Innovations in Transit Planning and Financing Presentation to the 2003 MPO Conference, Muncie IN October 16, 2003

Introduction In 1985 there was no public transit service in Elkhart or Goshen In 1985 there was no public transit service in Elkhart or Goshen TODAY, Elkhart and Goshen have demand response service, which operates 7 days a week, 24 hours a day and is open to the general public and is ADA accessible! TODAY, Elkhart and Goshen have demand response service, which operates 7 days a week, 24 hours a day and is open to the general public and is ADA accessible!

Introduction AND bus service with four fixed routes, using left-equipped buses, daily and Saturday AND bus service with four fixed routes, using left-equipped buses, daily and Saturday HOW did this happen? HOW did this happen?

Transit Barriers No pre-existing transit agency for public buyout No pre-existing transit agency for public buyout No municipal tax base for transit No municipal tax base for transit No source of federal, state, local funds for start up capital purchases No source of federal, state, local funds for start up capital purchases

Transit Barriers Only a small annual apportionment Only a small annual apportionment Insufficient state and local matching dollars to start-up and sustain a bus system Insufficient state and local matching dollars to start-up and sustain a bus system

What Did We Do? Evaluated the need for transit Evaluated the need for transit Enlisted the aid of Mayors and an Advisory Committee Enlisted the aid of Mayors and an Advisory Committee Evaluated methods of delivery Evaluated methods of delivery Decided to implement a demand-response User-Side Subsidy program Decided to implement a demand-response User-Side Subsidy program

User Side Subsidy vs Fixed Route  User-side subsidy format and contract with cab operators provided a ready- made fleet using a private sector community resource.  The service format addressed the broadest service timeframe – 24 hours 7 days per week.

FTA and state funding for these smaller cities was not sufficient to establish a bus system User Side Subsidy vs Fixed Route FTA and state funding for these smaller cities was not sufficient to establish a bus system User Side Subsidy vs Fixed Route  The user side subsidy format only cost the system when a rider actually took a ride, thereby extending the systems efficiency  Low administrative costs

User Side Subsidy vs Fixed Route  The service was immediately available for the general public and ADA riders with virtually no start up cost.  Program costs controlled with established rate for fares and subsidies.

Available Resources Experienced Taxi Cab companies in Elkhart Experienced Taxi Cab companies in Elkhart Social Service Agencies providing client transit services Social Service Agencies providing client transit services Cooperative Mayors to commit local funds Cooperative Mayors to commit local funds FTA and INDOT funding FTA and INDOT funding

User-Side Subsidy Format Request for operators is conducted annually Request for operators is conducted annually Up to six operators may be contracted to participate in providing service to registered riders Up to six operators may be contracted to participate in providing service to registered riders

User-Side Subsidy Format All riders must register at one of 8 locations in Elkhart and Goshen All riders must register at one of 8 locations in Elkhart and Goshen Riders must present a picture ID and a voucher punch card when riding in order to receive the ½ off discount. Riders must present a picture ID and a voucher punch card when riding in order to receive the ½ off discount.

User-Side Subsidy Format The rider pays half of the fare to the cab operator and the other half is reimbursed via a billing process by MACOG to the cab company The rider pays half of the fare to the cab operator and the other half is reimbursed via a billing process by MACOG to the cab company

What was Implemented? Heart City Rider began in 1986 Heart City Rider began in 1986 Serves the City of Elkhart Serves the City of Elkhart Also makes Inter- City trips to Goshen Also makes Inter- City trips to Goshen Goshen Transit Service began in 1989 Serves City of Goshen Makes Inter City trips to Elkhart

Demand Response Fleet Taxis Taxis 39 taxis owned by service provider 39 taxis owned by service provider ADA Accessible ADA Accessible 7 accessible minivans 7 accessible minivans Service available to the general public 24 hours per day 7 days a week All Holidays

Registration Process Persons register at one of eight sites (located at cooperating social service agencies) Persons register at one of eight sites (located at cooperating social service agencies) Must show picture ID, then issued a numbered user card, good for 20 trips Must show picture ID, then issued a numbered user card, good for 20 trips A matching registration card is forwarded to MACOG A matching registration card is forwarded to MACOG

Administrative Process Each user id and rider information is input into a computer database Each user id and rider information is input into a computer database Each ride results in a voucher that enables MACOG to track 100% of ridership for FTA National Transit Database Each ride results in a voucher that enables MACOG to track 100% of ridership for FTA National Transit Database Monthly reports and annual reports generated from the same database. Monthly reports and annual reports generated from the same database.

