Brazos Valley Coordinated Transportation Plan Update
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2017 Brazos Valley Coordinated Transportation Plan Update Approved by Independent Stakeholder Committee, February 15, 2017 BRAZOS VALLEY COORDINATED TRANSPORTATION PLAN UPDATE Thank you This update of the 2017 Coordinated Transportation Plan was made possible by numerous stakeholders throughout the region. We would like to thank our staff and numerous stakeholders and active citizens for their participation in this plan. BVCOG Staff Navasota Cab & Courier Leon County Health Resource Michael Parks Rance Parham Center Travis Halm Donna Danford Clay Barnett Texas Veterans Commission Gloria McCarty Jeffrey English Troy Robie Monica Rainey Madison County Health Vietnam Veterans Association Resource Center Brazos Transit District Thomas Powell Towanda Webber Wendy Weedon Sarah Santoy Workforce Solutions – Jobs Calvert Senior Center Center & Childcare Bea Cephas Brazos Valley Center for Gaylen Lange Independent Living Robert Gonzales Washington County Healthy Jackie Pacha Living Association Andrew Morse Area Agency on Aging Toy Kurtz Troy Howell Ronnie Gipson Cyndy Belt Stephen Galvin City of Bryan Tracy Glass Lindsay Hackett Department of Assistive and Brazos Valley Area Agency on Rehabilitative Services Regional Citizens Aging Virginia Herrera Ann Boehm Ronnie Gipson Steven Galvin Texas A&M Health Science Center Bryan-College Station MPO Karla Blaine Daniel Rudge Debbie Muesse Brad McCaleb Elizabeth Gonzalez-Silva Bart Benthul Angela Alaniz Heart of Texas Regional Burleson County Health Advisory Council Resource Commission Gary Clouse Albert Ramirez Sherii Alexander Housing Voucher Program Karla Flanagan Grimes County Health Resource Center Workforce Solutions Brazos Betty Feldman Valley Lara Meece Patricia Buck Nancy Franek Shawna Rendon 1 BRAZOS VALLEY COORDINATED TRANSPORTATION PLAN UPDATE Contents Thank you ........................................................................................................... 1 Executive Summary ............................................................................................ 4 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 13 Mission and Vision Statements ......................................................................... 14 Planning Stakeholders ...................................................................................... 19 Integrated Planning Process .............................................................................. 20 Existing Transportation Resources in the Brazos Valley Region ......................... 21 Comprehensive Needs Assessment & Gap Analysis ........................................... 37 Demographic Analysis ...................................................................................... 39 Prioritization Survey ......................................................................................... 40 Comprehensive Needs and Gap Analysis ........................................................... 41 Goals and Objectives ........................................................................................ 51 Sustain Planning & Plan Implementation .......................................................... 79 Performance Measures – Evaluation of Effectiveness ....................................... 80 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 84 2 BRAZOS VALLEY COORDINATED TRANSPORTATION PLAN UPDATE (page intentionally left blank) 3 BRAZOS VALLEY COORDINATED TRANSPORTATION PLAN UPDATE Executive Summary Introduction The following document is the culmination of an 18-month planning process which began September 1, 2015 and concludes February 28, 2017. The following document was developed and written by a group of stakeholders throughout the Brazos Valley region, led by the Regional Transportation Department of the Brazos Valley Council of Governments. This transportation plan is an update to previous transportation plans written in 2007 and 2011. Process The planning process for this document consisted of three reports with various deliverables and timeframes to maintain and progress this planning project. The three steps and reports for this project, as laid out by the Texas Department of Transportation, include: Transportation Inventory Report (September 2015 to February 2016) o Report tabulating existing services, programs and vehicles Comprehensive Needs Assessment & Gap Analysis (March 2016 to August 2016) o Identifies gaps in services, whether geographic, timing or scope of service offered. o Identifies needs of the region which are currently not met. Transportation Plan Update (September 2016 to February 2017) o Develops and updates the vision and mission for health & human service transportation