Transit News - Fall 2010

Tindale-Oliver & Associates, Inc. 1000 N. Ashley Drive Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33602-3059

PRSRT STD U S POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT NO 778

TransitNews is a newsletter of Tindale-Oliver & Associates, Inc.

Fall 2010

TransitNews

Return Service Requested

Statewide Transit Accessibility & Facilities Design Course In November, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will roll out a new training course to help staff from FDOT, local transit agencies, and city and county governments understand and implement new and existing transit infrastructure guidelines.TOA has been asked to synthesize standards from a number of existing and new sources, as well as produce and conduct the training program for FDOT. The course will highlight the following:

New TOA Transit Projects

Locations



Needs and benefits of incorporating good transit facility design into roadway, infrastructure, and other improvement plans.



Design applications for simple bus stops and more complex multi-modal transfer stations that may be placed within State rights-of-way.



Detailed instruction related to implementing the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations relating to transit facilities.



Roadway improvement plan review process.



Principles for enhancing pedestrian mobility by improving access and safety to transit stops.

TAMPA:

FDOT Public Transit Office  Statewide Transit Accessibility &

Facilities Design Course

Federal Transit Administration (sub-consultant to Planners Collaborative)  Key/New Rail Station ADA Assessment

Project

 Route and Stop Announcement Monitoring

(one-year program extension)

TOA is an equal opportunity employer.

Greensboro Transit Authority (GTA)  Greensboro Short Range Transit Plan

Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA)  Pinellas County Alternatives Analysis

Project Management Support

www.tindaleoliver.com

Bill Ball, AICP Chief Operating Officer bball@tindaleoliver.com Joel Rey, P.E., AICP Associate Principal jrey@tindaleoliver.com

ORLANDO:

Maryland Transit Administration (MTA)

If you would like to be added to or removed from our newsletter mailing list, please send an email to TOAresources@tindaleoliver.com

1000 N. Ashley Dr., Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 224-8862

Page 4

1595 S. Semoran Blvd., Suite 1540 Winter Park, FL 32792 (407) 657-9210 Bob Wallace, P.E., AICP Vice President bwallace@tindaleoliver.com

BARTOW:

545 N. Broadway Bartow, FL 33830 (863) 533-8454 Richard Dreyer, AICP, CCTM Senior Project Manager rdreyer@tindaleoliver.com

FDOT staff and local agencies will be invited to five regional “Statewide Transit Accessibility & Facilities Design Course” training sessions that will be held at different locations throughout the state. The first training course is scheduled for November 8, 2010, in Tallahassee. (See page 3 for the full schedule.) If you would like to participate in one of the training courses being offered, information and on-line registration can be found at www.tindaleoliver.com/fdotraining.html. You also may contact Amy Datz of FDOT at 850/414-4500 or Richard Dreyer of TOA at 863/533-8454 for more information.

Inside This Issue Enhancing Shuttle Bus Service to Tri-Rail

2

Intercity Bus Travel Assessment

3

Statewide Transit Accessibility & Facilities Design Course Schedule

3

Need AICP Credits?

3

New TOA Transit Projects

4

TransitNews is a newsletter of Tindale-Oliver & Associates, Inc.

FALL 2010

Enhancing Shuttle Bus Service to Tri-Rail Shuttle buses, or feeder buses, that support light rail and commuter rail operations are vital to the success of any rail service. However, funding for feeder bus services remains an issue. For the South Florida Regional Transit Authority (SFRTA), which operates Tri-Rail, a commuter rail service in southeast Florida, maintaining funding for a shuttle bus system that provides nearly 500,000 annual trips has become a major concern.

To address possible funding shortfalls, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 4 funded a project for TOA to work with SFRTA staff to conduct a service and financial assessment of SFRTA shuttle bus services. The first phase of the project included development of a prioritization process that would deal with potential shuttle bus funding shortfalls in the future.

The second phase was designed to identify

opportunities to provide new service, implement service modifications, and potentially discontinue low-performing routes. Major highlights of the project include:

 Establishing shuttle bus performance measures.  Developing an assessment process for evaluating and prioritizing existing shuttle bus service.

