Transit Improvements from the Urban Partnership Agreement: What Have We Seen So Far?

Brian Pessaro, AICP Senior Research Associate URBAN PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT PROGRAM • $1 Billion congestion relief program • Additional $300 Million for the Congestion Reduction Demonstration Program

• USDOT sought applications that used the 4T’s: • Tolling • Transit • Telecommuting • Technology • Awards made to… URBAN PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT PROGRAM

Seattle Minneapolis (UPA) (UPA)

San Francisco Atlanta (UPA) (CRD)

Los Angeles Miami (CRD) (UPA) Miami UPA (I-95)

HOV to HOT conversion 3 Phases Phase 1A - Dec. 2008 Phase 1B - Jan. 2010 Phase 2 - mid 2014 2 HOT lanes per direction Separated by plastic poles Dynamic pricing Registered 3+ carpools free Miami UPA (I-95)

Transit Improvements 3 new routes 500 spaces added at Golden Glades P&R TSP added to 2 arterials

Original 95X

New 95 Express Bus Routes Minnesota UPA (I-35W)

HOV to HOT + new HOT lanes PDSL Fully opened Nov. 2010 1 HOT lane per direction (except PDSL segment) Stripe separation Dynamic pricing Multiple entry/exit points 2+ carpools free Open to all traffic in off-peak (except PDSL segment) Minnesota UPA (I-35W)

Transit Improvements Added bus service 6 new or expanded park-n- rides Apple Valley BRT Station 1 transit bypass lane Contra-flow bus only lanes ITS technology

MARQ2 Bus Lanes Downtown Minneapolis Atlanta CRD (I-85)

HOV to HOT conversion Opens August 2011

1 HOT lane per direction Mall of Georgia Stripe separation Dynamic pricing 3+ carpools free Atlanta CRD (I-85)

Transit Improvements 36 additional buses for 5 new I-85 Xpress routes Mall of Georgia 3 new and 1 expanded Park and Ride Lot Seattle UPA (SR 520)

All lanes will be tolled Opens July 2011 2 HOT lanes per direction Time of day pricing Only transit is free

View east across SR 520 Seattle UPA (SR 520)

Transit Improvements 43 additional buses Began Feb. 2011 2 new park and ride lots Real time bus arrival signs L.A. CRD (I-10 & I-110) L.A. CRD (I-10 & I-110)

HOV to HOT conversion I-110 • Tolls begin Oct. 2012 • 1 lane per direction • 2+ carpools free I-10 El Monte Busway • Tolls begin Feb. 2013 • 2 lanes per direction • 3+ carpools free

Dynamic pricing L.A. CRD (I-10 & I-110) Transit Improvements 59 additional buses Mostly for Metro Silver Line BRT Creates 10 min headways

Transit Signal Priority Harbor Transitway 15 intersections on Figueroa & Flower Streets in downtown L.A. Center expansion New 30 bay bus terminal Harbor Transitway Stations Security improvements

TSP Locations L.A. CRD (I-10 & I-110) Transit Improvements El Monte Busway/Union Station Connector Pomona Station 143 extra parking spaces Extended boarding platforms Transit Hypotheses & Question

1.The UPA project will enhance transit performance on the UPA corridors 2.The UPA project will increase ridership and facilitate a mode shift to transit 3.Transit mode shift/increased ridership will contribute to congestion mitigation 4.What was the contribution of each UPA project element to increased ridership and/or mode shift to transit? Miami UPA Transit Results (2008 – 2010 Data) Miami UPA Hypothesis 1 Results  Average travel times in Express Lanes improved from 25 to 8 minutes.

 Average travel speeds went from 18 to 57 mph.

 Scheduled travel times reduced by 10 minutes (northbound) and 7 minutes (southbound).

 On-time performance improved from 76% to 81%.

 A.M. bus travel times on Pines Blvd. reduced by 12% because of TSP. Miami UPA Hypothesis 2 Results

 Average weekday ridership increased 57%. x Boardings per revenue mile dropped 14%. x Average vehicle occupancy dropped from 2.20 to 1.36 (a.m.) dropped from 1.95 to 1.46. (p.m.) x Transit mode share dropped from 19% to 16% (a.m.) dropped from 15% to 14% (p.m.) Unemployment Rate in Miami-Dade

123% increase from 2008 to 2010

Unemployment Rate in Miami-Dade County Source: U.S. Department of Labor Unemployment v. MDT Ridership

Ridership is for all MDT MetroBus Unemployment v. 95 Express Bus

New service added Jan. 2010

Ridership is for all 95 Express Bus routes Miami UPA Hypothesis 3 Results

 Total person throughput for the Express Lanes increased 42%.  Person throughput from transit increased while person throughput from HOVs decreased. Miami UPA Hypothesis 4 Results

 53% of new 95 Express Bus riders said the Express Lanes influenced their decision to use transit.

 38% of new 95 Express Bus riders used to drive alone.

