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3. Southwest Metro Transit 1 , Southwest Metro Transit Commission Staff Report December 1991 1 1991 in Review 1 Following are highlights of Southwest Metro Transit's 1991: 1 Kevin Tritz was appointed to a three -year term representing Eden Prairie. Patricia Pidcock was appointed to complete the term of Gary Peterson as an Eden Prairie 1 elected official. _ Eden Prairie, Chaska, and Chanhassen adopted the Park and Ride Lot Planning Study and approved an amendment to the Joint Power Agreement enabling Southwest Metro Transit to enter into purchase agreements for land for park and ride lots without the approval of all three cities. In the Legislature, SMTC and other opt -out transit programs sought • the opportunity for input into the Regional Transit Board's development of performance standards • to establish a fund reserve or - carryover for opt -out programs and provide for periodic funding advances from the RTB to assure operational integrity, service continuity, and fiscal stability • to establish the accurate components of "local available transit funds" to assure fair and equitable distribution of such funds within the intent of the legislation • to change language in the opt -out legislation to accurately reflect existing conditions 1 A five -year capital plan, focusing on the development of park and ride lots, was developed. Express fare increased from $1.25 to $1.60 cash and $1.30 with ride card. Riders who. - . ' • take advantage -of- ride cards - pay only $.05 - •more, riders who pay • cash (Usually • occasional riders) will pay more. 1 Dial -A -Ride fares were restructured based on time of travel rather than on age categories as before and to meet regional performance goals. The farebox recovery ratio (the cost of the service met by fares) improved from 6.8% in January to 16.5% in November (the goal is 15 %). Transit Appreciation Day was celebrated with refreshments at park and ride lots and SMTC pens for riders. Appointments to the Regional Transit Board included Ruth Franklin (who has served on the Board since its creation in 1985) and Chanhassen City Council member Tom Workman. Ruth represents Eden Prairie, Plymouth, Maple Grove, and western Anoka County. Tom represents Carver and Scott Counties and west Bloomington. 1 1 A ° I SMTC provided van shuttle service for the City of Chaska and Chaska Chamber of Commerce during the U.S. 9 Open. • The summer Club Metro Dial -A -Ride service offered Chaska and Chanhassen residents, especially children, regular service among popular destinations. SMTC made promotional appearances at Chaska River City Days and Chanhassen Fourth of ' July community celebrations. SMTC began working with the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce on travel demand 1 • management (TDM) stratetries. Issues discussed with the RTB included funding of opt -out programs, paying for capital equipment, and creation of a fund balance. Landscaping of the Martin Drive park and ride lot was completed. SMTC, with assistance from the RTB, began a comprehensive transit study that will result in a five -year transit plan. ' Express service was improved to serve the new Martin Drive park and ride lot, accommodate standing Toads, relieve the pressure on the Shady Oak Road park and ride lot, and meet rider needs. s SMTC worked with the MTC, RTB, and City of Minneapolis to evaluate the Nicollet Mali shuttle and its impact on SMTC express service and riders. SMTC members Ursula Dimler and Patricia Pidcock served on the RTB Local Officials Advisory Committee representing suburban transit interests. SMTC Dial -A -Ride driver Wendy Christianson participated in the MPTA Bus Roadeo. ' SMTC addressed how to meet the requirements of the new Americans with Disabilities Act and the impact on existing service and on funding. Park and ride lot activities included the possible purchase of sites in Eden Prairie and Chanhassen, the preliminary development of a new site