Regional Transportation Commission, Washoe County

Presentation Outline• FY 2019 Goals and Projects

• Paratransit Services

• Fixed-route Services

• Capital Program

• Smart Commute Options

Public Transportation & OperationsApril 20, 2018

FY 2019 Transit Goals and Projects

• Implement fixed-route & paratransit service improvements

Modest service expansion

RTC RAPID Lincoln Line

Microtransit / Senior Shuttle Demonstration projects

Productivity routes service enhancements

Increase fixed-route ridership

Update Fare Policy and structure

Continued development of U-Pass with UNR & TMCC

• Increase vanpools from 141 to 192 vans

• Award RTC RIDE Operations & Maintenance contract

• Issue RFPs for replacement vehicles for RIDE and ACCESS

• Design and construct two new RTC RAPID Virginia Line Stations

• Expanded ADA bus stop improvement program

• Electric Bus – Energy Storage Project

• ADA service for people whose disability prevents them from using fixed-route transit service

• Civil right – RTC is required by law to provide

• Eligibility screening process

• Demand-responsive: Call and reserve rides 1-3 days in advance

• Operated by Ride Right

• 800 passenger trips per week day

RTC ACCESS Paratransit Service

RTC ACCESS service is expensive . . .FY 2017 costs compared to RTC RIDE

$3.00

$20.89

$23.89

$2.00

$2.29

$3.02

Passenger Fare

Subsidy perPassenger

Cost per Trip

RTC RIDE RTC ACCESS

RTC ACCESS is about ADA service . . .ADA vs Non-ADA ridership trends

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Demand for ADA service increased over 8% last year and is increasing even more this year

ADA NON-ADA RVH

FY 2019 Paratransit Objectives

• Provide the very best ADA paratransit service as required by law as efficiently as possible

• Improve access to transportation for those needing it

• Explore new ways of providing service while managing increasing demand and escalating costs

• FY 2019 Proposals:

1. Expand Washoe Senior Ride Program

2. Align hours of service with RTC RIDE

3. Discontinue non-ADA service

Expand Washoe Senior Ride (aka Taxi Bucks)

• Seniors 60 and over, household incomes less than $45,000;

• All RTC ACCESS passengers and Veterans, of any age, meeting income criteria

• Sold in $20.00 books at a 50% discount ($10.00)

• Use to pay all or part of taxi fares including tips

• Purchases are limited to two books per month

FY 2019:

• Eliminate the annual household income requirement

• Increase the subsidy from 50% to 75%

• Increase purchase limit from 2 to 3 books per month

• Replaces non-ADA service and expands options for most people

• Estimated fiscal impact -- $175,000 annually

ADA paratransit only required during same hours as fixed-route service

FY 2019: Provide service only as required by the ADA by time of day

If RTC RIDE route does not operate on Sunday, or stops at 10:00 PM, RTC ACCESS within ¾ mile of route would do same

The savings from this change, estimated at $169,000 annually, will be used to help fund the expanded Taxi Bucks program

Taxi Bucks program to provide better mobility for more people outside the ADA service area

Align hours of service with RTC RIDE

20,000 ACCESS trips per month

200 (about 1%) outside ADA service area

About 18 customers

Since 2009, funded by SNTC through FTA Section 5310 program

SNTC stopped funding non-emergency medical trips outside the ADA service area in October 2016

Trips provided free to eligible clients by AHN through RTC 5310 program

5310 recipients provide 2K trips/mo for S&D

Taxi Bucks program to provide better mobility for more people outside the ADA service area

FY 2019: Discontinue service outside the ADA service area

Discontinue RTC ACCESS non-ADA Service

ADA Service Area

No Service

Outside ADA Service Area

Fixed-Route Service

• RTC RIDE, RAPID, INTERCITY & Sierra Spirit

• 26 routes, 68 buses, 1,200 bus stops

• Defined route and schedule

• Operated by MV Transportation

• 23,000 passenger trips per day

• 8.0 million rides per year

• Biodiesel, hybrid electric, and electric vehicles

• Improving access to jobs & essential services

• Reducing auto trips

• Improving air quality

• $30M per year program

Un-met Needs: Population GrowthFY 1993 - 2018

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Reno-Sparks Population

Reno-Sparks Population

FY 2018 is estimated

Since 1993, population has increased 67%, and . . .

Un-met Needs: Service Hour GrowthFY 1993 - 2018

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Reno-Sparks Population Actual Service Hours

0.54 service hours per capita

FY 2018 is estimated

Service expansion with additional sales tax

. . . transit service hours have fallen 5.1%, and . . .

Un-met Needs: Service per CapitaFY 1993 - 2018

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Reno-Sparks Population

Service Hours when based on 0.95 Service Hours per Capita

Actual Service Hours

0.95 service hours per capita

0.54 service hours per capita

FY 2018 is estimated

. . . service hours per capita have fallen 43.2%. Today we are providing about ½ the number of service hours per capita as we did in 1993.

Population Served by Transit

YearWithin Reno/Sparks

Urbanized AreaWithin 1/2 Mile of

TransitPercent within 1/2

Mile of Transit

1995 274,513 234,274 85.3%

2000 290,621 221,999 76.4%

2005 358,087 269,151 75.2%

2010 398,638 268,003 67.2%

2015 419,896 282,805 67.4%

The proportion of people within walking distance of bus routes had declined as

suburban growth expanded

FY 2019 RTC RIDE Service Changes

• Fall 2018• Implement the

Lincoln Line• Improve schedule

reliability through-out the RTC RIDE system by adjusting segment run-times

• Spring 2019• Microtransit Pilot Program• Restore service previously cut during the recession from

some of the most productive routes

Microtransit – What is it?