in the Brazos Valley Region. o Identifies specific solutions to fixing gaps and needs o Provides guidance to TxDOT and regional stakeholders of priorities which should be funded. Mission and Vision The following mission and vision statements were identified by the Transportation Workgroup for the Transportation Plan update period of 2017-2021: Mission Statement: “As regional stakeholders, to identify, plan and execute improvements, additions and promotion of health and human service transportation in the Brazos Valley region.” Vision Statement: “A region-wide system of transportation partners providing transportation service which enhances essential health availability and overall quality of life.” Regional Stakeholders Brazos Transit District Navasota Cab & Courier GLI/SERCO Bryan-College Station MPO Area Agency on Aging Vietnam Vets Associat. Workforce Solutions Texas Veterans Commission HOTRAC – Gary Clouse Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living (BVCIL) 4 BRAZOS VALLEY COORDINATED TRANSPORTATION PLAN UPDATE Transportation Inventory Texas A&M Transit Fixed Route Bus Service Brazos Transit District On-Demand Transit Service Brazos Transit District Taxi service in 5 of 7 counties. (Excluding Robertson, Leon) Taxi Service *See Inventory Report for individual providers Health/Senior Centers Health Resource and Senior Centers in all seven counties Providing Transportation *See Inventory Report Non-Profit Transportation 20+ Non-profit organizations provide transportation to various services Providers Airport-based shuttle Ground Shuttle service Brenham Mobility Greyhound National Bus Lines Kerrville Bus Co. Transportation and Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living (BVCIL) Mobility Training Hospital/ Clinic Shuttles Veterans Affair Shuttle (to Temple from Bryan, Hearne & Centerville) Demographic Analysis – Key Points Populations grew in five counties within the region, Burleson & Robertson lost pop. Population Large influx in student population in Brazos County (TAMU; Blinn) Rural areas seeing steady increase in senior population Gender Region slightly more male than female; no change between 2011-14 Average income fell in Robertson & Washington; rose in other 5 counties Income Median family income increased in all counties and family types. Largest increases in Grimes and Leon Counties Large transient population in Brazos County (college students) Correlation found between average household & family incomes and housing Housing tenure; higher income families more likely to own their place of residence. Average household size increased in all rural counties; decreased in Brazos due to an increase in college student population Vehicle availability remained similar 2011-2014: roughly 3,700 residents without at least one vehicle. Travel & 80% of all commuters travel via vehicle (10% carpool) Commuting Alternative transportation modes make up 10% of regional commuters Most commuters in the region commute between 10 and 24 minutes Disability Population of people with disabilities increased consistently with increases in statistics population of elderly population English The Brazos Valley has become more diverse between 2011-2014 and matches state proficiency and national trends 5 BRAZOS VALLEY COORDINATED TRANSPORTATION PLAN UPDATE Comprehensive Needs Assessment and Gap Analysis (Feb ’16-Aug ’16) Fixed stop locations on fixed transit routes . System is antiquated and needs to remove “flagging” from service to improve efficiency and safety (Brazos Transit District Study being undergone to remove this system) . Texas A&M buses already have fixed stops on all routes Fixed-route bus service in rural counties . No fixed-route buses exist in rural counties; only demand and response service . A fixed route with set times servicing rural communities would provide riders & patients with a set time to plan appointments without requiring large amounts of time flexibility Demand & response transportation limitations . Current timing of demand & response service is often the only form of transportation to some medical services in Bryan-College Station from rural areas . Arrival time is often a 2 or 3 hour window; departure time is similar range. (Similar to national average; however, still considered a challenge by many transit users) . No weekend or after-hour service Workplace Provided Transportation . Currently there are few major employers offering transportation services . Previous partnerships with Sanderson Farms and Brazos Transit were successful in getting people from Madisonville to Bryan production plant. Interconnectivity outside the Brazos Valley Region . Many ride seekers struggle to find services outside of the region . Collaboration between neighboring regional councils and transit