Back to 10/23/01 Agenda

REPORT TO SHASTA COUNTY RTPA


SUBJECT
MEETING
DATE
ITEM
NUMBER
Update on Trial Transit Services 10/23/01


4



RECOMMENDATION
Information only.
SUMMARY
The RTPA took action during this year's Unmet Transit Needs process to establish three new express transit routes on a trial basis. The routes are the Cottonwood Express, the Intermountain Express (formerly Burney Express) and the Airport Road Corridor Express. The revenues to support the new routes have been allocated by the RTPA from Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds and from a $150,000 grant from the Shasta County Department of Social Services to support new transit.
DISCUSSION
At the June 2001 RTPA meeting, the Agency made findings that there are transit needs that are reasonable to meet in excess of the current level of service. The RTPA took action to implement transit services to Cottonwood, the Airport Road Corridor area and to extend the existing Burney Express from Burney to McArthur.
The County entered into an agreement with the Redding Area Bus Authority (RABA) to provide the Cottonwood Express service and the Intermountain Express service. The Airport Road route is within the RABA service area and therefore, does not require a third party agreement. Transit service on the Airport Road Corridor consists of a vehicle starting near the Fairway Oaks Mobile Home Park traveling northerly on Airport Road/Old Oregon Trail to the Canby transfer station behind the Mt. Shasta Mall. The Cottonwood Express will start at the Holiday Market parking lot with stops at Fourth and Main Streets, Main Street Mobile Home Park, the Anderson Factory Outlet parking lot, and terminate at the downtown terminal. The Intermountain Express will start in McArthur with stops at Mayers Memorial Hospital, Fall River Mills, Johnson Park, Burney, Montgomery Creek, Round Mountain, Bella Vista, Shasta College and the downtown terminal. All routes will have three round trips per day.
The RTPA also recommended that riders on the Cottonwood Express and Airport Road Corridor Express be allowed one free transfer to the RABA routes. Details concerning transfers, monthly passes and fares are currently being implemented to blend with the existing RABA system. These routes will be established for a one-year trial period. Ridership will be monitored during the trial period to determine if the RTPA established farebox ratio is met. If the farebox ratio is not met, RTPA staff would then recommend that the services be discontinued.
Revenues to support the new routes have been allocated by the RTPA from Transportation Development Act (TDA) funds and from a $150,000 grant from the Shasta County Department of Social Services in support of new transit services. The cost of providing the services for 12 months is shown below:




Shasta County Regional Transportation Planning Agency

Schedule of Trial Services Costs

Fiscal Year 2001/02

Cottonwood Express Fall River Mills Extension of Burney Express Airport Road Corridor Express Total
Cost of Transit Services $84,000 $35,100 $112,320 $231,420
Marketing 3,333 3,333 3,334 10,000
Total cost of services 87,333 38,433 115,654 241,420
Apply Social Services Subsidy 54,262 23,879 71,859 150,000
Net Cost to Claimants 33,071 14,554 43,795 91,420

Allocation to Claimants

Redding 100%
Anderson 33.30%
Shasta County 66.70% 100%
Redding 0 0 $43,795 $43,795
Anderson $11,013 0 0 11,013
Shasta County $22,058 $14,554 0 36,612
Costs by Claimant $33,071 $14,554 $43,795 $91,420


The start date for the new transit services will be October 2001.


Daniel J. Kovacich, Executive Officer

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