EL METRO 2016 TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN Prepared by: December 2016 This page intentionally left blank. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1. Introduction .................................................................................................. 1-1 Purpose and Importance of Transit Development Plan ............................................ 1-1 Understanding the Data ....................................................................................... 1-2 Previous Studies ............................................................................................................... 1-3 2009 Transit Development Plan ............................................................................ 1-3 2011 Bus Rapid Transit Feasibility Study ............................................................... 1-4 Laredo 2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) ....................................... 1-6 Report Contents .............................................................................................................. 1-7 Chapter 2. Community Assessment .............................................................................. 2-1 Study Area ........................................................................................................................ 2-1 Population Characteristics ............................................................................................. 2-3 Population Density ................................................................................................. 2-3 Transit Dependent Populations ..................................................................................... 2-5 Youth Population.................................................................................................... 2-5 Elderly Population .................................................................................................. 2-5 Low-Income Population ........................................................................................ 2-8 Households with No Vehicle ................................................................................. 2-8 Mobility-Limited Population .................................................................................. 2-8 Overall Transit Propensity .................................................................................... 2-12 Employment Trends ....................................................................................................... 2-15 Employment Composition .................................................................................. 2-15 Employment Density ............................................................................................ 2-15 Inflow/Outflow Patterns ................................................................................................ 2-17 Worker Origins and Destinations.................................................................................. 2-18 Major Employers ................................................................................................... 2-18 Major Activity Centers ......................................................................................... 2-21 Public Facilities ...................................................................................................... 2-21 Hospitals ................................................................................................................ 2-21 Industrial Facilities ................................................................................................. 2-21 Shopping Centers ................................................................................................ 2-24 Schools ................................................................................................................... 2-24 International Border Crossings ............................................................................ 2-25 Community Assessment Conclusions Summary ........................................................ 2-27 Chapter 3. Mission, Vision, and Community Outreach ................................................ 3-1 Proposed El Metro Public Transportation Vision .......................................................... 3-1 TDP Goals and Objectives .................................................................................... 3-1 EL METRO 2016 TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN i TABLE OF CONTENTS Public and Stakeholder Outreach Process .................................................................. 3-3 Chapter 4. Existing El Metro Services ............................................................................. 4-1 Overview .......................................................................................................................... 4-1 System Characteristics .................................................................................................... 4-2 Span of Service ...................................................................................................... 4-2 El Metro Route Descriptions ........................................................................................... 4-5 Route 1: Santa Maria/Target ................................................................................ 4-5 Route 2A: San Bernardo/Social Security ............................................................. 4-6 Route 2B: San Bernardo/Calton Rd. .................................................................... 4-7 Route 3: Convent ................................................................................................... 4-8 Route 4: Springfield ................................................................................................ 4-9 Route 5: Tilden ...................................................................................................... 4-10 Route 6: Cedar ..................................................................................................... 4-11 Route 7: LCC Main Campus ............................................................................... 4-12 Route 8A: Guadalupe/Lane .............................................................................. 4-13 Route 8B: Guadalupe/Villa del Sol .................................................................... 4-14 Route 9: Market .................................................................................................... 4-15 Route 10: Corpus Christi ...................................................................................... 4-16 Route 11: Gustavus/Lea ...................................................................................... 4-17 Route 12A Del Mar Express ................................................................................. 4-18 Route 12B Shiloh Express ...................................................................................... 4-19 Route 13: Heritage Park ...................................................................................... 4-20 Route 14: Santa Rita/LCC South ........................................................................ 4-21 Route 15: Main/Riverside .................................................................................... 4-22 Route 16: Texas A&M International University .................................................. 4-23 Route 17: Mines Road .......................................................................................... 4-24 Route 19 Santo Nino ............................................................................................ 4-25 Route 20 Los Angeles........................................................................................... 4-26 Ridership Trends ............................................................................................................. 4-27 Ridership by Route ............................................................................................... 4-28 El Metro Fare Structure .................................................................................................. 4-29 El Metro Infrastructure ................................................................................................... 4-29 El Metro Vehicle Fleet ................................................................................................... 4-30 Organizational and Financial Summary..................................................................... 4-32 Chapter 5. Service Performance ................................................................................... 5-1 System Wide Performance ............................................................................................. 5-1 Overview ................................................................................................................. 5-1 Service Effectiveness ............................................................................................. 5-4 Service Efficiency ................................................................................................... 5-6 Cost Effectiveness .................................................................................................. 5-8 Route Performance ....................................................................................................... 5-10 ii EL METRO 2016 TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS Route Level Service Effectiveness...................................................................... 5-11 Route Level Service Efficiency and Cost Effectiveness .................................. 5-13 Summary of Findings ....................................................................................................