P r e p a r e d f o r County of Marathon Wausau Area Transit System S u b m i t t e d b y Urbitran Associates, Inc. I n a s s o c I a t I o n w I t h Abrams-Cherwony & Associates, Inc. S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 6 Wausau Area Transit System – Transit Development Plan Table of Contents CHAPTER 1: SOCIOECONOMIC AND LAND USE CHARACTERISTICS .................. 1 Introduction............................................................................................................................... 1 Population.................................................................................................................................. 1 Income........................................................................................................................................ 5 Households below Poverty Level ............................................................................................. 6 Zero-Car Households................................................................................................................ 7 Senior Citizen Population......................................................................................................... 7 Youth Population ...................................................................................................................... 9 Employment............................................................................................................................. 11 Major Generators ................................................................................................................... 11 Journey to Work ..................................................................................................................... 21 CHAPTER 2: WATS SERVICE OVERVIEW .................................................................... 22 Introduction............................................................................................................................. 22 Organizational Structure ....................................................................................................... 22 Fixed Route Service Description............................................................................................ 23 WATS Fare Structure ............................................................................................................ 31 WATS+ Paratransit Service Description.............................................................................. 32 Financial Information............................................................................................................. 33 Capital Resources.................................................................................................................... 34 Historical Trend 1999 – 2004................................................................................................. 36 Service Changes Since the Previous TDP ............................................................................. 38 CHAPTER 3: PEER GROUP AND TREND ANALYSES ................................................. 39 Introduction............................................................................................................................. 39 Peer Group Analysis............................................................................................................... 39 Financial Efficiency ............................................................................................................ 40 Service Effectiveness............................................................................................................ 41 Cost Effectiveness ................................................................................................................ 42 Service Provided per Capita................................................................................................. 43 Service Span Comparison.................................................................................................... 43 Conclusion............................................................................................................................ 44 Trend Analysis ........................................................................................................................ 45 Service Baseline ................................................................................................................... 45 Financial Efficiency ............................................................................................................ 46 Service Effectiveness............................................................................................................ 46 Cost Effectiveness ................................................................................................................ 46 Amount and Use of Service ................................................................................................. 47 Conclusion............................................................................................................................ 47 CHAPTER 4: PUBLIC OUTREACH ................................................................................... 49 Introduction............................................................................................................................. 49 Drop-In Sessions...................................................................................................................... 49 Service Area Expansion....................................................................................................... 49 Expanded Days..................................................................................................................... 50 Service Hour Expansion...................................................................................................... 50 Service Quality ..................................................................................................................... 50 i Wausau Area Transit System – Transit Development Plan Other Comments .................................................................................................................. 50 Summary............................................................................................................................... 51 Stakeholder Interviews........................................................................................................... 51 WATS Bus Service: General Perceptions ........................................................................... 53 Unmet Needs ........................................................................................................................ 54 Regional Cooperation .......................................................................................................... 54 Regional System Growth: Key Factors for Success............................................................ 55 Stakeholder Summary.......................................................................................................... 56 CHAPTER 5: OPINION SURVEYS ..................................................................................... 57 Rider Survey............................................................................................................................ 57 Introduction.......................................................................................................................... 57 Survey Description ............................................................................................................... 57 Survey Results ...................................................................................................................... 58 Summary............................................................................................................................... 72 Wausau West Industrial Park Survey .................................................................................. 73 CHAPTER 6: SERVICE EVALUATION, ISSUES, AND OPPORTUNITIES ................ 74 Introduction............................................................................................................................. 74 Performance Evaluation......................................................................................................... 74 Service Coverage.................................................................................................................. 74 Patron Convenience............................................................................................................. 78 Fiscal Condition................................................................................................................... 79 Passenger Comfort............................................................................................................... 80 Summary............................................................................................................................... 80 Route Diagnostics.................................................................................................................... 81 Service Effectiveness............................................................................................................ 81 Financial Efficiency ............................................................................................................ 84 Cost Effectiveness ................................................................................................................ 85 Route