3. Update on SW Metro Transit Southwest Metro Transit Commission
r Staff Report
December 1991
1
1991 in Review
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
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
1 November (the goal is 15 %).
Transit Appreciation Day was celebrated with refreshments at park and ride lots and
1 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.
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SMTC provided van shuttle service for the City of Chaska and Chaska Chamber of 1
Commerce during the U.S. Open. •
The summer Club Metro Dial -A -Ride service offered Chaska and Chanhassen residents, • 1
especially children, regular service among popular destinations.
SMTC made promotional appearances at Chaska River City Days and Chanhassen Fourth of 1
July community celebrations.
SMTC began working with the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce on travel demand
management (TDM) strategies. 1
Issues discussed with the RTB included funding of opt -out programs, paying for capital
equipment, and creation of a fund balance. . 1
Landscaping of the Martin Drive park and ride lot was completed.
SMTC, with assistance from the RTB, began a comprehensive transit study that will 1
result in a five -year transit plan.
Express service was improved to serve the new Martin Drive park and ride lot, 1
accommodate standing loads, relieve the pressure on the Shady Oak Road park and ride
lot, and meet rider needs.
SMTC worked with the MTC, RTB, and City of Minneapolis to evaluate the Nicoilet Mali 1
shuttle and its impact on SMTC express service and riders.
SMTC members Ursula Dimler and Patricia Pidcock served on the RTB Local Officials 1
Advisory Committee representing suburban transit interests.
SMTC Dial -A -Ride driver Wendy Christianson participated in the MPTA Bus Roadeo. 1
SMTC addressed how to meet the requirements of the new Americans with Disabilities Act
and the impact on existing service and on funding. 1
Park and ride lot activities included the possible purchase of sites in Eden Prairie end
Chanhassen, the preliminary development of a new site in downtown Chaska, proposal
for a joint park and ride lot/commercial venture, agreement from the Minnesota _ I
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.
SMTC celebrated its fifth anniversary on December 1 with ridership at an all -time high 1
(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
1
I 1
Southwest Metro Transit Total Ridership
1987 -91
1 300,000 --
1
1 250,000 —
1 •
200,000 —
I a
H
c 150,000 —
d
•
co
100,000 —
1
1 50,000 111
1 0 1 1
1987 1988 1989 1990 1991
RIDERSHIP
1987 1988 1989 1990 1991
131,524 164,254 198,229 242,114 272,957
1
1
1
OPT -OUT TRANSIT PROGRAMS' ANNUAL RIDERSHIP 1986 -92
1,600,000+
1,600,000 — 1,537,142
1,400,000 —
1,200,000 —
o. 1,000,000 --
r.
L
v, 800,000 —
co •
co
600,000 — 550,985
400,999
400,000 — 304,322 336,588
200,000 — 152,535
0 1 1 1 1 1
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
Ke
'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; oint pow o
111111 r M 111111 �■■ iiard ority
i
MI 1/111 111111 MI 1111111
1
1 SOUTHWEST METRO TRANSIT NEWS
1
VOLUME 2, NUMBER 2 Fall 1991/Winter 1992
1
DRAMATIC GROWTH MARKS FIFTH
1 ANNIVERSARY
I From ten express trips a day to 1991. Annual ridership for 1991 is Maple Grove, Eagan, Burnsville, Apple
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.
I Dial -A -Ride van in one city to seven growth in five years. Southwest Metro Transit provides
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
I 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
December 1, 1986 to December 1, under legislation enabling metro -area each weekday