in downtown Chaska, proposal ' for joint park and ride lot/commercial venture, agreement from the Minnesota Department of Transportation on cost participation in the development of park and ride lots, and development of a maintenance program for park and ride lots. 1 SMTC celebrated its fifth anniversary on December 1 with ridership at an all -time high (a projected 200% growth in five years); a significant increase in vehicles, routes, trips, and daily ridership; and annual mileage of over 500,000 miles. • 1 •1 • 1 Southwest Metro Transit Total Ridership 1987 -91 1 300,000 - 1 250,000 - • 1 200,000 - 1 N 1 Q - H m 150,000 - • 1 ` . a 100,000 - 1 50,000 - 1 • 0 . i 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 RIDERSHIP 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 131,524 164,254 198,229 242,114 272,957 -- 1 1 • I 1 MI MN I NM N ME MI I N MN NM NM ME OM - I - OPT -OUT TRANSIT PROGRAMS' ANNUAL RIDERSHIP 1986 -92 1,600,000+ 1 ,600,000 — 1,537,142 1,400,000 — 1,200,000 — • a 1,000,000 — t•- L c 800,000 — a> a 600,000 -- 550,985 400,999 • 400,000 — 336,588 304,322 200,000 — 152,535 • 0 1 . 1 E 1 I 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992'• Plymouth Plymouth Plymouth Plymouth Plymouth Plymouth Plymouth Shakopee Shakopee Shakopee Shakopee Shakopee Shakopee Shakopee SW Metro SW Metro SW Metro SW Metro SW Metro SW Metro Maple Grove Maple Grove Maple Grove MN Valley MN Valley Key: 'projected Plymouth: Opted out 1983, City Council authority Shakopee: Opted out 1984, City Council authority SW Metro: Opted out late 1986; joint powers agreement between Eden Prairie, Chaska, and Chanhassen; joint powers board (commission) authority Maple Grove: Opted out 1990, City Council authority MN Valley: Opted out 1991; joint powers agreement between Burnsville, Eagan, Apple Valley, Rosemount, Prior Lake, and Savage; Joint powers board authority - r 1 i SOUTHWEST METRO TRANSIT NEWS 1 VOLUME 2, NUMBER 2 Fall 1991/Winter 1992 1 DRAMATIC GROWTH MARKS FIFTH ANNIVERSARY 1 From ten express trips a day to 1991. Annual ridership for 1991 is Maple Grove, Eagan, Burnsville, Apple 1 twenty -six trips a day, from 500 daily projected to be nearly 280,000 com- Valley, Prior Lake, Rosemount, and riders to over 1100 daily riders, from one pared with 140,000 in 1987, a 200% Savage. Dial -A -Ride van in one city to seven growth in five years. Southwest Metro Transit provides 1 vans serving three cities, from 290,000 Since its creation in 1986, South- three services: annual miles to nearly 550,000 annual west Metro Transit has administered the • Rush -hour express service miles, Southwest Metro Transit has transit system for Eden Prairie, Chaska, between Eden Prairie, Chaska, and grown significantly in the five years from and Chanhassen. It was established Chanhassen and downtown Minneapolis 1 December 1, 1986 to December 1, under legislation enabling metro -area each weekday communities to "opt out" • Incommute service linking riders 1 Total Ridership 1987 -91 of MTC service and from outside these cities with their 300,000 i manage their own transit employment within these cities each system specifically weekday 1 250,000 «F: _ tailored to and respon- • Dial -A -Ride, a door-to-door 200,000, sive to the needs of local shared -ride van service (not a taxi Y residents and busi- service), operating among the three "` _ . ' nesses. The system is cities and to Southdale, Shakopee, and 1 150,000 - � � , 1 funded by fare revenue Glen Lake Monday through Saturday _} I .. = : and property taxes levied The governing body is even - 100,000— , P P Y 9 e 9 Y s a s 1 A ; ' ' for transit • in those member commission of City Council F ;- c ommunities. Other opt- members, m r nd ' r ested 50,000 � , p mayors, and interested (� ' -- ' I ( :' out systems serve citizens from the three cities. Staff 1 o Shakopee, Plymouth, Growth continued on page two 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 � 1 Happy Holidays from Southwest Metro Transit. "The