Proposed Jule Transit Service Reductions and Changes Initiation Copyrighted
April 3, 2017
City of Dubuque Items to be set for Public Hearing # 1.
ITEM TITLE: Proposed Jule Transit Service Reductions and Changes
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending that the City Council set a
public hearing for April 17, 2017 to consider approval of
selected reductions and changes to the Jule Transit fixed-
route service and schedules.
RESOLUTION Setting the date for a public hearing on
Transit Fixed-Route Service Reductions
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Adopt
Resolution(s), Set Public Hearing for April 17, 2017
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Transit Proposed Service Reductions-MVM Memo City Manager Memo
Staff Memo Staff Memo
Resolution Resolutions
Notice of Hearing Supporting Documentation
THE CITY OF Dubuque
DUB E i"
Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007.2012.2013
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Public Hearing Documentation for Proposed Saturday Service Reduction
to Assist with Funding Evening Service
DATE: March 27, 2017
Transit staff analyzed ridership data and information gathered at public input sessions to
recommend route and schedule changes. Options for evening service were provided
during the FY18 budget process and were based on the consolidation of Saturday
service. Staff reviewed ridership on all routes, times of day and days of the week for
opportunities for consolidation while continuing to serve high ridership stops and areas
in order to offer a cost effective service for weekday evening hours.
Director of Transit Operations Candace Eudaley and Transit Operations Supervisor Jodi
Johnson recommend the following service reductions:
1. The Monday through Saturday Key West fixed-route service will be eliminated.
2. The Monday through Saturday Fremont fixed-route service will be eliminated.
3. No Saturday service along Windsor Avenue from Davis Street to Mount Saint
Francis.
4. No Saturday Service along Hillcrest Road between Asbury Road and JFK Road.
5. No Saturday service along JFK between Asbury Road and Sunset Park Circle
6. No Saturday service along Jackson Street between 22nd and 32nd Streets.
Service is available on Central Ave between 22nd and 32nd Streets.
7. Saturday service along Jackson Street and Central Avenue will be reduced to
once per hour.
8. No Saturday service to current Yellow Line stops including Dubuque Industrial
Center West and Medical Associates West.
The Transit Advisory Board has reviewed and provided input on the proposed routes
and schedules at both their October 2016 and March 2017 meetings. If approved, the
fixed-route changes will take effect on August 14, 2017 in conjunction with the
increased evening service hours. These changes make the establishment of evening
service affordable.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Mic ael C. Van Milligen'
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Maurice Jones, Economic Development Director
Candace Eudaley Director of Transit Operations
Jodi Johnson, Transit Operations Supervisor
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THE CITY OF
DUB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Mike Van Milligan, City Manager
FROM: Candace Eudaley, Director of Transit Operations
Jodi Johnson, Transit Operations Supervisor
CC: Maurice Jones, Economic Development Director
Jenny Larson, Budget Director
Randy Peck, Personnel Manager
RE: Public Hearing Documentation for Proposed Saturday Service Reduction to Assist with Funding
Evening Service
DATE: March 24, 2017
PURPOSE
To outline recommended route and schedule changes based on ridership data and information gathered at
public input sessions. Options for evening service were provided during the FY18 budget process and were
based on the consolidation of Saturday service. Staff reviewed ridership on all routes, times of day and days of
the weekfor opportunities for consolidation while continuing to serve high ridership stops and areas in order to
offer a cost effective service for weekday evening hours.
BACKGROUND
Passengers have consistently asked about the expansion of bus service into weekday evening hours to allow
residents to work a variety of shifts, complete shopping trips after work, and attend community events including
city council meetings.
Staff began reviewing ridership on all routes, times of day and days of the week for opportunities for
consolidation while continuing to serve high ridership stops and areas in order to reduce the overall cost of the
proposed service increase during the evening hours.
Review of daytime routes and ridership by day of the week
Daytime Rides by Day of the Week
FY2016
100,000
133 82,858
80,000 75,525 80, 76,141 74,822
60,000
42,055
40,000
20,000 —
0
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Saturday, daytime ridership is the lowest when compared to other days of the week. It is common for transit
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systems to run a reduced schedule on Saturdays due to the reduced level of morning and afternoon
commuters and school traffic. There are generally fewer car and bus trips taken on Saturdays. Currently, The
Jule operates the same level of service on Saturdays as on weekdays, meaning that even though service
levels are high, people are not traveling on those days. Combining routes on Saturdays to key locations is the
focus of developing daytime efficiencies to reallocate those funds to provide the desired evening service.
