Metropolitan Transportation Commission Transit Sustainability Project

TMD is part of a comprehensive Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) effort to address both chronic and acute transit financial sustainability issues in the San Francisco Bay Area. TMD's focus areas are service performance and operations with a supporting role in financial sustainability. TMD has five specific projects: three directly part of the TSP and two supporting projects funded by MTC.

Service Performance

TMD is part of a three-firm working group (Cambridge Systematics/ARUP) that is developing service performance standards and best practices to assist the Bay Area transit systems with improving overall service performance through increased effectiveness (ridership generation) and efficiency (resource use).

Operations Best Practices

TMD was charged with reviewing operator work rules and operations practices for the major transit operators in the Bay Area (BART, SFMTA, AC Transit, Santa Clara VTA, SamTrans, and Golden Gate Transit). TMD developed a comprehensive matrix of practices for the overall Bay Area and for individual systems and established the low cost practices.

AC Transit/BART Comprehensive Operational Analysis

The AC Transit/BART COA is intended as a pilot project to implement the TSP best practices and as a short and mid-term plan for actual transit system improvement.

SamTrans Comprehensive Operational Analysis

A project separately funded by MTC, the SamTrans COA is following the same approach as the AC Transit/BART COA. In this case, coordination with both Caltrain Rail and the adjacent transit operators (SFMTA and VTA) is of key importance as well as rationalizing SamTrans network of express, local, community, and future BRT transit. Increased ridership and revenue together with reduced operating costs are prime objectives in moving toward ongoing financial sustainability.

AC Transit Financial Analysis

In a second project separately funded by MTC, TMD partnered with a financial analysis firm to undertake a detailed analysis of AC Transit financial performance and identify potential strategies to address a $30 million annual structural deficit.

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Los Angeles County BRT

TMD managed LA's award-winning Metro Rapid arterial BRT project from concept through design to implementation and expansion for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro).

TMD work included a County-wide assessment of potential BRT corridors, corridor selection and development of service alignments, design, location, and site plans for Rapid stations, establishing operating protocols (headway-based operation), coordination with City of LA signal priority and "next trip" display system, vehicle and station branding and graphics, preparation of operating schedules, training program for supervisors and operators, and development of the operating and capital financial plan for the original two demonstration lines and six subsequent Metro Rapid lines as part of the 29-line Five Year Metro Rapid Plan. The Plan's vehicle recommendations led to the Metro procurement of BRT designed 45-foot and articulated buses.

TMD subsequently completed a Mid-Term "lessons learned" evaluation of the first 15 Metro Rapid lines to assess the success of the various service attributes, individual corridor operating impacts, market penetration, and actual performance compared with other Metro rail and bus modes. The evaluation updated the Metro Rapid design warrants and attributes and recommended completion of the BRT network.

TMD was involved in the Metro Orange Line BRT including review of the service and operating plan for the revised FEIS for the original corridor. TMD was also responsible for the purpose and need analysis and the development of the service and operating plan for the various Orange Line extension alternatives.

TMD completed LA Metro's Countywide Bus Speed Improvement Program (BSIP) that identified new high demand corridors and specific bus priority strategies for travel delay reduction. This work expands on TMD's development of Metro's Wilshire BSIP pilot, which received the highest FTA cost effectiveness rating ever as part of FTA "Very Small Starts."

TMD currently serves as a General Planning Consultant to Metro.

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San Francisco Transit Effectiveness Project

TMD was the prime contractor for the first-in-a-generation comprehensive market, service, and operations analysis of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (Muni LRT, streetcar, cable car, trolleycoach, and motorcoach).

The project was a collaborative effort with both SFMTA and the City Controller to support the redevelopment of the Muni network of services and delivery systems within a sustainable financial plan. TMD analyzed existing and potential Muni markets, service ridership and performance, and daily rail and bus operations (service management and operator/vehicle availability/utilization). Financial, operational, and organizational development, transit preferential street design, and stakeholder participation were also included in the core tasks. A proposed redevelopment of rail and bus service and operations resulted from the findings.

The proposed Muni redevelopment plan included a new network of Rapid Rail and Bus (BRT) corridors with major reinvestment in increased service levels, transit priority (20% faster times), information technology, passenger facilities, pedestrian amenities, and integrated bicycle planning. TMD prepared implementation plans for four pilot Rapid corridors (Judah-LRT, Mission-BRT, Market Street-Bus/Streetcar, Potrero/San Bruno-Rapid Bus) based on Complete Streets and transit priority best practices. The TEP also recommended initiatives to expand both the LRT and streetcar networks. The local bus network also received additional capital; while community and neighborhood transit was refocused on improve short-distance travel and connection to Rapid services.

