2011 Budget Summary Revenues (projected)
Expenses (projected)
Sales tax revenues are expected to increase in 2011 over current levels, due mostly to the 0.2 percent increase in the local sales tax rate voters recently approved. Revenue generated through local sales tax is the primary funding source for Intercity Transit operation.
The 2011 budget supports a 3.2 percent increase in transit service and provides funds to complete the design and begin construction of the Olympia Transit Center expansion.
December 2010 • Issue 11
Twice a year, Intercity Transit prepares a performance report for the community it serves. The report includes a number of objective and subjective measures we use to track our performance. “We believe members of our community are entitled to know how we are performing, and sharing our performance results keeps them informed about what is involved in delivering quality transportation services,” states Mike Harbour, Intercity Transit General Manager.
Revenue by Source
Total: $38,511,854
Expenditures by Function
Total: $43,918,360
Sales Tax $28,414,913 ........................................... 73.78%
Capital $12,560,096 .................................................. 28.60%
Grants $5,420,270 .................................................. 14.07%
Vehicle Operations $14,673,522 .......................... 33.41%
Fares $4,082,098 ..................................................... 10.60%
Administration $7,216,002..................................... 16.43%
Interest $295,240....................................................... 0.77%
Vehicle Maintenance $7,125,490......................... 16.22%
Advertising $270,733............................................... 0.70%
Non-Vehicle Maintenance $1,897,309................. 4.32%
Misc $28,600 ............................................................... 0.07%
Vanpool $445,941 ....................................................... 1.02%
Comments or Questions This Performance Report is distributed to area elected officials, transportation planners, policymakers and the news media. It is available to other transit stakeholders upon request. Intercity Transit values the involvement and input of the public. Please send your comments or questions to:
Please keep this report for future reference. This report is also available online.
8
Intercity Transit Performance Report • December 2010
Amtrak Centennial Station on a Roll The Amtrak Centennial Station, located along Yelm
Good News: Fuel Economy for New Hybrid Buses Performing Well The first six hybrid-dieselelectric buses operating in the South Puget Sound region appear to be performing well. In addition to customer and driver praise, early indications point to strong fuel economy during their initial operating period.
Tell Us Intercity Transit P.O. Box 659 Olympia, WA 98507 You also can reach us by email or phone at
[email protected] or at our business office, 360-786-8585.
The report is viewed by community leaders, transportation planners and elected officials, and also by members of the Intercity Transit Authority, Citizen Advisory Committee, and employees. “Our intent is to maintain a strong sense of accountability to the public and to each other while continually striving to maintain – if not improve – the quality of our services,” states Harbour.
www.intercitytransit.com
During a recent test period, the buses operating express service between Olympia, Lacey and Tacoma averaged 6.72 miles per gallon, 21 percent better fuel economy than similarly sized, diesel coaches.
Hybrid buses operating on local transit routes had even better fuel economy. These hybrids averaged 5.81 miles per gallon, a 26 percent increase over similarly sized coaches. As transit drivers become more familiar with the operation of the hybrids, performance may improve further. All hybrid buses operate on a combination of electricity, biodiesel, and ultra-low sulfur diesel.
Highway southeast of Lacey, is a busy place. It serves the Amtrak Cascades and Pacific Coast Starlight routes with five north- and southbound trains daily. The station supports more than 60,600 boardings and deboardings each year and experienced a 7 percent growth in travel activity over the last year. The station has a park-and-ride lot with more than 130 spaces. Intercity Transit Routes 64 and 94 provide bus service between the Amtrak Station and Downtown Olympia, downtown Yelm, and the Lacey Transit Center (depending on the route). continued on page 2
continues from page 1
The Amtrak Centennial Station is open 8:15 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. seven days a week. Volunteers staff the waiting area and information counter daily. The Centennial Station is the only volunteer-run Amtrak facility in the country. Visit http://www.amtrakcascades.com for details on the Station and Amtrak Cascades. Intercity Transit manages the maintenance and operation of the Amtrak Centennial Station, and has partnership agreements with Amtrak, the cities of Lacey, Tumwater, Olympia and Yelm, Thurston County, and the Port of Olympia to fund operating costs and maintenance.
