Transit Optimization Plan September 2017 Prepared by: Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................6 Goals and Focus ........................................................................................................... 6 Study Process ............................................................................................................... 7 Report Contents ........................................................................................................... 8 Existing Conditions .....................................................................................................................9 Market Assessment ...................................................................................................... 9 Population ..........................................................................................................................9 Employment .......................................................................................................................9 Development Patterns ........................................................................................................9 Regional Growth ............................................................................................................... 10 Growth in Senior Population ............................................................................................. 10 Transit’s Role in Mobility ................................................................................................... 10 Service Evaluation ...................................................................................................... 11 ServiCe Tiers ...................................................................................................................... 11 ServiCe Design ................................................................................................................... 12 HistoriCal Ridership Trends ................................................................................................ 12 Current Ridership .............................................................................................................. 16 ServiCe ProduCtivity .......................................................................................................... 17 Operating Speeds .............................................................................................................. 17 AgenCy Partnerships ......................................................................................................... 17 Framework and Guiding Principles ........................................................................................... 19 Market Goals .............................................................................................................. 19 Goal 1: MatCh ServiCe to Current and Future Markets ....................................................... 19 Goal 2: Coordinate Land Use, Housing, and InfrastruCture................................................. 19 Service Goals ............................................................................................................. 20 Goal 1: Optimize ServiCe ................................................................................................... 20 Goal 2: InCrease Ridership ................................................................................................. 20 Goal 3: Strengthen the Network ........................................................................................ 21 Transit Network Development Tradeoffs ....................................................................... 21 Ridership versus Coverage ................................................................................................ 22 Route SpaCing: ACCess versus Frequency ........................................................................... 22 Stop SpaCing: ACCess versus Speed .................................................................................... 23 Network StruCture ............................................................................................................ 23 All-Day, All-Week ServiCe versus Peak Commuter ServiCe .................................................. 26 Route Evaluation Process ............................................................................................ 29 Density and Development Patterns ................................................................................... 29 Stop EffiCienCy .................................................................................................................. 29 Route Alignment ............................................................................................................... 30 ServiCe Duplication ........................................................................................................... 30 PerformanCe IndiCators ..................................................................................................... 30 Public Outreach ........................................................................................................................ 32 Transit Optimization Plan ......................................................................................................... 34 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 34 Trolley ServiCe................................................................................................................... 34 Rapid Bus .......................................................................................................................... 35 Recommendations ...................................................................................................... 35 UCSD and Mira Mesa ........................................................................................................ 35 163 Corridor...................................................................................................................... 39 I-15 Corridor ..................................................................................................................... 43 Mid-City and Downtown ................................................................................................... 46 Beaches ............................................................................................................................ 52 National City ..................................................................................................................... 55 South County .................................................................................................................... 59 PAGE 3 OF 89 East County – El Cajon ....................................................................................................... 64 East County – La Mesa and Spring Valley ........................................................................... 69 Rural ................................................................................................................................. 73 Customer Impacts & Benefits ................................................................................................... 75 Frequency Investments ............................................................................................... 75 Travel Time Improvements .......................................................................................... 77 Financial and Operating Impacts .............................................................................................. 77 Phasing ..................................................................................................................................... 78 Immediate-Term Changes (Summer 2017) ................................................................... 79 Near-Term Changes (Fall 2017) ................................................................................... 79 Mid-Term Changes (Winter 2018) ................................................................................ 79 Regional Coordination ................................................................................................. 79 List of Tables Table 1: MTS ServiCe Roles ........................................................................................................ 12 Table 2: Industry Ridership Trends ............................................................................................. 13 Table 3: MTS Ridership Trends................................................................................................... 14 Table 4: MTS Top 10 Routes ExperienCing Ridership DeClines by Route...................................... 15 Table 5: MTS Open House Events .............................................................................................. 32 Table 6: UCSD/Mira Mesa Route ReCommendations ................................................................. 39 Table 7: 163 Corridor Route ReCommendations......................................................................... 40 Table 8: I-15 Corridor Route ReCommendations ........................................................................ 44 Table 9: Mid-City and Downtown Route ReCommendations ...................................................... 48 Table 10: BeaChes Route ReCommendations 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