HomeMy WebLinkAboutTransit Staff Memo October 2014Please contact the Transit Advisory Board at TAB@ci.oshkosh.wi.us with any questions or concerns
TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD
AGENDA ITEMS
OCTOBER 2014
OLD BUSINESS
1. SHELTER UPDATES
a. Pick ‘n Save on Jackson Street
b. Witzel Avenue & Westhaven Drive
c. 20th Avenue @ Carl Traeger Elementary
NEW BUSINESS
2. ROUTE 3
Route 3 has had issues maintaining minimum ridership standards. GO Transit’s informal
performance standard for bus routes is to board at least 12 riders per revenue hour. Route 3
operates 12 revenue hours per day, so the minimum ridership standard would be at least
144 rides per day. When ridership for a route is near or below this standard, the route is
presented for discussion and possible changes.
At the April 2014 TAB meeting, GO Transit recommended and the TAB approved a
schedule change for Route 3. The schedule change aligned Route 3’s arrival and departure
times downtown with other routes (effective 6/2/14). Since this change, staff has continued
to monitor Route 3’s usage to determine if the new schedule would attract more ridership.
Table 1 below shows Route 3’s average daily ridership by month.
Table 1: Route 3’s Average Daily Ridership
Avg. Daily
Ridership
Apr 2013 145
May 2013 104
Jun 2013 111
Jul 2013 105
Aug 2013 87
Sept 2013 118
Oct 2013 136
Nov 2013 126
Dec 2013 113
Jan 2014 114
Feb 2014 156
Mar 2014 137
TAC AGENDA ITEMS 2 OCTOBER 2014
Apr 2014 128
May 2014 106
Jun 2014 107
Jul 2014 118
Aug 2014 112
Sept 2014* 164
Average 123
*includes data from 9/1-9/23
As shown in the data, the schedule change earlier this summer did not significantly
increase Route 3’s daily ridership June-August 2014. Route 3 ridership did jump in
September 2014 when UWO customers began riding again. Considering the ridership data
above, staff asks the board to review the three options listed below.
Option 1: Status Quo. See attached “Option 1” map.
Option 2: New Route 3 alignment serving North Campbell Road, Taft Avenue and
Sawyer Street. See attached “Option 2” map.
Option 3: New Route 3 alignment serving Dempsey Trail, Witzel Avenue and
Sawyer Street. See attached “Option 3” map.
Options 2 and 3 remove Route 3’s current segment through the UWO campus along
Algoma Blvd. Staff feels that the existing Route 5 service through this corridor provides
adequate access for UWO riders. Four of the six bus stops that would no longer be served
by Route 3 under options 2 & 3 are still served by Route 5. The remaining 2 bus stops are
rarely utilized and close to existing bus stops along other routes. See attached “Route 3 Bus
Stop Data” table and “Current Route 3 Bus Stops” map.
Options 2 and 3 add new transit service to North Sawyer Street from the Oshkosh Seniors
Center. Option 2 uses North Campbell Road and Taft Avenue to access Sawyer Street
while Option 3 uses Dempsey Trail & Witzel Avenue to access a longer stretch of Sawyer.
Both options provide more geographic coverage of bus service by adding stops along
Sawyer Street and a few other areas.
Options 2 and 3 also allow GO Transit to explore a possible route deviation to West High
for PM school dismissal. The deviation would occur once daily during school days on the
3:30 PM trip when West High is dismissed. The proposed deviation would alleviate some
stress from Route 6 during this time and provide West High students another option to get
downtown and build ridership for Route 3.
For all three options, Route 3’s existing service along New York Avenue, Bowen Street,
Monroe Street & Washington Avenue remains unchanged. Staff feels it is important to
maintain Route 3’s service near the downtown YMCA, Department of Human Services,
and the Oshkosh Public Library. These destinations along Washington Avenue provide
riders access to many basic services.
TAC AGENDA ITEMS 3 OCTOBER 2014
Of the three options, I would recommend Option 2. Option 2 provides the most added
geographic coverage of the City (new service along Campbell Road, Taft Avenue &
Sawyer Street) and closer service to Titan Stadium, Roosevelt Elementary School and the
Paine Arts Center.
If the TAB approves options 2 or 3, GO Transit would look to implement changes on
November 10, 2014.
Staff Statements
3. Mallard & Grove Transfer Point
4. Transit demand at North and West High Schools
5. Freedom to GO Program