City Council Agenda Item Report May 17, 2016
Contact – Chance Sparks, AICP, CNU-A, Director of Planning 512-312-0084 / [email protected]
SUBJECT: DELIBERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO ADOPT A TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN IN COORDINATION WITH CAPITAL METRO.
1. BACKGROUND
During Summer & Fall 2014, City Council received information related to budgeting & options for mass transit in the City of Buda. Staff provided an overview of the following services at as part of budget workshops: • Demand Response Service/Paratransit • Commuter/Express Service • Traditional Fixed Route Service • Flex-Route Service (a.k.a. Deviated Fixed Route)
In addition, staff discussed the roles and processes regarding participation in Capital Metro and CARTs. As discussed, Buda is located in the Austin Urbanized Area and has been since 2000. This is important, as that designation dictates funding sources for mass transit and agencies that may serve as recipients of those funds. Since Buda is in the Austin Urbanized Area, CapMetro is the designated recipient of mass transit funds under 49 U.S.C. 5307. In contrast, CARTS is the recipient of rural mass transit funding under 5311. This means that Buda cannot directly contract with CARTS, but CapMetro can contract with them on our behalf. This is a strategic practice based on route needs, particularly for demand response services and flex-route services.
In April 2014, Capital Metro revised their Service Expansion Policy to address circumstances like Buda, which cannot allocate sales tax in the traditional way other cities in the Capital Metro service area do due to lack of sales tax capacity. This Service Expansion Policy requires creation of Transit Development Plans (TDP) for each entity requesting service, with the goal of ensuring successful, thoughtful mass transit expansion. Following feedback from City Council, a letter was submitted by the City Manager to Capital Metro requesting development of a TDP and the necessary Interlocal Cooperative Agreements, which will include the cost-share arrangement.
In March 2015, the City of Buda and Capital Metro executed an Interlocal Cooperative Agreement to facilitate development of the TDP. AECOM is Capital Metro’s consultant for the TDP. The scope called for the following:
• Public Involvement and Outreach • Existing Conditions • Mission and Goals • Evaluate Course of Action/Transit Needs Assessment • Three-Year Implementation Plan o Service and operations plan o Financial plan o Phases of implementation • Draft and Final Transit Development Plan
2. FINDINGS/CURRENT ACTIVITY
The consultant has completed the Transit Development Plan (TDP). Subsequent to its completion, new data became available that resulted in the addendum attached with an additional alternative. Adoption of the plan does not represent an obligation to immediately implement a particular phase or approach, but instead allows the conversation to continue with CapMetro for service planning.
The consultant performed a detailed analysis of existing conditions, services and demographics. In addition, a large-scale public outreach process was undertaken, which included:
• General online survey • Movies in the Park intercept survey • Public meeting open house (2) • Fajita Fiesta booth and intercept survey • Stakeholder interviews o Library o Chamber of Commerce o Buda EDC o Onion Creek Senior Center o Creekside Villas o Buda Senior Van o YMCA
Though not discussed, CapMetro is pursuing grant programs that are likely to directly benefit contemplated future service to Buda, which could accelerate implementation of future phases of service. The City of Buda has provided a letter of support for CapMetro’s efforts to pursue these grants as a benefit to both the City of Buda and the region.
3. FINANCIAL IMPACT
Adoption of the Plan does not represent a financial obligation for the city—it allows the conversation to continue in order to further investigate specific service implementation, scheduling, detailed financial structuring, etc.
4. RECOMMENDATION
This planning process has been completed with a deliverable that reflects public comment, Buda’s conditions & environment and recommendations that respond to the community. Staff recommends City Council consider approval of the Plan & associated addendum.
5. ATTACHMENTS Transit Development Plan Transit Development Plan Addendum
City of Buda
Transit Development Plan
Final Report
February 2016
BUDA TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ...... 1 2. Goals, Objectives, and Service Standards ...... 3 2.1 Vision and Mission ...... 3 2.1.1 Vision ...... 3 2.1.2 Mission ...... 3 2.2 Goals and Objectives ...... 3 2.3 Service Design and Performance Indicators and Standards ...... 4 3. Public Involvement and Outreach ...... 7 3.1 Public Meetings ...... 7 3.1.1 Public Meeting #1 ...... 7 3.1.2 Public Meeting #2 ...... 8 3.2 Public Intercept Surveys ...... 8 3.2.1 Movies in the Park ...... 9 3.2.2 Buda Fajita Fiesta...... 9 3.3 Online Survey...... 9 3.4 Stakeholder Interviews ...... 11 4. Existing Conditions ...... 13 4.1 City Overview...... 13 4.2 Demographics ...... 13 4.2.1 Population Density ...... 13 4.2.2 Employment Density...... 13 4.2.3 Population 65 Years of Age and Older ...... 18 4.2.4 Population Under 18 Years of Age...... 18 4.2.5 Zero-Car Households ...... 18 4.2.6 Median Household Income ...... 18 4.2.7 Limited English Proficiency ...... 18 4.3 Community Facilities ...... 24 4.3.1 Within City Limits...... 24 4.3.2 Outside City Limits ...... 27 4.4 Land Use ...... 29 4.4.1 Existing Land Use ...... 29 4.5 Existing Transit Services near Buda ...... 31 4.5.1 CARTS SERVICE ...... 31 4.5.2 Capital Metro Service ...... 31 4.5.3 Greyhound Bus Service ...... 31 4.5.4 Amtrak Rail Service ...... 31 4.5.5 Non-Profit Services ...... 31 4.5.6 Taxi and Other Demand-Response Car Services ...... 32 4.5.7 Agency/Facility-Specific Shuttle Services ...... 32 4.6 Review of Relevant Plans ...... 32
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4.6.1 Regional Plans ...... 32 4.6.2 Local Plans ...... 38 5. Transit Needs Assessment ...... 41 6. Service and Operations Plan ...... 43 6.1.1 Phase 1A and 1B – Austin Express ...... 43 6.1.2 Service Characteristics ...... 44 6.1.3 Phase 1B Route Overview ...... 46 6.1.4 Phase 2 Demand Response Overview ...... 46 6.2 Service Plan Operations ...... 49 6.2.1 Marketing Plan ...... 50 6.2.2 Service Monitoring ...... 51 6.3 Financial Plan ...... 52 6.3.1 Capital Plan...... 52 6.4 Operations & Maintenance Financial Plan ...... 53 Appendix A: Public Meeting #2 Presentation ...... A-1 Appendix B: Intercept Survey Instrument ...... B-1 Appendix C: Stakeholder Meeting Notes ...... C-1
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List of Figures
Figure 1: Buda City Limits (2014)...... 2 Figure 2: Existing Transportation Habits in Buda ...... 10 Figure 3: Anticipated Future Transit Trips in Buda ...... 10 Figure 4: Population Density (2013) ...... 15 Figure 5: Employment Density (2013) ...... 16 Figure 6: Major Employers in Buda ...... 17 Figure 7: Percent of Population Age 65 and Older (2013) ...... 19 Figure 8: Percent of Population under Age 18 (2013) ...... 20 Figure 9: Percent of Driving-Age Population with Zero Car Availability (2013) ...... 21 Figure 10: Median Household Income (2013) ...... 22 Figure 11: Limited English Proficiency (2013) ...... 23 Figure 12: Activity Centers within the City Limits of Buda...... 26 Figure 13: Regional Activity Centers near Buda ...... 28 Figure 14: Existing Land Uses in the City of Buda ...... 30 Figure 15: Extent of Project Connect Southwest Corridor...... 34 Figure 16: Lone Star Rail Project ...... 37 Figure 17: Phase 1B Austin Express and Southpark Meadows Route Map ...... 45 Figure 18: Phase 2 Demand Response Service Area ...... 48
List of Tables
Table 1: Major Employers in Buda ...... 14 Table 2: 2014 Land Use within Buda City Limits ...... 29 Table 3: Phase 1B Austin Express and Southpark Meadows Conceptual Schedule ...... 49 Table 4: Proposed Phase 1B Operations Plan – Weekday ...... 49 Table 5: Capital Unit Costs ...... 53 Table 6: Financial Plan Based a Contractor Providing Vehicles...... 54 Table 7: Financial Plan Based on the City of Buda Providing Vehicles ...... 55
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1. Introduction
The City of Buda had a 2010 population of 7,295 residents and a 2014 estimated population of 11,461 (U.S. Census Bureau, May 2015). Buda is part of the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and is one of Austin's fastest growing suburbs. Buda is located 13 miles southwest of downtown Austin and 60 miles northeast of San Antonio on Interstate Highway 35 (I 35).
The City website states “Safe, affordable, wholesome Buda is a city centered on community, an oasis of country calm at the edge of civilization, unspoiled by the pace of Austin and San Antonio’s big city ways.” Indeed, Buda is an edge city with easy access to both Austin and San Antonio. Buda is currently not part of the Capital Metro service area, and is not served by the Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS). In 2010, the city was designated by the U.S. Census Bureau as part of the Austin Urbanized Area (UZA); being part of the Austin UZA has transit funding implications which have lead Capital Metro and the City of Buda to initiate a Transit Development Plan (TDP) for the city.
This study is being developed to serve as a local transit plan for the City of Buda that focuses on the implementation of transit service that will serve the needs within the city limits and connect to existing and future regional transit options to form a regional transit network that would improve mobility, reduce the region’s carbon footprint, and slow the increase of congestion on roadways. Capital Metro and the city have undertaken this study to assist Buda in developing and realizing its public transit goals and to help advance regional goals for transit expansion. The city limits of Buda are illustrated in Figure 1.
Commercial development along the I 35 corridor, such as the Cabela's, has increased city sales tax revenue, and city leaders hope that further revitalization of downtown Buda will continue to attract tourists and residents to the Main Street area. Although the city is growing, it retains a small-town feel, especially along the Main Street area of the city. The active downtown area, located west of I 35, is a source of pride for the city.
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Figure 1: Buda City Limits (2014)
Source: URS, 2015.
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2. Goals, Objectives, and Service Standards
Transit system performance must be measured based on goals and standards that reflect the operating environment and values of the community it serves. The goals and objectives recommended for the City of Buda were created to establish a baseline. These measures are meant to be a starting point for the city and Capital Metro to build on and further develop in the future. In order to realize the goals and objectives, Buda will need to establish performance measures and begin tracking and monitoring service performance once a local bus service is implemented. 2.1 Vision and Mission 2.1.1 Vision The Buda 2030 Comprehensive Plan is comprised of nine elements, each with a goal and organized into objectives and actions. The transportation element is shown below:
TRANSPORTATION – The goal for transportation is to provide a system that meets current needs and anticipated growth, that balances transportation options (driving, walking, bicycling, and transit), and is designed in a manner that respects and enhances the character of Buda. Key actions include adopting policies for complete streets and context sensitive solutions to the City’s approach to transportation, updating the Transportation Master Plan, working with Capital Metro to establish a park & ride station in Buda, and completing the truck bypass.
This represents a starting point for the vision of transportation in general, and the transit elements that this TDP more specifically will shape.
2.1.2 Mission Capital Metro is leading the charge in developing this TDP in Buda, and as such, it is important to ensure that any mission developed as part of the Buda TDP be consistent with that of Capital Metro. The mission statement for Capital Metro is as follows:
Capital Metro connects people, jobs and communities by providing quality transportation choices. 2.2 Goals and Objectives The project team developed goals, objectives, and strategies with the intention of developing public transportation options that interconnect Buda residents with both local and regional employment and other activity centers in Central Texas.
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Goal 1: Provide a safe, reliable, efficient, and accessible transportation option for residents of and visitors to the City of Buda regardless of socioeconomic status or disability.
Objective: Improve service efficiency and reliability for existing service by meeting or exceeding established standards of performance.
· Strategy: Identify key performance indicators specific to Buda; establish standards for these indicators that correlate with effective service delivery. · Strategy: Establish a schedule for service evaluation and follow-up remedial actions. Goal 2: Address the mobility needs of the residents of Buda.
Objective: Improve access to employment, healthcare, shopping, and recreation.
· Strategy: Develop service to provide access to some of the major destinations in the city. · Strategy: Provide efficient and ADA accessible senior transit services. Goal 3: Develop a local system that operates effectively and continues to develop regional transit options connecting the local community to the region.
Objective: Provide access to activity centers today with an understanding of where future regional transit infrastructure is proposed to be located.
