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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0412.001 2016-2018 Ovl►�.1;,••f;•-.,, 1/y`. 0. � 4,,'., Wil Okabe RR `x\1,44:. `t Managing Director Harry Kim .i& -1�' �X_*: Mayor __`--,..rwr Barbara J.Kossow *It, ---: ..•_= Deputy Managing Director tL&Ult. Of Pafii n'1 Offirr of tip Ataver 7.il CD(7) Col t::21 25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553 --p —{` KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona,Hawai'i 96740 1 -- y (808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440 -- a-‹ ,1C" August 31 , 2017 3 vi N = TO: Valerie T. Poindexter, Chairman And Members of the County Council FROM: 'Curtis H. Sharp Mass Transit Consultant & Analyst RE: Comm. No. 412, SSFM Presentation, "Country of Hawai'i Transit Master Plan" Please find attached PowerPoint presentation Materials to be displayed by SSFM International, being at the request of Council Member Eileen O'hara. Presentation is scheduled for September 6th 2017 at 25 Aupuni Street, Council Chambers. Enclosures: Power Point slides under separate submission Cerra. No. "7 i L. Ref. To: 6M Ref. Dot SEP 0 6 201 County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. County of Hawaii Master Plan ransit resentation to the County of Hawaii County Counc' September 6, 2017 INTRODUCTION OF THE TEAM Tiffany- Kai, Administrator, ?ITA Curtis Sharp, Hawaii County MTA Consultant and Analyst • Cheryl Soon, SSFi1 International • Linda Frysztacki, Weslin Consulting Services, Inc. • Jo -Anna Herkes, SSFi1 International CHALLENGES & OPPORTliNITIES FOR MASS TRANSIT IN HAWAI`I COUNTY (1) • Svstem has been iil existence for thirty years; many things have evolved from trial and error • There is wide agreement that hawing a well functioning and dependable transit system is critical to the economy of the island and to the clualitV of life • The current system is most heavily used by commuters, often travelling long distances, who have no other option; without AIT A, they cannot get to work • The system is also used by students getting to school, folks going to medical appointments, shopping, you name it! • The route system is oriented to and through Hilo, but needs are greater than that and there are District specific differences CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES (2) • The fleet mix, which evolved from a mix of purchases of new and used vehicles, is too diverse to keep a reasonable inventory of parts and is a challenge to the mechanics to learn so many different brands and makes. • It will be good to standardize to one or two types that are harder and able to work iii all topographies. • Ridership demand dictates that buses and vans be of a larger size; because trips are long, every attempt is made to give everyone a seat. • The maintenance vard co-locatedwith DP\\' has been outgrown and no longer meets the needs of the system; a new facility has been constructed and it is close to moving in. 4 CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES (3) • Staffing has been enhanced through the addition of Curt Sharp, Transportation Consultant. • Recruitment for an Administrator is in progress Addition of one staff acting as a potential warehouse foreman • Five mechanics with 5-8 average years of experience • Service Contracts with: Roberts, Polynesian Adventures PRIORITI' ACTIVITIES UNDERWAY • Focus on improved customer service by going out into the community and talking to users, riders, and others on a consistent basis. • Get the buses fixed so they are back out on the road. • Get more buses (7 heavy duty buses from Honolulu arrived July). • Implementing demonstration paratransit service in Hilo and bona. • Finishing the new maintenance facility. • Move out of the old facility and into the new facility. • Submitted three federal grant applications: two for additional buses and one for operating assistance. • And much more... 1 6 ........ ......... ......... ........ ......... ........ ...... The County of Hawaii TRANSIT MASTER PLAN PROJEC Cheryl Soon, SSFM International, Project Manager Linda Frysztacki, Weslin Consulting Services, Lead Investigator Jo -Anna Herkes, SSFM International, Community Liaison Christine Feinholtz, Pacific Cartography, Demographics/EJ Analysis WHY HAVE A TRANSIT MASTER PLAN? • Planning for public transit should reflect the islands shared vision for the future. It is forward thinking. • The goal is to provide quality service in an efficient and equitable manner. • The plan provides a close examination of the future alternatives and the reasoning why the path followed was selected. • This Master Plan contains a baseline study. None has existed before. WHY THE FEDS WANT YOU TO HAVE A TRANSIT MASTER PLAN • Federal expenditures are expected to be identified and developed though a comprehensive planning process with ample public input. The master plan supports any application for federal funding. • Urbanized areas over 50,000 population must form an Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO); which carries additional mandatory reporting and management requirements for the public transportation agency. This is likely in Hilo by the time of the 2020 census. Maui passed the threshold at the 2010 census. Without an MPO, transit planning is coordinated through the State DOT. A WORD ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC INPUT IN DEVELOPING A MASTER PLAN • Since a plan is meant to benefit riders (users), existing and potential, public input is at the heart of what gets done • At the beginning of the study, we rode the buses, talking to riders and drivers. They were very helpful and forthcoming. • We have received complaint logs for the past year. • In March we conducted a survey of riders. This was done by riding the bus, handing them a form, and collecting them before they got off (results later in this presentation). • We are planning public meetings about proposals. These will occur in late October. This timing is considered mid -project, so there is something for them to react to, but it is not final. Input is still welcomed. • Another round of meetings would occur prior to finalizing the Master Plan. 10 wN�fi T: A, m+t✓y»nU+d6kGbMxkAx„µ TASILS IN THE CONTRACT Task One: Administrative Task Two: Vision Task Three: Public Involvement Task Four: Existing Conditions, Review Previous Studies, Passenger Survey Task Five: Trends & Future Needs Task Six: Service Improvement Program Task Seven: Capital Program Task Eight: Financial Plan Task Nine: Master Plan Document Based on a review of past efforts, General Plan, Community Development Plans which had extensive public input, we have recommended changing the current vision statement from "Create a transportation agency the rest of the world recognizes as the best" to: Create a high quality Ynarlti-ynodcrl trcrnsportcrtioya system that provides safe, reliable, convenient, environmentally responsible, and cost effective mobility choices that meet the needs of our residents and visitors 12 ■ _; , �a,�nu atm anx Recommended Goals to Achieve the Vision Goal One: Make riding transit easier and more desirable Goal Two: Create a transit system to serve all people Goal Three: Use transit as a tool Goal Four: Create transportation hubs with amenities Goal Five: Phase System Implementation RESULTS FROM THE PASSENGER SURVEY (i) 29.1% have been riding for less than one year 15.5% would drive if bus service were not available 84.5% are dependent on transit, although 35.8% could get a ride from someone else if they had to This is my Less than 1 Less than 1 1 to 2 3 to 5 6 or more firsttrip week year years years years ■■■■M 10 or mores tog times3 to A times1 to 2 times This is my times a a week a week a week first trip or week day 14 Passenger Survey Results (2) • 57.1% ride fire or more times a week; 27.5% ride more than ten times per week • 29.7% are students • 50.6% are employed either full or part time • 43.5% are female 0 7.6% are tourists • 34.1% speak a language other than English at home Passenger Employment Status M M Employed full Employed part Looking for Not employed time time work Reti red Passenger Survey Results (3) • 63?% rated Hele-On service quality as excellent or good • 818 Written comments were added to the survey form y' Most ask for New buses that don't break down y' People also ask for the timetables to be realistic y' Many ask for more frequent service as well as holiday and weekend service and night service y' Other comments related to shelters, fares, and comfort features i Positive feedback on drivers, with a couple of notable exceptions which are being addressed New, More Buses/Buses that Don't Break Down _. 1411 Be on Time/Realistic Schedules ._. 120 Access to Information/Apia/Update On -Line M 83 More Frequency 1 82 Specific Route Request 66 Weekend/Holiday service 52 Driver Comment 42 Compliment 41 Marked Bus Stops 36 Comfort Related 28 Other ® 27 More Afternoon/Evening/Night Service ®e:.a 26 Fare Related 18 More Service 18 Shelters 12 Specific Stop Request 12 Stopand Other Safety ■ 7 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 Passenger Rating Overall Service Quality Excellent Good Fair 16 ■ . , Way�,�nu•a6k6�wknx . . . . . - - - - - WHAT HAS BEEN LEARNED: Trends and Needs • Island population is forecasted to grow from 202,674 in 2015 to 277,335 in 2035 (DBED T • Elderly & disabled population will C5 grow at a faster rate than other age groups • Fastest growth will be in Hilo, Kona and Puna Resident Population Forecasts 350,O00 296,322 300,000 277,335 258,513 250,000220,878 239,635 202,674 200,000 185.4016 . 