Final Public Outreach Report STA Moving Forward Phase III
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Final Public Outreach Report STA Moving Forward Phase III Prepared for: STA Board of Directors 1/7/2015 Spokane Transit assures nondiscrimination in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. For more information see www.spokanetransit.com. Upon request, alternative formats of this document will be produced for people who are disabled. Call (509)325-6094, (TTY Relay 711) or email [email protected]. TableTable ofof ContentsContents Executive Summary.............................................................................................................................................. 1 Executive Summary ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������1 Public Outreach Elements & Summary Results ......................................................................................... 4 Public Outreach Elements & Summary Results ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4 Scientific Polling ............................................................................................................................................... 4 ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4 Community Presentations ............................................................................................................................ 4 �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4 SurveyScientific Monkey Polling non-scientific community polling .............................................................................. 6 ����������������������������������������������������������������������6 CommunCommunityity Leadership Presentations Summit on Transit ........................................................................................... 7 �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������7 TelephoneSurvey Town Monkey Hall Non-Scientific meeting .................................................................................................................... Community Polling 8 ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������8 STA MovingCommunity Forward Leadership website Summit ...................................................................................................................... on Transit 9 STA Moving Forward Website �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������9 STA MovingTelephone Forward Town brochureHall Meeting ................................................................................................................ 10 STA Moving Forward �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������10 Community Open Houses ........................................................................................................................... 10 ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������10 Appendices ................................................................................................ Brochure ........................................................... 11 ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������11 AppendixCommunity A – Scientific Open Houses Polling by Moore Information .................................................................. 11 �������������������������������������������������������������12 AppendicesAppendix B – Community Presentations & Feedback Spreadsheets ........................................ 11 ����������������������������������15 AppendixAppendix C – Survey A - Scientific Monkey Polling Report by .................................................................................................... Moore Information 11 ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������65 AppendixAppendix D – Community B - Community Leadership Presentations Summit & onFeedback Transit Spreadsheets Report ............................................ 11 ����������������������������������� 197 AppendixAppendix E – Telephone C - Survey TownMonkey Hall Results Summary .................................................................................. 11 �������������������������������������������������������������������������� 229 Appendix D - Community Leadership Summit on Transit Report Appendix E - Telephone Town Hall Summary Final Public Outreach Report i Spokane Transit Authority 1/7/2015 Executive Summary Background This report contains a description of the public outreach efforts and input gathered during Phase III of the STA Moving Forward planning process. The report provides a description of the various elements of the outreach plan, as well as a high level summary of the outcomes. An appendix with detailed information from each outreach method is included and supplements the analysis found here. STA Moving Forward is Spokane Transit’s planning process to prioritize and sequence public transit investments in the Spokane region over a ten-year period when new revenue is available. Existing ridership demand, together with significant regional population growth forecasts and demographic shifts in transportation trends, created the need for an implementation plan designed to meet the needs of the current and future transit riders. The STA Moving Forward process spanned approximately three years and was divided into three phases. Phase I began in 2012 and involved the development of a comprehensive list of community identified potential transit projects. Phase II began in 2013 and involved technical and financial feasibility analysis to ensure that projects were consistent with Spokane Transit’s Comprehensive Plan, Connect Spokane. Phase III occurred in 2014 and highlighted the highest priority projects sequenced over a ten-year implementation period. Public outreach during Phase III has produced one of the most successful public participation efforts in Spokane Transit’s history. Through various methods, approximately 6,300 interactions occurred with community members throughout the Public Transportation Benefit Area: • 3,518 website sessions (2,865 users, 80% new visits) • Approximately 1,050 participants at 49 community presentations • 1,767 completed Survey Monkey surveys (non-scientific) • 9,000 educational brochures distributed • Approximately 50 participants at four community open house events Outreach Results – The draft STA Moving Forward Plan The findings of Phase III of STA Moving Forward outreach show that there is strong support from the community to maintain existing transit service levels, as well as to provide more and better transit for the growing region. In all outreach methods, a majority of Final Public Outreach Report 1 Spokane Transit Authority 1/7/2015 respondents favored the plan and its projects. Some (non-scientific) examples of that support include: • An online Survey Monkey survey with more than 1,700 respondents showed that 85.4% support maintaining existing service and 85.5% support new and improved transit service to support regional growth and shifting transportation trends. • Draft STA Moving Forward projects receiving more than 60% support in that same survey included pilot service to Coeur d’Alene (75.9%), West Plains Transit Center (75.7%), Central City Line (71.9%) and later Saturday night service (60. 7%). • During the September 24th Telephone Town Hall Meeting, 87% of 69 respondents indicated support for more and better transit service for the Spokane region. • During the November 10th Community Leadership Summit on Transit, more than 90% of participants listed the following four projects as priorities: Central City Line, Division HPT ‘Lite’, Network-wide frequency improvements and North Monroe- South Regal HPT ‘Lite’. I-90 service to Idaho was the only STA Moving Forward project designated as a priority by less than 50% of participants. Outreach Results – Implementation Similar to the findings of outreach efforts on draft STA Moving Forward projects, there is strong community support for implementing the plan through a three-tenths (3/10) increase in the local sales tax rate in 2015. In all outreach methods, a majority of respondents indicated willingness to fund the existing levels of transit service in addition to funding more and better transit. Some supporting examples for a three-tenths (3/10) of a percent increase in the local sales tax rate include: • 60% of respondents in a scientific poll supported the increase • 61.4% of 1,606 respondents in a Survey Monkey survey supported the increase • 70% of 176 respondents during the September 24th Telephone Town Hall Meeting indicated likely support for the increase • 73% of the community leaders participating in the November 10th Community Leadership Summit on Transit supported the increase; 85% supported a ballot measure in 2015. Final Public Outreach Report 2 Spokane Transit Authority 1/7/2015 Outreach Results – Notable Comments and Suggestions While the majority of input gathered during the public outreach process indicated strong support for the draft STA Moving Forward plan and a three-tenths (3/10) of