The State of Service 2022 Public Transportation January 18, 2022 Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT) A small urban transit system that provides public transportation services to the City of Charlottesville and urban Albemarle County. Operate 364 days a year for approximately 19 hours per day. Number of Employees Number of Employees 51 FT Operators 10 PT Operators 46 Temp Operators 8 Supervisors 6 Mechanics 6 Bus Cleaners 11 Admin Staff General Statistics • 1,323,176 327 7 Bus Stops • FY2020 Total Ridership 1 Park rk-n -n-Ridee Lot -n- Approximately 5,142 per day 1 Transit Center • 36 Fixed Route Buses 13 3 Fixed Routes • Approved to expand fleet by 4 Projected to add 2 Service Area Demographics Overall Population Minority Population Low Income No Auto Ownership Density Density Household Density Household Density 5 CAT’s Historical Trends Ridership & Cost • Annual ridership has been on a downward trajectory (-22% over 6 years) • Annual bus-hours have averaged over 100,000 since 2015 (+22% over 6 years) • Result has been declining service productivity (-36% over 6 years) Annual CAT Ridership Annual CAT Revenue Bus-Hours Pass. Trips / Revenue Bus-Hour 3,000,000 120,000 30.0 108,033 27.1 104,572 103,199 103,824 2,405,151 2,423,740 2,337,877 97,665 24.3 2,500,000 2,275,515 100,000 93,823 25.0 23.2 22.7 2,189,612 88,895 22.4 2,052,376 19.8 2,000,000 1,871,952 80,000 20.0 17.3 1,500,000 60,000 15.0 1,000,000 40,000 10.0 500,000 20,000 5.0 0 0 0.0 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 6 CAT’s Historical Trends Ridership & Cost Reporting Categories FY2014 FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019 FY2020 Annual Ridership 2,275,515 2,423,740 2,337,877 2,189,612 2,052,376 1,871,952 1,323,176 Annual Rev. Hours 93,823 104,572 103,199 97,665 103,824 108,033 99,096 Annual O & M Cost $7,125,489 $7,188,657 $6,998,446 $7,421,700 $7,915,506 $8,435,078 $8,264,887 Riders/Rev. Hour 24.3 23.2 22.7 22.4 19.8 17.3 13.3 Cost/Rev. Hour $75.95 $68.74 $67.82 $75.99 $76.24 $78.08 $83.40 Source: National Transit Database Reports 7 Funding Model ƒ Federal capital grants – 5307 Funds ƒ State operating assistance (formula / performance-based) ƒ City of Charlottesville – local operating assistance match ƒ County of Albemarle – local operating assistance match (Purchase of Service Agreement) ƒ Farebox returns, advertising ƒ CARES, ARP, and BBB Grant Funds ƒ Zero-fare Grant (4 year grant – 3 State 7 1 Local) BUDGET PROJECTION CAT’s cost to add one hour of revenue service = Approx. $89 (fully-allocated unit cost) Building a Better CAT 10 CAT’s four areas of focus Memphis 3.0 is structured around four pillars RELIABILITY RIDERSHIP » Bus service meets the » What’s the trend public demand » Is the system designed to » Do the Buses operate on increase ridership schedule (On-time » Are we providing the performance) correct level of service to » Do we have the staff to the individual that needs met public demand public transit » Do we have the right vehicles FREQUENCY QUALITY OF How often does the bus » SERVICE arrive » Are the Routes efficiently » Is there enough frequent designed service to encourage » Are buses clean and safe people to try transit » Have we planned for » How long does service growth (alternative operate (Span of Day) fueled vehicles) Guiding Principles that influence operations Equity: Historically disadvantaged communities must gain access to resources and opportunities to thrive. Economic Development: A highly functioning transit system can encourage economic development. Accessibility & Mobility: Provide greater transportation access and a broader range of mobility options for the greater Charlottesville. Poverty Reduction: A highly functioning transit system can assist with lifting individuals out poverty. Title VI Requirements Title VI Requirements • Implementation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act • 1994 update (EO 12898): incorporated concepts of Environmental Justice and directed agencies to identify and develop strategies to address disparate and disproportionate