1. Public Works Department
RESOLUTION APPROVING THE RESTRUCTURING OF CITY COACH TRANSIT ROUTES
May 08, 2018
“Service is Our Business”

2. Background, Service Changes
Why make changes?
Transit demand and travel patterns change
Minor modifications made three years ago; seven years since significant route modifications made
LSC Transportation Consultants
“Service is Our Business”

3. “Service is Our Business”
Service Change Goals
Provide the most effective and highest level of public transit service possible within our operational, financial and regulatory constraints
Involve the public, offer numerous ways for the public to contribute
“Service is Our Business”

4. “Service is Our Business”
Current Service Level
Six Routes
Five routes at 30 minute frequency
One route at 1 hour frequency
“Service is Our Business”

5. Current Service Level, cont.
“Service is Our Business”

6. Part 1 Existing Conditions and Market Analysis
“Service is Our Business”

7. “Service is Our Business”
Ridership Trend
Not a single fare increase since 2004
For the size system, a lot of service delivered considering our comparatively low segment of typical “transit market” riders
“Service is Our Business”

8. Ridership Trends Beyond Vacaville
Bay Area impact; National Trend
FAST –FY16 to FY17, down 6%
SolTRANS –FY16 to FY17, down 12%
SolTRANS –FY16 to FY18 estimate, down 19%
Nationally, FY2014 to FY2016, down 280 million passenger trips
“Service is Our Business”

9. Ridership Downturn, Possible Reasons
Why the ridership downturn?
Cost of living increasing
Housing scarcity
Ridesharing Services
Uber, Lyft, Via, Gett, Curb, Ztrip
“Service is Our Business”

10. Farebox Recovery Ratio
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11. Regulatory Constraints
Total Operating Cost
Total Fares
Adding service without complementary rise in collected fares reduces Farebox Ratio
= Farebox Recovery %
Total Op. Expenses
$1,410,041
Total Revenue
$244,611
Farebox Ratio
17.3%
Total Op. Expenses
$1,822,083
Total Revenue
$326,292
Farebox Ratio
17.9%
Total Op. Expenses
$1,413,568
Total Revenue
$269,356
Farebox Ratio
19.1%
Total Op. Expenses
$1,806,321
Total Revenue
$363,706
Farebox Ratio
20.1%
Transportation Development Act (TDA), enacted 1971
¼ cent general sales tax, apportioned and returned to cities based on population
To claim TDA funds, agency must meet minimum 20% Farebox Recovery Ratio
1995 Farebox Recovery Ratio waiver 15%
City Coach down from high of 21%, now 18%
“Service is Our Business”

12. Market Analysis Summary
Population growth will generate a modest increase in overall potential transit market
Higher average income level and auto ownership, low density; tough transit market
Primary service benefits:
Fills a transportation gap for those in need
Significant traffic impact mitigation
Need to “right-size” the system
LSC Transportation Consultants
Market Analysis, Working Paper #1
Analysis of current system
Population characteristics
Employment centers
Commute patterns
Land development
“Service is Our Business”

13. “Service is Our Business”
Part 2 Data Collection
“Service is Our Business”

14. “Service is Our Business”
Data Collection
Route and Network Evaluation, LSC Working Paper #2
Current service evaluation
Utilization by time of day
Annual and monthly ridership
Typical ridership by fare type, by route
Route performance analysis
Productivity by route by month
Travel times, transfer requirements, frequency
Ridership by hour, by route
“Service is Our Business”

15. “Service is Our Business”
Data Collection, cont.
Date of Survey
Tues
9/27/2017
Run Start Time
6:00 AM
6:30 AM
7:00 AM
7:30 AM
8:00 AM
8:30 AM
9:00 AM
10:00 AM
Passenger Count On
Off
Passengers on at start of run 4 14 12 3 1
Passengers on at end of run 16 2
Total 15 23 22 20 13 7 6 5
Total Boarding’s 10 9
“Service is Our Business”

16. “Service is Our Business”
Data Collection, cont.
Figure 3: Monthly Ridership by Route
14,000
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
Route 8
Route 6
Route 5
Route 4
Route 2
Route 1
Special Services
Monthly Boardings
“Service is Our Business”

17. Data Collection Results
Ridership
Adult, Senior, Youth, closely split 33% each
Route productivity
Wednesday typically highest ridership
Ridership peak times (6-8am and 2-4pm)
Route 2 and 8 worst mid-day productivity
Route 5 most productive, Route 1 least
Saturday ridership is half of weekday
Summer ridership dips
“Service is Our Business”