transportation decisions we make today will - � _ 1 be the environmental decisions that determine the :ate Pa 1 quality of life we have in the 21st century." j 1 � • • • ■ !' - Claudia Elliot, past chair of the Sierra Club of Califomia • 11 0 1 —Page One— 1 . , . cmr -sli i ' _kJ LEAVE THE Metro Transit Administrative Office (send arrive, and the time you wish to leave (if i check payable to Southwest Metro you need a return trip). DRIVING TO Transit to SMTC, 7600 Executive Drive, 3. Please call the Ride Request Line 1 US THIS Eden Prairie 55344). Dial -A -Ride if your plans change or if you need to coupons are not yet available from city cancel your ride. WINTER! halls. Coupons are available for peak- 4. Have the correct fare or Riders time rides (6:00 - 9:OOam and 4:00 - Save !discount coupon ready. DRIVERS 1 Yo — u Travel Near YourHome, 6:OOpm Monday through Friday) and D0 NOT CARRY CHANGE FOR u thw e M etro Tanst's - A- - n on - peak -time rides (9:OOam and - 4 day :OOpm FARES. ide S ic e, a t shared r r door Dial - #o through all • loorpublic van service, is available (9 :OOam - 6:OOpm) Saturday). Peak You Commute to Downtown anyone living in Eden Prairie, , time coupons cost $1.30 each and non - inneapolis, Southwest Metro , Kaska, and Chanhassen, peak - time coupons cost $.75 each with - ransit's Express Bus Service is �•- _ . - -- - - -- --- a ride reservation made at least 24 vailable Monday - Fiiday year -round Where and When Can I Go? hours in advance. Same - day ride, - nd provides a convenient ride for ' Dial -A -Ride service is available all year, Southdale, and cash fares are $2.00. , - ogle who work and shop in down 6:OOam - 6:00 m Monday throw h There is no expiration date on Riders wn Minneapolis. _ _ • p y 9 Save! coupons so you can buy a supply Friday and 9:OOam • 6:OOpm Satur- to have ready to use. Thirteen Express buses serve our .' days, to take you just about anywhere in convenient park and ride lots and bus Eden Prairie, Chaska, and Chanhassen How Do 1 Get A Ride? route in Chaska, Chanhassen, and • and to Southdale, Glen Lake, and Just following these easy steps: Eden Prairie. Southwest Metro Transit I .Shakopee, too. Popular destinations Express service fits the schedules of include the malls • the community 1. Call our Ride Request Line at y 944 -7126 at least the day before people who need to be at work in or centers • the movies • after - school and y you near downtown between 7:00 and weekend activities • sports activities. wish to ride, if possible. Dial -A -Ride is 9 :OOam and leave work between 3:00 - available on a first -come basis and the and 5:30 m. The fare is $1.60 cash or How Much Does it Cost? service is very popular at certain times $1.30 if you use a ten -ride Commuter I You can use cash or Riders Save! of the day. We will accommodate same Ticket or monthly SuperSaver pass. discount coupons. Riders Save! day ride requests whenever possible. See "It's Easy to Use Express coupons can be purchased from Dial -A- 2. Be prepared to tell the dispatcher Service" on page three for more I Ride drivers in packs of ten coupons. your name, the address at which you information. Coupons may be purchased in packs of want to be picked up, the address of two or ten by mail from the Southwest your destination, the time you need to Growth continued from Page One efficiently managing local tax dollars. and their employees I includes two full -time employees who The Commission relies on commu- ■ services tailored to the needs of report to the Commission and are nication with riders and the public local residents, using local funding responsible for managing daily opera- through newsletters, surveys, telephone .