Review of Saturday ridership to ensure coverage of high demand stops and areas
Only 35% of stops served more than 1 person per day of service. The top 10% most used bus stops were
analyzed to ensure proper route coverage while consolidating routes. Staff developed a set of routes that cover
high demand areas using four fixed-route vehicles for Saturday service. The proposed evening service routes
will be the same as the Saturday routes, but will include the addition of ADA required MiniBus service.
Route service area descriptions are below:
Bus 1
• Intermodal Center • Windsor Ave
• Mercy/Medical Associates East Campus • Central Ave 9`h to 32nd
• Delhi Transfer • Terrace Heights
• Washington Middle School • Jackson St 11`h to 22nd
• HyVee S. Locust
Bus 2
• Intermodal Center • West Locust St
• Loras College • Senior High School
• Eagle Grocery • Clarke University Locust St stop below campus)
• Rhomberg Ave • University of Dubuque
• Schmitt Island • AsburyRd East of JFK
• Delhi Transfer • St. Mary's Apartments
Bus 3
• Intermodal Center • Senior High School
• Loras College • Clarke University (Locust St stop below campus)
• Bluff St 1 s`to 14`h • University of Dubuque
• Locust St 15`to 9`h • Pennsylvania Ave
• Delhi Transfer • NW Arterial HyVee
• West Locust St • Goodwill
Bus 4
• Delhi Transfer • Walmart
• University of Dubuque • Highway 20/Dodge HyVee
• Pennsylvania Ave • Target
• Kennedy Mall • Kmart/Plaza 20
Summary of Proposed Service Reductions
1. The Monday through Saturday Key West fixed-route service will be eliminated.
2. The Monday through Saturday Fremont fixed-route service will be eliminated.
3. No Saturday service along Windsor Ave from Davis Street to Mount Saint Francis.
4. No Saturday Service along Hillcrest Rd between Asbury Rd and JFK Rd
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5. No Saturday service along JFK between Asbury Rd and Sunset Park Circle
6. No Saturday service along Jackson St between 22"' and 32"' Streets. Service is available on Central Ave
between 22"' and 32"' Streets.
7. Saturday service along Jackson St and Central Ave will be reduced to once per hour.
8. No Saturday service to current Yellow Line stops including Dubuque Industrial Center West and Medical
Associates West.
Trip Length Comparison for Old Service with Trip Length for Proposed Service
With any change to service, Jule staff review trip times (1) pre-January 2014, (2) post January 2014, post
Intermodal opening and compare with the proposed services. The table below provides the trip length
comparison based on the proposed reduced Saturday service.
Common Trips
Proposed evening
and Saturday Trip Length
Depart Arrive Current schedule Schedule Change
Kennedy Mall 20 21 Increase 1
Target/Dodge St. HyVee 35 36 Increase 1
Intermodal Walmart/Lowes 25 26 Increase 1
Kohl's NW Arterial
HyVee 25 42 Increase 17
Delhi Kennedy Mall 20 21 Increase 1
Transfer Target/Dodge St. HyVee 35 36 Increase 1
Walmart/Lowes 40 26 Increase 1
Mystique Casino & Ice
Arena 40 44 Increase 4
Kennedy Mall 35 41 Increase 6
Windsor Ave.
Target/Dodge St. HyVee 50 56 Increase 6
& Davis St. Walmart/Lowes 40 46 Increase 6
35 60
Kmart/Sav-a-lot (every other hour) Hourly service Increase 25
Kohl's NW Arterial
HyVee 40 62 Increase 22
Kennedy Mall 35 41 Increase 6
Target/Dodge St. HyVee 50 56 Increase 6
Walmart/Lowes 40 46 Increase 6
The Point 35 60
Kmart/Sav-a-lot (every other hour) Hourly service Increase 25
Kohl's NW Arterial
HyVee 40 62 Increase 22
Kennedy Mall 25 12 Decrease 13
Clarke Target/Dodge St. HyVee 45 27 Decrease 18
University Mercy, Ma East, Pro Arts 15 28 Increase 13
Senior High
School Walmart/Lowes 35 17 Decrease 18
Hy-Vee S. Locust 48 13 Decrease 35
UD Kennedy Mall 20 6 Decrease 14
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Target/Dodge St. HyVee 35 21 Decrease 14
Walmart/Lowes 25 11 Decrease 14
Kennedy Mall 25 11 Decrease 14
Target/Dodge St. HyVee 40 22 Decrease 18
Loras Walmart/Lowes 30 15 Decrease 15
Kohl's NW Arterial
HyVee 30 27 Decrease 3
The Point 25 25 no change
Kennedy Mall 30 31 Increase 1
24th & Target/Dodge St. HyVee 45 46 Increase 1
Central Walmart/Lowes 35 36 Increase 1
Hy-Vee S. Locust 30 32 Increase 2
Kohl's NW Arterial
HyVee 35 37 Increase 2
Present Proposed Service to Transit Advisory Board for Input
The Transit Advisory Board has reviewed and provided input on the proposed routes and schedules at both
their October 2016 and March 2017 meetings.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the proposed changes be accepted and implemented with a planned start date of
August 14, 2017.
