Of2013 - MATBUS

Transcription

Of2013 - MATBUS

MATBUS INTRODUCES THE LATEST AND LARGEST
the ANNUAL REPORT
of 2013
>>
Proudly serving Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo & Dilworth
01 MATBUS Annual Report
WELCOME
We at MATBUS believe transportation
impacts every individual. The FargoMoorhead community embraces public
transportation for convenience, cost, and
environmental benefits. The availability
of public transportation contributes to the
Fargo-Moorhead community’s economic
vitality by connecting people to the goods,
services, educational, and employment
opportunities they require.
Public transportation reduces traffic
congestion and alleviates parking demands.
In 2013, the combined Fargo-Moorhead
MATBUS system provided 2,134,891 rides
on the fixed route system. In addition,
53,403 rides were provided on the
complementary Paratransit service.
Riding With
Us at MATBUS
>>
MATBUS Annual Report 02
Higher education students benefit
enormously from the partnerships between
the Cities of Fargo & Moorhead and the
four major area universities and colleges
(North Dakota State University, Minnesota
State University Moorhead, Concordia, and
M|State). The universities and colleges pay
fees to the Cities, in exchange for unlimited
rides to students, and some faculty and staff.
These riders not only traverse the
campus systems, but live, work, and play
throughout the Fargo-Moorhead metro area,
contributing to the economic viability of the
metropolitan region.
2013 was a busy, productive year at
MATBUS! We continue to grow to meet
the challenges of the increasing population
and growth of the Cities. Improvements in
2013 include adding one additional hour of
evening service in Fargo and Moorhead,
adding afternoon service to Moorhead’s
Route 2, purchasing four new 40-foot hybrid
buses for Fargo fixed route, extending our
contract with First Transit for driver and
management services, holding numerous
Travel Trainer workshops, initiating a
partnership with the Red River Zoo,
and implementing an automatic vehicle
announcement and GPS location system in
Moorhead, with Fargo’s system scheduled
to be complete in late Spring 2014. The
Audio Voice Announcement/Automatic
Vehicle Location system consists of a mobile
application (RouteShout) for riders to get
‘live’ information on where their bus is at the
moment, either on their cellular phones or
an informational kiosk, and a computerbased system (Matbusmobile.com) for
riders to display bus stop and route
information. Kiosks are located at the
Ground Transportation Center, Klai,
Richard H. Barry, and Renaissance
Halls and the Memorial Union of North
Dakota State University, the Marriott in
Moorhead, Minnesota State University
Moorhead, and M|State. The benefits of
the public transportation system, such as
affordability, convenience, reduction of
traffic, pollution, and driving-related stress,
are obvious. However, as the dynamics
of our urban areas continue to change,
public transportation must be considered
an essential connection to employment,
education, medical services, and recreation
for many citizens and visitors.
We hope you enjoy reading our 2013 Annual
Report. At MATBUS, we take pride in
providing public transportation and being the
‘Green Way to Go!’
Julie Bommelman
Fargo Transit Administrator
Lori Van Beek
Moorhead Transit Manager
2013 IN REVIEW - FIXED ROUTE
78% of
MATBUS
riders were
adults and
college
students.
Fargo routes
provided
a record
1,682,267
rides in
2013.
Executive
Summary
>>
Moorhead
ridership
climbed
nearly 4%
in 2013.
The MATBUS
fixed route
system provided
2,134,891
rides in
2013.
These figures
reflect an
additional
hour of
evening
service.
Ridership
on Metro
Senior
Ride was
up 7%
from 2012.
2013 IN REVIEW - PARATRANSIT, COSTS & MISCELLANEOUS
West Fargo
and Moorhead
ridership
decreased
while Fargo
and Dilworth
ridership
increased since
2012.
Increased
ridership
for Metro
Senior Ride
contributed
to
decreased
Paratransit
ridership.
Evening
service
extended
one hour to
11:15 p.m.
in 2013.
