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Shopping Circulator Route and Changes to the Red, Green and Grey LinesMasterpiece on the Mississippi Dubuque bltill AN- AmencaCity f 2007 TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: Shopping Circulator Route and Changes to the Red, Green and Grey Lines DATE: November 3, 2011 In early January 2011, The Jule was awarded an Iowa Clean Air Attainment Project (ICAAP) grant, which is a two year grant to fund a new route called the Shopping Circulator. The Shopping Circulator was one of the routes recommended in the 2009 LSC Study as a way of making travel between the major shopping areas located on the west side of Dubuque more efficient and effective. The grant became available for use effective October 1, 2011. Director of Transit Operations Barbara Morck recommends City Council approval of the Shopping Circulator route and the resulting changes in the Red Green and Grey Lines. Barbara has a short presentation. 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 Dave Heiar, Economic Development Director Barbara Morck, Director of Transit Operations Kelley Deutmeyer, Executive Director of ECIA Masterpiece on the Mississippi TO: FROM: CC: SUBJECT: DATE: Dubuque All- America 1 r 2007 Michael Van Milligen, City Manager Barbara Morck, Director of Transit Operations David Heiar, Economic Development Director Kelley Deutmeyer, Executive Director of ECIA Shopping Circulator route and changes to the Red, Green and Grey Lines October 31, 2011 BACKGROUND In early January 2011 The Jule was awarded an Iowa Clean Air Attainment Project (ICAAP) grant, which is a two (2) year grant, to fund a new route called the Shopping Circulator. The Shopping Circulator was one of the routes recommended in the 2009 LSC Study as a way of making travel between the major shopping areas located on the west side of Dubuque more efficient and effective. The grant became available for use effective October 1, 2011. DISCUSSION The planning process for implementation of the Shopping Circulator, an ad hoc committee consisting of 6 Bus Operators, the Operations Supervisor and myself was formed. In the meeting we discussed how the new route could and should be structured (e.g. path of travel and timing of the route), and how would most likely affect the three routes — Red, Green and Grey Lines - currently providing service to the areas the Shopping Circulator would now travel through. The ad hoc committee had a follow up meeting on September 28, 2011 and reviewed the maps and tentative schedules that had been put together based on their input. On September 29, 2011 a public meeting was held to gather input from the community; the meeting was attended by approximately 30 people. During the public meeting we received a lot of good input in the form of suggestions for the new route, and were able to include several of the requests for new service in areas not currently covered by the Jule's fixed route service into the changes on the Red, Green and Grey Lines. The Shopping Circulator will be a (total of) 60 minute route with service to the residential areas and businesses located on the west end of Dubuque. The transfer of passengers between it and the Red, Green and Grey Lines will occur at the JFK Circle. The "northern" section of the Shopping Circulator will be 25 minutes in length, and will provide fixed route service to (e.g.) Sam's Club, the Asbury Plaza area, and the Goodwill Store. The "southern" section will be 35 minutes in length, and will provide service to (e.g.) Wal -Mart & Lowe's, the Warren Plaza area, and the Kennedy Mall. Because the Shopping Circulator will be serving areas that are currently serviced by the Red, Green and Grey Lines, the travel patterns and schedules of these three routes will be adjusted accordingly. One bus will be used for the Shopping Circulator route. The westbound Red Line (aka "Red Kennedy ") in its current configuration takes 1 hour, 45 minutes to complete its travel from the downtown interchange (Iowa and 6th Street) to the west end and back. In its new configuration the Red Line will continue to service Medical Associates West by way of Pennsylvania- Radford - Chavenelle with additional service west as far as Chavenelle Court, but no longer going to Wal- Mart/Lowe's and the Kennedy Mall. And the Red Line route will now take 1 hour, 30 minutes to /from downtown. The eastbound Red Line (aka "Red Linwood ") schedule (30 minutes to /from downtown) and route will remain the same. Two buses will be used for the east and westbound Red Line routes. The westbound Green Line (aka "Green Hempstead ") will take the same amount of time as it does now, 1 hour, 30 minutes to /from downtown, and will continue to serve the Kmart area and Shopko, with the addition of the Diamond Apartments, the Kennedy Mall, a section of Cross Park and Starlight Drive, and Warren Plaza, but will no longer travel on Pennsylvania between JFK and Radford (past Hempstead). Another changes on the westbound Green Line is the removal of the Prairie -11th- Race -Rose section. This is being done for two reasons: 1) during winter weather conditions that result in really poor road conditions for buses through this area, we regularly have to detour buses away from this area using Loras, which tends to create a lot of confusion for passengers; and 2) the new low