impacts on equity populations • Required for federal funding recipients • Reporting required every three years plus with any service change, fare change, or parking charge • New service must be equitable • Must provide equivalent service investment in minority and low-income areas • Minority and low-income areas defined relative to service area 13 FREQUENCY • Very frequent service, no need to check schedule <= 5 minutes • Very high-density corridors/activity centers • Frequent service, no need to check schedule 5 to 10 minutes • High density corridors/activity centers • Relatively frequent service, check schedule to minimize wait 11 to 15 minutes • High density corridors with strong anchors • Always check schedules, change travel to meet the schedule 16 to 30 minutes • Moderate density corridors • Always check schedules, change travel to meet schedule 31 to 59 minutes • Low to moderate density • Meets basic travel needs, change travel to meet schedule 60 minutes • Low density 14 FREQUENCY Pre-COVID Service Frequencies and Span of Service (Weekday) % System Route # Route Name 6:00 AM 7:00 AM 8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 12:00 PM 1:00 PM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 4:00 PM 5:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 9:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM Riders 1 PVCC and Woolen Mills 2% 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 2 5th Street Station 3% 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 3 Soithwest & Belmont 4% 30 30 30 60 60 60 60 60 60 30 30 30 30 60 60 60 60 60 4 Cherry Ave & Harris Rd 5% 23 23 23 23 45 70 70 70 70 23 23 23 45 70 70 70 70 70 5 Commonwealth Dr 10% 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 6 Ridge St & Prospect Ave 4% 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 7 Emmet St & Seminole Trl 28% 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 30 30 30 30 8 Preston Ave & Emmet St 4% 30 30 30 60 60 60 60 60 60 30 30 30 30 9 The Health Dept & YMCA 1% 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 70 10 Pantops 3% 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 11 Locust Ave & Rio Rd 3% 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 60 Trolley Free Trolley 32% 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 ¾ Routes 7 and Trolley (better than 30-min. freq.) carry 60% of ridership (Fall 2019) 15 VISION #1 Provide the region with 15 min. fixed route service. Vision #1 Resources Needed • Need to add 22 Buses • Need to add 45 FT and 15 PT Operators • Need to add 6 Mechanics • Improve Bus Stop Amenities 17 Vision #1 Resources Needed – COST • 22 Buses - $8.8M Diesel, $9.2M CNG and $17.8M EV • 45 FT Operators - $2.7M • 15 PT Operators - $715K • 6 Mechanics - $470K • Improve Bus Stop Amenities - $35K to 80K per stop 18 Potential Bus Stop Improvements 19 VISION #2 Add alternative fueled vehicles to the fleet. Vision #2 Resources Needed • Complete a Feasibility Study (FTA requirement) • Develop an Integration Plan • Complete recommended facility improvements 21 Vision #2 Resources Needed – COST • Complete a Feasibility Study - $125K to 155K • Develop an Integration Plan - $20K to 40K • Complete recommended facility improvements - ??? 22 VISION #3 Position CAT to become a regional transit authority. Vision #3 Resources Needed • Work with surrounding jurisdictions to secure dedicated funding • Develop a dedicated funding allocation model • Complete recommended facility improvements 24 Vision #3 Resources Needed – COST • Work with surrounding jurisdictions to secure dedicated funding - ??? (w/ $Millions in revenue) • Develop a dedicated funding allocation model • Complete recommended facility improvements - ??? (a study will need to be completed) 25 CONCLUSION •CAT must plan for 15 minute service model •CAT must complete facility enhancements to add Alternative Fueled Vehicles (EVs and CNG Buses) •CAT will need to continue expansion, and dedicated regional funding will reduce the need to allocate more funding from the General Fund QUESTIONS THANK YOU! 27