PUBLIC TRANSIT PLAN 2019 January 2019 PREPARED BY THE EASTERN SHORE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION FOR LOCAL MEMBER GOVERNMENTS EASTERN SHORE LAN METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION P PUBLIC TRANSIT PLAN RANSIT T This document is posted on the Internet at http://easternshorempo.org For information regarding this document, please contact: Sarah Hart Sislak, MPO Coordinator Phone: 251-990-4643 Mobile: 251-753-9269 UBLIC [email protected] P Katrina Taylor, MPO Technician Phone: 251-990-4640 Mobile: 251-423-0015 [email protected] i Policy Board, Advisory Committees, and MPO Staff Policy Board Voting Members Mayor Dane Haygood, City of Daphne, Chairperson LAN Councilmember Jack Burrell, Fairhope City Council, Vice Chairperson P LAN Mayor Karin Wilson, City of Fairhope Councilmember Ron Scott, Daphne City Council P Commissioner Joe Davis, Baldwin County Commission District 2 Commissioner Billie Jo Underwood, Baldwin County Commission District 3 Mayor Michael McMillan, City of Spanish Fort Councilmember Richard Teal, Town of Loxley RANSIT Vince Calametti, P.E., Southwest Region, Alabama Department of T Transportation RANSIT T Non-Voting Members Mark Bartlett, Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration Nicole Spivey, Federal Transit Administration Region 4 Ed Phillips, Local Transportation Bureau Chief, Alabama Department of UBLIC Transportation P UBLIC Mr. Richard Johnson, Chairperson of the Technical Advisory Committee Mr. Andrew James, Chairperson of the Citizens Advisory Committee P ii Policy Board, Advisory Committees, and MPO Staff Technical Advisory Committee Voting Members Richard Johnson, P.E., Public Works Director, City of Fairhope Adrienne Jones, Director of Public Development, City of Daphne LAN Wayne Dyess, Planning & Building Director, City of Fairhope P Jeremy Sasser, Public Works Director, City of Daphne Carl Nelson, Planning Commission Chairman, City of Spanish Fort Robert Davis, Superintendent of Utilities, Town of Loxley Joey Nunnally, P.E., County Engineer, Baldwin County Commission Taylor Rider, Director of Transportation, Baldwin County Regional Transportation RANSIT Edwin Perry, P.E., Southwest Pre-Construction Engineer, ALDOT T Southwest Region Bill Harbour, Baldwin County Board of Education Non-Voting Members Michael Hora, P.E, Assistant Local Transportation Bureau Chief, ALDOT UBLIC Casey Gay Williams, Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce Patrick Northcutt, Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce P Pam Caudill, City of Fairhope Airport Authority Clint Andrews, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Greg Smith, City of Robertsdale iii Policy Board, Advisory Committees, and MPO Staff Citizens Advisory Committee Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee Donald Ouellette, City of Daphne Payton Rogers, City of Daphne Stephen Pierce, City of Daphne David Ringler, City of Daphne Mark Wetzel, City of Daphne Rick Davis, City of Daphne LAN Phil Wilbourn, City of Daphne Richard Jaehne, City of Daphne P Molly Peterson, City of Fairhope David Stejskal, City of Fairhope Jeff Hudson, City of Fairhope Tom Granger, City of Fairhope Katie Bolton, City of Fairhope Sherry Sullivan, City of Fairhope David Wells, City of Fairhope Tedson Meyers, City of Fairhope Karen Dees, Baldwin County Johnny Chaney, Baldwin County Mike Henriksen, Baldwin County Dewane Hayes, Baldwin County Greg Walker, Baldwin County RANSIT Gail Yongue, Baldwin County Andrew James, Baldwin County T Jeff Sheldon, City of Spanish Fort Lawrence Wilson, Baldwin County Kathie LaRose, City of Spanish Fort Kevin Morgan, City of Spanish Fort Raymond Lovell, Town of Loxley Richard Ullo, City of Spanish Fort Vacant, Town of Loxley Bethany Johnston, Town of Loxley Diane Burnett, Town of Loxley UBLIC P MPO Staff Sarah Hart Sislak, ESMPO Coordinator Katrina Taylor, ESMPO Technician iv Table of Contents Title/Contacts . i Membership . ii Resolution Adopting Transit Plan. v Table of Contents . vi LAN SECTION 1.0: PURPOSE AND SUMMARY . 1 P 1.1 Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization (ESMPO) Urbanized , Metropolitan Planning Area, Study Area . 2 1.2 Metropolitan Planning Organization Background . 4 1.3 Overview, Purpose , Goals and Objectives. 5 SECTION 2.0: BRATS – GENERAL INFORMATION . 7 2.1 Type of Routes . 9 2.2 Existing Routes. 12 RANSIT 2.3 Routes Fares . 24 T 2.4 Funding & Budget. 25 2.5 Ridership. 28 SECTION 3.0 TRANSIT NEEDS . 36 3.1 Public Outreach . 37 3.2 Interpretation of Transit Survey Results . 38 UBLIC SECTION 4.0: RECOMMENDATIONS. 42 4.1 Short Term Recommendations . 42 P 4.2 Long Term Recommendations. 42 vi Table of Contents APPENDIX A – Glossary of Abbreviations and Acronyms . 