· Strategy: Submit regional transit projects to the CAMPO Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). · Strategy: Remain committed to a regional system to provide residents with commuter service to Austin and visitors with access to Buda. These goals and objectives are meant to be a starting point and will continue to be refined throughout this project, as well as in the future, to best meet the needs of the residents of the City of Buda. 2.3 Service Design and Performance Indicators and Standards Performance measures must be developed to address standards within the following categories:
· Efficiency, effectiveness and productivity · Service quality · Service design These standards will be used to guide future service evaluation; set standards for future service changes, and to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title VI, and other local, state, and federal requirements.
The City of Buda service performance indicators that will be used to monitor efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity could include:
· Passengers per Revenue Hour: The total number of passengers divided by the total number of revenue service hours provides a data point for monitoring ridership as it relates to total bus hours operated. This key productivity measurement works as an effective tool for future service planning. Improving ridership is often the goal of planning bus service, however it is just as important to plan for additional ridership with a “right sized” route or system. · Operating Cost per Revenue Hour: This is calculated by dividing operating costs by the total number of revenue (in service) hours. Operating cost per revenue hour is one of the key cost effective performance measures to gauge the amount of service provided to the cost to operate
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that service. The standard should be tracked every six months for the system and by route to identify service areas that are less cost effective compared to other routes within the bus system. · Operating Cost per Passenger: The total operating costs are divided by total passengers (unlinked trips) to calculate the cost for each passenger on the service. This is designed to track the cost effectiveness for the system as it relates to ridership over time. · Cost Recovery prior to Subsidy (Farebox Recovery): This is calculated by dividing the revenue from the farebox by the total operating costs. Farebox recovery shows the amount of the total revenue that is generated by passenger fares. The goal for most small to medium sized systems should ultimately be 10 to 20 percent farebox recovery after the system has time to mature after one to two years in service. Specific standards for the above-listed indicators will be agreed upon by the city and Capital Metro during contract negotiations before revenue service is implemented.
Service quality standards help staff evaluate system performance pertaining to reliable and high quality service which encourages ridership. The recommended service quality performance standards include the following:
· On-time performance: Buses must arrive at the stop no later than five minutes from the scheduled timepoint 90 percent of the time. To be considered on-time, buses should also not depart a timepoint prior to the time in the schedule. · Missed trips per month: No trips should be missed or cancelled for fixed route or demand- response. It is important to schedule appropriate operator spare board and to have adequate vehicle spares to ensure reliable service. · Service to all ADA eligible customers within city limits. Service design standards help guide decisions for adding new service and making changes to the system. It identifies standards to design the service with a more consistent and uniform approach. The service design standards include the following:
· Bus stop design: All bus stops should be clearly marked with bus stop signs. It is preferable that the bus stop signs show the route(s) serving each stop. Route number decals can be added to signs or removed from signs during service changes. Bus stop amenities should be added to stops only when a minimum boarding threshold has been met. These thresholds can be defined after one year of fixed-route service. · New service: Ridership and productivity measures should be defined prior to introducing new service. Service should operate for at least one-year as a pilot program to allow for ridership to develop.
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3. Public Involvement and Outreach
Public input was actively sought and included in the development of the Buda TDP. Capital Metro and the City of Buda used a combination of public meetings, public intercept surveys, an online survey, and stakeholder interviews to reach out and engage the local community in plan development. A project website was set up to disseminate information about the project. 3.1 Public Meetings Two public meetings were held for the Buda TDP. The first meeting occurred on July 22, 2015, at the Buda Public Library, and the second was held on December 2, 2015, at Buda Elementary School. Both meetings were advertised through the City of Buda’s website and the project website.
3.1.1 Public Meeting #1 Ten people attended the open-house public meeting at the Buda Public Library, which included several maps and visual aids to introduce the project to the public. The consultant team, staff from Capital Metro and the City of Buda engaged informally with attendees to provide a project overview, answer questions, and solicit feedback. Feedback during the first meeting included identification of locations that meeting attendees felt should be served by transit. Attendees drew on a map to indicate important locations. These locations included:
· HEB · Walmart · Onion Creek Senior Center · Downtown Buda · Seton Medical Center Hays · ACC Hays Campus · Texas State University · Southpark Meadows · Downtown Austin · Library · Medical offices in South Austin, Kyle and San Marcos · ARCIL Inc. in San Marcos · Residential communities east of I 35 · Central Texas Medical Center in San Marcos · Hays High School · Hays YMCA Attendees also identified the top priorities for transit in Buda and the region by placing dots on a board under one of their top three transit priorities. The priority options included access to employment centers, access to retail centers, connections to regional transit services, access to social services (including medical), access to entertainment and recreation, weekday service, weekend service, and other. The top three priorities identified at the public meeting were:
· Connections to regional transit services · Access to employment centers · Access to social services (including medical)
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Six people at the first public meeting took the intercept survey that was developed for the project. All respondents stated that they would use public transit in Buda if it were convenient to where they lived and where they were going and save on gas and parking costs. Four of the six respondents said that they would use transit at least one to three times per week if it were available. Current forms of transportation for the respondents included a personal vehicle, bicycle, Capital Metro, CARTS, and walking. 3.1.2 Public Meeting #2 The second public meeting was held from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on December 2, 2015, at Buda Elementary School. Ten people attended the meeting, which included both an open-house and a formal presentation. During the open house portion of the meeting, participants had an opportunity to review exhibits of project information (including project background, public input findings, and TDP overview). This information was supplemented with additional details during the meeting presentation, which also included the Project Team’s findings and recommendations for transit in Buda.
Attendees viewed the proposed Phase 1 and 2 route recommendations. Overall the attendees provided positive feedback about the service plan. There was interest in the Austin Express route to downtown Austin and Southpark Meadows. One attendee suggested that a fixed route could be an option in the future to connect neighborhood villages that are being planned in Buda. Another attendee asked about first and last mile connections and how bicycle and pedestrian access was being addressed in Buda. A question was asked about the timeline for the project and how it will fit in with the future Lone Star rail project.
Other comments from attendees included:
· Capital Metro and the future Buda service should have a fare payment system from a mobile phone application. · Need to connect transit in Buda with San Marcos and Austin. · Keep bus stops to a minimum to move buses faster between Buda and Austin. · Need to consider feeder routes to the Austin Express service for complete transit trips from all parts of Buda to Austin. The public meeting PowerPoint presentation is displayed in Appendix A. 3.2 Public Intercept Surveys The Project Team developed a written survey in English and Spanish to solicit public input regarding transit in Buda. The survey instruments are provided in Appendix B. Survey questions included demographics, home and work zip codes, current transportation habits, and hypothetical future transit use.
The intercept surveys were administered on two occasions. The first intercept survey event occurred at the Movies in the Park on June 30, 2015. The second intercept survey was conducted on September 25 and 26, 2015, at the Buda Fajita Fiesta. Project Team members administered the survey by intercepting people at the two locations and asking them to answer a few questions regarding public transit in Buda. Those who agreed to participate answered the questions verbally or filled out the survey on their own and handed it back to one of the team members.
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3.2.1 Movies in the Park Capital Metro hosted a booth at Movies in the Park on June 30, 2015. The booth included materials from Capital Metro and copies of the project survey. The project team spoke to a number of people at the event and a total of six surveys were completed.
All of these respondents rely on their personal cars for transportation (four to seven times per week) with only a handful noting that they use Capital Metro service once or twice a month or ride a bicycle/walk on occasion.
All of those who completed surveys indicated that they would use public transit at least once or twice a month for various types of trips including work, shopping and recreation. When asked, “What would make you more likely to begin using public transportation?” the most common response was that they would use it, if it were convenient to where they live and to their destination. The second most common response was that they would use transit if it reduced overall transportation costs.
Survey respondents were also asked about desired connections for public transportation and their responses were varied. The most common request was for transportation from Buda to Austin and to locations in downtown Buda on Main Street. Other suggestions for locations for transit service include Kyle, San Marcos, Southpark Meadows, eastside of Buda, and San Antonio.
3.2.2 Buda Fajita Fiesta An intercept survey was administered at the Buda Fajita Fiesta on September 25 and 26, 2015. Two members of the Project Team engaged with passers-by to request feedback regarding transit in Buda during both days of the festival.
Input from attendees was focused primarily on inter-city trips to and from Buda. The responses ranged from the need for commuter service to Austin and San Antonio to the need for bus service to locations in Kyle including shopping, ACC and Seton. The project team received additional comments about the Lone Star Rail service and if it would stop in Buda and how transit could serve that station. A number of attendees who stopped by the booth were not from Buda. 3.3 Online Survey The Project Team developed an online survey and uploaded the survey to the Buda TDP website (www.budatransitplan.org) in July 2015. The survey included questions pertaining to transit priorities, transit preferences, and existing transportation behaviors. Results from the survey will be used by the city and Capital Metro to help guide transit development decisions during this project and any future planning projects related to the development or expansion of public transportation in the City Buda.
A total of 122 online survey responses were received during the development of the plan. Since there are limited transportation options in Buda, it is not surprising that respondents depended on automobiles for most trips. Of the responses, 90 percent used an automobile eight or more times per week. There was an interest in using transit if a service was available. The majority of respondents do not currently use other modes of transportation besides the automobile; however, 39 percent of respondents anticipated using the bus service at least once per month if it was available. Over 50 percent of respondents planned to use transit at least once per month for shopping and entertainment.
Figure 2 illustrates the responses provided for Question 6 of the online survey, which asked respondents to share their current transportation habits. The most frequently-utilized alternative to the personal vehicle was walking. Transit options such as Capital Metro and CARTS are not currently used very often
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Figure 2: Existing Transportation Habits in Buda
How often do you currently use the following transportation options? (Please check all that apply.)
140 Never 120
100 Occasionally (less than once per 80 month) 60 1-2 times per month 40 1-3 times per week 20 0 4-7 times per week
8 or more times per week
Figure 3 illustrates online survey responses for Question 8, which asked respondents for what types of trips they would like to use transit and how often might they use transit for those types of trips. Entertainment/Recreation, Shop/Run Errands and Work were the three highest responses for potential transit use. The mix of responses shows that there is interest in both commuter-based service and local service for non-work trips.
Figure 3: Anticipated Future Transit Trips in Buda
If available, how often would you use public transportation for the following types of trips? (Please check all that apply.)
140 120 Never 100 80 Occasionally (less than once per 60 month) 40 1-2 times per month 20 0 1-3 times per week
4-7 times per week
8 or more times per week
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3.4 Stakeholder Interviews This section provides a summary of discussions with local organizations, business groups, and regional transportation agencies. Stakeholders were identified by City of Buda Planning staff, Capital Metro staff, and consultant staff. The primary purpose of the stakeholder interviews was to identify community transit needs, preferences, and potential markets.
Seven organizations were interviewed during the summer and fall of 2015, as identified below.
· J.R. Gonzales, Managing Director – Buda Chamber of Commerce · Sandra Grizzle, Executive Director – Onion Creek Senior Center · Melinda Hodges, Director – Buda Public Library · Ann Miller, Executive Director – Buda Economic Development Corporation · Lyle Nelson, Chief of Staff – Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS) · Alicia Ramirez, City Secretary – City of Buda (Senior Van) · Seven Residents - Creekside Villas Apartments Interviews were conducted both in person and over the telephone were guided by two key questions, including:
· What role should public transit play in Buda and the region? · Who are the people that most need to be served by transit and what destinations should be targeted? Their responses to the interview questions are summarized below. Notes from the stakeholder meetings are displayed in Appendix C.
What role should public transit play in Buda and the region?
Stakeholders stated that public transit in Buda could benefit the members of the community without means of transportation and residents commuting to Austin. Stakeholders stated that seniors are a key market for transit and the existing senior van service is very limited and not accessible for non- ambulatory passengers. Most stakeholders that were interviewed believed that some type of park & ride express service to downtown Austin and Southpark Meadows would be an attractive transit service option. Overall stakeholders believed that the two primary markets for transit were for commuting to Austin and life line service for lower income residents to medical appointments, shopping and services.
Who are the people that most need to be served by transit and what destinations should be targeted?
According to the stakeholders, the people that most need to be served by transit include seniors/elderly, zero to one vehicle households, low to moderate income, students, regional job commuters, and tourists. Destinations that should be targeted by transit include Onion Creek Senior Center, downtown Austin, Southpark Meadows, Seton Medical Center Hays, YMCA, ACC Hays Campus, social service organizations, library, downtown Buda, and shopping including San Marcos outlets, Walmart and HEB.
