FY 2007 Annual Report
Transcription
FY 2007 Annual Report
Connecting People With Places 2007 F I S CAL Y E AR AN N UAL R E P O RT METRO’S MISSION “Regional economic development through excellence in transportation” CONTENTS PG/2 Message from the Chairman PG/3 Board of Commissioners PG/4 Stakeholders Letter PG/7 Value to Our Region PG/13 MetroBus PG/17 MetroLink PG/21 Metro Call-A-Ride PG/23 Business Enterprises PG/24 Financials METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/1 METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/2 Message from the Chairman The Bi-State region has made a $1.6 billion investment in transit infrastructure, and the value of that investment can be seen each day as area residents take 180,000 trips on Metro. What began as a bold experiment nearly 60 years ago when the U.S. Congress ratified a compact between Missouri and Illinois, establishing the Bi-State Development Agency, continues to remain faithful to its mission to drive “regional economic development through excellence in transportation.” Today, operating as Metro, the Agency fills a vital role, connecting people to employment centers, medical and recreational facilities, and other key destinations throughout the area. In doing so, this year’s performance has been outstanding. O U T S T A N D I N G R E S U LT S ! While Metro continues to reduce internal costs, the staff works hard to improve service, performance and above all, the customers’ commuting experience. From the front-line transit professionals who operate our trains, buses and vans, to the behind-the-scenes support and technical staff, each of Metro’s 2,400 employees recognizes and embraces the importance of providing quality transit service to our region. • Metro carried 54 million passengers, representing an 8.5 percent system-wide increase over the previous year. • The Agency opened the Shrewsbury I-44 MetroLink Branch and the new Riverview-Hall MetroBus Transfer Center. JEFFR EY WATSON • MetroLink generated a 31.4 percent increase in ridership over the last fiscal year and, according to a recent report by the American Public Transportation Association, Metro operates the second fastest growing light rail system in America, right behind Denver, Colorado. • Metro and the region saw the benefits of Metro Redefined, the first total redesign of the region’s transit services in nearly 40 years. • Metro completed its fifth consecutive year of a balanced budget without service cuts, and the overall taxpayer subsidy per passenger was reduced in Fiscal Year 2007 by 6.5 percent to an average of $2.30 per passenger, despite the increase in expenses due to normal inflation and the operation of the new eight mile Shrewsbury I-44 MetroLink Branch. STRONG SUPPORT! The progress the Agency has achieved would not have been possible without the support JEFFR EY K. WATSON CHAIRMAN of our Illinois and Missouri stakeholders. At the start of 2007, Metro projected a $17 million transit operations deficit in Fiscal Year 2008. In addition, Metro staff identified $3 million in additional transit service costs associated with the I-64 reconstruction project. To avoid this crisis, Metro staff and regional, state, civic and business leaders successfully developed a strategy to address the Agency’s budget shortfall. We owe much of our continued success to the region’s leadership who made it possible for transit service to continue without interruption. Those measures included: • The Missouri General Assembly approved a Fuel Tax Exemption for Missouri’s transit providers which Governor Matt Blunt signed into law. • Missouri and Illinois stakeholders who sit on the Board of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments allocated $6 million in emergency funding to help Metro cover transit expenses related to the highway shut down. • The Missouri Department of Transportation provided Metro with a $3 million ridership incentive plan for the two years of the reconstruction project. On behalf of the Board of Commissioners and staff of Metro, thank you for your continued use and support of the region’s mass transit system. Preserving what we’ve built and looking toward future expansion of our bus, rail and van service network is key to our region’s economic future. METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/3 KEVIN CAHILL SECRETARY MISSOURI FONZY COLEMAN ILLINOIS DAVID DIETZEL TREASURER ILLINOIS BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TADAS KICIELINSKI ILLINOIS DR. RICHARD LABORE MISSOURI LEWIS MCKINNEY, JR. VICE CHAIRMAN MISSOURI DR . JAMES ROSBORG ILLINOIS VINCENT SCHOEMEHL MISSOURI Metro’s 10-member Board provides overall leadership and policy direction for the Agency, and is comprised of five members from Missouri and five from Illinois. In Missouri, members are selected by the Governor from recommendations by the Mayor of the City of St. Louis and the St. Louis County Executive. In Illinois, the Chairman of the Board for both St. Clair and Madison Counties appoints their representatives. Members of the Board serve their 5-year terms without compensation and must be a resident voter of their state as well as reside within the Bi-State metropolitan region. HUGH SCOTT III MISSOURI METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/4 Message from the Regional Stakeholders Metro, the region’s public transportation provider, has become a national model of excellence and quality. Representatives from transit systems across the United States come to our region