Agenda - 02-15-2005-9a - Laserfiche WebLink

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Whether a demonstration project or full year of regular service were implemented, TTA Board- approved service standards would be used to evaluate route performance, These services standards approved by TTA in 2003 include: unlinked passenger trips per vehicle revenue hour, cost recovery ratio, operating cost per unlinked passenger trip, subsidy per passenger trip, and unlinked passenger trips per vehicle revenue mile, TTA reviews and reports route performance on a monthly basis so there are well-defined indicators tracked over time to guide planning and decision making. If the conceptual route is implemented, but then terminated, OPT would revert to its original 5 round trip per day schedule. If approved by the BOCC, TTA planners would present the conceptual route and proposed financing scenario to their Operations and Finance Committee on March 3, 2005 for initial approval, The TTA planners and OPT staff would refine the concept and return to the TTA Operations and Finance Committee on April 5, 2005, Public hearings and open forums would be conducted by TTA to collect public comments and to further document the need for the expanded public route, The final decision and approval would be presented to the TTA Board on May 26, 2005, A Memorandum of Understanding or contract would have to be developed and authorized by the TTA Board and BOCC (with review by the TSB) prior to implementation, If approved the conceptual route would begin operations on August 8, 2005.. This is the date established by the TTA Board for any service changes. FINANCIA<_ IMPACT: The proposed financing indicates that'T-tA would assume 75% of the route cost and OPT 25%. This percentage can be changed and determined by the BOCC before the proposal is submitted to TTA, The BOCC may also choose to support a regular route or a 12-month demonstration project period, All revenues generated would be shared at the percentage of cost sharing. The total projected cost to OPT, under the 75/25 split, would include increased expense associated with Para-transit service above and beyond the fixed- route costs, During this demonstration period, additional OPT part time drivers would be needed to cover the expanded fixed route and increase in Para-transit service. Even with this increased expense, staff estimates that the total OPT cost will be less than the present cost to operate the existing Hillsborough to Chapel Hill route, and thus would yield savings that could be redirected by the BOCC for other OPT services, In addition, the public would receive much better service with the increase from 5 to 11 round trips per day on the Orange Express route, The one-way fare far the conceptual route would be $2 as established by TTA, Fare policy and service planning for the route would be taken aver by TTA, which means that any future changes to the route would be the responsibility of TTA staff and approved by the TTA Board, The current OPT one-way fare is $1 and the current TTA fare is $1,50, but the TTA fare will increase throughout the Triangle area to $2 on March 1, 2005. Current OPT annual fare revenue for the Orange Express is approximately $7,800. Human service agencies have been advised of this fare differential and are supportive of the service expansion, OPT staff will closely monitor the service change to human service agency clients in order to address any hardship that might occur. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve: 1, The conceptual Hillsborough to Chapel Hill route 2. Acost-sharing percentage between Triangle Transit Authority and Orange Public Transportation for the fixed route and marketing the new service. (County staff has proposed 75%TTA and 25% OPT.)