FY 2008 - Greenville
FY 2008 - Greenville
FY 2008 - Greenville
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Annual Report on<br />
Transit Operations Services<br />
Fiscal Year October 1, 2007 – September 31, <strong>2008</strong><br />
By The City of <strong>Greenville</strong><br />
Under Contract to The <strong>Greenville</strong> Transit Authority
Stated Goals:<br />
July 2007 Transit Proposal<br />
• Providing to the transit operation certain City administrative services,<br />
thus allowing reduction of the transit administrative staff.<br />
• Leveraging increased revenue from the Federal government for the<br />
transit operation through the contribution of allowable in-kind<br />
services, thus freeing up existing local cash for other transit<br />
purposes.<br />
• Providing to the transit operation certain marketing, planning and<br />
development services that the GTA needs now but cannot afford.<br />
• Utilizing federal transit funds to assist in funding transit-oriented<br />
improvements, thus freeing up local funds now dedicated to those<br />
projects for new investments into the transit operation.
“Understood” Goal<br />
Keep<br />
transit<br />
alive.
Transit Operations Contract<br />
• Signed 1/<strong>2008</strong><br />
• City began services 3/31/<strong>2008</strong><br />
• Hired most GTA employees as City employees<br />
• Contract includes:<br />
– Management<br />
– Operations<br />
– Vehicle and Building Maintenance<br />
– Indirect Services (HR, Finance, IT)<br />
– In-Kind Services (Bus and Facility Improvements)
About Greenlink<br />
• 11 fixed routes<br />
• Monday - Saturday<br />
• Hourly service<br />
(more or less)<br />
• Paratransit services<br />
• 29 vehicles (17<br />
large buses)<br />
• 33 FT; 12 PT<br />
Employees<br />
• Pre-City <strong>2008</strong><br />
Budget: $2.8<br />
million<br />
• 21% farebox<br />
recovery rate
City<br />
Comparison<br />
National Transit Database (2006 Reports)<br />
Number of<br />
Buses<br />
Passengers<br />
(Annual)<br />
Annual Budget<br />
<strong>Greenville</strong> 15 904,000 $3,262,229<br />
Charleston 65 2,763,700 $14,194,128<br />
Columbia 54 2,548,800 $11,263,000<br />
Greensboro 40 3,205,300 $16,279,479<br />
Winston-Salem 52 2,982,000 $9,799,964<br />
Knoxville 80 3,388,100 $14,277,391<br />
Chattanooga 70 3,087,600 $12,796,712
<strong>Greenville</strong><br />
Transit<br />
Authority<br />
<strong>Greenville</strong><br />
City Manager<br />
Transportation<br />
Director and<br />
Executive<br />
Director of GTA<br />
Admin.<br />
Assistant<br />
Parking<br />
Manager<br />
Transit<br />
Manager<br />
<strong>Greenville</strong><br />
City<br />
Council<br />
<strong>Greenville</strong><br />
County<br />
Council<br />
<strong>Greenville</strong><br />
Legislative<br />
Delegation<br />
Operations<br />
Supervisor<br />
(2)<br />
Dispatch<br />
Fixed<br />
Route<br />
Demand<br />
Response<br />
GTA<br />
Legal<br />
Counsel<br />
Mass<br />
Transit<br />
Division,<br />
SCDOT<br />
Region<br />
Four FTA<br />
SCACOG<br />
(Special<br />
Grant<br />
Programs)<br />
GPATS<br />
(Planning<br />
Grant)<br />
Indirect<br />
Services<br />
Transit<br />
Grants<br />
Manager<br />
In-Kind<br />
Services<br />
S.C.<br />
General<br />
Assembly<br />
Organization
<strong>2008</strong> Revenue:<br />
GTA Budget vs. City Actual<br />
$4,000,000<br />
$3,500,000<br />
$3,000,000<br />
$2,500,000<br />
$2,000,000<br />
$1,500,000<br />
$1,000,000<br />
$500,000<br />
In-Kind<br />
Federal<br />
State<br />
Local<br />
Other<br />
Passenger<br />
$0<br />
GTA Budget City Actual In-Kind<br />
Services
<strong>2008</strong> Expense:<br />
GTA Budget vs. City Actual *<br />
$4,000,000<br />
$3,500,000<br />
$3,000,000<br />
$2,500,000<br />
$2,000,000<br />
$1,500,000<br />
$1,000,000<br />
Administration<br />
Maintenance<br />
Demand Response<br />
Fixed Route<br />
$500,000<br />
$0<br />
GTA Budget<br />
City Actual<br />
* Unaudited
<strong>FY</strong> <strong>2008</strong> Fuel Cost Trend<br />
$70,000<br />
$60,000<br />
$50,000<br />
$40,000<br />
$30,000<br />
$20,000<br />
$10,000<br />
$0<br />
2/08 3/08 4/08 5/08 6/08 7/08 8/08 9/08
<strong>2008</strong> Achievements:<br />
Administration and Operations<br />
Administration<br />
• Cost reduction<br />
• Transit branding<br />
• Transit website<br />
• Pre-employment physicals<br />
Operations<br />
• General Manager<br />
• Operations Supervisor<br />
• Reviewed routes for safety “hot<br />
spots”<br />
