Year One Tess Lengyel and Cathleen Sullivan, Alameda CTC April 2017 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

AFFORDABLE STUDENT TRANSIT PASS PILOT PROGRAM Year One Tess Lengyel and Cathleen Sullivan, Alameda CTC April 2017 Board of Directors April 12, 2017 Agenda Item 2 1

Presentation Overview • Introduction • Pilot Program Design • Update on Implementation • Next Steps 2

Program Background • The Affordable Student Transit Pass Program was identified in the 2014 Transportation Expenditure Plan, passed by 70% of voters in 2014 as Measure BB  “ Successful models aimed at increasing the use of transit among junior high and high school students, including a transit pass program for students in Alameda County.”  $15 million for 3-year pilot program • 2014-2016: Program development • 2016: Program launch 3

Student Transit Pass Pilot Program Goals • Reduce transportation access barriers to and from schools • Improve transportation options for Alameda County’s middle and high school students • Build support for transit in Alameda County • Develop effective three-year pilot programs • Create a basis for a countywide student transit pass program (funding permitting) 4

Student Transit Pass Pilot Overview • Commission adopted  Site selection methodology & shortlist of 36 eligible schools for Pilot  Pilot evaluation framework • Testing different program models in different areas * Free and Universal * Means-based * Grade-limited * Discounted • Programs include education/training on using public transit • Passes effective year-round, not limited by day/time • Year 1 – Passes distributed at 9 schools (AC Transit – 7) • Year 2 – Passes distributed at 15 schools (AC Transit – 11) 5

Student Transit Pass Pilot – AC Transit passes • Free and universal:  Five schools in Oakland (3 in Year 1, 2 added in Year 2)  Two schools in San Leandro in Year 2 • Means-based programs:  Two schools in Hayward in Year 2  Two schools in Union City in Year 2 (change from Year 1) • Discontinuing models after Year 1:  Discounted: Two schools in Union City  Grade-limited: Two schools in Union City and Two in San Leandro 6

Student Transit Pass Pilot – Schools with AC Transit passes in Year 2 Free and universal: Means-based: • Oakland • Hayward 1. Castlemont High 8. Hayward High 2. McClymonds High 9. Bret Harte Middle 3. Fremont High • Union City 4. Westlake Middle 10. James Logan High 5. Frick Middle 11. Cesar Chavez Middle • San Leandro 6. San Leandro High 7. John Muir Middle 7

Year Two Summary Total North Central South East Schools Free and X X X 11 Universal Means- based X X 4 program San Leandro New Livermore Oakland USD (2), Schools Haven USD Valley 15 USD (5) Hayward (2) JUSD (4) USD (2) AC Transit LAVTA Transit AC Transit AC Transit & Union eco-pass City Transit 8

Outreach and Engagement 9

Outreach and Engagement 10

Program Evaluation • Framework approved by Commission in March 2016 18 quantitative and qualitative measures to evaluate performance, including: Student perception of transit options  and barriers Student transit ridership  Pass penetration and ease of use  After school activity participation  Participant, student attendance  Program cost per participant and  administrative costs 11

Preliminary Findings August through December 2016 • Initial analysis draws on: • Data reported from transit agencies  Information tracked by the school program administrators  The first student survey  All students at participating schools were encouraged to participate in online/paper survey regarding: Student perception of transportation barriers - Transportation costs to families - Program participation and usage - BART usage by students - 12

Pass Distribution Summary Number of Active Passes Planning Total # Total # Participa- Area Students Active AC Transit Union City LAVTA/ tion Rate Program Eligible Passes Transit Wheels North 1,832 1,670 -- -- 1,670 91% Central 1,616 813 -- -- 813 50% 251 ; South 2,309 151 100 ; 76 -- 11% ; 10% 227 East 2,441 -- -- 110 110 5% County- 2,844 ; 8,198 2,634 100 ; 76 110 34% wide 2,820 13

Transit Usage Total Transit Average Boardings by Average Daily Monthly Unique Passholders Boardings Users (Aug-Dec) North 149,034 1,228 1,222 Central 25,562 211 388 South 14,179 116 125 AC Transit 6,722 55 125 Union City Transit 7,457 61 N/A East 10,106 83 N/A Countywide 198,881 1,638 1,735 14

AC Transit Student Passholders – Weekday Boardings by Hour (October 2016) 40% Percentage of Total Weekday Boardings by Hour 35% 30% (within each Planning Area) 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 12:00 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM North Central South 15

AC Transit Student Passholders – Weekend Boardings by Hour (October 2016) 40% Percentage of Total Weekend Boardings by Hour 35% 30% (within each Planning Area) 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 12:00 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM North Central South 16

Mode Split - Countywide Countywide Arrival Mode Countywide Departure Mode Other/I Other/I prefer Drive Drive prefer not to answer myself myself not to 1% 5% 5% answer 2% Walk 12% Walk 17% Bike 2% Bike 2% Get Public picked transit up/get a Get 17% Public ride dropped transit 49% off/get a 25% ride 63% 17

Key findings • Top uses of Passes: 1. Travel to/from school (~ 70% ) 2. Afterschool activities 3. Spending time with friends • Top reasons limiting student use  Prefer to travel other ways  Traveling by bus takes too long  Bus doesn’t meet needs • >50% participating students said cost savings provided by the program is important 18

Comments from Students “ The pilot program seems very excellent to me since it has helped me • and my family to have a safe way for me to get to school and get my education. It’s a program that has helped a lot of students and for my part I am very grateful .” “Everything is good about the transit pass and I started not being late • to school which make a positive dramatic change on my grades and willingness to go to school." “ Thank you for this program – it is allowing me to be more • independent .” “ I like the transit pass and it keeps me from having to look for money • each day of the week that I ride the bus. It is convenient and I ride 5 days a week.” “It is a good idea to encourage public transit, because it is better for • the environment .” “You should keep doing this, it helps a lot of us with money issues.” • 19

Schedule & Next Steps Pilot Pilot Pilot Approve Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Program School Program Parameters Evaluation Evaluation Evaluation Development Selection Launch for Year 2 Report Report Report Begins Finalized & Begin Year 2 20

Thank you! 21