Lower Rio Grande Valley

Regional Transit Service Plan

Background

78th Legislative Session mandate Eliminate waste in the provision of

public transportation services; Generate efficiencies that will permit

increased levels of service; and Further the state’s efforts to reduce

air pollution.

HB 3588 cont’d

Provides for coordination by TxDOT in the provision of public transportation throughout the state, and

Authorizes the Texas Transportation Commission to adopt rules requiring state agencies to contract with TxDOT to assume responsibilities of that agency’s public transportation services.

State Governors&

Cabinet Secretaries

FederalAgencies

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Education

Labor

EmploymentTrainingAgency

Office of DisabilityEmployment Policy

Centers forIndependent Living

DisabilityRehab andResearchRehabilitation

ServicesAdministration

Office of SpecialEducation Programs

Substance AbuseMental Health

TemporaryAssistance for

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HHSMedicare &

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Health Resources & Services

CommunityServices

Child Care

Bureau

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MedicaidProgram

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Soc. ServicesBlock Grant

Children& Families

Transportation Service Chart

“United We Ride” (FTA)

Transportation

Office of theSecretary

National HighwayTraffic Safety

AdministrationFederal TransitAdministration

Assistant Secretaryfor Transportation

Policy

DepartmentalOffice of

Civil Rights

Faith Based Transit

Area Agency on Aging

MedicalTransit Provider

Head Start

Office of theSecretary

AssistantSecretaryPlanning

Evaluation

Special EdTransportation

Rural TransitOperators

Private Paratransit

Private Taxi

ADAParatransit

TransitPass

Elderly&

Disability Program

Job AccessReverse Commute

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Rural GrantProgram

Urbanized Grant Program

LocalTransportation

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Disability ServiceProvider

Family

Employment

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Education

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Recreation

Duties of TxDOT

TxDOT shall identify: Overlaps and gaps in the provision of

public transportation services; Underused equipment owned by public

transportation providers; and Inefficiencies in the provision of public

transportation services.

TxDOT Response to HB 3588 TxDOT Commissioner Hope Andrade

appointed statewide Study Group in December 2004;

Study group recommended each planning region develop a regional transit coordination plan.

Service Area Boundary

TxDOT Pharr District

Planning Area

Management Structure

Transportation Providers

Assistance by Planning Consultants Enlisted assistance from TTI to

develop RFP – November 2005 Awarded Contract to KFH Group, Inc.

– April 2006 Regional Transit Plan Completed –

December 2006

The Planning Process

Development of goals and objectives Review of existing services and coordination

activities Demographics, land uses and travel patterns Review of needs Development of alternatives to address

needs Review of transit authorities Transit Traveler Information

Origins, Destinations And Travel Patterns

The vast majority of residences and destinations are in the US Highway 83 corridor

Travel patterns indicate most work in their own areas with crossover across the 83 corridor

McAllen is the largest trip attractor with retail and other businesses

Summary of Issues LRGV Region has a lesser share of commuters that use

transit than the State of Texas as a whole. The LRGV Region has three of the poorest counties in

terms of average household income. Vehicle ownership in the LRGV Region is well below State and National averages.

Population in the region and in Mexico will continue to grow at a rapid pace.

The culmination of the above three facts revealed an unmet transit need in the LRGV Region and a significant opportunity for transit.

The LRGV Region does have significantly less commuters driving alone to work.

Measured by the absolute number of commuters, Hidalgo County is by far the top destination county for workers in the region.

Summary of Needs The greatest needs continue to be in the Colonias

spread all over Hidalgo County, with many in Willacy and Cameron Counties as well.

The continued growth in Mexico will contribute high levels of ridership in the urban systems for Brownsville and McAllen.

Harlingen – San Benito and Edinburg – Mission each has the potential demand and need for more fixed-route service within their cities.

Pan American University should be part of the solution to transit issues in Edinburg.

Willacy County has additional needs for both local service and service to Harlingen.

Increases in connectivity throughout the region will grow in importance as people spread farther out seeking employment.

Barriers and Constraints Needs are very great – low incomes and

residents of Mexico contribute to this level of need.

Duplication of effort - Multiple transit operators each representing their own constituents, creates institutional resistance to change – turf protection.

Fragmented ITS structure Medicaid is not coordinated, creating

another transit provider Driver pay rates vary, causing problems

Potential for A Transit Authority

There are three models that can work in the region: Metropolitan Transportation Authority

(Corpus Christi) City Transit Department (Laredo) Coordinated County Authority (Denton)

Each is a difficult and time consuming effort Requires at least one election Can produce enough revenue to operate

quality transit

Transit Traveler Information Requires a coordinated approach

with all operators Two phase project

Coordination and implementation of one stop shopping

Interactive – purchase tickets on line, automated travel planner

Requires one entity to manage

Planned Activities

Coordination Activities: Development of a Mobility

Manager/Broker Coordinating all paratransit activities Human Service – The Mentoring Program Permanently formalize stakeholders

committee Review the potential for a transit

authority

Planned Activities Service Activities:

Fixed/Flex Route Service – Harlingen-San Benito, Edinburg-Mission, expansion in McAllen and Brownsville

Expanded, coordinated main line service Feeder Service - Fixed Schedule Service – lower density Paratransit Shopper Shuttles Through Ticketing and Coordinated Fares Sponsorship program

Service Assumptions Population Growth Target Colonias Accounting for Ridership from Mexico Funding Issues Public/Private Partnership Mobility Management Coordination Efforts Coordination Must Make Business Sense Fixed/Flex Route and Other Scheduled Service Use of Technology

What’s Next… TxDOT has awarded additional funding

to continue the planning effort Transit Advisory Panel will oversee the

implementation of projects in the region Some of the coordination/service

activities are already being implemented Continue to use planning consultant to

market the plan with city, county and other local elected officials

Copies of the LRGV Regional Coordination Plan available from: www.kfhgroup.com/LRGV

Questions or Comments