TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Michael A. Hursh, General Manager
SUBJECT: Draft Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP)
ACTION ITEM
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider approving the submittal of the Draft Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP) to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for review of the Plan's compliance with MTC requirements.
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Convenient and Reliable Service
Initiative - Financial Efficiency and Revenue Maximization
The SRTP is a companion document to the Strategic Plan. The SRTP considers a number of the issues in the Strategic Plan. In some cases, it analyzes these issues at a District-wide level, while in other cases, it reviews them at a more granular, route-specific level. The SRTP outlines the context and conditions for goals such as Convenient and Reliable Service, Financial Stability and Resiliency, and Environmental Improvement. The SRTP supports and provides context for the Service Quality, Infrastructure Modernization, Zero Emission, and Financial Efficiency Initiatives of the Strategic Plan
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of the Plan has no direct financial impact to the District.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
The SRTP is a data and monitoring report which MTC requires from Bay Area transit agencies. It can also be considered a disclosure document, providing baseline information about AC Transit. MTC in turn uses the SRTP structure to meet requirements imposed by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The SRTP has a 10-year planning horizon. It is longer range than most AC Transit service plans, but shorter range than the time horizon for many of the District’s capital projects. MTC reviews the SRTP to assure that AC Transit will be able to continue operating.
SRTP Timing
AC Transit staff had prepared a draft SRTP in 2017. However, at that time, the District decided to delay submission of the SRTP until the Strategic Plan was completed. The General Manager sought to assure that the SRTP and the Strategic Plan were consistent and integrated, as they now are. The Strategic Plan was approved by the Board in April 2019.
The seven large transit agencies (AC Transit, BART, Caltrain, Golden Gate Transit, SamTrans, San Francisco MTA--Muni, and VTA) in the Bay Area are now required to prepare a SRTP every two years. Because of the delay to align the SRTP with the Strategic Plan, AC Transit will be required to submit a new SRTP next year.
SRTP Content
The SRTP provides a broad, structured overview of AC Transit. MTC Resolution 3532 sets out detailed requirements for the SRTP. Most SRTPs follow the outline in the Resolution.
The broad, chapter-by-chapter outline of the SRTP includes:
1. The nature of AC Transit’s geographic district.
2. Top line information on AC Transit as an organization.
3. The high-level statement of goals, policies, and initiatives in the Strategic Plan
4. Evaluation of the quality of our service.
5. Operations Plan-what operating issues the District now faces and what changes are expected in the future.
6. Capital Improvement Plan.
7. Resolution 3434-Regional Transit Resolution projects-BRT and Major Corridors
8. SRTP Vision 2050 (Board added, optional section)
The SRTP is different from other documents published by the District, or those required by MTC. It is not a service plan, although it discusses the results of service plans-and notes future service plans. It is also not a District-level Capital Improvement Plan or a plan for particular capital improvements, though the SRTP also draws on those. The SRTP focuses on the District’s performance on various metrics.
The SRTP generally highlights issues the District is already aware of, rather than identifying new ones. Some of these are:
• On-time performance on many lines
• On-time performance on eastbound (afternoon) but not westbound Transbay buses
• Ridership not meeting targets for various service types
• High and escalating operating costs
• Declining bus travel speeds
• Ongoing shortfalls of needed capital funding
The SRTP also includes sections on paratransit service, Title VI and Environmental Justice, and Community Based Transportation Plans for low income areas.
As a document dealing with many subjects, the SRTP requires information from many parts of the District. Nineteen people from numerous departments provided information to make this document possible.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
Advantages: Submittal of the SRTP will bring AC Transit into compliance with MTC requirements. In addition, the SRTP can serve as an informational document for AC Transit Board, staff, stakeholders and general public.
Disadvantages: Preparation and submission of the SRTP will require additional staff time, typically outside of regular staff duties due to the frequency of the report. Much of this work will need to be duplicated for the next SRTP in 2020.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
MTC requires that Bay Area transit agencies submit Short Range Transit Plans. There is no alternative action which complies with that requirement.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
Staff Report 14-033d-Approval of Short Range Transit Plan, March 25, 2015
Staff Report 19-019b-Approval of AC Transit Strategic Plan, April 10, 2019
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Draft Short Range Transit Plan (currently under review)
Prepared by:
Nathan Landau, Senior Transportation Planner
In Collaboration with:
Mary Archer, Budget Project Manager
Blossom Albuquerque, Ops Data System Administrator
James Cunradi, Long Range Planning Manager
Chris Durant, Assistant Director of Maintenance
Howard Der, Planning Data Administrator
Michael Eshleman, Service Planning Manager
Sally Goodman, Title VI Program Administrator
Steven Jones, External Affairs Representative
Mika Miyasato, Senior Transportation Planner
Linda Morris, Senior Transportation Planner
Mallory Nestor, Accessible Services Manager
Evelyn Ng, Capital Planning & Grants Manager
Kyle Spradling, Budget Manager
Huaqi Yuan, Planning Data Administrator
Approved/Reviewed by:
Ramakrishna Pochiraju, Executive Director of Planning & Engineering
Robert del Rosario, Director of Services Development and Planning
Chris Andrichak, Director of Management and Budget
Claudia Burgos, Director of Legislative Affairs & Community Relations
David Wilkins, Director of Bus Rapid Transit