quad cities coordination and consolidation analysis

QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus

MetroLINK CitiBus

October, 2017

Quad Cities Coordination and Consolidation Analysis


STUDY PURPOSETo explore further coordination and/or consolidation opportunities to enhance regional transit services.

QUAD CITIES Transit Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus QUAD CITIES Coordination and Consolidation Study MetroLINK CitiBus

Why Consider Coordination?

• Eliminate redundancies• Reduce costs• Economies of scale

• Increase political and public support• Maximize capital investments• Better customer service

• Increase ridership• Expand service area• Access to opportunities


EXISTING CONDITIONS•Information Gathering•Stakeholder Interview•Peer Review


Stakeholder Feedback

• MetroLINK service quality• CitiBus route restructuring• Davenport transit levy• Lingering issues from previous arrangement• No perceived regional transit advocate


Quad Cities Transit Profile

MetroLINK CitiBus BT*

Total Buses 58 19 6

Peak Buses 46 15 3

Budget $17,330,000 $6,801,000 $1,260,000

2017 Current Conditions


Peer Review

• Evansville, IN (METS)• Decatur, IL (DPTS)• North Little Rock, AR (CATA)• Topeka, KS (TMTA)• Ft. Wayne, IN (Citilink)• Springfield, IL (SMTD)• Rockford, IL (RMTD)• Peoria, IL (CityLink)


Peer Review – Annual Unlinked Trips

1,155,180 1,228,300 1,267,963

1,688,955 1,756,873 1,767,024 1,797,3221,954,716

2,502,741

3,028,220

3,354,584

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

3,500,000

4,000,000Annual Unlinked Passenger Trips, NTD 2016


Peer Review – Annual Operating Expenses

$5.4 $5.5 $6.0 $6.0

$10.5 $10.5 $12.1 $12.3

$13.5

$16.0 $17.5

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

$ Millions

Total Operating Expenses, NTD 2016

$60/capita

$133/capita


Peer Review – Operating Expense per Hour

$66 $77 $79

$97 $102 $103 $106 $106 $119 $123

$157

$‐

$20

$40

$60

$80

$100

$120

$140

$160

$180Operating Expense per Revenue Hour, NTD 2016


Peer Review – Passengers per Hour

14.3

17.0 17.1 17.418.4 19.4 19.5

20.8 21.6 22.2

27.1

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0Passengers per Revenue Hour, NTD 2016


Peer Review Summary

• Both systems are preforming well relative to peers (high number of passengers per mile and per hour)

• Both systems are achieve an average cost per revenue hour indicating efficient operations

• No “red-flags” were raised from the peer review


OPPORTUNITIES•Governance•Operations•Maintenance•Fare Structure•Technology

•Procurement•Service Planning•Paratransit•Marketing & Branding


Governance

• RTCC comprised of MetroLINK, CitiBus, BT and regional decision makers from the business community

• Action oriented and supportive of mutual regional priorities

Pursue coordination of services through mutual agreements rather than consolidation into a single transit agency.Establish a Regional Transit Coordinating Council (RTCC) to identify coordination topics and develop work plans for implementation.


Operations

• MetroLINK responsible for all facets of operations• City of Davenport responsible for personnel functions• Staff position employed by the City of Davenport to oversee

agreement• Arrangement through IGA or contract for service• Allows for option to conduct service and route planning• Implementation may be impacted by Iowa-Illinois Memorial (I-74)

Bridge construction

Consider contracting CitiBus operations, dispatch, and on‐road supervision to MetroLINK.


Maintenance

• MetroLINK has state of the art facilities, potential capacity, and large number of dedicated staff

• MetroLINK could become responsible for all fleet and vehicle maintenance

Consider contracting CitiBus maintenance to MetroLINK.


Fare Structure

• Unified fare structure in addition to the $1.00 base fare• Regional Quad Cities monthly pass• Compatible farebox technology (if not consistent)

A unified fare structure across Quad Cities transit systems should be established.


Technology

• Automated vehicle locators• Computer aided dispatching• Scheduling software• Automatic passenger counters (APCs)

Procurement and deployment of technology could be integrated through an intergovernmental agreement (IGA).


Procurement

• Economies of scale• Consistent regional technologies

Implement joint procurement of vehicles, vehicle technology, mobile phone applications, and planning studies.


Service Planning

• Thorough OD study to identify where people are traveling and the magnitude of travel between the two states

• Identify high-volume forced transfer trips that may be eliminated

The parties should consider participating in a regional planning review of existing transit routes.


Paratransit for Seniors and Disabled

• Single eligibility process• Single call center• Regional service provision

Consideration should be given to consolidating federally‐mandated ADA services into a single service, including participant ADA eligibility assessment.


Marketing & Branding

• Ongoing messaging campaign amongst systems• Elevating the transit platform is beneficial for all entities• Focus initial efforts on other coordination priorities• Single unified brand could be considered in the long-term

A consistent public transit message could be developed in the Quad Cities region.Unified branding is unnecessary for further coordination at this time, but could be a long‐term goal in the region.


Financial ImplicationsGovernance RTCC

Operations Expanded MOMC Capacity

Eliminate duplicative functions

I-74 bridge construction?

Maintenance Economies of scale

Fare Structure Effects on revenue

Technology Regional consistency

Procurement Economies of scale

Service Planning Improved regional connectivity

ParatransitSchedule efficiencies

Administrative efficiencies

Enhanced eligibility assessments

Marketing & Branding Robust effort


CONCLUSIONS• MetroLINK and CitiBus representatives recognize the positive benefits of closer coordination

• Implementation of opportunities identified will require a concerted and dedicated effort

• Recommendations can be implemented incrementally

• Quad Cities region will be well served by greater coordination among the transit agencies


NEXT STEPS• Formalize process to establish regional transit coordinating council

• Prioritize regional coordination initiatives•Develop initiative implementation plans


QUESTIONS?

quad cities coordination and consolidation analysis

Documents