El Paso County Transit Routes
EL PASO COUNTY REGIONAL TRANSIT INSTITUTIONAL OPTIONS ASSESSMENT STUDY Sponsored by: El Paso County Funding Support: Texas Department of Transportation Technical Assistance to the County: Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI)
Michael J. Walk, TTI National RTAP Conference October 31, 2017
1
Agenda • Project Overview • Existing Conditions • Service and Institutional Scenarios
2
Overall Project Scope • Examine the feasibility of a seamless, countywide fixed-route transit system for all of El Paso county • Identify alternatives for transit within travel corridors throughout El Paso county – Service design – Organizational structure – Funding
• Assess potential to improve transit service for access to jobs, education, medical, shopping , personal business • Research helps to lay the groundwork for county-wide transit AND helps to prepare local governments to embark on this journey. 3
Study Steps • Stakeholder Engagement and Public Data Collection (continuous) • Existing Conditions Analysis: Transit and Population • Possible Service Scenarios • Institutional / Organizational Options
4
EXISTING CONDITIONS: TRANSIT AND POPULATION
5
Sun Metro and El Paso County Transit Service Areas
6
Current Services El Paso County Transit • County Bus Routes: Six scheduled, fixed-routes connecting urban and rural communities Sun Metro transfer centers – Routes 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 by First Transit – Route 84 is operated by Sun Metro
• Gold Route: Intercity bus service that operates between Las Cruces and El Paso. • Vanpool: Program that matches commuter groups with similar origins and destinations, provides vans, and offers incentive for lower commuting costs 7
El Paso County Transit Routes
8
El Paso County Bus Routes El Paso County Routes
Hours of Service
Average Frequency in Minutes
Route 10 Anthony Canutillo
12 Hours Weekday & Saturday
43 peak 91 off-peak
$1.50
Route 20 Montana Vista
14 Hours Weekday & Saturday
52 peak 55 off-peak
$1.50
Route 30 Horizon
13 Hours Weekday & Saturday
132 peak and off-peak
$1.50
Route 40 Fabens Tornillo
11 Hours Weekday & Saturday
99 peak and off-peak
$1.50
Route 50 Mission Trail
9 Hours Weekday 7 Hours Saturday, Sunday and Holidays
60 peak and off-peak
$1.50
90 peak and off-peak
$1.50
Route 84 12 Hours Weekday EPCC Mission del Paso Operated by Sun Metro
Fare
9
El Paso County Transit Riders
10
Transit Need Index (TNI) • Based on population demographics, where is transit need? • Demographic characteristics to identify areas of transit need: – Population age 65 and older – People with a disability – Population below poverty level – No vehicle available in household
11
Example: Population below Poverty Level
12
Transit Need Index
13
Transit Supply Index (TSI) • Based on level of service, does current service meet transit need? • Transit service characteristics to represent transit supply: – Service geographic coverage – Days of service – Hours of operation – Frequency (number of bus trips per day)
14
Transit Supply Index
Shading represents population concentration, the darker the color the greater the population density.
15
Transit Gap: Transit Need – Transit Supply
16
Population Concentration
17
Urban Area Growth 2000-2010
18
Job Density
19
Corridors Photographic Inventory 2
4
3
1
20
21
Goals and Measures for Transit Service Goal
Description
Measure
Rural Area Coverage
Provide transit service to all residents in the rural areas of El Paso County
Percent of rural population with transit access
Urban Area Coverage
Provide transit service to all residents in the urban areas of El Paso County
Percent of urbanized county population with transit access
Utility
Improve the utility of transit to serve many passenger trip purposes
Number of scheduled vehicle trips + demand-response revenue hours
Effectiveness
Improve the effectiveness of transit service
Passengers per revenue hour
Complement Sun Metro
Improve connections between El Paso County and Percent of routes serving nonSun Metro transit service downtown Sun Metro transfer centers and presence of pulsed-timed transfers
22
Transit Service Guidelines • Where possible, avoid one-way loops. • Where possible, direct routing preferred; avoid routing deviations for low-ridership areas. • Where possible, frequency should correspond with the level of population and commercial density along the route. • Prioritize areas with higher population and commercial density for fixed or flexible transit. • Providing direct routing to transfer centers and time schedules to facilitate transfers. • Establish bus stops and passenger amenities commensurate with bus stop typologies. 23
Transit Service Considerations: One-Way Loops
24
Transit Service Considerations: Land-Use Patterns and Road Network • Pockets of development
– Separated by large, undeveloped areas – Connected by limited, sometimes circuitous road network
25
Current Service
26
Scenario #1 – Rural General Public Demand Response
27
Scenario #2 – Baseline Flexible Local Bus
28
Scenario #3 – Flexible Local Bus + Rural GPDR
29
Scenario #4 – Fixed Route Local Bus + ADA Paratransit
30
Scenario #5 – Enhanced Flexible Local Bus + Rural GPDR
31
Transit Service Scenarios – Performance Measures Scenario Current Service #1 – Rural GPDR
Rural Area Coverage
Urban Area Coverage
Utility
Effectiveness
Complement Sun Metro
○ ●
◑ ○
○ ○
○ ○
◑ ○
#2 – Baseline Flexible Route
◑
●
◑
◑
◑
#3 – Flexible Route + GPDR
●
●
#4 – Fixed Route + ADA Paratransit
● ○
◑
◑
◑ ◑
● ●
#5 – Enhanced Flexible Route + GPDR
●
●
●
●
●
Do any current passengers lose access?