to learn how to replicate Metro’s efficient maintenance and operations programs. An additional source of pride is the rapid growth of our MetroLink light rail system. According to an October 2007 survey by the American Public Transportation Association, the St. Louis area had the second fastest growing light rail system in America at that time. CHAR LIE A. DOOLEY ST. LOUIS COUNTY EXECUTIVE In Fiscal Year 2007, Metro celebrated several other positive milestones. Chief among these are the 54 million passenger boardings reported on MetroBus, MetroLink and Metro Call-A-Ride, making it clear that mass transit has become a more popular transportation choice for individuals who live, work and play in our community. Increasingly, people in our region are making the decision to park their cars and try transit. That makes the future of the Metro system critical to the success of the Bi-State area. ALAN DUNSTAN CHAIRMAN, MADISON COUNTY BOARD We invite you to review the accomplishments of Fiscal Year 2007, and to join in the regional discussion about the future of public transit. As you take a look at the contents of this Annual Report, we believe you will share our pride in an award-winning public transit system that helps to fuel the regional economy and stimulate tourism by connecting people to the important destinations of their lives. MAR K A. KER N CHAIRMAN, ST. CLAIR COUNTY BOARD FRANCIS G. SLAY MAYOR, CITY OF ST. LOUIS METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/5 METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/6 METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/7 Metro brings Value to Our Region in North St. Louis City, provides convenience store services to Metro commuters. In addition, it offers public restrooms, a drinking fountain, climate-controlled passenger waiting areas and an ATM. “Metro has brought more life to this area,” said Ahmad Nasser, Christy’s Metro operator. “There was hardly anyone at that corner before Metro came here.” ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The direct benefits of public transportation are obvious. Public transit connects people with important destinations. Use of public transit reduces traffic congestion and improves air quality. But public transit agencies like Metro do even more for their communities. Transit spurs economic development and promotes regional stability and growth. The Metro-Meridian Parking Facility in Brentwood, Missouri is one example. DCM Group owned property that Metro was considering for customer parking and a MetroBus transfer point. DCM Group also needed parking for its Meridian Tower office building tenants. The two organizations collaborated to build the garage, which opened in June 2007. Metro has approximately two-thirds of the parking spaces and DCM has the other third. “Both companies shared in the construction costs and it has worked great for everybody,” said Alan Skop, president of DCM Group. Metro’s presence also created interest in new developments in areas such as Clayton, MO. “The Trianon development is there because of MetroLink,” said Catherine Powers, Director of Planning and Development for Clayton. “The developer anticipates heavy MetroLink use from its residents, since the station is directly across the street.” Ahmad Nasser, convenience store owner, welcomes a transit commuter to Christy's Metro. CONTINUE D COMMITME NT TO AR EA E MPLOYE R S Powers added that Clayton’s Planning Commission is considering overlay districts in areas surrounding MetroLink stations. These overlay districts have their own zoning designations, require less parking and feature easy transit access such as sidewalks or plazas leading to stations. Maplewood is another community that realizes the economic impact of Metro. Since the MetroLink station opened, Maplewood has received many inquiries from developers considering projects there. “MetroLink has definitely had a positive impact in our area,” said Rachelle L’Ecuyer, Director of Community Development for the City of Maplewood. “It’s gotten people’s attention.” Metro has also had a positive impact on smaller companies, like Christy’s Metro, a convenience store at the Riverview-Hall MetroBus Center. Christy’s Metro, located Photo to the left: Metro-Meridan Parking Facility, Brentwood, MO There was a time when all roads led downtown. No more. The downtown St. Louis business district continues to be joined by centers of employment and commerce throughout the region. When employers seek to build or maintain a workforce, they know one of their competitive advantages will be easy access to the work location. Since its beginning, Metro has been an important partner in that pursuit. This year the Agency continued to provide critical transit options in the face of the area’s largest reconstruction project to date. Long before the I-64/40 reconstruction project got underway, Metro committed to expanding service options for those who would be most severely impacted. The agency examined existing bus routes, and began discussions with area schools and businesses to create the best possible solutions. METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/8 METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/9 Value to Our Region continued Metro’s plans included traveling farther southwest to the Pacific area, expanding bus service in West St. Louis County, creating better connectivity with downtown St. Louis via I-44, and creating better connections to employment centers like