HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/12/2002, COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT #1 - SLOCOG/SLORTA MEETING WEDNESDAY, NOV. 6, 2002 RED FILE
-- MEETING AGENDA
LIAISON REPORT DATE11&I ITEM #aisin
repot*.&I RECEIVED
Nov. 12, 2002 , NOV 1r2' 2002
To: Council Colle ' SLO CITY CLERK
From: Ken Schwartz;:
Copies: Ken Hamp ;en George,Austin O'Dell, Mike McCluskey
Re: SLOCOG/SLORTA meeting Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2002
This was a rather quiet meeting compared to recent meetings that devoted considerable
time to our feud with HCL on housing unit allocations. All of you now know that the
numbers divided out to COG member agencies have been discovered to be in error. ZIP
codes were used to determine location of employment centers instead of precise
geographic locations. Consequently,the job location numbers were incorrect and are
now being corrected. SLO should gain from this new information—"gam"in the sense
that we do not have as many job locations as originally thought and therefore our job—
housing ratio will be lowered Even so,the housing units assigned by HCD to our
County will remain the same—the numbers will just be redistributed and SLO's number
should come out lower. Jeff Hook should be credited for uncovering this fiasco.
Considerable meeting time was spent on transit items. Several reports were received and
reviewed with one important revelation and that has to do with a 24% drop in ridership
experienced by SLO Transit in FY 2001/2002—far above national trends. COG staff is
of the opinion—at least initially—that this significant drop occurred as a result of
changes made in our route schedules. It is important that Austin look into this and make
a report to the Council. This may be a case of unintended consequences of what seemed
to be a good idea. I have attached two pages(15 and A-2-3)that discuss this drop.
Included in the staff data we received is an interesting tidbit(Chart A,page A-2-2)that
shows that only Grover Beach and Oceano have higher densities(people/acre)than does
San Luis Obispo.
In conclusion, COG and SLORTA completed their annual review ofthe performance of
their Directors and found those performances to be laudable..
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• Most local transit systems have a lower ridership per capita ratio than the "1
County as a whole.
Chart B shows annual trends in fixed-route bus transit ridership over the past
three years. Chart C shows local systems' trends without SLO Transit. The
regional CCAT system shows a stable pattern, while SCAT experienced a
drop in the third year.
Chart Batecent Trends in Fixed Route Ridership
(1999-2002)
1,200.000
Q ,.000.000 -
w e00.000
io
'o
OC 000,000
'm
� +00000
c
C
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SLO Transit CCAT SCAT Paso Robles Atascadero
Providers i
Ei FY 1999/2000 ®FY 2000/2001 ®FY 2001/2002
Chart C-Recent Trends in Fixed Route Ridership
(1999-2002) Excluding SLO Transit
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O. 2s0.000 —- — -- — - - -
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W.000
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CCAT SCAT Paso Robles Atascadero
Providers
o FY 1999/2000 ®FY 2000/2001 ®FY 2001/2002]
15
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O F. Transit Ridership
Table F shows annual transit ridership for FY 2000-01 and FY 2001-02 plus
Table F. Ridership to Population Ratio
i ers er Riders per
2000 2000/2001 Capita 2001/2002 Capita
Transit System Population I Ridership 00/01 Ridership 01102
Local Transit Systems
tascadero 26,411 56,370 2.13 58,508 2.22
Morro Bay DAR 10,350 43,880 4.24 36,201 3.50
Ni omo Transit(DAR) 12,626 2,385 0.19 3,466 0.27
Paso Robles 24,297 82,303 3.39 97,074 4.00
SCAT 47,550 144,138 3.03 123,187 2.59
SLO Transit 44,174 951,865 21.55 721,919 16.34
South Bay DAR 14,351 24,955 1.74 23,191 1.62
Templeton Taxi 4,687 1,690 0.36 4,786 1.02
Subtotal (no n-weighted) 184,446 1,307,586 7.09 1,068,332 .5.79
Regional Systems
CCAT 281,946 284,995
Kide-onNon-vanpool 230,234 '181,870
Runabout 14,637 17,81.4_
Regional systems
C subtotal 526,817 484,679
Subtotal (without SLO
,Transit) 1 882,538 831,092
Total entire egion 246,6811 1,834,403 7.44 1,553,011 6.30
Source:San Luis Obispo Council of Governments 2001 (compilation of n6h-audited
2001-2002 data)and annual fiscal audits through June 2001
the changes in riders per capita ratios by local service or coverage area.
