Proposed Jule Transit Service Reductions and Changes_Hearing Copyrighted
April 17, 2017
City of Dubuque Public Hearings # 3.
ITEM TITLE: Proposed Jule Transit Service Reductions and Changes
SUMMARY: Proof of publication on notice of public hearing to consider
approval of selected reductions and changes to the Jule
Transit fixed-route service and schedules and the City
Manager recommending approval.
Staff will make a presentation.
RESOLUTION Accepting fixed-route service reductions
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Adopt
Resolution(s), Staff Presentation
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Transit Proposed Service Reductions-MVM Memo City Manager Memo
Staff Memo Staff Memo
Resolution - Accepting Changes Resolutions
Proof of Publication Supporting Documentation
THE CM OF Dubuque
AAA-A m c
DUB E 11 1r
Masterpiece on the Mississippi -2012I
rP PP �oo� .zo13
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: April 11, 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 Avenue 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
Candace Eudaley, Director of Transit Operations
Jodi Johnson, Transit Operations Supervisor
2
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
1
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
2
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
3
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.
4
RESOLUTION NO. 148-17
ACCEPTING 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
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA:
The following Fixed -Route service changes will take effect on August 14, 2017 in
conjunction with expanded evening service.
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.
Passed, approved and adopted this 17th day of April, 2017.
Attest:
Kevi ' S. Firnstahl;IUVity Clerk
ffRoy D. Buol, Mayor
STATE OF IOWA {SS:
DUBUQUE COUNTY
CERTIFICATION OF PUBLICATION
I, Suzanne Pike, a Billing Clerk for Woodward Communications, Inc., an Iowa corporation,publisher
of the Telegraph Herald,a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Dubuque, County
of Dubuque and State of Iowa; hereby certify that the attached notice was published in said newspaper a
on the following dates: April 07, 2017, and for which the charge is $34.05.
Piz" it
4. No Saturday
Service along Hillcrest°
Rd between Asbury Rd
and JFK Rd. l
5,No Saturday service
along JFK, between 4
Asbury Rd and Sunset)
Subscribed to before me, a NotaryPublic id for Dubuque County, IPark Circle. ;
n anque yowa, 6.,No Saturday service 1,
this ' _day of 9 20 / along Jackson St
�f— between 22nd andel
32nd Streets.'Service is
available on Centrale I
Ave between 22nd and
32nd Streets.
7:.Saturday service_;
along Jackson St and i
Central Ave will be
reduced to once perk;
hour.
rJotary Public in and for Dubuq County, Iowa. 8.No Saturday service
to current Yellow Line. S
stops including Dubu-
que
ubu que Industrial, Center
CITY OF DUBUQUE, West and Medical', {
_ IOWA Associates West. If
MARY K WESTRM�YER OFFICIAL NOTICE approved, the pro-
,,eA�.+ NOTICE OF PUBLIC posed fixed route.
Commission Number 154885 HEARING ON changes will take
m TRANSIT FIXED effect,on August 14,
My Commission Exp.Feb.1,2020 ROUTE SERVICE 2017 in conjunction,'
REDUCTIONS with the expanded,
NOTICE.IS HEREBY evening service. 9
,GIVEN: The City Any visual'orhearing,
Council of the City of impaired persons need- j!
•Dubuque, Iowa will Ing .special assistance i
hold a public hearing or persons with special
on transit fixed-route accessibility needs
service reductions .at should contactthe City,
6:00 p.m., on the 17th• Clerk's office at (563)
day of April, 2017, in 589-4100 or .TDD at
,the'.Historic Federal I (563),690-6678 at least
Building Council Cham JI 48 1iours prior to the
hers (second floor), meeting._
350 West 6th Street, I If you cannot attend
Dubuque, low&. Infor", in person, you .may
mation regarding the comment on the pro-
route changes, includ- posed servicereduc- i
ing schedule changes tions in writing: i
will be available on The ISubmit comments in -
writing to the City
Jule, website (www. Clerk prior to the time 89
JuleTransit.org).•At said of the public hearing:
hearing,any interested EMAIL: ,kfirns---city R
person Lmay, appear ofdupuque.org g
and file objections` MAIL: City Clerk; 50 hi
thereto. W. 13th St; Dubuque,
Proposed route Iowa 52001
changes: Any comments sub-
1. The Monday miffed will be con-
through Saturday Key sidered by the City
West fixed-route ser Council and following'
vice will be eliminated. •, the public hearing,the I 4
2. The Monday City Council will act to
though-Saturday Fre- adopt, or reject the
mont fixed-route ser proposed route changes.