Operations<br />
• Defined driver expectations<br />
• Assessed driver competency;<br />
observed employee/customer<br />
interaction; provided training;<br />
made improvements (example:<br />
reduced radio<br />
communications)<br />
• Driver schedule improvements<br />
(lunch break)<br />
• Ongoing passenger data<br />
collection
<strong>2008</strong> Achievements:<br />
Facilities and Vehicles<br />
Transit Facilities<br />
• Transit Center Waterproofing<br />
(IFB, selection and substantial<br />
project completion)<br />
• Greyhound contract<br />
amendment<br />
• IFB for bus shelter purchase<br />
• IFB for 154 Augusta St. roof<br />
repair<br />
• IFB for sale of 103 Augusta St.<br />
• Moved offices to reduce cost<br />
Transit Vehicles<br />
• Repaired:<br />
– Defective brakes<br />
– Broken Air Conditioners<br />
– Damaged Bodies<br />
– Leaking Roofs<br />
– Defective fuel systems<br />
– Overheating Engines<br />
– Leaking Engines<br />
• Uncontaminated fuel<br />
• Began bus detailing program<br />
• “Art in Motion”
Performance Comparison<br />
2007 <strong>2008</strong> Notes<br />
Riders 839,840 718,068 Route reduction in April 2007<br />
On-Time<br />
Performance<br />
86%? Average delay<br />
= 8.97 minutes<br />
2007 statistic is improbable<br />
Accidents 29 14 Better maintained vehicles; better<br />
driver practices<br />
Breakdowns 632 656 Many “breakdowns” associated with<br />
electrical system (sensors that have<br />
been reconnected)<br />
Farebox<br />
Recovery<br />
21% 20% Result of increased fuel cost and<br />
reduced passenger revenue
2009 Budget ($3,302,395) *<br />
Revenue<br />
22%<br />
9%<br />
Expense<br />
45%<br />
4%<br />
35%<br />
49%<br />
19%<br />
10%<br />
Passenger Other<br />
Local State<br />
Federal<br />
7%<br />
Fixed Route<br />
Demand Response<br />
Maintenance<br />
Administration<br />
* Budget is being reviewed as part of FTA<br />
audit, to ensure accuracy in expense allocation.
2009 Work Plan:<br />
Administration<br />
• Select Transportation Director<br />
• Realign existing grants with current operations<br />
• Bring all FTA-required reporting current<br />
• Refine accounts payable, accounting and grants management<br />
processes<br />
• Implement new accounting software<br />
• Participate in Financial Management Overview Audit<br />
• Participate in Triennial Review<br />
• Obtain FTA approval for Cost Allocation Plan<br />
• Complete Board Training Manual<br />
• Develop Finance/Grants Management Manual<br />
• RFP for Transit Vision and Master Plan<br />
• Build relationship with staffs of <strong>Greenville</strong> County, SCDOT and FTA
2009 Work Plan:<br />
Transit Operations<br />
• Make incremental route modifications leading to better<br />
on-time performance<br />
• Implement plans for designated stops; complete<br />
installation of new signs<br />
• Develop transit technology recommendations
• Transit Vehicles<br />
2009 Work Plan:<br />
Vehicles and Facilities<br />
– Develop and begin implementation of a fleet replacement<br />
program<br />
– Continue providing high level of vehicle maintenance activities<br />
• Facilities<br />
– Complete design and begin Transit Center renovation<br />
– Complete Roof Repair at 154 Augusta Street<br />
– Develop plans for installation of first 50 bus shelters<br />
– Develop plans for transit oriented infrastructure improvement<br />
program
Comparison to July 2007 Proposal<br />
• Bus Shelters<br />
– A plan for improving bus shelters, extending sidewalks to shelters and<br />
funding sidewalks/shelters will be finalized. A design for new<br />
prefabricated shelters will be selected. A request for bids on new<br />
shelters will be written, issued and awarded. Some new transit shelters<br />
will be installed.<br />
• ON TRACK<br />
– A procedure for reporting and effecting needed facility repairs will be<br />
implemented.<br />
• COMPLETE<br />
– Regular solid waste collection and landscape maintenance will occur at<br />
each shelter.<br />
• ONGOING
Comparison to July 2007 Proposal<br />
• Transit Center<br />
– Improved security measures, additional lighting, and a scheduled police<br />
patrol will be implemented.<br />
• COMPLETE.<br />
– Renovation, funded with Federal funds and City in-kind services, will be<br />
begin, addressing deferred maintenance, waterproofing, lighting,<br />
pavement parking, signage and other issues. Renovation design will<br />
also address enhanced passenger waiting area and amenities.<br />
• ON TRACK.
