2010 Annual Report

2010
Annual Report
Overview
More than 1.6 million trips were provided during fiscal year 2009-2010. rabbittransit
continued transportation service for the first two months of the fiscal year, despite a
budget impasse, thanks in part to the continued cash flow from the transit trust fund
provided by Act 44. However, as the fiscal year progressed, transportation for the
Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP) was reduced to life-sustaining
service only in September 2009.
In November 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
funding allowed rabbittransit to begin replacement of its deteriorated blacktop
to begin rehabilitation of its parking area with concrete and curbing. This
project also provided for water run-off to be filtered through a new water-oil
separator, thus allowing the transit agency to take its green initiative to the
next level. The West Manchester Mall generously allowed rabbittransit to
utilize its parking area as a temporary operating location.
ARRA funding was also utilized by rabbittransit in March 2010 with
Blacktop replacement
the purchase of a building at 415 Zarfoss Drive. A former Pfaltzgraff
distribution center, the property will become the new home for rabbittransit
over the course of the next few years as funding is secured for the renovation process.
The location resides along rabbittransit’s existing fixed route and will provide the
necessary indoor parking for a fleet that has outgrown its current space.
Despite considerable ARRA investment at the federal level, transportation funding at
the state level continued to be a major challenge. One source of funding in ACT 44
AARA funds in
Pennsylvania have
helped to create
tens of thousands
of jobs.
of 2007 was revenue to be generated from the tolling of I-80. After significant debate
surrounding the Commonwealth’s application to the Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA) to toll I-80, the measure was rejected. The tolling was expected to fund the
Commonwealth’s transportation needs for five decades. Without it, the promises of Act
44 will not be fulfilled, leaving not only public transit in flux, but also creating a significant
loss of jobs and challenges to the maintenance and safety
of the state’s highways and bridges.
Our Mission
Mobility is a fundamental right and an essential need for our community in order to maintain a high
quality of life and equal opportunity. rabbittransit dedicates itself to providing its constituents access
to safe and customer-friendly mobility services in a manner consistent with the stewardship of the
communities’ trust and resources.
Our Values
Safety
•
Service
•
Stewardship
Learn more at www.rabbittransit.org
Fixed Route
New Partnership: At the start of
fiscal year 2009-2010, rabbittransit and
Helen Thackston Charter School formed
a new partnership to benefit York City
students. The tuition-free public school
began purchasing transportation passes
for its students to ride the rabbittransit
fixed route bus system for free. Situated
along Route 1, the school generated more
than 30,000 trips this year which ultimately
factors into the state and federal formula to
increase operating grant funding.
FIXED ROUTE RIDERSHIP FY 09-10
Connect with the Rail Trail: In
rabbitEXPRESS RIDERSHIP
Strategic Plan:Layo
June 2010, rabbittransit began promoting its
connection to the York County Rail Trail in
an attempt to increase mobility and provide
opportunities to attract new riders utilizing
existing resources. The Rail Trail is a natural
extension of the fixed route as it resides
adjacent to rabbittransit’s Transfer Center. All
rabbittransit vehicles are outfitted with bike
racks and in fiscal year 2009-2010, there were
a total of 5008 bikes taken onboard buses.
Paratransit
PARATRANSIT SURVEY
Results:
PURPOSE
OF TRIPS
REASON FOR
CURRENT
PARATRANSIT
TRIP
PARATRANSIT
RIDERSHIP
FY 09-10
76% voted in last election
GENDER:
Male
Female
26%
74%
ETHNICITY:
Caucasian
African American
Hispanic American
Asian American
Other
89%
6%
2%
2%
1%
AVERAGE AGE:
70
ANNUAL INCOME:
Under $10,000
$10,000-$19,000
$20,000-$29,900
$30,000-More
Don’t Know
24%
33%
18%
16%
9%
82%
are very likely
to recommend
service
38% think service is getting
better compared to last year
83% do not ride the fixed route
82% have at least one motor
vehicle
Riders take an average of
1.13 rides per week
Response Rate: 29.6% with 620 responses
collected. Confidence level is 95% with
confidence interval
of +/- 2.3
Advancing
Mobility
Caring for
Our Community
rabbit to the rescue:
Often serving as an Emergency
Management Services (EMS)
responder, rabbittransit assisted
evacuating residents of the
Springwood Overlook apartment
complex for senior citizens.
STRATEGIC PLAN
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
continued the implementation of its major technology initiative.