Reliability, Cleanliness, Comfort and Courtesy Service reliability, cleanliness and comfort of buses, and employee courtesy continue to receive high marks from transit customers. This chart shows the percent of bus riders who rated each item as either “satisfied” or “very satisfied”.
of cars on our roads during peak commute hours are seeing positive results in Thurston County. A semiannual statewide campaign that encourages commuters to give up driving solo to work has shown strong participation levels over the past several years with a 52 percent increase since 2006. In fact, Thurston County consistently ranks close to the top statewide in commuter use of alternative travel modes, even when compared with larger counties in Washington State including King and Spokane. Ten counties typically participate in the annual trip reduction effort.
26.87%
Driver courtesy 0%
10%
83.40%
61.57%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
88.44% 70%
80%
90%
100%
Percent rated “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with each item Satisfied
Very satisfied
Source: November 2010 Intercity Transit Onboard Survey
The Amtrak Centennial Station served more than 60,000 travelers last year.
The Washington State Ridesharing Organization (WSRO), a nonprofit organization that encourages non-drive-alone commuting, conducts Wheel Options twice a year. The organization promotes the campaign through employers throughout Washington State. In Thurston County, typically 70 or more worksites participate, attracting up to nearly 3,000 individual participants. The most recent campaign, held for two weeks in October, generated 2,337 Thurston County participants. Collectively, those participants reduced commute trips by an estimated 16,338 representing 1.1 million miles not driven on our region’s roads. Use of alternative commute modes prevented
approximately 15,568 pounds of carbon dioxide and other pollutants from harming human health and damaging our air, water, and other natural resources. Commute Trip Reduction efforts show positive results when considering other indicators as well. A 2009 survey of state workers in Thurston County indicates that 30 percent of commuters surveyed use the bus or another alternative to driving alone to work, a 6 percent increase since 2005. Intercity Transit, the Thurston Regional Planning Council, and Washington State Department of Transportation partner to conduct Commute Trip Reduction activities in Thurston County.
Farebox Income Helps Operating Revenue Intercity Transit’s single largest source of funding comes from a portion of the local sales tax. In August of 2010, voters approved a
0.2 percent increase in the retail sales tax, bringing the total amount for transit to 0.8 percent (eight tenths of one cent). Other revenue comes from fares, which have increased dramatically in the past seven years. Rider fares are evaluated and often adjusted every three years.
4,500,000 3,941,411
4,000,000
$
3,500,000
3,000,000
2,694,152 2,356,589
2,500,000 2,070,124 2,000,000 1,950,000
1,899,431
1,900,000 1,850,000
1,805,783
1,800,000
2004
2005
Source: Intercity Transit Operating Data
Intercity Transit Performance Report • December 2010
4,082,098
3,103,933
2003
2
86.42%
49.81%
33.59%
Bus comfort
88.21%
48.68%
37.74%
Interior bus cleanliness
Thurston County Active in Commute Trip Reduction Efforts to reduce the number
52.09%
36.12%
Overall reliability
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010*
* year end projection
Intercity Transit Performance Report • December 2010
7
Customer Satisfaction
Service Efficiency
80
Dissatisfied 1.57% Very Dissatisfied 1.57% 2006
5,500,000
#
5,000,000 4,500,000 4,000,000
2010 (Nov.)
3,500,000
Source: November 2010 Intercity Transit Onboard Survey
3,000,000
4,318,859
Neutral 5.88%
2003
5,141,958
Satisfied 32.16%
87
4,308,871
89
3,638,433
90
3,606,283
%
Very Satisfied 58.82%
91
5,095,050
100
Use of Dial-A-Lift and vanpool services also remains strong. This bucks the trend of falling ridership in many communities, largely attributed to the prolonged economic recession.
