HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-21-2014 - 7cORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 21, 2014
Action Agenda
Item No. 7 -c
1
SUBJECT: Central and Rural Orange County Five -Year Bus Service Expansion Program —
Orange Public Transportation
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Staff - Recommended Bus Service
Expansion Program Budget Summary
2. Staff - Recommended Bus Service
Expansion Program Notes
3. Staff - Recommended Bus Service
Expansion Concepts Map — Rural
Deviated Fixed -route Zones
4. Staff - Recommended Bus Service
Expansion Concepts Map — Fixed
Routes
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Craig Benedict, Planning Director, 919 - 245 -2592
Bret Martin, Transportation Planner, 919 -245-
2582
Tom Altieri, Comprehensive Planning
Supervisor, 919 - 245 -2579
Peter Murphy, Transportation Administrator,
919- 245 -2002
PURPOSE: To consider endorsement of the staff - recommended Orange Public Transportation
five -year bus service expansion program in central and rural Orange County.
BACKGROUND: The Orange County Bus and Rail Investment Plan ( OCBRIP) was approved
by the BOCC in June 2012. The OCBRIP provides local and regional transit opportunities
including expanded bus service and proposed light rail. Voters in November 2012 approved a
one -half cent sales tax and vehicle registration fee increase to fund the local financial
contribution to projects recommended in the Plan, and collection of these revenues began on
April 1, 2013.
Additional background documents such as the adopted OCBRIP can be found via the following
link, listed under Transportation Documents-
ht!p-://www.co.oran e.nc.us/planninq/transportation.asp
At its September 11, 2014 work session, the BOCC received a presentation on two (2) options
each containing a suite of concepts for expanding Orange Public Transportation (OPT) bus
operations in central and rural Orange County over the next five years. Following are the
general service elements associated with each option. The BOCC indicated a preference for
the mix of options noted in the orange- shaded box and bolded /italicized (i.e., Option #2 revised
to include the Efland — Hillsborough commuter loop).
2
ROUTE /SERVICE
OPTION #1
OPTION #2
NE /NW County Zonal Routes
1 day /week (Tuesday or
2 days /week (Monday and
Thursday)
Thursday or Tuesday and Friday)
Southern County Zonal Routes
No
2 days /week (Monday and
Thursday or Tuesday and Friday)
Later Senior Center Service
Yes (same in both options)
U.S. 70 Midday Service
Mebane - Efland- Hillsborough-
Mebane - Efland- Hillsborough (1-
Durham 2 -hour headways)
hour headways)
Efland- Hillsborough Commuter Loop
Yes
No
Route 420 Expansion
Yes (same in both options)
Hillsborough Circulator
Yes (same in both options)
To review, the primary differences between Options #1 and #2 are:
• Option #2 provides two -day per week service to the rural, low- density northern and
southern areas of the county while Option #1 provides one -day per week service to only
the rural northern areas;
• Option #2 involves one -hour directional headways for the U.S. 70 midday service and
provides a fixed -route connection among Mebane, Hillsborough and Efland, whereas
Option #1 involves two -hour directional headways and an extended connection to
Durham; and
• Option #2 does not provide the Efland- Hillsborough commuter loop service, whereas
Option #1 does.
At the September 11, 2014 work session, the BOCC indicated a general preference for the
service concepts provided in Option #2, but with an interest to also fund the proposed Efland-
Hillsborough Commuter Loop concept as provided in Option #1.
Federal and /or State Funding Assumptions
Subsequent to the September 11, 2014 work session, Orange County planning staff and the
County Manager met to discuss and assemble a staff recommendation based on BOCC input in
response to the presented options (Attachments 1, 2, 3 and 4). It was determined that the staff -
recommended bus service expansion program include reasonable assumptions of the amount
of federal and /or state funding for operating assistance that could be leveraged to support the
service concepts presented, as well as a reasonable assumption of fare revenue that could be
collected (Attachment 1).
Descriptions of each staff - recommended service concept are provided in Attachment 2. The
budget for the staff - recommended service concepts includes only those revenues from federal
and /or state sources that have been identified as being accessible to Orange County through
existing or pending funding distribution policies. Beyond that represented in the budget, there
may be additional capacity for federal and /or state revenue for operating assistance to be
leveraged to potentially support the prioritized list of unfunded concepts provided on page 2 of
Attachment 1.