This trend
remains
consistent
with 2012
ridership.
Executive
Summary
>>
2013 OPERATING COSTS
MATBUS Fixed Routes -
$ 6,732,640
MAT Paratransit &
Mobility Management
-
$ 1,144,045
Metro Senior Ride (MN) -
$
69,741
TOTAL-$ 7,946,426
MATBUS - BY THE NUMBERS
vehicles
21 Routes offered in 2013 14 Paratransit
MATBUS and
Fixed route vehicles
42 Price of a 30-day
112 First Transit employees
Price of one ride on MAT$1.50 BUS fixed routes
$ 40 MATBUS pass
MATBUS REQUIRES A $7.95 MILLION ANNUAL INVESTMENT
2013 Revenue for Fargo Operations
Executive
Summary
>>
2013 Revenue for Moorhead Operations
Joint Powers Agreement contributions are revenues received from NDSU Farebox revenue includes all fare media and U-Pass fees.
and West Fargo to support public transportation.
Farebox revenue includes all fare media and U-Pass fees.
Implementing
Change
>>
MATBUS Introduces Latest and Largest to Fargo
The City of Fargo purchased four 40-foot
diesel-electric hybrid buses that were
delivered in May 2013, each with a capacity
of 80 passengers. These vehicles, the
largest ever used in the region, were
manufactured and assembled by New
Flyer Industries in Crookston and Saint
Cloud, Minnesota. They feature a dieselelectric propulsion system. The engine and
transmission system run on electricity up to
approximately 35 miles per hour. After the
vehicle reaches 35 mph, the diesel system
takes over. The hybrid electric system
delivers about 25-50 percent better fuel
economy than a conventional diesel system
in urban transit bus applications. The new
buses will lower particulate emissions by 90
percent and nitrogen oxide emissions by 50
percent. Since 2011, more than 35 percent
of the nationwide transit agencies have
implemented a form of hybrid vehicles.
Passengers needing a ride home at night
saw an improved experience in 2013 when
routes were extended one hour later to 11:15
p.m. MAT Paratransit service for persons
with disabilities also extended its service
hours until 11:15 p.m.
Moreover, the Ground Transportation
Center (GTC) stayed open later to ensure
passengers could safely transfer between
routes, making needed connections to
complete their trips home. Feedback during
the public comment period was extremely
positive regarding the additional service and
operating hours.
“This area really needs it – Fargo/Moorhead.”
“Progress finally. MAKE THIS HAPPEN.”
MATBUS Route 2 passengers and the
Minnesota State University Moorhead
(MSUM) campus experienced a boost in
service in 2013. The frequency of service
was increased to 15-minute intervals in the
busy afternoons from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.,
weekdays during the academic year. MSUM
students can now connect downtown at the
GTC with other 15-minute frequency routes,
such as Route 13 traveling to North Dakota
State University (NDSU) for class and Route
15 to West Acres Shopping Center area,
where many apartment complexes housing
college students are located. The increase
enhanced on-time performance during these
periods of high traffic congestion.
In 2013, the Red River Zoo and MATBUS
partnered in a three-year trade of their
unique marketing opportunities. The Zoo
wrapped one of the 35-foot buses with lively
pictures of the Chinese Red Panda and
the newest addition to the Red River Zoothe Otter Exhibit! In turn, MATBUS was
given the rights to name a baby zoo animal
and take photos to be used for MATBUS
advertising campaigns. A male Chinese
Red Panda cub was born in 2013, with the
name “Mattie,” becoming the new mascot
for MATBUS. Mattie will join other Zoo
animals as an educational ambassador in
the community, reaching more than 5,000
people annually. MATBUS and the Zoo
will partner at events such as Party for
the Planet, Midwest KidFest, educational
opportunities at area schools, and other
events. MATBUS intends to utilize Mattie to
promote outreach activities, increase sales
of Summer Youth Passes, market MATBUS
field trip services, and other opportunities.
