DARTzoomsm Bus Network Redesign · Ridership/Coverage Balance, Final Draft Plan Board Policy...
Transcript of DARTzoomsm Bus Network Redesign · Ridership/Coverage Balance, Final Draft Plan Board Policy...
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Bus Network Redesign Update:Network Concepts
Planning and Capital Program CommitteeApril 14, 2020
Rob Smith, AVP Service Planning & Scheduling
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• Details on the Network Concepts
• Next steps
• Timeline implications with COVID-19
Today’s Briefing
Network Concepts
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Network Concept Design
• January 21-30
• DART staff, Service Area City staff, and the Jarrett Walker consulting team developed two concept bus networks for DART
• One emphasizes changes aimed at maximizing ridership, the other to maintain or expand coverage
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Network Concepts
RIDERSHIP CONCEPT
• High frequency
• Low coverage
• Emphasis on service only in places with high transit demand potential
COVERAGE CONCEPT
• Lower frequency
• High coverage
• Emphasis on serving as many people and jobs as possible
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Network
Share of Resources Targeting
RidershipGoals
Share of Resources Targeting
CoverageGoals
Current DART Service 55% 45%
Coverage Concept 60% 40%
Ridership Concept 85% 15%
Comparison of Concepts:Ridership vs. Coverage
Some may find it unusual that the “coverage” concept has a higher percentage of ridership-targeted routes than current service. This happened in part because we made a conscious decision to include more off-peak service in the coverage
concept than we run now – consistent with ridership demand trends.
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• No new dollars for bus service expansion
• Resources used for the new network in each City will be comparable to resources used in the existing network
• No preferred concept
• Same operating speeds
• No further changes in stop spacing
• No GoLink service in Ridership Concept
• Expanded GoLink service in Coverage Concept
• Blank slate design for both Concepts
• Silver Line assumed for each Concept
• No changes in Shuttle routes except for UTD service
Underlying Assumptions
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RidershipConcept
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Ridership Concept:Service by Time of Day/Week
More frequent route coverage in peaks, and more frequent route coverage than
current service
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RidershipConcept Compared to Current Network
Segments and zones in REDwould no longer have route or GoLink coverage in this
scenario. These are segments with lower
ridership (91.7% of current riders still covered,
however).Legend
"Ridership" Bus Network
Existing Bus Network
GoLink (existing)
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CoverageConcept
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Coverage Concept:Service by Time of Day/Week
Similar frequencies to current service
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CoverageConcept Compared to Current Network
Segments in RED would no longer have route coverage in this scenario. There are
relatively few segments, and most of them have minimal ridership or are covered by
expanded GoLink zones. GoLink zones in deeper
GREEN would be additions.Legend
"Coverage" Bus Network
Existing Bus Network
GoLink (existing)
GoLink (proposed)
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Ridership, Coverage ComparedPeak Period Frequency
RIDERSHIP COVERAGE
Ridership Network has broader frequent service but less coverage
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Ridership, Coverage ComparedMidday Period Frequency
RIDERSHIP COVERAGE
Ridership Network has broader frequent service but less coverage
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Ridership, Coverage ComparedWeekend Midday Period Frequency
RIDERSHIP COVERAGE
Ridership Network has much broader frequent service but less coverage
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Access Compared: Peak Period
Ridership Concept has
much broader access to 15-
minute service (32% within ½-
mile rather than 7% now), but many more
residents are not within walking
distance to service (52% vs.
32% now)
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Access Compared: Midday Period
Ridership Concept has
broader access to 15-minute
midday service (10% within ½-
mile rather than 3% now), but many more
residents are not within walking
distance to service (51% vs.
32% now)
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Proximity to Existing Riders
Almost all current riders board at locations served by the Coverage Network, but
fewer (92%) board at locations covered by the
Ridership Network
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Travel Time Impact Compared
• One benefit of network changes: reductions in travel time
• The example at right compares the existing, coverage, and ridership networks for a sample case
• Benefits come from a combination of route directness and frequency, which reduces transfer wait times
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Travel Time Impact Compared
• Higher benefits come for many longer trips, particularly outside of peak periods
• However, some would argue that even the improved travel times are too long
• Local service on very long trips cannot be fully optimized to reduce travel times; higher-speed services continue to be important for such trips
Timeline Issues with COVID-19
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• The current COVID-19 situation will delay the schedule for the Bus Network Redesign process
• The Regional Transit Forums have been postponed from the original mid-April dates
• Some online public involvement will start in April as scheduled, including webinars and availability of an online survey for interested participants
• With the extra time, we will prepare more detailed comparisons of the impact of the network concepts for each City and neighborhood
• More details in May’s briefing
Timing Issues Given COVID-19
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Project Timeline:Completed Items
Task Timing
Project Kick-OffService Area Engagement, Board Member Interviews, Board Workshop
October-December 2019
Prepare Draft Choices ReportAnalysis, Choices Report, Board Briefing
November 2019-February 2020
Network Concept DesignNetwork Design Workshop, Completion of Concept Chapters, Board Briefing (Today)
January-April 2020
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Project Timeline:Current Phase -- Public Involvement, Round 1
Action Summary Timing
Public Engagement and Input preparation
• Communication development• Stakeholder recruitment• Web survey development
• 12/1 - 3/30
Transit Summit • 4/20 and 4/27• Delayed
Public Engagement and Input
• Media• Webinar• Pop-up events• Transit Center Surveys• Web survey
• 4/13 – 5/11• In person events
delayed• Web-based elements
start late April
Board presentation • Briefing on public input and summit • 5/26• Delayed
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Project Timeline:Where Do We Go from Here?
Task Original Timing Revised Timing
Ridership/Coverage Balance, Final Draft PlanBoard Policy Discussion, Network Design Workshop, Final Draft Plans, Board Decision
July 2020-December 2020
Fall 2020-Winter 2021
Public Involvement, Round 2Formal Public Hearing, Public Meetings, Board Briefing on Final Plan
Winter 2021 Spring 2021
Approve the Bus Network PlanTitle VI Analysis, Modifications, Adoption
Spring 2021 Summer 2021
Initiate Service ChangesService Change Public Process, Adoption, Preparatory Work
January 2022 May 2022