 Establishing a two-tier process for evaluating and prioritizing potential new shuttle bus service.

 Developing a 5-year service and financial plan.

For additional information, please contact Joel Rey at jrey@tindaleoliver.com.

Intercity Bus Travel Assessment

Statewide Transit Accessibility & Facilities Design Course Schedule

TOA is in the final stages of completing the Florida Intercity Bus Service Needs Assessment and Action Plan. This study examines the entire state for gaps in intercity bus service (i.e., Greyhound-like service) and prioritizes implementation of new services.

FDOT is presenting five separate training opportunities to help staff from FDOT, local transit agencies, and city and county governments understand and implement new and existing transit infrastructure guidelines. All courses will run from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. at FDOT offices. To accommodate travel constraints, the last three sessions also will be webcast via a GoToMeeting format. Training will be held as follows:

It also recommends policy changes to improve Florida’s intercity service. One recommendation is that local transit agencies should examine local transit connections to intercity bus service as part of the Transit Development Plan (TDP). Other recommendations, if implemented, might help local transit agencies access FDOT funds to promote connectivity between local transit services and intercity bus services.

 Tallahassee - November 8, 2010 FDOT Headquarters (Burns Building) Auditorium

For additional information, please contact Richard Dreyer at rdreyer@tindaleoliver.com.

 Jacksonville - December 14, 2010 FDOT District 2 Urban Office Auditorium  Tampa - January 25, 2011 FDOT District 7 Headquarters Auditorium  Ft. Lauderdale - February 10, 2011 FDOT District 4 Headquarters Auditorium  Orlando - February 23, 2011 FDOT District 5 Urban Offices, Apopka Conference Rooms A and B

Need American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Credits?

If you currently are working toward your 32-credit requirement under the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) program, many free credit opportunities are available. For more information, visit:

Potential New Shuttle Bus Assessment Process www.tindaleoliver.com

Page 2

www.tindaleoliver.com/AICP credits.html Page 3

www.tindaleoliver.com

TransitNews is a newsletter of Tindale-Oliver & Associates, Inc.

FALL 2010

Enhancing Shuttle Bus Service to Tri-Rail Shuttle buses, or feeder buses, that support light rail and commuter rail operations are vital to the success of any rail service. However, funding for feeder bus services remains an issue. For the South Florida Regional Transit Authority (SFRTA), which operates Tri-Rail, a commuter rail service in southeast Florida, maintaining funding for a shuttle bus system that provides nearly 500,000 annual trips has become a major concern.

To address possible funding shortfalls, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 4 funded a project for TOA to work with SFRTA staff to conduct a service and financial assessment of SFRTA shuttle bus services. The first phase of the project included development of a prioritization process that would deal with potential shuttle bus funding shortfalls in the future.

The second phase was designed to identify

opportunities to provide new service, implement service modifications, and potentially discontinue low-performing routes. Major highlights of the project include:

 Establishing shuttle bus performance measures.  Developing an assessment process for evaluating and prioritizing existing shuttle bus service.

 Establishing a two-tier process for evaluating and prioritizing potential new shuttle bus service.

 Developing a 5-year service and financial plan.

For additional information, please contact Joel Rey at jrey@tindaleoliver.com.

Intercity Bus Travel Assessment

Statewide Transit Accessibility & Facilities Design Course Schedule

TOA is in the final stages of completing the Florida Intercity Bus Service Needs Assessment and Action Plan. This study examines the entire state for gaps in intercity bus service (i.e., Greyhound-like service) and prioritizes implementation of new services.

FDOT is presenting five separate training opportunities to help staff from FDOT, local transit agencies, and city and county governments understand and implement new and existing transit infrastructure guidelines. All courses will run from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. at FDOT offices. To accommodate travel constraints, the last three sessions also will be webcast via a GoToMeeting format. Training will be held as follows:

It also recommends policy changes to improve Florida’s intercity service. One recommendation is that local transit agencies should examine local transit connections to intercity bus service as part of the Transit Development Plan (TDP). Other recommendations, if implemented, might help local transit agencies access FDOT funds to promote connectivity between local transit services and intercity bus services.