45 APPENDIX B – Resources . 46 APPENDIX C – Previous Transit Related Studies . 48 LAN APPENDIX D – BRATS Transit Stops and Sidewalks with Buffers. 51 APPENDIX E – BRATS FY 19 Budget . 52 P APPENDIX F – Public Transit Survey. 53 APPENDIX G – Interview: BRATS Director & Staff . 84 RANSIT T UBLIC P vii Section 1.0 Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization (ESMPO) Urbanized Area, Metropolitan Planning and Study Area Small Urbanized Area Smoothed Urban Area MPO Planning Area 1.0 ECTION S 1 Section 1.1 About the MPO The Eastern Shore MPO was formed in 2012 to assist with transportation planning in the newly defined urbanized area in Baldwin County which includes the City of Spanish Fort, the City of Fairhope, the City of Daphne, and the Town of Loxley. The primary purpose of the MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) is to encourage and facilitate team work among local governments on the Eastern Shore in matters relating to transportation planning. The MPO’s work includes planning for highways, public transit, bicycles and pedestrians, freight, and other modes of transportation. The MPO acts as a liaison between the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), and local 1.1 municipalities within the MPO planning area. The governing body of the MPO is the Policy Board whose membership includes two County Commissioners as well as Mayors and/or Councilmembers from Spanish Fort, Daphne, Fairhope, and Loxley. The Policy Board receives input from three advisory committees as they address transportation issues and identify potential needs and projects. MPO staff have completed or are currently working on several transportation planning documents including the Long Range Transportation Plan (20+ year transportation ECTION improvement plan), Transportation Improvement Program (short-term 4 year transportation S plan) , Bike/Ped Concept, and the Public Participation Plan (outlines how citizens can be involved in the transportation planning process). MPO staff is also tasked with maintaining the MPO financial records and ensuring compliance with all requirements of FHWA, FTA, and ALDOT. 2 Section 1.1 About the MPO The Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) ensures compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 49 CFR, part 21, and related statutes and regulations. The Act states: No person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or socioeconomic status, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under a program or activity receiving federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Transportation. It is the overall goal of the MPO that the transportation planning process be open, accessible, transparent, inclusive and responsive. To accomplish this goal, the MPO uses several 1.1 methods. • An Open Process –All MPO and committee meetings are open to the public. • Easy Information Access –All MPO meeting announcements, documents, maps and plans can be viewed at www.easternshorempo.org • Notice of Activities – To provide timely and adequate public notice of hearings, meetings, reviews and availability of documents. • Public Input and Organizational Response – To demonstrate consideration and ECTION recognition of public input and comments and to provide appropriate responses to public input. S • An Inclusive Process – To encourage participation in the planning process by traditionally under represented segments of the community. The MPO current Title VI plan can be viewed at www.easternshore.org under the ‘other planning documents’ tab. It includes a language assistance plan, Complaint form and procedures, additional regulatory laws and circulars, demographic data, and signed resolution. 3 Section 1.2 ESMPO Transit Plan Goals and Objectives Goals: o Reduce traffic congestion o Provide transportation for the disabled or for those that are in temporary or permanent need o Help move people conveniently, efficiently, reliably, and safely o Increase Ridership 1.2 Objectives: o Identify reasons citizens are not using public transit o Identify ways to encourage ridership o Identify transportation needs of under served populations o Include ideas from public input regarding transportation improvements ECTION o Develop Public Outreach campaign to increase ridership S 4 Section 1.3 Why Plan? Why plan? Planning is a crucial element in the success of any endeavor. The Eastern Shore MPO is tasked with planning for future transportation needs within the Metropolitan Planning Area. Transportation is the action of moving someone or something from point A to point B with the aim of accomplishing a specific purpose at point B. The ability to move goods and services around a region is necessary for the existence of a healthy economy. Increased