The bus wrap is delightful and is expected to
encourage passengers to ride MATBUS as
well as increase advertising sales of exterior
wraps. Please reference the picture of
Mattie on the back page of this report.
iMPROVING
THE eXPERIENCE
>>
Bus Tracking Technology Implemented in 2013
In 2013, implementation of the Automatic
Voice Announcement and Automatic Vehicle
Location System (AVA/AVL) was completed
in Moorhead on the MATBUS Fixed Route
vehicles. Audio announcements were
recorded for key time points, popular
destinations, and major intersections
along each of the routes. Through GPS
technology, as the bus reaches preprogrammed ‘targets’ along a route, an
announcement will identify the upcoming
location. For example, “Approaching
6th Street South and 2nd Avenue by the
Public Library.” When rain and darkness
obscure the view, passengers will be cluedin to where they are! For those with sight
impairments, the new announcements will
help them travel independently and will
meet the requirements of the Americans
with Disabilities Act. Drivers will continue to
make manual announcements on the Public
Address System during detours and upon
request of passengers.
Text is now displayed inside the buses
in sync with audio announcements.
Passengers with hearing impairments and
those choosing to wear ear buds will have
better access to the information. The text
announces the upcoming bus stop, giving
passengers time to pull the bell line to advise
the driver to stop at the broadcasted stop.
Exterior announcements notify passengers
waiting outside which route is arriving as
the bus pulls in to transfer hubs where
more than one bus travels. Future software
upgrades are expected to make exterior
announcements automatically when the door
opens to load passengers.
The driver and passenger safety experience
is also enhanced with the automatic
announcements by improving the driver’s
ability to focus on the road. If the bus will
be out-of-service, or passengers need to
transfer to reach their final destination,
announcements will clarify these changes.
For our passengers with smart phones, the
experience of riding MATBUS has truly been
enhanced in 2013. The free application
RouteShout provides locations of the many
MATBUS stop signs along the routes. Pick
your favorite stops, and RouteShout will
display the time the next bus will arrive!
You can limit how much time you wait
outside at a bus stop during occasional
hazardous weather by checking
MATBUSMobile.com before leaving your
house or place of work! The interactive
map shows buses traveling along routes
in real time and estimates your bus stop’s
arrival time when you click on the M at the
bus stop nearest you. Clicking on the bus
stop will also tell you what corner of the
intersection to stand on to catch your bus.
New technology was also implemented
in 2013 on all MAT Paratransit vehicles.
Tablets were installed on the vehicles that
display the driver’s schedule for their shift.
As the driver arrives at a pick-up location, a
button is pushed to record the actual arrival
time which makes it easier to monitor ontime performance. Routematch technology
has also been helpful for the Paratransit
dispatchers when scheduling rides. The
software estimates how long each trip will
take while finding the most suitable path of
travel for the driver.
Reaching Out
to our community
>>
TAKING AN ACTIVE ROLE IN the Community
On September 21, 2013 Fargo was
honored to host ESPN College Gameday
due to the success of the NDSU Bison
football team and the growing popularity
of our area. Through a collaborative effort
by the City of Fargo, MATBUS, NDSU, and
ESPN, the event was held in downtown
Fargo. MATBUS provided bus service
to and from the FargoDome to allow the
community to enjoy this historic event.
The following is a partial listing of
the community outreach activities
MATBUS staff members
participated in during 2013:
iGoEco Challenge 2013
Aging and Disability Conference
It’s a Wonderful Night at West Acres
Caregiver Conference
Lakeland Mental
Health’s Youth in Transition
College Orientation Fairs
Metro Transit
Garage (MTG) Tours
MATBUS once again partnered with Y94
and KFGO in 2013 to help the local YWCA
Emergency Shelter with the annual “Stuff
the Bus” event. The staff at MATBUS
decorated one of its hybrid buses with
LED lights and visited many locations
around the community where people could
conveniently drop off donations of toys and
gifts for children and their mothers. The
final dropoff location at the US Bank Plaza
in Downtown Fargo held a surprise for
kids - Santa and Rudolph collected the gifts
and took pictures with those who stopped
by. To conclude the two-day event, Santa
rode the bus to the YWCA where gifts were
distributed to those in need.
