Northwest Arkansas Transit Development Plan
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Northwest Arkansas Transit Development Plan Technical Memorandum #5 Existing Service Evaluation Prepared for: Submitted by: Connetics Transportation Group October 2010 Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1 2.0 Ozark Regional Transit System Level Analysis .......................................................................... 2 2.1 Service Requirements .................................................................................................................. 2 2.2 Current and Historical Ridership Characteristics ......................................................................... 7 2.3 Ridership Productivity Measures ................................................................................................. 8 2.4 Ridecheck Survey Results ............................................................................................................ 8 3.0 Ozark Regional Transit Route Profiles .................................................................................... 14 4.0 Razorback Transit System Level Analysis ................................................................................ 83 4.1 Service Requirements ................................................................................................................ 83 4.2 Historical Ridership Characteristics ........................................................................................... 88 2.3 Current Ridership Characteristics .............................................................................................. 90 4.4 Ridership Productivity Measures .............................................................................................. 91 4.5 Ridecheck Survey Results .......................................................................................................... 93 5.0 Razorback Transit Route Profiles ........................................................................................... 96 Technical Memorandum 5: Table of Contents Northwest Arkansas Transit Development Plan Existing Service Evaluation October 2010 1.0 Introduction The Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission (NWARPC) is leading the effort to complete a Transit Development Plan for the Northwest Arkansas region. The overall objective of this project is to identify near‐term, short‐range and long‐range service recommendations that provide an integrated regional transit network and expands opportunities for Northwest Arkansas residents to utilize transit. Several work tasks are being completed to achieve this objective including: The collection of Ozark Regional Transit (ORT) and Razorback Transit ridership data at a stop level and trip level basis; An on‐board survey of ORT and Razorback Transit riders; A review of historical ridership trends for both systems; Input from staff and drivers for both systems; A comprehensive evaluation of existing transit services on a systems and route level basis that is based on collected data; Input from representatives of key stakeholder groups, a project advisory committee and from input received at public meetings; and A latent demand analysis that is based on existing and projected demographic characteristics of the Northwest Arkansas region. This Technical Memorandum is one of several that are being prepared as part of the TDP. This particular Technical Memorandum presents a detailed evaluation of existing Razorback Transit and Ozark Regional Transit (ORT) bus service. This analysis has been completed to identify route strengths and weaknesses, which in turn, will be the basis for TDP service recommendations. Several data sources were used to complete this evaluation of existing transit services. Data provided by Razorback Transit and ORT that has been used in this evaluation include: Individual route schedules; Current headway sheets; and Daily and Monthly ridership reports. As part of this TDP work effort, the following data collection efforts occurred: A 100% weekday ridecheck survey effort was completed between September 14, 15 and 16 for both systems; A weekday on‐board survey was also conducted during this time period for both systems; and Extensive fieldwork was completed by consultant service planners. This Technical Memorandum begins with a systems‐level evaluation of Razorback Transit and ORT service characteristics. Existing ridership and service productivity measures have been reviewed as part of this system‐level evaluation. Individual route profiles are then provided. These profiles present a detailed assessment of current route characteristics and route strengths and weaknesses. Much of the route‐level analysis is based on the collected ridecheck survey data. Technical Memorandum 5: Page 1 Northwest Arkansas Transit Development Plan Existing Service Evaluation October 2010 2.0 Ozark Regional Transit