St. Luke’s, St. John’s, Delmar Gardens, Woodlake Office Park in Chesterfield, Anheuser-Busch, Ameren UE, Wachovia, Sigma Aldrich, MSD and the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. Metro also presented area businesses with the opportunity to offer its transit benefit program, known as PERC (Partial Expense Reduction for Commuters). PERC helps employers save money on payroll taxes by enabling them to sell transit passes on a pre-tax basis. Participating employees also reap the financial benefits of reduced taxable incomes. In addition to saving employers and employees money, PERC customers saw an opportunity to use commute time for reading and other productive activities. More than 100 local employers of varying sizes are making nearly 7,000 monthly transit passes available to their PERC program participants. Chris Marchioro, Manager of HR Business Services for Ameren, was instrumental in getting his company signed Chris Marchioro, Manager of HR Business Services for Ameren, helps employees take advantage of public transportation. up for PERC. "We had a group of employees already using transit who were asking us to make the PERC program available," notes Marchioro. “With I-64 scheduled to be closed, we decided the time was right. We signed up, making Metro passes available to employees on a pre-tax basis and also subsidizing the cost of the monthly passes by 50 percent." Marchioro says, “Our employees are thrilled to have this in place, and reducing the number of commuters on the roadways is in line with our company's overall commitment to the environment.” Additional PERC customers include Barnes Jewish Hospital, Commerce Bank, Enterprise Leasing, and many small and mid-size organizations like Finninger’s Catering Services and Delmar Gardens West. SPECIAL EVENTS DRIVE METRO RIDERSHIP EVEN HIGHER Routes added early in 2007 include service to the popular Chesterfield Commons retail center in Chesterfield Valley. Daily commuters comprise the vast majority of Metro riders, but there is also a significant group of commuters who count on MetroBus and MetroLink for special occasions. From sporting events and conventions to the Komen Race for the Cure, the St. Louis area saw no shortage of special events in the last year, and Metro was the way to go for many participants. Metro boarded nearly 1.9 million special event riders in FY 2007. Metro makes getting to and from the games part of the fun for many St. Louis sports fans. MetroLink and MetroBus service to Busch Stadium, the Edward Jones Dome and Scottrade Center enable fans to sit back and enjoy the ride, avoiding both game day traffic and parking expenses. Brian Hall, Chief Marketing Officer for the St. Louis CVC, pictured at the CVC’s new Visitor’s Center at Lambert St. Louis International Airport, where arriving passengers frequently request information on how they can use MetroLink to get around St. Louis. Metro also helped convention goers get around town during FY 2007. Many visitors to St. Louis used the two Lambert Airport MetroLink stations to connect to Clayton and downtown St. Louis hotels, and both bus and rail provided out-of-town guests with a direct link to area shopping, recreation, dining and many other popular St. Louis tourist attractions. Brian Hall, Chief Marketing Officer for the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, says Metro is an asset when working to attract visitors to the area. METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/10 METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/11 Value to Our Region continued “MetroLink offers St. Louis yet another competitive advantage in attracting large meetings and events to the region,” Hall states. “Meeting planners and attendees are impressed by the convenience, comfort and cost of the service, and have come to rely on MetroLink to move their groups between the airport and area hotels, restaurants and meeting venues.” METRO SECURITY To help ensure the security of its customers, employees and property, Metro uses a combination of professional law enforcement and advanced technology to protect the region’s transit system. The newest addition to the Metro Security team is the Mobile Command Center. In an emergency, the new Command Center allows security officers to work more efficiently with local law enforcement, emergency responders and contracted security staff. The vehicle also serves as a back up to Metro’s Communications Center and is outfitted with surveillance, computer and wireless capabilities. The Mobile Command Center, a recycled MetroBus completely refurbished by Metro employees, features seven monitors and a satellite feed, allowing security personnel to access news broadcasts both locally and nationally. The security staff also has the capability to remotely view any of the Closed Circuit TV cameras within the Metro System. It has capacity for six to eight officers to work inside the vehicle, and has three radio workstations that allow for visual and audio communications with all buses and trains, Metro Security and other emergency responders. The Mobile Command Center was made possible through a $1.1 million dollar transit security grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Metro’s Security Department also expanded the role of its officers to include a Security Transit Service Manager (TSM). The first Metro facility to benefit from having an on-site Security TSM was the Riverview-Hall MetroBus Transfer Center. The function of the Security TSM is