• SLO-Transit fixed-route (including the downtown trolley) represented
approximately 50 percent of the regional fixed-route ridership in FY
2000/2001. The 24 percent ridership drop in FY 2001/2002 over the prior
year exceeds national trends. The current update to SLO-Transit Short
Range Transit Plan will analyze this significant change. Still the City has
the highest riders per capita ratio.
• Morro Bay DAR (excluding the seasonal trolley) is the most intensively
used DAR service in the county. However, the annual ridership dropped
by 17.5 percent in 2002. Evaluation of this drop will be done with the
update to the City of Morro Bay Short Range Transit Plan.
O
14
C. Follow up Actions: What have we improved over the last veaO
Significant improvements were made in three areas of deficiencies identified in the 2001 Needs
Assessment.report:
Passenger Amenities at bus stops
Enhanced transitinformation for all modes countywide(Regional Transportation Resource
Guide release) and
,//3. Inter-county Service Expansion (Santa Maria, Five Cities, San Luis Obispo)
Bus transit passenger amenities: a rural transit capital grant (Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
section 5311 monies) was the catalyst for $200,000 of recent improvements (installation in
December '02). The main challenge was the 18-month span between project programming and the
actual award of the small contracts to each provider.
Bi-lingual Transportation Resource Pocket Guide: Regional Rideshare coordinated the marketing
project among transit and paratransit providers and published the new guide in September 02. An
update will be released in the summer of 2003. One related effort, pending an FTA Professional
Training Grant award in November' 03, is Ride-On hiring a Hispanic Coordinator for one year. The
Hispanic Coordinator will develop outreach to Hispanics, plus train dispatchers, information agents .
and drivers in basic Spanish phrases. Those staff must effectively communicate with Spanish-
speaking callers, especially when taking Dial-a-Ride reservations.
Inter-county bus service expansion: Federal Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) monies
were programmed in June 2001 to support part of the recent CCAT service expansion. This project
led to an improved CCAT Route 10 timetable (more even headways and new times tailored to
southbound commute flows) and maximized use of inter-county transit resources.
D. Annual Ridership Update: Regional trends by mode
�(4 Total tr io among all transportation provid s drop a he last fiscal year(see Table B�
page A-2-4). From July `01 to June '02,to— ransit demand decreased rom 1.834 million to 1.553
million riders (i.e. passenger boardings); this is equivalent to a 15.3% drop in one year. Yet if one
excludes SLO-Transit, the net change was just 5.8% consistent with national trends_ported-by the
American Public Transit Association (APTA). Modal ridership patterns were as follows:,
• SLO Transit Ridership is down: In the case of fixed-route services, the most noticeable
drop took place with the SLO Transit system. SLO rep nted just over two thirds of
the fixed-route market in 2001, but dropped to timated 58% in 2002. This comes from
the 24% decline in SLO-Transit, far above nati r local fixed-route systems
(such as the Paso Robles Community Area Transit System and Atascadero Transit)
experienced net growth in fixed-route demand. The CCAT system ridership slightly increased
(for all routes combined). The SCAT system dropped in the fall 2001 (after a service
change), but showed an upward trend by the spring of 2002.
• Dial-a-Ride Ridership is down slightly: In the case of Dial-a-Ride services, ridership on
most general public systems dropped, yet less rapidly than for the fixed-route services. For
the Cities of Paso Robles and Atascadero, some of the change may have come from a shift
to fixed-route services. The most visible drop (17.5%) took place in Morro Bay. This may be
due to the start up of a new contractor with brand new drivers and dispatchers. In the case
of Consolidated Services Transportation Agency(CTSA), the number of trips served dropped
by 20% in 2002. Yet, the Runabout ADA ridership grew by 22% in the same year.
O
A-2-3
• TMA Ridership is up:-A major increase had taken place in the Transportation Management
Association (TMA) market, associated with the North County vanpool expansion, in 2000 and
2001. The fast growth was tied to the influx of Cuesta Grade Transportation Demand
Management (TDM) mitigation funds. That market remained strong in 2002 and is expected
to be stable in the post-construction phase.
