Virginia Statewide Intercity Bus Study (2013)
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Virginia Statewide Intercity Bus Study September 2013 Final Report prepared for Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation prepared by KFH Group, Inc. under subcontract to Cambridge Systematics, Inc. Table of Contents Page Chapter 1: Intercity and Regional Bus Policy Context ...................................................... 1-1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1-1 Federal Policies ............................................................................................................. 1-2 Carrier Policies ............................................................................................................. 1-6 DRPT Policies on Intercity Services............................................................................ 1-9 Summary of the Policy Context .............................................................................. 1-11 Chapter 2: Inventory of Existing Intercity Bus Services ................................................................................................................... 2-1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 2-1 Overview of Intercity Bus Services............................................................................. 2-2 Curbside Services .......................................................................................................... 2-7 Long-Distance Commuter Bus Services .................................................................. 2-13 Frequency of Bus Service ........................................................................................... 2-15 Changes in Service ...................................................................................................... 2-16 Facilities ........................................................................................................................ 2-16 Summary and Conclusions ........................................................................................ 2-16 Chapter 3: Virginia Intercity Consultation Process ............................................................ 3-1 Consultation Process .................................................................................................... 3-1 Survey Results ............................................................................................................... 3-2 Need for Consultation Follow-Up .............................................................................. 3-4 Chapter 4: Intercity Bus Service Needs Analysis ................................................................ 4-1 Demographic Analysis of Intercity Bus Needs ......................................................... 4-1 Destinations and Facilities ......................................................................................... 4-10 Review of Local Plans Regarding Intercity Needs ................................................. 4-16 Candidate Stops .......................................................................................................... 4-22 Table of Contents Page Chapter 5: Potential Network ............................................................................................... 5-1 Potential Intercity Routes ............................................................................................ 5-1 Feasibility of Potential Routes .................................................................................... 5-4 Recommended Alternatives ....................................................................................... 5-7 Appendix A: Virginia Intercity Bus Schedules and Stop Locations ........................................................................................ A-1 Appendix B: Cities Losing Greyhound Service 2004-2005 ....................................................................................................... B-1 Attachment C: Consultation Process: Cover Letters and Surveys ....................................................................... C-1 Attachment D: Consultation Process: Survey Contact List .................................................................................. D-1 Attachment E: Consultation Process: Survey Results .......................................................................................... E-1 Attachment F: Key Destinations ............................................................................................ F-1 Chapter 1: Intercity and Regional Bus Policy Context Chapter 1 Intercity and Regional Bus Policy Context INTRODUCTION Under the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5311 program of assistance for rural public transportation, 15% of each state’s allocation is to be spent on rural intercity bus projects unless the state certifies that there are no unmet rural intercity needs. If a state so certifies then the 15% can be utilized to meet other rural transit needs. In Virginia, the Section 5311 program is administered by the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), historically DRPT has not utilized available FTA Section 5311(f) funding for rural intercity bus service; instead providing FTA with an annual certification when there were no applications for funding to meet intercity needs. However, changes in federal transit legislation now require states to conduct a consultation process prior to determining that there are no unmet rural intercity bus needs in the state, and this study is intended to be a significant part of Virginia’s consultation process. In addition, there have been other changes in the federal program that provide states with options for addressing the issue of the need for local match for operating projects, and these changes have been accompanied by changes in the services and policies of major private intercity bus carriers. Finally, there have been significant changes in the state’s overall transportation funding and transit program and this may allow for more flexibility to address intercity needs. All of these changes create a need for DRPT to address its rural intercity bus needs, and that is the rationale for conducting this study. This initial chapter particularly addresses the FTA programs, state participation, and carrier policies. Chapter 2 presents an overview of intercity bus services in Virginia. Chapter 3 presents a demographic analysis of the need for intercity services. Chapter 4 describes the input from the consultation process regarding Virginia’s intercity transit needs. Chapter 5 presents service and program alternatives, and Chapter 6 presents recommendations for DRPT. Virginia Statewide Intercity Final Report September 2013 Bus Study 1-1 Chapter 1: Intercity and Regional Bus Policy Context FEDERAL POLICIES Virginia’s policies regarding intercity bus transportation exist within the context of the federal policy structures that have evolved over the past several decades. On the regulatory side, these federal statutes have been specifically designed to pre-empt state policy regarding the economic regulation of intercity bus transportation. In general, the federal policy is that interstate bus transportation is not regulated at the federal level in terms of entry (which carriers can serve which routes), exit (whether a carrier is allowed to abandon a route), or rates (the federal government no longer oversees rates at all). Federal regulation is limited to ensuring that carriers are financially responsible (have adequate insurance) and meet federal safety standards. Because it is recognized that the federal policy of deregulation has reduced service coverage and frequency in rural areas, federal policy also provides for financial assistance for intercity bus service to, from, or in rural areas. Federal policy also recognizes that there are benefits to ensuring that travelers have the ability to make connections between modes, including intercity bus, local transit, and intercity rail passenger services. Federal funding is available for constructing intermodal passenger facilities, including the intercity bus related portions. The following section presents more detail on these policies. Federal Definition of Public Transportation Does Not Include Intercity Service The 2005 federal transportation program authorizing legislation--the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (known as SAFETEA-LU), included a change in the FTA definition of public transportation that affects the ability to use federal transit funds for intercity bus services, and this definition is included in the most recent authorization legislation, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21). The language excludes intercity bus transportation from the definition of public transportation that is supported with federal funding In SAFETEA-LU there were three exceptions—the Section5311(f) rural intercity bus assistance program, intermodal facilities, and the S.3038 Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Program. Under MAP-21 the Section 3038 program has been eliminated, so there are now only the two exceptions for which federal funding can be used for intercity bus services. This means that public transit agencies that receive FTA funding cannot operate intercity bus service between urbanized areas—this is a market reserved to the private for-profit industry. The two types of intercity assistance that are allowed include the following programs. Federal Transit