Concordia Homecoming Parade
Midwest KidFest
Earth Week Activities
MSUM Homecoming Parade
ESPN College Gameday
NDSU President’s Welcome Event
Fargo’s Downtown Street Fair
NDSU Welcome Week Festivities
Fargo Police’s Community Picnic
Project Homeless Connect
Fargo Public School’s
Spring Fling Health Fair
Red River Recovery Center
Clay County Social Services
Ground Transportation
Center (GTC) Tours
Saint Patrick’s Day Parade
SENDCAA Head Start
High School Transition Conference
Senior Health Ways Conference
Holiday Lights Parade
Streets Alive
Houge Estates Workshop
Stuff the Bus
MOBILITY MANAGEMENT
MATBUS repeated the Paratransit
Satisfaction Survey for people eligible
for MAT Paratransit in 2013. The last
survey was conducted in 2009. With
increased education on the purpose of
ADA Complementary Paratransit service,
riders and agency representatives have
a better understanding of what to expect
from the service. They know this is public
transportation comparable to the fixed route
bus service instead of a taxi service.
One of the comments received in the 2013
survey read:
“Thank you for all your services, everyone
is so helpful and courteous and competent
in their work. I don’t know what I would do
without your service!”
Managing
Mobility
>>
The MATBUS Travel Trainer Workshops
were attended by 50 human service
providers from agencies across Fargo and
Moorhead in 2013. The workshops, held
seven times throughtout the year, provided
information about the MATBUS system
to help empower people to become more
independent. The training was lead by the
Mobility Manager and an experienced driver
from First Transit. Each three and a half
hour session includes a detailed look at
MATBUS’s “How-to-Ride” video as well as a
powerpoint presentation, a tour of a vehicle,
and a demonstration on how to pay a fare.
After attending the workshop, registered
travel trainers are given the opportunity
to receive 10-ride tickets to be utilized for
training people in the community. In 2013,
seventy - 10-ride tickets were issued to help
people become more independent.
A new version of the FM Ridesource
directory was printed in May 2013. This
envelope-size directory has detailed
information on metro area transportation
providers that serve people with disabilities
and seniors. Medical, social service, and
residential providers ask for this directory by
name so they can distribute it to those who
need the information most. This directory
is especially useful to people who are new
to needing lift-equipped transportation or
no longer drive. The newest update to the
directory included the limited fixed route
service on Sunday afternoons in Moorhead
through Transit Alternatives (formerly Clay
County Rural Transit). 5,000 directories
were printed and distributed to agencies
within the Fargo-Moorhead area and
throughout the region in 2013.
Handi-Wheels is a private non-profit
transportation agency and the only lift
equipped transportation provider that
accepts ND Medicaid in the FM metro area.
The City of Fargo leases three lift-equipped
14-passenger vans to Handi-Wheels to
lower overhead costs so they can accept
the Medicaid reimbursement rate of $14
per ride. The average cost of a lift/ramp
transportation ride in the FM metro area is
$25 per ride. Handi-Wheels provided 10,845
rides in 2013.
The Cities of Fargo and Moorhead continue
to partner with Valley Senior Services to
ensure people over the age of 60 have
another affordable public transportation
option with Metro Senior Ride. This service
utilizes a fleet of mini-vans to provide doorto-door service via reserved rides. Metro
Senior Ride decreases demand for MAT
Paratransit, which is more costly to provide.
Rides increased from 42,637 in 2012 to
46,730 in 2013. This is in direct correlation
with Paratransit whose rides decreased from
54,217 in 2012 to 53,403 in 2013.