■ local participation in transit I tions and planning transit services. calls, appearances at community events, decision- making The Commission's priorities include and presentations at civic and club ■ transportation for people who I developing park and ride lots to more meetings. have no other travel options effectively serve express riders, working Southwest Metro Transit acts as a • an alternative to depending on with local employers to manage em- vital community service by providing friends and family members for rides ployee travel through use of transit, • over 1000 daily commuters with a 1 increasing awareness and use of transit convenient, environmentally responsible, services, improving existing services to and less- expensive alternative to driving meet riders' needs and to meet the ' ■ a link between local businesses I challenges of a growing population, and . —Page Two— �--- J SURVEY IT'S EASY TO USE EXPRESS OFFERS SERVICE! EXPRESS . - To travel to and from downtown , you have any questions during your trip 1 RIDER Minneapolis Monday through Friday on • Prepare to leave the bus by PROFILE Routes 53C, 53E, 53J, 53K: pressing the passenger signal strip • Dial 934-7928 (SMTC) or 827 - between the windows and waiting near I 7733 (Transit Information Center) for the closest door The survey that many express route, schedule, fare, and park and ride • Wait at any red and white© sign riders completed on their buses on lot information along the west side of Marquette Avenue I September 25 is part of Southwest • Plan which route and time are and board the bus where it stops for the Metro Transit's comprehensive transit most convenient for you return trip home (there are often too study which will result in our first five- • Go to a park and ride lot or bus many buses lined up for each bus to I year transit plan. From the 273 or 60% stop to wait for the bus (in Chaska and stop exactly at the sign) of express riders who completed the Chanhassen you may also flag down the Park and ride lots are located: survey, we learned: bus along the route) • in downtown Chaska across from I • the majority are Eden Prairie • Board the bus and City Hall residents • Put $1.60 in exact change in the • at the Early Childhood Learning • the majority use a ten -ride punch farebox (mechanical unit next to the Center (Village Center) in Jonathan 1 card although they typically ride five driver) OR give the driver your discount • at Market Boulevard and West days a week ride card to punch. In the morning, pay 78th Street in downtown Chanhassen • the majority have used the service when you board; in the evening, pay • at the Eden Prairie Community for at least a year when you leave. Center at Valley View and Eden Prairie • the majority are between 35 and • Ask your driver for a transfer IF Roads 44 years old you will need to continue on MTC • at Highway 5 and Martin Drive in I • riders' average household income service from downtown (present the Eden Prairie is $50,000 - $65,000 transfer to your MTC driver — no • at the Eden Prairie Center in the We will be researching: additional fare necessary) lot west of Sears Automotive Center I • more frequent service to • Take a seat on the bus (briefcases, • at Highway 212 and Shady Oak Southdale purses, coats, bags on laps, please, so Road on Flying Cloud Drive in Eden • midday downtown service everyone can have a seat) Prairie I • faster downtown service • Ask your driver or fellow riders if We periodically use surveys to find , 1 out about our riders and what they think BE LINE INCREASE'S ACCESS about their transit services. The re- TO BLOOMINGTON AND EDINA ing of our provide a valuable understand- Dial -A -Ride riders can now travel to Monday through Friday and 8:30am - i p ri of our riders and their concerns and popular Bloomington and Edina destina- 6:OOpm Saturdays, except on major priorities. We design the surveys to be tions thanks to the new BE holidays. 1 conveniently completed while on the bus (Bloomington /Edina) Line. The BE Dial -A -Ride riders can board a BE so we encourage riders to take advan- Line is a fixed -route service to such Line bus at Southdale. Plan to pay the tage of these opportunities to communi- p y cate with Southwest Metro Transit. destinations as Southtown, two Targets, regular BE Line fare as there are 1 the Galleria, Oxboro Center and Plaza, currently no transfers between Dial -A- Valley West, Holiday Plus, Southdale Ride and the BE Line. The BE Line is 111111111111'■111111 II Library, Bloomington City Hall, Centen- wheelchair accessible. 