CARTA East Cooper Transit Service Transportation Committee Town of Mount Pleasant February 5, 2013
Service Overview
Study Overview East Cooper Service Analysis Provide additional analysis as a follow up to CARTA s 2012-2016 Strategic Plan recommendations Conduct a review and data analysis of existing transit service Identify target markets in order to better design responsive service Develop parameters to streamline and reallocate service that maximizes efficiency and cost-effectiveness Recommend proposed enhancements to the service network
All East Cooper routes Current Local Service: Route 40 = 2 vehicles Route 401 = 1 vehicle Route 402 = 1 vehicle
Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun All East Cooper routes Monthly Passenger Trips Total Monthly Ridership (Express Service) Route 2 Express Monthly Ridership 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 2010 2011 2012
All East Cooper routes Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr Monthly Passenger Trips Total Monthly Ridership (Local Service) 20,000 18,000 Total Monthly Ridership 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 Service restructuring (April 2011) 2,000 0 2010 2011 2012
All East Cooper routes Overall Trends Overall ridership trending upward, due to growth in Route 40 ridership April 2011 service restructuring has had little impact on ridership East Cooper Connector (Route 401) performing better than predecessor flexroute, but new Sullivan s/iop flexroute is performing poorly Farebox recovery is stable overall, due to Route 40 gains
Total Boardings/Alightings Average Vehicle Load Weekday Ridership Activity - Eastbound Route 40 Weekday - Eastbound Daily Ridership Activity and Load Factors by Stop 120 18 Peak load occurs at the Ravenel Bridge 16 100 80 60 Passengers boarding at Meeting / Mary and at other stops on Meeting 14 12 10 8 40 6 4 20 2 - - Average Load Boardings Alightings
Total Boardings/Alightings Average Vehicle Load Weekday Ridership Activity - Westbound 80 70 60 Route 40 Weekday - Westbound Daily Ridership Activity and Load Factors by Stop High activity at Houston Northcutt due in part to Route 401 transfers 10 9 8 7 50 6 40 5 30 4 3 20 2 10 1 - - Average Load Boardings Alightings
Weekday Ridership Activity Limited activity east of Towne Centre other than Wal-Mart Wando HS Wal-Mart East Cooper Hospital Towne Centre Most activity is west of Towne Centre EB ridership peaks in morning; WB ridership peaks in afternoon (reverse commute)
Weekday Ridership Activity BelleHall Little activity on northern loop of route Ridership peaks in the morning (7AM) and again in mid-afternoon (2-3PM) East Cooper Hospital Towne Centre Some activity along Coleman Blvd.
Weekday Ridership Activity Ridership had initial increase from 500 to 700 passengers per month; now down to 400 passengers per month 1.0 1.5 passengers per hour; farebox recovery = 3% Five people are responsible for 40% of all trips; ten people are responsible for 65% of all trips
Service Recommendation Recommended Service Enhancements Implement proposed new route (Downtown to Coleman Blvd.) Reallocate two vehicles currently serving Routes 401 & 402 1. Assign one additional vehicle to Route 40, increasing service frequency from 60 minutes to 40-45 minutes 2. Assign one vehicle to proposed new route at 60 minute service Extend Tel-A-Ride service to Sullivan s Island & Isle of Palms Provide seasonal East Cooper beach service using additional equipment; to be determined Support new connection between North Charleston and East Cooper as a long-term goal
Service Details
Route 40 Route 40 will be improved by adding a third bus into service Service will travel to its current destinations Service will be every 40 minutes Monday Saturday Sunday service will be improved to every 60 minutes Monday Friday Saturday Sunday - 6:38 AM - 9:34 PM - 6:38 AM - 9:34 PM - 8:38 AM - 7:08 PM
41 Coleman Boulevard Route 41 Service will operate from Downtown Charleston to Coleman Blvd., including Patriots Point, the Mt. Pleasant Visitors Center, and Shem Creek Operating hours are Monday Friday - 7:30 AM - 8:25 PM Saturday - 8:30 AM - 8:10 PM
CARTA Tel-A-Ride CARTA Tel-A-Ride Service will be extended to serve areas within the municipal boundaries of the Town of Sullivan s Island and the City of Isle of Palms. Tel-A-Ride is a specialized curb-to-curb transportation service that is available to persons with disabilities who are unable to use the local public bus service. All Tel-A-ride vehicles are wheelchair lift-equipped to those who meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) Certification Requirements
Thank you for all your support to CARTA Jeffrey Burns, AICP Transportation Planner CARTA 36 John St. Charleston, SC 29403 843.724.7195 jburns@ridecarta.com