RTA Shuttle Service to NICCTO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: RTA Shuttle Service to NICC
DATE: October 14, 2009
Transit Manager Jon Rodocker is transmitting information about the funding constraints
that the Regional Transit Authority 8 (RTA) has encountered in respect to the shuttle
service they offer to Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC).
The RTA has been providing daily shuttle service between NICC's two facilities in
Dubuque and Peosta for the past two school years under a grant from the Iowa Clean
Air Attainment Program. The service was hourly with 30-minute headways at a fare of
$1.00 per one-way ride. Total annual cost for the service ran approximately $60,000
per year. Within two years, the $84,000 grant that subsidized 80% of the eligible costs
to run the service was exhausted.
Transit Manager Jon Rodocker recommends the City Council consider a partnership
with RTA and assist with funding the NICC shuttle service at a reduced service level for
the remainder of the 2009-2010 school year, at a cost of up to $12,000 in City funds to
equally split the net cost of the reduced shuttle service with the RTA. The City would
negotiate the final aspects of an agreement that provides up to five round trips per day.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Jon Rodocker, Transit Manager
Dave Heiar, Economic Development Director
THE CTTY OF
DUB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Jon Rodocker, Transit Manager
SUBJECT: RTA Shuttle Service to NICC
Dubuque
Q
200
October 13, 2009
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to outline the funding constraints that the RTA (Regional
Transit Authority 8) has encountered in respect to the shuttle service they offer to NICC
(Northeast Iowa Community College). The service operates between the downtown
campus in Dubuque and the Peosta campus.
DISCUSSION
The RTA has been providing daily shuttle service between NICC's two facilities in
Dubuque and Peosta for the past two school years under a grant from the Iowa Clean
Air Attainment Program. The service was hourly with 30 minute headways at a fare of
$1.00 per one-way ride. Total annual cost for the service ran approximately $60,000
per year. Within two years the $84,000 grant that subsidized 80% of the eligible costs to
run the service was exhausted.
In January 2009 the RTA submitted a request to NICC to help subsidize the service for
the 2009-2010 school year. The proposed service would be reduced and fares
increased assuming NICC could provide $15,000 towards the total cost of the reduced
service. In July NICC indicated they would not be able to fund any portion of the
service.
After considerable discussion the RTA submitted a proposal to reduce the service to 3
trips per day and keep the fare at $1.00 per one way ride. The reduced schedule would
provide approximately 385.5 hours of service for the remainder of the school year at a
cost of $16,620.00. Based on prior years, the farebox revenue would total
approximately $5,000 for a net cost to the RTA of $11,620.00. It is possible that farebox
revenue may be reduced due to the potential drop in ridership from the service level
reductions requiring a larger subsidy.
After discussing the proposed schedules with Cindy O'Bryon, Provost at NICC, she
expressed a need for two additional trips per day, one in the morning and one in the
afternoon to accommodate student schedules. The two additional trips would add
approximately 269.5 hours of service at a cost of $11,589.00. This additional cost plus
the deficit anticipated from the proposed RTA service would create a total estimated
deficit of $23,209.00 for the remainder of the 2009-2010 school year.
Technical Memorandum number 4 of the Transit Operations Analysis recommends the
continuation of the NICC shuttle as an express route and integration of the route into the
KeyLine system. The route currently provides stops at two of KeyLine's current transfer
locations and the Kennedy Mall. The headway from downtown to the Mall has been 15
minutes which is almost'/4 the time currently scheduled on the KeyLine fixed route. The
route also boarded passengers directly in front of the Kennedy Mall where the KeyLine
fixed route is no longer able to travel. If the RTA implements the service reduction, (3
round trips per day) the practicality of using the route as an express service is greatly
reduced. Should the City Council approve a financial commitment for this transit
service, City staff will work with the RTA to market this express route concept.
According to Budget Director Jenny Larson, there is $61,079 available in miscellaneous
equipment in transit administration which was carried over from FY2009 that would be
available to cover the cost.
Please note that the service would only be funded until the end of the school year, May
11, 2010. Unless alternative funding can be secured we will be facing the same issue
next school year.
RECOMMENDATION
That Keyline consider a partnership with the RTA and assist with funding for the NICC
shuttle service for the remainder of the 2009-2010 school year. I would recommend
negotiating the final aspects of an agreement that provides up to 5 round trips per day
and respectfully request up to $12,000 to equally split the net cost of this shuttle service
with the RTA.
F:\USERS\Econ Dev\Transit\Council Memos\20091019_RTA NICC shuttle service funding memo.doc