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Table B. Ridership to Population Ratio
- Riders Per Riders per
2000 20002001 Capita 2001/2002 Capita
Transit System Population Rideishi ON1 Ridemhi 1102
Local Transit Systems
Atascadero 26,411 56,370 2.13 58,508 2.22
Morro Bay DAR 10,350 43,880 4.24 36,201 3.50
Niporno Transit DAR 12,626 2,385 0.19 3,466 0.27
Paso Robles 24,297 82,303 3.39 97,074 4.00
SCAT 47,550 144,138 3.03 123.187 2.59
SLO Transit 44 17 ,865 21.55 721,919 16.34
South Bay DAR 14,351 24,955 11.74 23,191 11.62
Templeton Taxi 4,687 1 ,690 0.36 4,786 1.02
Subtotal (non-weighted) 184,446 1,307,586 7.09 . 1,068,332 5.79
Regional Systems
CCAT 28 ,946 284,996
I e non-van oo ,234 TM-.97[F-
Runa-bout 1.4,6_3.7 17,814
Regional systems
subtotal 526,817 484,679 J
Subtotal (without SLO
Transit) 1882,538 1 IS31,092
Total (entire Region) 246,681 11,834,403 17.44 11,553,011 16.30
Source:San Luis Obispo Council of Governments 2009 (compilation of non-audited
2001-2002 data) and annual fiscal audits through June 2001
Staff Report Prepared by Eliane Guillot, Ismael Marquez and Bill Chandler
HA2002-2003 Overall Work Program\0000 Agency Admin\0600 Board Committee Support\COG Board\Agendas\November20024ransit needs i
staff report.doc -
A-2-4
• Weekday Evening Sa:dice: SLO-Transit discontinued weekday evening transit service(past
7:30 pm) in July 2001. This change has narrowed choices for potential CCAT riders, since
they have fewer options to access regional service and make inter-community trips in the
evening. Demand built up on evening runs of CCAT Route 9 with end-of-the-day work shifts
and evening classes at Cal Poly and the North Cuesta College campus. The Cuesta Grade
project gave CCAT a chance to test this new market over the past three years and demand
has been stable.
• Pockets of Growing Demand: The Cities of Paso Robles, Atascadero and Arroyo Grande
have the largest pockets of low-income individuals and households, the largest pool of
residents prone to transit-dependency; their local transit service needs will likely grow in the
future. Even though total transit use is highest on SLO-Transit relative to those areas, there
is not a very large share of transit-dependents in San Luis Obispo. One exception is the pool
of California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly) students.
Chart A below summarizes current transit services of cities and communities with various socio-
economic characteristics. These characteristics are reviewed in the body of the needs assessment
report, and those quantitative measures in combination are indicative of the current levels of transit
needs (i.e. very high, high, medium). Those indicators are then aggregated by geographical sector
based on the 2000 Census data as related to local transit needs identified; such findings do not
directly pertain to area-wide services like CCAT or Ride-On (nor do they provide a projection of
future needs (better addressed by short range and long range transit plans).
Following the 2002 Unmet Transit Needs findings, SLOCOG recommended--the City of San Luis
Obispo further assess evening service with the Short-Range Transit Plan update. The late evening
service cut was followed by a large ridership drop, likely due to fewer Cal Poly students on buses at
the end of the afternoon, since there was no transit option to return home after classes.