4,300,000
Current transit rider satisfaction levels
Intercity Transit ridership again topped 5.1 million trips in 2009 and may do so again in 2010. Current ridership is strong and, in fact, fixed-route transit service use this year set a new single-month record in March (unaudited).
2,839,816
Percent rated “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with transit service
Boardings Per Year
5,122,866
Customers indicate a high level of satisfaction with Intercity Transit fixed-route service. The most recent rider survey, done in November 2010, indicates 96 percent would recommend Intercity Transit to others and 91 percent are “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with service.
4,298,647
Overall Satisfaction
2,500,000
Eighty-five percent of riders indicate they feel “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with their safety while using Intercity Transit.
Source: November 2010 Intercity Transit Onboard Survey
6
Intercity Transit Performance Report • December 2010
90
500,000
87.0
89.3
85.4
142,209 682,010
%
1,000,000
133,847 689,232
100
1,500,000
134,948 535,490
Transit riders continue to show a very high level of satisfaction with the safety and security of transit service and facilities. Security measures include cameras on all buses, security guards and cameras at primary transit centers, and improved lighting at some bus stops and the recently improved Martin Way Park and Ride lot.
Percent rated “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their safety while using Intercity Transit
117,621 383,550
Safety and Security
2005
2007
2008
2009
149,472 645,578
2,000,000
0
2010 (estimated)
Fixed-Route
80
Dial-A-Lift
Vanpool
Total
Source: Intercity Transit Operating Data
2003
2006
2010 (Nov.)
Intercity Transit Performance Report • December 2010
3
Cost Per Service Hour Direct costs that affect cost per service hour are primarily fuel and wages. The cost per hour for fixed-route transit service increased by 3.6 percent in 2009 compared to 2008. The cost per hour for Dial-A-Lift increased by 1.6 percent compared to 2008.
25
Boardings Per Hour
110
$
99.5
100 90 80
89.4
92.3
88.0
77.5
81.4
103.0
83.0
Intercity Transit measures its productivity by the number of passengers carried per hour of service. Productivity dropped slightly in 2009. The economic slowdown is suspected to have caused a decrease in the number of trips taken to jobs, schools, shopping, tourism, and other destinations.
#
2003
Fixed-Route
2005
2007
2008
5
2.3
40
2001
2009
Source: Intercity Transit Operating Data
Dial-A-Lift
36.4
$
35
38.1
38.8
33.7
2.2
2003
Fixed-Route
2005
2007
2008
2009
Dial-A-Lift
Vanpool Passengers Vanpool ridership has decreased in the past two years, largely due to significant employment loss for regional commuters. However, the program with 176 vanpool groups currently on the road estimates the total number of passenger trips made this year will be just under 650,000.
30 25
688,966 680,664 645,578*
20 700,000
15
650,000
10
4.7 1.8
5
4.6 2.1
4.6 2.1
4.8 2.2
527,200
600,000 550,000
0 2001
2003
2005
2007
2008
2009
467,600
#
500,000
383,550
450,000
Source: Intercity Transit Operating Data
2.6
10
0 2001
The cost per boarding increased slightly in 2009 due to increased operating costs. On fixed-route transit service, it increased by 4.4 percent compared to 2008. The cost per boarding for Dial-A-Lift increased by 1.8 percent compared to 2008. Vanpool cost per boarding increased by 4.8 percent. Vanpool costs are primarily driven by the cost of fuel and maintenance.
22.2
15
0
Cost Per Boarding
22.4
20
70
Source: Intercity Transit Operating Data
20.8
Fixed-Route
Dial-A-Lift
Vanpool
400,000 350,000 300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 0 1996 1997
1998
1999
2000 2001 2002
Source: Intercity Transit Operating Data
4
Intercity Transit Performance Report • December 2010
2003 2004 2005
2006
2007
2008
2009 2010
* estimated year end
Intercity Transit Performance Report • December 2010
5
Cost Per Service Hour Direct costs that affect cost per service hour are primarily fuel and wages. The cost per hour for fixed-route transit service increased by 3.6 percent in 2009 compared to 2008. The cost per hour for Dial-A-Lift increased by 1.6 percent compared to 2008.