The TEP recommendations also included a major capital plan for investment into passenger facilities, transit preferential streets, operating facilites, and technology. Updated service and operating management practices were also recommended in order to facilitate improved service quality and efficiency.

Muni Metro LRT, streetcar, and cable car operations were analyzed and TMD developed recommendations for the following: improved subway operations (an Early Action recommendation to interline the K-T Lines resolved significant subway throughput problems with alternative signal systems and double berthing also having been proposed); reduction in delay for surface operations (POP fare collection and transit priority); increased capacity through the subway and N-Judah surface; alternative crew scheduling and blocking/consist options; and major infrastructure rehabilitation.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission recently lauded both the TEP and the Santa Clara VTA Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA) as success models for the Bay Area. Positive rider and public response welcomed the of the first phases of the TEP, which were successfully implemented in 2009 and 2010.

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Denver RTD General Planning & Operations

TMD is working on a third five-year contract as the General Planning Consultant, providing technical support to the Regional Transit District (RTD) since 2001 in service development, operations planning, scheduling, and facility planning. TMD has assisted RTD in redeveloping its bus system in response to the expanding rail services (T-Rex and FasTracks) and a network reorientation to a timed transfer network configuration. The principal projects completed include:

Downtown Denver Shuttle Plan which developed a recommended alignment, operating parameters, transit priority, vehicle specifications, and station design for a second CBD circulator to complement the 16th Street MallRide Shuttle.

Update of Service Warrants and Performance Standards for all modes. An additional analysis of what factors were critical to community shuttle success was a key element in the work.

Service Efficiency and Effectiveness Study to identify candidates for potential funding reduction scenarios.

Westside Service Restructuring in response to opportunities presented by the new Westside LRT.

Update of Service Warrants and Performance Standards for all modes. An additional analysis of what factors were critical to community shuttle success was a key element in the work.

Timed Transfer Network Plan, which evaluated potential timed transfer hubs based on transfer levels together with traffic, pedestrian, and land use compatibility and scheduling efficiency. TMD recently analyzed the potential priorities for time transfer at the various FasTracks rapid transit stations.

Southeast Service Restructuring of the bus service network, routes, and schedules modified to reflect opportunities resulting from both new Southeast LRT (T-Rex) and ongoing changes in mobility needs. TMD recently completed a before/after analysis of impacts that recognized significant growth resulted from the recommendations.

Boulder/Northside Service Restructuring, which reoriented bus service around a timed transfer hub network, refocused ser-vice around evolving mobility needs, refined Boulder local transit, and planned for FasTracks rapid transit expansion. TMD is currently working with RTD to develop a recommended bus service plan to complement the West Corridor Light Rail Line, slated to begin operation in 2013.

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Santa Monica Big Blue Bus Line-by-Line & Alternatives Analysis

TMD is leading a team including URS Corp., Consensus Inc., and TransTrack Systems that is reviewing BBB ridership, service, and operations while conducting an AA for potential corridors connecting the upcoming Expo LRT and future Purple Line subway.

In February 2010, TMD kicked off a Line-By-Line analysis of Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus system. We recently completed the first phase of the project, which included a full system ridecheck and passenger survey. Further tasks include extensive ridership and operational analysis, along with recommendations for system improvements. The project also includes a corridor study of various alignments, which would connect the future Exposition light rail line with key areas in Santa Monica.

In January 2011, TMD kicked off an analysis of the potential for a circulator bus route in downtown Santa Monica – a city with a unique mix of residents, tourists, retail and professional employment. With past attempts at circulator service experiencing limited success, the Santa Monica City Manager's Office and the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus commissioned TMD to complete a detailed analysis of the conditions necessary for a successful transit product. The analysis includes market segmentation, a peer review of comparable services, route design and marketing strategy.

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Buffalo/Erie County Route and Fare Structure
Review and Strategic Assessment

TMD is currently finalizing the Erie County Route and Fare Structure Review and Strategic Assessment for the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) in Buffalo, New York. This project includes a detailed review of existing NFTA bus and rail services and fare structures, as well as a community assessment of the market for transit.

A set of recommendations will be put forward to enhance mobility and grow system ridership while improving service efficiency and effectiveness. In order to help NFTA to prioritize significant future investment in transit corridors, the study also includes an updated NFTA Strategic Assessment. The project includes a significant community participation process that will review findings, seek input, and develop a recommended plan. The final plan includes short, medium and long-term service and capital investment recommendations.