The testing of the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system was
concluded, which enables riders to be called automatically with
trip information. The installation of GPS vehicle tracking was
also completed, which allows staff to dynamically schedule
or adjust for trip variances in real-time to further streamline
York Daily Record – Jason Plotkin
1
1 11/3/09 4:30 PM Page
2010 - 2012
Strategic Plan:Layout
Technology: rabbittransit
Strategic Planning: rabbittransit
operations. The planning stages began for the public unveiling
of the technology features in Fall 2010. This resulted in the
development of a technology sub-brand, known as smarthop.
released its 2010-2012 Strategic
Plan Executive Summary.
York-Adams Coordination: In November
2009, rabbittransit and Adams County
Transit Authority (ACTA) fully coordinated
their paratransit programs. This effort was supported by
Community Education
Campaign: rabbittransit
created various materials
to assist the public in better
understanding the services
rabbittransit has to offer.
These included: a Paratransit
Services Guide, Travel Training
Brochure, Ride Guide for
the Fixed Route and General
Services Brochure.
the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
Human Service Transportation Coordination Study. Adopting
a regional approach, the paratransit division in both York and
Adams County now operates under the name of rabbittransit.
This endeavor created a centralized Call Center and Mobility
Planning Office that assists all paratransit riders from both York
and Adams County, which allows for increased efficiencies.
Land Use Development: rabbittransit hosted a National
Transit Institute (NTI) class for community members entitled
Transportation & Land Use. This three-day course was designed
to help practitioners develop a multimodal transportation system
Celebrating Seniors: May was designated as Older Americans
Month by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’
Administration on Aging. In honor of that occasion, rabbittransit
distributed new literature about its services and participated in
several events to benefit seniors.
that supports desired land uses and gain an understanding
of implementation steps to ensure that transportation and
land use systems are designed in a compatible, mutually
supportive manner.
S potlight:
rabbittransit Executive Director, Richard Farr, was named in Mass
Transit’s Top 40 under 40 competition which recognizes lead
industry professionals.
rabbittransit was awarded two first place prizes and a
grand prize award in the national AdWheels contest for
marketing excellence in transit.
rabbittransit Executive Director, Richard Farr,
accepted the 2010 Public Transportation Manager of
the Year Award presented by Toby Fauver, PennDOT
Deputy Secretary for Local and Area Transportation, for Farr’s
outstanding contributions to the industry.
Financial Summary
On May 4, 2010, Governor Rendell initiated a special and extraordinary
session with the General Assembly to address the immediate and
devastating shortfalls of transportation funding.
A series of hearings followed to provide testimony to the funding crisis.
At the close of fiscal year 2009-2010, the funding shortfall remains
unresolved. For rabbittransit, this means the elimination of a
program which finances all capital including vehicles and the
renovation of the Zarfoss operating facility.
In Motion:
Upcoming Initiatives
• Execution of a re-paving project to extend the life of
the Transfer Center funded through continued ARRA
investment.
• Public unveiling of technology initiative, known as
smarthop, which offers multiple real-time features to
benefit riders.
• Facilitation of a Human Services Transportation
Forum to develop a Transit Development Plan for the
paratransit program.
REVENUE
FY 09-10
• Evaluation of the rabbitEXPRESS service to northern
Maryland based on outcomes identified within a
consultant study.
• Implementation of a Call Center action plan to
streamline and enhance the customer experience.
• Evaluation of a potential fixed route fare increase given
the continued funding uncertainty and elimination of a
capital program.
EXPENSES
FY 09-10
• Creation of a Transit Development Plan for fixed route
and commuter services.
• Launch of a new rabbitEXPRESS demonstration
service between Gettysburg and Harrisburg.
• Evaluation of paratransit zone and fare structure to
promote equity.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Raymond Rosen, Chairman
Jack O’Malley, Vice Chairman
Keith Martin, Treasurer
Cliff Karoullas, Assistant Treasurer
Tim Fulton, Secretary
Will Clark, Assistant Secretary
Larry Baugher
Richard Carson
JoAnn Henderson
David McIntosh
Wallace Myles
Becky Stauffer
Richard Farr, Executive Director
York County Transportation Authority
1230 Roosevelt Avenue, York, PA 17404
846-RIDE • 1-800-632-9063 • Fax 717-848-4853
www.rabbittransit.org • Email: info@rabbittransit.org