Additional comments include:
· Buda needs ADA accessible transit service for seniors and residents with disabilities. · There is a need for alternative service types including Uber/Lyft and Drive a Senior. · Buses may have a stigma to some residents.
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· Need to connect San Marcos, Kyle, Buda and Southpark Meadows. · There needs to be better transportation connections between the eastside and westside of Buda. · Tourism service could connect the hotels and Cabela’s to downtown Buda. · Connections to a future Lone Star Rail Station in Buda is critical.
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4. Existing Conditions
4.1 City Overview With populations of approximately 2,400 in the year 2000; 7,300 in 2010; and an estimated population nearing 11,500 in 2014, Buda is a fast growing Austin suburb, that both has a sense of history, and an optimistic view of its future. Its location along I 35 provides access for residents and employers, as well as opportunities to attract sales tax generating businesses that will provide the city with on-going funds for years to come.
Buda is located approximately 16 miles south of Austin's Central Business District and according to the US Census Bureau; the city has a total area of approximately 2.4 square miles. The city is located on the northern edge of Hayes County. 4.2 Demographics 4.2.1 Population Density Population density in Buda is low but is steadily increasing. According to the most recent available data, the highest densities in the city of up to 1.5 people per acre occur on the east side of I 35 and also north of FM 967 in the northwestern portion of the city. The rest of the city has a population density of one person per acre or less. Population density is a component analyzed in TPDs. Higher population densities are important for successful fixed-route transit systems. Other transit types such as commuter and demand-response services are more compatible with lower-density areas. Available data does not capture the growth that has occurred in the last few years, and thus is not able to fully depict the existing conditions of Buda. Two luxury apartment complexes along Cabela’s Drive, Silverado Crossing and Carrington Oaks, are recent developments that would contribute to a higher population density in that area. Another apartment complex is under construction next to Carrington Oaks, at the corner of Main Street and Cabela’s Drive. Figure 4 illustrates the 2013 population density of Buda. 4.2.2 Employment Density Employment density in the city is also low but increasing, as illustrated in Figure 5. According to the most recent available data, the city has an employment density of one person per acre or less. Some of the key employers in Buda are provided in Table 1, and illustrated graphically on Figure 6. The data provided in Figure 5 does not fully capture employment growth that has occurred since 2013.
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Table 1: Major Employers in Buda Employer Industry Type Employees Hays Consolidated ISD Education 2,300 (at various locations) U.S. Foods Distribution 300 Walmart Supercenter Retail 250 Texas Lehigh Cement Manufacturing – Cement 170 HEB Grocery Retail 150 Marek Brothers Systems Construction 150 ProBuild Manufacturing – Building Materials 120 Cracker Barrel Restaurant 110 Capital City Steel Manufacturing – Steel 100 Centex Materials Sand/Gravel 35 Escobedo Construction Construction 90 Fat Quarter Shop Manufacturing/Distribution/Retail 85 Chili's Grill & Bar Restaurant 60 Jardine Foods Manufacturing – Food 50 (and 20 part time) Capital Spectrum Printing 50 Night Hawk Frozen Foods Manufacturing – Food 45 Kloeckner Metals Manufacturing – Steel 40 Ampersand Art Supply Manufacturing 40 Hays Communities YMCA Recreation 10 (and 110 part time) Arveda Alzheimer’s Family Care Healthcare No Data Buda Woodworks Cabinets/Woodworking No Data Cabela’s Retail No Data Capital Excavation Construction No Data City of Buda Government No Data Comal Tackle Manufacturing No Data Davey Plumbing Company Construction No Data Dynamic Systems Manufacturing No Data Favorite Brands Distribution No Data Industrial Asphalt Manufacturing – Asphalt No Data Trimeric Corporation Engineering No Data Truck City Ford Retail No Data Source: Texas Workforce Commission, GSMP Survey, Buda Economic Development Corporation; 2015.
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Figure 4: Population Density (2013)
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Figure 5: Employment Density (2013)
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Figure 6: Major Employers in Buda
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4.2.3 Population 65 Years of Age and Older The higher percentages of residents aged 65 or older occur north of West Goforth on the west side of I 35. The residential areas in the northern portion of the city have a senior population of between six and 15 percent. The senior population in the rest of the city is less than six percent. Figure 7 illustrates the distribution of the senior population in the city. There are three senior living communities in the city including Onion Creek Village on Bluff Street just north of FM 2770, Creekside Villas Senior Village on FM 967 just southeast of Cole Springs Road, and Huntington Apartments on Firecracker Drive northeast of Overpass Road and east of IH 35.
4.2.4 Population Under 18 Years of Age There is a higher percentage of residents who are under age 18 west of FM 2770/Cole Springs/Rural Route (RR) 967 and south of RR 967, where youth make up 31 to 40 percent of the population. Additionally, the area east of IH 35 and north of West Goforth has a youth population between 21 and 30 percent of the total population, as illustrated in Figure 8.
4.2.5 Zero-Car Households Nearly the entire area west of I 35 has zero to 0.5 percent of the households with zero cars, while the area east of I 35 has between 3.6 and 5.0 percent of total population that lives in a zero-car household. While these are relatively low numbers, the zero-car household indicator helps identify areas of the city that need public transportation options to improve access to lifeline services. Zero-car households are illustrated on Figure 9.
4.2.6 Median Household Income Median income is the highest in the western portion of the city (west of Cole Springs/Rural Route (RR) 967 with median household incomes of $80,000 or greater. In the older portion of the city that makes of the majority of the land area of the city, median household incomes are in the $50,000 to $80,000 range, as shown in Figure 10. 4.2.7 Limited English Proficiency The area with the greatest concentration of residents with limited English proficiency very closely follows the area with the lowest median income from above with between 16 and 25 percent of the population fitting into this category. Much of the area east of I 35 has between six and ten percent of the population with limited English proficiency. It should be noted that the aggregation of data does not show small concentrations of limited English proficiency populations. These areas have been considered during the TDP process. These figures are illustrated in Figure 11.
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Figure 7: Percent of Population Age 65 and Older (2013)
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Figure 8: Percent of Population under Age 18 (2013)
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Figure 9: Percent of Driving-Age Population with Zero Car Availability (2013)
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Figure 10: Median Household Income (2013)
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Figure 11: Limited English Proficiency (2013)
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4.3 Community Facilities This section provides an inventory of community facilities and other types of activity centers in Buda and Hays County that may be important locations for transit to serve. Figure 12 illustrates community facilities located within Buda city limits while Figure 13 shows those that are nearby, but outside city limits.
4.3.1 Within City Limits Food Pantry at Buda United Methodist Church – The food pantry provides assistance to over 200 families in Buda and Kyle each month. The pantry primarily offers non-perishable food choices, but it is also able to provide fresh produce from regional food banks, the church’s garden, and local donors. Distribution hours are Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to noon and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Treasures Resale Shop at Buda United Methodist Church – Treasures is a resale shop that opens several times a year. The shop is open to the public, and vouchers are also provided to food pantry clients to purchase items in the shop for free.
HEB Foods Grocery Store – HEB in Buda is located along I 35 at Main Street. It is a full service grocery store with a drive-through pharmacy, bakery, and deli, as well as a gas station and other services.
Walmart Supercenter – Walmart is located along Main Street just west of I 35 and provides 24-hour service. The store has a pharmacy, vision center, and an auto care center.
Creekside Villas Senior Village – Located on Ranch Road 967 just north of downtown Buda, Creekside Villas Senior Village offers one- and two-bedroom apartments with community features that include a swimming pool and spa, community dining room with kitchen, business center, beauty salon/barber, fitness center, picnic areas, and library. This residential complex has income requirements and receives a low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC).
The Huntington Apartments (Senior Community) –The Huntington Apartment Homes, located east of I 35 just south of Main Street on Firecracker Drive, is a new senior community that offers apartments in four floor plans with a variety of amenities. This residential complex has income requirements and receives a low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC).
Onion Creek Village – The Onion Creek Village Apartments is a low-income independent living facility for people aged at least 62 or disabled. The 32-unit complex, located on Bluff Street just north of FM 2770, has been open since 1988. This complex receives funding through the USDA Rural Development program.
Onion Creek Senior Center – Located just southwest of downtown Buda on Jack C Hays Trail, the Onion Creek Senior Center offers a variety of activities every weekday including exercise classes, gardening, yoga for seniors, bingo, game nights, quilting, and country/line dance. Individuals joining the center are asked to pay a $10.00 lifetime membership fee, with dues of $1.00 per month or $12 annually. The community center offers lunch every Thursday at noon.
YMCA – The YMCA has two locations in Buda (Hays Communities and Camp Cypress). The Hays Communities location is a 34,000 square foot facility that offers an aquatics center (housing 2 pools), whirlpool and sauna, cardio and weight training equipment, locker rooms and showers, family change room, multi-purpose rooms for aerobics, yoga, and other group exercises, a nursery, an outdoor family pool with slides and a splash fountain and shaded areas and outdoor basketball court. This location will
Final Report 24 BUDA TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN be expanding in the near future to provide additional amenities to members. Camp Cypress is cited on 85 acres of wilderness located along a half mile stretch of Onion Creek. Camp Cypress is home to many native Texas plants and trees like Baldcypress and Boxelder, as well as native animals including Melanistic Deer and Grey Fox. This area of Hays County was once home to Tonkawa, Apache and Comanche tribes; and was home to one of the most famous Texas Rangers, Captain Jack Hays, who played a pivotal role in the Mexican War. YMCA Camp Cypress offers many opportunities to experience a piece of the wild close to home. The topography, ecosystem, and history support Camp Cypress being one of the most unique places in Central Texas. Camp Cypress activities include photo safaris, service projects, wildlife watching, fishing (catch and release), and interpretive trails.
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Figure 12: Activity Centers within the City Limits of Buda
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4.3.2 Outside City Limits ACC Hays County – The Austin Community College-Hayes County campus is located at FM 1626 and Kohlers Crossing in Kyle. The first phase of the new campus is comprised of a three-story building containing approximately 90,000 gross square feet. The site accommodates 500 parking spaces. The first phase is designed to support a student population of up to 2,000.
Seton Medical Center Hays – The Seton Healthcare Family, a member of Ascension, is a faith-based non- profit health care system founded in 1902 by the Daughters of Charity. Seton Medical Center Hays provides advanced medical care to the residents of Hays, Caldwell, and South Travis counties. Seton Medical Center is the largest medical campus in Hays County with a state-of-the-art hospital, outpatient diagnostic and therapeutic services and a medical office building.
ACC in South Austin – The South Austin campus provides comprehensive higher education programs and services to approximately 4,000 students. ACC South Austin offers university transfer degrees and core curriculum courses, workforce/technical degrees and certificates, and comprehensive student support services, such as advising and counseling, financial aid, library facilities and media services, as well as computer centers and a learning lab with free tutoring. The campus is home to such workforce programs as Visual Communication. It is also home to Auto Body Collision and Refinishing, which operates across from the campus at Crockett High School.
ARCIL San Marcos – A Resource Center for Independent Living (ARCIL) provides independent living services to persons with disabilities, including advocacy, independent living skills training, information on available resources for people with disabilities, and referrals for housing, education, and attendant assistance services.
Texas School for the Deaf – The Texas School for the Deaf is located on South Congress Avenue south of Downtown Austin. The TSD has an elementary through high school program with dormitories for the 550 students who attend.
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired – The Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired is located on 45th Street just west of Lamar Boulevard. Students, ages 6 through 21, who are blind, or visually impaired, including those with additional disabilities, are eligible to attend. The school attracts many of the blind students from throughout Texas.
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Figure 13: Regional Activity Centers near Buda
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4.4 Land Use 4.4.1 Existing Land Use Existing land use in Buda is primarily medium density residential (approximately 22 percent), manufacturing (20 percent), light-industrial/warehousing (14 percent), and freeway commercial/retail (10 percent). Table 2 provides a summary of the existing land uses within the city limits. A map of the existing land use is provided as Figure 14. It should be noted that the manufacturing numbers are largely based on the quarry located south east of town, and would not be conducive to transit use. Some land uses are more conducive to transit than others. Land uses that tend to complement transit include Mixed Use, High-Density Residential, Community Facility, Multi-Family Residential, and some Commercial/Office - Retail. Such land uses experience higher levels of activity throughout the day and thus would support a transit service better than low-density areas where people, businesses, and activity centers are more spread out. Walkability also contributes to the transit-supportive nature of a land use. Land uses that are dense enough to include several businesses or activities in a walkable area can be well-suited for transit, because once a passenger arrives to the location by bus, he is then able to walk easily to multiple destinations. Buda is currently rewriting the Unified Development Code (UDC) to encourage Mixed Use nodes in the city. The update is expected to be approved by early 2016.