System Level Analysis Ozark Regional Transit (ORT) provides regularly scheduled fixed‐route and on‐demand paratransit services for Benton and Washington Counties. Fixed‐route service is provided to the most densely populated areas including Bentonville, Fayetteville, Springdale and Rogers. In general, service operates hourly on weekdays only between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. with on‐demand service available on Saturdays when arranged in advance. There is no Sunday service. Figure 2‐1 presents the systemwide fixed‐route alignments for ORT. Figures 2‐2 and 2‐3 present a more close‐up view of the fixed‐route service in Benton and Washington Counties, respectively. It is important to note; Route 54 is the only means of connectivity between the two counties’ services. 2.1 Service Requirements Service spans and frequencies are constant throughout the year on almost all ORT routes. The only exception is Route 54, which operates a reduced level of frequency when NWACC is not in session. Tables 2‐1 and 2‐2 present each route’s span of service, frequencies and estimated service statistics for ORT’s weekday service for regular and reduced schedules. Annualized service statistics for ORT based on the current operating scenario are as follows: Maximum buses in operation – 12 Annual revenue bus‐hours of service – 29,116 Annual revenue bus‐miles of service – 496,862 Technical Memorandum 5: Page 2 Northwest Arkansas Transit Development Plan Existing Service Evaluation October 2010 Figure 2‐1 Ozark Regional Transit Systemwide Route Alignments Technical Memorandum 5: Page 3 Northwest Arkansas Transit Development Plan Existing Service Evaluation October 2010 Figure 2‐2 Ozark Regional Transit Benton County Route Alignments Technical Memorandum 5: Page 4 Northwest Arkansas Transit Development Plan Existing Service Evaluation October 2010 Figure 2‐3 Ozark Regional Transit Washington County Route Alignments Technical Memorandum 5: Page 5 Northwest Arkansas Transit Development Plan Existing Service Evaluation October 2010 Table 2‐1 Ozark Regional Transit Existing Weekday Operating Plan – Regular Schedule Service Frequency Cycle Time One‐Way Average Weekday Bus Requirements Route Start of First/ Total Daily Time Layover % Cycle Distance In‐Serv. Rev. Rev. Route #DescriptionLast Trips Hours AM Midday PM Eve. Trips (Min.) Time Layover Time (Miles) Hours Hrs. Miles AM Midday PM Evening 40 Fayetteville/Springdale 0630 ‐ 1800 11.5 60 60 60 n/a 12 120 0 0% 120 28.4 24.0 24.0 340.8 2.00 2.00 2.00 0.00 41 6th Street 0700 ‐ 1700 11.0 60 60 60 n/a 11 60 0 0% 60 14.9 11.0 11.0 163.9 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.00 42 Springdale East 0700 ‐ 1700 11.0 60 60 60 n/a 11 60 0 0% 60 11.2 11.0 11.0 123.2 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.00 43 E Robinson Ave/W Huntsville Ave 0722 ‐ 1622 3.0 60 60 60 n/a 3 60 0 0% 60 16.3 3.0 3.0 48.9 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.00 44 Rogers North 0635 ‐ 1635 10.5 60 60 60 n/a 11 60 0 0% 60 10.2 11.0 11.0 112.2 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.00 46 Bentonville 0645 ‐ 1645 10.5 60 60 60 n/a 11 60 0 0% 60 12.7 11.0 11.0 139.7 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.00 47 Zion/Joyce 0700 ‐ 1800 11.5 30 60 60 n/a 14 30 0 0% 30 5.3 7.0 7.0 74.2 1.00 0.50 0.50 0.00 North Hills Medical 0800 ‐ 1600 9.0 n/a 60 60 n/a 9 30 0 0% 30 6.0 4.5 4.5 54.0 0.00 0.50 0.50 0.00 50 Lincoln/Fayetteville Commuter Exp 0700 ‐ 1705 0.0 1 trip n/a 1 trip n/a 2 60 0 0% 120 18.8 2.0 2.0 37.6 1.00 0.00 1.00 0.00 54 NWACC/University of Arkansas Exp 0640 ‐ 1615 10.0 60 60 60 n/a 20 60 0 0% 120 34.2 20.0 20.0 684.0 2.00 2.00 2.00 0.00 55 Springdale Crosstown 0640 ‐ 1820 11.8 20 20 20 n/a 34 20 0 0% 20 7.8 12.0 12.0 265.2 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.00 TOTALS 138 117 117 2,044 12.0 11.0 12.0 0.0 AM = Before 9:00 am Midday = 9:00 am to 3:00 pm PM =3:00 pm to 6:30 pm Eve. = After 6:30 p.m. Table 2‐2 Ozark Regional Transit Existing Weekday Operating Plan – Reduced Schedule Service Frequency Cycle Time One‐Way Average Weekday Bus Requirements Route Start of First/ Total Daily Time Layover % Cycle Distance In‐Serv. Rev. Rev. Route #DescriptionLast Trips Hours AM Midday PM Eve. Trips (Min.) Time Layover Time (Miles) Hours Hrs. Miles AM Midday PM Evening 40 Fayetteville/Springdale 0630 ‐ 1800 11.5 60 60 60 n/a 12 120 0 0% 120 28.4 24.0 24.0 340.8 2.00 2.00 2.00 0.00 41 6th Street 0700 ‐ 1700 11.0 60 60 60 n/a 11 60 0 0% 60 14.9 11.0 11.0 163.9 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.00 42 Springdale East 0700 ‐ 1700 11.0 60 60 60 n/a 11 60 0 0% 60 11.2 11.0 11.0 123.2 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.00 43 E Robinson Ave/W Huntsville Ave 0722 ‐ 1622 3.0 60 60 60 n/a 3 60 0 0% 60 16.3 3.0 3.0 48.9 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.00 44 Rogers North 0635 ‐ 1635 10.5 60 60 60 n/a 11 60 0 0% 60 10.2 11.0 11.0 112.2 1.00 1.00 1.00