18. “Service is Our Business”
Train Station Service
“Service is Our Business”

19. Train Station Analysis
No excess time available on existing route to extend service to train station
Operating cost for new route $130,000/yr.
Bus and rail service timing mismatch; reduces attractiveness of bus service
Negligible expected ridership gain; <100 trips/yr.
Rideshare service more cost-effective than operating fixed route; passengers better able to match train schedule to their schedule
Investigating potential for lyft agreement
“Service is Our Business”

20. “Service is Our Business”
Part 3 Public Outreach
“Service is Our Business”

21. “Service is Our Business”
Public Outreach
Public Meeting Information Dissemination
49 separate locations throughout Vacaville
Newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, online
95 KUIC radio announcements
KUIC Coffee Break interview
Seniors & Disabled Mobility Summit
Personal invitations to citizens and stakeholders
“Service is Our Business”

22. Public Outreach, continued
Public Meetings
2011 – six meetings, 2014 – 12 meetings
2018 – 14 meetings
Three Oaks Community Center
Leisure Town Hall
McBride Senior Center
Ulatis Cultural Center
Trower Center
Day and evening, weekday and weekend
Online survey
“Service is Our Business”

23. “Service is Our Business”
Interactive Meetings
Six public “visioning” meetings
Build your own route; string exercise
Prioritize your destinations
One-on-one conversations with LSC and City staff
“Service is Our Business”

24. “Service is Our Business”
What was Learned
On a scale of 1 (poor) to 4 (excellent), how would you rate the Overall Service?
88.7% Excellent to Good
Would like service to:
North Village
Orange Tree Circle
Stonegate
Operate later, operate on Sunday
Disclose the number of people that responded:
Orange Tree Circle
Stonegate
“Service is Our Business”

25. “Service is Our Business”
Service Alternatives
Multiple route variations developed
In-field route testing and timing
Eight “Service Alternatives” public meetings
Result of public meetings and data collection: Final system plan Version “R”
“Service is Our Business”

26. Proposed System Structure
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27. Service Change Summary
Service Additions and Fares
North Village extension to Route 4
Orange Tree Circle, call-ahead service
Eldridge/Hemlock
FREE Transfers
No fare increase
Service Reductions
Route 2; service along Alamo Drive dropped
Route 2, Route 3; 1 hr. frequency after commute time
“Service is Our Business”

28. Service Change Summary, cont.
Longer operating times
Sunday service
Investigating:
Organized trips for senior living centers
“Service is Our Business”

29. Proposed Project Schedule
Marketing and operational preparations:
May thru July 2018
Service implementation:
August 1, 2018
“Service is Our Business”

30. Service Modification Funding
City Coach funded through:
State Transportation Development Act (TDA)
Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
No fiscal impact to the City’s General Fund
“Service is Our Business”

31. “Service is Our Business”
Recommendation
By simple motion, adopt resolution.
“Service is Our Business”

32. “Service is Our Business”
BACKUP SLIDES
“Service is Our Business”

33. Matching Bus Type to Service Level
“Service is Our Business”

34. “Service is Our Business”
Fleet Vehicles
Light-Duty Small Bus
Typical Uses: Demand Response service and low demand fixed-route services.
Length:
23 foot
Fuel Type:
Gasoline
Seating Capacity: 15
Standing Capacity:
not advised
Wheelchair Positions: 2
Purchase Cost:
$150,000
Lifecycle:
5-6 Years
Total in Fleet: 7
Used in Regular Service: 4
“Service is Our Business”

35. “Service is Our Business”
Fleet Vehicles
Heavy-Duty Bus
Typical Uses: Fixed-Route urban transit service.
Length:
35 foot
Fuel Type:
CNG
Seating Capacity: 30
Standing Capacity: 15
Wheelchair Positions: 2
Purchase Cost:
$490,000
Lifecycle:
15+ Years
Total in Fleet: 18
Used in Regular Service: 14
“Service is Our Business”

36. “Service is Our Business”
Bus Type Summary
Cost equivalent across bus types:
Insurance and bus operator wages
Maintenance and fuel costs
Large bus, CNG: $0.83/gallon
Small bus, gasoline: $3.10/gallon
Operational Impacts
Adequate passenger capacity
Bus exchange requires additional bus operators increasing operating costs
“Service is Our Business”