Table 2: 2014 Land Use within Buda City Limits Land Use Acres Percent of City Limits Interstate 35 Commercial/Office – Retail 452.66 9.85 Floating Zone – Mixed Use 215.35 4.69 Arterial Commercial/Office – Retail 415.77 9.05 Light Industrial/Warehousing 657.02 14.30 Medium Density Residential 1,001.33 21.79 High Density Residential 178.95 3.89 Low Density Residential 160.44 3.49 Neighborhood Park 31.99 0.70 Community Facility 148.62 3.23 Neighborhood Commercial/Office – Retail 32.89 0.72 Regional Park 119.54 2.60 City Park 57.93 1.26 Multi-Family Residential 11.90 0.26 Agricultural 89.77 1.95 Manufacturing 924.51 20.12 MR with FZ1 Cluster Subdivision 97.12 2.11 Total 4,595.79 100.00%
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Figure 14: Existing Land Uses in the City of Buda
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4.5 Existing Transit Services near Buda 4.5.1 CARTS SERVICE CARTS currently does not serve the City of Buda directly. To travel to Austin, Buda residents must drive to the Southpark Meadows Station at the northeast Corner of Turk Lane & Cullen Lane. At this location, riders can catch the Yellow (1510) or Gold (1517) Interurban Routes to Downtown Austin.
4.5.2 Capital Metro Service Capital Metro also does not serve the City of Buda. If Buda residents want to use the Capital Metro system, they must first get to the Southpark Meadows Station, which is also served by Capital Metro Routes 3, 10, 201, and 801. Routes 3 and 10 are local north-south routes, while Route 201 is a feeder route that provides service to the Southpark Meadows Station, all three generally offering 30-minute frequencies throughout the day. Route 801 North Lamar/South Congress is Capital Metro’s MetroRapid Bus Rapid Transit service offering peak period service to downtown Austin on weekdays every 12-15 minutes, and between 15-20 minutes during off-peak hours. On weekends, frequencies range between 20-30 minutes throughout the day. 4.5.3 Greyhound Bus Service Buda does not have Greyhound bus service in the city limits. The nearest Greyhound bus stations are either in Austin or in San Marcos.
4.5.4 Amtrak Rail Service Buda does not have Amtrak service in the city limits. The nearest Amtrak stations to Buda are either in downtown Austin or in San Marcos.
4.5.5 Non-Profit Services Buda United Methodist Church offers or supports two transportation-related assistance programs. The Care Communities Care Team provides transportation and other assistance to people with cancer and HIV/AIDS. A second program supported by the church, Meals on Wheels, began meal delivery to home- bound seniors in Buda on July 6, 2015. Although this is not a transportation program, it does help address the need for access to food for seniors who do not have reliable transportation options.
Hays Drive a Senior is in the process of training volunteers and intends to begin providing service in early 2016. The service is open to seniors aged 60 years or older who live at home in northern Hays County, which includes Buda. Many Drive a Senior programs are not able to accommodate clients in wheelchairs, due to the additional duties that would be required of the volunteer drivers, who may not be physically able to fold and lift a wheelchair or assist a client into and out of the vehicle. Hays Drive a Senior is still considering providing service to clients in wheelchairs if the program has volunteers who are willing and able to provide the additional assistance.
The City of Buda currently provides limited demand-response service for residents of Buda over the age of 60. The service runs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from approximately 7:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. using one van. The van is not handicap-accessible. There is no charge to use the service, which is paid for out of the city’s general fund. Four customers use the service on a weekly basis to get to dialysis appointments in San Marcos, Walmart in Buda, and medical appointments. Other customers ride on a less frequent basis. The van provides approximately 48 one-way trips per month, based on 2015 ridership data.
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4.5.6 Taxi and Other Demand-Response Car Services There are a few taxi services in the Buda area. Aloha Taxi, based in San Marcos, provides traditional taxi services and group charter services to the Buda area. Buda Taxi also provides taxi services in and around Buda, including service to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Uber and Lyft transportation network services currently provide drop off service in Buda but do not pick up passengers in the city.
4.5.7 Agency/Facility-Specific Shuttle Services Buda has three senior living communities, Onion Creek Village, Creekside Villas Senior Village, and Huntington Apartments. Creekside Villas and Huntington Apartments provide limited transportation for residents. Creekside Villas provides transportation for its residents twice a week to HEB and Walmart. Huntington Apartments transports its residents to the Onion Creek Senior Center on Thursdays for a day of activities and lunch provided by the senior center. The Onion Creek Senior Center does not have a vehicle with which to provide transportation assistance to any of its members. 4.6 Review of Relevant Plans The following plans include useful information for achieving multi-modal planning objectives. The most directly relevant plans are the Project Connect: Southwest Corridor Plan, which acts as the system plan for the Central Texas region. The Lone Star Rail Project proposes the implementation of commuter rail between Buda, Austin, and San Antonio. The Buda 2030 Comprehensive Plan and the Transportation Master Plan Update (2013) provide a starting point in terms of both data, and the transportation vision of the city, as both documents describe the intention to explore public transportation opportunities to improve commuting to Austin and San Marcos.
While the service areas in these plans are different than that of the City of Buda, having a clear understanding of regional and neighboring services allows the city to develop transit options that are complementary to regional and other local services both in the short- and long-term. 4.6.1 Regional Plans
Project Connect: Southwest Corridor Plan Project Connect was developed by the project partners in the Central Texas region to coordinate transportation options. The Project Connect High-Capacity Transit System Plan provides a framework for moving forward with high-capacity transit in Central Texas, with the goal of including the fiscally constrained portions of the Project Connect System Plan in the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s 2040 Regional Transportation Plan (CAMPO 2040) and implementing the components of the plan as fiscally feasible. Project Connect is the vision for Central Texas’ high-capacity transit system. Linking activity centers within the fastest growing region in the country, Project Connect aims to connect people, places, and opportunities in an easy, efficient way. The vision unites efforts to develop the best solutions for getting around Central Texas and addressing regional growth challenges.
Of the eight corridors that connected to the Central Corridor that contains downtown Austin, the Southwest Corridor has the second largest population figure today with over 350,000. Population and employment densities show how many persons live or work per square mile. This is important, because much of the population in the region is concentrated near the center of the region, around stand-alone communities outside of Austin, and along specific roadway corridors (IH 35 in the Southwest Corridor for example).
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The Southwest Corridor (including Kyle, Buda, and San Marcos), which generally follows IH 35 South, produces significant daily trips to downtown Austin. In fact, the Southwest Corridor has the second most trips to the Core (over 43,000 work trips), helping to make it experience the 20th worst delay per mile during the average evening rush hour, and 23rd worst delay per mile during weekends, statewide. Further, this segment of IH 35 experiences the 9th worst travel time index in the Country.
The Southwest Corridor is expected to see a 101 percent population increase and a 132 percent employment increase between 2010 and 2035. The corridor is developing rapidly and is constrained on the west by the Edwards Aquifer. This corridor is home to five Activity Centers (Ben White, South Austin Station, Buda, Kyle, and San Marcos) and includes Texas State University in San Marcos, as shown in Figure 15. The number of students at Texas State is 38,000, a figure that is growing.
Based on the screening analysis, the North, Northwest, South, Southwest, and Central corridors have the highest propensity for high-capacity transit to succeed and were therefore moved forward into the system screening process with a higher focus.
Based on the weighted screening analysis, the North corridor ranked the highest in terms of viability for high-capacity transit, followed by the Central, Northwest, East, and Southwest in that order. North and Central both ranked as “High” for high-capacity transit viability, while Northwest, East, and Southwest ranked as “Medium-High,” Southeast and West ranked as “Medium,” and Northeast and South ranked as “Low.”
The characteristics of the Southwest corridor, similarly to the Northwest corridor, include a large population base and growth potential, but the size of the corridor contains more self-contained communities (San Marcos, Kyle) and is less dependent on commuting trips to the Austin core. This may also be due to proximity to San Antonio which attracts trips in that direction as well. The predominant travel pattern within this region is linearly along the IH 35 and South MoPac corridors amongst the communities in the corridor and to the core. This lends itself to high-speed, longer-distance services commuter rail or regional rail, as well as BRT that provide quick access to the core and between community centers to serve this fast growing but spread out corridor.
In the Southwest corridor the existing UP alignment that connects the major centers of the corridor was identified as the most suitable for a high-capacity system element.
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Figure 15: Extent of Project Connect Southwest Corridor
Source: URS, 2011.
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CAMPO 2035 (and updated 2040) The CAMPO 2035 plan is a long-range plan that specifies a set of investments and strategies to maintain, manage, and improve the surface transportation system in the five-county region of Williamson, Travis, Hays, Caldwell, and Bastrop Counties in Central Texas. Major transit projects recommended in the plan include:
· Urban commuter rail (MetroRail) · Urban Rail · Intercity passenger rail (LSTAR) · Intercity bus service · Express bus and commuter bus · Rapid bus (MetroRapid) Based on the 2035 plan‘s fiscally constrained analysis, approximately $28.4 billion would be available to construct, operate, and maintain the regional transportation system over the 25-year timeframe (2010- 2035), with $2.9 billion dedicated to transit capital expenditures and $10.3 billion dedicated to operations and maintenance (O&M).
CAMPO 2035 was the basis for the Project Connect System Plan. The Project Connect team worked with CAMPO on the development of the Project Connect System Plan to ensure that the fiscally constrained portions of the System Plan would then inform the planning process for CAMPO 2040, which was adopted in May 2015. Lone Star Rail Project The Lone Star Rail Project is the central element of the Lone Star Rail District (LSRD), which is an independent public agency authorized by the Texas Legislature in 1997 and created in 2002. LSRD is governed by a board of directors made up of representatives of member cities and counties, various planning and transit agencies, the business community, and general public. Its planning area covers Williamson, Travis, Hays, Comal, and Bexar Counties.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and the LSRD began an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed passenger rail line that would travel along the IH 35 corridor connecting the greater Austin and San Antonio metropolitan areas. Agency and public scoping meetings were held in January 2015.
The LSRD has worked closely with the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR), as a major stakeholder, to evaluate operational scenarios for joint freight and passenger operations within UPRR's existing system. A potential alternative to be evaluated in the EIS includes development and operation of passenger rail service within the abandoned MoKan railroad right-of-way between Buda and Round Rock, and along the existing UPRR corridor between Round Rock and San Antonio. A branch route providing passenger rail service between Round Rock and Taylor along the existing UPRR corridor could also be evaluated.
A potential alternative could include development of a freight bypass to accommodate some existing freight rail traffic that could be displaced by the proposed passenger rail operations. The proposed freight rail bypass could extend from near Taylor along a greenfield alignment to Seguin. From Seguin, the proposed freight rail bypass could follow existing UPRR right-of-way and terminate near downtown San Antonio.
The need for the proposed project stems from the rapid growth occurring in Central Texas. Congestion within the IH 35 corridor has resulted in decreased mobility and travel time reliability for both travelers
Final Report 35 BUDA TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN and freight transporters. The deficiencies of the existing transportation network, including lack of modal transportation options and limited roadway capacity, contribute to decreased regional air quality, increased crash rates, and diminished quality of life for residents living in proximity to IH 35.
The Lone Star Regional Rail Project would provide regional passenger rail service connecting communities along the IH 35 corridor between the metropolitan areas of Austin and San Antonio, including the City Buda, as illustrated in Figure 16. As currently envisioned, the project would span approximately 120 miles across Williamson, Travis, Bastrop, Hays, Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe, and Bexar counties. Based upon previous studies, the purpose of the proposed project is to improve mobility, accessibility, transportation reliability, modal choice, safety, and facilitate economic development along the IH 35 corridor in Central and South Texas.
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Figure 16: Lone Star Rail Project
Source: Lone Star Rail District, 2015.
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4.6.2 Local Plans
Buda 2030 Comprehensive Plan The Buda 2030 Comprehensive Plan (Buda 2030) was adopted in September 2011 as an update to the 2006 plan. As part of the plan, the 2010 Comprehensive Plan Citizen Survey was also completed. This survey provided a great deal of information for both the comprehensive planning activity and other plans including this TPD.