Decreased ridership over the past three
years is also due to the realignment of
Paratransit policies and procedures to
meet the definition of ADA Complementary
Paratransit.
ENCOURAGING TOMORROW’S LEADERS TO USE TRANSIT TODAY
A new indoor kiosk was installed at M|State
in 2013. The kiosk was placed near the door
leading out to the bus stop and passenger
shelter. This equipment provides students
waiting for MATBUS with an estimated time
of arrival based on the GPS location of the
buses traveling on Route 5 both east and
west by M|State to the Marriott Transfer Hub.
This allows students to wait inside and avoid
the inclement weather until the bus is near
the shelter.
Partnering
With Education
>>
In coordination with area colleges, a flyer
was distributed to freshman students and
parents to explain the benefits of riding
MATBUS to campus. Electronic copies
were also distributed to existing students.
A matrix of helpful hints for using MATBUS
was created. Information on outreach to the
NDSU community is found on the next two
pages of this Annual Report.
College ridership continued to grow during
the 2013 calendar year. With growing
campuses and graduating seniors, educating
students about U-Pass is conducted
annually.
U-Pass Historical Ridership on the MATBUS System
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*NDSU figures do not include the five NDSU circulator routes (31, 32, 33, 34, 35), which amounted
to a total ridership of 511,316 in 2013.
JOIN THE HERD AND RIDE MATBUS!
The partnership between North Dakota
State University (NDSU) and MATBUS is
continually evolving and growing. While
serving NDSU students, faculty, and staff
through its U-Pass Program, MATBUS also
operates several routes on and near the
NDSU campuses. In addition to a specialized
“NDSU Transit Guide for Students,” MATBUS
designs and incorporates advertising
specifically targeting the NDSU community.
MATBUS attended numerous NDSU New
Student Orientations again in 2013. Through
orientation and information sessions as well
as welcome week events, MATBUS staff
ensure every student recieves the information
needed to utilize MATBUS during their
college career and beyond.
Partnering
With Education
>>
A newly designed 2013-2014 NDSU Transit
Guide provides students with route maps,
schedules, and helpful hints and tips to
successfully use the bus.
MATBUS also partnered with the studentrun Bison Information Network, the NDSU
Spectrum and the Division of Fine Arts to
promote MATBUS not only on the NDSU
campus, but throughout the entire area.
2013 brought Santa to the Fargo community
and NDSU campuses. In December, MATBUS
partnered with the Downtown Community
Partnership (DCP) to bring holiday cheer to
all MATBUS riders. “Santa Ditched the Sleigh
and Hopped on a MATBUS,” handing out
Christmas ornaments and candy canes as he
rode many of the Fargo routes, including the
on-campus circulator routes. JT from Y94
broadcast the event live as he rode with Santa,
Rudolph, the DCP, and MATBUS staff on the
bus. This event was held in conjunction with
“Pictures with Santa, Rudolph, and Santa’s
New Eco-Friendly Mode of Transportation,
MATBUS,” as well as Y94 and KFGO’s annual
event, “Stuff the Bus.”
Two of the new 40-foot hybrid vehicles were
also introduced to NDSU this year. In order
to make transportation to Klai and Richard H.
Barry Halls more convenient, MATBUS opted
to place these buses on Route 33. Each one
of these vehicles can carry up to 80 students
at one time.
MATBUS continued its strong relationship with
Student Government leaders in 2013 and is
excited to continue providing convenient and
reliable transportation to the NDSU community.
First Transit Provides Driver and Management Services
First Transit was awarded a one-year
contract extension in 2013. This contract
was an extension of the three-year
agreement that was adopted in 2011. With
this extension, First Transit remained as
the driver services vendor for MATBUS
through December 31, 2014. The extension
also increased all driver wages effective
January 1, 2014. With the extremely
low unemployment rate in the FargoMoorhead area, the driver rate increase was
implemented to help attract high quality job
applicants for our service.