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RESOLUTION NO. 128-17
SETTING THE DATE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON TRANSIT FIXED -ROUTE
SERVICE REDUCTIONS
Whereas, the City of Dubuque provides fixed -route and paratransit services for the
citizens of Dubuque; and
Whereas, the ridership on Saturday routes has been found to be lower than
weekdays with opportunity for route combination; and
Whereas, the ridership on the Key West and Fremont routes continue to be the
lowest of all weekday service routes; and
Whereas, the opportunity to combine or eliminate low ridership routes provides cost
savings that can be utilized to increase weekday evening service hours; and
Whereas, the following changes to fixed -route service are proposed:
1. The Monday through Saturday Key West fixed -route service will be eliminated.
2. The Monday through Saturday Fremont fixed -route service will be eliminated.
3. No Saturday service along Windsor Ave from Davis Street to Mount Saint Francis.
4. No Saturday Service along Hillcrest Rd between Asbury Rd and JFK Rd
5. No Saturday service along JFK between Asbury Rd and Sunset Park Circle
6. No Saturday service along Jackson St between 22nd and 32nd Streets. Service is
available on Central Ave between 22nd and 32nd Streets.
7. Saturday service along Jackson St and Central Ave will be reduced to once per
hour.
8. No Saturday service to current Yellow Line stops including Dubuque Industrial
Center West and Medical Associates West.
If approved, the proposed fixed -route changes will take effect on August 14, 2017 in
conjunction with the increased evening service hours.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1: A public hearing will be held as part of the City Council Meeting on April
17, 2017. The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. and will be held in the City Council
Chambers of the Historic Federal Building, 350 W 6th Street, Dubuque, Iowa. The
purpose of the hearing is to allow public comment on the Saturday fixed -route service
reductions listed above.
Section 2: Interested persons may comment on the proposed fare increase either in
writing by filing with the City Clerk prior to the time of the public hearing or in person at
the public hearing. Any comments submitted will be considered by the City Council and
following the public hearing, the City Council will act to adopt or reject the proposed fare
increase.
Passed, approved and adopted this 3rd day of April, 2017.
t
Roy D. Buol, Mayor
Attest:
Kevi S. Firnstahl CMG, City Clerk
CITY OF DUBUQUE
OFFICIAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON TRANSIT FIXED-ROUTE SERVICE REDUCTIONS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: The City Council of the City of Dubuque, Iowa will hold a public hearing on
transit fixed-route service reductions at 6:00 p.m., on the 17th day of April, 2017, in the Historic Federal Building
Council Chambers (second floor), 350 West 6th Street, Dubuque, Iowa. Information regarding the route
changes, including schedule changes will be available on The Jule website (www.JuleTransit.org). At said
hearing, any interested person may appear and file objections thereto.
Proposed route changes:
1. The Monday through Saturday Key West fixed-route service will be eliminated.
2. The Monday through Saturday Fremont fixed-route service will be eliminated.
3. No Saturday service along Windsor Ave from Davis Street to Mount Saint Francis.
4. No Saturday Service along Hillcrest Rd between Asbury Rd and JFK Rd.
5. No Saturday service along JFK between Asbury Rd and Sunset Park Circle.
6. No Saturday service along Jackson St between 22nd and 32nd Streets. Service is available on Central Ave
between 22nd and 32nd Streets.
7. Saturday service along Jackson St and Central Ave will be reduced to once per hour.
8. No Saturday service to current Yellow Line stops including Dubuque Industrial Center West and Medical
Associates West.
If approved, the proposed fixed-route changes will take effect on August 14, 2017 in conjunction with the
expanded evening service.
Any visual or hearing-impaired persons needing special assistance or persons with special accessibility needs
should contact the City Clerk’s office at (563) 589-4100 or TDD at (563) 690-6678 at least 48 hours prior to the
meeting.
If you cannot attend in person, you may comment on the proposed service reductions in writing:
Submit comments in writing to the City Clerk prior to the time of the public hearing:
EMAIL: kfirnsta@cityofdubuque.org
MAIL: City Clerk; 50 W. 13th St; Dubuque, Iowa 52001
Any comments submitted will be considered by the City Council and following the public hearing, the City
Council will act to adopt or reject the proposed route changes.
Published by order of the City Council given on the 3rdth day of April, 2017.
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