collins High Complete
Senior Advisory Board March 14th 2:00 p.m. Senior Center Complete
Planning & Zoning Board March 15th 6:30 p.m. Council Chambers Complete
Poudre School District March 26th 3:30 p.m. Poudre Admin Complete
Air Quality Advisory Board March 27th 4:00 p.m. 281 N. College Complete
Chamber of Commerce March 30th 7:30 a.m. Chamber Office Complete
Chamber of Commerce April 10th 8:00 a.m. Chamber Office Complete
Commission on Disabilities Aril 12th 12:00 p.m. CIC Room Complete
Colorado State University June 5th 3:30 p.m. CSUPD Conference Complete
Open Houses/Public Meetings Date Time Location Status
Open House Foothills Fashion Mall March 31st 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Community Booth Complete
Open House City Hall April 2nd 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. CIC Room Complete
Public Meeting & Open House April 11th 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. New Ft Collins High Complete
City Council Date Time Location Status
City Council (Study Session February 13th 6:00 p.m. Council Chambers Complete
City Council (Regular) May 15th 6:00 p.m. Council Chambers Complete
City Council (Study Session June 12th 6:00 p.m. Council Chambers Complete
Ci Council (Regular) June 19th 6:00 p.m. Council Chambers Scheduled
RESOLUTION 2001-81
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE TRANSFORT SERVICE PLAN
AS AN ELEMENT OF THE TRANSFORT STRATEGIC
OPERATING PLAN
WHEREAS, the process for the establishment of the Transfort Strategic Operating Plan
commenced in December, 1999; and
WHEREAS,in May,2000,the "Existing Conditions Report" was submitted to the Council
identifying transit needs, opportunities and constraints, and service goals; and
WHEREAS, the second step in the Transfort Strategic Operating Plan process is the
development of the Transfort Service Plan, which service plan describes four service scenarios at
three different levels of investment,which service scenarios are viewed by the Council as building
blocks culminating in the fourth scenario,which scenarios,taken together,are designed to meet the
City Council's goals for increased productivity and increased relevance of the system to the entire
City and to Colorado State University; and
WHEREAS,the City Council has determined that it is in the best interest of the City that the
proposed Transfort Service Plan element of the Tranfort Strategic Operating Plan be approved and
adopted.
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS that the Transfort Service Plan, an element of the Transfort Strategic Operating Plan, a
copy of which is on file in the office of the City Clerk and incorporated herein by this reference,be
and hereby is approved and adopted.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held this 19th day of June,A.D.
2001.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Introduction
This report is the Revised Draft Service Plan for Transfort. This is the second step in the
Strategic Operating Plan process, following the Draft Existing Conditions Report that was
submitted in May 2000. The purpose of the Strategic Operating Plan is to
• Identify transit needs, opportunities and constraints, and service goals;
• Prepare a service plan for the system; and
• Develop an operating,implementation and funding plan to support the strategic plan.
A key outcome of the existing conditions portion of the process was to determine the City's
preferred split of resources between maximizing ridership (productivity) and providing transit
access regardless of the numbers of riders using the bus system. City staff, based on Council
recommendation, gave direction to enhance productivity on the Transfort system. This is the
emphasis for this draft service plan.
This document lays out four service alternatives at three different levels of investment.
Ultimately, the recommended Scenario 4 is designed to meet the City Council's goals for:
• increased productivity (ridership per dollar spent), and
• increased relevance of the system to the entire city and the University.
Keys to a Productive System
A high-productivity transit system has the following time-tested features:
• Minimal duplication between routes, generally with parallel routes no less than one
half- mile apart.
• Convenient access to major centers of demand from all parts of the city.
• Simple, straight routes that are easy to understand.
• Direct,no-transfer service from all parts of the city to major centers of demand,to the
extent feasible without creating duplication.
• Convenient,fast transfers between routes to serve origin-destination pairs that cannot
be served with a single bus.
• Two-way service on all route segments,so that transit is competitive for a trip in both
directions.
• A service design focused on the high-density portions of the city(seven dwelling units
per acre or greater), since these are the areas that generate trip demand in sufficient
NEz ONX NYGAARn CONSUL77NG AssoctA7Es I JUKE 2001
TRANSFORT
CTTYOFFORT COLLPIS DRAFT SERVICE PLAN—THIRD REVISION
volume to support transit service. In practice, this requires focusing on apartments,
and to a lesser extent on mobile home parks,duplexes,and old neighborhoods where
extensive reuse has increased the population density above what the dwelling-unit
density would indicate.
