Implementation of the Regional Transit Study Final Report South Central Regional Council of Governments July 2008 Contents 1.0 Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 7 3.0 Project Background and Supporting Data ........................................................................................................ 9 3.1 Current Transit Services and Ridership ........................................................................................................ 9 3.1.1. CT Transit New Haven Division Fixed Route Bus Services ................................................................. 9 3.1.2. Other Fixed Route Bus Services ........................................................................................................ 10 3.1.3. Downtown New Haven Shuttles ......................................................................................................... 18 3.1.4. Paratransit Services ........................................................................................................................... 20 3.1.5. Rail and Intercity Bus Services .......................................................................................................... 21 3.2 South Central Connecticut Employment Locations and Major Destinations ............................................... 24 3.2.1. Major Employers ................................................................................................................................ 24 3.2.2. Major Current Transit Destinations .................................................................................................... 26 3.2.3. Other Major Destinations and New Developments ............................................................................ 26 4.0 Project Recommendations - Consolidation of Downtown Shuttles ................................................................ 31 4.1 Markets for Shuttle Services ....................................................................................................................... 31 4.2 Shuttle Consolidation Strategies ................................................................................................................. 34 4.3 Service Design for Shuttle Options ............................................................................................................. 34 4.4 Service Options .......................................................................................................................................... 35 4.4.1. Option 1 - Single Route All Day, Serving All Current Markets ........................................................... 36 4.4.2. Option 2 - Single Route All Day, Separate Parking Shuttles .............................................................. 36 4.4.3. Option 3 – Single Route, Alignment Varying by Time of Day ............................................................. 38 4.4.4. Option 4 – Eliminate Shuttles, Facilitate Use of CTTransit Service ................................................... 40 4.4.5. Option 5 - Single Route All Day Extended to the Medical Area ......................................................... 40 4.4.6. Option 6 - Single Bi-Directional Loop All Day..................................................................................... 42 4.5 Downtown Shuttle Summary and Evaluation .............................................................................................. 43 5.0 Project Recommendations - Transit Hubs and Route Simplification .............................................................. 45 5.1 Potential Transit Hubs ................................................................................................................................ 46 5.2 Prioritization of Corridors for Simplification ................................................................................................. 46 5.3 New Haven West Side Recommendations (F & Q) .................................................................................... 50 5.3.1. Current Service .................................................................................................................................. 50 5.3.2. Corridor Assessment and Simplification Strategy .............................................................................. 50 5.3.3. Proposed Service............................................................................................................................... 52 5.3.4. Rider Impacts ..................................................................................................................................... 54 5.3.5. Costs of Proposed Service ................................................................................................................ 55 5.4 New Haven West Side Recommendations (B, G, Z) .................................................................................. 55 5.4.1. Current Service .................................................................................................................................. 55 5.4.2. Corridor Assessment and Simplification Strategy .............................................................................. 57 5.4.3. Proposed Service............................................................................................................................... 57 5.4.4. Rider Impacts ..................................................................................................................................... 59 5.4.5. Estimated Cost: ................................................................................................................................. 60 5.5 New Haven/Hamden Recommendations (D, J, O) ..................................................................................... 60 5.5.1. Current Service .................................................................................................................................. 60 5.5.2. Corridor Assessment and Simplification Strategy .............................................................................. 62 5.5.3. Proposed Service............................................................................................................................... 63 5.5.4. Rider Impacts ..................................................................................................................................... 63 5.5.5. Estimated Cost: ................................................................................................................................. 65 5.6 Fair Haven/North Haven Recommendations (D, C) .................................................................................... 65 5.6.1. Current Service .................................................................................................................................. 65 5.6.2. Corridor Assessment and Simplification Strategy .............................................................................. 67 5.6.3. Proposed Service............................................................................................................................... 67 5.6.4. Rider Impacts ..................................................................................................................................... 69 5.6.5. Estimated Cost: ................................................................................................................................. 72 5.6.6. Route D Alternative ............................................................................................................................ 73 5.7 Summary of Route Simplification Operating Costs ..................................................................................... 73 5.8 Route Naming Convention ......................................................................................................................... 75 6.0 Project Recommendations - Potential Flex Routes ....................................................................................... 79 6.1 Flex Route Analysis Methodology .............................................................................................................. 79 6.2 Flex Route Analysis .................................................................................................................................... 81 6.2.1. Identification of Potential Flex Route Zones ...................................................................................... 81 6.2.2. Access to Destinations ....................................................................................................................... 86 6.2.4. Evaluation and Prioritization of Potential Zones................................................................................. 91 6.3 Proposed Flex Routes ................................................................................................................................ 91 6.3.1. Flex Service Design Criteria .............................................................................................................. 91 6.3.2. Proposed Services ............................................................................................................................. 92 7.0 Project Recommendations - Implementation