25
Boardings Per Hour
110
$
99.5
100 90 80
89.4
92.3
88.0
77.5
81.4
103.0
83.0
Intercity Transit measures its productivity by the number of passengers carried per hour of service. Productivity dropped slightly in 2009. The economic slowdown is suspected to have caused a decrease in the number of trips taken to jobs, schools, shopping, tourism, and other destinations.
#
2003
Fixed-Route
2005
2007
2008
5
2.3
40
2001
2009
Source: Intercity Transit Operating Data
Dial-A-Lift
36.4
$
35
38.1
38.8
33.7
2.2
2003
Fixed-Route
2005
2007
2008
2009
Dial-A-Lift
Vanpool Passengers Vanpool ridership has decreased in the past two years, largely due to significant employment loss for regional commuters. However, the program with 176 vanpool groups currently on the road estimates the total number of passenger trips made this year will be just under 650,000.
30 25
688,966 680,664 645,578*
20 700,000
15
650,000
10
4.7 1.8
5
4.6 2.1
4.6 2.1
4.8 2.2
527,200
600,000 550,000
0 2001
2003
2005
2007
2008
2009
467,600
#
500,000
383,550
450,000
Source: Intercity Transit Operating Data
2.6
10
0 2001
The cost per boarding increased slightly in 2009 due to increased operating costs. On fixed-route transit service, it increased by 4.4 percent compared to 2008. The cost per boarding for Dial-A-Lift increased by 1.8 percent compared to 2008. Vanpool cost per boarding increased by 4.8 percent. Vanpool costs are primarily driven by the cost of fuel and maintenance.
22.2
15
0
Cost Per Boarding
22.4
20
70
Source: Intercity Transit Operating Data
20.8
Fixed-Route
Dial-A-Lift
Vanpool
400,000 350,000 300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 0 1996 1997
1998
1999
2000 2001 2002
Source: Intercity Transit Operating Data
4
Intercity Transit Performance Report • December 2010
2003 2004 2005
2006
2007
2008
2009 2010
* estimated year end
Intercity Transit Performance Report • December 2010
5
Customer Satisfaction
Service Efficiency
80
Dissatisfied 1.57% Very Dissatisfied 1.57% 2006
5,500,000
#
5,000,000 4,500,000 4,000,000
2010 (Nov.)
3,500,000
Source: November 2010 Intercity Transit Onboard Survey
3,000,000
4,318,859
Neutral 5.88%
2003
5,141,958
Satisfied 32.16%
87
4,308,871
89
3,638,433
90
3,606,283
%
Very Satisfied 58.82%
91
5,095,050
100
Use of Dial-A-Lift and vanpool services also remains strong. This bucks the trend of falling ridership in many communities, largely attributed to the prolonged economic recession.
4,300,000
Current transit rider satisfaction levels
Intercity Transit ridership again topped 5.1 million trips in 2009 and may do so again in 2010. Current ridership is strong and, in fact, fixed-route transit service use this year set a new single-month record in March (unaudited).
2,839,816
Percent rated “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with transit service
Boardings Per Year
5,122,866
Customers indicate a high level of satisfaction with Intercity Transit fixed-route service. The most recent rider survey, done in November 2010, indicates 96 percent would recommend Intercity Transit to others and 91 percent are “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with service.
4,298,647
Overall Satisfaction
2,500,000
Eighty-five percent of riders indicate they feel “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with their safety while using Intercity Transit.
Source: November 2010 Intercity Transit Onboard Survey
6
Intercity Transit Performance Report • December 2010
90
500,000
87.0
89.3
85.4
142,209 682,010
%
1,000,000
133,847 689,232
100
1,500,000
134,948 535,490
Transit riders continue to show a very high level of satisfaction with the safety and security of transit service and facilities. Security measures include cameras on all buses, security guards and cameras at primary transit centers, and improved lighting at some bus stops and the recently improved Martin Way Park and Ride lot.