to assist customers, provide additional security presence and support MetroBus operators at various locations. This concept will be expanded to other MetroBus Transfer Centers in FY 2008. C U S TO M E R S E R V I C E I N FY 2 0 07 Metro’s Customer Service Department is both high-touch and high-tech in its efforts to assist the region’s public transportation commuters. Customer interest and inquiries grew significantly with the opening of the new Shrewsbury I-44 MetroLink Branch. Customer Service Representatives answered 551,774 telephone customer calls in FY 2007. In addition, as more customers turn to the Internet and e-mail, Metro staff responded to 9,599 customer e-mails, a 22.22 percent increase over FY 2006. Photo to the left: The new Metro-Meridian Parking Facility, with more than 900 free parking spaces for Metro customers, introduced a whole new audience to the Metro system during the Komen Foundation’s 2007 “St. Louis Race for the Cure.” Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Metro staffs Transit Information lines to assist customers with questions about using the Metro system. The Shrewsbury I-44 MetroLink Branch opening led to the opening of a second MetroRide Center at the Clayton MetroLink Station and Clayton MetroBus Transfer Center. Clayton’s MetroRide Center staff recorded 18,609 transactions during the first eleven months of operation. The Downtown and Clayton MetroRide Centers together generated pass and ticket sales of $1,769,705. Customer Service also improved its automated systems, giving customers 24/7 access to transit information. More than 580 rider alerts on the Metro website gave customers information about planned or emergency changes in MetroLink or MetroBus service. In FY 2007, visits to the Metro Alert pages averaged nearly 35,000 web visits per month. The on-line trip planning software – TripFinder – averaged over 59,000 web visits each month compared to almost 36,000 per month in FY 2006. METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/12 The Clayton MetroBus Center connects MetroLink to seven MetroBus routes. 93 .5% on-time performance METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/13 MetroBus The final phase of Metro Redefined is complete, successfully improving the design, performance and quality of Metro’s integrated bus, rail and van system. METRO REDEFINED During FY 2007, Metro Redefined dramatically enhanced the system’s efficiency by expanding MetroBus service and increasing frequency on several routes across the region. Some of the most significant route modifications include expanding service from MidCounty and North County to downtown, introducing the Kirkwood/Webster Shuttle, which serves the Sunnen MetroLink Station, and expanding service from West County to connect to the Brentwood I-64 MetroLink Station. Metro also added weekend service to South County, new 15-minute express service to downtown, built a new MetroBus park-ride lot located at the Riverview-Hall MetroBus Transfer Center and began serving park-ride lots at the South County Education Center, Hoods at Halls Ferry and Richardson Roads in Jefferson County. This fiscal year saw the implementation of the Universal Pass program, which ON-TIME PERFORMANCE 93.5% 91.8% 91.2% 90.1% 89.1% FY/03 FY/04 FY/05 FY/06 FY/07 provides access to public transportation for Washington University students, faculty and full-time employees. In FY 2007, Washington University pass holders took nearly 2 million rides on Metro. According to a Washington University survey, 45 percent of those pass holders said they used the Metro pass weekly. The opening of the Shrewsbury I-44 MetroLink Branch completed the final phase of Metro Redefined, a three-year transit operations effort that successfully improved the design, performance and quality of Metro’s integrated bus, rail and van system. This concerted effort is a result of the exceptional work and progress that Metro staff and employees have made to improve the system’s reliability and to enhance the region’s public transit experience. M E T R O B U S O P E R AT I O N S During FY 2007, Metro implemented system-wide route and schedule adjustments to better meet the commuter demand. With these modifications, MetroBus on-time performance ranked among the best in the industry, averaging 93.5 percent for the fiscal year. In addition, MetroBus operators’ safe driving practices resulted in only two accidents per 100,000 miles, another benchmark ranking among the best in the country. Customer complaints dropped nearly 14 percent per 100,000 boardings KELLY M., METRO CUSTOMER “The ongoing improvements that Metro is making to both the MetroBus system and MetroLink have enabled me to participate more fully in the entire St. Louis community.” METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/14 METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/15 MetroBus continued and MetroBus traveled 17,307 miles between road calls. And during this period, Metro celebrated the grand opening of the Riverview-Hall MetroBus Transfer Center. The transfer center provides more transportation options for citizens of North St. Louis City and County, offering a lighted bus loop with eight bus bays, a canopy-covered passenger platform, an information kiosk and a 45-space commuter parking lot, the first MetroBus park-ride lot to serve the North St. Louis area. The inside of the facility has a climate-controlled passenger waiting area, public and operator restrooms and a convenience store. The