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Citizen’s Academy

Citizen’s Academy. Votran welcomes the 2013 Citizens Academy – September 10, 2013. Mission.

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Citizen’s Academy

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  1. Citizen’s Academy Votran welcomes the 2013 Citizens Academy – September 10, 2013

  2. Mission Votran’s mission is to identify and safely meet the mobility needs of Volusia County. This mission will be accomplished through a courteous, dependable, cost effective and an environmentally-sound team commitment to quality service.

  3. History • The Volusia County Council created Volusia County’s public transportation system, called Votran, in 1975. Votran provides transportation to all urban areas of the county with a fleet of 55 revenue-producing fixed route buses, four trackless trolleys and 44 paratransit vehicles. Additional service is provided through contracts. • Votran has 228 employees who work for Volusia Transit Management, a division of McDonald Transit, Ft. Worth, Texas. • In 1994 Votran became the Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) for Volusia County. • Votran began West Volusia service in 1994. • The Mobility Management Center (administration and operations office) in South Daytona was completed in 1998. • Night service began in 2002 to the most used routes.

  4. Votran services countywide • Votran is the countywide public transportation provider in Volusia County • Votran operates 23 fixed routes, ADA door-to-door “Gold” service, rural door-to-door service, transportation disadvantaged service, and Flex service in the New Smyrna Beach area

  5. Services –Fixed route • Hours/days of operation – • Monday - Saturday 6 a.m. - 7 p.m. • The most used routes are served by night service from 7 p.m. - midnight and Sunday service from 6 a.m. - 7 p.m. • Fleet – • 55 buses • Four trolleys • 44 paratransit vehicles

  6. Services –Paratransit • Votran’s Gold Service is available to persons who, because of physical or mental disability or age, are unable to transport themselves and cannot use fixed route bus service. Service is available throughout Volusia County for those who meet eligibility requirements. • Paratransit service is federally mandated. • Operates same hours as fixed route buses. • One-way fare is $2.50 which is twice the amount of fixed route fare. • Votran drivers have special training in personal assistance.

  7. Services –Flex • Flex service is a “call first” curb-to-curb, flexible transportation service in the New Smyrna Beach area with limited timed stops. • Call ahead (up to two hours); same fare as fixed route; Monday - Saturday 6 a.m. - 7 p.m. (no service on Sundays or holidays). • As long as passengers are in the designated service area, Votran will pick them up at the curb and take them to a destination within the service area or to a bus stop to connect with Votran’s fixed route bus system. • Flex ridership increased 8 percent in 2012.

  8. Services –Van pool • Votran’s van pool program provides assistance to commuters who live in Volusia County. Many commuters in the van pool program travel outside Volusia County to work each day. By van pooling, these commuters reduce stress and save time and money. • Vans are purchased with federal capital grants and are leased to commuters and human service agencies at a rate that includes maintenance, insurance and administration fees. • Votran has six vans, down from 22.

  9. Services –Emergency transportation • During hurricanes or other emergencies, Votran provides transportation to shelters; Votran bus stops are evacuation collection points. • No fares are charged during an evacuation or return. • Votran Gold buses pick up passengers with special needs for transportation to special needs shelters.

  10. Votran services map Votran services map Seville Ormond Beach Holly Hill Daytona Beach South Daytona Pierson Indian Lakes Complex/Jail Daytona Beach Shores Port Orange Ponce Inlet Deleon Springs New Smyrna Beach DeLand Edgewater Orange City Deltona Bus routes I-4 Express link County boundary NSB flex service ADA corridor Census 2000 urban area (westside) TD Census 2000 urban area (eastside) TD DeBary Oak Hill For illustrative purposes only

  11. Need for public transportation Reasons for using Votran Votran Votran Votran Source: Votran Transit Development Plan (TDP) 2012-21 survey (71 percent do not have a driver’s license, don’t drive, or don’t have access to a car.)

  12. Rider profile • Average rider profile • Age: 16-24 • Female • White • Earning under $10,000 • 85 percent of Votran riders earn an income of less than $29,000 annually. Source: Votran Transit Development Plan (TDP) 2012-21

  13. Fixed route ridership growth 5.8% 3.4% 5.2% 4.3% • 1.2% Nationally Votran 5.8% • Votran has experienced a 20 percent increase in fixed route boardings since 2008

  14. Paratransit ridership growth Votran’s Gold paratransit service is a door-to-door service available to persons who, because of disability are unable to use fixed route bus service. 3.6% Nationally Votran 2.8% Gold cost per rider $24.26 vs. fixed route cost per rider $3.23

  15. Flex ridership growth Flex service is a “call first” curb-to-curb, flexible transportation service which serves a dedicated area with limited timed stops.

  16. Reduce | Reuse | Recycle | Reward • Going GREEN helps Votran keep operating costs down while reducing its carbon footprint. Hop On hybrid buses

  17. Service challenges • Bike Week / Biketoberfest / Speedweeks traffic • Weather • Countywide – large geographic area • Increases in ridership (call volume, bike racks, schedule adherence, demand for additional service, standing room only, etc.) • Funding limitations • Fuel cost instability

  18. Votran funding 2012-13 • Federal $ 4,769,004 • State $ 3,076,326 • Fares $ 2,830,066 • Advertising revenue $ 250,000 • Miscellaneous revenue $ 202,066 • Volusia County general fund transfer $ 7,391,803 • Fund balance carryover $ 1,551,551 • Total budget$ 20,070,816

  19. Funding challenges • March 2013 - Volusia County Council conducted a mini-budget workshop where the projected 2014 budget was discussed including the anticipation of a funding shortfall. • May 2013 - Volusia County Council reviewed Votran saving initiatives, the possibility of a fare increase, and other cost saving options including service cuts. County Council members identified the need to invite municipal support for Votran. • June 2013 - Municipalities participated in a funding workshop presentation and discussion. • July 2013 - County Council members gave instruction for Votran to begin public participation for a possible fare increase to be effective February 2014. • The last Votran fare increase was January 2007.

  20. Comparison of fixed route fares

  21. Comparison of paratransit fares

  22. Proposed fare increase

  23. SunRail • SunRail service will begin in May 2014 at the DeBary train station. • Votran will provide feeder bus service to the station using Florida Department of Transportation funding. • FDOT will fund two routes in 2014 to serve existing Votran stops. • Volusia County is not supplementing SunRail feeder service.

  24. Questions / discussion

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