Percent rated “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their safety while using Intercity Transit
117,621 383,550
Safety and Security
2005
2007
2008
2009
149,472 645,578
2,000,000
0
2010 (estimated)
Fixed-Route
80
Dial-A-Lift
Vanpool
Total
Source: Intercity Transit Operating Data
2003
2006
2010 (Nov.)
Intercity Transit Performance Report • December 2010
3
continues from page 1
The Amtrak Centennial Station is open 8:15 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. seven days a week. Volunteers staff the waiting area and information counter daily. The Centennial Station is the only volunteer-run Amtrak facility in the country. Visit http://www.amtrakcascades.com for details on the Station and Amtrak Cascades. Intercity Transit manages the maintenance and operation of the Amtrak Centennial Station, and has partnership agreements with Amtrak, the cities of Lacey, Tumwater, Olympia and Yelm, Thurston County, and the Port of Olympia to fund operating costs and maintenance.
Reliability, Cleanliness, Comfort and Courtesy Service reliability, cleanliness and comfort of buses, and employee courtesy continue to receive high marks from transit customers. This chart shows the percent of bus riders who rated each item as either “satisfied” or “very satisfied”.
of cars on our roads during peak commute hours are seeing positive results in Thurston County. A semiannual statewide campaign that encourages commuters to give up driving solo to work has shown strong participation levels over the past several years with a 52 percent increase since 2006. In fact, Thurston County consistently ranks close to the top statewide in commuter use of alternative travel modes, even when compared with larger counties in Washington State including King and Spokane. Ten counties typically participate in the annual trip reduction effort.
26.87%
Driver courtesy 0%
10%
83.40%
61.57%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
88.44% 70%
80%
90%
100%
Percent rated “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with each item Satisfied
Very satisfied
Source: November 2010 Intercity Transit Onboard Survey
The Amtrak Centennial Station served more than 60,000 travelers last year.
The Washington State Ridesharing Organization (WSRO), a nonprofit organization that encourages non-drive-alone commuting, conducts Wheel Options twice a year. The organization promotes the campaign through employers throughout Washington State. In Thurston County, typically 70 or more worksites participate, attracting up to nearly 3,000 individual participants. The most recent campaign, held for two weeks in October, generated 2,337 Thurston County participants. Collectively, those participants reduced commute trips by an estimated 16,338 representing 1.1 million miles not driven on our region’s roads. Use of alternative commute modes prevented
approximately 15,568 pounds of carbon dioxide and other pollutants from harming human health and damaging our air, water, and other natural resources. Commute Trip Reduction efforts show positive results when considering other indicators as well. A 2009 survey of state workers in Thurston County indicates that 30 percent of commuters surveyed use the bus or another alternative to driving alone to work, a 6 percent increase since 2005. Intercity Transit, the Thurston Regional Planning Council, and Washington State Department of Transportation partner to conduct Commute Trip Reduction activities in Thurston County.
Farebox Income Helps Operating Revenue Intercity Transit’s single largest source of funding comes from a portion of the local sales tax. In August of 2010, voters approved a
0.2 percent increase in the retail sales tax, bringing the total amount for transit to 0.8 percent (eight tenths of one cent). Other revenue comes from fares, which have increased dramatically in the past seven years. Rider fares are evaluated and often adjusted every three years.
