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Home My WebLink About2003-09-22 03-307 ORDERItem No. 03-307 Date: 9-22-03 Item/Subject ORDER, Authorizing the City Manager to Implement Certain Proposed Fare Changes for BAT -Community Connector Transit System Responsible Department: Administration-BAT/Community Connector Commentary: As a result of the recent BAT -Community Connector compreherMve transit system Study coordinated by $ACTS, a series of fare changes and modifications have been proposed. The proposed changes improve me usability of the system, encourage additional ridership and will generate additional fare box revenue. Based upon the estimate prepared by the study consultant ridership should Increase by 8,500 riders on an annual basis and an additional $14,000 in fare box revenue should be realized. These changes have been reviewed and approved for implementation by the BACIS Transit Advisory Committee and the Bangor City Council Strategic Issues Committee. Other transit system parGcipaMs and users have been notified of the proposed change aid no documented objections have been received. These changes will be made in conjunction with several service route Improvements, all scheduled to become effective October 6, 2003. l aI Departmestja t HHed4�/�,n�- Manager's Comments: The proposed fare schedule has been reviewetl and reoammeMed for approval by the (mvemment Operations Committee on September 10, 2003. Ad City Manager Associated Infomratlon: Order, background material Budget Approval: Horse Director Legal Approval: City Solidtor Introduced for x Passage _ First Reading Page _ of Referral Assignedro Councilor Allen Sepcenhen 22, 2003 CITY OF BANGOR jTT1.E.): ORDER, Authorizing the City Manager to Implement Certain Proposed! Fare Changes for MT -Community Connector Transit System By one Cay Clear a# of poe Ol y o{&NW. ORDERED, WHEREAS, the City of Banger operates the BAT.Communky Connector regional Vansh system serving the communities of Burger, Brewer, Hampden, Orono, Old Town, Veazie and the University of Maine; and WHEREAS. a comprehemive transit system study, funded and coordinated by BACK, has proposed a sehiss of fare charges designed m Impose the usability of the service, encourage increased ridership, and increase revenue; and WHEREAS, the proposed fare changes have been reviewed and recommended for adoption by the BACTS Transit Advisory Committee, the Bangor City Council Strategic Issues and Government Operations Committees; and WHEREAS, the proposed rates have been presented to other system participants and advertised( published In accordance with Federal Transportation Authority (FTA) rules for the benefit of system riders and ether Interested parties, with no documented expressions of concem; and WHEREAS, the proposed fare changes are to be implemented in conjunction with recommended Improvements and enhancements to the existing service routes. NOW, THEREFORE, BE R ORDERED BY THE BANGOR CRY COUNI31., THAT: the following fare changes and modifications are hereby adopted by BAT -Community. Connector... • Full man fare increase from 754 to B54 _ Monthly pass increase from $30 to $M • implementation of a $17 monthly pas for high school and younger age children • All transfers will be at no cost • Elimination of one fees on routes serving Veazle, Orono and Old Town • Implementation of a one -ticket system valid an all routes • Ekparsion of the University of Maine cod for students, faculty and staff to Include the entire transit service area AND, BE 1T FURTHER ORDERED, THAT the changes and modifications to the fare structure shall become effective October fi, 2003 or as soon thereafter as practicable and City staff is authorized to take appropriate actions to effectuate said charges. IN CIPY COUNCIL SePteober 22, 2003 Motion Made aad Seconded for Passage Passed a cL�R 0 D3 30] ORDER TLEJ Aucborftfng tno city Ma Ter to plwene: rowo are Rea for RAT-ca®uafty Connector transit system Assigned to Councilor n�� 03-307 To: Government Operations Committee From: Robert W. Farrar, Assistant City Manager Subject: BAT/Community Connector- Service Improvements Date: September 5, 2003 At Wednesday's Government Operations Committee Meeting, Staff will provide an update regarding several important operational issues concerning BAT/Community Connector as outlined below: 1. Implementation data for new/expanded routes. New and expanded route service will become effective Monday, October fin. Additional drivers have been hired and trained and new BAT schedules have been printed and will be distributed over the next several weeks. Improvements for Bangor include: (1) the new "Mall Hopper" mute which provides service between the Bangor Mall - Broadway Shopping Center - Airport Mall; (2) splitting the current MC Hope run Into two separate routes - a Mt Hope route from Pickering Square to the Bangor Mall Area and a Stillwater route from Pickering Square to the Bangor Mall area; and (3) a consolidated Center Street Run which will connect directly with the "Mall Hopper" route. Maps of current and new service routes are attached. 2. In addition to recommended route changes, the Transit Study proposed a series of changes to thefarestructure. In accordance with Federal Transportation Administration regulations the proposed changes have been published and advertised for a 60 -day period prior to implementation. There - were no requests for a public hearing on the proposed changes. These changes have been reviewed by the Strategic Issues Committee and the BAGS Transit Advisory Committee during the spring and recommended for implementation. The changes, which are scheduled to: become effective October 6$', are outlined below: • full cash fare will increase from 754 to 854 • monthly pass will increase from $30 to $34 per month • strips of 5 ride tickets will continue to cost $3 per strip • there will no longer be different tickets required for travel on different route • all transfers will be free • there will no longer be zone fees on the route serving Veazie, Oreno and Old Town • a $17 monthly pass will be introduced for high school and younger children • the University of Maine Card for students, faculty and staff will be expanded to include the entire system. (Currently in place) 0a 1107 Additionally, all participating communities and the University have been advised of the changes and we have received no expressions of concem. 3. Promotional and Marketing Activities In conjunction with the route and fare changes noted above, a variety of promotional and marketing activities are being planned over the next several weeks: • New schedules and informational brochures have been printed and will be distributed in a variety of locations, including an insert in "The Weekly" section of the Bangor Daily News tentatively set for September 250. • A media release outlining the new/expanded service and fare changes. • Advertising Campaign in selected locations including - BDN, radio stations, on buses, Community Access Channel, among others. • Free fare days for the new Stillwater and Mall Hopper routes October 6'" to lou' Drawing for several monthty and 90 day passes - both regular and students • Coordination with high schools within transit service area • Promotional items including - water bottles, pens, magnets, etc. featuring BAT logo and colors, for free distribution • Coordination with Bangor Mall marketing department to promote new Mall Hopper route • Introduction of new red BAT tickets. Staff is Continuing to develop and finalize the activities detailed above, but we wanted to provide the Committee with a general overview of the events which are currently being planned. At Wednesday's meeting, staff will be prepared to review the Contents of the memorandum, provide further updates and answer any questions. Should you have any questions in the. meantime, please feel. free to Contact Joe or me at your Convenience. cc: City Manager BATSuperirtendent