Item A: Joint Meeting with LTD Board

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AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE OF MEETING: November 26, 2007 ITEM TITLE: TRANSIT RIDERSHIP AND SERVICE PERFORMANCE UPDATE PREPARED BY : Andy Vobora, Director of Service Planning, Accessibility, and Marketing ACTION REQUESTED: None. Information only. BACKGROUND: Lane Transit District measures ridership and system performance through a variety of measures. These measures are reported monthly and are analyzed annually in an effort to understand significant trends affecting system performance. These trends are used to evaluate system changes that allow LTD to serve the community better, and these trends indicate that ridership is steadily increasing. The system tallied more than 10 million boardings over the past twelve months, with a single-month record of nearly 1.1 million boardings during the month of October 2007 (a 17.5 percent increase over October 2006). In addition, EmX ridership recorded an all- time high with 6,189 boardings tallied on October 1, 2007. Ridership is growing rapidly, and this is very positive for the community. However, this growth spurt began several years back and is now beginning to pose numerous challenges, which come in a variety of forms. First, customer capacity during peak travel times is being exceeded in some cases, while standing loads have become the norm in other cases. Second, on-time performance is being affected as buses are stopping more frequently, and as traffic congestion continues to grow, causing bus travel times to increase. This results in an increase in the number of buses missing key transfer connections. Third, LTD’s ability to meet increasing demand is limited due to a lack of available operating revenue, a shortage of bus operators, and a shortage of buses. In the paratransit arena LTD is facing yet another challenge. Ridership demand is increasing rapidly while the cost for providing this service is also accelerating. This federally mandated service comes with limited funding through a state cigarette tax, but this resource has been flat for a number of years. This means that the contribution from LTD’s general fund must make up the $1.9 million difference. Continued double-digit growth rates may mean a reduction in fixed-route bus service to balance the budget. In light of the demand for fixed-route service, this challenge is particularly daunting and will become a focal point for state funding efforts during the 2009 legislative session.