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Service Restoration/Phased New Links Implementation
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DESCRIPTION: Return to Service Plan for the restoration of pre-COVID service levels, to include implementation of initial group of New Links recommendations, and associated amendment of CY2021 budget. |
AGENDA NO: 21-075 |
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ACTION REQUEST: ☒ Approval ☐ Review Comment ☐ Information Only ☐ Other |
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Approve the Return to Service plan, to be implemented for the June 20, 2021, service pick and amend the CY2021 budget
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ISSUE/BACKGROUND:
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Following the unprecedented global COVID-19 pandemic, the RTA Board of Commissioners adopted the Internal State of Emergency Policy on March 24, 2020 authorizing the CEO to adjust service levels for the safety and wellbeing of staff and passengers. Since May 17, 2020 RTA has been running Saturday schedule six (6) days a week - Monday through Saturday - amounting to an 80% service level on all fixed-route service.
With the rollout of vaccines and significant reduction of virus’s spread, the nation, state and region are steadily ramping up re-opening and expanded capacity of businesses and schools. As a result, ridership has steadily been increasing during the last several months of 2021 and is expected to grow even more rapidly as employment opportunities return, particularly in the downtown area hospitality sector. Concurrently, the RTA Board of Commissioners adopted the New Links plan and Final recommendations on March 23, 2021 with the goal for staff to implement to the greatest extent possible.
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DISCUSSION:
The proposed Return to Service Plan includes:
- a restoration of pre-COVID-19 service levels
- improvements to on-time performance
- adjustments for streetcar rail construction projects
- implementation of an initial group of New Links recommendations
Restoration of Pre-COVID-19 Service Levels
Except as otherwise noted below, most fixed-route service will return to 100% of pre-pandemic levels, essentially restoring weekday (M-F) schedules.
Improvements to On-time Performance
The June 20 service pick will also include minor adjustments to improve on-time performance (OTP). These include the improvement of running times to more accurately reflect typical road conditions. Also included is the adjustment of timepoints. Timepoints have historically been used for both external operations, such as major boarding and transfer locations, and internal operations, such as locations for shift changes. By measuring OTP to all timepoints, operators have many unrealistic conditions where timepoints are too closely spaced to allow for normal variations in the field. The June 20 pick will remove all internal timepoints and others spaced too closely allowing operators the flexibility to better adjust run times to meet timepoints for more accurate and realistic measurement of OTP.
Adjustments for Streetcar Rail Construction Projects
The following table of streetcar rail projects shows the service impacts and adjustments to provide coverage during service interruptions. A map of the construction area and route changes is attached to this report.
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Project |
Revenue Service end |
Revenue Service resumption |
June 20 service plan impact |
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Canal Street restoration (River to LaSalle) |
underway |
July 1 |
#47 - continues to UPT #48 - extended to Harrah’s (retore 16m headways on each) Restore Canal St stop on Loyola/Basin for all crossing routes (32, 51, 52, 57, 62, 64, 65, 80, 88, 91) |
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Riverfront |
Estimated mid-July |
Mid-September (2 month duration) |
Use pre-pandemic headways on 55 and 5 to service corridor |
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St Charles (Howard Av to Canal St) |
Estimated mid-July |
January 2022 (5 month duration) |
#46 Bus bridge adjusted to service St Charles connections via Howard Av/Loyola Av/Canal St to Harrah’s |
Implementation of Initial Group of New Links Recommendations
While the full New Links implementation plan is still under development, the staff have identified several recommendations that can implemented in the June 20 pick as they only adjust service levels. Most of the recommendations require a Title VI analysis by the FTA to ensure no disparate impact to vulnerable populations in large part because of the changes to many routes. In addition, many of the changes must be implemented together in order offset impact and maximize benefits. The following recommendations will be included in the June 20 pick:
- 12-St. Charles
o Right-sizing service during off-peak times based on ridership
o Peak service reduces slightly from 9 minutes to 12 minutes
- 88-St. Claude
o Peak service increases from 20 minutes to 15 minutes
o Overnight service increases from 60 minutes to 30 minutes
o 7-day schedule
- 91-Jackson-Esplanade
o Weekday peak service increases from 30 minutes to 20 minutes
o Weekend peak services increases from 60 minutes to 30 minutes
As indicated in the following chart, the rightsizing of St Charles streetcar service will reduce the total revenue hours without reducing the level of service needed to meet demand. This reduction will more than offset the increase in revenue hours on the #88 and #91 bus lines.
Service Impact Summary
The table below summarizes the total service impact as calculated in platform hours. The first column shows the CY2021 budgeted platform hours adopted in December 2020. The second column shows the adjusted CY2021 platform hours with the proposed new service plan implemented in June 20 - an increase of 67,541.75 hours over original budget. The last column shows the annualized impact, as if the proposed June 20 service plan had been in place for the entire CY2021.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The total estimated financial impact of the Return to Service Plan is a budget increase of $5.34 million to $106.9 million for operating expenses for the current year. Had this pick been running for the full year the estimated budget, or annualized impact would have been $111.5 million. It is noteworthy that this is slightly slower than the initial 2020 budget pre-pandemic budget. The following table summarizes the changes by mode, similar to the service impact.
NEXT STEPS:
Following approval of the Return to Service Plan, the staff will finalize the service pick schedule and begin development of all print and electronic communication materials. Concurrently, Operations will hire and train the additional staff needed to deliver increased service.
Staff will continue to develop a full implementation plan for New Links to be presented to the Board in June for review.
ATTACHMENTS:
Map of downtown streetcar construction and service adjustments
Prepared By: Dwight Norton
Title: Sr. Director of Strategic & Long-Range Planning
Reviewed By: Vivek Shaw
Title: Director of Service Planning & Scheduling
Reviewed By: Thomas Stringer
Title: Chief Operating Officer
Reviewed By: Gizelle Johnson-Banks
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Click or tap to enter a date.
Alex Wiggins Date
Chief Executive Officer