Greater Mankato Transit Redesign Study Study Overview and Initial Existing Conditions

1. Greater Mankato Transit Redesign Study Study Overview and Initial Existing Conditions September 2011 In association with: LSA Design and Public Solutions

2. Meeting Schedule • Welcome and Introductions • Review of Project Scope and Schedule • Overview of Existing Conditions • Guided Small Group Discussion of Study Goals, Key Issues and Priorities • Large Group Discussion and Wrap-Up

3. Project Scope and Schedule

4. Study Context • Significant increase in the number of seniors and immigrants residing in the greater Mankato area and an increase in the number of multi-family housing units, both for university students as well as senior citizens. • Significant street redesign within Mankato and roadway limitations. • Desire to develop an accessible mass transit system • Desire to expand frequency and hours of transit service. • Desire to improve connectivity, coverage and directness of service. • Desire to explore the feasibility of a regional and inter-regional multimodal transportation system.

5. Primary Study Objectives • Assess and redesign the existing transit system • Mankato and North Mankato • Further develop a phased implementation plan for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) • As developed conceptually in MATAPS • Evaluate the potential for a four-county regional transit system • Connections between the region and the greater Mankato area

6. Study Area • Mankato/North Mankato • City of Mankato • City of North Mankato • MSU, Mankato • Four County Area • Blue Earth County • Nicollet County • Le Sueur County • Waseca County

7. Work Scope and Study Schedule We are here Project Initiation Existing Conditions Preservation and Contraction Service Scenarios Regional Service Plan Draft and Final Transit Redesign Study • Data Collection • Community Profile • Review of Previous Planning Efforts • Evaluation of Existing Services • Community Survey • Inventory of Existing Facilities • Marketing and Branding Evaluation • Website • Four County Area Expansion & BRT Service Scenarios • Mankato and North Mankato PMT, Advisory and Steering Committees & Public Input

8. Review of Existing Conditions

9. Study Background • Overview of previous planning efforts • Envision 2020 Annual Report • Mankato Area Transportation and Planning Study (MATAPS) • BRT Concept Plan • South Central Minnesota Rural Transit Needs Assessment (2009) • City Center Renaissance Plan • Greater Minnesota Transit Investment Plan • 2010 MnDOT Transit Report • MSU-Mankato Master Plan • Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choices • 2010 Transit Survey • Current and future land use plans MSU Mankato Master Plan Regional route with feeder network recommended in South Central Minnesota Rural Transit Needs Assessment

10. Study Background • Summary of Key Issues and Findings from Previous Studies • There is a significant increase in the number of seniors and immigrants residing within Mankato/North Mankato and an increase in the number of multi-family housing units, both for university students as well as senior citizens. • Significant street redesign within Mankato. Roadway limitations. • Three areas of examination: Redesign of existing bus route, phased implementation of a BRT system, and possibility of a four county system that is interconnected with the Greater Mankato System. • Develop an accessible mass transit system; regional and inter-regional multimodal transportation system. • Expand frequency and hours of transit service. • Improve connectivity, coverage and directness of service.

11. Study Background • Streamlined service connecting multiple hubs • Limited stops • Enhanced vehicles and passenger amenities • Focus on speed and reliability

12. Demographics and Travel Patterns • Where Workers Live (North Mankato and Mankato)

13. Demographics and Travel Patterns • Where Workers Work (North Mankato and Mankato)

14. Demographics and Travel Patterns • Where Workers Live (4 county area)

15. Demographics and Travel Patterns • Where Workers Work (4 County Area)

16. Demographics and Travel Patterns • Population Density (North Mankato and Mankato)

17. Demographics and Travel Patterns • Income (North Mankato and Mankato)

18. Demographics and Travel Patterns • Language Spoken at Home (North Mankato and Mankato)

19. Demographics and Travel Patterns • Auto Ownership (North Mankato and Mankato)

20. Existing Transit Services

21. Existing Transit Services – City Routes

22. Existing Transit Services – City Routes

23. Existing Transit Services – MSU, Mankato Routes

24. Existing Transit Services – MSU, Mankato Routes

25. Existing Transit Services – Demand Response • Mobility Bus • Complementary paratransit to fixed route service • Fare is $3.00 • Requires a medical certification • Dial-A-Ride • For travel to or from West Mankato to connect with a fixed route bus on Cherry Street • Fare is $1.50 • Reservation only

