KFH GROUP, INC. The Tri-Cities Area 2010 Transit Development Plan Final Report October, 2010 Prepared for: The Crater Planning District Commission 4920 Elm Street, Suite 350 —Bethesda, MD 20814 —(301) 951-8660 — FAX (301) 951-0026 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Chapter 1 – Overview of Transit in the Tri-Cities................................................................ 1-1 History ................................................................................................................................. 1-3 Governance and Organizational Structure ..................................................................... 1-5 Transit Services Provided and Areas Served.................................................................. 1-5 Fare Structure.................................................................................................................... 1-21 Vehicle Fleet....................................................................................................................... 1-21 Facilities.............................................................................................................................. 1-22 Transit Security Program................................................................................................. 1-25 Public Outreach................................................................................................................. 1-27 Stimulus Projects............................................................................................................... 1-27 Chapter 2 – Goals, Objectives, and Standards ...................................................................... 2-1 PAT Mission and Goals...................................................................................................... 2-1 TDP Goals and Issues......................................................................................................... 2-2 Service Standards................................................................................................................ 2-5 Chapter 3 – Service and System Evaluation and Transit Needs Analysis........................ 3-1 Service and System Evaluation......................................................................................... 3-1 Paratransit Analysis.......................................................................................................... 3-45 Transit Needs Analysis .................................................................................................... 3-54 Summary ............................................................................................................................ 3-74 Chapter 4 – Service and Organizational Alternatives ......................................................... 4-1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 4-1 Service Alternatives............................................................................................................ 4-1 Organizational Alternatives............................................................................................ 4-18 Funding Programs to Support Potential Expansions .................................................. 4-25 Table of Contents (continued) Page Chapter 5 – Operations Plan.................................................................................................... 5-1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 5-1 Recommendations Concerning the Existing Public Transit Services.......................... 5-1 Recommendations for New Services ............................................................................... 5-4 Organizational Recommendations................................................................................. 5-13 Chapter 6 – Capital Improvement Plan ................................................................................. 6-1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 6-1 Vehicle Replacement and Expansion Program............................................................... 6-1 Other Capital Equipment................................................................................................... 6-2 Facilities .............................................................................................................................. 6-4 Chapter 7 – Financial Plan ....................................................................................................... 7-1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 7-1 Proposed Cost Allocation .................................................................................................. 7-1 Operating Expenses and Funding Sources ..................................................................... 7-3 Vehicle Purchase Expenses and Funding Sources ......................................................... 7-8 Facility Improvement Expenses and Funding Sources ................................................. 7-8 Chapter 8 – TDP Monitoring and Evaluation....................................................................... 8-1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 8-1 Coordination with Other Plans and Programs............................................................... 8-2 Service Performance Monitoring...................................................................................... 8-3 Annual TDP Monitoring.................................................................................................... 8-3 Appendix A: General Comments Appendix B: Title VI Report Appendix C: FTA Triennial Review Appendix D: Survey Comments Final Report Chapter 1 Overview of Transit in the Tri-Cities The Tri-Cities Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) provides multi- modal transportation planning services for the Cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell, and Petersburg, and portions of the Counties of Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, and Prince George. The MPO area is located in southeastern Virginia and was included in the Richmond Urbanized Area after the 2000 Census. The MPO area encompasses 308 square miles and has an estimated population (2007/2008) of 80,960.1 Table 1-1 provides the basic demographic and geography data for each of the MPO-member jurisdictions. Figure 1-1 provides a base map of the MPO area, which is the study area for the 2010 Tri-Cities Area Transit Development Plan Update. Table 1-1: Tri-Cities MPO: Basic Demographics and Geography Jurisdiction Estimated Population 2007/2008 Square Density Population Miles (ppl/sq.mi.) City of Colonial Heights (1) 17,693 8.1 2,184 City of Hopewell (1) 23,263 11 2,115 City of Petersburg (1) 30,489 22 1,386 Chesterfield County (portion) (2,3) 57,469 117.4 490 Dinwiddie County (portion) (2,3) 16,615 39.2 424 Prince George County (portion) (2,3) 35,431 110.3 321 Total MPO Area 180,960 308 588 Sources: (1) Weldon-Cooper Center (2) ESRI 2007 Data (3) Tri-Cities MPO 1 Weldon-Cooper Center; ESRI Data CD (2007) The Tri-Cities Area 2010 Transit Development Plan 1-1 Figure 1-1: Base Map of Tri-Cities MPO Area ¤£360 ¤£1 Chesterfield Hopewell ¨¦§295 Colonial Heights 1 - 2 ¨¦§95 Petersburg 85 ¨¦§85 Prince George 460 ¤£ 295 Legend ¨¦§ 460 301 ¤£ 1 ¤£ Tri-Cities MPO Boundary ¤£ Fort Lee Military Reservation Dinwiddie James River National Wildlife Refuge Petersburg Federal Correctional Institution Petersburg National Battlefield Presquile National Wildlife Refuge Outlying Counties 0 2.5 5 10 Miles ¯ Final Report Public transportation in the MPO area is primarily provided by Petersburg Area Transit (PAT), which is operated by the City of Petersburg. PAT offers ten fixed routes and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) complementary paratransit. There is also a public transit route operated by the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) that provides service between Petersburg and Richmond, and a route operated by the Blackstone Area Bus System (BABS) that provides service from Blackstone to Petersburg. Chesterfield County also operates “Access Chesterfield,” a demand- response transportation service for Chesterfield County residents who are disabled, aged 60 or older, or who meet federal income guidelines. Limited senior transportation programs are offered by the Cities of Colonial Heights and Hopewell. Petersburg is served by intercity bus service (Carolina Trailways/Greyhound) and there is an Amtrak station located in Ettrick. HISTORY Public transportation of some variety has been operating in the Tri-Cities region since 1882, beginning with horse-drawn street railways, then electric trolleys, and then buses. Private bus operators provided public transportation from 1927 until 1977. The City of Petersburg began operating public transportation service in 1977, taking over from Tri-City Coaches, a private transportation provider that could no longer afford to operate the service. At the time the City took over the service, other institutional options were also considered, including a transportation district. In 1977 nine routes were operated, providing services in the Cities of Petersburg, Colonial Heights, Hopewell, and parts of Chesterfield and Prince George Counties, including Fort Lee. The 1977 “Short