HUNTSVILLE TRANSIT STUDY | EXISTING CONDITIONS City of Huntsville HUNTSVILLE TRANSIT STUDY Final Report January 2019 Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates Inc. | i Table of Contents Page 1 Executive Summary .........................................................................................................1-1 Study Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 1-1 Existing Conditions ................................................................................................................................. 1-2 5-Year Service Plan .............................................................................................................................. 1-3 5-Year Capital Plan .............................................................................................................................. 1-5 Supporting Recommendations ............................................................................................................. 1-6 2 Existing Conditions ..........................................................................................................2-1 Transit Market Analysis ........................................................................................................................ 2-1 Huntsville Shuttle .................................................................................................................................. 2-15 Handi-Ride ............................................................................................................................................ 2-53 Fare Policy ............................................................................................................................................ 2-56 3 5-Year Service Plan ..........................................................................................................3-1 Phase 1 – August 2019 ........................................................................................................................ 3-1 Phase 2 – August 2020 ........................................................................................................................ 3-3 Phase 3 – August 2021 ........................................................................................................................ 3-4 Phase 4 – August 2022 ........................................................................................................................ 3-5 Phase 5 – August 2023 ........................................................................................................................ 3-6 Route Recommendations ....................................................................................................................... 3-7 5-Year Service Plan Summary .......................................................................................................... 3-27 Future Considerations .......................................................................................................................... 3-28 4 5-Year Capital Plan ..........................................................................................................4-1 Vehicles .................................................................................................................................................... 4-1 Bus Stops .................................................................................................................................................. 4-2 Showers Transit Center ......................................................................................................................... 4-7 Pedestrian Infrastructure ...................................................................................................................... 4-8 Rider Information ................................................................................................................................. 4-10 5-Year Capital Costs Summary ........................................................................................................ 4-12 5 Supporting Recommendations .........................................................................................5-1 Performance Metrics ............................................................................................................................. 5-1 Service Changes..................................................................................................................................... 5-2 Fare Policy .............................................................................................................................................. 5-4 Paratransit ............................................................................................................................................. 5-17 Rebranding ........................................................................................................................................... 5-19 Rideshare ............................................................................................................................................... 5-19 Subsidized Taxi/Ride-hailing ............................................................................................................ 5-20 6 Community Outreach .......................................................................................................6-1 Public Meetings ...................................................................................................................................... 6-1 Stakeholder and Operator Outreach ............................................................................................... 6-3 On-Board Survey ................................................................................................................................... 6-5 Online Survey ....................................................................................................................................... 6-12 Appendix A - On-Board Survey Instrument ............................................................................ A-1 Appendix B - On-Board Survey Open-Ended Comments .........................................................B-1 Appendix C - Online Survey Open-Ended Comments ............................................................ C-1 HUNTSVILLE TRANSIT STUDY | FINAL REPORT City of Huntsville 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY STUDY OVERVIEW The City of Huntsville conducted a comprehensive study of its transit system in 2018 to identify the best approach for optimizing and expanding service over the next five years. The study builds upon the route and schedule improvements implemented as part of a 2011 study that resulted in a 19% ridership increase without any additional service hours. One of the six elements of the recently completed comprehensive plan, The BIG Picture, is to design a “mobile and sustainable transportation network.” Recommendations of this study support that element by simplifying the route network, reducing rider travel times, increasing frequency on busy corridors, and improving access to employment, educational, and recreational destinations. This report presents results from the 2018 transit study and includes: . An overview of existing conditions (Chapter 2), including analysis of the transit market in Huntsville, analysis of Huntsville Shuttle and Handi-Ride service performance, and a description of current fare policy; . A 5-Year Service Plan (Chapter 3), which outlines detailed service changes year- by-year from 2019 through 2023 along with future considerations; . A 5-Year Capital Plan (Chapter 4), with recommendations regarding vehicles, bus stops, transit hubs, pedestrian infrastructure, and rider information; . Supporting recommendations (Chapter 5) regarding performance metrics, service changes, fare policy, paratransit, rideshare service, and branding; and . A summary of community outreach conducted for the study (Chapter 6). Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. | 1-1 HUNTSVILLE TRANSIT STUDY | FINAL REPORT City of Huntsville EXISTING CONDITIONS Huntsville Shuttle ridership increased 80% from 2011 to 2016, while service increased by less than 5%, indicating an increasing demand for transit. Ridership is high along University Drive, at major shopping centers, and in dense, low-income neighborhoods. Route design varies throughout the system with several loop routes that require riders to travel indirect paths to reach their destinations. Routes are also infrequent, with seven of nine routes operating hourly, and service ends at 6pm or 7pm. Most riders take two buses to reach their destination due to the lack of timed connections outside of the downtown Transfer Center. Only 17% of bus stops in Huntsville are sheltered and many do not comply with the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design. The combination of indirect and infrequent service along with basic bus stop conditions result in long travel times and a less than ideal transit experience for most riders. Rider feedback obtained through on-board surveys, community meetings, online surveys, and from bus drivers reveal that existing riders overwhelmingly prefer Saturday service, later evening service, and increased frequency over other service and capital investments. Demand for Handi-Ride paratransit service, which primarily transports seniors to medical and social service destinations, has also increased at a significant rate. Hand-Ride