City of Gainesville Regional Transit System (RTS) Five-Year Major Update of the Ten-Year Transit Development Plan FY2020 – FY2029 Final September 2019 RTS Transit Development Plan |Introduction Prepared by Table of Contents Contents 1.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Objectives of this Plan ............................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1.1 TDP Requirements ............................................................................................................ 1-1 1.2 Organization of the Report ....................................................................................................... 1-3 2.0 Baseline Conditions ............................................................................................................................. 2-1 2.1 Service Area Description ........................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Population Profile ..................................................................................................................... 2-3 2.2.1 Population Trends ............................................................................................................. 2-5 2.2.2 Projected Population and Dwelling Unit Growth ............................................................ 2-5 2.3 Demographic and Travel Behavior Characteristics ............................................................... 2-10 2.3.1 Student Population ......................................................................................................... 2-10 2.3.2 Age Distribution ............................................................................................................... 2-13 2.3.3 Income and Poverty ........................................................................................................ 2-16 2.3.4 Household Vehicle Availability ....................................................................................... 2-18 2.3.5 Transportation Disadvantaged ...................................................................................... 2-20 2.4 Commuting Patterns ............................................................................................................... 2-20 2.4.1 Means of Travel to Work .................................................................................................. 2-27 2.4.2 Major Employers .............................................................................................................. 2-27 2.4.3 Employment Density ....................................................................................................... 2-28 2.5 Future Land Use and Development Activities ........................................................................ 2-30 2.6 Roadway Characteristics ........................................................................................................ 2-32 2.7 Market Assessment ................................................................................................................. 2-33 2.7.1 Discretionary Market Assessment .................................................................................. 2-33 2.7.2 Transit Orientation Index ................................................................................................ 2-33 2.8 Plans Review and Regional Trends in Transit ........................................................................ 2-39 2.8.1 Florida Transportation Plan: Horizon 2060 .................................................................... 2-39 2.8.2 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan ........................................................................... 2-39 2.8.3 SR 26 / University Avenue Multimodal Emphasis Corridor Study ................................. 2-39 2.8.4 Go Enhance RTS Study .................................................................................................... 2-40 RTS Transit Development Plan | Introduction i 2.8.5 City of Gainesville Streetcar Feasibility Study ............................................................... 2-40 2.8.6 University of Florida Partnerships and Programs .......................................................... 2-40 2.8.7 Alachua County Mobility Plan ......................................................................................... 2-41 2.8.8 Self-Driving Vehicle Research and Testing ..................................................................... 2-41 2.8.9 Incorporating Safety into Transportation Planning ...................................................... 2-41 2.8.10 Pedestrian Safety Assessment in Proximity to Transit Stops and Facilities ................. 2-42 2.8.11 Multimodal Level of Service Report (2017) .................................................................... 2-42 2.8.12 Santa Fe State College Downtown Campus (2019)........................................................ 2-43 2.8.13 University of Florida Transportation & Parking Strategic Plan ..................................... 2-44 2.8.14 Plans and Studies Summary ........................................................................................... 2-44 3.0 Inventory of Existing Services and Resources .................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 Governance and Funding .......................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Existing Services Inventory ....................................................................................................... 3-2 3.2.1 Fixed-Route Services ......................................................................................................... 3-2 3.2.2 Paratransit Services ........................................................................................................ 3-17 3.2.3 Public and Private Transportation Providers ................................................................ 3-18 4.0 Trend Analysis and Peer System Review .......................................................................................... 4-19 4.1 Peer System Selection ............................................................................................................ 4-20 4.2 Fixed Route General Performance Indicators ........................................................................ 4-21 4.2.1 Service Area Population .................................................................................................. 4-21 4.2.2 Passenger Trips (Ridership) ............................................................................................ 4-21 4.2.3 Passenger Miles ............................................................................................................... 4-22 4.2.4 Vehicle Miles .................................................................................................................... 4-22 4.2.5 Revenue Miles .................................................................................................................. 4-23 4.2.6 Vehicle Hours ................................................................................................................... 4-24 4.2.7 Route Miles ...................................................................................................................... 4-24 4.2.8 Total Operating Expense ................................................................................................. 4-24 4.2.9 Total Employee FTEs ....................................................................................................... 4-25 4.2.10 Vehicles Operated in Maximum Service ......................................................................... 4-25 4.2.11 Total Gallons Consumed ................................................................................................. 4-26 4.3 Fixed Route Effectiveness Measures....................................................................................... 4-26 RTS Transit Development Plan | Introduction ii 4.3.1 Vehicle Miles Per Capita .................................................................................................. 4-26 4.3.2 Passenger Trips Per Capita ............................................................................................. 4-27 4.3.3 Passenger Trips Per Revenue Mile .................................................................................. 4-27 4.3.4 Passenger Trips Per Revenue Hour ................................................................................ 4-28 4.3.5 Revenue Miles Between Failures .................................................................................... 4-28 4.4 Fixed Route Efficiency Measures ............................................................................................ 4-29 4.4.1 Operating Expense Per Capita ........................................................................................ 4-29 4.4.2 Operating Expense Per Passenger Trip .......................................................................... 4-29 4.4.3 Operating Expense Per Passenger Mile .......................................................................... 4-30 4.4.4 Operating Expense Per Revenue Mile ............................................................................. 4-30 4.4.5 Operating Expense Per Revenue Hour ..........................................................................