Marketing Transit

FTA Region VII ConferenceFTA Region VII Conference

Becky J. PassmanIowa Quad-Cities Transit

CoordinatorBi-State Regional Commission

Part I: “ How to split a staffer 3 ways…

OR

If it’s Tuesday, this must be Bettendorf”

Part II: “Marketing: It’s the , Baby”

(i.e. what exactly IS an Iowa Quad Cities Transit Coordinator position

& how did it come about?)

“ How to split a staffer 3 ways… OR

If it’s Tuesday, this must be Bettendorf”

Overview:

• Historical context

• Funding & Administration

• Purpose served

• 2004 IA QC Transit Consolidation Study

• Consensus reached MOU signed July, 2005

IA QC Transit Coordinator Position

Position Evolution:

• Administration process developed

• “Anticipated” duties formulated

• Summer ’05: Hiring process began & resulted in…

Position Evolution, cont…

(that would be me…)

Difficult question #1:

IA QC Transit Coordinator Position: Funding

• MPO (Bi-State Regional Commission) houses and administers position

• MPO bills systems monthly for salary, indirect, and direct costs

IA QC Transit Coordinator Position:

Funding, cont…

• 5307 money used for 80% of position expense

• Each system pays a portion of the 20% match (proportion based on allocation of FTA grant $$’s)

Difficult question #2:

Chain of Command

Difficult question #3:

*Planning

*Coordination of Services

*Marketing

is the “short” answer…

•Website building & maintenance (Davenport)

•Grant writing

•Public Outreach Programs

•Public Involvement Activities

•Graphic design & materials creation (maps, posters, brochures, informational materials, signage, advertising copy, etc.)

•Bus Advertising Program (Bettendorf)

•Route /service analysis

•Transit training and presentations

•Route Planning

•Form & build partnerships

•Triennial Review preparation

•RFP writing

•Plan / Program / Procedure writing

•Write Press releases & court media

•Conduct focus groups

•Project initiation/management/ and/or assistance

Which means:

it’s the SPICE of LIFE!

Part II:

“Marketing:

It’s the , Baby”

In the Iowa QC’s,In the Iowa QC’s,

the transit scene is gettingthe transit scene is getting greengreen((erer))……

Overview: BettendorfBettendorf

• Bike & Bus

• PassPort Sales

• Bus Advertising

Bettendorf + DavenportBettendorf + Davenport

• College Student Discount

DavenportDavenport

• Route Restructure + New Maps

• Rider Appreciation Day

• CitiBus CitiPass

River Bend TransitRiver Bend Transit

• QC – Muscatine Shuttle

Outreach & PartneringOutreach & Partnering

• Iowa QC Senior Ambassadors Program

• QC TAG

• Riverfront Circulator Project

• Website portal

Ridership Trends

Bettendorf Transit Annual Ridership

127,472131,572

122,174

134,824

120,650

139,340

152,890159,687

119,590

0

25,000

50,000

75,000

100,000

125,000

150,000

175,000

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007Year

Tri

ps

Fixed Route

Dial-A-Bus

RBT Sat.Service

Bettendorf Transit: Working the niches

HIGHLIGHTS:

+ 54%

1321

2031

954

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Bettendorf Bike 'n Bus

FY 06

FY 07

FY 08

Bettendorf Transit: Working the niches, cont…

HIGHLIGHTS:

Bettendorf’s FY 07 total PassPort sales 30.6% greater than FY 06

Bettendorf Transit Monthly PassPort Sale Totals

405060708090

100110120130140

July

Au

g.

Sep

t.

Oct

.

No

v.

Dec

.

Jan

.

Feb

.

Mar

.

Ap

ril

May

Jun

e

Month

FY 06

FY 07

FY 08

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Bus advertising in-house: Aug. ’07 – 12 month contract

Bettendorf Transit: Working the niches, cont…

Bettendorf Transit & Davenport

CitiBus implemented a joint

college student discounted fare on

Sept. 1st 2006

HIGHLIGHTS:

Reaching out to the Students…

Sept. +341% increase

Oct. +150%

College Discount Trip Totals

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

JulyAugust

September October

NovemberDecember

JanuaryFebruary

MarchAprilMayJune

FY '07

FY 08

Sept. + 256% increase

College Discount Trip Totals

100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000

July

August

September

October

November

December

January

February

March

April

May

June

FY '07

FY '08

Transit Ridership TrendsDavenport CitiBus Annual Ridership

1,037,601

981,446

866,001881,947

940,046

750,000

800,000

850,000

900,000

950,000

1,000,000

1,050,000

1,100,000

FY03 FY04 FY05 FY06 FY07

Totals

Total Restructure of Route System

• Process duration: March ‘07 to July ‘07• Extensive public involvement process: 3

public forums, 2 videos, input via “Action Center”

• City of Davenport proclaimed July 9 “Transit Rider Appreciation Day” w/ no fare on CitiBus fixed routes on that day

HIGHLIGHTS:

Davenport CitiBus:

• New routes effective July 9

• Bettendorf Transit & MetroLink joined celebration

• “Fare-free” cooperative effort!