• Frequent services in the (relatively few) corridors where high-ridership service is
possible, with minimal service for coverage to parts of the city where current
development will not generate high transit demand.
• Simplicity in service design, so that it is easy to learn the system not just for the trip
you make routinely, but also for trips anywhere in the service area.
Transit Challenges
Fort Collins has some obstacles to providing productive service as the system currently operates.
These include:
• The street and development patterns in Fort Collins have resulted in low-density
growth and areas in which pedestrian access is limited.
• The layout, orientation, and location of the existing CSU Transit Center, coupled
with required transfers for through-travel,reduces the overall efficiency of the system.
• Continuing growth on the south side of the urban growth area (UGA) has created
new travel patterns that are not served by the current system.
• The current route structure provides separate transit centers in the downtown and at
the University with largely separate systems of routes emanating from both.
• The heavy reliance on timed transfers at all three transit centers requires unforgiving
on-time performance.
• Increasing traffic congestion has reduced roadway speeds in some areas at varying
times of day, affecting transit schedules.
NELSON\NYGAARD CONSULTING ASSOCIATES 2 JUNE 2001
TRANSPORT
CITYOFFORT COLLINS DRAFT SERVICE PLAN—Timm REVISION
Four Service Alternatives
We have developed and refined four scenarios in consultation with City staff.
• All four of the alternatives assume the relocation of the Colorado State University
Transit Center to the Lory Student Center location on the north side of the
University campus, south of Meldrum and Laurel.
• Scenario 1 assumes no budget growth is required for its implementation. Scenario 2
assumes the implementation of transit service in the Mason Street corridor and
assumes budget growth at one and one quarter times the current budget. Scenario 3
assumes the implementation of the Mason Street corridor coupled with other service
enhancements and budget growth equal to slightly more than one and one half times
the current budget. Scenario 4 assumes the implementation of a full transit grid and
the Mason Street corridor and budget growth at roughly twice the current budget.
• The scenarios 2, 3, and 4 require cost increases over Scenario 1. In FY 2002 dollars,
Scenario 1 would be similar to existing service, with estimated annual operational
costs at approximately$3,870,000. Scenario 2 which adds the Mason Street Corridor
bus service is estimated at $4,960,000. Scenario 3 begins the process of transitioning
to a grid system with an estimated annual operating cost of$6,220,000. Scenario 4 is
estimated at$8,380,000,showing a little more than double the resources to implement
the alternative.
• The four scenarios should be viewed as the building blocks required to achieve a
productive transit system for Fort Collins.
Scenario 1: No Budget Growth, Minimal Redesign
This first no-budget growth alternative is a short-term service improvement plan. Its focus is to
provide modest modifications to the existing system. This scenario is illustrated in this report in
Figure 2. Some of these changes can be implemented with limited disruption. However, full
implementation of this alternative effects 37% of system service.
Implementation of this alternative will improve the quality of Transfort operations as well as
increase the productivity of the Transfort system. Model analysis estimates a 16% increase in
system productivity. However, transit systems should expect a twelve to eighteen month
adjustment period where some patrons are lost and new patrons begin using Transfort service.
Transfort may experience an initial loss in ridership during this period,but expect to recover and
increase ridership levels by the end of the period.
Key changes to the existing service include
NELSON\NYGAARD CONSULTING ASSOCIATES 3 IUNE 2001
TRANSFORT
CITYOFFORT COLLINS DRAFT SERVICE PLAN—THIRD REVISION
• Providing two routes to service the area along portions of existing Route 4 that
connects CSU with both downtown and the residential communities currently served
by the route;
• Providing service that enhances the travel connection between CSU and downtown;
• Straightening and simplifying Route 5,setting the framework for a grid-like operation
on Lemay;
• Simplifying Routes 7, eliminating unproductive detours, and focusing the route on
both high density residential and high density employment areas, and
• Eliminating low producing routes (Route 9, 10, and the Southside Shuttle) and
utilizing those resources in more productive corridors (College Avenue and the north
Mason corridor).
