huntsville transit study

Presented by: James Gamez

Huntsville Transit

Study

February 14, 2019

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1 | Study Overview

2 | Existing Conditions

3 | Community Input

4 | Recommendations

5 | Q&A

AGENDA

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STUDY OVERVIEW

• Joint planning effort by City of Huntsville Public Transit Division and MPO

• Detailed evaluation of Shuttle and Handi-Ride

• Extensive community outreach and input

• Five-Year Service and Capital Plan with supporting recommendations

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EXISTING CONDITIONS

• Route design

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EXISTING CONDITIONS

• Route design

• Service levels

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EXISTING CONDITIONS

• Route design

• Service levels

• Population density

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EXISTING CONDITIONS

• Route design

• Service levels

• Population density

• Areas of high transit need

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EXISTING CONDITIONS

• Route design

• Service levels

• Population density

• Areas of high transit need

• Destinations

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EXISTING CONDITIONS

• Route design

• Service levels

• Population density

• Areas of high transit need

• Destinations

• Ridership

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EXISTING CONDITIONS

• Route design

• Service levels

• Population density

• Areas of high transit need

• Destinations

• Ridership

• Bus stop access and amenities

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EXISTING CONDITIONS

• Route design

• Service levels

• Population density

• Areas of high transit need

• Destinations

• Ridership

• Bus stop access and amenities

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EXISTING CONDITIONS

• Route design

• Service levels

• Population density

• Areas of high transit need

• Destinations

• Ridership

• Bus stop access and amenities

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KEY FINDINGS

• Ridership has increased while service has not

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0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Ridership

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

50,000

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Service Hours

KEY FINDINGS

• Ridership has increased while service has not

• Route design varies across the system

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KEY FINDINGS

• Ridership has increased while service has not

• Route design varies across the system

• Ridership is high along University Drive

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KEY FINDINGS

• Ridership has increased while service has not

• Route design varies across the system

• Ridership is high along University Dr

• Ridership is low in South Huntsville

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COMMUNITY INPUT

• Rider survey

• Online survey

• Transfer Station outreach

• Public meetingso Dr. Richard Showers Center

o Huntsville Senior Center

o Huntsville Library

• Community stakeholder discussions

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PREFERRED TRANSIT INVESTMENTS

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Improved bike amenities

Real-time arrival information

Buses coming more often

Improved pedestrian access

Improved bus stop amenities

Service to new places

Later evening service

Saturday service

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Percent of Attendees (Attendees were able to vote twice)

RECOMMENDATIONS

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FIVE-YEAR SERVICE PLAN

• Phase 1 – August 2019

o Restructure route network

o Add Saturday service (7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.)

o Extend weekday service to from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

• Phases 2-5

o Upgrade Route 4 (University Dr) to 15-minute service

o Upgrade four other routes to 30-minute service

o Extend weekday service to 10:00 p.m. on all routes

o Extend Saturday service to 8:00 p.m. on all routes

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SYSTEM RESTRUCTURE

• Provides more direct service to major destinations

• Increases service to employment centers

• Creates new transit hub at Showers Center

• Reallocates service to areas with greater ridership potential

• Increases frequency on several corridors

• Service increases are included in FY19

budget

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SERVICE PLAN ADDRESSES COMMUNITY NEEDS

• Saturday service is existing riders’ most desired service improvement

• Later weekday service is the second-most desired improvement

• Improves access to employment, shopping, and recreation

• More direct service reduces rider travel time

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PARATRANSIT SERVICE

• Rebrand as Huntsville Access

• Extend service to City limits

• Apply for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310 Grant to fund expansion

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FUTURE SERVICE CONSIDERATIONS

• General purpose dial-a-ride service

• South Huntsville reverse commute service

• Shuttle service to new major employers

• Sunday service

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FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN

• Vehicle acquisition

o Cycle out smaller buses as ridership increases beyond seated capacity

o Install new on-board technology

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FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN

• Vehicle acquisition

o Cycle out smaller buses as ridership increases beyond seated capacity

o Install new on-board technology

• Showers Center Transit Hub

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FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN

• Vehicle acquisition

o Cycle out smaller buses as ridership increases beyond seated capacity

o Install new on-board technology

• Showers Center Transit Hub

• Bus stop improvements

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FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN

• Vehicle acquisition

o Cycle out smaller buses

o Install new on-board technology

• Showers Center Transit Hub

• Bus stop improvements

• Pedestrian infrastructure improvements

o Crosswalks

o Sidewalk extensions

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SUPPORTING RECOMMENDATIONS

• Performance metrics

• Scheduled service changes

• Fare products and pricing

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SUPPORTING RECOMMENDATIONS

• Rider information and website

• Expanded regional ridesharing

• Monitor subsidized taxi/ride-hailing services in other cities

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THANK YOU!

206.357.7526

jgamez@nelsonnygaard.com

James Gamez

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