TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Michael A. Hursh, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer
SUBJECT: Realign Network Plan Update
BRIEFING ITEM
AGENDA PLANNING REQUEST: ☐
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider receiving the monthly update on progress, next steps, and upcoming engagement opportunities associated with Realign - the District's system-wide service planning effort.
Staff Contact:
Ramakrishna Pochiraju, Executive Director of Planning & Engineering
Beverly Greene, Executive Director of External Affairs, Marketing & Communications
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Convenient and Reliable Service
Initiative - Service Quality
The Realign planning effort combines a comprehensive review of existing service, robust public and stakeholder engagement, and market research and analysis to craft a new service network for the District that responds to the changing travel needs of the communities we serve and maximizes service within forecasted resource constraints. This report provides an update on where the plan is today and critical next steps.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this informational item.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
This report is an update on progress associated with the Realign system-wide planning effort since our last report to the Board on May 24, 2023. Through AC Transit Realign, staff, with the help of a consultant team led by Kittelson and Associates, is reviewing where, when, and how buses move throughout our service area with a top-to-bottom analysis of the system. Travel patterns have changed in the wake of the pandemic, and the District faces significant budget challenges. With these themes in mind, the project team has gathered data and community input over the last few months as part of an existing conditions analysis that will help ensure that a new bus service network well serves our communities.
The project is divided into five key phases:
1. Develop Plans and Learn Rider Needs (Mar 2023-Jun 2023)
2. Align Guiding Principles with Community Assessment (Jul 2023-Aug 2023)
3. Develop Service Scenarios and Gather Feedback (Sep 2023-Dec 2023)
4. Draft Final Service Plan and Plan Adoption (Jan 2024-Apr 2024)
5. Develop Service Standards and Inform Riders about Service Changes (Apr 2024 - Sep 2024)
This planning process is near the end of Phase 1, which is focused on learning how our communities use the service, what they value, and what they would like to see from a future network. This includes a survey, analysis of the travel market, a detailed service performance evaluation, and a review of origins and destinations of people moving about the service area.
Staff is finalizing existing conditions deliverables from the Kittelson team in advance of the Board Workshop to be held on July 26th. This workshop will provide the Board with a comprehensive overview of initial findings from the existing conditions analysis and survey, including the human input gathered from surveys and outreach activities. In July, as part of Phase 2, the project team will present a set of draft guiding principles that draw upon the work conducted throughout Phase 1. We will solicit feedback from the Board and the communities we serve on how well the draft guiding principles respond to community needs. Over the summer, the project team will then use that feedback to refine the document for the board to approve in fall 2023.
The project team launched a survey on April 17th with the initial goal of closing the response window on May 31st, but in reviewing survey responses as they came in, the team extended the survey close date to June 7th. While the team has exceeded overall survey targets (as of May 31st), we identified that we needed to help better match our response pool to community demographics. With the extension, the team enhanced efforts to focus outreach on certain geographies, and harder-to-reach communities through collaboration of internal staff, the consultant team, and our network of community-based organization (CBO) partners.
The project team has collected more than 15,000 surveys and worked with internal staff (Maintenance, Creative, Print, Marketing and Communications) to create, produce, and replenish all on-bus and at bus-stop signage along with printed surveys and materials to support outreach. Along with employee ambassadors and the consultant engagement team, eight CBO project partners are confirmed, and we are in the process of confirming two more CBO partners for a total of ten. The confirmed CBO partners are: Cherryland Community Association, Community Resources for Independent Living (CRIL), Genesis, Glad Tidings, La Familia, Oakland Chinatown Chamber, The Latina Center, and United Seniors of Oakland and Alameda County. These CBO partners are helping the project team to engage harder-to-reach communities.
Selection and engagement with the Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG) will commence and be in place in advance of the July 26 Board workshop. Establishment of the LEAG, a five-member community advisory group and their role throughout the planning process will represent one of multiple strategies employed as part of the outreach and engagement plan. Details along with a summary of the outreach in Phase 1 and plans for Phase 2 will be shared at the July 26 Board workshop. The attached presentation provides a summary of activities since our last report and a preview of what is coming.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
There is no action associated with this report and as such there are no advantages or disadvantages.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
No alternatives were considered to this progress update.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
SR 22-502 Network Redesign Timeline Update and Procurement Approval
SR 23-250 Realign Network Plan Update
SR 23-250a Realign Network Plan Update
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Presentation
Prepared by:
David Berman, Senior Transportation Planner
Diann Castleberry, External Affairs Representative
In Collaboration with:
Michael Eshleman, Service Planning Manager
Eden Gerson, Acting Marketing Manager
Approved/Reviewed by:
Robert del Rosario, Director of Service Development and Planning
Claudia Burgos, Director of Legislative Affairs & Community Relations
Nichele Laynes, Director of Marketing & Communications
Beverly Greene, Executive Director of External Affairs, Marketing & Communications
Ramakrishna Pochiraju, Executive Director of Planning & Engineering