COMPREHENSIVE OPERATIONAL
ANALYSIS
Implementation Plan
August 2023
THE ASK
1 That the City Council provide feedback and direction on the proposed service recommendations and fare changes contained in the final report of the Corona Transit Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA).
WHY CONDUCT A COA?
Opportunity to:
• Collect data about current transit usage
• Understand the City of Corona’s transit needs
• Tailor Corona Cruiser service to efficiently and productively meet these needs • Identify service opportunities to connect all areas of the community Identify strategies to:
• Increase ridership by encouraging current riders to ride more and attracting new riders • Improve the customer experience
• Improve cost effectiveness
• Improve service reliability and quality
• Provide alternatives to traffic congestion
HOW ARE CORONA’S TRANSIT OPERATIONS FUNDED?
3 Operating and Capital
State & Federal: 80% Fixed Route and 90% Dial-A-Ride
• Local Transportation (LTF) funds through the Transportation Development Act (TDA) (operating) • State Transit Assistance (capital)
• Low Carbon Transit Operations Program Funds (operating and capital) • SB1 State of Good Repair (operating and capital)
• Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5307 & 5339 Urbanized Area Formula Funds (operating and capital)
City Fare Share: 20% for Fixed Route and 10% for Dial-A-Ride • Local revenues: Bus fares, bus shelter advertising revenue, AB2766 Bus Pass Subsidy, and General Fund (only if needed to close any funding gaps)
Pursuant to TDA guidelines, allowed up to 15% year-to-year budget increase.
EXISTING SYSTEM
4 The City operates two fixed
routes (Red Line and Blue
Line) and Dial-A-Ride (DAR)
Service.
Service is provided Monday
through Saturday.
Span of Service:
• 6:30 AM to 7:00 PM on weekdays
• 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM on Saturdays
Frequency
• Red Line – every 60 min. (average)
• Blue Line – every 60 min. (average)
EXISTING BUS STOP AMENITIES
All Bus Stops (164) have Tier 1 amenities (signage)
86% (142) of stops have Tier 2 amenities (sign + seating) 34% (55) of stops have Tier 3 amenities (signs + seating + waste receptacle) 29% (47) stops have shelters of which 35 have all Tier 4 amenities 27% (45) stops have significant shade from trees
BUS STOP AMENITIES PROGRAM
5 Types of Amenities based on Tiered System
Tier 1: Sign only
Tier 2: Tier 1 + Seating Area
Tier 3: Tier 2 + Waste Receptacle
Tier 4: Tier 3 + Shelter & Lighting
Considerations for Selecting Amenities at a Stop
Regulation regarding ADA accessibility
Ridership statistics at each stop
Funding availability
Utilize available shade as an alternative to
shelter
COA PROCESS AND TIMELINE
6 Develop
Restructuring &
Implementation
Activities
(Summer 2023)
•Finalize alternatives based on
community input
•Finalize Implementation
Activities
•Return to Council
Prepare & Conduct
Public Outreach
(Oct 2022 – Jan 2023)
•Multiple scenarios
•Constrain and unconstrained
•Improve service efficiency and
effectiveness
Identify Service
Alternatives
(July – Sep 2022)
Summary of
Findings
(April – June 2022)
•Market Assessment
•Service Evaluation
•Identification of Unmet Needs
Data Collection
(Feb – April 2022)
•100% Ridecheck
•Onboard Survey
•Community Survey
•Refine findings based on
staff input
•Coordinate and execute public
outreach (including Council
Study Session, general public,
targeted populations)
DRAFT ALTERNATIVES FOR PHASE 1
7 Scenario 1 Scenario 2 Scenario 3
Services • 1 Fixed Route w/ Dial-A-Ride
• Microtransit Citywide
• Operation costs increased by
39%
• 3 Fixed Routes w/ Dial-A-Ride
• 2 Microtransit Zones w/ 10
Destinations
• Operation costed increased by
15%
• 2 Fixed Routes w/ Dial-A-Ride
• Operation costs remain status quo
Frequency • 30 minutes • 60 minutes • 55-70 minutes
Span Weekday: 6:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Weekday: 6:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Weekday: 6:30 AM - 7:09 PM
Saturday: 8:52 AM - 5:09 PM
Pros
(unmet needs
addressed)
• Coverage
• Reliability
• Productivity
• Coverage
• Reliability
• Productivity
• Cost increase by 15%
• Cost remain status quo
Cons • Cost Increase by 39%
• Less riders in the same time
period
• Frequency remains at 60 min. • Coverage
• Reliability
• Productivity
Click to View on Map
RECOMMENDED
8 A
Scenario 1:
• 1 Fixed Route operating every 30
minutes (3 vehicles)
• 1 Citywide Microtransit Zone
• Link to map
DRAFT SERVICE OPTIONS
Budget Impact:
• Increase operating cost by 39%
DRAFT SERVICE OPTIONS
C
A
B
Scenario2:
•3 Fixed Routes – each route
operating every 60 minutes
(4 vehicles)
• 2 Microtransit Zones with
10 Microtransit Destinations
• Link to map
Funding Sources:
Fixed Route • 80% funded by State and Federal, and • 20% funded with fares and local revenues.