vice will be eliminated.- Published by order of
3.No Saturday service' the City Council given
along Windsor Ave on the 3rd day of April,
from Davis-Street;to 2017.
Mount Saint Francis. it 4/7"
I
Public Hearing:
Saturday Transit Service Reduction
Weekday Service Reduction to Fremont & Key West
Options for evening service were provided during the FY18 budget process and were based on
reductions to Saturday service. Ridership for all routes, times of day and days of the week were
reviewed for opportunities for consolidation while continuing to serve high ridership stops and areas.
Cost savings from these reductions support the approved service for weekday evening hours.
Reduction + Expansion Summary
Weekdays: 6am-6pm Fixed-Route and MiniBus service schedule will remain the same with two exceptions
Eliminate every-other-hour service to Fremont Ave and Key West
New hourly service to University Ave, Brunskill Rd (near Best Western), Plaza 20 and Lakeridge Dr
Weeknights: 6-9pm
MiniBus service
Fixed-Route service to high demand areas only
Saturdays: 8am-9pm
MiniBus service
Fixed-Route service to high demand areas only
The Planning Process
Public Input sessions in Spring 2016 helped focus planning efforts on an off-peak, reduced fixed-route weeknight service
91% of participants said evening service was important
70% of participants favored a reduced (2 to 4 vehicle) type service
21% of participants favored a full schedule (8 vehicle) type service
Review IBM Smarter Travel data and service area recommendations
Review current ridership levels by route, day of the week and bus stop
Per ADA, MiniBus service must be available based on demand to accommodate all ADA ride requests during fixed-route hours
IBM Smarter Travel Data
Smarter Travel Data provides insights into where people drive, bike, walk and walk once they get off the bus –This tells us where we should consider adding service because people are using these roadways, sidewalks, bike paths, etc.
Recommended off-peak joint route to Windsor Ave, Terrace Heights, and Central Ave
Recommended regular service on University Ave from Pennsylvania to Hwy 20 and Brunskill Rd
Current Ridership Data
Ridership data provides insights into how our existing bus service is used by passengers –This tells
us which areas, days of the week, times of day and bus stops that people are using the service
we currently provide.
4,575 4,819
16,365 17,601 18,213 23,846 24,085 25,955 28,136 29,189 31,856 35,152
49,379 50,382
70,856
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
Fremont + KeyWest Daytime Ride Summary
95 = Average rides per day for a daytime route ($3.11/ride)
236 = Rides per day for the best performing daytime route ($2.11/ride)
15 = Rides per day for worst performing route ($7.32/ride)
KeyWest = 15 rides/day ($7.32/ride)
Fremont = 16 rides/day ($6.95/ride)
Monday-Saturday KeyWest + Fremont service is recommended for elimination and
replacement with service to University Ave, Brunskill Rd (near Best Western), Plaza 20 and
Lakeridge Dr
Daytime Rides by Day of the Week
75,525 80,133 82,858 76,141 74,822
42,055
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Fixed-Route Rides FY 2016
Saturday Daytime Rides by Bus Stop
Current routes serve over 270 bus stops. On Saturdays, only 35% (85 stops) served more than
one passenger per day of service.
The top 10% most used (27) bus stops served a combined 238 passengers per day of service.