'
As a result of this change, the staff - recommended program includes:
• Two - day - per -week service to the northeastern, northwestern and southern rural zones of
the county;
• One -hour directional headways for the U.S. 70 midday service with a fixed -route
connection among Mebane, Hillsborough and Efland but no extension to Durham; and
• The Efland- Hillsborough Commuter Loop.
These service concepts are spatially depicted in Attachments 3 and 4.
Next Steps for BOCC
If the BOCC chooses to endorse the staff recommendation for OPT's expansion concepts,
Orange County planning staff will implement accordingly and will include the concepts in OPT's
Community Transportation Service Plan (CTSP).
Public outreach, education, and marketing of these new routes will be ongoing over the next
several months prior to and during the initiation of service. Results of prior public outreach
conducted by both Orange County and Triangle Transit staff are accessible using the following
link:
http: / /www.co.orange. nc. us /occlerks /140617. pdf
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Although this item does not have an immediate financial impact, the
associated activity relates to the process to expend half -cent transit sales tax revenue and the
$7 county vehicle registration fees as conceptually identified in the OCBRIP. As conceptually
identified in the OCBRIP, the expansion of the proposed OPT services are to be financially
supported by these revenue sources.
In addition to OCBRIP- assumed grant revenues, ongoing grant revenues from federal sources
are being pursued and will expectantly be secured by the County in its annual requests. In order
to take advantage of these grant revenues, the County will be positioning itself administratively
to take advantage of Section 5307 funding for use within the Durham and Burlington Urbanized
Areas.
Annually these revenue sources and costs will be evaluated in the division budget. The FY
2014 -15 budget estimated these general concepts accordingly.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board endorse the staff -
recommended bus service expansion program (Attachments 1, 2, 3 and 4).
NOTE: This five (5) -year program will be updated each year.
ATTACHMENT 1: Staff - Recommended Bus Service Expansion Program Budget Summary*
Route /Service Concept
Map
ID*
Start
Date"""
Estimated
Weekday Service
Hours
Estimated
Annual
Weekdays
Estimated
Annual Service
Hours
Estimated
Total Annual
Operating Cost
Projected Federal
Funding Share +
Farebox Revenue"
Projected Local
Share Cost
No service implementation programmed for FY 2014 N/A N/A
N/A N/A N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Al M
iii
. I - J -
- -
NE Zonal Route 2 days/week) 1A
1/1/2015
5
52
260
$12,165
N/A
N/A
NW Zonal Route (2 days /week) 1 B
1/1/2015
5
52
260
$12,165
Southern Zonal Route 2 days/week) 1 C
1/1/2015
5
52
260
$12,165
Later Senior Center Service 2
1/1/2015
3
125
375
$17,545
U.S. 70 Midday Route 3
1/1/2015
5
125
625
$29,242
Efland - Hillsborough Commuter Loop 4
1/1/2015
5
125
625
$29,242
Route 420 expansion 5
1/1/2015
9
125
11125
$52,635
FY 2016 Antici ated Operating Expenditures --
--
3,630
$166,169
$8,406
$166,764
NE Zonal Route 2 days/week)
1A
1/1/2015
5
104
520
$25,083
N/A
N/A
NW Zonal Route 2 days/week)
1 B
1/1/2015
5
104
520
$25,083
Southern Zonal Route 2 days/week)
1 C
1/1/2015
5
104
520
$25,083
Later Senior Center Service
2
1/1/2015
3
250
750
$36,178
US 70 Midday Route
3
1/1/2015
5
250
1,250
$60,296
Efland - Hillsborough Commuter Loop
4
1/1/2015
5
250
1,250
$60,296
Route 420 expansion
5
1/1/2015
9
1 250
2,250
$108,534
Hillsborough Circulator add 1 hour/day)
6
7/1/2015
9
1 250
2,250
$108,534
FY 2016 Anticipated Operating Expenditures
--
--
--
--
9,310
$449,087
$81,997
$367,090
I
NE Zonal Route 2 days/week)
1A
1/1/2015
5
104
520
$25,861
N/A
N/A
NW Zonal Route 2 days/week)
1 B
1/1/2015
5
104
520
$25,861
Southern Zonal Route 2 days/week)
1 C
1/1/2015
5
104
520
$25,861
Later Senior Center Service
2
1/1/2015
3
250
750
$37,299
US 70 Midday Route
3
1/1/2015
5
250
1,250
$62,166
Efland - Hillsborough Commuter Loop
4
1 1/1/2015
1 5
250
1 1,250
$62,166
Route 420 expansion
5
1/1/2015
1 9
250
2,250
$111,898
Hillsborough Circulator (add 1 hour /day)
6
7/1/2015
9
250
2,250