Scenario 2: Minimal Redesign Plus Mason Street Corridor Service
This alternative adds the Mason Street Corridor service to the improvements made in Scenario
1 above. plan. Implementation of this alternative will improve the quality of Transfort
operations as well as increase the productivity of the Transfort system. Model analysis estimates
a 38% increase in system productivity compared to the existing transit system.
Its focus is to provide the"backbone"of a future highly productive transit system serving the Fort
Collins community. This scenario is illustrated in this report in Figure 3.These changes can also
be implemented with limited disruption, although they do represent significant improvements
to the overall operation of the system.Implementation of this alternative will improve the quality
of Transfort operations and the number of people riding the system. Key changes to the existing
service include:
• Providing high frequency two-way service along the Mason Street Corridor;
• Connecting downtown,the Colorado State University campus,and the south College
commercial areas with high quality transit access;
• Establishing the first of three Enhanced Travel Corridors called for in City Plan;
• Solving operational problems such as on-time performance of Transfort buses by
removing them from the congestion in the College corridor.
Scenario 3: Transition to Grid Service
This is an extensive redesign scenario, based on the principle of optimizing service within the
existing service area and eliminating inefficiencies in previous service design. Implementation of
this alternative continues to improve the quality of Transfort operations as well as increase the
production of the Transfort system. Model analysis estimates nearly a doubling of ridership
compared to existing Transfort service. Figure 4 in this report shows this proposed scenario.
This scenario begins to put in place several improvements for the longer-term preferred 2010
Scenario:
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TRANSFORT
CPTY OFFORT COLLINS DRAFT SERVICE PLAN-THIRD REVISION
• Providing University access through the campus with frequent services around the
periphery of CSU,within easy walking distance of major activity centers on campus;
• Introducing crosstown services via Route 2;
• Improving service on the West Elizabeth corridor;
• Maintaining the level of service frequency in the Mason Corridor;
• Restoring service levels along West Prospect to the University;
• Maintaining the improved simplified routing identified in Scenario 1 for Route 5.
• Maintaining the current level of night service; and
• Providing 30-minute service frequencies on Laporte and Elizabeth, eliminating less
productive service on W. Vine.
Scenario 4: Proposed Route System - 2010 Transit System
While Scenario 1 provides simple modifications to the existing service,Scenario 2 adds the Mason
Corridor. Scenario 3 begins the transition to a productive grid design by providing a more
extensive redesign of the system based on longer-term service improvements. The improvements
position Transfort for continuing growth in Fort Collins that are consistent with long-range
goals. Thus, Scenario 3 is a foundation for the preferred system,Scenario 4,requiring significant
budget growth.
Implementation of this alternative continues to improve the quality of Transfort operations as
well as increase the production of the Transfort system. Model analysis estimates more than two
and a quarter the ridership when compared to existing Transfort service. Figure 5 in this report
shows the proposed Scenario 4.
The emphasis of this preferred alternative is on frequency:
• Assumes the functionality of the Mason Street Corridor, including the relocation of
the Southside Transit Center to Mason Street,at a yet undetermined location between
Horsetooth and Swallow;
• Route 1 would be the backbone service on the Mason Street corridor,with an all-day
frequency of every 7.5 minutes. During peak hours during the CSU school year,
service along the entire corridor from downtown to Harmony would be every 3-4
minutes;
• Every 30 minutes, buses traveling the Mason Corridor would continue to Loveland.
Other Route 1 connections would be made to the east along Harmony Road and to
Front Range Community College;
• Efficiencies on Routes 5 and the crosstown grid of Route 2,identified under Scenario
3, would be maintained with greater frequency;
• New routes would provide greater coverage and frequency, with 30-minute service
along Timberline, Lemay, Shields and Taft Hill;
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TRANSFORT
CITYOFFORT COLLIM DRAFT SER VICE PLAN—TRzRD REVISION
• Service along the heavily traveled West Elizabeth corridor would be increased to
headways of 7.5 minutes;
• New access points would be developed along Mason Street;
• New developments and offices along Centre and Research are served by frequent
north-south service;
• General public dial-a-ride service would be available around the outer edges of the
UGA, allowing fixed route resources to be dedicated to higher ridership areas.
Next Steps
Once the City has reviewed and adopted the Service Plan, we will develop the Operating Plan
for Transfort to use to guide the implementation of the Service Plan. The Operating Plan will
include other changes and modifications identified by the City of Fort Collins.
NELSON\NYGAARD CONSULTING ASSOCIATES 5 JUNE 2001