First, over 3,600 surveys were sent to residents within the City of Buda. A total of 550 responses were received, corresponding to an overall response rate of 14 percent. Figures that were important for general transportation planning activities included the fact that only about two percent of respondents live and work in Buda, while the largest commuting destinations were to Austin and Kyle. The top five most important city issues were: 1) Maintain a reasonable tax rate, 2) Maintain water service quality, 3) Address traffic congestion, 4) Manage future growth in the City, and 5) Preserve Buda’s small town character. But when asked “The Single Most Important Issues to Focus”, traffic congestion led the list at 24 percent. When asked to evaluate City Services, respondents were asked to indicate their specific level of satisfaction. Most services garnered a high level of satisfaction, with only recycling and traffic and congestion management receiving less than a 50 percent satisfied level. These responses support the claim that the transportation network has not kept pace with population growth over the past few decades. When asked specifically about transportation, public transportation ranked at the bottom, but this would be expected, given how important congestion has been, and solving it will be to the overall context of the city.
Transportation Goals and Objectives from Buda 2030 GOAL: Buda has a transportation system that meets current needs and anticipated growth that balances transportation options including driving, walking, bicycling, and mass transit, and that is designed in a manner that respects and enhances the character of Buda.
Objectives:
1. Plan roadway improvements for existing conditions and future demand. 2. Explore public transportation opportunities to improve commuting to Austin and San Marcos. 3. Create a well-connected street network to improve connectivity throughout Buda. 4. Pursue and encourage traffic management techniques throughout the City of Buda. 5. Promote and encourage walking and bicycling as transportation alternatives to the automobile.
Buda 2030 recommends a multi-modal approach to transportation issues that reflects the desired character of the community, which includes bicycling, walking, public transit, and the movement of freight, in addition to the automobile. Moving forward, transportation improvements in Buda are proposed to be context sensitive with a focus on complete streets (streets that provide safe access for all users – pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and public transportation users of all ages and abilities).
As Buda 2030 shows, there is a need for public transportation options in the city. In order to create a comprehensive multi-modal transportation system, public transit options must be considered as a key element of Buda’s transportation system. While Buda alone may not have the critical mass necessary to support a traditional full-service bus system within the City, there is a need for public transit for commuting purposes. There are many opportunities to expand public transportation in Buda to connect to the surrounding communities in Central Texas.
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As part of the objective to explore public transportation opportunities, the city developed four specific actions to meet this objective.
· Partner with CAMPO, CARTS, Capital Metro, and LSTAR to capitalize on opportunities to expand regional public transit systems that may impact Buda: This TDP represents the first major step in that direction, as service would likely come from either CARTS or Capital Metro if a connection to Austin is the focus of regional travel. · Work with CARTS to evaluate the potential to start a fixed route CARTS Around Town system in Buda: This TDP will evaluate both local service and regional connections to recommend the most appropriate public transportation service for Buda Residents. · Work with Capital Metro to establish a park & ride station in Buda that provides regularly scheduled commuter service to Austin and San Marcos: If regional connections are seen as the most important travel pattern, a park & ride station is critical to attract riders to the system. · As progress moves forward for the LSTAR Commuter Rail Line from San Antonio to Austin, identify opportunities to establish a bus connection to the nearest station, and/or establish a local train stop in Buda and incorporate into downtown Buda: While LSTAR Commuter Rail is a longer term solution, the planning process is underway, and Buda should maintain a seat at the table throughout project planning.
City of Buda Transportation Master Plan Update (2013)
Transit/Rideshare Features The Transportation Master Plan process evaluated four transit options for the community including local bus, commuter rail, commuter bus, and special-event service. The plan notes that commuter bus service was more highly regarded by community members compared to local bus service. Additionally, there is also high community support for the planned Lone Star Rail project. The plan notes that the city is not within the Capital Metro service area, and is not presently served by CARTS. Of the transit and shared ride alternatives considered, a park & ride lot should be pursued to maximize the benefit of the IH 35 corridor and facilitate future commuter bus services.
Any park & ride lot should be located near IH 35 or otherwise be convenient for future commuters and efficient for bus routing. It would also require sufficient parking, bicycle racks, shelters, and sidewalk access. There are four potential locations for a park & ride within Buda:
· Leased parking spaces from Cabela’s, Wal-Mart, or HEB, · Reconstructed truck stop east of IH 35, · Added parking to the Sportsplex at FM 1626 and FM 967, and · Designated public parking spaces south of City Hall. The report identified the Austin Community College (ACC) – Hays campus, which opened in 2014, as a major destination for transit service in Hays County. ACC students, faculty, and staff ride the bus and rail for free through a paid agreement with Capital Metro. While dedicated shuttles to ACC facilities do not exist, a route could be created to provide transit service to the Hays campus. This potential route could be regional and may provide access between ACC campuses in Austin or Texas State in San Marcos. If this route is established, City officials should coordinate with ACC and Capital Metro to “piggy-back” and establish a transit stop in Buda.
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Transit Policy
Commuter Bus Opportunities Buda’s Transportation Master Plan calls for the city to pursue commuter bus services through the advancement of a park & ride lot in one of the location options discussed above and ongoing dialogue with TxDOT Public Transportation Division and other agencies. Potential destinations include downtown and other job centers in Austin and San Marcos, as well as regional education destinations including the University of Texas in Austin, Texas State University in San Marcos, and the Austin Community College Campus in Kyle. Buda does not presently have the land use patterns or expressed demand for local bus services, and the Lone Star regional rail is a longer term project by its nature. To achieve a commuter bus service in Buda, the master plan provides an option to enter into a service agreement with Capital Metro with other major stakeholders in Hays County, whereby specific services are contracted for a specific price. Kyle, San Marcos, and Texas State University formed an Urban Transit District in 2012 to pursue federal funding for transit service.
Commuter Rail Opportunities If a commuter rail stop is to be located within Buda, the ideal location would be in downtown, due to its central location and infrastructure suitable to support transit oriented land uses. The City will need to remain involved in discussions with the Lone Star Rail District to identify opportunities and provide a rail station to serve the city. The latest plan includes a station in both Buda and Kyle, but the station planning process will continue during project development. 2014 Downtown Master Plan for Buda, Texas The plan describes 12 recommendations including the potential (now planned) move from the existing city hall as the city continues to grow (requiring a larger building at some point). This recommendation suggests that a potential future rail station, as part of the Lone Star Rail Project, in downtown Buda could benefit the city by making trips to and from the city much easier. The City Hall building, especially the Council Chambers portion of it, would create an ideal waiting area for commuters. The existing council parking area could serve as a “kiss-and-go” drop off for rail users. Enhanced connections from parking along Railroad Street should be included as part of the Rail Station.
Locating the future rail station in downtown Buda would also likely necessitate the construction of another parking facility, which is also recommended as part of the Downtown Master Plan. The latest plan includes a station in Buda and a station in Kyle.
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5. Transit Needs Assessment
The data from the Existing Conditions Report, the public outreach process and the consultant team’s field observations provided critical information about the community and its transportation needs. Through this process potential transit needs and opportunities were identified. These key opportunities include the following:
· Express bus service from Buda to downtown Austin and Southpark Meadows in south Austin. · Demand response transit service for households with one or no cars available and for seniors and person with disabilities. · Connections to shopping, education and medical in Buda and Kyle. · Partnerships with surrounding communities to develop an inter-city demand response bus service. · Provide transit connections to MetroRail, MetroRapid and future high capacity transit such as Lone Star Rail.
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6. Service and Operations Plan
Based on input from the public outreach process and the comprehensive data analysis tasks, the project team developed recommendations for service and financial plans. The proposed transit system includes an express bus service from Buda to Austin and a general public demand response service in Buda and its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) with connections to Seton Medical Center Hays and Austin Community College Hays Campus. The routes were developed to be phased in over a three-year planning horizon based on need for the service and the availability of funding.
The plan does not include a fixed-route line within the first three to five years of service. It is important to note that any future fixed-route will require complementary paratransit service within a ¾-mile catchment area of a route based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Phase 2 demand response route with provide service to ADA-qualified passengers and the general public. In addition, all future transit service in Buda must be provided equitably and meet the requirements of the Title VI Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI). Title VI ensures that no person shall be excluded from participation in, denied benefits of or be subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin under any program receiving federal financial assistance.
6.1.1 Phase 1A and 1B – Austin Express Two options for Phase 1 were identified for express service to Austin.
Phase 1A is a lower cost option that would add a Buda stop on the existing CARTS Yellow Route along I 35 from San Marcos to Austin. The Yellow Route operates four trips per weekday in each direction and stops at Texas State University, Tanger Outlet Mall, Southpark Meadows and the CARTS Austin Station in East Austin on East 6th Street. The cost and details of the option for Phase 1A would have to be developed through an agreement between CARTS and Capital Metro. It is assumed through conversations with CARTS that there is an opportunity to serve Buda with the Yellow Route but exact costs have not been estimated at the present time. The existing Yellow Route service is not designed for commuter schedules with the first trip arriving into East Austin at 9:15am. Future plans for the service into Buda would need to include an earlier northbound trip to better serve workers with traditional schedules.
Phase 1B of the service plan introduces a commuter service from a future Park & Ride facility in Buda to downtown Austin along the I 35 corridor. The proposed service will operate four trips during the morning peak period from Buda to Austin and four afternoon/evening trips from Austin to Buda. The plan also includes limited service from Buda to the Southpark Meadows Station. Two buses and a spare bus would be needed to operate the route. The commuter-based service would operate weekdays only.
The service, guided by public input throughout the development of this TDP, is recommended for implementation in FY 2017. Key components of the Phase 1B plan are as follows:
· Could utilize the existing bus parking lot at Cabela’s in Buda with close access to IH 35. · Provides direct service from Buda to downtown Austin and the State Capital area with service along Riverside Drive, Lavaca Street, 15th Street and I 35. · Connects to MetroRail in downtown Austin · Connects to four Capital Metro routes and two CARTS routes at the Southpark Meadows Station on select trips. · Provides opportunities for reverse commute to Buda.
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· Provides Monday to Friday service. 6.1.2 Service Characteristics Figure 17 illustrates the bus routes proposed in Phase 1B.
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Figure 17: Phase 1B Austin Express and Southpark Meadows Route Map
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The following sections present a detailed summary for Phase 1B.
6.1.3 Phase 1B Route Overview Austin Express The proposed Austin Express route connects a future Buda Park & Ride to the downtown Austin transit mall on Lavaca Street and the Capital Complex on 15th Street. Trips will travel north on I 35, west on Riverside Drive, north on 1st Street/Lavaca Street, east on 15th Street and south on I 35. The travel times will be competitive with the automobile since there are no stops between Buda and downtown Austin.
Buses will stop at current Capital Metro bus stop locations within the downtown area.
Southpark Meadows Service One trip in the morning and one trip in the evening on the Austin Express will stop at the Southpark Meadows Station between Buda and downtown Austin. The purpose of this route is to provide direct connections to Capital Metro local routes, MetroRapid, and CARTS routes that serve locations throughout south Austin including the South Congress and South 1st Street corridors. In addition, the service will provide direct connections to the shops and restaurants in the Southpark Meadows area.
A turn-by-turn description of the proposed route is as follows:
Eastbound on Cabela’s Drive from the proposed Buda Park & Ride at Cabela’s, north on IH 35, west on Slaughter Lane, south on IH 35 Frontage Road, and west on Turk Lane. The route continues to downtown Austin by traveling north on Cullen Lane, east Slaughter Lane and north on IH 35 to Riverside Drive.
Buses will stop at the Buda Park & Ride, Southpark Meadows Station, Southpark Meadows (on limited trips) and downtown Austin. At Southpark Meadows passengers can walk to the shops or transfer to Capital Metro and CARTS routes including:
· 3 Burnet/Manchaca · 10 South 1st/Red River · 201 Southpark Meadows · 801 MetroRapid North Lamar/South Congress · CARTS Yellow Line (Austin – San Marcos) · CARTS Gold Line (Austin – Texas State University) 6.1.4 Phase 2 Demand Response Overview Buda Demand Response Phase 2 is recommended to begin service by Year 3 of the planning horizon. This will allow time for Phase 1 to mature and to begin building partnerships with neighboring cities. The proposed demand response service will provide service to all areas within the Buda city limits, the Buda ETJ and select activity centers in Kyle. Throughout the TDP study stakeholders and the public informed the consultant team that there is a critical need for more reliable ADA-accessible service for seniors and persons with disabilities. The demand response route will provide lifeline service for all residents of Buda with curb to curb trips to medical appointments, shopping, the senior center, jobs, school, etc. The route will complement the services that will be provided by the Hays Drive a Senior. Figure 18 displays the demand response zone.
