|
Recommended Regional
Transit System
Given the
large coverage area, 2,400 square miles, and limited available
resources, a door-to-door regional dial-a-ride system is not feasible.
With this in mind, a system based on flexible routes connecting
communities and providing needed inter-county transportation has been
developed. The service
recommendations have been developed to focus on those areas with the
highest needs and highest concentrations of people typically dependent
on public transportation, i.e. low income, elderly, low household
vehicle ownership and mobility-handicapped (physical and mental).
Existing county transit systems would continue to function
independently and serve as feeders to the regional system.
Trip origins
focus on areas where transit dependents live.
Trip destinations focus on sites where transit dependents need to
access for a wide array of purposes.
Sites include: medical/health care facilities;
educational/training facilities; employment centers; major stores and
commercial districts and social/recreational sites.
The intention of the regional system is to eliminate barriers to
accessing services for the transit dependent population of the region.
At issue is maintaining and improving the "Quality of
Life" for an important and growing segment of our population.
This section
will provide information on the proposed regional transit system
including, conceptual routes; employee wages and benefits; projection of
fares, passengers and revenues; fuel and other miscellaneous expenses;
capital costs; overall budget estimates and suggested administrative
structure.
Proposed Routes
Five routes
have been identified in the multi-county study.
It is understood these routes are a starting point and route
alterations will likely occur after the system is up and running. The proposed routes are also dependent upon support of local
communities and development of inter-local agreements between counties.
Route 1
Leaves Sand
Road facility at 7:00 am. - through City of Cheboygan north on US 23 to
Mackinaw City, south on US 31 to Pellston, on to Alanson, from Alanson
east on M 68 to Indian River, north on Old US 27 to City of Cheboygan
arriving at Crossroads Industries by 9:00 am.
Second trip
made in reverse, starting at Crossroads at 3:00 p.m. and
returning to the Sand Road facility by 5:00 p.m.
Route 2
Leaves
Onaway at 7:30 am traveling west on M 68 to Fingerboard Corners (M 68
& M 33) to the East Mullett Lake area, and on north to City of
Cheboygan arriving at Crossroads Industries by 9:00 am.
Second trip made in reverse, starting at Crossroads at
3:00 p.m. and returning to Onaway by 5:00 p.m.
| Figure
5.1 |
| PROPOSED
TRANSIT LINES |
| CLICK
ON IMAGE FOR ENLARGEMENT, USE BACK GADGET OF BROWSER TO RETURN
HERE. |
Route 3
Leaves the
City of Cheboygan at 7:00 am, 11:00 am and 5:00 p.m., traveling south on
Old US 27 to Indian River. From
Indian River Bus continues south on I 75 to Gaylord, with stops at
Wolverine and Vanderbilt, and arrives in Gaylord by 9:00 am, 1:00 p.m.
and 7:00 p.m.
Route 3 bus and Route 4 bus exchange drivers at
half way point and return to point of departure.
Route 4
Leaves
Gaylord at 7:00 am, 11:00 am and 5:00 p.m., traveling north on I 75 with
stops at Vanderbilt, Wolverine and Indian River, from Indian River, bus
travels north on Old US 27 and arrives in the City of Cheboygan by 9:00
am, 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Route 3 bus and Route 4 bus exchange drivers at
half way point and return to point of departure.
An alternative to both Routes 3 & 4 may be to travel
exclusively along Old US 27.
Route 5
Vehicle
leaves Onaway at 8:00 am traveling west on M 68 to Petoskey, arriving by
9:00 am.
A return
trip is made at 4:00 p.m. This route runs 3 times
each week.
Projected Mileage
Route
Miles/Day
Miles/Year
Route
1
Each run is approximately 100 miles.
200
52,000
(Two runs per day)
(260 days/year)
Route 2
Each
run is approximately 40 miles.
80
20,800
(Two runs per day)
(260 days/year)
Route 3
Each
run is approximately 100 miles.
300
78,000
(Three runs per day)
(260 days/year)
Route 4
Each
run is approximately 100 miles.
300
78,000
(Three runs per day)
(260 days/year)
Route 5
Each run is approximately 50 miles.
100
15,600
(two runs/day, 3 times/week)
(156 day/year)
Total
Miles/Year:
244,400
Three Year Projection Of Fares, Passenger And
Revenues
In order to
develop a budget, it is necessary to project ridership and the resulting
revenues. It is anticipated that ridership will steadily increase each
year as a result of an intensive marketing program.
Also, human service agencies, currently providing independently
operated transportation services, will support the system through
contractual and/or trip vouchers, thus equating to increased ridership.
Year One
Routes
Fare
Est. Pass./Day
Est. Revenues
Route 1
$3.00
20
$15,600
Route 2
$3.00
20
$15,600
Route 3
$3.00
15
$11,700
Route 4
$3.00
15
$11,700
Route 5
$3.00
10 (3 times/week)
$ 4,680
Estimated Total Farebox For Year One
$59,280
Year Two
Routes
Fare
Est. Pass./Day
Est. Revenues
Route 1
$3.00
25
$19,500
Route 2
$3.00
25
$19,500
Route 3
$3.00
19
$14,820
Route 4
$3.00
19
$14,820
Route 5
$3.00
13 (3 times/week)
$ 6,084
Estimated Total Farebox For Year Two
$74,724
Year Three
Routes
Fare
Est. Pass./Day
Est. Revenues
Route 1
$3.00
31
$24,180
Route 2
$3.00
31
$24,180
Route 3
$3.00
28
$21,840
Route 4
$3.00
28
$21,840
Route 5
$3.00
16 (3 times/week)
$ 7,488
Estimated
Total Farebox For Year Three
$99,528
Optional:
$75.00 per month pass.
