Blueprint for Blueprint for TomorrowTomorrow

Fairhope City Council Fairhope City Council

February 9, 2008February 9, 2008

Eastern ShoreEastern ShorePublic Transit StudyPublic Transit Study

Gresham Smith & PartnersGresham Smith & Partners

McDonald Transit AssociatesMcDonald Transit Associates

20082008

Purpose of the StudyPurpose of the Study

Identify transportation needs for Identify transportation needs for residents, employers, and visitors residents, employers, and visitors in the cities of Daphne, Fairhope, in the cities of Daphne, Fairhope, and Spanish Fortand Spanish Fort

Develop financially feasible Develop financially feasible recommendations to meet those recommendations to meet those needsneeds

BackgroundBackground

County population projected to County population projected to increase by 29%increase by 29%

In the three cities:In the three cities:– 35% increase in population over 10 35% increase in population over 10

yearsyears– 35% increase in traffic congestion over 35% increase in traffic congestion over

10 years10 years– Traffic and population growing at 3% Traffic and population growing at 3%

each yeareach year

Projected County Projected County PopulationPopulation

County Population

140,415165,691

191,000213,999

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

2000 2006 2011 2016

Population

Population GrowthPopulation Growth

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

18,000

20,000

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Daphne

Spanish Fort

Fairhope

EmploymentEmploymentConcentrationsConcentrations

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I-10

Coun

ty R

oad

27

State Route 104

County Road 64

Gre

eno

Rd

United States Highway 90

Spanish Fort Blvd

Stat

e R o

ute

2 25

Coun

ty R

oad

55

United States Highway 31

Coun

t y R

oad

49

Hic

kory

St

Daphne Ave

Hig

hway

55

Highway 32

Broa

d St

M

Silverhill Ave

Union Ave

Old

Spa

nish

Trl

Union St

Hol

ley S

t

Magnolia Ave

Uni

ted

Stat

es H

ighw

ay 9

8

Stat

e Ro

ute

181

Hol

ly S

t

Silver Hill Ave

Coun

ty R

oad

55

S t R

oute

59

Uni

ted

Stat

es H

ighw

ay 9

8

Eastern Shore Public Transportation Plan FDecember 2007

AutoAutoOwnershipOwnership

8%

7%

6%

5%

4%

3%

2%

14%

1%

% of Households

with <1 available

automobile

Commute PatternsCommute Patterns

From To# of

Workers% of Total

Baldwin County Baldwin County 45,208 68%

Mobile County 12,615 19%

Escambia County, FL 1,695 3%

Escambia County, AL 527 1%

Mobile County Baldwin County 3,425 5%

Escambia County, FL Baldwin County 1,975 3%

Escambia County, AL Baldwin County 752 1%

Total in these categories 66,197 100%

Public MeetingsPublic Meetings

65 attendees at 3 meetings65 attendees at 3 meetings Generally supportive of public Generally supportive of public

transittransit Need good marketing effortsNeed good marketing efforts Need to change people’s mindsets Need to change people’s mindsets

to get them to rideto get them to ride Service would need to be all day, Service would need to be all day,

not just 8 to 5not just 8 to 5 Must engage employersMust engage employers

Service OptionsService Options

Based on analysis and input Based on analysis and input develop list of possible servicesdevelop list of possible services

Take an evolving approachTake an evolving approach Be specific enough now to engage Be specific enough now to engage

public in next round of meetingspublic in next round of meetings Present in unbiased wayPresent in unbiased way

ROUTE 1ROUTE 1

– Highway 98 Spanish Fort to FairhopeHighway 98 Spanish Fort to Fairhope– 30 minute frequency30 minute frequency– 6:00 am to 8:00 pm6:00 am to 8:00 pm– Monday through SaturdayMonday through Saturday– Timed transfers at Thomas HospitalTimed transfers at Thomas Hospital

ROUTE 3ROUTE 3

Fairhope East West ResortFairhope East West Resort Marriot Grand - downtown Marriot Grand - downtown

Fairhope – Thomas HospitalFairhope – Thomas Hospital Sixty minute frequencySixty minute frequency 6:00 am to 8:00 pm6:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday through SaturdayMonday through Saturday Positive connection at hospital – Positive connection at hospital –

Route 1 and 4Route 1 and 4

ROUTE 4ROUTE 4

Fairhope – North South LocalFairhope – North South Local Sixty minute frequencySixty minute frequency 6:00 am to 8:00 pm6:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday through SaturdayMonday through Saturday Positive connection at hospital – Positive connection at hospital –

Route 1 and 4Route 1 and 4

OPTION AOPTION A

Enhance BRATSEnhance BRATS– Increase number of vehicles serving Increase number of vehicles serving

areaarea– Add more trips to BaylincAdd more trips to Baylinc– Maintain demand response and Maintain demand response and

subscription basis of servicesubscription basis of service

OPTION BOPTION B

Enhance BRATSEnhance BRATS Add carpool and vanpool programAdd carpool and vanpool program