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This route is intended to be developed through a partnership between Buda and neighboring cities to provide planning and to fund the service. All demand response trips will be scheduled ahead of time in order to group route trips efficiently. In addition to serving all locations in Buda, the demand response route will provide direct service the ACC Hays Campus and the Hays Seton Medical Center in Kyle. The initial service will operate with one bus, however the service is intended to become a partnership with surrounding communities to help reduce costs for Buda and to expand the service area.
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Figure 18: Phase 2 Demand Response Service Area
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6.2 Service Plan Operations Phase 1B will operate about nine revenue hours on weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. weekdays. There is no Saturday or Sunday planned at this time. One-way trip travel times will vary by time of day but on average the route should complete the trip between 40 to 50 minutes to downtown Austin and about 20 minutes to Southpark Meadows. Each route will have a minimum of 10 minutes for a layover at the Buda Park & Ride. Table 3 illustrates the proposed schedule of service for Phase 1B utilizing a two bus system.
Table 3: Phase 1B Austin Express and Southpark Meadows Conceptual Schedule Southpark Lavaca & Southpark Route Buda P&R Buda P&R Meadows 15th Street Meadows Austin Express (Bus A) 6:00 a.m. 6:50 a.m. 7:20 a.m. Austin Express (Bus B) 6:45 a.m. 7:35 a.m. 8:05 a.m. Austin Express/ Southpark 7:30 a.m. 7:50 a.m. 8:30 a.m. n/a Meadows (Bus A) Austin Express (Bus B) 8:15 a.m. 9:05 a.m. n/a Austin Express/ Southpark n/a 4:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. Meadows (Bus A) Austin Express (Bus B) n/a 5:15 p.m. 6:05 p.m. Austin Express (Bus A) 5:40 p.m. 6:10 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Austin Express (Bus B) 6:15 p.m. 6:45 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Source: URS, 2015.
Phase 2 will operate five revenue hours on weekdays from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Trips for the service will be reserved ahead of time to ensure efficient trip grouping. If additional resources are available, it is recommended to extend the service hours earlier in the morning and later in the afternoon to provide connections to the Austin Express service.
Revenue Hours Phase 1B weekday operations require approximately nine (9) daily revenue hours for the service. The service operates with a total of 4.5 daily revenue hours in the morning peak and 4.5 hours in the evening peak. This is a key metric of the bus system since in most cases the transit contractor will base the cost of operating the service on the total revenue hours. Phase 2 will operate five revenue hours with one bus. A second may be needed over time as demand grows for the service.
Revenue Miles As shown in Table 4, the proposed Phase 1B service plan will require 198 total daily revenue miles including trips to downtown Austin and Southpark Meadows. The Austin Express will operate 12 one- way trips per day. Each trip will be approximately 16 miles between downtown Austin and Buda and an additional six miles for service into the Soutpark Meadows Station. Phase 2 Demand Response does not have a fixed number of revenue miles. The miles will vary by day depending on number of trips and length of trips.
Table 4: Proposed Phase 1B Operations Plan – Weekday Proposed Route Name Weekday Revenue Hours Weekday Revenue Miles Phase 1B Austin Express 9.0 198 Source: URS, 2015.
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Intermodal Connectivity A key factor in the success of a transit system is intermodal connectivity. The ability of transit users to connect to local transit services via pedestrian and bicycle facilities and to use local transit to reach regional transit connections impacts the ridership of the system. A system that includes regional connections and safe pedestrian and bicycle access to its facilities will be more successful than a system that does not offer intermodal connectivity.
The proposed City of Buda bus service will provide connections to Capital Metro and CARTS at the Southpark Meadows Station and to most Capital Metro bus and rail services in downtown Austin. Connections to future regional services implemented by Capital Metro (Project Connect) and Lone Star Rail District should also be considered for future expansions to the local bus service. Fare Policy Until the system is initiated and the city gains a full understanding of how the system will be utilized, the base fare should be set for a year with an adjustment planned for year 2. CMTA base fare is $1.25 for local service, $3.50 for commuter service and the MetroAccess service requires $1.75 for demand response trips. Since the Buda routes will include both commuter service and demand response services it is recommended that Buda use different fares based on service type. The Austin Express falls within the commuter service route and should start with a $3.50 fare. The Southpark Meadows service is an express way-based service but it is a shorter trip with only a seven mile trip and is recommended to fall into the local fare category. All demand response trips should be in the $1.75 to $2.50 range depending on distance of trip. It should be widely publicized by the city that fare structure will be re-examined for year 2 and potentially adjusted based on ridership and desired revenue recovery percentage (10%).
Most systems do offer a reduced fare for the elderly, disabled, and school-aged children. The city should consider adding this type of fare at the outset of service but this would negatively impact the revenue recovery rate. Other structural changes to the fare policy like adding weekly passes and other discounted fares should be reserved for a future fare analysis based on actual understanding of system utilization.
6.2.1 Marketing Plan A comprehensive marketing plan for the recommended system should be developed to assist in implementing the new system. This can be done through a partnership between the City and Capital Metro staff. A strong marketing plan is crucial for establishing the foundation for future marketing strategies once the implementation is completed.
Items to be addressed could include:
· Overall system image/brand · Graphics/maps/schedules · Community outreach · Advertising · Coordination techniques with other organizations It is essential that a distinctive system logo, vehicle paint scheme, signage, and theme for the new services be developed to generate a unique and positive image for the transit program. A key recommendation is that the image (logo/graphics) created be unique to the service area and avoid the more conventional or institutional look often utilized by new transit systems.
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Customer Service is closely linked with marketing as this function typically:
· Provides transit service information through various methods including internet, printed media and telephone · Coordinates the sale of fare media · Handles customer complaints, commendations, inquiries, requests, and suggestions · Responsible for “Lost and Found” 6.2.2 Service Monitoring Transit systems have recurrent needs and requirements to collect and report a wide range of information about operations and ridership. The continual compilation of data is essential for the effective planning and management of transit services. Without detailed operations information, the ability to effectively monitor and report system performance and subsequently revise services would be severely impacted. Resource limitations frequently limit comprehensive service monitoring programs. However, the information resulting from service monitoring is very important because fundamental transit functions such as scheduling, service planning, maintenance, finance, and marketing require this data for decision making and reporting.
Key considerations for establishing a service monitoring program include:
· Identification of the data categories to be collected · Methods and sources to be used in data collection · Procedures to be used to process and store the data · Evaluating and reporting the data in a meaningful and ongoing format · Determining where and ensuring required reports are properly transmitted Program elements must be identified prior to the initiation of service as certain data must be recorded on a daily basis. The City of Buda should work with Capital Metro to ensure the date is collected, evaluated, and reported in an accurate and timely manner. In addition to compilation of statistical data, periodic field observations of system operations and contract monitoring must also be regularly undertaken.
Implementation Plan The following section outlines the recommended phased approach of the TDP.
Year 0 – FY 2017 – Contracting and System Start-up · Present Plan for adoption to Buda City Council · City of Buda and Capital Metro finalize budget for service based on council priorities. · Set system start-up date. · City of Buda and Capital Metro enter into an agreement for service. · Develop Capital Plan. · Procure buses for service, if not included in Contractor service. · Procure bus stop amenities – stops, benches and shelters. · Proposed service is included in Capital Metro service change process. · Initiate marketing campaign to promote new service. · Begin meeting with Kyle and other communities to develop plan for Phase 2.
Year 1 – FY 2018 – Implementation · Implement Phase 1 service.
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· Develop method for collecting feedback from clients – customer comments should be documented by contractor for analysis by the City. · Prepare Title VI review to ensure that the level and quality of fixed-route and demand response services are provided in a non-discriminatory manner. The City of Buda and Capital Metro will need to provide equitable service that meets the requirements of the Title VI Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI). Title VI ensures that no person shall be excluded from participation in, denied benefits of or be subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin under any program receiving federal financial assistance. This process may best be incorporated into the Capital Metro plan. · Update and establish regular procedures for maintaining system goals, objectives and strategies. based on first six months of service. · Finalize agreements with other cities for partnership (if needed) to operate Phase 2.
Year 2 – FY 2019 · Conduct on-board counts and rider survey. Travel patterns and utilization by passengers should be established by then. · Begin to plan for Phase 2 implementation including capital needs. · Procure bus stop amenities – stops, benches and shelters. · Proposed service is included in Capital Metro service change process. · Initiate marketing campaign to promote new service.
Year 3 – FY 2020 · Implement Phase 2 service. 6.3 Financial Plan 6.3.1 Capital Plan The primary capital investment needed to implement this system will be the procurement of vehicles. In addition, some minor costs to update signage along the proposed Phase 1B route will be needed. The system may likely be contracted out to a turnkey operator, or if operated directly, maintenance services can be provided through a contractor. As such, support infrastructure like a maintenance facility will not be necessary to initiate service. Capital improvements will coincide with proposed service changes and will be implemented in phases as the system matures.
Phase 1B calls for an express service to downtown Austin, with non-stop service along I 35 and one midpoint stop at the existing Southpark Meadows Station. In Buda, the route will stage in the parking lot of the Cabela’s store on I 35. Although no major capital investment is recommended at this location with ample existing parking, this analysis does include a small cost for one vehicular transit wayfinding sign at the entrance to Cabela’s. Existing signage at the Southpark Meadows Station and 13 additional locations in downtown Austin will need updates to reflect the new routes. In addition, new route markers will be needed at the Cabela’s Park & Ride lot and at two locations in Austin where the proposed route runs perpendicular to existing CARTS stops (15th Street at the intersections of Trinity and San Jacinto).
Phase 2 proposes demand response service, which would require capital investment in one additional in-service cutaway vehicle plus one spare. No further infrastructure investments are needed for this service.
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A key factor in understanding the vehicle needs of the system will be the details of the contract with the service provider. These contracts can be structured in a number of ways depending on the full scope of services to be provided. The determination on whether the contractor provides vehicles for the service will dictate if or how many vehicles will be procured for the system. If vehicles are to be provided by the contractor, then the City can expect to pay a higher unit cost for the service contract.
The system will need a total of three vehicles (two in operation plus one spare) for Phase 1B service. Two additional cutaway vehicles (one in operation plus one spare) will be required for Phase 2. A total of three standard CNG vehicles and two small cutaway vehicles are recommended for full service implementation.
Table 5 outlines capital needs for the system. It should be noted the vehicle costs may be deferred or even eliminated depending the service contract implemented.
Table 5: Capital Unit Costs Number of Proposed Item Unit Cost* Total Cost Units Wayfinding Sign $4,000 1 $4,000 Flag Stop Signs/Poles $250 3 $750 Existing Stop Updates $200 14 $2,200 35- to 40-foot CNG Vehicle $463,000 0-4 $0-$1,389,000 26-foot Cutaway Vehicle $217,000 0-2 $0-$434,000 Source: AECOM, 2015. * Bus stop amenity prices reflect average cost with installation for large transit agency and may vary based on purchasing through CMTA or other procurement.
6.4 Operations & Maintenance Financial Plan A five-year financial plan was developed for the system based on the capital needs, operating plan, and an assumed start date at the beginning of FY 2017. This start date will allow the City adequate time to negotiate a contract with a service provider, procure vehicles (if necessary) and assemble federal funds. The estimated level of FTA §5307 funding available through Cap Metro for operations in the City of Buda is approximately $36,140 annually. In addition, the city can apply for §5307 capital funding to cover capital expenditures with a 20% non-federal funding match requirement.
As mentioned in the operating plan, the overall cost of the system will be different depending on whether or not the vehicles are included in the service contract. If the city chooses to ask the service contractor to provide vehicles then a major capital outlay in FY 16 can be avoided; however, the city can expect to pay a higher unit cost for service. Table 6 illustrates the funding levels required for the system if the contractor provides the vehicles. Table 7 shows a financial plan based on the City providing vehicles.
