Integrating Transit Services: Transportation in Southern California

Transportation Research Board 96th Annual Meeting January 8, 2017

1 What is “LOSSAN”?

• – – San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor • 351-mile rail corridor through six counties • 2nd busiest Amtrak intercity rail corridor in U.S. (after Northeast Corridor) – AND – • LOSSAN Agency • Manage and administer service, operated by Amtrak = local control • 11-member Board of Directors representing counties served by Pacific Surfliner; 9-person staff • Managing agency: Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA)

2 LOSSAN Rail Corridor

• Complex corridor • 41 stations/ 27 Pacific Surfliner • 3 passenger rail operators; 2 freight • 8.0 million annual riders (5.1 commuter/ 2.9 Surfliner) • Over 220 daily trains (freight + passenger)

3 Competing Interests • Seven right-of-way owners (55% public agency; 45% freight) • Los Angeles to Fullerton = busy freight corridor with cargo from Ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach • Five dispatching hand-offs between San Diego and San Luis Obispo • Dispatching procedures vary by host railroad • High volume of trains on limited infrastructure = who has priority?

4 Passenger Rail Operators • Pacific Surfliner (San Diego-San Luis Obispo) • (Oceanside-Oxnard) • (Oceanside-San Diego) • Different fare structures • Different timetables • Different amenities/run time • Different governance • Overlapping services that should be more integrated and complementary

5 Connecting Transit Services • More than 25 connecting local transit services • Limited fare and schedule integration

6 How Do We Fix It? • Coordination is key • Identify common goals and institutional barriers

7 Integrated Service Planning • Coordinated schedules & service changes • Maintain a joint timetable that integrates all passengers train schedules & highlights connection opportunities

8 Track Improvements

• Coordinate with all railroad owners and operators to schedule construction projects simultaneously to minimize passenger impact

9 Rail 2 Rail

• Partnership between the Pacific Surfliner and commuter rail agencies (Metrolink and COASTER) • Allows a rail passenger with an eligible ticket to ride either service within the limits of their ticket

10 Transit Transfer Programs • Free bus/shuttle transfers for Metrolink and Pacific Surfliner riders at multiple stations • More seamless first- and last-mile connections • Discounted 1-day passes sold onboard Surfliner for transit services in Los Angeles & San Diego

11 Integrate Alternative Modes

• Bicycles allowed on Pacific Surfliner trains with a reservation • Dedicated bike cars on many Metrolink trains • Most stations also have free bike storage

12 Airport Connections

• Flyaway shuttle takes riders from Los Angeles Union Station to Los Angeles International Airport in 35 minutes for under $10 each way

• Burbank Bob Hope Airport is a short walk from the Burbank train station

13 Governance

• Start at the top: corridorwide leadership meetings • Coordinate planning efforts (service growth, infrastructure needs) • Resolve institutional barriers and find common ground • Quarterly meetings with all operators to review on-time performance, dispatching

14 Improving Ticket Integration

• One corridor, three operators, multiple ticket types (TAP/Compass card, mobile, paper, barcode) • Move toward uniform technology

15 Questions

Jennifer L. Bergener LOSSAN Managing Director [email protected]

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