Contracting
with First Transit
>>
First Transit offers its employees many
benefits in addition to medical, dental,
and vision insurance. They provide their
drivers with the ability to increase their
earnings through three bonus programs.
Drivers have the opportunity to earn
a monthly incentive bonus, a monthly
safety bonus, and a yearly safety bonus.
The monthly incentive bonus is earned
by coming to work on time, completing
paperwork correctly, attending the monthly
safety meetings, and coming to work in
proper uniform.
The monthly safety bonus is earned when
the driver experiences no preventable
accidents or injuries, no moving violations
in a company or personal vehicle, and
operates safely on a monthly basis. The
yearly safety bonus is the largest of all
bonuses and is earned by receiving all
twelve monthly safety bonuses throughout
the year. First Transit continues to
hold monthly safety meetings to review
procedures and policy changes as well as
new training practices associated with the
ever-changing technologies throughout the
system. First Transit works diligently to
maintain professional relationships with the
Cities of Fargo and Moorhead as well as the
passengers it serves.
In January 2013, First Transit added a
second road supervisor position. The
function of a road supervisor is to assist the
drivers with customer service, route changes
or detours, driver scheduling, and monitoring
daily operations of MATBUS. The addition
of this position has assisted management
with identifying areas of improvement for
drivers as well as MATBUS services.
First Transit Training Practices
Substance Abuse
Vehicle Orientation
Passenger Assistance
Sensitivity Training
Defensive Driving
First Aid
Abuse Prevention
Passenger Relations
Passenger Incidents
Street Network Training
City Specific Training
On the Road Training
Refresher Training
Evaluation of Performance
COLLABORATING WITH METROPOLITAN COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
MATBUS has a strong relationship with the
Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council of
Governments (Metro COG) to cooperatively
address transportation needs. As the
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
for the Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Area,
Metro COG is responsible for the planning
and programming of transportation projects
throughout the area.
Partnering
With METRO COG
>>
MATBUS and Metro COG continuously
work toward the development of
an integrated and comprehensive
public transportation system through
the cooperative development and
implementation of Metro COG’s Unified
Planning Work Program (UPWP). In 2013,
Metro COG assisted MATBUS with the
following technical studies and analysis:
Metro COG began development of Metro
2040, the update to the Long Range
Transportation Plan for the FM Metropolitan
Area. Metro 2040 will be approved in 2014,
and sets the overall transportation vision for
the FM Metropolitan area.
Metro COG assisted MATBUS in studying
transportation needs in Dilworth and
Southeast Moorhead, which lead to the
development of new Routes 6 and 9.
These routes will be added to the system in
2014.
Metro COG initiated an analysis of new
route needs in south Fargo to serve
growing needs along 25th Street South and
the areas adjacent to the future Sanford
Hospital. This work will be completed in
2014, and will outline needed new services
in high-growth areas of Fargo.
One of Metro COG’s primary
responsibilities is the Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP). The TIP is
a federally-required program of significant
surface transportation improvements
scheduled for implementation in the FargoMoorhead Metropolitan Area. Transit
projects need to be identified in planning
efforts and listed in the TIP to be eligible for
federal aid.
Every five years, Metro COG prepares
the Transit Development Plan (TDP).
The purpose of the TDP is to identify
recommendations to maintain and improve
the public transit service delivery in the
FM Metropolitan area. The TDP is a
comprehensive summary of data, analysis,
and recommendations that focus on all
aspects of the public transit system. The
current 2012-2016 TDP will remain a
relevant and continuously utilized document
as Metro COG and MATBUS determine
future needs and investment requirements
through the year 2016.
Metro COG assists MATBUS by providing
staff support for advisory committees,
including the MAT Coordinating Board,
comprised of elected leaders and
stakeholders from Fargo, Moorhead, West
Fargo, and Dilworth. For more information
regarding Metro COG, please visit
fmmetrocog.org.