I communities to "opt out" • Incommute service linking riders
Total Ridership 1987 -91 of MTC service and from outside these cities with their
300,000 / manage their own transit employment within these cities each
1 system specifically weekday
250,000 iI.M.Irl I tailored to and respon- • Dial -A -Ride, a door -to -door
sive to the needs of local shared -ride van service (not a taxi
200,000 ' ' residents and busi- service), operating among the three
1 150,000 nesses. The system is cities and to Southdale, Shakopee, and
I P I I I I funded by fare revenue Glen Lake Monday through Saturday
I 100,000 and property taxes levied The governing body is a seven -
I I '' I' I I for transit in those member commission of City Council
50,000 I L ' L I communities. Other opt- members, mayors, and interested
out systems serve citizens from the three cities. Staff
I 0 Shakopee, Plymouth, Growth continued on page two
1987 1988 1989 1990 1991
1 Happy Holidays from Southwest Metro Transit!
Y
1 The transportation decisions we make today will
be the environmental decisions that determine the \ ■ quality of life we have in the 21st ce ntury. " /
1 -1111
- Claudia Elliot, past chair of the Sierra Club of California '
•
1
0
1 -Page One-
(0 1. 1w -. ...mi
A I
"YOU'LL NEVER DIAL -A -RIDE I
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 1
five years old and many of our riders church and community activities
have been riding at least that long (and • 9 :00am - 6:OOpm At press time, we were considering
many longer on the previous MTC • Discounted fare of $.75 all day do wn i that would leave
onwntc I
service), we would like to hear some of (except fare to Southdale is $2.00 for Min neapolis a d around midday
your funny, weird, heartwarming, and /or riders 5 -64) on December 24 only. Watch your bus
and local newspaper for a notice or call I
interesting experiences on Southwest ■ Serves Eden Prairie, Chaska, SMTC at 934 -7928.
Metro Transit services — Dial -A -Ride, Chanhassen, and Southdale
express, incommute. Let us know what • Call 944 -7126 to make your ride
really happens on those buses, what reservation
stories you have shared with your ����,,�, v r
• Group discount available — for °
families and coworkers. birthday parties, group trips, special
Please send your stories to South- , -,' ' ° ' 4 ' ` r " i ' ° . E:0tt I
events k P� ,z �, r, ,g -, r ;
west Metro Transit, 7600 Executive t , ? o t ,° , a .
Drive, Eden Prairie 55344 or fax them to `` ' . ° °_ `° - „
us at 937 -7411. We'll read them all and }���
publish the best or most representative NEW EXPRESS .fr o . . . a , ” k k
tales in the next issue of this newsletter. ` x & °4 �' , < ; Z Z
Please try o keep ur stories to one or
TRIPS INCREASE . i , ,
two paragraphs so that we can feature CONVENIENCE p =_ {
as many as possible. Please include SMTC express trips now 5 e , 41P-4. � I
your name, address, and daytime phone ■ arrive downtown at 6:40am t 4 ' ** � � o-' t ' ; a-i m ine
number in case we need to clarify your ' f . . a �
• downtown at 3:40 m ,-_ ' ° -I k� -1 - ,
story. If you do not wish us to use your p _Fri ; 3
name, just let us know. (However, N � 6i c-S �Y r �$ ` '
1 ( ■l eave Eden Prairie Center at 7:38am � t i � _ - } . - . -. €i;� r --
anonymous submissions will not be Call us at 934 -7928 for complete schedule
published.) We're looking forward to and route information. h , 3 - : g I
hearing from you! –1 3 i . ®` t t . x �T "
x �
NO TRANSIT - � 9 J �' . { q :; . :7
COMING IN SERVICE ON
--40.1 �' . ., Lj -
HOLIDAYS
FUTURE ISSUES ' Y 4 t=
■ SMTC service will not operate on i ` gjl ;£,. z " ,= ; , f.
IN How transit works in the suburbs .' -r : 4 1 * " ='
Christmas Day and New Year Day � ' " 4 '3�a r A �
IN The proposed Nicollet Mall shuttle II Regular service will operate on vg'
■ SMTC's comprehensive transit December 24 and December 31 '4 �s A ID JN s . -UT '' -
study II Administrative office will be closed on - '
December 24 ko +r` , C ; �tit Nett -,:z.:'
• Update on park and ride lots_ r °° �� ej g` -,,,.,,,,, i
II The Regional Transit Board
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