Lower Rio Grande Valley
Regional Transit Service Plan
Background
78th Legislative Session mandate Eliminate waste in the provision of
public transportation services; Generate efficiencies that will permit
increased levels of service; and Further the state’s efforts to reduce
air pollution.
HB 3588 cont’d
Provides for coordination by TxDOT in the provision of public transportation throughout the state, and
Authorizes the Texas Transportation Commission to adopt rules requiring state agencies to contract with TxDOT to assume responsibilities of that agency’s public transportation services.
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Recreation
Duties of TxDOT
TxDOT shall identify: Overlaps and gaps in the provision of
public transportation services; Underused equipment owned by public
transportation providers; and Inefficiencies in the provision of public
transportation services.
TxDOT Response to HB 3588 TxDOT Commissioner Hope Andrade
appointed statewide Study Group in December 2004;
Study group recommended each planning region develop a regional transit coordination plan.
Service Area Boundary
TxDOT Pharr District
Planning Area
Management Structure
Transportation Providers
Assistance by Planning Consultants Enlisted assistance from TTI to
develop RFP – November 2005 Awarded Contract to KFH Group, Inc.
– April 2006 Regional Transit Plan Completed –
December 2006
The Planning Process
Development of goals and objectives Review of existing services and coordination
activities Demographics, land uses and travel patterns Review of needs Development of alternatives to address
needs Review of transit authorities Transit Traveler Information
Origins, Destinations And Travel Patterns
The vast majority of residences and destinations are in the US Highway 83 corridor
Travel patterns indicate most work in their own areas with crossover across the 83 corridor
McAllen is the largest trip attractor with retail and other businesses
Summary of Issues LRGV Region has a lesser share of commuters that use
transit than the State of Texas as a whole. The LRGV Region has three of the poorest counties in
terms of average household income. Vehicle ownership in the LRGV Region is well below State and National averages.
Population in the region and in Mexico will continue to grow at a rapid pace.
The culmination of the above three facts revealed an unmet transit need in the LRGV Region and a significant opportunity for transit.
The LRGV Region does have significantly less commuters driving alone to work.
Measured by the absolute number of commuters, Hidalgo County is by far the top destination county for workers in the region.
Summary of Needs The greatest needs continue to be in the Colonias
spread all over Hidalgo County, with many in Willacy and Cameron Counties as well.
The continued growth in Mexico will contribute high levels of ridership in the urban systems for Brownsville and McAllen.
Harlingen – San Benito and Edinburg – Mission each has the potential demand and need for more fixed-route service within their cities.
Pan American University should be part of the solution to transit issues in Edinburg.
Willacy County has additional needs for both local service and service to Harlingen.
Increases in connectivity throughout the region will grow in importance as people spread farther out seeking employment.
Barriers and Constraints Needs are very great – low incomes and
residents of Mexico contribute to this level of need.
Duplication of effort - Multiple transit operators each representing their own constituents, creates institutional resistance to change – turf protection.
Fragmented ITS structure Medicaid is not coordinated, creating
another transit provider Driver pay rates vary, causing problems
Potential for A Transit Authority
There are three models that can work in the region: Metropolitan Transportation Authority
(Corpus Christi) City Transit Department (Laredo) Coordinated County Authority (Denton)
Each is a difficult and time consuming effort Requires at least one election Can produce enough revenue to operate
quality transit
Transit Traveler Information Requires a coordinated approach
with all operators Two phase project
Coordination and implementation of one stop shopping
Interactive – purchase tickets on line, automated travel planner
Requires one entity to manage
Planned Activities
Coordination Activities: Development of a Mobility
Manager/Broker Coordinating all paratransit activities Human Service – The Mentoring Program Permanently formalize stakeholders
committee Review the potential for a transit
authority
Planned Activities Service Activities:
Fixed/Flex Route Service – Harlingen-San Benito, Edinburg-Mission, expansion in McAllen and Brownsville
Expanded, coordinated main line service Feeder Service - Fixed Schedule Service – lower density Paratransit Shopper Shuttles Through Ticketing and Coordinated Fares Sponsorship program
Service Assumptions Population Growth Target Colonias Accounting for Ridership from Mexico Funding Issues Public/Private Partnership Mobility Management Coordination Efforts Coordination Must Make Business Sense Fixed/Flex Route and Other Scheduled Service Use of Technology
What’s Next… TxDOT has awarded additional funding
to continue the planning effort Transit Advisory Panel will oversee the
implementation of projects in the region Some of the coordination/service
activities are already being implemented Continue to use planning consultant to
market the plan with city, county and other local elected officials
Copies of the LRGV Regional Coordination Plan available from: www.kfhgroup.com/LRGV
Questions or Comments