Greater Minnesota Transit Investment Plan
PACDecember 14, 2010
From the LegislationThe commissioner shall develop a greater Minnesota transit investment plan that contains a goal of meeting at least 80 percent of total transit service needs in greater Minnesota by July 1, 2015, and meeting at least 90 percent of total transit service needs in greater Minnesota by July 1, 2025. The plan must include, but is not limited to, the following:
–an analysis of ridership and total transit service needs throughout greater Minnesota–a calculation of the level and type of service required to meet total transit needs–an analysis of costs and revenue options–a plan to reduce total transit service needs
S.F. No. 2540, 6th Engrossment
Plan GoalsTo reduce total transit service needs by:• Developing a profile of current riders, measuring
satisfaction levels, identifying ridership trends• Determining total transit needs at a county level• Building support for investment priorities
Plan ElementsMarket Research– Focus Groups
– Non-users of public transit – 12 statewide (1 per RDC region)
– Demographic Profile– Regional maps depicting population characteristics and public transit
service
– On-board Surveys– Public transit riders– Every system statewide– Over 10,000 surveys completed
– Structured Interviews– 24 key community leaders– Discuss investment priorities
Plan Elements
Public Outreach• Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)• Plan Advisory Committee (PAC)• 50+ Stakeholder presentations • Project website• 12 Public open houses• Public hearing (Jan 19)
Plan Elements
Technical Analysis Review• Passenger Demand Projections
• Service Hour Projections
• Operating Cost Estimates
Passenger Demand Model ResultsAnnual Passenger Demand:2010: 18.1 million2015: 18.8 million2025: 20.9 million
11.0 million rides were delivered in 2009: current services meet about 60% of projected demand
County Population
Characteristics
Future Passenger Demand
User Trip Rates
Passenger Demand
Service Hours Model ResultsAnnual Service Hour Needs:2010: 1.8 million2015: 2.0 million2025: 2.1 million
1.03 million service hours were delivered in 2009: current services meet about 57% of projected need
County Population Distribution
Future Service Hours
Service Level Rates
Service Needs
Operating Cost to Meet 100% of Service Needs
Annual Cost Projections*:2010: $103.7 million2015: $128.1 million2025: $183.4 million2009 actual costs: $55 million
*Capital costs not included in these figures. Future year costs adjusted for 2.85% inflation.
Future Service Hours
Future Service Costs
Cost Per Hour by Service
Area
Operating Costs
Capital Cost to Meet 100% of Service Needs
Annual Cost Projections*:2010: $33.5 million2015: $57.1 million2025: $71.3 million
*Future year costs adjusted for 2.85% inflation.
Operating Costs to Meet Legislative Targets
2015 Target level* of 80% of total needs =$102 million2025 Target level* of 90% of total needs = $165 million2009 actual costs= $55 million
*Capital costs not included in these figures. Future year costs adjusted for 2.85% inflation.
Investment Plan Priorities
• Preservation• Expansion• Contraction
Priorities will be re-evaluated every four years by Mn/DOT and adjusted as needed.
Preservation of Services
Mn/DOT will continue to fund systems that: 1. Demonstrate local fiscal capacity2. Meet system-level performance measures
set by peer group averages– Cost/passenger– Cost/service hour– Passengers/service hour– System revenue to cost ratio– Compliance with administrative and reporting procedures
Expansion of Services
Highest priorities for investment of new funds:• Establish service in unserved counties with
potential to meet performance measures within three years (legislative priority)
• Provide longer hours to serve more trips• Expand multi-county services to link more
communities
Secondary Expansion
• Provide service on more days of the week in areas with limited schedules
• Expand service frequencies and coverage• Expand services to provide consistent levels of
service statewide
Contraction of Services
If funding decreases, the following guidelines will determine contraction priorities: • Expansion will not be considered• Work with systems to redesign under-performing
services• Reduce state and federal funding to under-performing
services
Identified Program Management Tools
• Increase use of technology to gain efficiencies• Refine services using service-level
performance measures• Coordinate with other transit providers
including volunteers, 5310 programs, and taxis• Increase marketing to reach more customers• Provide free rides to disabled veterans on
fixed route services
Draft Transit Investment PrioritiesF
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Fun
ding
PreservationMn/DOT will first preserve existing public transit systems that are funded by federal and state dollars through the annual allocation of financial assistance. Systems that demonstrate local fiscal capacity and meet system-level performance measure tests* will receive preference for state and federal funding to provide service hours.
*Demonstration will be determined on a pass/fail basis.
Mn/DOT will provide resources to start new services in geographic areas without public transit service before expanding existing services.
ExpansionMn/DOT’s top priorities for additions to existing service are:• Expand multi-county services to link more communities.• Provide longer hours (morning and night) to serve more trips.
Contraction
Should contraction become necessary, Mn/DOT will take the following steps:
• Funding for system expansion will not be considered.• Work with systems to redesign under-performing services in small urban, large urban, and
rural areas according to service-level performance measures.• Reduce state and federal funding to under-performing systems in small urban, large urban,
and rural areas according to performance measures.
Plan CompletionComments: Please provide any additional comments by December 17 to Fay Cleaveland, [email protected]
Final Draft release: expected January 5www.dot.state.mn.us/transit/transitplan/
Public Hearing: January 19th, 4-6pm