New Mobility Options in Montgomery County Transit, Bikeshare, Dockless Vehicles & More
Sandra L. Brecher, Chief, Commuter Services Section Montgomery County Department of Transportation
March 13, 20191 2 Montgomery County Ride On Transit Services
79 fixed routes New Mobility Options .Ride On extRa: Limited Stop Service .Express routes 71,000 riders per weekday/22 Million per year 700 Bus Operators 375 transit buses .CNG .Hybrid .Clean Diesel Regional transit network .Local service .Metrorail/MARC/MTA Commuter bus
3 Special Vehicle Features Low Floor Boarding * USB Ports * Free WiFi * Comfy Seats * Info Displays
4 Special Branding: Less Stop. More Go!
5 17 Special New Shelters Incorporating Branding, Real Time Transit Monitors
6 Key Service Features
• Implemented October 2017 – Averaging 2,000 riders/day • Limited Stop Service: MD355/Rockville Pike - 13 Stops in 15 miles • 10 minute frequency – No set schedule • Peak periods only – Monday-Friday, 5:30-9:30am and 3:30-7:30pm • No loading of fare cards on buses • Regular Ride On fare –$2 fare/$45 monthly pass • Traffic Signal Priority to facilitate performance (30 intersections) • Connects to 50% of the transit services network – including: MARC rail, MTA buses, Metrobus, Metrorail, and 44 Ride On routes
7 FLEX Microtransit Pilot in Montgomery County
8 What is Microtransit?
Demand-responsive service – Using shared rides Designed to augment fixed-route bus service – or paratransit programs Services provided by public or private multi-passenger service providers • Examples: Via, Bridj, Chariot Passengers provided with uniquely-generated routes via software Routes designed for passengers to make their way to & from a common pick-up or drop-off point. “Virtual bus stops” – not door-to-door. Typically use smaller vehicles ranging from sedans to small vans or shuttle buses.
9 What is FLEX? On-Demand bus service being pilot tested by MCDOT Target launch: Summer 2019 – Pilot scheduled for 1 year Riders use a transit application (app) on their personal mobile phone to request bus service within 3 defined geographic zones Virtual bus stops - pre-selected from a drop down menu Registration required for app: name, email & phone # Fares paid on-board with cash or SmarTrip card During pilot phase trip booking only via smart phones If service becomes permanent, Call Center will be considered Special 11-passenger buses + Branding
10 FLEX Pilot Project Goals
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Improve Connect Improve Possible Microtransit Establish & Test, evaluate mobility in residents to ridership on expansion of could become evaluate and refine current nearby other Ride On, model to other an alternative performance viability of the underserved Metrorail Metrorail, and underserved to route metrics service areas of stations Metrobus areas of elimination for Montgomery routes Montgomery low- County County performing routes
11 12 Montgomery County Pilot Project: Dockless Bikeshare & e-Scooters First-Mile/Last-Mile Connections to Transit & Other Nearby Destinations
Dockless Bikeshare Pilot – Phase 1: Pedal Bikes Capital Bikeshare in Montgomery County
Initial Dockless Pilot launched November 2017 83 Stations 1200+ Docks/600+ Bikes 1st Suburban Jurisdiction in U.S. w/ Dockless Public capital funds + some private (project Bikeshare owners) Public operating funds Silver Spring & Takoma Park only Dockless Vehicles 4 Companies participating with pedal bikes: No docking stations • LimeBike, Mobike, Ofo, Spin Self-locking + GPS Lime now only current operator in County Mobile App-based
No public funding 13 Dockless Bikeshare Phase 1 Pilot Evaluation of Phase 1 Pilot: Conducted by Toole Design Group - Spring 2018 Executive Summary posted on MCDOT website Key Takeaways from Evaluation: 18,000 trips in first six months Most trips started and finished in pilot area Only 7% of bikes were parked blocking sidewalks/buildings Results From Community & Online Survey Increase in total bike use Used both dockless and Capital Bikeshare 84% said to continue the program Need more bike racks
Expand outreach and education 14 DocklessVehicle Pilot Program Expansion Phase 2 – Fall/Winter 2018-19