Fare Structure Heart City Rider / Goshen Transit Service Ambulatory: $3.00 first mile, $2.40 each additional mile Ambulatory: $3.00 first mile, $2.40 each additional mile Program pays ½ the cost of cab fare up to $3.00 per one way trip Program pays ½ the cost of cab fare up to $3.00 per one way trip Persons using Wheelchairs: $12 first three miles, $1.40 each additional mile Persons using Wheelchairs: $12 first three miles, $1.40 each additional mile Up to $9.60 of fare paid by the program Up to $9.60 of fare paid by the program

Fare Structure Heart City Rider / Goshen Transit Service Ride Share and split the fare: Second adult(or child) free Second adult(or child) free Additional adults 40  each Additional adults 40  each Additional child 20  each Additional child 20  each Example: If 4 people share a trip with total fare of $5.00, each can pay only $1.25. Example: If 4 people share a trip with total fare of $5.00, each can pay only $1.25.

Serves a Broad Range of Needs Service 24 hours per day 7days per week, accommodates all shifts and weekends Addresses welfare to work problems with daycare and job site proximity Three minute wait rule Driver assists with up to two packages

Accessible to disabled and general public in one service Half the cost of cab fare Requirement to ride Ride Sharing incentives Curb to curb service Serves a Broad Range of Needs

HCR/GTS Ridership

HCR/GTS 2003 Ridership HCR marked over 2 million passenger trips HCR marked over 2 million passenger trips GTS ridership surpassed the 300,000 passenger trip mark GTS ridership surpassed the 300,000 passenger trip mark HCR Productivity Measures: HCR Productivity Measures: Avg. passenger trip is 2.5 miles Avg. passenger trip is 2.5 miles Avg. cost to the rider per trip is $2.65 Avg. cost to the rider per trip is $2.65 Avg. cost to HCR program per passenger trip is $2.93, for a total trip cost of $5.58 Avg. cost to HCR program per passenger trip is $2.93, for a total trip cost of $5.58

Funding Demand Response Revenue Sources Revenue Sources FTA Section 5307 FTA Section 5307 INDOT PMTF INDOT PMTF City of Elkhart City of Elkhart City of Goshen City of Goshen Passenger Fares Passenger Fares 44% fare recovery rate !

Fixed Route Comes on Board In response to demand for more transit service, a fixed route bus system was established in Elkhart and Goshen in 1999 In response to demand for more transit service, a fixed route bus system was established in Elkhart and Goshen in 1999 After more than 20 years of service, now HCR and GTS not only fulfill the general public and paratransit need for ADA but also provide the required complementary service to fixed route bus system After more than 20 years of service, now HCR and GTS not only fulfill the general public and paratransit need for ADA but also provide the required complementary service to fixed route bus system

Innovative Financing: Fixed routes in a small urban area Trustee local funds paid for one route from 1986 thru present Cooperative Agreement with Concord Township Trustee, leveraging local funds as a match to FTA funding RFP and contract with established private bus operator Federal, State and local partners

The BUS The BUS Two route system began October 1999 Two route system began October 1999 The existing Concord Township route serves the west side of Elkhart and has since 1986 – funded 100% local The existing Concord Township route serves the west side of Elkhart and has since 1986 – funded 100% local The MACOG route added an intercity route between Elkhart and Goshen The MACOG route added an intercity route between Elkhart and Goshen

2002 Fixed Route Revenue Sources

Fixed Route Ridership

Route Expansion add two more routes – May 2003 $300,000 in CMAQ funds flexed from highway to transit to support expansion $300,000 in CMAQ funds flexed from highway to transit to support expansion Added cross town route in Elkhart Added cross town route in Elkhart Added cross town route in Goshen, using vintage trolley Added cross town route in Goshen, using vintage trolley

Current Bus Routes

How Can this Work for You? Identify your private sector and community resources: Identify your private sector and community resources: Who has vehicles? Develop a fleet inventory for your community Who has vehicles? Develop a fleet inventory for your community Look for contracting opportunities Look for contracting opportunities Are there existing partners that can be used to leverage funds? Are there existing partners that can be used to leverage funds?

How Can this Work for You? Replace or enhance costly late night fixed routes with a user-side subsidy format Replace or enhance costly late night fixed routes with a user-side subsidy format Consider the impending mobility needs of a growing elderly population NOW! Consider the impending mobility needs of a growing elderly population NOW! Work with Trustees, Commissioners, Mayors and others to identify alternative funding Work with Trustees, Commissioners, Mayors and others to identify alternative funding