Capital Requests
Capital
costs for operating a regional transit system are covered by a 100
percent state and federal grant.
5 Buses (4
operating with 1 back-up)
4
Medium Duty, 25ft. 14+2
seats @ $84,500 each
.. $338,000
1 Medium
Duty, 29ft. 22+2
seats
.
..
..$88,250
1 5+1
Passenger
Van
$35,000
1 Base
Station
.
$17,500
7 Cellular
Phones @ $600 per
phone
...
.
.$
4,200
(With 2-way capabilities)
5 Bike Racks
@ $600 per
rack
.
..
...$
3,000
Computer system and related
software
.
$
6,500
Total Estimated Capital Requests
$492,450
Projected Operations
Costs
Under
the Michigan Department of Transportation's Regional Transit Program,
State and Federal grant dollars cover a portion of the qualified
operations costs. The first
year 70% is covered, the second year 60% is covered and the third and
subsequent years 50% of the system qualified operational costs are
covered by the grant. The balance of the operational costs are taken up by farebox revenues, contracts and local match.
| Employee
Wages & Benefits |
1st Year |
2nd Year |
3rd Year |
|
| 4
Drivers (FT - 2080hrs/yr) |
$8.00/hr |
$9.00/hr |
$10.00 |
|
| Wages |
$16,640 |
$18,720 |
$20,800 |
|
| Fringe
Benefits (Approx. 40%) |
$6,656 |
$7,480 |
$8,320 |
|
| Sub-total: |
$23,296 |
$26,200 |
$29,120 |
|
| Total: (4X) |
$93,154 |
$104,800 |
$116,480 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 4 Drivers
(PT - 1040hrs/yr) |
|
|
|
|
| (No
Fringe Benefits) |
|
|
|
|
| Wages |
$8,320 |
$9,360 |
$10,400 |
|
| Total: (4X) |
$33,280 |
$37,440 |
$41,600 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1 Dispatcher
(FT - 1950hrs/yr) |
$9.00 |
$9.50 |
$10.50 |
|
| Wages |
$17,550 |
$19,500 |
$20,475 |
|
| Fringe
Benefits (Approx. 40%) |
$7,020 |
$7,800 |
$8,190 |
|
| Total: |
$24,570 |
$27,300 |
$28,665 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dispatcher
(PT - 1300hrs/yr) |
|
|
|
|
| (No
Fringe Benefits) |
|
|
|
|
| Total: |
$11,700 |
$13,000 |
$13,650 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1
Bookkeeper (PT - 1040hrs/yr) |
$9.00 |
$9.50 |
$10.00 |
|
| Wages |
$
9,360 |
$
9,880 |
$10,400 |
|
| Fringe
Benefits (Approx. 40%) |
$
3,744 |
$3,952 |
$4,160 |
|
| Total: |
$13,104 |
$13,832 |
$14,560 |
|
| 1Manager |
|
|
|
|
| Wages |
$20,000 |
$15,000 |
$10,000 |
|
| Fringe
Benefits (Approx. 40%) |
$8,000 |
$6,000 |
$4,000 |
|
| Total: |
$28,000 |
$21,000 |
$14,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mechanic
(PT - 1040hrs/yr) @ |
$9.00 |
$9.50 |
$10.00 |
|
|
(No
Fringe Benefits)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total: |
$9,360 |
$9,880 |
$10,400 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total
Wages
|
$213,168 |
$227,252 |
$239,355 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fuel And Other
Miscellaneous Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
244,400 (rounded to
250,000) miles per year divided by 9 miles/gal.(27,778 gallons)
X $0.80/gal.
(Commercial diesel fuel) = $22,222/year fuel costs. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Office
and dispatching space rental:12' X 15' room = 180 sq. ft. @
$8.00/sq ft = $1,440/year or $120/ month. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Overall Operations Budget Estimates |
|
|
|
|
|
Year One |
Year
Two |
Year
Three |
|
| Estimated Total |
|
|
|
|
| Operational Expenses |
$312,000 |
$324,000 |
$355,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Estimated
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
| State: |
$218,400 |
$194,400 |
$177,500 |
|
| Farebox: |
$59,280 |
$74,724 |
$99,528 |
|
| Contracts & Local
Match:
|
$34,320 |
$54,876 |
$77,972 |
|
Administrative
Structure
The recommended regional
bus system is designed to transport people between communities with the
buses crossing county lines. All
of the counties being serviced by the regional system will need to
provide letters of support with one county actually filing the regional
transit grant application. During
the start-up period, a multi-county
transit committee, with representatives from each county board,
local municipality and agency participating in the program, would
function as the administrative oversight committee.
It is further recommended the committee should formally organize
under P.A. 196 and establish a regional transit authority to support
long term operations of the regional system.
|