Route deviated service utilizing smaller, more agile vehicles that can pick-up passengers at their door or at a nearby pick-up location within the defined zone.

Serve isolated or low productivity areas

Travel to existing RIDE bus stop at a major activity center or within the defined zone

No separate ADA service needed

50% reduction in wait time

43% reduction in ride time

Flexible routing

Microtransit – How Do I Get A Ride?

A key component of microtransit is the use of technology to tailor service for more specific origin & destination locations.

Trips requested by smartphone app, web page or calling reservation center and reserved in real time.

Users can track the approach of the van, watch it onscreen in real time, see estimated time of arrival and pay for their ride

Evaluating potential to replace Route 17 (North Valleys) and / or Route 25 (Sparks) Cost neutral

Could be used to provide service to unserved areas. Approximately $400K

annually

Microtransit Demonstration

RTC RIDE Fare Recommendations

7-Day Pass Lower the cost to be the same per day as a 31-Day pass

Provides equity for those who cannot afford a monthly pass

Adult: $19.50 reduced to $14.50. Reduced: $9.75 reduced to $6.00

24-hour Pass Replace with Day Pass, lower cost & eliminate free transfers

Adult: $5.00 reduced to $3.00. Reduced: $2.50 reduced to $1.50

31-Day Disabled Pass Discontinue this special pass, maintain equity with Senior/Youth Pass

Senior fare eligibility Reduce from 65 to 60 years old

RTC RIDE Fare Recommendations (cont’d)

ACCESS ID on RIDE cash fare Increase from $0.50 to $0.75

Disabled cash fare Decrease from $1.00 to $0.75

Veterans

In a 2013 survey, 23% of RTC RIDE passengers reported being a veteran. Of those, half were already eligible for a reduced fare.

If all veterans and active duty service men and women provided free service staff estimates $1.2M lost annual fare revenue and an increase of 330,000 trips

If reduced fare (same as senior, disabled & youth) estimate $295,889 lost revenue and an increase in 163,967 trips

Estimated Fare Revenues and Ridership Impacts

2019 Capital Program

• RTC RIDE fleet replacement 40 buses in next 5 years

• Charging and infrastructure plan – Energy demand management and costs will need to be mitigated by

battery storage, in route charging, and negotiation of utility rates

• 18 RTC ACCESS Vans

• Terminal Way Remodel– Nevada State Medical Board did not renew their lease

– Building upgrades planned over the next several years

– Larger multi-purpose room

– Traffic center

• Finish Radio System Replacement

• Finish Villanova Bus Wash Replacement

2019 Capital Program: Bus Stops

• RTC RAPID Virginia Line Stations

– Park Lane Station (northbound)

– Peppermill Station (northbound)

• Potential for joint development / affordable housing

• Bus Stop Improvements

– $1.2M in FY 2019 for design and construction of up to 158 bus stops

– Passenger Shelters

– LED Lighting

– Solar powered

RTC VANPOOL

How does it work?

Enterprise pays for the vehicle maintenance and insurance.

Participants split the cost of the vehicle lease and gas expenses.

RTC provides a subsidy to help lower participant costs.

RTC VANPOOL

What is a Vanpool?

Vehicles must seat at least six plus the driver.

80% of mileage between home & work

Employees fill ≥ ½ of the seats excluding driver.

Currently 141 vans leased

21% increase from FY16 to FY17

Eliminated 253,850 Solo Occupant Vehicle trips in FY17, up 20% over FY16

Shared rides through the program in FY 2017 eliminated 11 million VMT. An increase of 9% over FY16

RTC SMART TRIPSVanpool GrowthVANPOOL GROWTH

Enterprise estimations:

Add another outreach person

Medium estimate:

With rate increase, no increase in subsidy funds, vans increase to 192

With rate increase and an increase in subsidy funds, vans increase to 270

RTC SMART TRIPSVanpool Growth

$-

$500

$1,000

$1,500

$2,000

$2,500

$3,000

RY10 RY11 RY12 RY 13 RY14 RY15 RY16 RY17 RY18* RY19*

13 19 26 31 49 61 85 110 150* 192*

Annual Average # of Vanpools

$8 $145

$216 $251 $365 $355

$387 $487

$710 $846

$78

$376

$535 $608

$867 $1,043

$1,322

$1,711

$2,333

$2,986

Report Period Subsidies (000's) Estimated Grant Funds Received/Projected (000's)

Section 5307 Formula Funding is apportioned based on a combination of bus (including vanpools) revenue vehicle miles, passenger miles, fixed guideway revenue and route miles, as well as population and population density

VANPOOL GROWTH

FTA 5307 Formula Grant History

$0

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Mill

ion

s

372617 736 847

10211237 1319 1443

16351817

2125

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FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18*

Total Active Website Users

100

186

390

527

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600

FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18*

Carpool Match Requests

CARPOOLING

Updating the RTC SMART TRIPS Website, App to follow for phones & tablets.

Working towards Mobility as a Service (MaaS) – a single platform where travelers can source and pay for rides across multiple transportation modes

Working with EDAWN, Storey County and Tesla to create a Transportation Management Association (TMA) for the TRI Center

Working to create Park-n-Rides at area shopping centers

RTC SMART TRIPSOther TDM Programs

Other TDM Programs

Thank you

David Jickling, Public Transportation Director

djickling@rtcwashoe.com

(775) 335-1902

This is Your RTC.