HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7281 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7281 Page 1
biEORr� To the Mayor and Members of the City Council May 10, 1988
X . Subject: HOMELESS BUS SHUTTLE
PROBLEM
Few people would challenge the assertion that homelessness is a serious
and growing problem in Fort Worth. One has only to walk through the
downtown central business district to find ample evidence. Furthermore,
past stereotypes of homeless people as primarily unemployed and
alcoholic men are being, challenged by an ever-increasing number of women
and children whose only-home is the streets and alleys of our city. As
national and local attention is focused on addressing the needs of the
homeless in our society, the City of Fort Worth and other government
agencies have teamed with private and non-profit organizations to
provide relief for the homeless in Fort Worth. This report describes one
effort between pubic and private agencies to address a need of Fort
Worth's homeless population.
Because of its central location and concentration of employment
opportunities, Fort Worth's central business district (CBD) acts as a
magnet to both indigenous and transient homeless populations. Two of
Fort Worth's primary relief centers, the Onion Gospel Mission and the
Presbyterian Night Shelter, are located to the southeast of the CBD.
Homeless citizens who are downtown pursuing employment opportunities or
transients who come to the CBD seeking shelter often must walk several
miles to reach the centers. Inclement weather and the threat of crime
make the trek to the shelters one of discomfort and potential danger.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
At the request of a prominent Fort Worth citizen, the City Manager's
Office began exploring options for providing transportation relief for
the city's downtown homeless population. Initial contact with the
administrative staff of The T revealed that a simple and relatively
Inexpensive solution could be devised. With the endorsement of the Fort
Worth Transportation Authority, the scheduling staff of The T developed
a plan to provide the homeless with free bus transportation from the
central business district to the Union Gospel Mission and the
Presbyterian Night Shelter.
The task of developing a bus route to serve the homeless exclusively was
made easier by the fact that both the Union gospel Mission and the
Presbyterian Night Shelter are located within a few blocks of the FWTA
garage. Buses that have completed downtown routes return without
passengers to the garage to await their next run. It is these buses on
their empty return to the garage that constitute the Homeless Bus
Shuttle Program.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS---
INFORMAL. REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7281 page 2
POP of 014&0 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council May 10, 1988
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�''ixt��. Subject HOMELESS BUS SHUTTLE
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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
To avoid any confusion that might arise if the Homeless Bus Shuttle were
to operate on the Throckmorton-Houston bus spine, a route on Calhoun
Street was devised. With three stops along the Calhoun route, the
homeless in all sections of the CBD can take advantage of the shuttle
service. The current schedule provides service roughly every hour from
8:00 a.m. until 10:47 a.m. and again from 5:40 p.m. until 12.15 a.m.,
Monday through Friday. No weekend service is planned at this time (see
attachment for detailed list of stops and times). Bus stops on Calhoun
Street are identified by a sign developed and installed by city forces.
The service will be publicized initially with flyers distributed at the
night shelters and at government buildings in the CBD.
The Homeless Bus Shuttle Program will be monitored by the City Manager's
Office and the administrative staff of The T. Adjustments to the time
and frequency of stops will be made as necessary. Because the service
utilizes buses that are already in the CBD, The T incurs no additional
costs in implementing the program. Costs associated with the
installation of the three bus stop signs and with publicizing the
service are estimated to be minimal. The proposed start date for the
Homeless Bus Shuttle Pilot Program is May 11, 1958.
Additional information will be provided at Council's request.
Respectfully submitted,
ouglas Harman
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS----
PROPOSED STOPS AND SCHEDULE FOR FREE BUS SERVICE TO THE UNION
GOSPEL MISSION AND THE PRESBYTERIAN NIGHT SHELTER
Calhoun St and 1st St 8:07 a.m.
9:08 a.m.
10:17 a.m.
10:47 a.m.
5:40 p.m.
6:40 p.m.
7: 33 p.m.
8:33 p.m.
9:25 p.m.
10: 25 p.m.
12:15 a.m.
Calhoun St and 9th St 8:08 a.m.
9:09 a.m.
10:18 a.m.
10:48 a.m.
0"b- 5:41 p.m.
6:41 p.m.
7: 34 p.m.
8:34 p.m.
9:26 p.m.
10:26 p.m.
12:16 a.m.
Calhoun St and 15th St 8:09 a.m.
9:10 a.m.
10:19 a.m.
10:49 a.m.
5:42 p.m.
6:42 p.m.
7:35 p.m.
8:35 p.m.
9:27 p.m.
10:27 p.m.
12:17 a.m.
After the third stop at Calhoun and 15th, the bus proceeds to
Union Gospel Mission and Presbyterian Night Shelter.
F
FREE SHUTTLE
TO NIGHT SHELTERS
FREE BUS RIDE
l
1
FROM DOWNTOWN
to
UNION GOSPEL MISSION
and
PRESBYTERIAN NIGHT SHELTER
at the following times and locations
(MONDAY through FRIDAY ONLY)
CAM 31 and let St Calhoun St and ft :t cdmm S1 aw I* st
6:07 a.m. so aan. am aarw
to aan. tz a.m. trio aan
10:17 a.m. 10:16 ean. 10:11 aan.
10:47 &m 10'.16 a.m. 10:41 a.m.
6:10 pan. 5:11 pan. 5:42 pan.
6:40 pan. 6:41 pan. 6:42 pan.
7:33 pan. 734 pan. 7:35 pan.
L33' pan. 634 pan. 6:35 P.M.
IM pan. 1:26 pan, am pan.
i 0+.25 pun. 10.26 pan. 10:27 pan.
12:15 aan. 12:16 a.m. 12:17 emu