Extensive Marketing in 2013
MATBUS strives to create a positive image
and encourage the use of transit through its
marketing efforts. The goal is to increase
and sustain system ridership, which then
leads to the potential of additional service
options and hours for MATBUS passengers.
A wide variety of marketing and outreach
activities were continued in 2013. Highlights
of MATBUS’s successful marketing
campaigns follow:
Raising
Awareness
>>
“Buses in Black Ties” - MATBUS and the
Downtown Community Partnership (DCP)
hosted a gala event in Downtown Fargo to
unveil its new, four 40-foot hybrid vehicles,
at a special black-tie event. The 2013 New
Flyer Xcelsior buses are the largest transit
vehicles ever utilized in the region, and
the “Buses in Black Ties” event introduced
these impressive vehicles to the community.
Three radio stations broadcast live from
the event to further promote MATBUS and
its new hybrid buses. Several downtown
businesses (in addition to New Flyer)
donated door prizes.
“A Lunch and Ride with the FM Metro’s
Best!” - this weekly campaign ran for
14 weeks during the summer of 2013
taking employees, supervisors, managers,
owners, and residents of Downtown Fargo
and Moorhead out to lunch. The event
began by picking up the group(s) of about
25 people at their individual businesses
or residences. MATBUS and the DCP
introduced the passengers to transit while
touring the “green” bus maintenance facility
and one of the new 40-foot hybrid buses.
During each leg of the trip, MATBUS staff
and passengers interacted through informal
question and answer sessions. Passengers
were then taken via MATBUS to the Island
Park gazebo, where lunch was provided
by a Downtown restaurant. Radio talent
from Y94 and BOB 95 (and mascot) were in
attendance to meet and greet participants, in
addition to capturing their first experiences
on the radio for the entire metro to hear.
Once the information session and lunch
were finished, the group(s) were offered
a free 10-ride card and were returned to
their businesses and residences. MATBUS
received many positive comments regarding
the comfort and spaciousness of the buses.
More than 250 people participated in the
event throughout the summer.
The former Commuter Challenge was
renamed iGoEco Challenge in 2013 and
the slogan “Take the Plunge; Dump the
Car” was introduced to better communicate
the environmental benefits of alternative
transportation. The eight-week promotion
encouraged eco-friendly transportation at
least once a week, such as bussing, biking,
or walking. Co-sponsors included the State
of Minnesota, Midwest Communications,
the Cities of Fargo and Moorhead, and
Gate City Bank. The Challenge was
introduced through promotion with
downtown businesses and a pre-registration
invitation from the radio. Weekly prizes
were donated by area businesses through
Midwest Communications to add interest.
Television commercials and a viral dance
video on YouTube were new in 2013. In
addition, free 10-ride cards donated by
the State of Minnesota were distributed
to people interested in trying MATBUS,
including downtown businesses, job
placement agencies, and more. Nearly 800
people registered, with 50 percent selecting
MATBUS as their alternative transportation
choice! MATBUS ridership increased 10
percent over the previous year.
