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Planning and Polishing Service for High Schools

Planning and Polishing Service for High Schools. Kristin Thompson Supervisor, Service Analysis Metro Transit Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN. Downtown Minneapolis. U of MN. Downtown St. Paul. MSP Airport. Mall of America. Project Background.

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Planning and Polishing Service for High Schools

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  1. Planning and Polishing Service for High Schools Kristin Thompson Supervisor, Service Analysis Metro Transit Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN

  2. Downtown Minneapolis U of MN Downtown St. Paul MSP Airport Mall of America

  3. Project Background • Metro Transit and Minneapolis Public Schools have partnered for several years • Summer school • Attendance area changes • Until last fall, yellow buses used for most high school transportation • Working group of MPS and Metro Transit staff formed in 2011 to explore expanded partnership

  4. Critical Tool: The Student Pass • An existing fare tool in our lineup of Go-To smart card products • All-you-can-ride pass • Customized to MPS needs • Limited hours (5 a.m. to 10 p.m.) • Student ID printed on reverse • Provides valuable transactional data to MPS and Metro Transit

  5. Initial Analysis • All high schools located on or near local routes with 10-20 minute frequencies • Nearly all students within 0.25 mi of a bus stop • Using student origin/ destination data, generated trip plan data for each student • Trip duration • Number of required transfers • Demand by route/trip • Travel and transfer patterns Edison HS Estimated Demand

  6. Fall 2012: Phase I • Six of eight large Minneapolis high schools • School hours– 8 or 8:30 am to 3 pm • Pass eligibility • Outside school walk zone • Inside walk zone, but eligible for free/reduced lunch • Others allowed to purchase at half price • 3200 students eligible as of July 2012

  7. Service Planning Approaches • Plan a seat for each student– actual demand unknown • Use existing capacity where available • Establish or use existing short-line terminals • Schedule doubleheaders • Consider route extensions to school building if heavy loads expected • Comply with FTA charter and school bus regulations

  8. Example: Edison HS • Heavy cross-river demand from north Minneapolis to northeast Minneapolis • Inadequate existing service • Long trips • Most trips require a transfer • Long-term detour

  9. Example: Edison HS • New route extensions • Unexpected ridership patterns • Downtown orientation • Mid-year service adjustments

  10. Initial Supplemental Service Plan • MPS “school extra” trips on 12 routes • Routing changes to bring routes closer to schools, reduce transfers • 89 school extras for MPS • 84 platform hours • 37 AM peak buses • no PM peak buses

  11. Communications and Outreach Plan • Program webpage (metrotransit.org/mps) • School-specific map displays in schools • Marketing materials (Code of Conduct, User Guide) • Bus operator training (with follow-up Bulletins) • Outreach at school events during summer 2012 • Metro Transit staff at schools and transfer points the first two days of school

  12. Challenges • Coordination with other Metro Transit commitments • Driver pick date • State Fair • Partnership with MPS • Negative perceptions • Downtown • Midday ridership

  13. MPS Student Pass Tags by HourWeekdays 9/24-10/12, by location

  14. 2012-2013 Results Passes & Service MPS Student Survey 66% “love it” and 25% “like it” In additional to school trips, popular uses include: Library (42%) Athletics (40%) Jobs (36%) School clubs (26%) Tutoring (16%) • 3800 passes in use • About 7000 rides/weekday • Close to 1.5 million rides for the school year • By March, MPS school extras trimmed 15% to 76

  15. Fall 2013: Phase II • South and Southwest High Schools will join the program • 2100 additional pass holders • Repeated trip planner analysis • Both schools are located in south Minneapolis– strong grid network • Focus on providing adequate capacity on existing routes • Refine ridership expectations based on experience

  16. Tips for Planning Service for High Schools • Get information early and often • Student addresses and school choice • School bus routes and ridership • Bell times and start date • Track ridership • Carefully plan service • Be prepared to change your plans • Work the partnership

  17. Planning and Polishing Service for High Schools Kristin Thompson Supervisor, Service Analysis Metro Transit Minneapolis, MN

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