$111,898
FY 2017 Anticipated Operating Expenditures
--
9,310
$463,010
$139,171
1 $323,839
NE Zonal Route 2 days/week)
1A
1/1/2015
or-
5
104
520
iii
Made Available
$26,663
$196,600
Made Available
N/A
N/A
NW Zonal Route (2 days /week)
1 B
1/1/2015
5
104
520
$26,663
Southern Zonal Route 2 days/week)
1 C
1/1/2015
5
104
520
$26,663
Later Senior Center Service
2
1/1/2015
3
250
750
$38,456
US 70 Midday Route
3
1/1/2015
5
250
1,250
$64,093
Efland - Hillsborough Commuter Loop
4
1/1/2015
5
250
1,250
$64,093
Route 420 expansion
1 5
1 1/1/2015
9
1 250
2,250
$115,367
Hillsborough Circulator add 1 hour/day)
6
1 7/1/2015
9
1 250
2,250
$115,367
FY 2018 Anticipated Operatinq Expenditures
All previously implemented services carried forward
9,310
9,310
$477,366
iii Made
Available
$492,163
$196,600
$198,636
Made Available
1 $198,636
$280,766
$293,627
ATTACHMENT 1: Staff - Recommended Bus Service Expansion Program Budget Summary* 5
Staff - Recommended Bus Service Expansion Program Budget Summary Notes:
*See attached maps depicting locations of service concepts (Attachments 3 and 4) and attached notes for explanation of service concepts
(Attachment 2).
* *Budget assumes reasonable leveraging of identified federal grants for operations and assumes operational cost of $45.38 /hour in FY 2014
dollars with cost escalation of 3.1% per year. Budget also assumes a conservative rate of fare collection based on historical performance
metrics. The implementation and continuation of this program is contingent upon OPT's accessibility to federal funding.
** *Exact schedule of route concept implementation depends on availability of eligible bus capital and staffing.
Staff - Recommended Unfunded Service Concepts In Priority Order
Estimated Additional
Estimated Additional
Estimated
Estimated
Total Annual
Route /Service
Weekday/Weekend
Annual
Annual Service
Operating Cost
Service
Weekdays/Weekend
Hours
in FY 2015
Hours
Days
Dollars
Expand U.S. 70 midday service to Durham and continue hourly
5
250
1,250
$58,484
headways
Expand Hillsborough Circulator to run in the reverse direction
Up to 9
250
Up to 2,250
Up to $105,270
Hillsborough Circulator Saturday Service
6
52
312
$14,598
Expansion of Route 420 Peak Service to Cedar Grove
4
250
1,000
$46,787
Saturday Cross - County Service (same as U.S. 70 midday service)
5
52
260
$12,165
ATTACHMENT 2: Staff - Recommended Bus Service Expansion Program Notes
1) A) Northeastern, B) Northwestern and C) Southern County Zonal Routes — Routes would tentatively come
online early 2015, would be two (2) days per week on a Monday and Thursday or Tuesday and Friday
schedule for each respective zone running up to five (5) hours per day with one (1)- to two (2) -hour
headways during off -peak periods, and would run a deviated fixed -route schedule. The results of additional
public outreach conducted in August 2014 indicated a demand among rural residents for a more certain
fixed -route schedule as opposed to a demand - response method. Fixed -route stops have not yet been
developed for this concept. The routes would connect rural residents in northern and southern Orange
County to destinations and additional transit connections in Mebane, Hillsborough, Chapel Hill and Durham.
The service would involve a nominal fare for general public riders (with the possibility of vouchers issued to
low- income riders who qualify for other services with the Department of Social Services). The zones within
which deviated fixed -route concepts would be developed are depicted in Attachment 3.
2) Later Senior Center Service — Route would tentatively come online in early 2015, would be a daily weekday
service running approximately three (3) hours per day (two, 1.5 -hour run time structured routes), and would
run a deviated fixed -route or point- deviated demand response schedule. The route would provide later
service from Orange County senior centers (with an emphasis on the Central Orange Senior Center) beyond
times the service is currently provided. The service would be fare -free. Orange County Planning and
Inspections and Department on Aging staff have secured grant funding to cover this service for FY 2016
from another source and will continue to pursue the same grant funding for this service in subsequent years.