MEET THE MATBUS TEAM
Members of the MAT Coordinating Board
Kevin Hanson | Chairperson
Gate City Bank
Jim Aasness
City Council of Dilworth
Brenda Elmer
City Council of Moorhead
Paul Grindeland
Valley Senior Services
Mark Hintermeyer
City Council of Moorhead
Rob Lynch
North Dakota State University
Chelle Lyons-Hanson
Concordia College
Jan Mahoney
Minnesota State University - Moorhead
Leading
The Way
>>
Angela Mathers
MATBUS Administration
First Transit Administration
James Gilmour
Matthew Peterson
Fargo Planning Director
General Manager
Julie Bommelman
City Commission of Fargo
Larry Weil
City of West Fargo
Mike Williams
City Commission of Fargo
Safety Manager
Fargo Transit Administrator
Andrew Almer
Lori Van Beek
Road Supervisor
Moorhead Transit Manager
Paris Welty
Road Supervisor
Paula Ous
Carla Dickelman
Mobility Manager
Lead GTC Dispatcher
Gregg Schildberger
Fargo Transit Planner
Kevin Trana
Fargo Marketing & Media Specialist
M | State
Melissa Sobolik
Craig Hamblin
Jackie Engel
Moorhead Office Specialist
MAT Paratransit
Susan Dayley
Vehicle Maintenance
Ben Dow
Director of Operations
Harold Pedersen
Fleet Services Manager
Eugene Fife
Shop Supervisor (Day)
Roger Even
Shop Supervisor (Evening)
Steven Chalifoux
Equipment Technician II
Peter Montplasir
Brian Webb
Sean Brekke
Equipment Technician I
Cody Jochim
Paratransit Reservationist
Equipment Technician
Diane Cory
Inventory Purchasing Specialist
Jennifer Hirchert
Constant Maninga
Amanda Danielson
Fargo Administrative Assistant
Jeffrey Gonzales
Sidney Mack
Maintenance Attendant II
Robert Ryan
Maintenance Attendant II
Sumitra Lamitarey
Maintenance Attendendant II
Looking ForWARD
to 2014 and Beyond
>>
THE FUTURE OF TRANSIT IN THE METRO
In 2014, MATBUS plans to transition from
flag stops to designated stops, where all
bus stops are signed with the MATBUS M
stop. Steering passengers from any corner
to specific locations is expected to improve
on-time performance and safety. Stops will
be clarified system-wide and understanding
where the bus will stop will improve usability,
especially for new passengers.
of travel. Clicking on the bus stop will
indicate the estimated time of arrival.
Google Transit will be available for the
Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area,
providing detailed information for each trip
planned -- such as where to stand to catch
the bus, the time it goes by, where to make
transfers, and the time of arrival at the
destination.
The final implementation of the Automatic
Voice Announcement and Automatic Vehicle
Location technology throughout Fargo and
West Fargo will be completed in 2014;
finalizing the system started in Moorhead.
Passengers will benefit and experience a
better trip on MATBUS as a result of this
new technology. Voice announcements will
provide easy identification of intersections
and common landmarks and destinations
along the route. With the smart phone
application RouteShout, passengers will
know in real time when their bus will arrive
at their favorite bus stops. The system
map and bus stops will be available on your
personal computer through MATBUSMobile.
com. Buses will be seen moving along the
routes on the map in real time. Clicking on
the bus will show the route, bus, and speed
Upgrades to the security camera system onboard the buses will begin in 2014. Moving
to wireless download of video will improve
the investigation of complaints, incidents,
and accidents through faster retrieval and
longer storage.
Fargo and West Fargo passengers who
use mobility aids such as wheelchairs will
have improved access to MAT Paratransit
on Sundays with a second bus placed into
service. A new policy will give first priority to
those who need a lift to travel.
The addition of a new Moorhead transit
Assistant Planner position in 2014 will
provide assistance in route planning,
advertising sales and marketing, social
media, and other technology improvements.
MATBUS will continue to implement service
improvements recommended by the 20122016 Transit Development Plan (TDP), to
meet the established priorities of maintaining
existing systems, investing in core areas,
and expanding service. Evening Route 7
will start one half hour earlier, eliminating the
gap in service between the day and evening
routes to the Hwy. 10 shopping area in
Moorhead.
The addition of Routes 6 and 9 will make
travel to new areas such as the
City of Dilworth and Southeast Moorhead
possible, bringing passengers to medical
appointments, educational institutions, and
shopping.
Drivers or bus operators are employed
through a contract with First Transit, an
international company with numerous years
of transportation experience. In 2014, safety
training will continue to be emphasized
through special training and retraining, with
rewards for excellent service and safety.
Wages paid to drivers will increase in 2014,
giving more employment opportunities to
highly qualified individuals wishing to be part
of the MATBUS team.
MEET MATTIE, MATBUS’ NEW MASCOT

Of2013 - MATBUS

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