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HomeMy WebLinkAbout(0006) IR 10372 - Update on Transit InitiativesINFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 10372 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council February 18, 2020 Page 1 of 1 SUBJECT: UPDATE ON TRANSIT INITIATIVES ksra Y@7'a The purpose of this Informal Report is to inform the City Council about the status of several transit -focused initiatives that began within the last year. All of these initiatives have been developed in close coordination with Trinity Metro. The following is a list of the current initiatives, details of each are provided on the attached table: • Transit Moves Fort Worth Transit Plan (M&C G-19335) • EasyRide Program • The Dash (M&C C-29077) • Mercantile ZIPZONE (M&C C-29105) • Fort Worth Bike Share (M&C C-29115) • Bus Route Reorganization (Council action March 3) • Medical District ZIPZONE (Council action March 3) • Smart phone app (Future Council Action) • Identifying uses for $500,000 in unallocated funds (Future Council Action) Highlights include: • Transit Moves Fort Worth Transit Plan recommendations are being prepared. Public meetings are being scheduled for early March. • Over 500 employees have obtained free EasyRide passes to date in 2020, with another 100+ being processed. Last year the program had only 50 participants when employees paid for passes. • Mercantile ZIPZONE ridership was over 870 in December 2019. • Fort Worth Bike Share is more successful and sustainable than last year, in part because of the 50 new pedal -assist bikes added to the fleet in 2019. In December 2019, these bikes represented approximately half of all FWBS bike trips. • Bus Route Reorganization has begun. Trinity Metro has procured a consultant to help evaluate the current bus system and make improvements to modernize the system and improve frequency. • The DART GoPass App has been selected as the platform for Trinity Metro's Smart Phone App. The cost is under budget, and remaining funds will be used for other City identified transit projects. An additional project is being developed as a recommendation from the Transit Moves Fort Worth Transit Plan, the East Lancaster Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project. Trinity Metro has taken the lead to develop the project scope, in coordination with the City, the North Central Texas Council of Governments, the Texas Department of Transportation, and the Federal Transit Administration. If you have any questions on these initiatives, please contact Chad Edwards, Regional Mobility and Innovation Officer, at 817-392-7861. David Cooke City Manager Attachment ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS UPDATE ON TRANSIT INITIATIVES February 18, 2020 Program Brief Description The TMFW Transit Plan will assist the City in developing a vision for the transit and transportation Transit Moves Fort Worth investments in the City of Fort Worth within the broader context of Tarrant County and the region. The Wrapping up recommended Scenario and cost Public Meetings in March; presentation to City Transit Plan analysis will document the vision and priorities of the City of Fort Worth to improve transit, move people, $450,000 estimates. Developing an implementation Council increase access and make progress serving the needs of residents, employers, and visitors to Fort Worth. plan. fG-193351 Provide City of Fort Worth full and part-time employees with transit passes to encourage use of public 500+ employees have EasyRide Passes with an Continue outreach to employees; work with EasyRide Program transportation. Benefits include a reduction in congestion, better air quality and alternatives to driving $0 additional 100 being processed. Well on our Trinity Metro on Transit 101 seminars and vehicles. way to reach goal of at least 10%of employees other education options as needed for with Dasses. emplovees Trinity Metro has 4 electric buses from New Started in September 2019, the Dash is Fort Worth's first all electric bus. The Dash serves downtown Fort Flyer Industries and a charging station located Continue troubleshooting issues and consider The Dash Worth at Central Station, Sundance Square, W 7th St, Museum District and Dickies Arena every 15 minutes. $450,000 at their bus facility on E Lancaster Ave. Bus adding to fleet for improved service on The The City has committed $150,000 per year for three year for a total of $450,000. (C-29077) 1903 has been having mechanical issues anddash route and other identified routes. troubleshooting continues with onsite New Flyer technicians and Trinity Metro mechanics. The service started in July 2019. Ridership has Mercantile ZIPZONE This first/last mile option provides transit service from the TEXRail Mercantile Station to the Mercantile $500,000 continued to grow since inception to over 870 Continue to monitor ridership and service industrial area using minivans through a contracted service provider called VIA. (C-29105) riders in December 2019. The service standards. boundary has expanded to include BNSF HQ. FWBS added 50 electric pedal -assist bikes growing their fleet to 300. Pedal -assist bike Funding match provided to Trinity Metro to continue FWBS for additional 12-months and explore long- trips represented approximatley half of all Continue to work with Trinity Metro and FWBS Fort Worth Bike Share term strategies for financial sustainability. (C-29115) $50,000 trips in December 2019. FWBS is more on future options and coordinated efforts for successful and sustainable now with a product growth. that draws more people to this transportation option. As one of the recommendations coming from Support development of Trinity Metro's System Redesign and Implementation Project to modernize Trinity the Transit Moves Fort Worth (TMFW) Transit City staff will work closely with Trinity Metro Bus Route Reorganization Metro's route network and update the service plan based on the latest demographics and travel patterns $250,000 Plan, Trinity Metro has already started its in the development of the bus route of the region. (Future Council Action) efforts to make changes to the bus system to reorganization that helps with better serve current riders and draw in new recommendations from the TMFW. riders. Medical District ZIPZONE This first/last mile option provides transit service from the T&P Station to the Near Southside area using $250,000 Service expected to start in Spring 2020. City staff is working with Trinity Metro on minivans through a contracted service provider called VIA. (Future Council Action) development of service area boundary. Original estimate for City funding request was Support Trinity Metro's Mobile Platform Application development and implementation costs and access to $450,000 to develop independently a new service areas which would increase the ease of access to transit fare products of the agency, while mobile phone app. After solicitation of RFP, City staff will work with Trinity Metro on Smart Phone App decreasing the amount of cash handling, physical ticket production, inventorying distribution, and $100,000 selection of DART as provider reduced cost development of app and future expansion of dispensing. (Future Council Action) share from city from $450,000 to $100,000. transportation options. Remaining $350,000 moved to unallocated funds. Identifying uses for the $SOOk This funding is focused on projects that help both City and Trinity Metro provide better access to public $900,000 City staff has worked with Trinity Metro to identify potential projects that meet goals to Setup projects with cost estimates, schedules unallocated funds transportation. focus on transit related projects. and determine lead agency.