HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-18-2004-5oORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: May 18, 2004
Action Agenda
Item No. c - ~
SUBJECT: Request for Triangle Transit Authority to Incorporate the Orange County Public
Route, Orange Express, Into Its Service
DEPARTMENT: Aging/Transportation PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
• Route Operating Statistics
• Triangle Transit Authority's Spread
Sheet - pg. 18. (Extracted from TTA
Service Standards Report -February
19, 2004)
Draft Letter to TTA
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jerry Passmore, ext 2009
AI Terry, ext 2002
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To request that the BOCC ask the Board of Trustees for Triangle Transit Authority
(TTA) to assume financial responsibility of the Orange County Public Transportation's "Orange
Express" North-South public route, which would allow the BOCC to use Orange Public
Transportation (OPT) funds to re-establish an East-West public route from Hillsborough to
Durham (Orange County could also request that TTA take over this route when it meets TTA's
cost recovery standards goal).
BACKGROUND: TTA is the regional transit agency that provides service to urbanized areas
both within and between Wake, Durham, and Orange/Chapel Hill areas. In 1995, Orange
Public Transportation established the "Orange Express" route as a public shuttle to provide
mass transit service between Cedar Grove/Hillsborough and Chapel Hill/Carrboro on Monday
through Friday from 6:30 am to 5:00 pm. This route met a public need far transportation to
public riders for educational, social, medical, and legal needs and services within the two urban
areas. The route was comprised of six round trips per day (one morning stop at Cedar Grave
per day).
TTA provided a commuter route with six round trips per day for two years from Hillsborough to
Duke Medical Center from August 2001 until August 2003. In August 2003, the route was
discontinued in due to lack of riders. The "Orange Express" route is an established route with
participation from many areas within the County and towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. TTA
currently does not provide northern Orange County with any type of service. By accepting the
"Orange Express" route, TTA would ensure residents of northern Orange County access to
regional services and establish service throughout the County.
The attached route operating statistics provide information regarding revenue collections, rider
usage and cost of service, and offers TTA a cost recovery program for continuing the "Orange
Express" route, Orange Express has an annual operational cast of $44,103 (driver/vehicle) with
a rider ship of 7,843 per year generating $7,843 revenue per year, TTA has established a cost
recovery goal of 25% per route (as presented to the BOCC at its meeting on February 19,
2004). The routes TTA currently supports have a cost recovery between 4% and 20% with an
average of 13% per route. The "Orange Express" route cost recovery is 17,8% and above
TTA's cost recovery average.
Additionally, the BOCC expects soon to announce the siting of the Durham Technical
Community College (DTCC) satellite campus at a location that should potentially strengthen the
route efficiency and enhance the business case for TTA to consider assumption of the "Orange
Express" route.
Staff has learned in discussion with Patrick McDonough, TTA planner, that opportunities exist
throughout their budget year for any member of the TTA Board of Trustees to request staff
analysis of adding a proposed route, It was not viewed as critical that such requests be
received and/or acted upon only during budget discussions, although there might be budgetary
impacts that could affect the timing of route additions. TTA staff would normally conduct a full
analysis and work closely with the Operations and Finance Committee in consideration of any
route change to then came before the full TTA Board,
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Orange County would incur a loss of $7,843 per year in revenues
collected (a loss of 7,843 riders per year). The funds currently used to provide the Orange
Express service ($44,103 annually) would be used to re-establish an efficient East-West public
route from Hillsborough to Durham, Once that route meets TTA's established cost recovery
average, Orange County could also request that TTA take it over,
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the request for
Triangle Transit Authority to assume financial responsibility of the "Orange Express" North-
South route (and direct staff to submit the draft letter as shown), and utilize Orange Public
Transportation funds (driver/vehicle) for Orange Express to re-establish an East-West public
route from Hillsborough to Durham,
ORANGE COUNTYPUBI,IC TRANSPORTATION
600 Highway 86 North
Hillsborough, N.C. 27278
919-245-2008
Orange Express Operational Statistics
Orange County Public Transportation currently is operating a route known as the
"Orange Express", North-South route which offers public shuttle service from Cedar
Grove, Hillsborough to Chapel Hill/Carrboro, Monday through Friday, 6:.30 a.m. - 5:00
p.m. There are eleven bus stops in the northern section of the county (Hillsborough and
Cedar Grove areas) and nine bus stops in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area, A rider survey
indicates the purpose of usage includes social, educational, legal, and medical
appointments.
