Hort Range Transit Plan
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CITY OF LOMPOC SHORT RANGE TRANSIT PLAN Final Report July 2003 FY 2004 THROUGH FY 2008 Short Range Transit Plan T ABLE OF C ONTENTS CHAPTER I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY....................................................................................1 CHAPTER II GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND STANDARDS ...............................................13 OVERVIEW............................................................................................................................13 MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES...........................................................................................13 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ......................................................................................................14 OBJECTIVES, PERFORMANCE MEASURES, AND STANDARDS................................................16 STRATEGIES ..........................................................................................................................23 CHAPTER III CURRENT SITUATION ANALYSIS & SERVICE EVALUATION..........25 OVERVIEW............................................................................................................................25 SERVICE AREA AND CONDITIONS .........................................................................................26 Geographic Description.....................................................................................................26 Economic and Business Climate ........................................................................................27 Demographics and Population...........................................................................................28 EVALUATION OF CURRENT OPERATIONS ............................................................................29 Fare Structure...................................................................................................................29 Fleet Configuration ...........................................................................................................30 Current Trends .................................................................................................................31 Program Administration...................................................................................................29 Fixed-Route Service...........................................................................................................34 Demand-Response Service.................................................................................................55 CHAPTER IV SERVICE & OPERATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS ............................67 Systemwide.......................................................................................................................68 Fixed-route........................................................................................................................69 Dial-A-Ride ......................................................................................................................80 CHAPTER V MARKETING PLAN........................................................................................87 CHAPTER VI CAPITAL/FINANCIAL PLAN.......................................................................97 CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS .....................................................................................................97 Fleet Configuration ...........................................................................................................97 Capital Funding Sources...................................................................................................99 FINANCIAL PLAN ...............................................................................................................104 Key Assumptions ............................................................................................................104 Short Range Transit Plan Operating Scenario .........................................................................................................104 Operating revenue...........................................................................................................110 APPENDIX ..............................................................................................................................116 Fixed Route Customer Survey Analysis ..........................................................................117 Demand Response Customer Survey Analysis.................................................................132 Community Survey Analysis ..........................................................................................143 Short Range Transit Plan C HAPTER I E XECUTIVE S UMMARY The Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP) is the primary planning document guiding the routine decisions associated with administering the City of LompocȂs transit system. This document covers a five-year period from Fiscal Year 2002-2003 through Fiscal Year 2006-2007. The areaȂs growing economy has fueled both non-residential and residential development in the Lompoc Valley. Over 177,000 square feet of the non-residential space is either under construction or has been approved for construction in Lompoc totaling $7.7 million1. Of that, approximately 80 percent is being developed for industrial and office use. The median home price in Lompoc has risen from $134,000 in 1999 to $185,000 in 20012. While this can be attributed to increasing activity at Vandenberg AFB, this rise in housing costs has also been fueled by a tightening of the housing supply. According to the North Santa Barbara County Economic Outlook 2001, the City of Lompoc did not permit any residential development in 2000. Census 2000 demographic data indicates the median age in Lompoc is 32.2 years with 9.3 percent of the population being 65 or older. In addition to the Hispanic population, Lompoc has also experienced a vibrant growth in its senior population. Despite increasing housing prices, Lompoc Population Distribution by Age the Lompoc Valley continues to 35-54 attract people from southern Santa 30% 55-64 Barbara County and throughout the 7% central coast seeking affordable 20-34 >65 housing and an improved quality of 9% 22% life. 15-19 0-14 Growth in the populations of 7% 25% younger residents (under 18), older residents (over 62), and residents 1 North Santa Barbara County Economic Outlook 2002. Pgs 99-103. 2 North Santa Barbara County Economic Outlook 2002. Pg 85. Page 1 June 2003 Short Range Transit Plan commuting outside the Lompoc valley for employment will continue to place pressure on city transit services and require the continued support of out of valley travel alternatives (i.e., Clean Air Express). In 1981, the City of Lompoc established a general public, curb-to-curb, demand-response public transit service. With demand for public transportation increasing, the City of Lompoc introduced a four-line fixed-route service in July 1999. With the transition to the two-tier service, access to the demand-response service was restricted to seniors 63 years and older and to persons with disabilities. COLT is responsible for providing fixed-route and demand-response public transit service within the Lompoc Urbanized Area. COLT operates four fixed-routes, Monday through Saturday. The service operates Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 7:00pm and Saturday from 9:00am to 5:00pm using four vehicles. This equates to 14,392 vehicle revenue hours and 203,510 vehicle revenue miles operated during FY 00-01. The fixed-route system is designed around a main transfer point, which facilitates easy transfer between routes. COLT also provides timed connections to the Amtrak feeder shuttle, which serves Lompoc twice daily. COLTȂs demand-response service operates two vehicles during the same hours and days as the fixed-route service. Up to 4,882 vehicle revenue hours were operated during FY 00-01. Access to the service is restricted to seniors (63 years or older) and persons with disabilities. Its primary mission is to provide complementary paratransit service in response to the Americans with Disabilities Act. On September 1, 2002 the City of Lompoc implemented a new fare structure that raised the intra-city fares, bring them in line with the fares charged by agencies with similar services. The new fare structure also included adjustments to the service (operating in unincorporated areas) under contract to the County, however the new County fares were not implemented until November 6, 2002 due to delayed approval by the County Board of Supervisors. Discounted fares are available to seniors, 63 years and older, and to persons with disabilities on both fixed-route and Dial-A-Ride (demand-response). The monthly Fare Saver pass entitles the rider to unlimited rides during a calendar month. No youth or student discounts are available. As a result of the transition to a two tiered service (i.e., fixed-route and demand- response), several significant challenges were confronted. The challenges included declining fleet reliability, operational issues relating to the regionȂs road network, and operations contractor performance. Page 2 June 2003 Short Range Transit Plan Ridership experienced a five-year low in FY 99/00. Since that time, the City has taken steps to improve the service such a implementing a fleet replacement strategy, selecting a new operations contractor, and improved marketing. As a result, the COLT fixed- route service experienced a 21 percent increase in ridership during FY 00-01 compared to the previous year. The following fiscal year, ridership increased an additional