1 �' nial Lakes, Normandale Community For route, schedule, and fare \ , 4, trollege, Creekside Community Center, information, call the Transit Information O and Kennedy and Jefferson High Center (827- 7733). Schools. It operates 7:30am - 6:30pm ' —Page Three— I . 1 "YOU'LL NEVER DIAL -A -RIDE SPECIAL MIDDAY GUESS WHAT SERVICE EVERY EXPRESS . ■ HAPPENED ON SATURDAY SERVICE ON THE BUS TODAY!" Take advantage of Saturday Dial -A -Ride DECEMBER 24 - ■ Now that Southwest Metro Transit is service for your holiday shopping and PROPOSED five years old and many of our riders church and community activities At press -time, we were considering ■ have been riding at least that long (and • 9 :OOam - 6 :OOpm offering service that would leave many longer on the previous MTC II Discounted fare of $.75 all day downtown Minneapolis around midday service), we would like to hear some of (except fare to Southdale is $2.00 for on December 24 only. Watch your bus ■ your funny, weird, heartwarming, and/or riders 5 -64) and local newspaper for a notice or call interesting experiences on Southwest • Serves Eden Prairie, Chaska, SMTC at 934 -7928. Metro Transit services — Dial -A -Ride, Chanhassen, and Southdale ■ express, incommute. Let us know what • CaII 944 -7126 to make your ride really happens on those buses, what reservation stories you have shared with your , • families and coworkers. • Group discount available — for METROTRANSITNEWS • ■ birthday parties, group trips, special by the Southwest Metro - y Please send your stories to South- Transit commission. west Metro Transit, 7600 Executive events •,,, , g - Drive, Eden Prairie 55344 or fax them to°"' — : ■ = us at 937 -7411. We'll read them all and � --- • METRO 'TRANSIT publish the best or most representative NEW EXPRESS - - COMMI :. , ,--',-..=,- ' _ : -. - Y .-: tales in the next issue of this newsletter. •' Tritz, Eden Prairie , Y - ■ TRIPS INCREASE - Please try to keep your stories to one or ulaDimier,Chanhassen- secretary li ,lay Johnson, Chanhassen Treasurer two paragraphs so that we can feature CONVENIENCE . Zayle Mammon, Chaska _ , ■ as many as possible. Please include SMTC express trips now Debra IGna, Chanhassen '7 ' your name, address, and daytime phone Patriida Pidcodc,I Prairie "Yoe - : number in case we need to clarify your • arrive downtown at 6:40am chairman _ ., :: , - ; _ - i story. If you do not wish us to use your ■ leave downtown at 3:40pm 7�bert Roepke, Chaska - airman �, ■ name, just let us know. ( H owever, ■ leave Eden Prairie Center at 7 :38am „ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF: -, .- A ::I:- . .-TransitActirtistlator a T anonymous submissions will not be Call us at 934 -7928 for complete schedule CahherineBenson— Admin�ativeAsst. . > - ■ published.) We're looking forward to and route information. i i hearing from you! ADMINISTRATIVE OFRCE:-. 7600 Executive Drive `: - Eden Prairie, MN 55344 w - - - ■ NO TRANSIT - 934- �,8:00aam -4 ,M -F _° ` SERVICE ON ' :'EXPRESS (53CEJK) INFORMATION: ' COMING IN : . i827 -7733, Gam- »pmM -Pand : . HOLIDAYS `.7am - 11pm weekends. z. ' - -% : -. - ■ FUTURE ISSUES -=#k call Bus Line at 34 1-4287, . • SMTC service will not operate on ;24 hours a day. st: :,,,c . ; :-.. _ • • How transit works in the suburbs Christmas Day and New Year's Day EXPRESS COST AND MIND: ` _ ■ The proposed Nicollet Mall shuttle ■Regular service will operate on : I� - =,« ,, -: a - _= `_- ■ SMTC's comprehensive transit December 24 and December 31 DIAL -A -RIDE & INCOMMUTE I study 111 Administrative office will be closed on T M F gam ' . and ■ Update on park and ride lots Decembe 24 £ pm Sat for information, to schedule a - _ The Regional Transit Board ' or for lost and : , ' -Page Four- III