Ops Cost Estimate
N/A
$$
Yes Residents in urban area lose service
$$
Yes. A few passengers lose service, because some routes are shortened to allow time for flex deviations
$$
No
$$$
Yes A few passengers lose service, because some routes are shortened
$$$
No
$$$$
32
Organizational Options for Countywide Transit in El Paso County Option
Possible Revenue Source
County Mass Transit Authority
Sales Tax Dedicated to Transit
Regional Mobility Authority
Vehicle Registration Fees Other Sources
Local Government Corporation
Local Government General Funds or other Local Revenue
Interlocal Agreement
Local Government General Funds or other Local Revenue 33
Feasibility of Sales Tax for Transit Sales Tax Rates by El Paso County Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction City of El Paso El Paso County Anthony Borderland Canutillo Clint Fabens Horizon City San Elizario Socorro Tornillo Vinton Westway
El Paso County (EPC) 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5%
EPC Emergency District 2 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5%
City 1.0% 1.0%
1.0% 1.5% 1.0% 1.0% 1.0%
Transit 0.5%
Total Local 2.0% 1.0% 2.0% 1.0% 1.0% 2.0% 1.0% 2.0% 2.0% 2.0% 1.0% 2.0% 1.0%
The combined rates of all sales and use taxes imposed by the taxing authority and all political subdivisions cannot exceed two percent.
34
Next Steps • Work is continuing • Additional data collection from public, including – Perceptions and preferences of scenarios – Perceived value of transit vs. potential costs
• Continued involvement of local governments and revenue options scenarios
35
Key Take-Aways • Establish goals and measures before scenario building • If crafting multiple scenarios, make scenario comparisons visually easy • For transit expansion or start-up, need to make options as real as possible – Narrative and hypotheticals not enough – Need to show cost and build reasonable revenue assumptions to facilitate decision making 36
Michael J. Walk, TTI National RTAP Conference October 31, 2017
1
Agenda • Project Overview • Existing Conditions • Service and Institutional Scenarios
2
Overall Project Scope • Examine the feasibility of a seamless, countywide fixed-route transit system for all of El Paso county • Identify alternatives for transit within travel corridors throughout El Paso county – Service design – Organizational structure – Funding
• Assess potential to improve transit service for access to jobs, education, medical, shopping , personal business • Research helps to lay the groundwork for county-wide transit AND helps to prepare local governments to embark on this journey. 3
Study Steps • Stakeholder Engagement and Public Data Collection (continuous) • Existing Conditions Analysis: Transit and Population • Possible Service Scenarios • Institutional / Organizational Options
4
EXISTING CONDITIONS: TRANSIT AND POPULATION
5
Sun Metro and El Paso County Transit Service Areas
6
Current Services El Paso County Transit • County Bus Routes: Six scheduled, fixed-routes connecting urban and rural communities Sun Metro transfer centers – Routes 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 by First Transit – Route 84 is operated by Sun Metro
• Gold Route: Intercity bus service that operates between Las Cruces and El Paso. • Vanpool: Program that matches commuter groups with similar origins and destinations, provides vans, and offers incentive for lower commuting costs 7
El Paso County Transit Routes
8
El Paso County Bus Routes El Paso County Routes
Hours of Service
Average Frequency in Minutes
Route 10 Anthony Canutillo
12 Hours Weekday & Saturday
43 peak 91 off-peak
$1.50
Route 20 Montana Vista
14 Hours Weekday & Saturday
52 peak 55 off-peak
$1.50
Route 30 Horizon
13 Hours Weekday & Saturday
132 peak and off-peak
$1.50
Route 40 Fabens Tornillo
11 Hours Weekday & Saturday
99 peak and off-peak
$1.50
Route 50 Mission Trail
9 Hours Weekday 7 Hours Saturday, Sunday and Holidays
60 peak and off-peak
$1.50
90 peak and off-peak
$1.50
Route 84 12 Hours Weekday EPCC Mission del Paso Operated by Sun Metro
Fare
9
El Paso County Transit Riders
10
Transit Need Index (TNI) • Based on population demographics, where is transit need? • Demographic characteristics to identify areas of transit need: – Population age 65 and older – People with a disability – Population below poverty level – No vehicle available in household
11
Example: Population below Poverty Level
12
Transit Need Index
13
Transit Supply Index (TSI) • Based on level of service, does current service meet transit need? • Transit service characteristics to represent transit supply: – Service geographic coverage – Days of service – Hours of operation – Frequency (number of bus trips per day)
14
Transit Supply Index
Shading represents population concentration, the darker the color the greater the population density.