Riverview-Hall MetroBus Transfer Center provides MetroBus service for eight North St. Louis City and County routes. METRO ACCESSIBLE BUS STOP PR OJECT In FY 2007, Metro initiated a major effort to improve the accessibility of its bus stops. The Agency evaluated over 9,000 Missouri REVENUE MILES BETWEEN ROADCALLS 17,307 17,191 16,184 15,457 12,878 FY/03 FY/04 FY/05 FY/06 FY/07 bus stops and identified those stops most in need of improvement. Metro launched an education and coordination campaign designed to encourage the improvement of bus stops and sidewalks throughout the St. Louis region. In May 2007, Metro and the East-West Gateway Council of Governments hosted an informational workshop to promote bus stop accessibility and share information on bus stop location and accessibility with local governments, private firms, Missouri Department of Transportation, the City of St. Louis, and St. Louis County. As a result of this effort, progress is being made to construct bus stops which meet ADA standards. Over the past several years, Metro has made other improvements in the accessibility of its services. The MetroBus and Call-A-Ride fleets are equipped with lifts to accommodate passengers using wheelchairs and other mobility devices, and MetroLink stations and light rail vehicles are fully accessible. A L L E V I AT I N G C O N G E S T I O N In preparation for the I-64 shutdown, Metro conducted public meetings to discuss with commuters proposed service enhancements along the I-64 corridor. As a result, the Agency made significant improvements to accommodate those who might consider parking their cars and trying transit. Metro also received a $3 million grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation to promote the transit system and educate new riders over the next two years. 17,307 miles between road calls METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/16 22 Million passengers boarded METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/17 MetroLink The number of commuters using MetroLink skyrocketed in FY 2007. Commuters boarded the light rail transit system nearly 22 million times during the year, or five million more than in FY 2006. M E T R O L I N K T O D AY Already trending upward for the last several years, the number of commuters using MetroLink continues to rise. Commuters came aboard the region’s light rail transit system nearly 22 million times during the year. That’s five million more passenger boardings than the light rail system handled in FY 2006. The continued building of system ridership can be attributed to variables beyond fuel prices and traffic congestion. The most exciting development contributing to the sharp rise in ridership has been the mass appeal of the transit system’s new MetroLink extension. The eight-mile extension with nine new stations opened to enthusiastic crowds on August 26, 2006, and now provides light rail access to more employment centers, medical complexes, schools, entertainment and shopping venues. The extension, called the Shrewsbury I-44 METROLINK ANNUAL BOARDINGS (IN MILLIONS) 21.8 16.6 15.6 14.8 14.5 FY/03 FY/04 FY/05 FY/06 FY/07 MetroLink Branch, connects the Lambert Airport MetroLink Branch to University City, Clayton, Richmond Heights, Brentwood, Maplewood and Shrewsbury. The extension not only serves the region by carrying passengers to destinations along the new portion of the alignment, but also provides residents in those communities with rail access to key destinations including Lambert St. Louis International Airport, downtown St. Louis and Illinois. In comparison with other St. Louis area light rail projects, including the Illinois extension and the original Phase One segment, the total usage on MetroLink including the Shrewsbury I-44 MetroLink Branch exceeds Metro’s previous experience for early total ridership. In fact, current ridership patterns demonstrate that average daily boardings could exceed the 2025 annual projection of 83,105 passengers after just two full years of operation. System reliability also contributes to the popularity of MetroLink. Through preventative maintenance and safe operation of the system, Metro employees provide one of the nation’s most dependable light rail systems. Employees delivered an impressive 20 percent improvement in the critical “Vehicle Miles per Failure” measurement. On-time performance, already an impressive 97.5 percent, rose to 98.5 percent this fiscal year. KAR EN S., METRO CUSTOMER “I currently take three buses and MetroLink. I save gas money and it is downtime on my way to work in both Clayton and downtown. I need my downtime. It’s very therapeutic and I get a lot of cross-stitching done!” METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/18 MetroLink continued To attract even more riders to the system, Metro added new Park-Ride options in Shrewsbury, Brentwood and Clayton, making MetroLink more accessible to commuters near I-44 and I-64. There are now nearly 10,000 free parking spaces at Metro Park-Ride lots connected to MetroLink in Missouri and Illinois, plus an additional 800 spaces available at the Clayton MetroLink Station for customers using a specially priced Metro Transit/Parking pass. Metro also opened its second MetroRide Customer Service Center at the Clayton MetroLink Station. This full-service customer center offers a one-stop shop for Metro schedules, tickets and passes. P R E PA R I N G F O R T H E F U T U R E While the region celebrates the success of the newly expanded