Pittsboro Express Bus Proponents need to step up to plate & buy monthly passes

[Jabberwock]

I haven't bought my pass because I ride my bike to work.

[whatsup]

I haven't bought my pass because I ride my bike to work.

Glad to hear it is working for you! 

Please be careful out there.

[SBB]

"Mr. Spade presented a chart showing the ridership for each month on the PX and the average daily ridership by trip as follows:

PX Ridership
Month   - Days of Service   - Ridership - Avg. Daily Ridership
August             6                  102                  17
September      22                   861                 39
October          22                1,914                 87
November       19                1,940                102
December       20                1,120                  56
January          20                1,830                  92
February         20                1,840                  92
March            23                 3,381                147
April               22                2,529                115
May               21                1,968                  94


Average Daily Ridership by Trip
                         Time   Ridership
Chatham to UNC   6:08     7.5
Chatham to UNC   7:04   16.33
Chatham to UNC   7:39   11.9
UNC to Chatham   3:45   15.9
UNC to Chatham   4:40   13.2
UNC to Chatham   5:31    9.5

...
Mr. Spade stated that their conclusion is that the ridership grew dramatically once they got the service started and introduced three pairs of UNC participation.  The trend shows that the ridership has started and continued to grow.  It usually takes between 12-18 months for a route to test-out where one feels comfortable with the service levels.  The growth, on this route, when compared with TTA’s Hillsborough route that they are now operating and the Wake Forest route to Raleigh route which all provide similar services, the rate of growth and average daily ridership on this route is higher than those two at the same point in their development.  They are pleased with the way the ridership has grown."


 

[Greg Stafford]

"Mr. Spade presented a chart showing the ridership for each month on the PX and the average daily ridership by trip as follows:

PX Ridership
Month   - Days of Service   - Ridership - Avg. Daily Ridership
August             6                  102                  17
September      22                   861                 39
October          22                1,914                 87
November       19                1,940                102
December       20                1,120                  56
January          20                1,830                  92
February         20                1,840                  92
March            23                 3,381                147
April               22                2,529                115
May               21                1,968                  94


Average Daily Ridership by Trip
                         Time   Ridership
Chatham to UNC   6:08     7.5
Chatham to UNC   7:04   16.33
Chatham to UNC   7:39   11.9
UNC to Chatham   3:45   15.9
UNC to Chatham   4:40   13.2
UNC to Chatham   5:31    9.5

...
Mr. Spade stated that their conclusion is that the ridership grew dramatically once they got the service started and introduced three pairs of UNC participation.  The trend shows that the ridership has started and continued to grow.  It usually takes between 12-18 months for a route to test-out where one feels comfortable with the service levels.  The growth, on this route, when compared with TTA’s Hillsborough route that they are now operating and the Wake Forest route to Raleigh route which all provide similar services, the rate of growth and average daily ridership on this route is higher than those two at the same point in their development.  They are pleased with the way the ridership has grown."


 

I do not believe the numbers. I see the bus leaving Lowes headed to CH every morning. There has never once been 12 folks on that bus. Not even close. Someone without a dog in this fight needs to measure it. I can tell you this though: Unless the riders are so small their heads do not appear in the window the ridership is more like an average of 3.

[whatsup]

So how much does it cost to ship 34 people back and forth from Chapel Hill to Pittsboro?

[whatsup]

From http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,15206.0.html

7:15 am - 7 passengers
Bus heading up to Chapel Hill



7:34 am - 2 passengers
Bus heading down from Chapel Hill



7:48 am - 0 passengers
Bus heading up to Chapel Hill

[djkelly]

I was also at the BOC meeting where Mr. Spade gave his report.

Even given they expected fluctuations of lower numbers in the summer I think characterizing these numbers as a continual increase is a bit of a stretch.

The really interesting part about the funding is that most of the passes are actually purchased by UNC at a tremendous discount.  While public fares are $3 one way or $65 for a one month pass, UNC pays only $155 for a one year pass which they give to employees and students for free.

Last year UNC paid $15,000 for about 90 passes.  This year they’re budgeting $30,000 from UNC for about 180 passes. 

They are only budgeting $2400 from public passes.

The total local cost for the year was figured at $96,450 which would be matched by the federal grant.  This was based on a daily cost of $387 per day but that did not count the federal match so the actual cost to run the bus is $774 per day.  Revenue from passes of $32,400 would leave $64,050 to be split by Pittsboro and Chatham County.  Since Pittsboro had already allowed $18,000 in their budget, the BOC is figuring on that amount from Pittsboro so the county will pay $46,050.

Oh, and Chapel Hill Transit has budgeted about $10,000 for marketing in addition to the operating costs.  That’s paid for by another grant.

So the cost share would be:
Federal          50%
County      24%
UNC(state)   16%
Pittsboro         9%
Riders       1%

[oakrunfarm]

Once again, my major beef with this whole thing is not with the "idea" of it, but of the EXECUTION.

It is very clear that a much smaller (ergo much less expensive) vehicle could easily cover the ridership numbers, and I agree it is a complete stretch to say the numbers have gone up "continually." Well, no they haven't.

Why they did not back off to a smaller van/bus, etc. when it was obvious that a full sized city bus was not necessary, I don't know.

Unfortunately, I also am very skeptical of those numbers provided. I have seen the bus at different times of the day on different days of the week at different stops, and never saw more than 2-3 people on it.

I'm all for things that will stimulate the economy and provide services to the county's populace, but this whole thing was extremely poorly thought out.

[djkelly]

I think they didn't downsize to a smaller bus because the project wasn't developed for the best interest of Chatham County.  The project was promoted by Chapel Hill Transit because of a reverse commuter grant they were able to obtain which was specifically for them to bring commuters into their area.  It was designed to benefit Chapel Hill, not Chatham County.  Most likely Chapel Hill Transit primarily runs the large buses so that's what they use.

[Greg Stafford]

This mornings late 7ish run had zero.

[whatsup]

This mornings late 7ish run had zero.

When I have passed the bus I haven't seen more than three or four people on it.

[poman]

I suspect that the passes purchased by UNC are being counted as actual daily riders in the numbers being reported. That may explain all the "phantom" ridership.

[whatsup]

I suspect that the passes purchased by UNC are being counted as actual daily riders in the numbers being reported. That may explain all the "phantom" ridership.

Never even thought of that possibility.

[snowcamper]

Zero riders this morning near Cole park @ 8:00 ish... and it drove right past the park and ride lot...

It seems that just in the interest of efficiency, it could have stopped and picked those folks up... instead of sending another empty bus down to Cole Park and back up to campus.

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