Planning and Polishing Service for High Schools Kristin Thompson Supervisor, Service Analysis Metro Transit Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN

2 Downtown Minneapolis Mall of America Downtown St. Paul U of MN MSP Airport

Project Background Metro Transit and Minneapolis Public Schools have partnered for several years –Summer school –Attendance area changes Until last fall, yellow buses used for most high school transportation Working group of MPS and Metro Transit staff formed in 2011 to explore expanded partnership 3

Critical Tool: The Student Pass An existing fare tool in our lineup of Go-To smart card products All-you-can-ride pass Customized to MPS needs –Limited hours (5 a.m. to 10 p.m.) –Student ID printed on reverse Provides valuable transactional data to MPS and Metro Transit 4

Initial Analysis All high schools located on or near local routes with minute frequencies Nearly all students within 0.25 mi of a bus stop Using student origin/ destination data, generated trip plan data for each student –Trip duration –Number of required transfers –Demand by route/trip –Travel and transfer patterns Edison HS Estimated Demand 5

Fall 2012: Phase I Six of eight large Minneapolis high schools School hours– 8 or 8:30 am to 3 pm Pass eligibility –Outside school walk zone –Inside walk zone, but eligible for free/reduced lunch –Others allowed to purchase at half price 3200 students eligible as of July

Service Planning Approaches Plan a seat for each student– actual demand unknown Use existing capacity where available Establish or use existing short-line terminals Schedule doubleheaders Consider route extensions to school building if heavy loads expected Comply with FTA charter and school bus regulations 7

Example: Edison HS Heavy cross-river demand from north Minneapolis to northeast Minneapolis Inadequate existing service –Long trips –Most trips require a transfer –Long-term detour 8

New route extensions Unexpected ridership patterns –Downtown orientation Mid-year service adjustments Example: Edison HS 9

Initial Supplemental Service Plan MPS “school extra” trips on 12 routes Routing changes to bring routes closer to schools, reduce transfers 89 school extras for MPS –84 platform hours –37 AM peak buses –no PM peak buses 10

Program webpage (metrotransit.org/mps) School-specific map displays in schools Marketing materials (Code of Conduct, User Guide) Bus operator training (with follow-up Bulletins) Outreach at school events during summer 2012 Metro Transit staff at schools and transfer points the first two days of school Communications and Outreach Plan 11

Challenges Coordination with other Metro Transit commitments –Driver pick date –State Fair Partnership with MPS Negative perceptions –Downtown –Midday ridership 12

MPS Student Pass Tags by Hour Weekdays 9/24-10/12, by location 13

Results Passes & Service 3800 passes in use About 7000 rides/weekday Close to 1.5 million rides for the school year By March, MPS school extras trimmed 15% to 76 MPS Student Survey 66% “love it” and 25% “like it” In additional to school trips, popular uses include: –Library (42%) –Athletics (40%) –Jobs (36%) –School clubs (26%) –Tutoring (16%) 14

Fall 2013: Phase II South and Southwest High Schools will join the program –2100 additional pass holders Repeated trip planner analysis Both schools are located in south Minneapolis– strong grid network –Focus on providing adequate capacity on existing routes –Refine ridership expectations based on experience 15

Tips for Planning Service for High Schools Get information early and often –Student addresses and school choice –School bus routes and ridership –Bell times and start date –Track ridership Carefully plan service Be prepared to change your plans Work the partnership 16

Planning and Polishing Service for High Schools Kristin Thompson Supervisor, Service Analysis Metro Transit Minneapolis, MN