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Vision and Strategy

QUESTION:

If transit was thought of as a rider-centric service, how would the structure of our current system change?

ANSWER:

It would be Fast…Reliable…Comfortable…with Good Frequencies.

PREMISE:

A rider-centric model would encourage a more diverse population to become transit dependent… In other words, transit would become their first choice for mobility.

Observations

• Today the ECAT system is discouraging at worst & inconvenient at best.

• Characterized generally by long waits and long trips…

• We have what some may call a Peanut Butter Spread approach to transit…

• Same level of service spread thinly throughout the area. This approach is not necessarily conducive to building and maintaining ridership.

Recommendations

Build on the 2008 ECAT Citizens Advisory Committee thoughts… If we cannot rethink WHY and HOW we do what we do…there will continue to be little support. This is not about thinking out of the box… THERE SHOULD BE NO BOX.

Consider the Following

If we agree that an IMPORTANT ELEMENT of a successful transit system is that it should be fast… that leads to the following

SHORTER TRIP TIMES. If we agree on the PEANUT BUTTER SPREAD approach, the same service thinly spread across the

system is NOT SATISFYING. then let’s develop MORE DEPTH OF SERVICE. Focus first on providing a quality service by

CONNECTING MAJOR SEGMENTS of the community. The current headway of 60 minutes is a nonstarter if we want transit to be a

first choice for mobility. GOAL: IMPROVE FREQUENCIES to 15-20 minutes max within the city urban core, 30-45 minutes max headway in the urban fringe, 60 minutes max headway in the outlying areas.

Consider the Following

FOCUS ON BETTER DESIGN. Better bus shelters. Better bus shelter locations. Brand the buses. SUSPEND BILLBOARD ADVERTISING. Advertising should be about the system, less about local ads. Create a color scheme. REMOVE BENCHES where there are no stops. Standardize bus signs. INCORPORATE TECHNOLOGY: Investigate POSH technology for rider notification. Go Green compressed natural

gas. TEAMING possibilities: school buses; county/city vehicles; private sector fleets.

So how does this all work?

As with any concept, it ALWAYS looks better on paper than when you go operational. That said… some of this can be

done Immediately.

Part of the Human Transport Network.

Route 41 Route 41A Route 42

Part of the Human Transport Network.

Route 41 Route 41A Route 42

Part of the Human Transport Network.

Route 41 Route 41A Route 42

Vision and Strategy

Most transit systems collect on average 20% from the fare box

to cover operating expenses. We do a better job!

Improved service can lead to increased ridership. Clearly, marketing will help. To get folks acquired with the improved service, consider:

No Money Mondays… Ticketless Tuesdays or Thursdays… or how about

Fareless Fridays… Create an Ambassador Program where transit advocates speak to business groups and neighborhood associations about the value of the transit system.

Final Thought: What is it going to cost!

Part of the Human Transport Network.

Fast… Reliable… Comfortable… Good Frequencies seem to be hallmarks of successful systems.

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