 Tallahassee - November 8, 2010 FDOT Headquarters (Burns Building) Auditorium

For additional information, please contact Richard Dreyer at rdreyer@tindaleoliver.com.

 Jacksonville - December 14, 2010 FDOT District 2 Urban Office Auditorium  Tampa - January 25, 2011 FDOT District 7 Headquarters Auditorium  Ft. Lauderdale - February 10, 2011 FDOT District 4 Headquarters Auditorium  Orlando - February 23, 2011 FDOT District 5 Urban Offices, Apopka Conference Rooms A and B

Need American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Credits?

If you currently are working toward your 32-credit requirement under the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) program, many free credit opportunities are available. For more information, visit:

Potential New Shuttle Bus Assessment Process www.tindaleoliver.com

Page 2

www.tindaleoliver.com/AICP credits.html Page 3

www.tindaleoliver.com

Tindale-Oliver & Associates, Inc. 1000 N. Ashley Drive Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33602-3059

PRSRT STD U S POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT NO 778

TransitNews is a newsletter of Tindale-Oliver & Associates, Inc.

Fall 2010

TransitNews

Return Service Requested

Statewide Transit Accessibility & Facilities Design Course In November, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will roll out a new training course to help staff from FDOT, local transit agencies, and city and county governments understand and implement new and existing transit infrastructure guidelines.TOA has been asked to synthesize standards from a number of existing and new sources, as well as produce and conduct the training program for FDOT. The course will highlight the following:

New TOA Transit Projects

Locations



Needs and benefits of incorporating good transit facility design into roadway, infrastructure, and other improvement plans.



Design applications for simple bus stops and more complex multi-modal transfer stations that may be placed within State rights-of-way.



Detailed instruction related to implementing the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations relating to transit facilities.



Roadway improvement plan review process.



Principles for enhancing pedestrian mobility by improving access and safety to transit stops.

TAMPA:

FDOT Public Transit Office  Statewide Transit Accessibility &

Facilities Design Course

Federal Transit Administration (sub-consultant to Planners Collaborative)  Key/New Rail Station ADA Assessment

Project

 Route and Stop Announcement Monitoring

(one-year program extension)

TOA is an equal opportunity employer.

Greensboro Transit Authority (GTA)  Greensboro Short Range Transit Plan

Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA)  Pinellas County Alternatives Analysis

Project Management Support

www.tindaleoliver.com

Bill Ball, AICP Chief Operating Officer bball@tindaleoliver.com Joel Rey, P.E., AICP Associate Principal jrey@tindaleoliver.com

ORLANDO:

Maryland Transit Administration (MTA)

If you would like to be added to or removed from our newsletter mailing list, please send an email to TOAresources@tindaleoliver.com

1000 N. Ashley Dr., Suite 100 Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 224-8862

Page 4

1595 S. Semoran Blvd., Suite 1540 Winter Park, FL 32792 (407) 657-9210 Bob Wallace, P.E., AICP Vice President bwallace@tindaleoliver.com

BARTOW:

545 N. Broadway Bartow, FL 33830 (863) 533-8454 Richard Dreyer, AICP, CCTM Senior Project Manager rdreyer@tindaleoliver.com

FDOT staff and local agencies will be invited to five regional “Statewide Transit Accessibility & Facilities Design Course” training sessions that will be held at different locations throughout the state. The first training course is scheduled for November 8, 2010, in Tallahassee. (See page 3 for the full schedule.) If you would like to participate in one of the training courses being offered, information and on-line registration can be found at www.tindaleoliver.com/fdotraining.html. You also may contact Amy Datz of FDOT at 850/414-4500 or Richard Dreyer of TOA at 863/533-8454 for more information.

Inside This Issue Enhancing Shuttle Bus Service to Tri-Rail

2

Intercity Bus Travel Assessment

3

Statewide Transit Accessibility & Facilities Design Course Schedule

3

Need AICP Credits?

3

New TOA Transit Projects

4