EC Rider 10-Year Transit Development Plan

OKALOOSA COUNTY 2016–2027 Transit Development Plan (TDP)

Execu ve Summary

September 2016

Executive Summary EC Rider The Emerald Coast Rider (EC Rider), formerly known as Okaloosa County Transit, provides bus services in Okaloosa County. Five routes service the Fort Walton Beach area, one route services Okaloosa Island, and three routes service the Des n/South Walton area. The Wave Express connects Crestview to Fort Walton Beach. Services also are available for persons unable to access transit because of a disability or distance from a route. Most routes operate from 7:00 am –7:30 pm on weekdays. The Express Wave has three roundtrips per day (AM, noon, and PM). The regular cash fare is $1.50, with discounts offered for seniors, individuals with disabili es, and Medicare card holders.

EC Rider’s ridership has grown steadily, from 162,800 passenger trips in 2010 to 182,600 in 2013. Route 1 is the most used route.

What is Access EC Rider?

To con nue planning for the ever‐increasing role of transit in Okaloosa County, the Access EC Rider Transit Development Plan (TDP) was developed by Okaloosa County in coordina on with the Okaloosa‐Walton Transporta on Planning Organiza on (OWTPO) to serve as a guide for the future of public transporta on in the county from 2017 to 2026. It will represent the transit agency’s vision to promote transit growth and improvement over the next decade.

Developed with input and direc on from the TDP Steering Commi ee, ci zens, bus riders, bus operators, and community stakeholders throughout the county, Okaloosa County is pleased to provide this Execu ve Summary of the Access EC Rider TDP.

Plan Objective The objec ve of this plan is to help the new provider enhance the transit system by providing more regional connec vity, connec ng the cap ve demographics, and a rac ng choice riders. This plan also strives to improve mobility for the prominent tourism and military sectors within Okaloosa County. The plan meets the State requirement for providing an updated 10‐year plan every 5 years to con nue receiving transit funding from FDOT. The Access EC Rider TDP iden fies the transit service improvements and transit capital investments that would be necessary to achieve this objec ve in the next 10 years. The resul ng 10‐year plan serves as a strategic guide for transit in Okaloosa County.

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Okaloosa County | EC Rider TransportaƟon Development Plan

Okaloosa County | EC Rider TransportaƟon Development Plan

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Executive Summary Numerous public outreach ac vi es were conducted at loca ons throughout Okaloosa County as part of plan development. Public workshops and open house events were conducted to obtain public feedback and increase the likelihood of ac ve par cipa on from residents.

Outreach efforts also included a bus on‐board survey, non‐ rider surveys, and a website developed for the TDP, as well as discussion groups with riders, the general public, bus operators, and stakeholders.

2015 Survey Highlights Current Riders

General Public

Where Riders are Going

Is traffic conges on a problem in Okaloosa County?

Improvements Riders Want

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Improvements Ci zens Want

Okaloosa County | EC Rider TransportaƟon Development Plan

Outreach Event

Par cipants

Discussion groups

31

Public workshops / open house events

111

Commi ees / mee ngs

40

Surveys

479

Access EC Rider website

637

Total Par cipants

1,298

In addi on to the extensive public outreach process, a detailed assessment of exis ng transit service, socioeconomic trends, land use, travel behavior, regional transit issues, organiza onal issues, and technology was conducted.

Past and ongoing studies in the county were reviewed to ensure planning consistency. A transit needs/demand assessment was conducted using input from these efforts along with tools and guidance from the Steering Commi ee to develop and evaluate service improvements.

This comprehensive data‐gathering and analysis process helped to iden fy poten al transit improvements for the next 10 years, which were then evaluated using an empirical method that factored public outreach, transit markets, produc vity, and efficiency. The priori es resul ng from this planning process are shown below. The map on the next page provides an illustra on of transit needs, including service, capital/infrastructure, and other improvements iden fied for the next 10 years.

Rank* 1 2 4 5 6 9 10 12

Proposed Improvement Reordered by Rank Eglin Beach Bullet Express Addi onal evening trip to exis ng routes Addi onal Saturday service to exis ng routes Increased frequency on Routes 1, 3, 4, 5, 14 with realignments Navarre‐Uptown Sta on Express Des n Circulator (replaces Routes 30 and 32) Crestview Circulator Niceville‐Des n Commons Express Hurlburt Connector Hurlburt Internal Circulator Wright Flex Eglin Internal Circulator

Score 5.60 5.40 5.40 4.80 4.70 4.50 4.50 4.50 3.60 3.00 3.00 2.40

*Alterna ves may receive a ed ranking due to the alterna ve evalua on scoring process.

Okaloosa County | EC Rider TransportaƟon Development Plan

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Executive Summary

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Okaloosa County | EC Rider TransportaƟon Development Plan

Capital / Infrastructure Improvements

New transfer facility

Expand and improve bus stop infrastructure

Improve bus stop safety and ADA accessibility

Establish park‐and‐ride lots

Develop shared parking agreements

Establish facili es and connec ons to water ferry

Improve technology

Con nue vehicle replacements and acquisi on

Enhance sidewalk connec vity to Crestview train sta on

Policy / Other Improvements

Enhance EC Rider bus schedule

Rebrand EC Rider

Expand EC Rider’s transit marke ng program

Promote/expand transporta on demand management strategies

Modify land development regula ons

Establish voucher program and app for ridesourcing

Planning recommenda ons:  Explore funding mechanisms to fund transit on military bases  Explore expansion of tourist development taxes to fund water ferry  Explore poten al loca ons for Transit Signal Priority (TSP)  Conduct a Fixed‐Route and Paratransit Route Efficiency Review  Conduct a Comprehensive Opera on Analysis (COA)

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Executive Summary

Cost Feasible Plan The Access EC Rider TDP will be used to con nue to focus  improvements on transit service to make progress towards achieving Okaloosa’s vision of “… being the best small transit system in Florida by delivering a well‐ balanced mul modal transporta on system….”  The recommended cost feasible services and capital plan to support the funded service plan for the next 10 years:  Con nues opera on of exis ng transit services.