• Outreach conducted throughout Proposed Expansion Area • 3 Open Houses • Presentations to many organizations, Chambers of Commerce, TMD Advisory Committees • Pilot Area Expanded to include North Bethesda • E-bikes added
15 Dockless Vehicle Expansion Pilot Program – Phase 3 – Spring 2019 Phase 3 Pilot – Adding e-Scooters, Expanding Pilot Area 6 month pilot – extendable for additional 6 months
Select 4 vendors From among those submitting letters of interest
Permit e-bikes and e-scooters
Preference given to vendors offering both bikes & scooters
Expanded pilot area includes all areas of the County except: oAgricultural Reserve oNon-participating jurisdictions - Geo-fenced out Vehicles not allowed to end a trip or park in Cities, Villages and Towns that do not opt into the expanded program; penalties may be assessed by vendors
16 Proposed Expansion Area (Phase 3)
17 Dockless Vehicle Expansion Pilot Program – Phase 3
Proposed Policies:
Minimum of 200 vehicles & maximum of 500 vehicles per company o May be adjusted according to size of area served
Permit increasing maximum if daily use meets warrants: Average weekly ridership: 1 trip/day for bikes 3 trips/day for e-scooters
Note: Montgomery County Parks Department maintains separate vehicle program/regulations
18 Operator’s Responsibilities • Operate in compliance with MOU Draft posted on MCDOT website Insurance, $10K Performance Bond Monthly Reporting on use, complaints, accidents Data to be provided to designated 3rd party vendor to consolidate & analyze info from all operators
• Respond to calls – within time parameters established • Responsible for customer and public information Conduct regular training sessions • Display visible/tactile logo, contact information, website, and phone numbers on dockless vehicles
• No more than 3 dockless vehicles per block face for each company Subject to adjustment re block sizes, composition of area
19 Dockless Vehicle Parking Policies Only permitted in public ROW, bike parking areas, designated areas, sidewalks May not impede pedestrian access, fire hydrants, street furniture, bus stops or interfere with traffic
MCDOT/vendor identify deployment & preferred parking areas
Operator required to move improperly parked dockless vehicles
County can remove violating dockless vehicles at company expense if company fails to do so Companies required to ensure that dockless vehicles do not impede sidewalk snow removal County can require removal of dockless vehicles for other special or emergency condition
20 Customer Service • Operator of dockless vehicle company Website & phone number on each dockless vehicle Tactile/embossed information on vehicles – for visually impaired Access from mobile app Customer service phone number Track, address and report complaints
• County County 311 Commuter Services
21 Key Issues/Challenges Safety • Government can control: Infrastructure, regs (age of riders, helmets?), specs (e.g. speed) • Government cannot control: User skill, judgment; behavior, vision/hearing of ROW users ROW competition/conflicts – peds, cyclists, scooters, wheelchairs, other vehicles Equity: For all demographic groups, geographic areas • CaBi in MoCo : MCLiberty program = free access for qualified low income riders ADA & Seniors – maintaining accessibility; access to info, vehicles Public Education/Training + Info/Outreach Regulation/Enforcement + Liability questions Regional coordination – jurisdictions have different underlying parameters Resolving competing priorities: • Promote new options, foster innovation etc. vs. Regulate re safety, access, maintain responsiveness to communities with disparate perspectives
22 Pending State Legislation re e-Scooters • Add definition of e-scooters to State transportation law “Vehicle Laws - Electric Low-Speed Scooter” SB 770/HB 748 – Sponsored by Senator Will Smith & Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo
• Define as a type of bicycle (Note: e-bikes already defined in State code)
• e-scooters required to follow traffic laws Control types of roads on which can operate Require adherence to traffic control devices
• Local jurisdictions provided authority to regulate for safety Riding on sidewalks (where permitted or prohibited) Parking
Prevent obstruction of bus stops, ADA ramps, sidewalks etc. 23 Questions?
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