system, Metro also focused on critical repairs and upgrades to AN AWAR D WI N N I NG SYSTE M A sample of awards won by the Metro Construction Group (MCG) during construction of the Cross County MetroLink Extension Build America Award – Highway and New Construction Associated General Contractors of America National Recognition Award for Engineering Excellence American Council of Engineering Companies MetroLink. The upgrades provided added reliability, safety and comfort to a system already working well. The design phase for a new pocket track east of the Fairview Heights MetroLink Station began. Pocket tracks provide space to turn trains. The new pocket track in Fairview Heights, Illinois will be similar to the one currently in place near the Emerson Park MetroLink Station. The new track will allow Metro to extend the operation of the Shrewsbury I-44 MetroLink Branch beyond the Emerson Park MetroLink Station to Fairview Heights. The design phase for this project is complete and construction is scheduled for completion by the end of 2008. A new electrical substation, providing power to MetroLink trains, was installed near Union Station this fiscal year. The power station adds to the reliability of the system by providing another source of electricity in the downtown St. Louis core area. The system will also gain more flexibility in the core area it serves due to the installation of remote control track switches and signalization near Busch Stadium. Construction, which began in FY 2007, is expected to be complete in FY 2008. The original rails in the system also saw improvement. Phase One of MetroLink opened in 1993 and highway grade crossing surfaces needed to be replaced at most MetroLink grade crossings between the Grand and Wellston MetroLink Stations. These improvements along with a trackresurfacing project from Forest Park to 5th & Missouri provide improved ride quality. The remaining Phase One track structure will be improved in FY 2008. Grand Conceptor Award for Engineering Excellence American Council of Engineering Companies Construction Keystone Award Project of the Year in General ContractorConstruction Manager Industrial/ Infrastructure Projects Associated General Contractors of St. Louis Best Practices Award for Materials Management St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers Construction Keystone Award Project of the Year in Specialty ContractorsBuilding Projects over $2 Million Associated General Contractors of St. Louis Regional Excellence Infrastructure and Station Finishes St. Louis Construction News and Real Estate Quality Concrete Award Missouri Chapter Concrete Council 98 .5% on-time performance METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/19 ARTS IN TRANSIT The attractiveness of the new MetroLink extension drew applause from the art community and the community at large. The Aluminum Silhouette Panels (shown on page 18), designed by St. Louis artisans Andy Cross with Carl Harris and Tai Tessmer, adorn the Catlin Wall along Forest Park Parkway, demonstrating that necessary architectural structures can also be made beautiful. It is one of 6 pieces of artwork by artists with national and international reputations dedicated in October 2006. They now join other pieces of art residing throughout the transit system. In addition to the pieces fixed in the Metro infrastructure, Metro Arts in Transit also puts art on the road through art buses. Sponsored by both public and private organizations around the region, Metro held 6 bus painting events in FY 2007 and has 6 art buses currently operating in the MetroBus fleet. METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/20 Metro Call-A-Ride Operator, Sharon Richmond, ensures that her customers are secure when boarding Call-A-Ride vans. 660,000 passenger boardings METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/21 Metro Call-A-Ride Metro customers with disabilities experienced significant service improvements, enabling them to use the transit system more independently and efficiently. CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ADA SERVICES Last summer, Metro’s ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Services Department initiated a Travel Training Program to teach people with disabilities how to use MetroBus and MetroLink fixed-route services. A customized one-on-one evaluation focuses on each person’s individual skill level and needs. Training continues until the person can demonstrate the skills necessary to independently use Metro’s fixed-route services for a particular destination. In FY 2007, six qualified instructors trained more than 160 customers. METRO CALL-A-RIDE Customers who use Metro Call-A-Ride now have a considerably shorter wait time when calling to schedule a trip. In April 2007, Metro implemented a new automated scheduling and dispatch system for 49.88 22.14 21.06 13.80 14.50 FY/03 FY/04 FY/05 FY/06 FY/07 Call-A-Ride that has significantly improved the trip-booking process. As a result, a customer’s telephone wait time has been reduced by 27%. Call-A-Ride reservationists and customer assistance representatives handled more than 441,000 telephone calls in FY 2007. The availability of vehicles grew significantly at the end of the fiscal year. Six new vans were added to the fleet in the fourth quarter, allowing Metro to better respond to the demand for service. Customers have recognized these service enhancements, and the result has been a sharp decline in customer complaints. Call-A-Ride