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Orange County Transportation Authority Transit System Study

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) hired TMD and its team consisting of Booz Allen Hamilton, CGR Consulting and Steer Davies Gleave to perform a system-wide study of its transit system in order to improve their efficiency and effectiveness and to provide a high-quality service in a period of unstable operating subsidies.

Named the System-Wide Transit Study, it includes a detailed analysis of OCTA's fixed route and paratransit services using available financial, operational, and performance data, plans, and reports. A set of recommendations will be put forward to enhance mobility and grow system ridership while improving service efficiency and effectiveness. In order to help OCTA to prioritize future investment in transit corridors, the study also includes Strategic Assessment. The project includes a significant community participation process that will review findings, seek input, and develop a recommended plan. The final plan will include short, medium and long-term service and capital investment recommendations, as well as three. strategic system-wide alternatives, primarily focused on the fixed route system.

The System-Wide Transit Study is currently in progress, with expected completion by Fall 2011.

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Los Angeles Metro Wilshire and Countywide
Bus Speed Improvement Projects

LA Metro bus operating speeds declined by ten percent from 1980 through the late 1990's. In response, Metro partnered with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (LACDPW) in two initiatives to reverse the trend: the Wilshire Boulevard Bus Speed Improvement Pilot Project followed by a Countywide Bus Speed and Street Design Improvement Study.

Wilshire BSIP Pilot. The Wilshire pilot project involved detailed analysis of the existing bus operation delay, street traffic volumes, transit signal priority, congestion, parking, and street geometrics to identify a multi-phase plan for significantly reducing delay for the existing 55,000 daily passenger Wilshire Metro Rapid BRT. The recommended plan called for continuous peak hour bus-only lanes in the City and County of Los Angeles, modification of traffic signal cycle timing, enhanced bus signal priority, upgraded bus lane pavement and will result in an additional 15 percent improvement in operating speeds beyond the existing fast Metro Rapid service. In approving the project for Very Small Starts funding, FTA awarded the project its highest cost effectiveness rating.

Countywide Bus Speed and Street Design Improvement Study. Building on the successful Wilshire Pilot project, TMD is led a countywide bus speed improvement initiative with LA Metro, LADOT, LA County, and local jurisdictions. The study Involved:

• Confirmed industry "Best Practice" bus speed improvement measures: bus-only lanes, by-pass and queue jump lanes, modification of traffic signal cycle timing, enhanced bus signal priority, upgraded lane pavement, and bus stop consolidation. These became the countrywide bus speed improvement "toolbox."
• Identified potential candidate transit corridors based on ridership, transit volumes, and traffic LOS.
• Identify delay thresholds that justified potential bus speed improvements through a bus speed and dwell time analysis.
• Evaluated potential bus speed improvement elements for a short-list of candidate corridors through application of toolbox strategies.
• Conducted a cost/benefit analysis of impacts on transit passenger travel times, ridership and farebox revenue, service operating costs, capital costs, and traffic, business, and community impacts using both a matrix evaluation tool and a 20-year return-on-investment (ROI) assessment.
• Six corridors were recommended and approved by the Metro Board: three for major investment (Very Small Start candidates with project costs between $10m-$30m) and three for minor investment (ranging from $1m-$3m).

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Riverside Transit Agency Ongoing Scheduling Services

TMD has been providing ongoing scheduling services to the Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) since 2004. The first project helped RTA transition from a manual to a computerized scheduling environment while addressing work rule and efficiency issues. The current project is providing a three-year scheduling bureau for RTA.

Transition to Computerized Scheduling
Work included:

• Benchmarking scheduling rules, practices, and performance against peers.
• Identified industry best practice opportunities.
• Input Riverside RTA schedules into HASTUS scheduling system to replacing existing manual scheduling processes and Lotus database.
• Use HASTUS software to develop new vehicle schedules, crew schedules and rosters to
  1. Implement the IWC Wage Order 9 meal and rest break requirements, and
  2. Optimize vehicle and crew schedules using HASTUS optimization capabilities.

Scheduling Bureau
TMD's current contract to provide RTA with scheduling services under a turnkey "bureau" arrangement runs from 2006 through 2009. Each year, TMD assists RTA with implementation of three roster bids, along with any service changes. TMD uses Giro's HASTUS transit scheduling software to maximize the efficiency and reliability of schedules for RTA vehicles (approximately 80 standard buses) and operators (approximately 200) based at the Riverside and Hemet operating divisions. TMD has also trained two RTA staff in transit scheduling.

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