HIGHLIGHTS:

Davenport CitiBus: Route Restructure, cont…

Q-C buses forego fares for a day

By David Heitz

As a Davenport CitiBus rounded a corner Monday and pulled into the Meadowcrest

Gardens senior housing complex near West 53rd and Pine streets, about a dozen riders waited at the new stop, clapping and cheering.

“I won’t feel like a shut-in anymore,” a beaming Peggy Smith said as she boarded the bus. “I’m thrilled. I’m so excited. I feel like a kid. And today it’s free!”

Continued…..

New CitiBus Routes bring a Fare-Free day in the QCA

CitiBus to launch new route changes MondayBy Jennifer DeWitt

Beginning Monday, Davenport CitiBus will introduce a series of route changes aimed at improving access for current bus riders as well as attracting a new generation of passengers.

“There hadn’t been route changes for so long that we had to expand to areas of the city that didn’t even have service,” CitiBus general manager Tom Wittig said of the changes, which were developed in part from recommendations by current and prospective riders as well as bus drivers and others.

Continued…..

“QC buses forego fares for a day” Tuesday, July 10, 2007QC Times reporter Dave Heitz takes a bus ride and provides first hand coverage of fare free "Transit Rider Appreciation Day".“Free bus rides help bring in new routes”Saturday, July 07, 2007Dispatch/Argus coverage of the new CitiBus routes and "fare free" day in the Quad Cities.“CitiBus to launch new routes on Monday”Saturday, July 07, 2007QC Times coverage of the new CitiBus route system and "Transit Rider Appreciation Day"“Transit Rider Appreciation Day” Sunday, July 01, 2007Monday, July 9th is "Transit Rider Appreciation Day". No fares will be charged on the fixed routes this first day of the new route system. Read on to learn more.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Davenport CitiBus: New Maps for New Routes

HIGHLIGHTS:

Davenport CitiBus: New Maps for New Routes, cont….

HIGHLIGHTS:

CitiBus Launches the New

“CitiPass” in October & adds to the QC-Wide

“FARE” Variety…

Transit Ridership Trends

River Bend Transit Annual Ridership

152,721 149,102 153,085

172,133185,196 185,574

194,919 200,075 208,131217,786

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

FY 98 FY 99 FY00 FY 01 FY 02 FY 03 FY 04 FY 05 FY 06 FY 07

# of Trips

River Bend Transit: Launch of QC- Muscatine Employee Shuttle

Sept. 2006 Sept. 2007# of

Service Hours 42 hours/day

61.5 hours/day

Average # Riders/Day 40 - 45 85 – 90+

# of Sites Serviced 1 4

Required Fleet

6 vehicles (15 passenger)

11 vehicles (14 - 25

passenger size range)

River Bend Transit / HNI, Corp. Employee Commuter Shuttle

(Pilot Program)Interest in 2006 pilot program

indicated great need for QC-Muscatine

service

HIGHLIGHTS:

River Bend Transit: QC- Muscatine Employee Shuttle, cont…

Phase 1 Status: 2007 ICAAP grant application approved

Launch Date: January 2008Target: Muscatine employers

with employees commuting from the Quad Cities

Valuable Facilitator: Muscatine Chamber of Commerce

HIGHLIGHTS:

Phase 2 Status: ICAAP grant submitted Oct. 1, 2007

Proposed Launch Date: January 2009

Target: Quad Cities employers with employees commuting from the Muscatine area

Ultimate Project Goal:

Fully reciprocal, self-sustaining commuter service

River Bend Transit: QC- Muscatine Employee Shuttle, cont…

HIGHLIGHTS:

Cooperative Efforts & Partnerships Iowa QC Transit Ambassador’s Program:

HIGHLIGHTS:

Partners:Partners:• Generations Area Agency

on Aging• Friendly House• Scott County Health Dept.• Signature Management• River Bend Transit• Davenport CitiBus• Bettendorf Transit

Iowa QC Transit Ambassador’s Program, cont…

HIGHLIGHTS:

2007 Awards: 2007 Awards: • Shining Star Award at

the Iowa Governor’s Conference

• “Excellence in Coordination” award from Iowa Dept. of Transportation

There are currently ambassadors in 7 locations in

Bettendorf & Davenport

Cooperative Efforts & Partnerships

HIGHLIGHTS:

QC TAG works

to improve the quality of life in the QCs by promoting a

balanced approach to transportation that

encourages walking, biking, and public

transportation. (QCTAG mission statement)

Core member of

QC Transportation Advocacy Group

Bike-to-Work Week

(May 14 – 18)

Cooperative Efforts & PartnershipsHIGHLIGHTS:

Bettendorf Transit, Davenport CitiBus, and MetroLink have teamed up to determine the feasibility of jointly shared, limited stop, seamless Riverfront Circulator.

This route would run bridge-to-bridge on both sides of the river with expanded hours, and would target visitors and convention-goers.

HIGHLIGHTS:

The cooperative efforts and support of the four Cities involved, the QC Convention & Visitors Bureau, and a multitude of local stakeholders will be critical to the feasibility and success of this exciting potential transit project.

Want to know more????

Visit the QC transit portal:

www.qctransit.com

Thank you!

Merci!

Gracias!

Danke!