complaints, as shown in the chart on this page, are down from the previous fiscal year and are only 30% of what they were five years ago. During this time period, Metro provided 5.95 million miles of Call-A-Ride service. Due to improved efficiency in scheduling, the Agency maintained its ridership level while reducing miles traveled. In FY 2007, 663,869 passengers boarded Call-A-Ride; about the same as last fiscal year. This averaged 2,320 customer boardings each weekday. More than 90% of the riders were ADA-eligible customers who have some form of disability recognized under the ADA. MAR LENE H., METRO CUSTOMER “I use Metro on a daily basis, and I consider it to be an asset to the general public, as well as people who are physically challenged.” METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/22 CAPTAIN ROB AKINS, ULTIMATE JET “The Airport is a perfect location for our customers! This is a first class facility for us to use, and a great place to spend the day. We avoid traffic and have all the necessary conveniences that a pilot demands.” St. Louis Downtown Airport is the 3rd busiest airport in Illinois; 2nd busiest in the St. Louis region METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/23 Business Enterprises Over the last few years, America’s National Parks have experienced a steady decline in visitor attendance. In FY 2007, the Gateway Arch Riverfront initiated several projects aimed at reversing this trend. G AT E WAY A R C H R I V E R F R O N T In January 2007, the Gateway Arch Riverfront launched a completely redesigned website. The new www.gatewayarch.com is designed to provide users logical navigation to find the information they need to plan their visit to the Gateway Arch Riverfront. It offers guests highly upgraded visuals with new photography and a uniform feel to our expanding campus offerings, which now include Gateway Arch Bike Rentals and Gateway Air Tours in addition to its established enterprises. In Spring 2007, the Gateway Arch began its first master plan for signage in and around the park. The plan is designed to better inform Gateway Arch guests during their visit by providing uniformity and clarity in signage design and placement. Project goals include lengthening the time spent by guests, improving the synergy of the park with the city and building stronger regional awareness of the park. Implementation of the plan’s findings will begin in FY 2008. Beginning in FY 2006, potential upgrades to the Gateway Arch Transportation System were proposed to improve the guest experience. In FY 2007, prototypes for two of the suggested upgrades were completed. The eight capsules that transport guests to the top of the Arch are not air-conditioned. To combat the extremely hot St. Louis summer, an air circulation system was designed and prototyped for one of the capsules. Additionally, the same capsule was outfitted with prototype doors containing much larger windows. The larger windows provide guests with a vastly improved view of the interior of the Gateway Arch as they ride to the top. The success of these prototypes will lead to full implementation of these improvements by the end of next fiscal year. G AT E WAY A R C H R I V E R B O AT S The Gateway Arch Riverboats continued to be a popular venue for guests who enjoy dinner cruises and private charters aboard the Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher. The Friday Late Night Cruises, sponsored by Clear Channel Radio, also proved to be a hit, selling out every week throughout the season. This year, Blues Cruises more than doubled the number of passengers. In the spring, Metro introduced a monthly Sunday Brunch Cruise, paving the way for other new markets such as Gospel Cruises for the upcoming season. Another feature of the Gateway Arch Riverboats is the Arch View Café. The Café provides a dining opportunity for guests visiting the Riverfront and Riverboats and continues to expand its menu options. Throughout the year, the Riverboats catering staff made special arrangements to prepare over 6,000 pre-ordered lunches for groups visiting the Gateway Arch Riverfront. S T. L O U I S D O W N T O W N A I R P O R T St. Louis Downtown Airport continued to be the third busiest airport in Illinois and was ranked the 42nd busiest general aviation airport in the nation. Though skyrocketing cost of fuel adversely affected airport operations, resulting in an 18 percent decline in the number of takeoffs and landings, revenue from fuel sales remained steady due to more frequent use by larger aircraft. Steady fuel sales coupled with expansion of tenant ground leases enabled airport revenues and income to post double-digit increases for the fiscal year. Airport growth remained strong throughout the year. New facilities for A&S Helicopters and Midcoast Aviation are under construction and the new $7.3 million federally-funded Federal Aviation Administration traffic control tower is ahead of schedule and due to open in June 2008. Midcoast completed a new 145,000-square-foot Boeing 737-capable maintenance hangar in April 2007. As a result of an incentive package developed through unprecedented cooperation among state and local entities, earthwork began on an even larger Boeing 757-capable facility expected to be operational in 2008. ANOTH E R S IGN I F ICANT M I LE STON E In March, Airport Director Bob McDaniel was honored for outstanding leadership during Aviation Industry Week at the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) 2007 Leadership