SSTTAARR TTRRAANNSSIITT TTRRAANNSSIITT DDEEVVEELLOOPPMMEENNTT PPLLAANN:: FFIISSCCAALL YYEEAARRSS 22001100 –– 22001155 Prepared for: Prepared by: Under contract to: November 2009 Contents 1.0 STAR TRANSIT SYSTEM OVERVIEW ................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 History ........................................................................................................................... 1‐1 1.2 Governance ................................................................................................................... 1‐2 1.3 Organizational Structure ............................................................................................... 1‐3 1.4 Transit Services Provided and Areas Served ................................................................. 1‐4 1.5 Fare Structure ................................................................................................................ 1‐9 1.6 Fleet ............................................................................................................................. 1‐10 1.7 Existing Facilities .......................................................................................................... 1‐10 1.8 Transit Security Program ............................................................................................. 1‐11 1.9 Public Outreach ........................................................................................................... 1‐11 2.0 GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND STANDARDS ............................................................................ 2-1 2.1 STAR Vision and Mission ............................................................................................... 2‐1 2.2 TDP Goals and Objectives ............................................................................................. 2‐2 2.3 Service Performance Standards .................................................................................... 2‐5 3.0 SERVICE AND SYSTEM EVALUATION ................................................................................. 3-1 3.1 Historical and Existing Service Perspective ................................................................... 3‐1 3.2 Peer System Review ...................................................................................................... 3‐6 3.3 On‐Board Passenger Survey .......................................................................................... 3‐9 3.4 Level of Support for Transit ........................................................................................... 3‐9 3.5 Focus Groups and General Community Input ............................................................... 3‐9 3.6 Recent Changes in Patronage, Operating Costs, and Operating Revenue ................. 3‐10 3.7 Deviations from Service Standards and Potential Remedies ...................................... 3‐10 3.8 Potential Solutions to Gaps or Service Deficiencies .................................................... 3‐22 3.9 Potential Remedies for Equipment and Facility .......................................................... 3‐22 3.10 Title VI Report and FTA Triennial Review ................................................................ 3‐22 4.0 SERVICE EXPANSION PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS .................................................................. 4-1 4.1 Demographics Analysis of Anticipated Population and Employment Changes ............ 4‐1 4.2 Potential Service Expansion and Facility Needs ............................................................ 4‐3 5.0 SERVICE AND FACILITY RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................. 5-1 5.1 Service Recommendations ............................................................................................ 5‐1 5.2 Facility Recommendations ............................................................................................ 5‐2 STAR Transit i November 2009 Transit Development Plan: FY 10‐15 5.3 Vehicle Fleet Recommendations ................................................................................... 5‐2 6.0 CAPTIAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM ................................................................................ 6-1 6.1 Vehicle Replacement Program ...................................................................................... 6‐1 6.2 Vehicle Expansion Program ........................................................................................... 6‐1 6.3 Facility Improvement Program ..................................................................................... 6‐1 7.0 FINACIAL PLAN .................................................................................................................. 7-1 7.1 Operation & Maintenance Costs and Funding Sources ................................................ 7‐1 7.2 Bus Purchase Cost and Funding Sources ....................................................................... 7‐3 7.3 Facility Improvement Costs and Funding Sources ........................................................ 7‐4 8.0 TDP MONITORING AND EVALUATION .............................................................................. 8-1 8.1 Coordination with Other Plans and Programs .............................................................. 8‐1 8.2 Service Performance Monitoring .................................................................................. 8‐2 8.3 Annual TDP Monitoring ................................................................................................. 8‐2 Appendices A. FTA Triennial Review Report* B. Title VI Report* C. Fleet Inventory from DRPT’s On‐Line Grant Application system (OLGA) D. Operating and Capital Expenses and Revenues – A 3‐Year Retrospective E. Transit Rider On‐Board Survey Results F. STAR Transit Project Stakeholder Meeting *Currently defined as a service that is provided in a rural portion of the Commonwealth, STAR Transit is not required to prepare and submit its own separate Title VI report or the associated FTA Quadrennial Review; therefore, Appendix A and Appendix B are not included as part of this document. STAR Transit ii November 2009 Transit Development Plan: FY 10‐15 List of Tables Table 1‐1: STAR Transit Board of Directors ......................................................................................... 1‐3 Table 1‐2: Summary of STAR Transit Operation ................................................................................. 1‐5 Table 1‐3: STAR Transit Existing Vehicle Inventory ........................................................................... 1‐10 Table 3‐1: Historical Operating Statistics for STAR Transit, FY2006‐2008 .......................................... 3‐2 Table 3‐2: Annual Ridership of STAR Transit System .......................................................................... 3‐5 Table 3‐3: STAR Transit – Peer Group Comparison Summary ............................................................ 3‐7 Table 3‐10: Minimum Levels for Consideration of Transit Service ................................................... 3‐14 Table 3‐11: Maximum Policy Headway ............................................................................................. 3‐15 Table 3‐12: Span of Service (Start and End Times) ........................................................................... 3‐16 Table 3‐13: Maximum Load Factors .................................................................................................. 3‐16 Table 3‐14: Bus Stop Spacing ............................................................................................................ 3‐17 Table 3‐15: Transit Travel Time......................................................................................................... 3‐18 Table 3‐16: Schedule Adherence ...................................................................................................... 3‐19 Table 3‐17: Trip Availability .............................................................................................................. 3‐19 Table 3‐18: Financial Guidelines ....................................................................................................... 3‐20 Table 3‐19: Productivity .................................................................................................................... 3‐21 Table 4‐1: Existing Study Area Population and Employment ............................................................. 4‐2 Table 4‐2: Study Area Population Forecasts ....................................................................................... 4‐2 Table 4‐3: Future Year Study Area Elderly Population Forecasts ....................................................... 4‐3 Table 4‐4: Projected No Action Scenario Operating Statistics ............................................................ 4‐4 Table 4‐5: Scenario 1 – Return of Ruby Route Operating Statistics ................................................... 4‐7 Table 4‐6: Scenario 2 – Saturday Service Operating Statistics ........................................................... 4‐8 Table 4‐7: Scenario 3 – Hampton Roads Connector Operating Statistics ........................................... 4‐9 Table 7‐1: Projected Annual Operating Cost and Funding Sources .................................................... 7‐3 Table 7‐2: TDP Financial Plan for Funding Bus Purchases .................................................................. 7‐4 Table 7‐3: Capital Cost of Expansion Buses .......................................................................................