go-local

October 2010 Summary

Comments received at Durham Transit Public Input Meeting on October 6, 2010

·      Pursue light rail service in Durham.  It’s imperative to connect the bus system with light rail service to other cities and towns.

Triangle Transit is working together with Wake, Durham, and Orange counties and the two regional transportation planning organizations on the Triangle Regional Transit Program.  This planning effort will determine what combination of rail investments and bus services would be implemented if a half-cent sales tax is supported by the voters in each of the three counties.  More details are available at www.ourtransitfuture.org.  

·      Buses often leave time points 5 or 10 minutes ahead of schedule.

This is unacceptable.  The Operations staff will re-iterate with bus operators that they are not to depart from a scheduled timepoint early.  The staff will also compare the printed public schedules with operator schedules to ensure that there are no errors.  The City is also investing in new technology that will track all buses in real-time, and highlight buses that are ahead of schedule.  This system will be up and running in Spring 2011.

·      Occasionally, buses short-turn the route, cutting some stops from service.

In general, this is not an acceptable practice.  There may be instances when a bus is so far off schedule that the dispatcher will direct the operator to skip stops in order to “catch up” to the schedule.  This should only be done in extreme cases when two buses are bunched closely together.  The City is also investing in new technology that will track all buses in real-time, and automatically identify buses that are off-route.  This system will be up and running in Spring 2011.

·      Route 12 on-time performance is a problem and has been worse in past 2 weeks.   Several other routes need more travel time.

Staff will be looking at whether there are changes that can improve the on-time performance of Route 12 and several other routes in the DATA system with  minimal or no impact to the City’s current fiscal year budget.  Any solutions that Triangle Transit staff identify would be taken to riders and the public for input.  Final recommendations would be presented to the City for their consideration.  For the current fiscal year, which runs through June 2011, there are no funds available to add buses to improve services.

·      Route 12 one-directional loop creates long delays and inconvenient service for people trying to travel between stops on the loop.

Staff will be looking at whether there are changes that can provide more convenient access to locations along the loop on Route 12 with minimal or no impact to the City’s current fiscal year budget.  Any solutions that Triangle Transit staff identify would be taken to riders and the public for input.  Final recommendations would be presented to the City for their consideration.  For the current fiscal year, which runs through June 2011, there are no funds available to add buses to improve services.

·      Please contact Durham Tech about providing discounting bus passes to their 26,000 students.

Triangle Transit has employer outreach coordinators who work with employers to design commuting benefits programs for their employees (and students).  We will contact Durham Tech to see if they have renewed interest in pursuing any of these options.  It is important to note that employers and institutions that have offered transit discounts to their employees and students are paying their own money to do that.  

·      Urge NCDOT to maintain street surfaces in Durham, specifically the intersection of Main and Buchanan.

This intersection is scheduled for re-paving in 2011 as part of a larger project to re-pave Main Street between Duke Street and 9^th Street .  Other major streets scheduled for re-paving next year that will benefit transit routes include University Drive  from E. Forest Hills to Chapel Hill Rd (just west of NC 751), Mangum Street from the Loop to Markham Avenue, Roxboro Street from Holloway to I-85, and Avondale Drive from I-85 to Geer St. 

·      Will the prices for DATA passes go up due to the new management arrangement with Triangle Transit?

No.  There will be no changes to the prices of DATA’s passes associated with the City’s new contract with Triangle Transit.  The City Council will retain decision-making authority for the price of DATA’s fares and passes.

·      Please provide earlier trips to the State Fair.

While this will not be possible for the current year since schedules have already been set, we will consider this request next year.

·      Reconsider the policy not to hold buses, especially for passengers transferring to a route with a 60-minute headway; passengers miss transfers due to late buses, especially Route 4.

Triangle Transit will review this policy with the DATA operations management considering its impact on transferring passengers and the on-time performance.

·      Consider connecting routes 6 and 11 at their ends near American Village

The Planning staff will review this request as part of their evaluation for service improvements for next fiscal year (July 2011 – June 2012).

·      Are the Bull City Connector routes covered by the policy that forbids eating and drinking on DATA buses?

Yes.

 

·      Without a DATA Board, who has authority to make routing and scheduling decisions?

Triangle Transit is now responsible for the planning activities including recommending changes to routing and scheduling.  Following rigorous analysis and consideration of public input, Triangle Transit will present recommendations to the Durham Department of Transportation.  Depending upon the extent of the recommended change, the decision may be made either by the department, by the City Manager, or by the City Council.  All changes that affect the budget would be decided by the City Council.

·      Route 4 should have a stop downtown before getting to Morgan and Riggsbee; Route 8 should be routed down Pettigrew Street past the DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center).

Triangle Transit staff will be re-evaluating the path of all routes as they extend out from Durham Station.  We will be looking for opportunities to reduce travel time, to provide better access to nearby destinations, and to reduce redundancies where possible.  If the Planning staff identifies potential changes, we will seek rider input before making recommendations to the City.

·      Return service to Campus Hills on Route 8.

The Planning staff will review this request as part of their evaluation for service improvements for next fiscal year (July 2011 – June 2012).

·      Please add a bus stop on Route 13 outbound at Hyde Park Avenue between Angier Avenue and Taylor Street.

Triangle Transit staff will evaluate this bus stop request against the previously adopted Durham bus stop amenities standards.  The public should reasonably expect a determination about whether a stop will be added, removed, or moved within 30 days of the initial request.