– Work through SARPCWork through SARPC– Carpool matching firstCarpool matching first– Vanpools as demand warrantsVanpools as demand warrants– Work closely with employersWork closely with employers

OPTION COPTION C

Enhance BRATSEnhance BRATS Add carpool and vanpool programAdd carpool and vanpool program Add bus routesAdd bus routes

– Six days a week to startSix days a week to start– At least 12 hours per dayAt least 12 hours per day– Full size bus on Route 1Full size bus on Route 1– Small buses on all other routesSmall buses on all other routes

BRATSBRATS

Demand-response based systemDemand-response based system Provides fixed route service from Provides fixed route service from

specific sites with timed transfers to specific sites with timed transfers to other parts of countyother parts of county

Monday through Friday 6 a.m.-6 p.m.Monday through Friday 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Special contract service on weekendsSpecial contract service on weekends Efficient mode for large employer Efficient mode for large employer

transportation (drop off at one location)transportation (drop off at one location)

Public MeetingsPublic Meetings

Need connectivity; emphasis on Need connectivity; emphasis on sidewalks and bicycle accesssidewalks and bicycle access

Roads need to be safer for pedestrians Roads need to be safer for pedestrians and bicyclistsand bicyclists

Discussion about various funding ideasDiscussion about various funding ideas Need service for commuters to Mobile, Need service for commuters to Mobile,

PensacolaPensacola Need ferry service across bayNeed ferry service across bay Must be reasonably pricedMust be reasonably priced

Stakeholder InterviewsStakeholder Interviews

Few of the transportation needs are Few of the transportation needs are being met todaybeing met today

Service not available all day or in Service not available all day or in eveningsevenings

There is a need for transit service There is a need for transit service because of:because of:– Aging populationAging population– Cost of fuelCost of fuel– CongestionCongestion– TourismTourism

Stakeholder InterviewsStakeholder Interviews

Most do not see enough support Most do not see enough support for a local tax to fund transit for a local tax to fund transit serviceservice

Need for public transit services Need for public transit services will increasewill increase

Next Steps – for BFTNext Steps – for BFT

- Add carpool and vanpool program- Add carpool and vanpool program– Work through SARPCWork through SARPC– Carpool matching firstCarpool matching first– Emergi-ride program for commutersEmergi-ride program for commuters– Pull major employers together – match large Pull major employers together – match large

areas of needsareas of needs– Vanpools through BRATS as demand Vanpools through BRATS as demand

warrantswarrants– Communication of benefits of utilizing mass Communication of benefits of utilizing mass

transittransit

EEASTERN ASTERN SSHOREHORETTECHNOLOGY ANDECHNOLOGY AND

ResearchResearch PPARKARKFall, 2008

Presented by: Vern George

George Henry George PartnersCharles Dilks

DilksConsulting

27

PURPOSE OF THE EFFORTPURPOSE OF THE EFFORT PREPARE A STRATEGY TO ACHIEVE A

STRONG TECHNOLOGY SECTOR IN THE EASTERN SHORE ECONOMY

28

FOCUS OF THE CONSULTANT FOCUS OF THE CONSULTANT WORKWORK

CAN WE DO IT? Yes, we can

Is the resource base sufficient?

WHAT CAN IT BE?

Achievable job and related growth

HOW DO WE DO IT

Strategies and actions required

29

HOW DOHOW DO WE DO IT?WE DO IT?

Marketing to Existing Technology Companies

Creating a Joint College University Center

Developing a Technology and Research Park

Enhancing Entrepreneurial Services with state of the art Incubator

Efficient Organization for Implementing the Strategy

30

WHAT WILL IT CREATE?WHAT WILL IT CREATE?

Impressive Total Ten Year Tech Growth of 1,100 to 2,300 Jobs

Increased Governmental and Private Business Revenues

31

WHAT IS NEXT for BFT timeline?WHAT IS NEXT for BFT timeline?

Combined forces with BCEDA’s Energy Innovation effort.

Hire a professional to organize and begin efforts

Formulate Governance Structure

Technology Innovation Center

IMPLEMENTING A PRIVATE/PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP

TO REDUCE DEPENDANCE ON PETROLEUM

G-H-G Recommended G-H-G Recommended StrategiesStrategies Market to existing technology Market to existing technology

companiescompanies Create a joint college/university centerCreate a joint college/university center Develop technology/business parksDevelop technology/business parks Enhance entrepreneurial servicesEnhance entrepreneurial services Create a special purpose entityCreate a special purpose entity

– Identify startup fundingIdentify startup funding– Hire a permanent Executive DirectorHire a permanent Executive Director