As the tables illustrate, total operating costs for the system range from $172,125 in Year 1 to $297,859 in Year 5 if the city procures and supplies its own vehicles. If vehicles are provided through a contractor, operating costs range from $229,500 in Year 1 to $397,146 in Year 5. The addition of Phase 2 service in Year 3 increases operating costs by approximately 60% under both scenarios. Capital costs are approximately $1.9 Million lower if contracted vehicles are used.
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· The plan assumes 10% farebox recovery. The city should reserve a contingency to cover net operating cost, in case; the system utilization does not generate this percentage of fare revenue. It may take several years for the system to mature and a revised fare structure in order to generate a level of ridership necessary for that farebox recovery rate. · All capital improvements required to implement a new service are assumed to occur the year before service operations. · The plan assumes a 2.7% escalation rate for capital and operating expenditures. · Operating revenue reflects the amount currently available to the City of Buda through Capital Metro ($36,140) and was not assumed to increase in future years. · The unit costs for capital improvements and operations are estimates and do not reflect negotiated prices. The operating and capital cost and subsequent local funding amounts are subject to change based on procurement decisions and the agreed service contract pricing. Table 6: Financial Plan Based a Contractor Providing Vehicles Peak Fleet FY 17 FY 18 FY 19 FY 20 FY 21 Operating Plan Vehicles Vehicles Rev. Hrs. Rev. Hrs. Rev. Hrs. Rev. Hrs. Rev. Hrs. Phase 1 2 3 2,295 2,295 2,295 2,295 2,295 Phase 2 1 1 0 0 1,275 1,275 1,275 Total 3 4 2,295 2,295 3,570 3,570 3,570 Cost/Rev. Hr. $100 $103 $105 $108 $111 Annual Operating Cost $229,500 $235,697 $376,538 $386,705 $397,146 Revenue FY 16 FY 17 FY 18 FY 19 FY 20 FY 21 5307 Operating Fixed $ - $36,140 $36,140 $36,140 $36,140 $36,140 5307 Capital 20% LM $6,203 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - Other Sources $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - Local Funding $1,551 $170,410 $175,987 $302,744 $311,894 $321,291 Total Revenue $7,754 $206,550 $212,127 $338,884 $348,034 $357,431 $FY15 Expenses FY 16 FY 17 FY 18 FY 19 FY 20 FY 21 Value Phase 1B Vehicles $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - Phase 1B Stops $7,550 $7,754 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - Phase 2 Vehicles $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - Phase 2 Stops $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - Capital Total $7,754 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ -
Operating Expense $ - $229,500 $235,697 $376,538 $386,705 $397,146 Fare Recovery $ - $(22,950) $(23,570) $(37,654) $(38,670) $(39,715) Operating Total $ - $206,550 $212,127 $338,884 $348,034 $357,431 Total Expense $7,754 $206,550 $212,127 $338,884 $348,034 $357,431 Source: AECOM, 2015.
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Table 7: Financial Plan Based on the City of Buda Providing Vehicles Peak Fleet FY 17 FY 18 FY 19 FY 20 FY 21 Operating Plan Vehicles Vehicles Rev. Hrs. Rev. Hrs. Rev. Hrs. Rev. Hrs. Rev. Hrs. Phase 1 2 3 2,295 2,295 2,295 2,295 2,295 Phase 2 1 1 0 0 1,275 1,275 1,275 Total 3 4 2,295 2,295 3,570 3,570 3,570 Cost/Rev. Hr. $75 $77 $79 $81 $83 Annual Operating Cost $172,125 $176,772 $282,404 $290,029 $297,859 Revenue FY 16 FY 17 FY 18 FY 19 FY 20 FY 21 5307 Operating Fixed $ - $36,140 $36,140 $36,140 $36,140 $36,140 5307 Capital 20% LM 1,147,405 $ - $376,089 $ - $ - $ - Other Sources $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - Local Funding $286,851 $118,773 $216,977 $218,023 $224,886 $231,933 Total Revenue $1,434,257 $154,913 $629,207 $254,163 $261,026 $268,073 $FY15 Expenses FY 16 FY 17 FY 18 FY 19 FY 20 FY 21 Value Phase 1B Vehicles $1,389,000 $1,426,503 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - Phase 1B Stops $7,550 $7,754 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - Phase 2 Vehicles $434,000 $ - $ - $470,112 $ - $ - $ - Phase 2 Stops $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - Capital Total $1,434,257 $ - $470,112 $ - $ - $ -
Operating Expense $ - $172,125 176,772 $282,404 $290,029 $297,859 Fare Recovery $ - $(17,213) $(17,667) $(28,240) $(29,003) $(29,786) Operating Total $ - $154,913 $159,095 $254,163 $261,026 $268,073 Total Expense $1,434,257 $154,913 $629,207 $254,163 $261,026 $268,073 Source: AECOM, 2015.
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Appendix A: Public Meeting #2 Presentation
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Final Report A-2 December 2, 2015 2, December
Buda Transit Transit Buda
Development Plan Development What is a Transit Development Plan?
• Provides an assessment of transit opportunities and the associated requirements for providing public transit service to the City of Buda. • Identifies and designs transit alternatives that consider the varied needs of the area’s growing population and employment markets. • Develop service and financial plans for future transit options Why a Transit Plan Now?
• Buda is one of the fastest growing suburbs of Austin and is projected to grow by up to 700% by 2040 • Increased regional roadway congestion with limited travel options in the area • Opportunity to coordinate with other multi-modal plans including the Lone Star Rail, Project Connect and the City’s Transportation Master Plan • In 2010 the City became part of the Austin Urbanized Area allowing for partnering with Capital Metro to provide transit service • Availability of federal funds Transit Development Plans in the Region
• Complete, Georgetown Implementation Planning in Process
Buda • Completion: Fall 2015
Hutto • Completion: Fall 2015
Pflugerville • Start Date: November 2015
• 10 Year Master Plan Round Rock • Completion: Fall 2015
capmetro.org 4 Tasks
• Public Involvement and Outreach • Existing Conditions • Mission and Goals • Evaluate Course of Action/Transit Needs Assessment • Three-Year Implementation Plan – Service and operations plan – Financial plan – Phases of implementation • Draft and Final Transit Development Plan Project Schedule
2015 Month: May June July August Sept Oct Nov Dec Project Management
1 Project Steering Committee
2 Public Involvement Stakeholder Interviews Intercept Surveys Public Meeting 3 Performance and Situational Appraisal
4 Mission and Goals
5 Develop and Evaluate Alternative Courses of Action
6 Three Year Implementation Plan
7 Relationship to Other Plans
8 TDP Report and Executive Summary
Steering Committee Meetings/Calls Final Report Public Meeting Existing Conditions
• Evaluation of Existing Conditions – Existing and future demographic analysis – Land use – Review of relevant Buda planning documents – Analysis of multi-modal accommodations • Cabela’s • Southpark Meadows in Austin • Field Observations • Public Outreach – Intercept surveys – Public meetings – Stakeholder interviews
7 Existing Conditions
8 Existing Conditions
9 Existing Conditions
Population Density Zero Car Household
10 Existing Conditions – Major Employers
11 Existing Conditions – Activity Centers
12 Existing Conditions - Transit
• Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS) Yellow and Gold Lines operate along the I-35 Corridor to San Marcos, Southpark Meadows, East Austin – No stops in Buda
• City of Buda operates a Senior Van for residents over the age of 60. The service operates on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. – Free service for residents of Buda – 48 one-way trips per month
13 Public Outreach
Event/Interview Date Website/Facebook & Online Survey (over 100 responses) May to October Buda Chamber of Commerce Stakeholder Meeting June 11 Buda Senior Shuttle Stakeholder Meeting June 11 Movies in the Park Intercept Survey June 30 Public Meeting at Buda Public Library July 22 Buda Economic Development Corporation Stakeholder July 22 Meeting Buda Public Library Stakeholder Meeting July 22 Onion Creek Senior Center Stakeholder Meeting July 23 Buda Fajita Fest Intercept Survey September 25 & 26 Buda City Council Presentation October 20 Creekside Villas Senior Apartments Stakeholder Meeting October 21
14 Public Outreach
What we heard from the public:
• Bus service to shopping in Buda and the surrounding cities including HEB, Walmart and Southpark Meadows Shops
• High capacity transit service to Austin from a Park & Ride in Buda – Downtown Austin – Southpark Meadows for connections to Capital Metro
• Service to colleges including ACC in Kyle and Texas State University
• Provide service to medical offices/hospital and social service agencies
• Service to two primary markets: transit dependent populations (seniors and disabled community) and commuters 15 Hays County Commuter Characteristics
• Average commute times (2009 – 2013 American Community Survey) – Hays: 29 minutes – Travis: 24 minutes – Williamson: 26 minutes – Bastrop: 34 minutes • Residence county to workplace county commuting flows from U.S. Census 2009: – Live and work in Hays County = 27% – Live in Hays County, work outside = 73%
16 Proposed Service Plan Goals
• Provide lifeline service to shopping, jobs, medical appointments, and social services • Provide commuter service to downtown Austin • Create a cost effective, useful and user- friendly transit plan • Develop partnerships with neighboring communities and local organizations/companies • Establish a solid foundation for transit to build on over time • Connect to future regional services – Lone Star Rail Assessment of Transit Needs
• Provide lifeline service to shopping, jobs, medical appointments, and social services • Options for replacing the existing Senior Van (ADA service) – Taxi scrip program – Transportation Network Companies (Uber, Lyft) – not currently available – Drive-a-Senior – Demand Response Service • General public demand response within Buda and to neighboring communities for transit dependent and one-car households • Regional connections at Southpark Meadows and downtown Austin • Future connections to regional services – Lone Star Rail • Pedestrian enhancements and bikeshare program Phase 1A – Buda Stop on CARTS Yellow Route
• Add park & ride stop in Buda near I-35 • Existing CARTS service stops at Texas State University, Tanger Outlet Mall, Southpark Meadows and Austin CARTS Station • Currently operates four trips per day in each direction • Connect to Cap Metro system including MetroRapid at Southpark Meadows • Connect to CARTS system at the Austin CARTS Station • Lower cost option • Opportunities for reverse commute to Buda for education, services and jobs 19 Phase 1B – Buda to Austin Express
• Add park & ride stop in Buda near I-35 (Cabela’s) • Commuter focused service • Three trips in each direction per day to downtown Austin • Two trips per day in each direction to Southpark Meadows • Connect to Cap Metro system including MetroRapid at Southpark Meadows • Connect to MetroRail in downtown Austin • Opportunities for reverse commute to Buda for education, services and jobs
20 Phase 2 – Demand Response
• General public demand response service • Operates five hours per day • Provides connections to shopping, work and medical in Buda • Opportunity to develop transit partnerships with neighboring communities
21 Operations and Financial Planning
• Operations – Define type of service and vehicles – Establish frequency of service – Identify service hours and days (weekdays and weekends) – Identify number of routes and buses
• Capital Plan – Park & Ride facility – Bus stops and amenities – Bike treatments including bikeshare program
• Financial Plan – Cost per hour/mile to operate service – Capital cost to implement service – Direct operations or contracted service – Fares – local and commuter services
• Other important steps include bus procurement, marketing and branding service 22 Operations and Capital Costs
• Phase 1A costs will be negotiated as part of the Capital Metro Regional Mobility Agreement with CARTS
• Phase 1B projected 9 revenue hours on weekdays only (2,295 annual revenue hours)
• Transit Operator Contractor - costs per hour ranges from $75 - $100 per hour
• Cost to purchase a vehicle – FTA provides 80% match for buses – Smaller cutaway buses - $200,000 – Standard 35 foot bus - $500,000
• Phase 1B requires a minimum of three buses 23 Operations Costs
• Phase 1 projected 9Phase revenue 1B - Express hours Bus on Phase 2 – Demand weekdays only (2,295 annual revenue Response Servicehours) Overview 3 AM and 3 PM peak trips to General public demand downtown Austin, 2 trips per day response partnership to Southpark Meadows TC with surrounding • Transit Operator Contractor(weekdays only) - costs per communities Servicehour Hours ranges from $75 6:00am - $100 – 8:30am per hour 9:00am – 2:00pm 4:30pm – 7:00pm Numberof• Cost Busesto purchase a vehicle 2 1 Total Daily– Smaller Revenue Hrscutaway 9 buses - $200,000 5 Cost per– RevenueStandard Hr 35 foot$85 bus - $500,000 $85 (estimated) Operating• Phase Costs 1 requiresper Day a minimum $765 of three $425 Annualbuses Operating Costs $195,075 $108,375 (costs split with other communities) FTA 5307 Share for Buda $36,140 N/A Total Annual Share for Buda $158,935 N/A 24 Capital Improvements
25 Benefits of Transit
• Provides transportation options for residents • Cost savings for commuters compared to auto (gas, maintenance) • Quality of life • Amenity to attract new residents and employers to Buda • Economic development opportunities near bus station • Begin to promote alternative modes – Transit, bike, walking
26 Next Steps
• Finalize service/operations, financial and implementation plans for transit service over three-year planning horizon
• Submit Draft and Final Transit Development Plan to City/Capital Metro
27 Questions
Buda Transit Transit Buda
Development Plan Development BUDA TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Appendix B: Intercept Survey Instrument
Final Report B-1 BUDA TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN
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Final Report B-2 Buda Transit Plan – Survey on Transit Needs
Capital Metro wants to get your ideas about public transit service in the region. Please share your opinions with us. We truly appreciate your time and input. 1. Gender: M F 2. Home Zip 3. Work/School Code: Zip Code:
4.Ethnicity: Caucasian 5.Age: (under16) Hispanic (17-28) African-American (29-40) Asian-American (41-52) Other, please (53-64) specify ______ (65+)
6. If available, would you use public transportation for the 7. Which types of transportation do you currently use following types of trips? (Please check all that apply) and how often? (Please check all that apply)
- Work – Never Once or twice a month 1-3 times a - Automobile – Never Once or twice a month week 4-7 times a week More 1-3 times a week 4-7 times a week More - School – Never Once or twice a month 1-3 times a - Bicycle – Never Once or twice a month 1-3 times week 4-7 times a week More a week 4-7 times a week More - Entertainment/Recreation – Never Once or twice - Walk – Never Once or twice a month 1-3 times a a month 1-3 times a week 4-7 times a week More week 4-7 times a week More - Shop/Run Errands – Never Once or twice a month - CARTS – Once or twice a month 1-3 times a week 1-3 times a week 4-7 times a week More 4-7 times a week More - Social Services – Never Once or twice a month - Capital Metro – Once or twice a month 1-3 times a 1-3 times a week 4-7 times a week More week 4-7 times a week More - Medical appointments – Never Once or twice a - Other/How Often? _____ month 1-3 times a week 4-7 times a week More - Other/How often? ______
8. What would make you more likely to use public transportation? (Please select your top 3 reasons) If it were convenient to where I live and where I’m going If I felt more safe/secure when using public transit If it took less time to get where I am going To avoid paying higher gas prices Other______