Comparison to July 2007 Proposal<br />
• Vehicle Maintenance<br />
– Maintenance of trouble-prone buses will be upgraded.<br />
• ONGOING.<br />
– Specifications for reliable, heavy-duty buses will be written and orders for<br />
the first buses will be placed, aiming to gradually replace Optima buses.<br />
• ON TRACK.<br />
– Buses will be cleaner, due to enhanced bus servicing program.<br />
• ONGOING.<br />
– New graphics will be created and installed.<br />
• COMPLETE.<br />
– Plans will be developed for integrating transit vehicle maintenance<br />
operations into the City’s Public Works Department. MAY NOT BE<br />
FEASIBLE.
Comparison to July 2007 Proposal<br />
• Marketing<br />
– The City will develop and implement a marketing strategy.<br />
• ON HOLD.<br />
– The City will complete a new transit website.<br />
• COMPLETE.<br />
– New bus stop sign designs will be created and installed.<br />
• ON TRACK.<br />
– Efforts to increase ridership will occur through targeted ridership<br />
promotion campaign.<br />
• ON HOLD.
Comparison to July 2007 Proposal<br />
• Finance<br />
– City administrative services will be provided, allowing reduction of the GTA<br />
administrative staff.<br />
• COMPLETE.<br />
– GTA will experience more financially-stable operations.<br />
• ONGOING.<br />
– The City will develop and begin implementation of a plan to utilize more federal<br />
funds to assist in funding service expansions and transit-oriented improvements.<br />
• ONGOING.<br />
– Space needs will be reviewed and a design for relocating administrative staff will<br />
have been completed.<br />
• COMPLETE.<br />
– The City will assess GTA’s office technology environment and make improvements<br />
• ON TRACK.
Comparison to July 2007 Proposal<br />
• Human Resources<br />
– The City will offer employment to the remaining GTA employees,<br />
conditional on successful completion of standard City background<br />
checks and pre-employment testing. GTA employees will receive<br />
enhanced employee benefits.<br />
• COMPLETE.<br />
– The City will recruit, screen and hire a full-time Transit Director.<br />
• ON TRACK.
Comparison to July 2007 Proposal<br />
• Planning<br />
– A pilot area will be determined based on ridership and route planning will<br />
be conducted to explore service expansion. If feasible, a service<br />
enhancement will begin implementation.<br />
• ON HOLD.<br />
– The City will work with partners and stakeholders to arrange funding for<br />
a community-wide transit master plan and vision.<br />
• COMPLETE.<br />
– A Request for Proposals for community-wide transit master planning<br />
services will be issued and a consultant hired. The planning process will<br />
be well underway.<br />
• ON TRACK.
Comparison to July 2007 Proposal<br />
• Planning<br />
– Transit capital funding will be integrated with City capital planning. A<br />
transit capital plan will include acquisition of buses and improving bus<br />
shelters as well as the construction of transit-oriented improvements,<br />
such as sidewalks and trails.<br />
• ON TRACK.<br />
– Passenger and trip data will be collected to refine routes and services.<br />
• ONGOING.<br />
– A transit planning team will integrate ongoing transit planning with<br />
redevelopment planning.<br />
• ON HOLD.
Recommendations:<br />
Long Term Transit Goals<br />
• Improve the reliability and predictability of transit services, so that<br />
“choice” riders see transit as a viable alternative for commuting.<br />
• Promote increased support for transit from elected officials and<br />
community opinion leaders.<br />
• Build supportive partnerships with business and organizations such<br />
as major employers, colleges and shopping centers to increase<br />
transit ridership and provide additional local revenue.
Recommendations:<br />
Long Term Transit Goals<br />
• Provide a dedicated local funding source adequate to subsidize<br />
transit operations costs, which can provide the local match needed<br />
to access additional Federal funds for capital and preventative<br />
maintenance.<br />
• Reconfigure routes and add services emphasizing new service to<br />
areas of the community that are currently unserved, thus providing<br />
additional opportunities to increase ridership.<br />
• Integrate transit planning with community and economic<br />
development planning in order to support transit-oriented<br />
development.
Thanks....<br />
• To all of those who have worked hard to make transit<br />
better<br />
• Particular thanks to:<br />
– Fleet Services Division<br />
– OMB Accounting staff
Questions? Comments?