Dial-A-Rider
• 90% funded by State and Federal, and • 10% funded with fares and local revenues. 9 Budget Impact:
• Increase operating cost by 15% o FY22 operating costs = $2,975,047 10 DRAFT SERVICE OPTIONS
Scenario 3:
• Maintain existing Blue and
Red Line service (4-5 vehicles)
• Blue Line – 60 minutes frequency
• Red Line – 60 minutes frequency
Budget Impact:
• Maintains operating cost
COLLECTING INPUT ON THE DRAFT SCENARIOS
• Tabling at the Corona Senior Center on December 1, 2022 • Tabling at the Holiday Lighting Ceremony on the Historic Civic Center Lawn on December 4, 2022
• A Virtual Town Hall meeting on December 8, 2022
• Email blasts and social media posts
• Notices on all buses and at city facilities
• 108 responses received
11 WHAT WE HEARD
12 Respondents overwhelming
selected Scenario 2
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
None of the Above Scenario 1 Scenario 2 Scenario 3
Percentage
Scenario
What Scenario will encourage you to ride Corona Cruiser more often or try Corona Cruiser? (All Respondents)
SCENARIO 2 BENEFITS
13 Streamlined existing routes to provide
faster, more reliable service
Increases direct service to Ontario &
California retail area – a major destination
within the City
More direct service from senior housing to
the Senior Center and library
Retains and improves access to middle and
high schools
Introduces on-demand microtransit service
in areas difficult to serve by fixed routes
Reduces overlap with RTA Route 1
Eliminates unproductive route segments
BUS STOPS
14 Maintain stops where service is
retained
Add stops on new segments
Target 1/4 mile spacing between
stops
Locate stops farside to the extent
feasible
Future: Develop a bus stop
amenity program to implement
new bus shelters and other
amenities
Click to View
on Map
PROJECT MANAGEMENT*
15 Project Schedule of Activities and Scope of Work
Sources of Funds
Phasing Plan
*To be paid from transit funding sources
NEXT STEPS FOR IMPLEMENTING SCENARIO 2
NEXT STEPS - IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES
16 Develop detailed schedules
for each proposed route
Conduct a stop audit to
determine the best location
and improvements needed
Identify other capital
elements needed to support
the new network
Bus stop implementation
Develop microtransit metrics
and procure microtransit
software
Develop a strategy for
informing the community of
the changes
Redesign public information
materials
Train drivers and support
staff on the new routes
Train staff on using software
and microtransit protocols
NEXT STEP -
PROPOSED FARE STRUCTURE
17 • Align Corona Cruiser fares with
Riverside Transit Agency (RTA)
fares for a consistent customer
experience and generate
additional revenue to meet
Farebox Recovery Requirement
• Effective January 1, 2024
FARES RTA Corona
(Existing)
Corona
(Proposed)
Fixed Route (one-ride)
General Public
Youth (k-12)
Senior/Disabled/Medicare Card Holder
Children
$1.75
$1.75
$.75
$.50
$1.50
$1.50
$.70
$.50
$1.75
$1.75
$.75
$.50
DAR
Senior/Disabled/ADA Certified $3.50 $2.50 $3.50
Microtransit -- -- $1.75
Fare Subsidy Programs:
1. LCTOP (allocation pending Caltrans approval) - Pay full fare for seniors, students, and persons with disabilities, and fare reduction for general riders for three years from October 1, 2023, through August 30, 2026.
2. AB 2766 (alternative program should LCTOP funds not be approved) – Fare subsidy to cover the fee increase for all riders for two years through 2025.
RECOMMENDATIONS
18 That the City Council:
1. Approve the service recommendations evaluated as part of the Comprehensive Operations Analysis (COA) and authorize staff to move forward with the implementation of Scenario 2.
2. Approve the updated fare structure.
QUESTIONS/COMMENTS
Contact:
Sudesh Paul, Transit Program Manager
[email protected]
(951) 279-3763