9. What destinations should public transit serve? (Specific places in Buda, Austin, San Marcos, Kyle, etc.)
______
______
Email completed survey to: [email protected] or Mail completed survey to: Michelle Meaux, Capital Metro, 2910 E. 5th St, Austin, TX 78702
Buda Transit Plan – Survey on Transit Needs Capital Metro necesita tu ideas sobre el sistema de transportación público. Por favor toma un momento para compartir tus pensamientos. Muchas gracias por tus sugerencias. 1. Sexo : Hombre Mujer 2. Codigo 3. Codigo Postal de Postal de su su Trabajo/Escuela: Casa:
4.Raza : Americano 5.Edad : (menos de 16) Hispano (17-28) Afroamericano (29-40) Asiatico-Americano (41-52) Otro, favor de especificar (53-64) (65+)
6. De ser po sible, usaria transporte publico para los 7. Que tipo de transporte usa usted actualmente y que tan siguientes tipo de viajes? (Favor de tachar los que seguido? (Favor de tachar los que apliquen) apliquen) Trabajo – Nunca 1-2 veces al mes 1-3 veces a la Automovil – Nunca 1-2 veces al mes 1-3 veces a semana 4-7 veces a la semana Mas la semana Escuela – Nunca 1-2 veces al mes 1-3 veces a Carpool/Comparte coche - Nunca 1-2 veces al mes la semana 4-7 veces a la semana Mas 1-3 veces a la semana Entretenimiento/Placer – Nunca 1-2 veces al mes Bicicleta - Nunca 1-2 veces al mes 1-3 veces a la 1-3 veces a la semana 4-7 veces a la semana semana Mas Camino - Nunca 1-2 veces al mes 1-3 veces a la De Compras/Mandados – Nunca 1-2 veces al mes semana 1-3 veces a la semana 4-7 veces a la semana Servicios de Transporte Rural de Capital (CARTS) Mas Nunca 1-2 veces al mes 1-3 veces a la semana Servicio Social – Nunca 1-2 veces al mes 1-3 Otros/Que tan seguido? ______veces a la semana 4-7 veces a la semana Mas Citas Medicas – Nunca 1-2 veces al mes 1-3 veces a la semana 4-7 veces a la semana Mas Otros/Que tan seguido? ______
8. Que te haria usar el transporte public mas seguido? (Por favor seleccione las 3 razones que mas apliquen) Si estuviera mas cerca de donde vivo y a donde voy Si me sintiera mas seguro usando el transporte public Si tomara menos tiempo llegar a mi destino Para evitar pagar precious de gasoline mas altos Otro ______
9. Qué destinos debe servir el transporte public? (especificar los lugares en Buda, Austin, San Marcos, Kyle, etc.)
______
______
Email completó encuesta: [email protected] Correo completó encuesta: Michelle Meaux, Capital Metro, 2910 E. 5 th St, Austin, TX 78702 BUDA TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Appendix C: Stakeholder Meeting Notes
Final Report C-1 BUDA TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN
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Final Report C-2 J.R. Gonzales, Managing Director – Buda Chamber of Commerce
- Drive a Senior coming to Buda in the near future. - Need a wheelchair accessible vehicle in Buda. - There is a need for park and ride service for commuters to Austin. - It is difficult to get people out of their cars. - Average household income in Buda is $101,000. - As Buda continues to grow there may be more opportunities for transit.
Sandra Grizzle, Executive Director – Onion Creek Senior Center
- Buda Senior Van is not dependable and not ADA accessible. - Senior population in Buda is growing and needs transportation options. - Need service that connects Buda, Kyle and ETJ. - Hays Drive a Senior is trying to start up in Buda but they still need volunteers. - It can be difficult getting people to the Senior Center. Oftentimes members who cannot drive will carpool with others. - Huntington Apartments has a shuttle service on Thursdays. - Thursday is the primary day for activities at the Senior Center – morning activities and lunch service. - The Senior Center has over 500 members and serves about 125 people for lunch on Thursdays. - Other weekday activities include line dancing, craft classes, yoga, exercise and live music. - Members are from all over the area, not just located in Buda. - They would like to have day trips to Austin or San Marcos. - Need service to HEB, Walmart, Seton Medical Center Hays, Southpark Meadows and post office.
Melinda Hodges, Library Director – Buda Public Library
- There is a need to get people from Buda to Austin – may need a park and ride. - Service to Southpark Meadows for shopping and connections to other buses. - Senior transportation exists in Buda – with the Senior Shuttle and Drive a Senior is coming soon. - Need better connections from the eastside to the westside – kids have difficulty with transportation to the library. - There are a number of single car families with one person at home with the kids and no access to transportation. - Greatest demand for trips to Austin, Southpark Meadows and Senior Center. Ann Miller, Executive Director, - Buda Economic Development Corporation
- Large commuter population from Buda to Austin. - City is interested in Lone Star Rail. - Westside area near Elm Grove Elementary and in the Garlic Creek neighborhood – there are areas with no school bus service – within the two mile walking zone. - Need bus connection to Southpark Meadows and to connect into the Capital Metro system. - A lot of people in Buda have access to automobiles. - The current Buda Senior Shuttle is very limited and not as well utilized as it could be. - Hays Drive a Senior is expected to start service in Buda soon. - May be an opportunity to have some service that operates in Buda and surrounding cities. - There is interest in getting Uber to Buda – they are already in San Marcos and Kyle. - Opportunities for vanpools from Buda to Austin. - Tourism service from hotels and Cabela’s to downtown Buda. - Need connections to ACC and Texas State University. - Buda is growing but maybe not in the way that works best for transit – auto oriented development. - Not too many areas zoned for multi-family. - More dense growth may occur east of I-35 in the ETJ at Sunfield MUD.
Lyle Nelson, Chief of Staff – Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS) - Mr. Nelson provided a detailed overview of the current Yellow and Gold CARTS routes and how they operate. - There may be an opportunity to incorporate a Buda stop on the Yellow line between San Marcos and Austin. - The Gold line primarily serves Texas State University students and has limited stops. - CARTS and Capital Metro would need to discuss options for stopping in Buda including location of stop, bus route timing, schedules, and facilities. - We discussed the need to an earlier and later trip on the Yellow line to better accommodate commuter schedules.
Alicia Ramirez, City Secretary – Buda Senior Shuttle
- Van is not ADA accessible. - Operates Monday, Wednesday and Friday from about 7:45am to 1:00pm. - Top destinations include Walmart, dialysis center in San Marcos, and medical appointments in South Austin. - Free service paid through the general fund. - Ridership is low. - Van is also used for mail runs when it is not taking transit trips. - Hays Drive a Senior will start service in Buda soon. They are currently training volunteers. - There is a need for service to Kyle, San Marcos, South Austin. - The existing van service is not marketed and is they currently use a five to six passenger van for trips. - Texas State University has bus service to Kyle but not Buda.
Seven Residents in Focus Group - Creekside Villas Apartments
- Service to the medical facilities in Kyle. - Service to Southpark Meadows. - Having service that doesn’t require as much planning ahead as CARTS and other demand-response services require. - Not really interested in going to downtown Austin. - Having a fixed-route service. - The bus for this apartment complex runs twice a week to HEB and Walmart. - One woman expressed her frustration with the lack of transit options for her in Buda as someone who lives by herself and doesn’t/can’t drive.
City of Buda Transit Development Plan Final Report
February 2016 Appendix D: Phase 1C – Austin Express Service Plan Addendum
Final Report D‐1 Appendix D: Phase 1C – Austin Express Service Plan Addendum
Austin Express Overview
The Buda Transit Development Plan initially proposed an Austin Express route that connects a future Buda Park & Ride to the downtown Austin transit mall on Lavaca Street and the Capital Complex on 15th Street.
Trips would travel north on I 35, west on Riverside Drive, north on 1st Street/Lavaca Street, east on 15th Street and south on I 35.
In addition, the service plan recommended one trip in the morning and one trip in the evening on the Austin Express to stop at the Southpark Meadows Station between Buda and downtown Austin. The route would provide direct connections to Capital Metro local routes, MetroRapid, and CARTS routes that serve locations throughout south Austin including the South Congress and South 1st Street corridors. In addition, the service would provide direct connections to the shops and restaurants in the Southpark Meadows area.
The proposed service would operate four trips during the morning peak period from Buda to Austin and four afternoon/evening trips from Austin to Buda.
The initial cost of the service was estimated to be $229,500 per year. Buda’s share of the cost was estimated to be $193,360 ($170,410 local match plus $22,950 in estimated fare recovery).
Austin Express Recommended Modification – Phase 1C
In response to the completion of the Buda TDP, Capital Metro re‐evaluated options in its Long Range Financial Plan, which includes a new Park & Ride and Express service at SH 45 and IH 35. The service for this project would be very similar to the service recommendation for the Buda TDP.
In order to reduce duplication in service and achieve efficiencies, Capital Metro recommends combining elements of the TDP service and the service in the Long Range Financial Plan. This modification would include a stop for every trip at Southpark Meadows and increase revenue hours from 2,295 to 2,550 yearly. The service would otherwise remain consistent with the TDP service recommendation.
Financial Plan Recommended Modification – Phase 1C
The modification to the Austin Express service would have budget implications for Capital Metro and Buda and would allow for cost sharing. Since service from Austin to Southpark Meadows falls completely in the Capital Metro service area, the City of Buda would only be responsible for service between Southpark Meadows and the city of Buda. The resulting modification would significantly reduce Buda’s local cost share from $193,360 to $75,432/year. The revised costs are shown in Table 8.
Final Report D‐2 Table 8: Financial Plan Modifications for Austin Express Service – Phase 1C
Estimated Yearly Cost Total Annual Cost $ 255,000
Miles Buda to Southpark Meadows 7 Percentage Buda to Southpark Meadows 44%
Yearly Cost City of Buda $ 111,563 Subtract Section 5307 Allocation $ 36,140 Total Yearly Cost City of Buda $ 75,423
Final Report D‐3