2013_06_11 union city db presentation revision 04-for distribution
TRANSCRIPT
Update on Dumbarton Express Service
Presented before the Union City City CouncilItem 3.b June 11, 2013
Howard Der Interim Contract Service AdministratorAC Transit Service Development
Phone: (510) 891-7208 E-mail: [email protected]
History
• Dumbarton Express (DBX) is a regional public transit service connecting areas of Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties via the Dumbarton Bridge.
• First implemented and operated in 1984 by AC Transit.
• Service has been operated by either AC Transit or by private operators under contract.
• As of December 2011, the current operator is MV Transportation.
Governance & Administration
• AC Transit administers and governs the Dumbarton Express.
• Dumbarton Bridge Regional Operations Consortium (DBROC) provides operational oversight.
• DBROC membership includes AC Transit, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), BART, SamTrans, and Union City Transit.
Funding
• Previously, service was funded proportionately by members of DBROC.
• AC Transit funded operating fund shortfall. • The Dumbarton Rail Policy Action Committee
(PAC) and staff investigated transferring its RM-2 operating funds to an interim bus service.
• Staff from DBROC and Dumbarton Rail developed an interim bus service plan to build ridership and compliment the transition to rail service.
Funding(continued)
• Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) approved transfer of Dumbarton Rail RM-2 operating funds to DBX operations.
• MTC allocated $2.2 million in RM-2 funds to operate the DBX for Fiscal Year 2012-2013.
• RM-2 funding removed need for DBROC members to fund DBX operations; DBROC retains operational oversight.
• Dumbarton Rail PAC will petition MTC to reassign RM-2 funds when rail operations begins.
Operations
• DBX operates as a hybrid local and express (Transbay) service weekdays only.
• In the East Bay, local service is offered along the entire route between the Union City BART station and the Ardenwood Park & Ride Lot.
• On the Peninsula, local service is provided west of the Dumbarton Bridge.
Route Structure
Route DB
• Continuous service from 5:22 AM to 8:51 PM. • Operates between Union City BART and the Stanford
Oval via the Dumbarton Bridge. • Peak frequency is approximately every 30 minutes,
and off-peak frequency is approximately every 45 minutes.
• Serves Ardenwood Park & Ride Lot, Facebook, Menlo Park VA Hospital, Downtown Palo Alto, and Palo Alto Caltrain Station.
• 23 eastbound and 23 westbound trips are operated.
Route DB1
• Peak period service from 5:26 AM to 9:45 AM in the morning and from 1:35 PM to 8:43 PM in the afternoon.
• Operates between Union City BART and the Palo Alto Industrial Park area via the Dumbarton Bridge.
• Peak frequency is approximately every 20 minutes. • Serves Ardenwood Park & Ride Lot, Facebook, and
Palo Alto VA Hospital. • 23 eastbound and 22 westbound trips are operated.
Bus Fleet
• 16 Gillig Phantom high floor transit buses: 10 ex-AC Transit, 2 ex-SamTrans, and 4 (leased) ex-LA DOT.
• Suburban commuter layout with high-back seating and WiFi connectivity.
• Based and maintained at the Union City Corporation Yard.
Bus Fleet(continued)
Statistics
• Fiscal Year 2012-2013 ridership was 259,587.
• Ridership almost evenly split between Route DB and DB1.
• Combined average daily ridership is almost 1,200.
Statistics(continued)
Dumbarton Express Monthly RidershipDecember 2012-April 2013
18,768 19,842 19,80721,760 20,489 21,114 20,467
24,01326,483
22,299
28,646
23,407
19,025
24,771 24,46526,966 27,360
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
20,000
22,000
24,000
26,000
28,000
30,000
32,000
Dec 2011
Jan 2012
Feb 2012
Mar 2012
Apr 2012
May 2012
Jun 2012
Jul 2012
Aug 2012
Sep 2012
Oct 2012
Nov 2012
Dec 2012
Jan 2013
Feb 2013
Mar 2013
Apr 2013To
tal M
onth
ly R
ider
ship
Monthly Ridership
ServiceEnhancements
• Route DB1 frequency increased from every 30 minutes to every 20 minutes in July 2012.
• 11 trips added to Route DB and 32 trips added to Route DB1 in July 2012.
• Route DB extended to operate to Stanford Oval with stop near the Stanford Hospital in December 2012.
• Ridership increased from a daily average of 975 passengers to almost 1,200 passengers.
MarketingInitiatives
• Re-branded buses with side and rear decals added.
• Dedicated website launch (www.dumbartonexpress.com).
• Digital billboards near the Dumbarton Bridge toll plaza.
• Commute fairs at employment sites.
Re-branded Buses
New Website
Digital Billboards
Acknowledgements
• Robert (Bob) Saunders, Operations Manager, MV Transportation
• David Smith, Vice President Operations, MV Transportation
• Karen Lynch, Marketing Administrator, AC Transit
• Tony Divito, former Senior Transportation Planner, AC Transit