The Orange Express route established as a connector between the northern section of the
county to the southern section of the county has transformed into a urban to urban
service. Since Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) is the regional urban transit provider,
this route maybe included in their service area, funded by TTA, or subsidized through
conhactual agreement with the local rural transit system (Orange Public Transportation).
Statistical data provides the cost of operation, revenue collection, and rider usage..
Current fare structure for revenue collection is established at $1.00 per one way trip or
ticket sold.
Rider usage data:
Total - 7,843 riders per year (includes deviated route pick-up for elderly/disabled)
Cost of Operation:
Total - $44,103 (Driver salaries* + Fringes =$38,883 & Veh. Mainitenance/Fuel = $5,220)
*OPT Driver salary = $26,.342 +.30% fringe benefits.
Note: TTA starting salary for bus driver: $22,630
CHT starting salary for bus driver: $25,29.3
Revenue:
Total - $, 7,84.3 -$1.00 per one-way trip (includes cash & tickets sales) per year
OPT's Orange Express Cost Recovery - 17,8 % (Revenue divided by Total Oper. costs)
TTA's Cost Recovery Goal - 25% However, current cost recovery for supported routes
range between 4% and 20%, the average TTA cost
recovery is 1.3 % for all routes..
Fn: optrans/.planning/Orange.Express Oper. Statisitics-May2004
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DRAFT
Mr. William Smith, Chair
Triangle Transit Authority Board of Trustees
POB 13787
Research Triangle Park
North Carolina 27709
In an effort to provide Orange County residents with more mobility choices, the Orange
County Boazd of County Commissioners wishes to facilitate the coordination of efforts
between Triangle Transit Authority and Orange Public Transportation. This coordination
is in keeping with the goal of the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Public
Transportation Division, to provide regional transit services throughout the state.
With this in mind, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners unanimously
voted on May 18, 2004 to request that Triangle Transit Authority assume financial
responsibility for' the "Orange Express" North-South public route currently operated by
Orange Public Transportation. This route provides services from Cedar Grove into
Hillsborough to Chapel Hill/Carrboro, Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Triangle Transit Authority is the regional transit agency that provides service to
urbanized areas both within and between Wake, Durham, and Orange/Chapel Hill areas.
The "Orange Express" route meets the requirements of urban to urban areas and
surpasses the cost recovery average for Triangle Transit Authority routes, and would
promote a regional effort between the two systems. Attached is the "Orange Express"
operational statistical report, which provides azmual ridership, cost of operation, and
revenues.
TTA currently does not provide northern Orange County with any type of'service. By
accepting the "Orange Express" route, TTA would ensure residents of northern Orange
County access to regional services and establish service connectivity throughout the
county.
If Triangle Transit Authority adopts this request, Orange Public Transportation would
plan and develop an East-West route from Efland to Durham. With the coordinated
efforts between Triangle Transit Authority and Orange Public Transportation, the
residents of the Triangle area would have increased options for mass transit.
Please consider this request as a vital part of the regional effort to enhance mobility
choices for residents in Orange County and the Triangle area,.
Sincerely,
Barry.lacobs, Chair
Orange County Board of County Commissioners
Cc: Mr..lohn Claflin, TTA General Manager
Mr. Patrick McDonough, TTA Planner
Mr..Iolm fialmadge, TTA Planner