Chart A7 Summary Transit Needs Review based on Socio-
Economic Data and Transit Services
erten raphic and Socio-Econamic Data Transit Profile
Density In 2000 21100 Transit Number Individuals Existing
Area in Pesolls per; Emp. Emp. Prone Age of Clients Below Service Potential
Population Acr Acre rivete)(Public) Groups Served Poverty Levels Transit
able able (TableA able able D i Level- able M Demand
I
Central Area %174 3 17,166 4891 14602 33.73% 2.077 11,407 25.82%
Sen Luiz oCdy 44,174 6,4 .89 17166 4891 14 2 33.73% 2,1377 11.407 2522%pligh Very Hmh
North county 68,6114 37,069 1.62 20-W 6,2x1 214192 43.66% 5,516 6,R7 10.56%
Atoccadeo 26,411 15,60(1 1)69 9,094 3,190 10,554 39.96% 1,743 2,263 057%Medurn Very Hqh
Pam Bottles 24,297 10,700 227 8,072 2,027 11,569 47.61% 2.099 3.153 12.98% Very HO
Sen Miquei 1,477 1,059 133 653 58 616 43.17% 266 153 10.72%Very Low Medun
Terpkton 4,687 3,077 1.55 1,489 727 2;119 45.21% ata 434 9.26%Yledum Medum
Lake Neekner4o 2,175 4,749 046 740 211 804 40.637. rib 99 4.55% one Luw
Shsrdon 986 1.914 0521 340 68 450 45.6,1% 193 225 22.82%Very Law Medum
North Coiit 33AM 116726 0.55 12,062 3,674 14641 4292% 1,827 3,263 2.63%
wos
Saywo LOsm 14,351 4,870 2.95 5,094 1,937 6,175 43.03% 63912M 8.40% High
Campine 6,321 5,405 1.14 2,321 505 2,802 44.96% 308 509 8.17% Medum
ceyucos 2,943 1,971 149 1115 279 .1,254 42.61% 136 237 8.05% Medum
Marro Bey 10,350 fi 400 162 3532 .953 4.31t!0 41 64% 744 I'M 12.68% h
South county 67,355 14996 3.12 21,772 4046 24828 47.29% 4770 6,415 9.44%
Arroyo Grenoe 15,851 3X25 5,931 1250 7,768 45.115% 1,227 1098 666% Hal,
Orover Beech 13,067 1,440 907 5101 933 5.1.0 39.'% 1155 1175 1.469 11.21% Very FhO
hApumn 12,6% 7,303 4,382 851 5,742 45411% 9to 721% aw Medum
ocean 7,260 979 742 2,768 294 3,120 42.90% 933 1.160 1625%Medium Very High
PiBeach 8,551 7,048 4. 3,250 717 3,530 41.28% 280 768 8.98% emm High
.'Source:Census 2000,General Demographic Pmfileand.SL000G
"Source:Form DP-3,Census 2000
:—Source: SLO County Department of Social Services.Public Infarmation Report(June 2002)
A-2-2.
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
STAFF REPORT
O
MEETING DATE: NOVEMBER 6,2002: -
SUBJECT: COUNTY-WIDE TRANSIT DEFICIENCY REPORT
SUMMARY
Since SLOCOG allocates Transportation Development Act(TDA)funds to local jurisdictions and transit
operators within the county, it is required to prepare an annual assessment of size and location of
identifiable groups likely to be 'transit-dependent' or"transportation-disadvantaged". Such groups
include, but are not limited to seniors, disabled and individuals eligible for paratransit, plus other
specialized services (pursuant to Section 12143 of Title 42 of the United States Code). Those groups
also include persons with limited means, such as the region CalWORKs recipients and other case loads
receiving public assistance from the Department of Social Services. This staff report and the attached
technical report fulfill this requirement and updates the October 2001 report findings.
COMMENDATIONS:
�taff: Approve report (for submittal to Caltrans)
TAC: Concur with staff
5 AC: Concur with staff
C AC: Concur with staff
DISCUSSION
OA. Overview: Current services are adequate
The amount of current public transportation service with the broad geographical coverage appears
to be adequate for a county of this size. Each community in the region is served by public
transportation: either local or regional fixed-route, local dial-a-ride, subsidized taxis, senior vans
and/or some form of paratransit, or some combination. Runabout is deployed countywide as the
American Disabilities Act(ADA) complementary service to all fixed-route bus lines(for same days
and service hours as transit lines per the Federal ADA mandate).
B. Areas of Deficiencies: What could be improved?
The findings on transit deficiencies, often raised at Unmet Transit Needs' Hearings, are given below:
•� Uniform Fares and Compatible Hours: While transportation-disadvantaged persons must
rely on the many local services for essential trips, the lack of uniform fares and compatible
hours are still transit deficiencies. Those conditions become barriers to regular transit use by
non-transit dependent persons (or "discretionary riders"). Another related barrier, effecting
both transit-dependent and discretionary riders, is the lack of similar service hours between
regional and local buses. One exception is found in South County, where South County Area
Transit (SCAT) extended weekday service in early morning and evening, thereby improved
connections with the Central Coast Area Transit (CC4T).
• Better Weekend Service: There are minimal evening and weekend service options. Of the
fixed-route transit operators, only SLO-Transit and SCAT have Saturday and Sunday services.
In addition, only the CCAT Route 9, serving the Highway 101 corridor between San Luis
Obispo and Paso Robles, has late evening hours. Of the Dial-a-Ride operators, Mono Bay
Ooffers daytime Saturday service.
A-2-1