Conference. NATA recognizes one airport manager each year with the Airport Executive Partnership Award for excellence in nurturing the partnership between the airport and its tenants. METRO 2007 FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT PG/24 Financials METRO TRANSIT 2007 ARCH TRAM SYSTEM 2006 2007 2006 40,213,115 $ 5,426,935 $ 5,547,644 2,265,482 2,238,480 29,120 25,453 47,016,136 42,451,595 5,456,055 5,573,097 117,832,732 117,509,340 1,090,508 1,088,471 Materials and supplies 25,211,324 24,020,376 149,273 170,725 Services 20,733,284 17,047,868 767,584 733,762 6,136,126 6,804,223 44,809 38,138 1,060,899 1,060,900 635,200 682,963 Electricity, telephone, leases, & other general expenses 11,226,056 9,586,075 539,916 573,326 Depreciation and amortization 77,497,004 73,437,551 451,645 512,383 Total expenses 259,697,425 249,466,333 3,678,935 3,799,768 Operating income (loss) (212,681,289) (207,014,738) 1,777,120 1,773,329 120,257,510 82,778,545 (296,438) 224,014 (92,423,779) (124,236,193) 1,480,682 1,997,343 35,056,965 39,215,488 - - - 518,175 - (193,896) Change in net assets (57,366,814) (84,502,530) 1,480,682 1,803,447 Total net assets prior year 930,364,316 1,014,866,846 9,977,085 8,173,639 $ 872,997,502 $ 930,364,316 $ 11,457,767 $ 9,977,086 O P E R AT I N G R E V E N U E S Passenger and service revenues Other Total operating revenues $ 44,750,654 $ O P E R AT I N G E X P E N S E S Wages and benefits Casualty and liability costs Interfund administrative charges Total non-operating revenues (expenses) Income (Loss) before contributions and transfers Capital contributions Transfers in (out) Total net assets current year Please refer to www.metrostlouis.org > Inside Metro > Annual Reports > Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for a complete set of the 2007 audited financial reports. Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting presented by the Government Finance Officer Association of the United States and Canada ARCH PA R K I N G FA C I L I T Y R I V E R F R O N T AT T R A C T I O N S S T. L O U I S D OWNTOWN AI R P ORT AGENCY 2007 2006 2007 2006 2007 2006 2007 $ 1,883,355 $ 1,800,694 $ 2,894,217 $ 3,173,495 $ 1,195,242 $ 1,072,174 2,704 4,899 63,790 63,753 205,494 200,348 2,545,657 2,671,168 1,886,059 1,805,593 2,958,007 3,237,248 1,400,736 1,272,522 2,545,657 2,671,168 361,024 370,347 1,238,833 1,359,274 457,996 480,695 1,462,186 1,450,864 20,440 32,419 709,000 787,598 108,553 100,818 19,041 121,421 423,410 410,187 261,295 263,002 82,371 88,506 757,097 743,122 33,954 35,165 154,011 172,026 76,894 86,982 - - 150,885 180,559 143,925 161,099 70,037 63,672 - - 52,778 60,877 289,898 316,858 201,246 153,597 205,974 260,378 450,953 464,522 291,490 267,266 783,273 1,141,183 7,783 4,348 1,493,444 1,554,076 3,088,452 3,327,123 1,780,370 2,115,453 2,452,081 2,580,133 392,615 251,517 (130,445) (89,875) (379,634) (842,931) 93,576 91,035 (142,156) (188,177) 13,890 (370) 37,769 21,051 18,609 13,324 250,459 63,340 (116,555) (90,245) (341,865) (821,880) 112,185 104,359 - - - 254,907 17,961 353,449 - - - (76,220) - 55,055 - 56,499 - (359,613) 250,459 (12,880) (116,555) 219,717 (323,904) (411,932) 112,185 (255,254) 1,148,713 1,161,594 3,684,232 3,464,515 13,691,182 14,103,112 165,942 421,196 $ 1,399,172 $ 1,148,714 $ 3,567,677 $ 3,684,232 $13,367,278 $ 13,691,180 278,127 $ 165,942 $ $ - 2006 $ - Metro’s Environmental Initiatives In FY 2007, Metro continued to demonstrate its commitment to the environment. With ridership at record levels, Metro is making it possible for growing numbers of area commuters to do their share for clean air. A recent national study shows that using public transportation can reduce carbon dioxide emissions up to 30 percent. But Metro isn’t relying on its passengers alone to help protect our environment; the Agency is making transit an even more environmentally friendly alternative through a series of practices that help to ensure the vehicles carrying its passengers are also contributing to cleaner air in our region. Metro has minimized overall fleet emissions by running 30 percent of its fleet on renewable biofuels and compressed natural gas, which are much cleaner fuels and help to reduce dependence on foreign oil. Metro currently displaces 646,000 gallons of conventional diesel fuel annually by using these alternatives. All vehicles are regularly checked for maintenance and emissions problems and, if one is not operating or emitting properly, it is removed from service. Metro plans on furthering its environmental stewardship in the coming years with the addition of its 2007, 2008 and 2009 vehicles. These vehicles will be 90 percent cleaner than the 2004 models. Metro also is committed to reducing solid waste, increasing the use of recyclables, and using environmentally friendly paints and cleaning products on its vehicles. In addition, Metro works with major employers in the St. Louis region to help establish transit programs at their worksites in order to make transit a more attractive option for their employees. These work-based programs are helping to fuel Metro’s record ridership, and will go a long way toward helping to relieve traffic congestion and related air pollution during the I-64 reconstruction project in the years to come. Thanks to Warren Stemme for access to his soybean farm in Maryland Heights, MO. Soybeans are a major ingredient in alternative fuels used by Metro. 707 NORTH FIR ST STR EET ST. LOUIS, MO 63102-2595 WWW.METROSTLOUIS.ORG PHONE: 314.982.1400