BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 2018 TRANSIT SUMMIT INFORMATION ITEM. Countywide

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1 Date of Meeting: June 25, 2018 #I-1 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 2018 TRANSIT SUMMIT INFORMATION ITEM SUBJECT: ELECTION DISTRICT(S): STAFF CONTACTS: Advisory Boards Comments Countywide Scott Gross, Transportation and Capital Infrastructure Joe Kroboth, III, Transportation and Capital Infrastructure PURPOSE: To provide the Commission on Aging, Disability Services Board (DSB), Health Council, and Transit Advisory Board (TAB) an opportunity to offer comments to the Board of Supervisors (Board) on transit related matters. BACKGROUND: The Commission on Aging, appointed by the Board, serves as an advisory board to the Board of Supervisors, Loudoun County Area Agency on Aging, and other Loudoun County agencies on matters affecting older residents. Bob Dale will speak on behalf of the Commission on Aging in regards to Transit concerns/needs in Loudoun County. The DSB is an at-large advisory body appointed by the Board. It serves as a resource to the Board of Supervisors and county staff by identifying and advising on issues of importance to people with disabilities, their families and caregivers. Its members work with county staff, community partners and businesses to strive to make Loudoun an accessible and inclusive community for all people. Jennifer Alves will speak on behalf of the DSB in regards to Transit concerns/needs in Loudoun County. The comments of the Disability Services Board are shown in Attachment 1. The Health Council is an advisory body appointed by the Board that works in conjunction with county and town government staff to foster the programs and services necessary to ensure and enhance the health of everyone who lives or works in Loudoun County. A council member will speak on behalf of the Health Council in regards to Transit concerns/needs in Loudoun County. The TAB is a 15 member board that is tasked with advising the Board on ways to improve existing transit service provided by the County in addition to beneficial changes or additions to any future transit services. Nine members of the TAB are nominated by the Board (one per district and one at-large member appointed by the Board Chair). Three members are community group representatives: one representative of the Disability Services Board (DSB), one representative of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, and one representative of the Loudoun County Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC). The remaining three members are specific transit mode representatives recommended by the Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure staff. The TAB actively

2 Item I-1: Advisory Boards Comments Board of Supervisors Transit Summit June 25, 2018 Page 2 seeks input from a broad range of riders and organizations on the bus services provided by the County and any other item, mechanism, process or program that relates to transit service. The TAB officers consist of a Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary, with each officer serving a term of two years. Members serve concurrent terms with the Board members who appointed them. The regular meetings are held at least bi-monthly, with the meeting schedule set at the first regular meeting in January of each year. A majority of the active membership constitutes a quorum for taking action at regular or special meetings. Proceedings of all meetings are governed by Robert s Rules of Order. TAB s comments are shown as Attachment 2. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Written comments provided by the Disability Services Board in advance of the Transit Summit 2. Written comments provided by the Transit Advisory Board Chair in advance of the Transit Summit

3 Transit Summit June 25, 2018 Disability Service Board Good Evening, I am Jennifer Alves, speaking to you on behalf of the Loudoun Disability Service Board, and all residents who depend on local public transit, such as me. Understandably, Metro Silver Line and Commuter Bus Service are at the center of attention, but county-wide curb-side bus service cannot be left by the wayside or forgotten about, because in truth so would the people who use Loudoun Transit. I am someone with legal blindness unable to obtain a driver s license. Not only do I walk, a- lot, I rely on the Loudoun Transit local fixed-route bus service to be an active, serving member of my community. Please consider color coding busses, like the Metro rail system, on the outside to make them more identifiable from a distance. A simple example is a big circle of color on the top beside the bus number, and route marque. Attachment 1

4 Bus stops also need to be more visible, and user friendly. Many bus stops still need adequate shelters; these stops are only identified by a pole with a Bus Stop sign on top. That s it. What bus comes by this location and what schedule does the bus operate? All this information should be on each bus stop sign, just like Fairfax Connector, and Metro. A person running up to a bus stop should not have to have an electric devise, with Wi-Fi service, to find out bus schedules. Shelters and data at every bus stop. In recent visits to DC, I noticed more new bus shelters and marques installed inside some bus shelters to provide passengers with up to the minute updates. Brilliant! I ask Loudoun County to please put more attention, action and credibility into public transportation services. Thank you for your time and attention.

5 Madam Chair and Members of the Board of Supervisors: My name is Philip McNutt and I am the current Chairman of the Transit Advisory Board which is charged with providing a liaison with the Board of Supervisors and County Staff concerning local, Metro Connection, Long Haul Commuter, Disabled and Elderly, and other transit services in Loudoun County. The Transit Advisory Board, or TAB, very much appreciates this opportunity to address the Board on the timely and crucial issue of current and future transit in Loudoun County. TAB consists of a diverse group of interested parties and constituencies with a substantial stake, and interest, in Loudoun County Transit Services. During the course of the Board s consideration you may hear from other TAB members who are speaking to you concerning the specific interests of their constituents. What I am presenting to you this evening is the consensus of the entire TAB membership, all of whom have reviewed and approved the TAB positions and recommendations set forth in this presentation. For ease of reference, I have provided a written version of this presentation with copies for each of you. The following constitute the observations, comments and recommendations of the TAB related to current and future transit services in Loudoun County and for Loudoun County residents and workers: First: One of the constant themes revisited throughout TAB s first year of operation is the need for real time information to provide staff with updated and complete ridership data. The best way to obtain that is through the use of electronic data collection, including smart trip cards, on all transit buses. The current local transit fleet is aging and in need of replacement. TAB believes it is essential to purchase replacement buses, rather than lease, so that the County can control the equipment on the buses. Second: Collateral to the first point is the need for all parts of the County s transit system to be coordinated with the Waze navigation application integration now planned for implementation in the near future, Google Maps, and other available tools to enhance data and consumer usage experiences. Third: TAB strongly recommends that the Board assure that currently scheduled and budgeted traffic and road improvements be coordinated with ADA compliance and other enhancements to improve and promote local and metro connection transit and bring Long Haul stations into ADA compliance. The County has an aggressive plan with substantial dollars earmarked for improvement in road and intersections. Coordinating ADA compliance and transit access with those improvements will save money and make the process more efficient. Fourth: Several TAB members have expressed concerns about the current fares, projected future increases and potential loss of ridership. This has to be coordinated with actual ridership needs, citizen transit needs (elderly, young, handicapped, disabled, etc.) and workers coming into the County (for jobs that county residents cannot fill), along with the metro start up in Staff has paid very close attention to ridership and cost data for the past Attachment 2

6 several years. The ridership dynamics may change dramatically when Metro arrives in early However, because of the length of Metro trips for County residents, particularly residents in Western Loudoun and those distant from the planned Metro Stations, the County needs to realize that Metro is not the entire solution for County commuters and will have little bearing on local transit needs. Because of the length of Metro trips (over an hour for most), the County needs to obtain data from current and projected commuters for realistic solutions. TAB believes that ridership of all services will depend upon length of commute, relative cost, reliability of Metro and flexibility of services. TAB is continuing to work with County Staff to provide the most up to date feedback and input into County transit operations into the next decade. Hopefully, the suggestions above will make transit more practical, and more user friendly for the foreseeable future. On behalf of the TAB members many of whom are here tonight, I thank you for the opportunity to address the Board on these important issues of the County s developing transit system. I am willing to answer any questions the Board members have, either tonight, or at any other time related to any transit, or transit related issues. Respectfully submitted, Philip J. McNutt Chairman, Transit Advisory Board