Shopping Circulator Route and Changes to the Red, Green and Grey LinesMasterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
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AN- AmencaCity
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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.
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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?