TC 03-28-06 Meeting AgendaCOUNTY of FREDERICK
Department of Planning and Development
540/665-5651
FAX: 540/665-6395
MEMORANDUM
TO: Frederick County Transportation Committee
FROM: John A. Bishop, Transportation Planner
RE: March Transportation Committee Meeting
DATE: March 21, 2006
The Frederick County Transportation Committee will be meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March
28, 2006 in the Board Room of the Frederick County Administration Building, 107 North Kent
Street, Winchester, Virginia. The agenda for this meeting is as follows:
AGENDA
1. Route 37 Alternatives
2. Transit Budget Request (Referred from Finance)
Please contact our department if you are unable to attend this meeting.
Attachments
JAB/bad
107 North Kent Street, Suite 202 • Winchester, Virginia 22601-5000
ITEM #1
Route 37 Alternatives
As discussed at the February 28th committee meeting, staff has been working with consultants and
VDOT to determine the impact of potential Route 37 alignments. The consultant has prepared
drawings of a number of alternatives, which are currently being reviewed by VDOT. Comments on
the drawings are expected to be received from VDOT by Friday, March 24. Comments and drawings
will be presented to the committee as a package for review and recommendation at the meeting.
ITF_.M #2
Transit Budget Request (Referred by Finance)
The City Director of Transportation requests 1) an FY 2007 budget amendment in the amount of
$133,000 which represents the county's share of the operating costs to continue the transit and
paratransit service in the county and 2) an FY 2007 budget amendment in the amount of $11,000
which represents the county's share of the purchase of two vehicles for the transit service. These
requests will be reflected as an increase in the budget resolution. The Frederick County Finance
Committee considered this item and has referred it to the Transportation Committee for a
recommendation. Staff has attached supporting documentation to this agenda and expects someone
from the City Transportation Department will be present to take questions.
wi� A 7YONAWARMENr
113 9 7077i
TO: John Riley, Frederick County Administrator
From Gary A. Lofton, Director of Transportation { o W
M
CC: Ed Daley, City Manager
Date: March 8, 2006
Re: Status of Winchester Transit Extended Routes in Frederick County
In December, 2004, Winchester Transit began operating two routes into the county under a
demonstration project grant with Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transit. The grant's
components were as follows:
Total approved grant project budget: $129,413
Federal/State funding $122,942
Local Match (5%) $ 6,471
Working with County staff,, we developed routes providing service to two major urbanized
areas in the county. The area to the south follows Valley Pike from the south corporate limits
of Winchester, through Stephens City to Lord Fairfax Community College. We had gotten
many requests over the years to service LFCC, so this was felt to be an important
destination. We have since altered the route to include a portion of the Town of Middletown.
The south route also serves the Fredericktowne and Lakeside Estates subdivisions as well
as the Department of Motor Vehicles. The other area selected for service was to the east of
Winchester. This route takes in the Virginia Employment Commission and then proceeds into
Senseny Road, Greenwood Road and Rte 7 (Regency Lakes and Dowell J. Howard).
As anticipated, ridership started out slowly, but has continued to rise as more citizens
become aware of the service. Attached are reports showing various ridership data for the
county routes for calendar year 2005. As you can see, ridership on the southem route is
much heavier than that of the eastern route. Part of that can be attributed to the LFCC
students utilizing the transit service to attend classes.
If this service is continued, we will be looking for ways to reduce the overall times of the
routes. At this time each loop takes approximately 1 % hours, which we believe is a little
above the maximum desirable time for anyone needing transportation to and from a
destination.
As the FY06 fiscal year began, $94,300 was left of the original demonstration grant funding.
As of January 31, 2006 the project has expended $57,351, leaving a working balance for the
remainder of FY06 of $36,769. Estimating that monthly expenditures (January 06 was
$8869.45) stay fairly stable, it appears that, the grant funding will be exhausted in late May or
early June, 2006. At that time the County would be required to fund the operational cost for
the remainder of the fiscal year or approximately $7,500.
