Franklin & Grand Isle Counties Service Scenarios
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FRANKLIN & GRAND ISLE COUNTIES SERVICE SCENARIOS 1. OVERVIEW OF SERVICE IMPROVEMENT SCENARIOS (FRANKLIN & GRAND ISLE COUNTIES) • Major Themes • Route-by-Route Improvements • Summary of Service Improvement Options by Scenario 2. SCENARIO MAPS • Existing Franklin/Grand Isle service map • Scenario 1 • Scenario 2 SERVICE IMPROVEMENT SCENARIOS FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES Tw o service improvement scenarios have been developed for GMT’s routes serving communities in Franklin County and Grand Isle County. Both scenarios include a mix of revised route alignments and schedule changes. The major themes that guided the scenario development process are described below, and the service improvements for each scenario are summarized in the following pages. A table summarizing the major service improvements for each route is presented on page 6 and maps are presented starting on page 7. Note that this document reflects services that operate within Franklin and Grand Isle Counties. Major commuter services, including Route 96 St. Albans LINK that connect St. Albans with Burlington are described in the Commuter Services Scenarios document. MAJOR THEMES Major themes in both Scenarios 1 and 2 include: • Simplified Service. A top priority for service improvements is making service simpler and easier to use. This includes making route alignments more direct so that service is faster and more efficient, as well as simplifying schedules to make service consistent and easy to understand. – Simplified Route Alignments. Most routes would have more direct alignments, with fewer deviations and meandering paths of travel. Service would be focused on corridors and destinations where demand is higher, and many unproductive deviations would be discontinued. – Consistent Schedules. Many routes would have fewer or no variants, and would instead operate a consistent service throughout the day rather than serving different alignments on different trips. This makes service more predictable and easier for riders to plan their trip. • Streamlined Local Service in St. Albans. Route 110 St. Albans Downtown Shuttle would have a more direct alignment through St. Albans, providing more convenient service for riders than the circuitous alignment that exists today. This makes the route less confusing for riders, and also makes travel time more consistent and reliable. • More Direct Service to and from Alburgh. Under both scenarios, commuter service between Alburgh and St. Albans would no longer detour to serve Highgate, where there is only one rider. This would save over four miles of out-of-direction travel and time on an already long trip for riders, making service more convenient and reliable. • Timed Connections to and from St. Albans Industrial Park. The industrial park is served slightly differently under each scenario, but in both cases schedules are adjusted to provide better timed connections between local and commuter routes for employees. The major difference between the two scenarios is how service to Alburgh is enhanced: • Scenario 1: Route 115 Alburgh/Georgia Commuter would be consolidated with Route 96 St. Albans LINK, which will operate one AM trip and one PM trip between Alburgh and Burlington via St. Albans, offering a one-seat ride to Burlington that does not exist today. Franklin & Grand Isle Counties Service Improvement Scenarios | 1 • Scenario 2: Route 115 Alburgh/Georgia Commuter service would be increased from one trip to two trips during each peak period, providing increased schedule flexibility for riders. ROUTE-BY-ROUTE IMPROVEMENTS 109 Price Chopper Shopping Shuttle Route 109 Price Chopper Shopping Shuttle operates on Tuesdays, connecting residents in St. Albans and Swanton to the St. Albans Price Chopper via US Route 7. The route provides a single round trip to and from the Price Chopper in St. Albans once a week. In both scenarios, Route 109 would continue to operate as it does today. Table 1 | Route 109 Price Chopper Shopping Shuttle Service Levels Day Service Span Frequency (minutes) Existing Route 109 Weekdays Tu 10 AM – 1:35 PM 4 trips Saturday No serv ice — Sunday No serv ice — Scenario 1 Weekdays Tu 10 AM – 1:35 PM 4 trips Saturday No serv ice — Sunday No serv ice — Scenario 2 Weekdays Tu 10 AM – 1:35 PM 4 trips Saturday No serv ice — Sunday No serv ice — 110 St. Albans Downtown Shuttle Route 110 St. Albans Downtown Shuttle provides circulator service in and around downtown St. Albans. The route operates as a triple figure eight with a northern leg to shopping centers north of downtown. The circuitous alignment requires riders to travel the entire length of the route to complete a round trip. In both scenarios, the southern portion of Route 110’s alignment would be redesigned to provide more direct and convenient service to the key destinations where riders travel today, while removing deviations that have low or no ridership and take riders out of their w ay. Route Alignment Under both scenarios, Route 110 would continue to operate primarily