1 JFK Rd at Hoover School 8 Shopko 15 Jackson St and 19th St 22 Locust St and 6th St
2 Kennedy Mall 9 Main St and 15th St 16 Eagles on Elm St 23 Locust St and Angella St
3 Central Ave and 24th St 10 Main St and 12th St 17 Target 24 Hill St and 5th St
4 Walmart 11 Mindframe Theatre 18 Jackson St and 28th St 25 Jackson St and 24th St
5 HyVee NW Arterial 12 Central Ave and Kaufmann Ave 19 HyVee on S Locust St 26 Windsor Ave and 24th St
6 Pennsylvania Ave at Penn Place
Apartments 13 Medical Associates Chavenelle Rd 20 Dodge St HyVee 27 Jackson St and 17th St
7 Central Ave and 19th St 14 JFK Rd at Arby's 21 Central Ave and 17th St
Proposed Saturday + Weeknight Routes
To establish cost savings to fund evening service, low demand areas will not be served or will be served
differently on Saturdays and weeknights. High demand areas receive hourly or half-hour service.
No Saturday service to the following:
Windsor Ave from Davis Street to Mount Saint
Francis
Hillcrest Rd between Asbury Rd and JFK Rd
JFK between Asbury Rd and Sunset Park Circle
Jackson St between 22nd and 32nd Streets.
Service is available on Central Ave between 22nd
and 32nd Streets every hour. This is a reduction
from 30 minute frequency
Yellow Line stops in Dubuque Industrial Center
West and Medical Associates West
Trip Length Comparison
Depart Arrive
Current
schedule
Proposed evening and
Saturday Schedule Trip Length Change
Intermodal
Kennedy Mall 20 21 Increase 1
Target/Dodge St. HyVee 35 36 Increase 1
Walmart/Lowes 25 26 Increase 1
Kohl's NW Arterial HyVee 25 42 Increase 17
Delhi Transfer
Kennedy Mall 20 21 Increase 1
Target/Dodge St. HyVee 35 36 Increase 1
Walmart/Lowes 40 26 Increase 1
Windsor Ave.
& Davis St.
Mystique Casino & Ice Arena 40 44 Increase 4
Kennedy Mall 35 41 Increase 6
Target/Dodge St. HyVee 50 56 Increase 6
Walmart/Lowes 40 46 Increase 6
Kohl's NW Arterial HyVee 40 62 Increase 22
The Point
Kennedy Mall 35 41 Increase 6
Target/Dodge St. HyVee 50 56 Increase 6
Walmart/Lowes 40 46 Increase 6
Kohl's NW Arterial HyVee 40 62 Increase 22
Clarke
University
Senior High
School
Kennedy Mall 25 12 Decrease 13
Target/Dodge St. HyVee 45 27 Decrease 18
Mercy, Ma East, Pro Arts 15 28 Increase 13
Walmart/Lowes 35 17 Decrease 18
Hy-Vee S. Locust 48 13 Decrease 35
UD
Kennedy Mall 20 6 Decrease 14
Target/Dodge St. HyVee 35 21 Decrease 14
Walmart/Lowes 25 11 Decrease 14
Loras
Kennedy Mall 25 11 Decrease 14
Target/Dodge St. HyVee 40 22 Decrease 18
Walmart/Lowes 30 15 Decrease 15
Kohl's NW Arterial HyVee 30 27 Decrease 3
24th & Central
Kennedy Mall 30 31 Increase 1
Target/Dodge St. HyVee 45 46 Increase 1
Walmart/Lowes 35 36 Increase 1
Hy-Vee S. Locust 30 32 Increase 2
Kohl's NW Arterial HyVee 35 37 Increase 2
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.
Planned Outreach
Posters on buses and in shelters (started April 2017)
Input meetings with drivers, community partners and impacted groups (started April 2017)
Online survey with ReMix route tool (started April 2017)
Social media and press releases (as updated info is available)
Informational meetings with community partners (July & August 2017)