As with any foxed route service, Federal Transit Authority guidelines call for providing
complimentary paratransit service. Since this was a demonstration grant and no funding was
received for the paratransit service, none has been offered to this point. However, when the
grant has been exhausted, this service will have to be offered. Based upon the City's costs
—)5'—
for such service, i am estimating that the County's funding for the service will be
approximately $8,000 per month for one van, two drivers and associated operating
expenses.
vve applied for another demonstration grant in FY05 to expand the service to the County
which included two additional routes (one to the Clearbrook area, one to the west) and
paratransit service. We were not sucessfu! in obtaining funding, but we have reapplied for
this grant in the FY07 budget process. Conversations with VDRPT indicate that we will
receive approximately half of our request. This will likely create routes similar to the other
county routes, i.e. long, single bus routes.
For FY 07, 1 do not have a clear picture of what costs may have to be incurred by the County.
Continuation of the existing service into the County and the expenses related to that
operation has been incorporated into FYOTs proposed operating budget, as per the Grant's
provision. Our funding fomnula includes approximately 30% of operating expense
reimbursement from FTA, approximately 74% of administrative/FTM costs reimbursed by
VDRPT and the balance provided by General Fund appropriation of the respective local
governing body, which roughly translates to 63% of total operating costs. Utilizing this funding
formula and the operational costs for the existing County routes plus the projected paratransit
operating expenses, I estimate that the County's prorated portion of it's transit service will be
approximately $133,000. This is an inflated figure in this fiscal year for one basic reason.
Even with the 40% increase in the total Winchester Transit budget, Federal assistance only
increased 12%. Thus, Frederick County's share is not proportionate to the total transit system
budget, because Winchester's basis had to be help harmless. In other words, Winchester
should not pay more to subsidize the addition of the county routes. Let me emphasize that
this is a tentative figure as our final formula assistance will be based on what VDRPT has
been allocated in funds to distribute to the various transit properties and what they determine
each property will receive. My contacts at VDRPT can not give me any assurances that even
with increased activity in our system that we will still receive an equal amount of offsetting
revenue from them.
Also, if the service is continued, there will be a capital component in the cost of service.
Presently the demonstration grant service is being accomplished with a leased vehicle. The
cost of that lease is $1,000 per month. Several capital purchases will be required with
continuation of the service, a replacement bus of the same size (25) passenger and a
paratransit van. Assuming that funding percentages from FTA and VDRPT remain constant,
the County would be responsible for 10% of the estimated cost or approximately $11,000
(bus - $65,000, van - $45,000).
One other item that should be discussed is the fare for riding the bus. Currently, the fare
stands at $0.50 per trip. This fare is expected to generate approximately $5,200 in FY07. This
fare is applied toward the cost of operation in the funding formula. The County may want to
consider an increase in the fare to help offset more of the costs of operation.
The service delivery can be altered to reduce costs by reducing hours and areas served if the
County desires to do so. The service can be molded to reflect the desires of the County and
the customers it serves and Winchester Transit stands ready to discuss any and all options
with you to define our service delivery in Frederick County. If I can provide any further
information, please fee free to contact me.
