Tennessee Transit 2025 September 24 Public Meeting Nashville

Tennessee Department of Transportation Organization

Office of Public Transportation What We Do Transit planning, marketing, and technical assistance Capital/operating assistance Elderly/disabled programs Ridesharing assistance Transit system training Student internship program Park and ride lot development Resource coordination

Tennessee Transit Today 23 transit agencies state-wide Ridership 29 million in 2001 (up 13.6% since 1998) $45.6 million - capital improvements in 2001 $106.9 million - operating funds in 2001

In Millions of $$ State Transit Funding

Metropolitan/Regional Transit Five Systems 25.8 million trips in Total Vehicles in 2001 RTA

MTA Metropolitan Transit Authority Nashville Fixed route service 34 routes, 7.2 million trips 221 vehicles including vanpools 8 express bus routes Shuttle and Magnet buses Trolley routes – 2 routes Demand response – 115,505 trips Projects: Replace 25 vehicles - $7.1 million

RTA Regional Transportation Authority Nashville Metropolitan Area Mission to develop region-wide commuter rail system Transit Services 100 Vanpools Regional bus routes – 3 routes Carpool database Partnership with MTA – Job Access services Regional Rail Planning 5 potential corridors East corridor to Lebanon in final engineering Service scheduled to begin early 2005

Urban Transit Systems 6 Systems 1.2 million trips in Total Vehicles

Trolley Systems 3 Systems 1.4 million trips in Total Vehicles

FTA Franklin Transit Authority Trolley service 3 routes 4 vehicles Projects: Began new service in May 2003

Rural Public Transit 11 Systems – 95 Counties 1.Delta HRA 2.Northwest TN HRA 3.Southwest HRA 4.Mid-Cumberland HRA 5.South Central TN DD 6.Upper Cumberland HRA 7.Southeast TN HRA 8.Hamilton County 9.East TN HRA 10.Hancock County 11.First TN HRA 1.4 million trips in vehicles

Mid-Cumberland Human Resource Agency Counties Served: Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson, and Wilson Service Area Population: 603,400 Trips Provided in FY 2001: 129,735 Plans to increase ridership under age of 60 by targeting universities and colleges

Emerging Transit Markets Towns become urban – Cleveland, Morristown and Murfreesboro Service feasibility studies – Murfreesboro and Sevierville Bus rapid transit study – Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville

Transit System Issues Funding New technology Capital facilities Demand for paratransit service rising dramatically Service development and marketing Land use planning and development

Transit Benefits (From Oak Ridge National Laboratory) Access to employment and medical services Positive economic and environmental impacts Urban transit returns $ for each $1.00 invested Rural transit has positive cost-benefit ratio

Transit Vision Customer-centered alternatives to private automobiles TDOT is multimodal mobility manager

What is the Transit Plan?

2025 Transit Plan Part of TDOTs long-range multimodal plan Documents current transit services and future needs, costs, funding, marketing Identifies major future projects Contains transit agency and public input

Transit Plan Goals and Objectives Initial Findings Plan Schedule

Draft Goals and Objectives Triple ridership by 2025 Improve service quality and safety Create transit systems and services that enhance quality of life Establish stable/reliable funding Promote best practices Encourage public-private partnerships Develop user-friendly modal connections

Benefits of Growing Transit Ridership by 2025 Quality of Life Reduce traffic congestion Support livable communities Air Quality in Metropolitan Areas Social Benefits Transportation for older citizens & others Economic costs of new infrastructure

Transit Ridership Growth is Achievable! Increase service to match growth in population Start service in new emerging markets Construct New Start transit projects: Memphis Light Rail Nashville Commuter Rail Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge / Sevierville BRT

Programmatic Improvement Areas Vehicle Procurement Improve procurement process and reduce costs Planning TDOT facilitate peer review program among local transit agencies

Programmatic Improvement Areas, cont. Safety and Training Oversight Enhance training Link up with insurers for training and technology Marketing Clarify roles for all parties (including TDOT) Help organize and support transit advocacy

Programmatic Improvement Areas, cont. Technology Transfer TDOT overall transit technology program management Access TN university research centers for help

Cost of Additional Service 2002 Operating Costs 2010 Operating Costs Rural Systems $ 19.2 M$ 22.4 M Small Urban Systems $ 8.6 M$ 19.2 M Metropolitan Systems $ 86.8 M$ M Total$ M$ M Operating Cost Requirements (millions of year 2000 dollars)

Cost of Additional Service Capital Costs Capital Costs Rural Projects $ 43 M$ 91 M Urban Projects Excluding New Starts $ 362 M$ 485 M Urban New Start Projects $ 859 M$1,016 M Total$ 1,264 M$ 1,592 M Capital Costs (millions of year 2000 dollars)

Funding Objectives Predictable and consistent funding stream Adequate and growing Allows multi-year commitments to large capital projects Allows state to plan for or limit exposure for state share of high capital cost projects Funding alternatives will be developed in TDOT Multi-Modal Plan

Options for New Local Funding Increase gasoline tax Increase non-gasoline motor fuel tax (diesel and CNG) Special sales tax Increase vehicle registration fee Vehicle excise / personal property tax

Preparing the Plan Steering Committee Transit agencies speak out on goals/needs Extensive public outreach Stakeholder groups and user surveys Details on TDOT Web Site TDOT.state.tn.us/TNTRANSIT25

Plan Schedule June-October 2003: review, comment, public involvement Early fall 2003: finalize as transit resource document for long-range multimodal transportation plan

Transit Plan is One Part of the Long-Range Multimodal Plan Aviation Plan Bike/Pedestrian Plan Freight Plan Highway Plan Rail Plan Transit Plan The long-range multimodal planning process will begin this year and take about 18 months.

Now its your turn... How you can help shape the plan