floor Gillig are unable to safely make the transition at the intersection from Prairie onto Loras without the front end bottoming out, which will eventually result in severe damage to the bus. The eastbound Green Line (aka "Green 32nd ") schedule (30 minutes to /from downtown) and route will remain the same. Two buses will be used for the east and westbound Green Line routes. The westbound Grey Line (aka "Grey Kennedy ") in the new configuration will only take 60 minutes to complete its travel to /from downtown and the west end (instead of 1 hour, 30 minutes). The Grey Line will no longer serve the Kennedy Mall, but will continue to provide service to the St. Mary's and Sunset Park areas with the addition of a section of Chaney between Kaufman and Asbury past The Forum (inbound only). The eastbound Grey Line (aka "Grey Point ") schedule (30 minutes to /from downtown) and route will remain the same. One bus will be used for the westbound Grey Line route (a 60 minute route), and one bus will be used for the eastbound Grey Line Route (a 30 minute route). The Medical Loop received requests for "on- demand" service to /from the downtown interchange and the Schmitt Island (e.g. Mystique Casino) and to /from downtown and the KeyWest area. Because of the amount of time involved we are unable to service both areas on the same trip, which means passengers have to wait at least one hour for the next bus. With the bus servicing the eastbound Grey Line area on a 30 minute route, this will allow us to add (new) regular 30 minute service to /from downtown and 2 Schmitt Island, which will in turn allow the Medical Loop to provide hourly service to the KeyWest area (instead of only "on- demand "); otherwise its route and schedule will remain the same. With the addition of the new Shopping Circulator route and the proposed changes to the routes of the Red, Green and Grey Lines, and the Medical Loop, we will be able to increase the coverage area and decrease the amount of time it takes to get across town, all without having to increase the number of buses in daily service and therefore the cost of operation. RECOMMENDATION /ACTION STEP I recommend that the City Council approve the Shopping Circulator route and the resulting changes in the Red, Green and Grey Lines, and the Medical Loop as proposed. 3 The Jule - Red Line Transfer Points 4 Regular Route 4= Limited Access Wacker Plaza. DUB E DAGIS TheJule nx kr. mr,1 ..........._,,,,,. The Jule Green Line Transfer Points Green Line Y. The Jule - Gray Line Transfer Points Grey Line ��Du cur DAGIS The Jule Shopping Circulator, The and the resulting changes to the Red, Green & Grey Lines Medical Loop and the November 7, 2011 Currently: As they operate today, from the downtown interchange to the west side and back it takes: The Red Line 1 hour 45 minutes • The Green Line 1 hour 30 minutes • The Grey Line 1 hour 30 minutes • With the proposed changes: From the downtown interchange to the west side and back it will now take: The Red Line 1 hour 30 minutes • The Green Line 1 hour 30 minutes • The Grey Line 1 hour • What will not change: Eastbound Grey Line (aka “Grey Point”) stays the same • Eastbound Green Line (aka “Green 32 nd”) stays the same • Eastbound Red Line (aka “Red Linwood”) stays the same • And the Red, Green and Grey Lines, and the Medical • Loop will leave the downtown interchange at the same time (:15 after and :45 until the hour) What change will bring: Hourly service to Schmitt Island/Mystique Casino • Hourly service to KeyWest/DMV hourly • New service to Cedar Cross/Starlight Drive • New service to Industrial Center West • New service on Chaney between Kaufman and Asbury • Increased service along Pennsylvania between NW • Arterial and JF Kennedy Drive Green Line will no longer use on Prairie-11st Street-Race- • Rose Grey Line will service Sunset Park/Dove once (outbound) • Grey Line will service WalhertHS area once (outbound) • Shopping Circulator (new route) 25 minute/35 minute service Connects with the Red, Green and Grey Lines at JFK Circle, targeting: Asbury Square • Asbury Hy-Vee • Goodwill and Courtside • Wal-Mart and Lowes • Kennedy Mall • Red Line (westbound) 1 hour 30 minute service Connects to the Shopping Circulator at JFK Circle, targeting: Delhi area • Hempstead area • Pennsylvania/Radford Road • Industrial Center West (new) • Medical Associates West • Green Line (westbound) 1 hour, 30 minute service Connects to the Shopping Circulator at JFK Circle, targeting: Delhi area • Plaza 20 • WackerPlaza • Diamond Apartments (new) • Kennedy Mall (new) • Cedar Cross and Starlight Drive (new) • Warren Plaza (new) • Grey Line (westbound) 60 minute service Connects to the Shopping Circulator at JFK Circle, targeting: •Delhi area •St. Mary/WalhertHS area •Sunset Park area •Asbury Square •The Forum (new) Grey Line (eastbound) 30 minute/30 minute service Connects with the Red, Green, westbound Grey Lines and Medical Loop, targeting: 5-Corners • The Point area • With addedservice to: Historical Millwork District (new) • Schmitt Island/Mystique Casino (new) • Medical Loop 30 minute/30 minute service Connects with the Red, Green and Grey Lines at the downtown interchange, targeting: Locust Hy-Vee • KeyWestarea (new hourly service) • Mt. Carmel area (on-demand) • YMCA/YWCA area (on-demand) • Hospitals and Clinics • Clarke, UD & Loras • Questions?