Central Shenandoah Transit Development Plan DRAFT FINAL REPORT August 2015 Prepared for Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission Department of Rail and Public Transportation Prepared by KFH Group, Inc. Bethesda, Maryland Table of Contents Table of Contents Executive Summary Introduction .................................................................................................................... ES-1 Overview of the Six-Year Plan ........................................................................................ ES-1 Organizational Changes ................................................................................................. ES-2 Short Term Service Projects ........................................................................................... ES-3 Vision Projects................................................................................................................. ES-13 Other Initiatives .............................................................................................................. ES-14 Financial Plan .................................................................................................................. ES-15 TDP Monitoring and Updates ........................................................................................ ES-16 Chapter 1 – Overview of Public Transportation in the Region Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1-1 Background ..................................................................................................................... 1-2 History ............................................................................................................................. 1-4 Governance ...................................................................................................................... 1-5 Organizational Structure ................................................................................................ 1-6 Transit Services Provided and Areas Served .................................................................. 1-8 Fare Structure .................................................................................................................. 1-17 Fleet ................................................................................................................................. 1-17 Existing Facilities ............................................................................................................ 1-19 Transit Security Program ................................................................................................ 1-20 Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Program ....................................................... 1-20 Public Outreach .............................................................................................................. 1-20 Other Area Transportation Providers/Services ............................................................. 1-21 Central Shenandoah Transit Development Plan TOC-1 Table of Contents Chapter 2 – Goals, Objectives, and Standards Tasks and Issues for the Transit Development Plan ..................................................... 2-1 Transit Program Mission ................................................................................................ 2-4 Transit Program and Objectives .................................................................................... 2-4 Service and Performance Standards .............................................................................. 2-7 Process for Updating Goals, Objectives, and Standards ............................................... 2-8 Chapter 3 – Service and System Evaluation and Transit Needs Analysis System Evaluation ........................................................................................................... 3-1 Peer Analysis ................................................................................................................... 3-20 Financial Analysis ........................................................................................................... 3-24 Vehicle Ownership .......................................................................................................... 3-26 Recent Compliance Results ............................................................................................ 3-26 Ridership Surveys ............................................................................................................ 3-26 Public Surveys ................................................................................................................. 3-29 Stakeholder Opinion ....................................................................................................... 3-32 Demographics and Land Use ......................................................................................... 3-38 Chapter Summary ........................................................................................................... 3-60 Chapter 4 – Alternatives for Improvement Introduction .................................................................................................................... 4-1 Organizational Alternatives ........................................................................................... 4-1 Service Alternatives ........................................................................................................ 4-18 Summary of Service Alternatives ................................................................................... 4-51 Choosing Alternatives for the Plan ................................................................................ 4-51 Central Shenandoah Transit Development Plan TOC-2 Table of Contents Chapter 5 –Operations Plan Introduction .................................................................................................................... 5-1 Organizational Changes ................................................................................................. 5-1 Short Term Service Projects ........................................................................................... 5-9 Vision Projects................................................................................................................. 5-20 Other Initiatives .............................................................................................................. 5-21 Chapter 6 – Capital Improvement Program Introduction .................................................................................................................... 6-1 Vehicle Replacement and Expansion Plan .................................................................... 6-1 Facilities ........................................................................................................................... 6-6 Passenger Amenities ....................................................................................................... 6-6 Equipment ....................................................................................................................... 6-6 Technology ...................................................................................................................... 6-6 Chapter 7 – Financial Plan Introduction .................................................................................................................... 7-1 Operating Expenses and Funding Sources .................................................................... 7-2 Capital Expenses and Funding Sources ......................................................................... 7-2 Chapter 8 – Monitoring and Evaluation Introduction .................................................................................................................... 8-1 Coordination with Other Plans and Programs .............................................................. 8-1 Service Performance Monitoring ................................................................................... 8-2 TDP Monitoring and Updates ........................................................................................ 8-2 Appendix A – CSPDC Board of Commissioners Appendix B – CSPDC Title VI Plan Appendix C – Fixed Route Rider Survey Instrument and Results Central Shenandoah Transit Development Plan TOC-3 Executive Summary Executive Summary INTRODUCTION In the Commonwealth of Virginia, a transit development plan (TDP) is a short-range plan that outlines the transit improvements that are planned for implementation during a six-year planning horizon; estimates what resources will be needed; and what funding programs are likely to be available. The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) requires that all grantees that receive state public transportation funds prepare, adopt, and submit a TDP at least every six years. DRPT provides funding and technical assistance to complete these six-year plans. This Executive Summary provides an overview of the TDP that has been prepared for the CSPDC’s transit program for the planning period that includes FY2016 through FY2022. The development of the CSPDC TDP has included four draft chapters that provided an overview of public transportation in the Central Shenandoah region and developed alternatives for improvement. The chapters discussed goals, objectives, and standards; analyzed the current services operating in the region; documented unmet transit needs; and proposed financially constrained