150,000 100,1100 - � 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 1040 WHAT HAS BEEN LEARNED: Trends and Needs Population Forecasts by Age Group 300,000 250,000 200,000 36,260 150,000 100,000 50,000 0 5'8,861 45,980 53,513� 62,684 61,340 201S 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 ■ 19 and under ■ 20 to 64 65 and alder 18 TRENDS & NEEDS (1): OVERALL Re�ide.fi.l and Non -Residential Development PaVerns • Puna and Ka`u are underserved areas, meaning limited services and infrastructure • Road capacity limits how service can be provided, and this will not change • Housing growth varies greatly by district. Fastest growth is in Puna, e.g. Hawaiian Paradise Park and Orchidland. • Employment will remain concentrated in Hilo and Kona, as it is today 7p� Red— Twoprimary urban enters Green—Vis itor ind ustry centers &own— Underserved growth areas Residential development M Nonresidential development 19 TRENDS & NEEDS (2): BY DISTKICT Puna (pop 45,326): served by Routes 10 and 40. Needs additional frequency in AM and PM plus service beyond just commuter service. Establish a hub. Ka`u (pop 8,451): Served by Routes 10 and 90. Needs evening routes to Hilo and Dona and greater frequency of service. Possibly a intra -district shuttle. Kona (pop 47,872): Served by Routes 1, 75, 80, 90, and 201. Requires new routes and greater frequency: more shelters and bus stops. So. Kohala (pop 17,627): Serviced by Routes 1. 75, 80, 90, and 301. Need alignment changes to serve residences. Looking for future transportation corridors to orient growth around. 20 TPXENDS NEEDS BY DISTRICT (,) • North Kohala (pop 6,322): Served by Routes 70 and 75. Needs more mauka to makai access, improved bus stops and shelters, some off -route service • Hamakua (pop 6,513): Served by Routes 1, 60, and 80. Need to expand intra -town service, create park & ride locations, install bus shelters. • Hilo (pop 52,968): Served by five routes and three intra -Hilo routes. Looking for more frequent service and integration with shared ride taxi. Need to upgrade the hubs at Prince Kuhio Plaza and Mooheau. 21 ■ TRENDS & NEEDS (4): AN EVOLVING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM • The trend nationally, ill the State of Hawaii, and in Hawaii County is toward a multi -modal approach to transportation. This means integrating pedestrians, bicyclists, and bus riders into overall thinking • Bike and pedestrian access is part of planning service as are waiting spots such as bus shelters and hubs. 20% of Hele On riders walk more than fire blocks to catch the bus • Complete Streets policies is a manifestation of this. Hawaii County adopted this policy in 2011. • Transportation Network Companies are changing the way people view vehicle ownership. Examples are car share; bike share; and Uber and Lyft which can provide supplementary or complementary service 22 TRENDS & NEEDS (5): TECHNOLOGY As with the rest of society technology keeps changing the wap we do business and how we communicate. Here are a sampling of possibilities: GIS based APPs that locate the bus and can calculate when it will arrive Electronic Displays of bus arrivals at transit hubs Video surveillance (CCTV) at hubs or on buses i' Automated next stop announcements r Automated passenger counting systems i' Fare collection systems using "smart cards" 23 ■ �.,.. _ _: , �a��nu atm anx WHAT FOLLOWS NEXT IN THE STUDY? • Service Improvement Recommendations Short term to address current problems Intermediate term including modifications to existing routes to better meet customer needs i' Long Term service objective to convert to hub and spoke operation; increase frequencies and provide improved customer experience WE ANTICIPATE PUBLIC WORhSHOPS TO SHOW THESE SERVICE RECO-NLVENDATIONSANDGET FEED BACh. • Once the Service Plan is revised, prepare a Capital Improvement Plan to support each phase of modifications • Financial Plan • The final deliverable is a County of Hawaii Transit Master Plan Hole On Bus Schedule • #102 Intra -Hilo Kaumana 24 • The Service Plan draft is due in September • This will be follow by Public meetings in October • The Capital and Financial Plans will be drafted in November , •The Final Master Plan will come in the first quarter on 2018, depending on county feedback on the drafts 25 MAHALO !!! 26 Ll s --A ir r. x 4 t w ea -.' r,� .i 9