 34% switched from Tri-Rail and/or MetroRail. Miami UPA Transit User Perceptions

• Surveys done in 2008, 2009, 2010. • Statistically significant improvements in perceptions of travel time, reliability, and seat availability. • Perception of travel time saw the greatest improvement. • Over 80% of riders indicated time savings due to Express Lanes. 95 Express Bus Demographics

• Age demographic stayed the same; 75% are between 35 and 64. • Shifts in gender, ethnicity, and income. • More males riders – went from 20% to 35%. • More white riders – went from 12% to 22%. • Higher incomes – percentage making $60,000 or more went from 35% to 46%. • 86% of riders have access to a vehicle always or most of the time. Miami UPA Transit Conclusions

 95 Express Bus has benefited from the project particularly in the area of travel times and on-time performance.

 95 Express Bus has attracted choice riders and increased ridership despite high unemployment.

 Decreases in transit mode share and AVO are due to the large increase in SOV traffic on the Express Lanes.

 Transit has contributed to the increased person throughput.

 The UPA Project has influenced peoples’ decision to switch to transit. Minnesota UPA Transit Results (2009 – 2011 Data) Minnesota UPA Hypothesis 1 Results

MARQ2 Bus Lanes (opened Dec. 2009) Minnesota UPA Hypothesis 1 Results

Target Speed: 8 mph

MARQ2 Bus Lanes (opened Dec. 2009) Average Speeds (mph) Percent 2008 2010 2011 Change 08-11 Marquette Ave. AM 5.1 6.8 6.7 31% Marquette Ave. PM 3.9 5.8 5.7 48% 2nd Ave. AM 4.3 6.6 7.4 74% 2nd Ave. PM 4.0 5.9 6.4 57% Minnesota UPA Hypothesis 1 Results

Priced Dynamic Shoulder Lanes (PDSL) opened in Sept. 2009

PDSL

Travel Times (min) Apr. 2009 Apr. 2010 Apr. 2011

02:00 02:38 02:36 Travel Speeds (mph) Apr. 2009 Apr. 2010 Apr. 2011

49 mph 37 mph 38 mph Minnesota UPA Hypothesis 1 Results HOT Lanes Southern Segment opened in Sept. 2009

Travel Times (min) Apr. 2009 Apr. 2010 Apr. 2011 Northbound 06:00 n/a 07:00 Southbound 07:00 n/a 07:00 Travel Speeds (mph) Northbound 61 mph n/a 52 mph Southbound 52 mph n/a 52 mph Minnesota UPA Hypothesis 1 Results

A.M. On Time Performance

Mar. 2009 Mar. 2010 Mar. 2011

I-35W South 93.0% 92.9% 85.3% I-394 (Control) 92.0% 92.6% 91.0% I-94 (Control) 93.0% 83.8% 92.7% 100.0% 90.0% 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% Mar. 2009 Mar. 2010 Mar.2011 Minnesota UPA Hypothesis 1 Results

P.M. On Time Performance

Mar. 2009 Mar. 2010 Mar. 2011

I-35W South 76.0% 67.8% 77.0% I-394 (Control) 79.0% 78.0% 77.6% I-94 (Control) 88.0% 85.8% 90.5% 100.0% 90.0% 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% Mar. 2009 Mar. 2010 Mar. 2011 Minnesota UPA Hypothesis 2 Results

 I-35W corridor ridership  UPA funded routes increased between March posted large percentage 2010 and 2011. increases. Average Weekday Average Weekday Ridership Ridership by Corridor UPA Funded Routes I-35W North 5.4% Route 250 0.2% I-35W South 7.7% Route 252 20.3% I-394 2.0% Route 264 209.9% I-94N -0.5% Route 288 35.5%

Percentages are between Route 597 23.9% March 2010 and March 2011 Route 467 29.4%

Route 477 6.3%

Route 579 168.1% Minnesota UPA Transit Rider Survey June 2010 survey of all I-35W routes. • Post deployment for PDSL, Southern Segment, and MARQ2 lanes.

Transit has attracted new choice commuters. • 95% were riding to work • 32% started riding less than a year ago • 30% used to drive alone

Riders happy with bus reliability and travel times. • 91% rated bus reliability very good or good • 85% rated bus travel time very good or good

Overall HOT lanes haven’t changed these perceptions. • 57% rated reliability the same; 22% said it was now better • 48% rated travel times the same; 26% said they were now better Minnesota UPA Transit Rider Survey I-35W Travel Time Signs • 66% have seen them • 5% were influenced by them

Bus Arrival Time Signs • 86% have seen them Bus arrival time sign on MARQ2 • 8% were influenced by them

Bus travel time sign on I-35W

Impact of MARQ2 lanes • 55% said service speed better • 46% said service reliability better

MARQ2 Bus Lanes Downtown Minneapolis I-35W Express Bus Rider Demographics

Category I-35W Riders All Metro Riders Aged 35 to 64 66% 48% Caucasian 86% 62% African-American 4% 23% Male Female Male Female Gender 38% 62% 59% 41% Household income > $60K 69% 27% Household income < $20K 3% 32% Access to at least 1 car 94% 56% I-35W vs. I-95 Bus Riders (Miami)

Category I-35W Riders I-95 Riders Aged 35 to 64 66% 75% Caucasian 86% 22% African-American 4% 50% Hispanic 2% 19% Male Female Male Female Gender 38% 62% 34% 66% Household income > $60K 69% 46% Household income < $20K 3% 6% Access to at least 1 car 94% 86% Comments / Questions?

Contact: Brian Pessaro, AICP Senior Research Associate (813) 974-5113 [email protected]

Caleb Van Nostrand Graduate Assistant (813) 974-2347 [email protected]