0 Page 2
Winchester Transportation Department
TRANSIT RIDERSHIP COUNT BY ROUTE
Printed Date: 3/7/2006 Page: l
Selection Criteria:{routes.ID} = S/R
Transit Routes
1f1ILwD,
1/1/2005
1/1/2006
Transit Fare Type
12/31/2005
1/3II2105
.1131/2006
Group-SENSENY ROAD/522S
# Riders
# Riders
# Riders
CASH -ADULTS
2,370
59
191
TICKETS -ADULT
0
Subtotal Group-SENSENY ROAD/5225
0
3
2,370
59
l44
Totals ----------------->
— j e] —
M
# Riders
C
0
0
Winchester Transportation Department
TRANSIT RIDERSHIP COUNT BY ROUTE
Printed Date: 3/7/2006 Page:
Selection Criteria:{routes,lD) = SC
Grand Totals ------------------_-a 3,803 3,291 79 433 0
—12—
1 / 1 /2005
1/1/2005 1/ 112006
Transit Routes
12/31/2005
1/31/2005 1/31/2006
Transit Fare Type
# Riders
# Riders # Riders
# Riders
Group-STEPHENS C1TY/LFCC
CASH -ADULTS
3,275
79 403
0
TICKETS -ADULT
16
0 30
0
Subtotal Grou-STEPHENS C1TY/LFCC
3,291
79 433
0
Grand Totals ------------------_-a 3,803 3,291 79 433 0
—12—
CITY OF WINCHESTER - FREDERICK COUNTY
STATE AID FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
FISCAL YEAR 2006-2007
MAXIMUM ELIGIBILITY CALCULATION
TOTAL ELIGIBLE FUELS, TIRES AND MAINTENANCE $ 28,000.00
TOTAL ELIGIBLE ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES $ 26,600.00
TOTAL ELIGIBLE RIDESHARING EXPENSES $ _
TOTAL ELIGIBLE EXPERIMENTAL EXPENSES $ _
OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES $ 156,300.00
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES $ 210,900.00
TOTAL REVENUE $ 5,200.00
TOTAL FEDERAL OPERATING ASSISTANCE $ 32,926.00
TOTAL STATE AND LOCAL FUNDS REQUIRED $ 172,774 00
TOTAL INCOME $ 210,900.00
MAX
CATEGORY STATE % STATE $ LOCAL $ TOTAL
FTM 95% $ 26,600,00' $ 1,400.00 $ 28,000.00
ADMIN 50% $ 13,300.00 $ 13,300.00 $ 26,600.00
RIDESHARING 80%
EXPERIMENTAL 95%
TECHNICAL 80%
OTHER OPERATING $ 118,174.00 $ 118,174.00
TOTAL $ 39,900.00 $ 132,874.00 $ 172,774.00
$ 210,900.00
542-4615-444 FREDERICK CO. PARATRANSIT SERVICE FY07
1101 SALARY REGULAR 55000
1201 OVERTIME 4000
1701 PART-TIME 6000
2110 FICA
5500
2220 VRS-EMPLOYER
6100
2420 INS -EMPLOYER
900
2610 SUTA
2720 WORK COMP
3700
2850 FLEX BENEFITS
50
2851 FLEX - EMPLOYEE
8000
3110 MED-DENT-HOSP
3170 OTHER
3310 REPAR/MAINT
3315 VEH REP/MAINT
3320 OTHER CONTRACT
3325 COMP HARD/SOFT
3501 PRINTING
3601 LOCAL MEDIA
3701 LAUNDRY 1600
3810 TUIT PD -OTHER
4203 EQUIP FUND CHARGES 12000
6001 OFFICE SUPPLIES 200
6002 FOOD & FOOD SERV
6005 LAUND & JANITORIAL
6007 REPAIR & MAINT
6008 VEH & EQUP FUELS
6009 VEH & EQUIP SUPPLIES
6011 UNIFORMS & APPAR
6014 OTHER OPERATING
TOTAL OPERATING 103050
8105 MOTOR VEH/EQUIP
8139 FACILITIES CONST
8205 MOTOR VEH/EQUIP
8999 DEPRECIATION EXP
542-4613 FREDERICK COUNTY SERVICE
1101 SALARY REGULAR
1201 OVERTIME
1701 PART-TIME
2110 FICA
2220 VRS-EMPLOYER
2420 INS -EMPLOYER
2610 SUTA
2720 WORK COMP
2850 FLEX BENEFITS
2851 FLEX -EMPLOYEE
3110 MED-DENT-HOSP
3170 OTHER
3215 EMPLOYMENT AGENCY
3310 REPAR/MAINT
3315 VEH REP/MAINT
3320 OTHER CONTRACT
3325 COMP HARD/SOFT
3501 PRINTING
3601 LOCAL MEDIA
3701 LAUNDRY
4203 EQUIP FUND CHARGES
6001 OFFICE SUPPLIES
TOTAL OPERATING
8105 MOTOR VEH/EQUIP
8139 FACILITIES CONST
8205 MOTOR VEH/EQUIP
8999 DEPRECIATION EXP
TOTAL CAPITAL
TOTAL FTM
TOTAL ADMIN
TOTAL OTHER
- Q1
FY07
55000
4000
6000
5500
6100
900
3700
50
8000
500
500
1600
16000
900
107850
85000
85000
16000
26600
65250