Thinking Outside the Car

Public transit’s role

in a balanced transportation system

in Northern Virginia

Christopher Zimmerman, ChairmanNorthern Virginia Transportation

CommissionSeptember 5, 2002

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Overview

1. Public Transit and Ridesharing resources

2. Transit and HOV performance

3. NVTC’s role in forging better connections between transit systems and other modes

4. How the commonwealth can help NVTC as it works for a better balanced transportation system

Public Transit and Ridesharing Resources

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Interconnected Transit Systems

System Fleet size in Virginia

Metrorail 272

Metrobus 341

VRE 82

Fairfax Connector 175

DASH 49

CUE 12

ART 4

Loudoun Express and local 11/37

PRTC OmniRide 62

PRTC OmniLink 16

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Excellent HOV Facilities

I-95/I-395 I-66 VA 267 Route 1

(Alexandria)

Transit and HOV Performance

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Northern Virginia’s FY 2001 Average Weekday Transit Ridership

System Weekday Riders

Metrorail 147,375

Metrobus 73,206

Fairfax Connector 22,537

Virginia Railway Express 10,556

Alexandria DASH 9,172

City of Fairfax CUE 3,423

PRTC OmniRide 3,234

PRTC OmniLink 1,849

Loudoun Express 730

Arlington ART 588

Loudoun County Transportation Association 450

Total 273,120

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Transit / HOV Mode Shares (by corridor)

Measures transit performance where investments have been made.

During peak hours, transit carries one-third of all commuters in the I-95/I-395/Route 1 corridor and two-thirds in the I-66 corridor.

In no major Northern Virginia commuting corridors, during peak hours, do single occupant vehicles have a higher share than transit and ridesharing.

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Transit/HOV Time Savings

The Texas Transportation Institute reports the travel time indices for the I-66/I-95/I-395 HOV lanes are twice as good as the indices for the parallel conventional lanes.

These times savings are important because the average peak hour commuter in our region experiences 84 hours of delay a year (third worst in the nation) at a cost of about $1,600.

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Northern Virginia Travel Times by Mode I-95 Corridor: Dumfries to Washington, D.C. (30 miles)

40

31

58

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

VRE HOV LANES CONVENTIONAL LANES

Minutes

VDOT reports average VRE and HOV commuter travel times in the I-95 corridor are much better than travel by auto in the conventional lanes.

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Transit Fuel Savings

Using a conservative methodology, transit uses only half the fuel per passenger-mile traveled, compared to autos.

In the Washington metropolitan region, transit saves 47.8 million gallons annually.

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Transit Air Quality Benefits

Transit in the Washington Metropolitan region saves…

3,040 metric tons of volatile organic compounds; 31,892 metric tons of carbon monoxide; 1,533 metric tons of oxides of nitrogen; 520,868 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

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Putting things into perspective…

To put these emission reductions into perspective, the region must reduce its NOx emissions in 2005 by about 1100 annual tons to meet the federal standards.

Transit investments are prominently listed on the region’s list of proposed mitigating measures.

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Transit Investments Pay Off

A NVTC study determined the rate of return on the commonwealth’s investments in Metrorail is over 19 percent annually, measured in tax revenues from induced economic activity.

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Other Measures

Safety– Transit beats autos in safety.

Comfort– Lifestyle benefits.

Reliability– Transit adheres to regular schedules and is

generally less susceptible to massive delays due to traffic accidents and incidents.

NVTC’s role in forging better connections between transit systems

and other modes

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NVTC

Serves six local jurisdictions, covering 1,000 square miles with a population of 1.5 million.

Appoints Virginia’s WMATA board members . Co-owns Virginia Railway Express (VRE). Obtains and allocates $100 million annually in

transit assistance. Provides a policy forum for local/state elected

officials.

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Code Red Ozone Alert Free Bus Fares

Region sets aside $75,000 per Code Red day for free bus fares.

Part of overall strategy to meet federal clean air standards.

Twelve Code Red free transit fare days so far in Summer, 2002 vs. five in 2001.

NVTC manages funds, alerts public, promotes broader participation by transit systems.

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Bus Fare Buydown

$808,000 annual program reduces fares.– Originally to compensate for lost transit revenue due to

relaxed HOV restrictions on I-66.

Now boosts ridership in one corridor each year:– I-66 in 2001– I-95/Springfield “Mixing Bowl” in 2002– Dulles Corridor in 2003– Route 1 in 2004

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Corridor Studies

NVTC managed a cooperative consulting study, identifying transit/pedestrian/HOV improvements in the Route 1 corridor (Fairfax/Prince William counties). Now being used to guide the VDOT center-line study.

NVTC led the evaluation of ITS technologies in the Dulles corridor and produced a report that is guiding the use of these new technologies.

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SmarTrip Fareboxes/ Clearinghouse

NVTC represents six transit systems on WMATA’s executive team.

$5 million state/federal funded project. Installation of 370 fareboxes expected in early

2003. Negotiating memorandum of understanding for

Clearinghouse executive management. Clearinghouse expected in November, 2003

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Emergency Response

NVTC assembled Northern Virginia’s transit operators shortly after 9/11.

Solidified communication. Improved VDOT’s policy on lifting HOV

restrictions. Now part of ongoing regional emergency

response planning at MWCOG.

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NVTC Public Outreach

Promoted transit safety and security response with radio ads and new web page at www.CommuterPage.com.

NVTC’s new web presence at www.thinkoutsidethecar.org provides enhanced interactivity between NVTC and the public. The new site highlights:

Information Research Events Legislative alerts

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Virginia Railway Express (VRE)

NVTC began working to create VRE in 1984. Service began in 1992. As co-owner, NVTC manages VRE’s state

grants and audit. NVTC’s balance sheet shows assets (including

VRE) of a quarter billion dollars. VRE is renowned for its customer service

innovations including “Train Brain.”

How the commonwealth can help NVTC as it works for a better balanced

transportation system…

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#1. Recognize Funding Disparities

State reserves most revenue resources for itself. State funds a much higher percentage of road vs.

transit projects. State doesn’t meet its own limited funding goals for

transit. NVTC’s local governments’ $126 per capita for

transit is four times greater than any other Virginia transit system.

NVTC’s governments provide 72 percent of local funds for transit statewide, but only receive 65 percent of state transit aid.

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#2 NVTC is Short Changed

In FY2003, total state aid to NVTC/VRE is $68.7 million– $49.9 million for FTM– $18.8 million for capital

NVTC state aid shortfall = $75.4 million– $57.8 million FTM– $17.6 million capital

The commonwealth does not meet its own statutory targets for sharing in transit investments with localities.

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#3 All Transit in Virginia is shortchanged

Total state transit aid = $97 million– $73.2 million for FTM– $24.2 million for capital

State shortfall = $111 million– $81.8 million for FTM– $22.6 million for capital

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Other ways the commonwealth can help…

Create a six-year plan, with an emphasis on multi-modal systems, that is meaningful with an open/transparent process that allows local governments to respond before it is locked into place.

Give the region equitable treatment.

Give transit its fair share of any new revenues.

Promptly issue bonds approved by the General Assembly for transit

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Even more ways the commonwealth can help…

Be an advocate for transit systems, their customers, and the local governments that must pay the lion’s share.

Seek more transit funding in the federal TEA-21 reauthorization process.

Encourage better cooperation and performance from the freight railroads hosting VRE.

Above all, fully fund the existing state transit programs.