15
Transit Gap: Transit Need – Transit Supply
16
Population Concentration
17
Urban Area Growth 2000-2010
18
Job Density
19
Corridors Photographic Inventory 2
4
3
1
20
21
Goals and Measures for Transit Service Goal
Description
Measure
Rural Area Coverage
Provide transit service to all residents in the rural areas of El Paso County
Percent of rural population with transit access
Urban Area Coverage
Provide transit service to all residents in the urban areas of El Paso County
Percent of urbanized county population with transit access
Utility
Improve the utility of transit to serve many passenger trip purposes
Number of scheduled vehicle trips + demand-response revenue hours
Effectiveness
Improve the effectiveness of transit service
Passengers per revenue hour
Complement Sun Metro
Improve connections between El Paso County and Percent of routes serving nonSun Metro transit service downtown Sun Metro transfer centers and presence of pulsed-timed transfers
22
Transit Service Guidelines • Where possible, avoid one-way loops. • Where possible, direct routing preferred; avoid routing deviations for low-ridership areas. • Where possible, frequency should correspond with the level of population and commercial density along the route. • Prioritize areas with higher population and commercial density for fixed or flexible transit. • Providing direct routing to transfer centers and time schedules to facilitate transfers. • Establish bus stops and passenger amenities commensurate with bus stop typologies. 23
Transit Service Considerations: One-Way Loops
24
Transit Service Considerations: Land-Use Patterns and Road Network • Pockets of development
– Separated by large, undeveloped areas – Connected by limited, sometimes circuitous road network
25
Current Service
26
Scenario #1 – Rural General Public Demand Response
27
Scenario #2 – Baseline Flexible Local Bus
28
Scenario #3 – Flexible Local Bus + Rural GPDR
29
Scenario #4 – Fixed Route Local Bus + ADA Paratransit
30
Scenario #5 – Enhanced Flexible Local Bus + Rural GPDR
31
Transit Service Scenarios – Performance Measures Scenario Current Service #1 – Rural GPDR
Rural Area Coverage
Urban Area Coverage
Utility
Effectiveness
Complement Sun Metro
○ ●
◑ ○
○ ○
○ ○
◑ ○
#2 – Baseline Flexible Route
◑
●
◑
◑
◑
#3 – Flexible Route + GPDR
●
●
#4 – Fixed Route + ADA Paratransit
● ○
◑
◑
◑ ◑
● ●
#5 – Enhanced Flexible Route + GPDR
●
●
●
●
●
Do any current passengers lose access?
Ops Cost Estimate
N/A
$$
Yes Residents in urban area lose service
$$
Yes. A few passengers lose service, because some routes are shortened to allow time for flex deviations
$$
No
$$$
Yes A few passengers lose service, because some routes are shortened
$$$
No
$$$$
32
Organizational Options for Countywide Transit in El Paso County Option
Possible Revenue Source
County Mass Transit Authority
Sales Tax Dedicated to Transit
Regional Mobility Authority
Vehicle Registration Fees Other Sources
Local Government Corporation
Local Government General Funds or other Local Revenue
Interlocal Agreement
Local Government General Funds or other Local Revenue 33
Feasibility of Sales Tax for Transit Sales Tax Rates by El Paso County Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction City of El Paso El Paso County Anthony Borderland Canutillo Clint Fabens Horizon City San Elizario Socorro Tornillo Vinton Westway
El Paso County (EPC) 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5%
EPC Emergency District 2 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5%
City 1.0% 1.0%
1.0% 1.5% 1.0% 1.0% 1.0%
Transit 0.5%
Total Local 2.0% 1.0% 2.0% 1.0% 1.0% 2.0% 1.0% 2.0% 2.0% 2.0% 1.0% 2.0% 1.0%
The combined rates of all sales and use taxes imposed by the taxing authority and all political subdivisions cannot exceed two percent.
34
Next Steps • Work is continuing • Additional data collection from public, including – Perceptions and preferences of scenarios – Perceived value of transit vs. potential costs
• Continued involvement of local governments and revenue options scenarios
35
Key Take-Aways • Establish goals and measures before scenario building • If crafting multiple scenarios, make scenario comparisons visually easy • For transit expansion or start-up, need to make options as real as possible – Narrative and hypotheticals not enough – Need to show cost and build reasonable revenue assumptions to facilitate decision making 36
