September 23-25, 2019

Grand Island-Hastings-Kearney

Intercity Bus Feasibility Study

Mobility Management – Phase 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuWS4XGb-G4

• Welcome/Introductions

• NDOT Mobility Management Project

• Overview of Study

Scope / Schedule / Technical Committee

• Study Goals

• Existing Data, Community Conditions

• Community Outreach

• Key Questions

• Next Steps

Meeting Agenda

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History of Mobility Management Project

• Began over seven years ago

• Understand existing services

• Develop realistic projects to increase coordination and efficiencies among agencies

• Six Regions Developed

• Phase 2 =

3 Rounds of Regional Coordination Committee Meetings

• November 2016 - last mtg

Identified - Needs, gaps, strategies

• Seven projects initiated

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Project Overview Fast Forward…...2019 Phase 3

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July-Aug

2019

• Kickoff

• Collect Data

Sept

2019

• Review Data

• Public Input

Oct

2019

• Data Analysis

Nov-Dec

2019

• Develop Alternatives

• Public Input - 2

• Finalize Alternatives

Mar

2020

• Draft Report

• Public Input – 3

• Final Report

Schedule / Scope

• July 2019 to March 2020

• Monthly Project Team Meetings

• Technical Committee

• Stakeholder Interviews/Survey

Intercity Bus - Project Tasks

1. Develop Tech Committee2. Review Studies / plans3. Community Engagement4. Community Overview5. Existing Services6. Transit Needs7. Develop Alternatives / Prioritize8. Potential Funding Programs9. Operational Plan/Implementation10. Draft/Final Report

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Jan-Feb

2020

• Provide efficient mobility options

• Enhance economic activity by providing additional

mobility options to residents and visitors

• Coordinate with local representatives from each

community, existing providers, and other key

stakeholders

• Fill transportation gaps in the region

Study Goals / Objectives

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Existing Studies

• Existing Studies

2016 Statewide Intercity Bus Concept Plan

2017 Regional Transit Needs Assessment and Feasibility Study – Grand Island

• Existing Services

Regional, interstate bus

Local public transit

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Existing Conditions – Community Overview

• Review of Communities

Population growth

Travel patterns

Activity/Employment Centers

Transit dependent characteristics

• Existing Studies

• Existing Services

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Existing Conditions – Population Growth

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Growing Now: And Growing Into the Future…2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050

Adams Co (Hastings) 31,364 31,526 31,662 31,781 31,779 31,728 31,576 31,329 31,028

Buffalo Co (Kearney) 46,102 48,155 49,551 51,500 53,143 54,540 55,869 57,079 58,342

Hall Co (Grand Island) 58,607 59,395 59,911 60,148 60,271 60,300 60,091 59,547 58,748

Tri-city area 136,073 139,076 141,124 143,429 145,193 146,568 147,536 147,955 148,118

Source: Dec 2015 NE Co Projections, Center for Public Affairs Research, UNO

Existing Conditions – Population Growth

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Growing Now: And Growing Into the Future…2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050

Adams Co (Hastings) 31,364 31,526 31,662 31,781 31,779 31,728 31,576 31,329 31,028

Buffalo Co (Kearney) 46,102 48,155 49,551 51,500 53,143 54,540 55,869 57,079 58,342

Hall Co (Grand Island) 58,607 59,395 59,911 60,148 60,271 60,300 60,091 59,547 58,748

Tri-city area 136,073 139,076 141,124 143,429 145,193 146,568 147,536 147,955 148,118

Source: Dec 2015 NE Co Projections, Center for Public Affairs Research, UNO

Existing Transportation Services

• Burlington Trailways: Night service Omaha-Denver, Omaha-Indianapolis/Chicago

• ExpressArrow: Day service Omaha-Denver

• Navigator Express (no Sunday service): mid-day Kearney-Eppley Airport

• Local public transit

R.Y.D.E.

CRANE

Ponca Express

Central City Mini Bus

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Statewide Mobility Management

Existing Conditions -Travel Patterns

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Existing Conditions – Travel Patterns

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• Approximately 1,100 persons commute from Hastings to GI daily• Approx 800 commute from GI to Hastings daily• Approx 800 commute from Kearney to GI daily• Approx 750 commute from GI to Kearney

Source: 2014 LEHD Data

If 2% of these commuters (~3,500) were on a bus for the year === annual ridership for jobs would be 26,000 trips

+ other types of trips (medical, services, students, etc.)

Other Intercity Bus Programs/Similar Concepts

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Bustang Outrider

- Colorado Statewide

SW Wisconsin Area –

SMRT (Scenic Mississippi Regional

Transit)

La Crosse area

• Administered by WI DOT

• $3.00 one-way fare

• Mon – Fri; 530a – 7p

• 4-county area

• Focus commuters, elderly,

disabled residents, general

public, students

• 4 routes

• Technical Committee

• Stakeholders / Focus Groups• Elected Officials• Major Employers• City/County/Tribal Staff• Transit Providers• Human Service Agencies• Educational Institutions• Community Organizations

• Existing and Future Transit Riders

• General Public

• Other

Community Engagement – Target Markets

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Now, we need to hear from you….

Now, we need to hear from you!

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1. Do you think bus service connecting Grand Island, Hastings, and Kearney would be beneficial to the communities served? Will it provide more mobility options for residents?

2. Who do you think would use this intercity bus service? Students, employees, seniors, others?

3. What kinds of trips will people make—work trips, medical, school, other?

Key Questions – Why and Who?

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4. What locations in each city (and in between) do you think would generate the most ridership?

5. Based on that, are there particular locations you would recommend for stops, including potential park and ride lots?

6. What times should service operate — in peak hours, at other times, days of the week? How early should it start, and how late should it run?

Key Questions - Where and How Frequently?

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7. Are there other attributes that are needed to make the service attractive—any aspects including fare costs and payment, information, on-board wi-fi, shelters, security aspects—what would be needed?

8. If this service existed, would you consider using it? What conditions would it need to meet to be attractive to you?

9. What challenges do you see in developing the service?

Key Questions – What would make it attractive?

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Project Contact Person:

Corinne Donahue, AICP; cdonahue@olsson.com,

402.970.2344

Thank YOU!!

Questions /

Discussion

Grand Island – Hastings – Kearney

Intercity Bus Feasibility Study

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