SUBJECT:
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Approval of a resolution authorizing the President & CEO, or her designee, to implement the January 2024 Service Changes.
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FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding for this action is available in the FY2024 Operating Budget.
STRATEGIC PLAN:
Strategic Goal Alignment:
☒ 1. Customer ☒ 2. Community
☐ 3. Workforce ☐ 4. Organizational Effectiveness
Strategic Objectives:
☒ 1.1 Safe & Reliable Service ☒1.2 High Quality Customer Experience ☐ 1.3 Accessible System
☐ 2.1 Support Sustainable Regional Growth ☐ 2.2 Become a Carbon Neutral Agency
☒ 2.3 Responsive to Community and Customer Needs ☒ 2.4 Regional Leader in Transit Planning
☐ 3.1 Diversity of Staff ☐ 3.2 Employer of Choice ☐ 3.3 Expand Highly Skilled Workforce
☐ 4.1 Fiscally Responsible and Transparent ☐ 4.2 Culture of Safety ☐ 4.3 State of Good Repair
EXPLANATION OF STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT: Service changes are in accordance with CapMetro’s Service Standards and Guidelines as adopted by the Board in June 2023. The proposed January 2024 service changes are designed to meet Initiative 10: Bus Service Improvements in CapMetro’s Strategic Plan -- 10.1 Conduct ongoing service planning to improve reliability and service quality.
BUSINESS CASE: These changes are intended to formalize service levels as they have been operating for the last 2 years. Discontinuing service and operating reduced frequency is a necessary step to efficiently distribute limited resources to provide reliable service for our customers overall.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: This agenda item was presented at the Operations, Planning and Safety Committee meeting on September 13, 2023, and at a public hearing on October 11, 2023. In addition, this agenda item will be present to the full board on Monday, October 23, 2023.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The January 2024 service changes make permanent the status of services as they are operating today and adds new service where possible.
Staff recommends the following changes for approval at the October board meeting:
• New Dove Springs Pickup Zone - An additional Pickup zone in Dove Springs is proposed to connect southeast Austin residents to frequent service, key destinations and the upcoming CapMetro Rapid Pleasant Valley Line.
• Removal of Express Routes 981, 987 and E-Bus Routes - Service has been suspended on these routes since 2020. We would discontinue these routes to save resources; alternative routes are available in these areas.
• Reclassification of Routes 18, 217, & 335 - Continue to operate these routes at a 30-minute frequency, instead of reinstating 15-minute service. There would be no change to existing service, these routes would be removed from the High Frequency Network due to low ridership.
• Minor Schedule Adjustments - Select Bus & Rail routes may receive minor adjustments to their schedules to improve on-time performance and reliability.
In accordance with FTA Circular 4702.1B and CapMetro’s Title VI Policies, CapMetro completed Title VI service equity analyses for the proposed route changes that meet our definition of “Major Service Change” to determine whether the proposed changes will result in a disparate impact or disproportionate burden on minority populations or low-income populations, respectively. The service equity analysis for the proposed changes to Routes 18, 217, 335 and E-bus routes was completed in August 2023. This analysis revealed no disparate impact borne by minority populations or disproportionate burden borne by low-income populations. The service equity analysis for the proposed elimination of Routes 981 and 987 was completed in November 2021. This analysis revealed no disparate impact borne by minority populations, and a disproportionate burden borne by low-income populations. The disproportionate effect on low-income populations is mitigated by the existence of similar express and rail service.
DBE/SBE PARTICIPATION: Does not apply.
PROCUREMENT: Does not apply.
RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENT: Planning and Development
body
RESOLUTION
OF THE
CAPITAL METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
STATE OF TEXAS
COUNTY OF TRAVIS
AI-2023-918
WHEREAS, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors and CapMetro management desire to efficiently distribute limited resources to provide reliable service for our customers; and
WHEREAS, the process for restoring suspended service has proven to be unpredictable given limited resources resulting in an indefinite suspension; and
WHEREAS, CapMetro desires to be transparent with its customers and needs to clearly communicate the status of these services; and
WHEREAS, the proposed changes meet the major service change threshold set forth in CapMetro’s Title VI Policy, and thus service equity analyses were conducted in November 2021 and August 2023, as required by the Federal Transit Administration’s Title VI Circular 4702.1B; and
WHEREAS, the service equity analyses found no disparate impact to minority populations, and the finding of a disproportionate burden on low-income populations for Routes 981 & 987 is mitigated by similar express and rail service; and
WHEREAS, a public hearing was held on October 11th; and
WHEREAS, CapMetro has the resources for a new Dove Springs Pickup zone, which is included in the Project Connect program of projects.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors that the President & CEO, or her designee, is authorized to implement January 2024 Service Changes described in the attached document beginning Sunday, January 14, 2024.
____________________ Date: ____________________
Secretary of the Board
Becki Ross