This route is depicted in Attachment 4.
3) US 70 Midday Service — Route would tentatively come online in early 2015, would be a daily weekday fixed -
route service running approximately five (5) hours per day during off -peak periods with one (1) -hour
headways per direction and a total 30- minute directional run time. The route would connect
Mebane /Buckhorn and Efland with destinations and additional transit connections in Hillsborough. This
concept would not connect to Duke/VA Hospital in Durham. The service would involve a nominal fare if OPT
is able to position itself to accept fare cards used by Triangle Transit customers with the possibility of
vouchers issued to low- income riders who qualify for other services with the Department of Social Services.
This service is being designed to correspond with and complement Triangle Transit's proposed peak period
Orange- Durham Express (ODX) service. This route is depicted in Attachment 4.
4) Efland - Hillsborough Commuter Loop — When Phase II of Triangle Transit's Orange- Durham Express
commences in early 2015, OPT will run an Efland- Hillsborough commuter loop to provide peak - period and
peak- direction service from Efland to link into the Triangle Transit Orange- Durham Express service in
Hillsborough. After providing the short Efland to Hillsborough run, the route would then be run to provide an
employment commuting- oriented, pre - Hillsborough Circulator service to connect transit - dependent
residential origins in northern Hillsborough to service sector employment destinations in southern
Hillsborough before heading back to Efland to provide the next Efland to Hillsborough commuter link service
run. The service would involve a nominal fare if OPT is able to position itself to accept fare cards used by
Triangle Transit customers with the possibility of vouchers issued to low- income riders who qualify for other
services with the Department of Social Services. This route is depicted in Attachment 4.
5) Route 420 Expansion — Route would tentatively come online in early 2015, would be a daily weekday
service running up to an additional nine (9) hours per day with one (1) -hour headways, and would run a
fixed -route schedule. This is in addition to the existing three (3) service hours per day currently run by the
midday Route 420; the full service schedule would involve a total of twelve (12) midday service hours (six [6]
hours each northbound and southbound). This assumes a one (1) -hour run time each way. The existing
Route 420 would be expanded to connect Cedar Grove with destinations and additional transit connections
in Hillsborough and would continue on to destinations and additional transit connections in Chapel Hill. The
service would involve a nominal fare if OPT is able to position itself to accept fare cards used by Triangle
Transit customers with the possibility of vouchers issued to low- income riders who qualify for other services
with the Department of Social Services. This route is depicted in Attachment 4.
6) Hillsborough Circulator with Additional Noon Hour Service — Route would begin using OPT OCBRIP funding
July 2015 and would continue the existing Hillsborough Circulator service with an additional hour added for
12pm -1 pm. This service would continue to be fare free. This route is depicted in Attachment 4.
ATTACHMENT 3
Staff - Recommended Bus Service Expansion Concepts: 7
Rural Deviated Fixed -Route Zones
Caswell Person
i
i
49
157
86
I
d I
V
C
57
a
i
i
Durham
i
70
m m
70A
-�-� 70
I
751
86 { j
I
Northeastern County
1A Deviated Fixed -Route
Zone
I
Northwestern County
j
1B Deviated Fixed -Route
Zone
Southern County
15 r1C Deviated Fixed -Route
501 Zone
54
Chapel Hill Transit
5 °D Service Area
54
Zones are service areas
within which a deviated
fixed route will be structured
15 I when concept is endorsed.
� - - -- - - - -- _ —___— 501 I N 1 in =2.9 miles
� - ------ -- --'--- ---- -- ---- ,^. Miles
Chatham Orange County Planning and Inspections
-.l Brian Carson (10/14/2014)
ATTACHMENT 4
Staff - Recommended Bus Service Expansion Concepts:
Fixed - Routes
Caswell
m
v
c
ca
E
ca
F
II-----
Chatham
15
Person
Durham
Routes
N 1 in = 2.9 miles
Later Senior Center
0 1
Service
NO
US 70 Midday Service
mellm
Efland- Hillsborough
Carson (10/14/2014)
Commuter Loop
mO
Route 420 Expansion
Hillsborough Circulator
With Additional Noon
Hour Service
N 1 in = 2.9 miles
0 1
Miles
Orange County
Planning and Inspections
Brian
Carson (10/14/2014)