June 2007 October 2006 Western Kern Transit Development Plan FINAL REPORT Western Kern Transit Development Plan y Final Report KERN COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS Table of Contents PAGE Executive Summary ....................................................................................................... ES-1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... ES-1 Community Profile ..................................................................................................... ES-1 Onboard Passenger Surveys ....................................................................................... ES-2 Stakeholders............................................................................................................... ES-3 Transit Services .......................................................................................................... ES-4 Administration and Marketing Recommendations .................................................... ES-10 Chapter 1. Introduction.................................................................................................1-1 Chapter 2. Community Profile ......................................................................................2-1 Community Overview..................................................................................................2-1 Population....................................................................................................................2-7 Income.......................................................................................................................2-11 Commuting ................................................................................................................2-12 Chapter 3. Transit Service Profiles and Performance ....................................................3-1 Transit Service Profiles .................................................................................................3-1 Shafter..........................................................................................................................3-4 McFarland....................................................................................................................3-7 Other Services............................................................................................................3-10 Transit Service Performance .......................................................................................3-14 Wasco........................................................................................................................3-14 Shafter........................................................................................................................3-19 McFarland..................................................................................................................3-24 Kern Regional Transit .................................................................................................3-30 Chapter 4. On-Board Passenger Survey.........................................................................4-1 Methodology................................................................................................................4-1 Dial-A-Ride Survey Results from Wasco, Shafter and McFarland ..................................4-2 Kern Regional Transit Survey Results..........................................................................4-27 Summary....................................................................................................................4-36 Chapter 5. Stakeholder Interviews ................................................................................5-1 Stakeholder Process......................................................................................................5-1 Stakeholder Issues ........................................................................................................5-1 Conclusion...................................................................................................................5-6 Chapter 6. Goals, Objectives and Performance Standards............................................6-1 Introduction .................................................................................................................6-1 Shared Goals, Objectives and Standards for Wasco, Shafter and McFarland.................6-1 Specific Goals, Objectives and Standards for Wasco, Shafter and McFarland ...............6-7 Conclusion.................................................................................................................6-11 Page i • Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates Western Kern Transit Development Plan y Final Report KERN COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS Chapter 7. Service, Administration and Marketing Recommendations .........................7-1 Introduction .................................................................................................................7-1 Key Issues.....................................................................................................................7-1 Policies and Guidelines................................................................................................7-2 Performance and Operating Costs ................................................................................7-3 Opportunities for Coordination ....................................................................................7-3 Fares and Fare Policy....................................................................................................7-4 Service Alternatives ......................................................................................................7-4 Kern Regional Transit (KRT)..........................................................................................7-4 Wasco Dial-A-Ride.......................................................................................................7-6 Shafter Transit.............................................................................................................7-14 McFarland Transit.......................................................................................................7-16 Administrative, Marketing and Fare Recommendations .............................................7-19 Region-Wide Recommendations ................................................................................7-19 City of Wasco.............................................................................................................7-30 City of Shafter.............................................................................................................7-32 City of McFarland.......................................................................................................7-37 Summary....................................................................................................................7-41 Chapter 8. Financial Plan ..............................................................................................8-1 Region wide Costs........................................................................................................8-1 Wasco Transit Service ..................................................................................................8-1 Shafter Transit Service ..................................................................................................8-4 McFarland Transit Service ............................................................................................8-5 Capital Projects for Kern Regional Transit.....................................................................8-8 Funding Sources...........................................................................................................8-8 Potential Revenue Sources .........................................................................................8-10 Appendix A Passenger Survey Forms Appendix B Passenger Survey Results Appendix C List of Stakeholders Appendix D Bus Driver Wage Comparison Page ii • Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates Western Kern Transit Development Plan y Final Report KERN COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS Table of Figures PAGE Figure 2-1 Largest Employers in Kern County ................................................................2-1 Figure 2-2 Future Development.....................................................................................2-5 Figure 2-3 Population Trends ........................................................................................2-8 Figure 2-4 Race and Ethnicity........................................................................................2-8 Figure 2-5 Population Density.....................................................................................2-10 Figure 2-6 Median Household Income ........................................................................2-12 Figure 2-7 Percent of Population Below Poverty Level ................................................2-13 Figure 3-1 Wasco Dial-A-Ride Fares..............................................................................3-2 Figure 3-2 Most Requested Wasco Destinations ............................................................3-2 Figure 3-3 Wasco Dial-A-Ride Fleet ..............................................................................3-3 Figure 3-4 Shafter Transit Fares......................................................................................3-5 Figure 3-5 Most Requested Shafter Destinations............................................................3-6