4,500,000 3,941,411
4,000,000
$
3,500,000
3,000,000
2,694,152 2,356,589
2,500,000 2,070,124 2,000,000 1,950,000
1,899,431
1,900,000 1,850,000
1,805,783
1,800,000
2004
2005
Source: Intercity Transit Operating Data
Intercity Transit Performance Report • December 2010
4,082,098
3,103,933
2003
2
86.42%
49.81%
33.59%
Bus comfort
88.21%
48.68%
37.74%
Interior bus cleanliness
Thurston County Active in Commute Trip Reduction Efforts to reduce the number
52.09%
36.12%
Overall reliability
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010*
* year end projection
Intercity Transit Performance Report • December 2010
7
2011 Budget Summary Revenues (projected)
Expenses (projected)
Sales tax revenues are expected to increase in 2011 over current levels, due mostly to the 0.2 percent increase in the local sales tax rate voters recently approved. Revenue generated through local sales tax is the primary funding source for Intercity Transit operation.
The 2011 budget supports a 3.2 percent increase in transit service and provides funds to complete the design and begin construction of the Olympia Transit Center expansion.
December 2010 • Issue 11
Twice a year, Intercity Transit prepares a performance report for the community it serves. The report includes a number of objective and subjective measures we use to track our performance. “We believe members of our community are entitled to know how we are performing, and sharing our performance results keeps them informed about what is involved in delivering quality transportation services,” states Mike Harbour, Intercity Transit General Manager.
Revenue by Source
Total: $38,511,854
Expenditures by Function
Total: $43,918,360
Sales Tax $28,414,913 ........................................... 73.78%
Capital $12,560,096 .................................................. 28.60%
Grants $5,420,270 .................................................. 14.07%
Vehicle Operations $14,673,522 .......................... 33.41%
Fares $4,082,098 ..................................................... 10.60%
Administration $7,216,002..................................... 16.43%
Interest $295,240....................................................... 0.77%
Vehicle Maintenance $7,125,490......................... 16.22%
Advertising $270,733............................................... 0.70%
Non-Vehicle Maintenance $1,897,309................. 4.32%
Misc $28,600 ............................................................... 0.07%
Vanpool $445,941 ....................................................... 1.02%
Comments or Questions This Performance Report is distributed to area elected officials, transportation planners, policymakers and the news media. It is available to other transit stakeholders upon request. Intercity Transit values the involvement and input of the public. Please send your comments or questions to:
Please keep this report for future reference. This report is also available online.
8
Intercity Transit Performance Report • December 2010
Amtrak Centennial Station on a Roll The Amtrak Centennial Station, located along Yelm
Good News: Fuel Economy for New Hybrid Buses Performing Well The first six hybrid-dieselelectric buses operating in the South Puget Sound region appear to be performing well. In addition to customer and driver praise, early indications point to strong fuel economy during their initial operating period.
Tell Us Intercity Transit P.O. Box 659 Olympia, WA 98507 You also can reach us by email or phone at
[email protected] or at our business office, 360-786-8585.
The report is viewed by community leaders, transportation planners and elected officials, and also by members of the Intercity Transit Authority, Citizen Advisory Committee, and employees. “Our intent is to maintain a strong sense of accountability to the public and to each other while continually striving to maintain – if not improve – the quality of our services,” states Harbour.
www.intercitytransit.com
During a recent test period, the buses operating express service between Olympia, Lacey and Tacoma averaged 6.72 miles per gallon, 21 percent better fuel economy than similarly sized, diesel coaches.
Hybrid buses operating on local transit routes had even better fuel economy. These hybrids averaged 5.81 miles per gallon, a 26 percent increase over similarly sized coaches. As transit drivers become more familiar with the operation of the hybrids, performance may improve further. All hybrid buses operate on a combination of electricity, biodiesel, and ultra-low sulfur diesel.
Highway southeast of Lacey, is a busy place. It serves the Amtrak Cascades and Pacific Coast Starlight routes with five north- and southbound trains daily. The station supports more than 60,600 boardings and deboardings each year and experienced a 7 percent growth in travel activity over the last year. The station has a park-and-ride lot with more than 130 spaces. Intercity Transit Routes 64 and 94 provide bus service between the Amtrak Station and Downtown Olympia, downtown Yelm, and the Lacey Transit Center (depending on the route). continued on page 2