Westport Bus Operations and Needs Study Final Report Submitted to Western Connecticut Council of Governments Submitted by AECOM Technical Services, Inc. In association with Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc. November 2015 Acknowledgment of Funding Sources This document was prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), the Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WestCOG) and the Town of Westport who provided funding in support of this effort. The opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the South Western Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (SWRMPO), the WestCOG, the CTDOT, the USDOT, or the Town of Westport. Table of Contents Executive Summary .................................................................................... 1 1 Existing Transit Services ................................................................... 9 1.1 Introduction and Background ........................................................................... 9 1.2 Westport Bus Services .................................................................................... 11 1.2.1 Westport Transit District (WTD) ............................................................................................ 11 1.2.2 Budget (Expenditures) and Funding Sources ........................................................................ 12 1.2.3 Westport Transit Capital Funding.......................................................................................... 14 1.2.4 Westport System-Wide Service Trends and Changes ........................................................... 14 1.3 Westport Commuter Routes ............................................................................ 15 1.3.1 Commuter Service Descriptions............................................................................................ 15 1.3.2 Commuter Service Details .................................................................................................... 16 1.3.3 Commuter Route Fare and Transfer Policies ........................................................................ 18 1.3.4 Commuter Route Ridership .................................................................................................. 18 1.3.5 Commuter Route Revenue Service Hours and Miles ............................................................ 19 1.3.6 Commuter Route Operating Expenses.................................................................................. 20 1.3.7 Commuter Route Farebox Revenue ..................................................................................... 20 1.3.8 Commuter Route Service Indicators ..................................................................................... 21 1.3.9 Commuter Route Financial Indicators ................................................................................... 21 1.3.10 Commuter Route Revenue Indicators ................................................................................... 22 1.4 Westport After-School Routes ........................................................................ 23 1.5 Westport Demand Response Service ............................................................. 24 1.5.1 Door-to-Door Service Description ......................................................................................... 24 1.5.2 Door-to-Door Service Details ................................................................................................ 25 1.5.3 Door-to-Door Fare Policy ...................................................................................................... 25 1.5.4 Door-to-Door Ridership ........................................................................................................ 26 1.5.5 Door-to-Door Operating Expenses ........................................................................................ 26 1.5.6 Door-to-Door Farebox Revenue............................................................................................ 27 1.5.7 Door-to-Door Service Indicators............................................................................................ 27 1.5.8 Door-to-Door Financial Indicators ......................................................................................... 27 1.5.9 Door-to-Door Revenue Indicators ......................................................................................... 27 1.6 Coastal Link Bus Service ................................................................................. 28 1.7 MTA Metro-North Railroad ............................................................................... 29 1.8 Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) .................................... 31 1.9 Taxicabs and Senior Transportation .............................................................. 32 1.10 Demographics................................................................................................... 32 1.10.1 Community Characteristics ................................................................................................... 32 1.10.2 Trip Generators .................................................................................................................... 35 Westport Bus Operations and Needs Study | Final Report i Prepared by AECOM for South West Regional Planning Agency/Western CT Council of Governments 1.11 Transit Marketing .............................................................................................. 38 1.12 Summary Evaluation ........................................................................................ 38 1.12.1 Findings ............................................................................................................................... 38 2 Public Outreach ................................................................................ 41 3 Development of Service Alternatives and Recommendations .... 42 3.1 Development of Alternatives ........................................................................... 42 3.1.1 Commuter Routes ................................................................................................................ 42 3.1.2 After-School and Midday Routes .......................................................................................... 43 3.1.3 Door-to-Door Services .......................................................................................................... 44 3.1.4 Presentation of Alternatives .................................................................................................. 44 3.2 Short Term Recommendations (Years 1-3) .................................................... 44 3.2.1 Modifications to Existing Commuter Routes .......................................................................... 45 3.2.2 Daytime Route: Saugatuck to Downtown Circulator .............................................................. 48 3.3 Long Term Plan (Years 4 and beyond): Town Circulation ............................ 51 3.4 Administration .................................................................................................. 54 3.4.1 Maintain the Status Quo ....................................................................................................... 54 3.4.2 Town of Westport/WTD Self-Operation ................................................................................. 55 3.4.3 Town of Westport/Alternative Contractor Services ................................................................ 56 3.4.4 NTD Becomes a Regional Transit District (or Regional Transit Authority) .............................. 57 3.4.5 Summary of Findings and Recommendation ......................................................................... 58 3.4.6 Administration: Next Steps ................................................................................................... 59 3.4.7 Funding ................................................................................................................................ 59 4 Implementation Plan ........................................................................ 61 4.1 Phasing.............................................................................................................. 61 4.1.1 Short-term (1-3 years) .......................................................................................................... 61 4.1.2 Medium and Long-term (4+ years) ........................................................................................ 62 4.2 Costs ................................................................................................................. 63 4.3 Next Study Steps .............................................................................................. 64 Westport Bus Operations and Needs Study | Final Report ii Prepared by AECOM for South West Regional Planning Agency/Western CT Council of Governments Appendices Appendix A 1992 agreement between the Town of Westport and Norwalk Appendix B Section of the Westport Town Code of Ordinances Appendix C Westport Transit District review July 1993, pages 73 – 77 Appendix D July 1, 2014, August 29, 2014, and December 9, 2014 letters to NTD from the Federal Transit Administration Appendix E E.1 FTA school bus regulations E.2 Description of Westport after-school program 2013-15 E.3