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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-01-2015 - 6n 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 1, 2015 Action Agenda Item No. 6-n SUBJECT: Orange Public Transportation Proposed Fixed-Route Fare Structure DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: 1. Draft Fixed-Route Fare Structure Bret Martin, Transportation Planner, 2. Transit Agency Fare Comparison (919) 245-2582 Peter Murphy, Transportation Administrator, (919) 245-2002 Craig Benedict, Planning Director, (919) 245-2592 PURPOSE: To consider adoption of the Orange Unified Transportation Board (OUTBoard)- recommended Orange Public Transportation (OPT) fixed-route fare structure. BACKGROUND: To coincide with the implementation of the five-year bus service expansion program approved by the BOCC in October 2014, Orange County transportation planning staff and the Orange Unified Transportation Board (OUTBoard) developed a new fare structure for OPT fixed-route services. The only major change to the fare structure is a reduction in fare for persons with disabilities from $1 to free. Beyond this change, the proposed fare structure is also intended to address fares for specific groups of individuals and situations not addressed in the existing fare structure. For example, the proposed fare structure sets the one-way trip cash fare for children ages 6 - 17 at $1 and for children ages 0 - 5 and passengers with a Medicaid or Medicare card at $0, whereas the existing fixed-route fare structure does not. Further, the proposed fare structure addresses transfers between OPT-operated services and other agencies' services and provides options for users to purchase packages of bus passes that allow a reduced cost per trip based on frequency of use. The proposed fixed-route fare structure is provided as Attachment 1. The existing fixed-route fare structure for OPT is as follows: Service Fare Hillsborough Circulator Free to all passengers $2 one-way fare for general public Hill to Hill Shuttle $1 one-way fare for passengers with disabilities Free to passengers 60+ years of age 2 The Transportation Services Board (TSB), which is a State-required subset of the OUTBoard specifically for transit purposes, considered the proposed fare structure at its August 19, 2015 meeting. Initially the fare structure contained a fare increase to passengers 60 years of age or older from $0 to $1, for which the TSB held a public hearing to accept any public comments. No public comments were provided or received at the public hearing. One comment was received via email. The TSB subsequently took action to recommend to the BOCC not to raise the fare for these passengers and to reduce the fare to persons with disabilities from $1 to free. Because the proposed fare structure no longer involves a fare increase, a public hearing for adoption of the fare structure is not required. However, should the BOCC choose to consider an increase in fixed-route fares to any individual, such an increase will require a public hearing. Comparison to Other Agencies'Fare Structures A table summarizing the fixed-route fare structures of other transit agencies in the Triangle region is provided in Attachment 2. Compared to other agencies' local fixed-route services, which are services with many stops focused on connecting neighborhoods, the proposed general public fares for OPT are somewhat higher. However, fares charged to seniors, persons with disabilities, and those presenting a Medicare card are generally lower. Compared to other agencies' regional fixed-route services, which are services focused on connecting disparate communities to major common destinations, the proposed fares for OPT are somewhat lower. The only fixed-route service currently in existence or proposed to be provided by OPT that is truly local in nature is the Hillsborough Circulator service, which has always been free and will remain free to all passengers consistent with other circulator services provided by other agencies in the Triangle region (i.e., GoDurham's Bull City Connector and GoRaleigh's R-Line). The remaining fixed-route services currently provided or that will be provided by OPT are more regional in nature, covering much more mileage between stops and per unit time of travel (i.e., Orange-Chapel Hill Connector, Orange-Alamance Connector, Efland-Hillsborough Commuter Loop, and rural deviated fixed routes). Federal Transit Administration/NCDOT Process Requirements Although OPT is not yet a direct recipient of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5307 Urbanized Area formula grants, OPT is in the process of positioning itself to receive this funding in the near future. OPT is also currently a sub-recipient of Federal Section 5311 funding for non- urbanized area use that is passed through to the County by the State. Consequently, OPT is subject to certain administration and management requirements of each grant program. As part of its Section 5307 program management and administration requirements, the FTA also requires recipients' fare structures to address fares charged to seniors and persons with disabilities during nonpeak hours in a specific way. Fares charged to seniors, individuals with disabilities, or individuals presenting a Medicare card may be charged no more than 50 percent of the peak period fare. Because the proposed peak period general public fare is $2 and the nonpeak fares for these individuals is recommended to be free, the proposed fare structure is in compliance with FTA requirements. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The financial solvency of the bus service expansion program approved/adopted by the BOCC in 2014 assumed the collection of fares in accordance with the proposed fare structure with some additional very conservative assumptions related to ridership. These assumptions were ultimately used to estimate the total amount anticipated to be collected in fares per year, and this expected farebox recovery revenue was included in the FY 2016 Orange County operating budget for OPT. Although not likely to have a major impact in one direction or the other, any changes to the fare structure will change the amount of expected 3 farebox recovery built into the financial assumptions of the plan/program such that the financial solvency of the program/plan will need to be revisited. The total amount of fare revenue anticipated to be collected in accordance with the proposed structure ranges from approximately $21,000 per year (using ridership metrics that only minimally meet the system's adopted service standards) to $41,700 per year (using prevailing ridership metrics for the system's fixed routes) depending on the ridership performance of the fixed routes. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following three Orange County Social Justice Goals are applicable to this agenda item: • GOAL: FOSTER A COMMUNITY CULTURE THAT REJECTS OPPRESSION AND INEQUITY The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless, of race or color; religious or philosophical beliefs; sex, gender or sexual orientation; national origin or ethnic background; age; military service; disability; and familial, residential or economic status. • GOAL: ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their dependents. The proposed fixed-route fare structure involves a decrease in fares to persons with disabilities and retains the policy of no fare being charged to passengers 60 years of age or older. With the introduction of more expansive, frequent, user friendly fixed-route services throughout the county, a more amenable user experience for all populations is being provided at a discount to those populations with less ability to pay for these services that is consistent with rates collected by other agencies in the region. The service expansion in conjunction with discounted fares for certain users allows those with likely the least ability to pay to ensure economic self-sufficiency by providing greater coverage and higher frequencies of an inexpensive alternative to travel by personal vehicle. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the proposed Orange Public Transportation fixed-route fare structure. ATTACHMENT 1 4 ,K)RI Vi ORANGE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION (OPT) PROPOSED FIXED- ROUTE FARE STRUCTURE Service Fare Hillsborough Circulator Free to all passengers $2 one-way fare for general public All Other Non-peak Fixed Routes (Orange-Chapel Hill $1 one-way fare for children ages 6 - 17 Midday Connector*, Orange- Free to children ages 0 —5, passengers 60+ years of age, Alamance Connector**) passengers with disabilities, and passengers with a Medicaid or Medicare card $2 one-way fare for general public $1 one-way fare for children ages 6 - 17 Peak Fixed Routes (Efland- Free to children ages 0 —5, passengers 60+ years of age, Hillsborough Commuter passengers with disabilities, and passengers with a Medicaid Loop**) or Medicare card Free to passengers making transfers to or from GoTriangle routes (ODX or 420) $2 one-way fare for general public at fixed stop locations $4 one-way fare for general public at deviation locations $1 one-way fare for children ages 6 — 17 at fixed stop locations Rural Deviated Fixed $2 one-way fare for children ages 6— 17, passengers 60+ Routes** years of age, passengers with disabilities, and passengers with Medicaid or Medicare card at deviation locations Free to children ages 0-5, passengers 60+ years of age, passengers with disabilities, and passengers with a Medicaid or Medicare card at fixed stop locations *Service began August 17, 2015 "Services scheduled to begin October 2015 Transfers: 1) Transfer passes will be issued by operators to passengers who request them and are transferring between OPT-operated routes. Transfer passes can then be used as an acceptable form of payment upon boarding another OPT-operated service. 2) No transfer passes will be issued between transit systems (i.e., GoTriangle, Chapel Hill Transit, Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation, etc.). 3) Passengers boarding OPT-operated peak-period fixed-route services (Efland- Hillsborough Commuter Loop) may transfer for free from GoTriangle-operated peak period services (Orange-Durham Express and 420). 5 ORANGE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION (OPT) PROPOSED FIXED- ROUTE FARE STRUCTURE 4) Passengers boarding OPT-operated services who transfer from non-peak Chapel Hill Transit- or GoTriangle-operated services will be subject to the OPT fare structure provided above. Methods of Payment: 1) Cash (no denomination greater than $20) 2) OPT bus passes — OPT is investigating the issuance, distribution and collection logistics of bus passes for use upon boarding OPT-operated fixed-route services. Once OPT's bus pass program is developed and implemented, information related to their distribution, pricing, collection, and the accepted method of payment used to purchase them will be made available to the public. The proposed pricing for OPT bus passes follows- Fixed-Route Pass Type General Public Price Discounted Price* Day Pass $4 $2 Weekly Pass $16 $8 Monthly Pass $60 $30 15-Pass Booklet $30 $15 *Discounted price reflects the price paid by children ages 6 -17, passengers 60+ years of age, passengers with disabilities, and passengers with Medicaid or Medicare card. Discount passes will be indicated as such on the applicable issued passes. 6 ATTACHMENT 2 Triangle Region Transit Agency Fixed-Route Fare Comparison Agency Service Type Passenger Type Fare C-Tran (Town of Cary) Local One-Way Trip General Public $1.50 Elderly/Disabled/Medicare $0.75 General Public $1.00 Disabled/Medicare $0.50 GoDurham (City of Durham) Local One-Way Trip Children Ages 0- 12 FREE Elderly(65+) FREE Students ages 0- 17 $0.25 General Public $1.25 GoRaleigh (City of Raleigh) Local One-Way Trip Disabled/Medicare $0.60 Children Ages 0-12 FREE Elderly(65+) FREE GoTriangle Regional One-Way Trip General Public $2.25 Disabled/Medicare $1.00 Chatham Transit Network Regional/Express One-Way General Public $3.00 (Chatham County) Trip