Proposed Davenport Public Transportation Plan September 2015 Prepared by: City of Davenport CitiBus Table of Contents Introduction ........................................................................................................ 3 Study Process .................................................................................................................................3 Existing Conditions .............................................................................................. 4 CitiBus Service ................................................................................................................................4 Network Structure..........................................................................................................................4 Stakeholder Input Key Findings .......................................................................................................7 Market Assessment Key Findings ....................................................................................................7 Service Evaluation Key Findings ......................................................................................................8 Service Allocation Policy ................................................................................... 10 Mobility Market Priorities ............................................................................................................ 10 Service Warrants .......................................................................................................................... 11 Service Design Considerations ...................................................................................................... 14 CitiBus Network Recommendations .................................................................. 17 The Proposed CitiBus Network ..................................................................................................... 17 Appendix .......................................................................................................... 22 Individual Route Recommendations ............................................................................................. 22 Page 2 Proposed Davenport Public Transportation Plan Introduction Over the past six months, a Comprehensive Operations Analysis (COA) was conducted as part of the Davenport Public Transportation Study for the CitiBus transit network. The COA reviewed the broader network structure as well as individual route performance to provide CitiBus with a comprehensive understanding of their market conditions and service performance. The findings led to the development of a Service Allocation Policy that defines the framework and guiding principles for the design and allocation of transit service in Davenport. Out of the Service Allocation Policy came the Proposed Davenport Public Transportation Plan, a set of recommendations and service scenarios desiged to uild upo the etok’s aket oppotuities ad performance strengths, to maximize ridership, to improve the overall passenger experience, and to maintain the financial sustainability of CitiBus. Study Process The Davenport Public Transportation Study began in March 2015 with an extensive data collection effort. A comprehensive ridecheck was conducted to gather passenger activity, travel time, and on-time performance information on all fixed-route trips operated by CitiBus. Additionally, over 500 passenger questionnaires were collected during the ridecheck, which provided crucial information on the demographics and preferences of CitiBus riders. An additional 100 stakeholder interviews were conducted to gain insight into community priorities and the most pressing CitiBus service improvements requested. Approximately 50 stakeholder interviews were conducted with CitiBus passengers at the Ground Transportation Center (GTC) in downtown Davenport, while the remaining interviews were held with elected officials and representatives from community groups. The findings from the data collection and stakeholder outreach efforts formed the basis of the analysis of market and service trends. This analysis served as the foundation of the Market Assessment and Service Evaluation reports that each identified key findings and strategies to improve the CitiBus transit network. These findings and strategies were used to develop the Service Allocation Policy and network service recommendations for the Proposed Davenport Public Transportation Plan. Page 3 City of Davenport CitiBus Existing Conditions An analysis of existing conditions provided a framework for the evaluation of CitiBus service and insight into the strengths and opportunities present in the current system. CitiBus Service Davenport is the largest of the five jurisdictions in the Quad Cities area and the third largest city in the State of Iowa, with a population of roughly 102,000. It spans a geographic area of 63 square miles, and CitiBus has a service area of 30 square miles. CitiBus makes connections with Bettendorf Transit in both Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa and MetroLINK in Rock Island, Illinois. CitiBus operates 16 fixed-route services on weekdays and 14 on Saturdays. There is no service provided on Sundays. Service span ranges from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekdays and 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Saturdays. CitiBus carries an average of approximately 4,300 riders on weekdays and 3,450 riders on Saturdays. Free fares are offered to the general public on Saturdays and to Davenport Public Schools, Kaplan University, Palmer College of Chiropractic, and St. Ambrose University students with a valid school ID. All other students, riders over the age of 60, Medicare cardholders, unemployed riders, and disabled riders are eligible for a half fare of $0.50 per ride. St. Ambrose, Kaplan and Palmer Universities provide subsidies for their students on a per ride basis, while the Davenport City School District pays a flat fee. Network Structure CitiBus operates a hub-and-spoke transit network, a service structure typically utilized in areas where transit is oriented around providing extensive lifeline service coverage with low service frequencies. It allows passengers to transfer between routes at hub locations, often via time-coordinated transfers, rather than at on-street locations. The current CitiBus network features two major and three minor transfer hubs: Major Hubs: Ground Transportation Center (GTC): The GTC serves as the primary transit hub for residents of Davenport. It is a transfer point for ten CitiBus routes as well as Trailways, MegaBus and Greyhound services and provides connections to both Bettendorf Transit and MetroLINK via CitiBus routes. Welcome Way Hub: Welcome Way Hub is a central network hub located adjacent to North Park Mall in Davenport approximately three miles north of the Ground Transportation Center. The hub serves as a transfer point for five routes within the CitiBus network. The hub requires significant vehicle circulation through both the Mall and adjacent streets given its location on a one-way street segment. Page 4 Proposed Davenport Public Transportation Plan Minor Hubs: Rock Island District Station: At the Rock Island District Station transfer hub, Davenport CitiBus riders on Route 7 can connect with Rock Island MetroLINK Routes 10, 30, 40, 53, and 60. This is the only transfer point between CitiBus and MetroLINK services. Bettendorf HUB: The Bettendorf HUB allows CitiBus riders on Route 10 to transfer to all of the Bettendorf Transit services. This hub is being relocated from State & 20th Streets to Lincoln and Kimberly Roads. rd Northridge Shopping Center: The Northridge Shopping Center at 53 Street and Utica Ridge Road serves as a second transfer opportunity between the CitiBus and Bettendorf Transit systems. At the shopping center, CitiBus Route 12, 14, and 53 riders can connect with Bettendorf Transit Route 5. St Ambrose Hub: St Ambrose University Hub at Locust and Gaines provides transfers between CitiBus Routes 10, 15 and 22 to help connect riders between downtown and destinations on Locust Street or get to the northwest parts of town. While the CitiBus network is designed with a hub-and-spoke structure, this is not an ideal structure for the delivery of efficient and effective transit service. The lack of cross-town service requires that passengers transfer between routes and often travel out-of-direction to get from one end of town to the other. Short trips become unnecessarily lengthy and passengers are discouraged from using transit to get to their destination. Conversely, a grid network increases connectivity and offers efficient pathways for both pedestrians and transit vehicles. A grid minimizes the number of turns a bus takes and provides continuous service along corridors, which reduces out-of-direction travel, transit running times, customer travel times, and unproductive service duplication. While there is a place for infrequent lifeline coverage service in a transit system, the recommendations will explore opportunities to move CitiBus towards a more hybrid network that incorporates elements of a grid system in the core areas of Davenport where CitiBus has market opportunities to attract new transit lifestyle riders who embrace sustainable mobility (walking, biking, riding transit). 1 1 Transit riders fall into two categories: lifeline and lifestyle. Lifeline riders, also referred to as basic mobility riders, depend on transit service for their daily travel needs. Lifestyle riders choose to use transit service over other