along Main Street/US Route 7, and serve Highgate Commons/Hannaford, Walmart, and Price Chopper. Northbound buses would no longer deviate off of Main Street to serve Rite Aid, which is located 300 feet from the street. The request service to Four Winds would be discontinued and deviations up to three- quarters of a mile would be replaced by paratransit service for eligible riders. South of Lake Street, Route 110 would continue to operate the counterclockwise loop that follows Lake Street (including Food City), Elm Street, Welden Street, Barlow Street, Northwest Medical Center, and Fairfield Street back to Main Street. The southern loop of the triple figure eight to Community College of Vermont (CCV) would be discontinued, as the loop adds an 2 | Franklin & Grand Isle Counties Service Improvement Scenarios additional mile of travel for riders, but serves only one rider per day, and would still be located within walking distance from Route 110 service on Welden Street. Route 110 would continue to serve St. Albans Industrial Park under both scenarios. Under Scenario 1, Route 115 Alburgh/Georgia Commuter would be consolidated with Route 96 St. Albans LINK, which would not serve the industrial park. However, the route’s schedule would be coordinated with Route 110 St. Albans Downtown Shuttle to provide connecting service. Service Levels Under both scenarios, service would continue to operate every 60 m inutes throughout the day on weekdays and Saturdays. In Scenario 1, the first weekday trip would be pushed back to 6 AM to coordinate transfers from the redesigned Route 96 St. Albans LINK to Route 110 at St. Albans City Hall, connecting LINK riders to the St. Albans Industrial Park. In Scenario 2, the first trip would continue to depart at 5:45 AM. In both scenarios, the 6:00 PM trip, which on most days does not carry any passengers, would be discontinued. Table 2 | Route 110 St. Albans Downtown Shuttle Service Levels Day Service Span Frequency Existing Route 110 Weekdays 5:45 AM – 6:40 PM 60 all day Saturday 9:45 AM – 3:30 PM 60 all day Sunday No serv ice — Scenario 1 Weekdays 6 AM – 5:40 PM 60 all day Saturday 9:45 AM – 3:30 PM 60 all day Sunday No serv ice — Scenario 2: Weekdays 5:45 AM – 5:40 PM 60 all day Saturday 9:45 AM – 3:30 PM 60 all day Sunday No serv ice — 115 Alburgh/Georgia Commuter Route 115 Alburgh/Georgia Commuter is a commuter route that serves Alburgh, Swanton, Highgate, St. Albans, and Georgia, and primarily operates along VT Route 78, VT Route 207, I-89, and US Route 7. Under both scenarios, Route 115 would be improved to provide more direct and convenient service for riders in terms of both route alignment and scheduling. In addition, service south of the St. Albans Industrial Park would be discontinued, as Bellows Free Academy is planning to operate its own school service in lieu of GMT service. Route Alignment In Scenario 1, Route 115 would be replaced by a northward extension of Route 96 St. Albans LINK to Alburgh. In Scenario 2, the route would be shortened to operate between Alburgh and St. Albans: Scenario 1: Route 96 St. Albans LINK, which currently operates between St. Albans and Burlington, provides two AM inbound trips and two PM outbound trips per weekday. In Scenario 1, one Route 96 AM inbound and one PM outbound trip would be extended northward to Alburgh, and this service would replace existing Route 115 service. Service Franklin & Grand Isle Counties Service Improvement Scenarios | 3 between Alburgh and St. Albans would operate via Swanton and then south along I-89 and not via Highgate. Scenario 2: Route 115 would be shortened to operate between Alburgh and the St. Albans Industrial Park: • The four mile deviation to Highgate would be discontinued, as it is used by only one rider per day. • Service south of the St. Albans Industrial Park to Georgia and back to St. Albans would be discontinued as it is designed to serve school trips between Georgia and Bellow Free Academy. However, the school is planning to provide its own service, which will make Route 115 service redundant. Service Levels In Scenario 1, a single inbound and outbound trip would continue to be provided, while in Scenario 2, as second round trip would be provided: Scenario 1: The single inbound and outbound trip would be provided by the extended Route 96 service. This would provide similar arrival and departure times at the St. Albans Industrial Park as at present, plus one seat service to Burlington. Scenario 2: Route 115 would continue to operate as a unique route, with a second round trip w ould be provided to increase service options for riders. Table 3 | Route 115 Alburgh/Georgia Commuter Service Levels Day Service Span Frequency Existing Route 115 Weekdays 5:25 AM to 7:10 AM 1 inbound trip 3:15 PM to 5:15 PM 1 outbound trip Saturday No serv ice — Sunday No serv ice — Scenario 1 Weekdays 5:25 AM to 8:40 AM 2 AM round trips (as Route 96) 3:05 PM to 7:20 PM 2 PM round trips Saturday No serv ice — Sunday No serv ice — Scenario 2: Weekdays 5:25 AM to 8 AM 2 inbound trips 3:15 PM to 6 PM 2 outbound trips Saturday No serv ice — Sunday No serv ice — 116 Richford/St.