 

  Op mizes Routes 30 and 32 by replacing them with the 

Des n Circulator, elimina ng the Okaloosa Island

segment and increasing frequency to 20‐minute headways.

Connects Eglin Air Force Base to Fort Walton Beach, Des n, and Walton County, thus elimina ng numerous transfers previously needed to travel from Fort Walton Beach to Walton County.

Provides an alternate route for commuters in the Niceville area traveling to Des n via the Mid‐Bay Bridge Establishes a Crestview Circulator Flex Establishes an Eglin Base Internal Circulator Con nues vehicle replacement/new vehicle program Includes funding for signage or other minor improvements needed to establish these facili es.

Millions

Annual Opera ng and Capital Costs (millions)

Millions

Annual Costs and Revenues (millions)

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Okaloosa County | EC Rider TransportaƟon Development Plan

Access EC Rider 10‐year Cost Feasible Plan Implementa on Plan Improvement Maintain Exis ng Service Maintain exis ng fixed‐route service Maintain exis ng paratransit service Improvements to Exis ng Routes Add one addi onal evening trip, all routes Des n Circulator – realignment; no change in resources Add Saturday service on all routes Increase Frequency on Routes 1, 3, 4, 5, 14 with realignments New Service Expansion Crestview Circulator Flex Eglin Beach Bullet Express Niceville–Des n Commons Limited Express Eglin Internal Circulator Navarre–Uptown Sta on Express Hurlburt Connector Hurlburt Internal Circulator Wright Flex ADA Paratransit for New Services Emerald Coast (EC) Ferry Capital/Infrastructure Improvements Park‐and‐ride lots signage/improvements Bicycle access/infrastructure Building improvements Hardware Communica ons/so ware Security Shelters, benches, signage Miscellaneous equipment Equipment storage building ITS New transfer facility Other Improvements Shared park‐and‐ride lot agreements Enhance bus rider schedule EC Rider rebranding Expand EC Rider transit marke ng program Promote/expand transporta on demand strategies Explore funding mechanisms for transit on military bases Explore expansion of tourist development taxes to fund water ferry Explore poten al loca ons for Transit Signal Priority (TSP) Conduct Comprehensive Opera on Analysis (COA)

Annual Opera ng Cost

Total Capital Cost

(2016$)

(2016$)

2017–2026 2017–2026

$1,305,744 $1,300,352

$3,700,000

Exis ng Exis ng

2018 2019 2022 Unfunded

$108,880 $0 $217,092 $343,530

$0 $0 $0 $0

Exis ng N/A Exis ng N/A

2018 2019 2019 2019 Unfunded Unfunded Unfunded Unfunded Unfunded Unfunded

$229,020 $229,020 $57,255 $85,882 $114,510 $114,510 $114,510 $114,510 $172,134 $1,500,000

$100,000 $200,000 $200,000 $100,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $1,000,000

New (opera ng) Exis ng (capital)

2018 2020 2018 2023 2017 2018 2019‐2020 2020 2021 2022 Unfunded

N/A TBD N/A TBD TBD N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A TBD

$20,000 $7,000 $30,000 $112,012 $138,749 $108,215 $258,424 $251,250 $100,000 $458,000 $5,000,000

Exis ng Exis ng Exis ng Exis ng Exis ng Exis ng Exis ng Exis ng Exis ng Exis ng N/A

2017–2026 2017–2026 2017–2026 2017–2026 2017–2026 2017–2026

TBD

$0 TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD

Exis ng TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD

TBD

TBD

Implementa on Year

2017–2026 2017–2026 2017–2027

Okaloosa County | EC Rider TransportaƟon Development Plan

TBD N/A

TBD

Exis ng or New Revenues

n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

TBD TBD

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Executive Summary

Implementing Access EC Rider Once adopted, implementa on of the recommended 10‐year plan will require close coordina on among local and regional transit and planning agencies. EC Rider and Okaloosa County are commi ed to coordina ng efforts to implement the Cost Feasible Transit Plan and con nue exploring funding opportuni es to facilitate implementa on of Access EC Rider.

Regional Collaboration The development of Access EC Rider is the result of collabora on among Okaloosa County, the Okaloosa‐Walton TPO, and FDOT; its implementa on also will be a collabora on.

EC Rider and Okaloosa County will con nue to work closely with their regional transporta on partners, including transit agencies in adjacent coun es, the West Florida Regional Planning Council, and FDOT, to con nue developing a safe, sustainable, affordable, and well‐connected transit network for Okaloosa County and the region.

For more informa on on the Access EC Rider plan, visit www.ecrider.org or contact Emerald Coast Rider (850) 833‐9168 or Okaloosa County Department of Growth Management (850) 651‐7180

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Okaloosa County | EC Rider TransportaƟon Development Plan

Okaloosa County | EC Rider TransportaƟon Development Plan

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Emerald Coast Rider 600 Transit Way Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 ECRider@co.okaloosa.fl.us

Fort Walton Beach (850) 833‐9168 TDD (850) 833‐9283 Fax (850) 833‐9286

www.ecrider.org