26. Existing Transit Services - Regional Services • Le Sueur Heartland Express • Route Deviation/Dial-A-ride, Route Guarantee and Subscription Transportation Service. • For residents of Le Sueur • Weekdays: 7 AM to 4:30 PM • Weekends: No Service • Base Fare: $2.00

27. Existing Transit Services – Regional Services • St. Peter Transit • Dial-A-Ride Service • Serving the Cities of St. Peter and Kasota • Weekdays: 7 AM to 8 PM (Kasota: 10 AM to 4:30 PM) • Saturday: 10 AM to 5 PM (Kasota: 12 PM to 2:30 PM) • Base Fare: $1.75 (St. Peter) $2.25 (Kasota)

28. Existing Transit Services – Other Providers • Land to Air Express • Local Airport Shuttle; Mankato, St. Peter, Le Sueur, Belle Plaine, Jordan, MSP International Airport, U of M, and Amtrak. • Round trip $65 • Beginning October 25, 2011; daily service between New Ulm, Mankato and Rochester. • Jefferson Lines • College Connection regional service to the Twin Cities, with stop in St. Peter. • Weekday and Weekend service • Round trip from $25.50 – $27.25 • VINE • Volunteer based initiative serving Blue Earth and Nicollet Counties. • For people over 60 or in those in need. • People to Job Program

29. 2010 Transit Survey

30. 2010 Transit Survey

31. 2010 Transit Survey

32. Study Goals, Key Issues and PrioritiesBRT/Route Redesign Advisory Committee

33. Your Feedback • How do you feel about the transit services currently being provided in Mankato and North Mankato? • Do you feel services are adequately meeting the needs? • If not, why not? Be specific about the needs that are not being met? • What are the major challenges Mankato and North Mankato are facing with regard to transportation? • Ability for transit to offer competitive travel times? • Traffic congestion? • Integration with other modes – bike, ped, etc. • Land use patterns • What services are being provided well that can be built upon? • What needs are not being met or need improvement?

34. Your Feedback • What should be the purpose of transit service in Mankato and North Mankato? • Service for people who do not have any other transportation options? To get cars off the road? Discuss the coverage and productivity tradeoffs • Should transit service be expanded inside of the greater Mankato area? • Service elsewhere in Mankato and North Mankato? Specific places it should be going? • Longer service hours? Greater frequency? • Route design, # of transfers? • What are your thoughts about streamlining service (i.e., Bus Rapid Transit)? • Should transit service be expanded outside of the greater Mankato area? • Regional service beyond the Mankato area? Where? How often? • What type of service? Regional commute service? Local transit services?

35. Study Goals, Key Issues and PrioritiesRegional Advisory Committee

36. Your Feedback • How do you feel about the transit services currently being provided in the four county area (Nicollet/Blue Earth/Le Sueur/Waseca Counties)? • Do you feel existing services in Le Sueur and St. Peter are adequately meeting the needs? • If not, why not? Be specific about the needs that are not being met? • What are the major challenges the four county area is facing with regard to transportation? • Access to work? • Access to basic services (shopping, medical, etc.)? • Local service for people who have no other transportation option? • Service to colleges/schools? • What services are being provided well that can be built upon? • What needs are not being met or need improvement?

37. Your Feedback • What should be the purpose of transit service be in the four county area? • Service for people who do not have any other transportation options? Commuters? Students? Regional service? Local service? • How does this differ by county? • Is there a need to travel to the greater Mankato area or to the Twin Cities? • For what purposes? • How does this differ by county? • Are private transportation providers adequately meeting needs? • Jefferson Lines?