Report And Recommendation SEPTA FY2020 Annual Service Plan Report

2019·5.4 MB·English

by  SEPTA

Report and Recommendation

SEPTA FY 2020
ANNUAL SERVICE PLAN
Appointment of Hearing Hraminer at

Purpose of Annual Service Plan

The Hearings.
SEPTA Proposal cna
Public Testimony 8
Route Pesfornance Analy 2

15

Heating Buaminer’s Recemmendations
Apnolntuent of Hearing Examiner

Cugene N. Cinna, sutra appointed as Hearing Examiner by Pasquale |, eon, St, Chairman
of the Roar of he: Southuastern Peansyvania Transportation authority (*Autherty],onay 9, 2019, to
consider whether all pars of the SHPIA FY 2020 Annual Service Plan should be recommended for
implementation

Is appointment apgear ae SEPT Sehbit No. 1.

Purpose of Annual Service Plaw

4 Joint efor’ y the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and the Cay of
Piblelohiain the mid-1680's resuted in adocumertanttled "ily transl Divison Service Santards and
Process." This document was adopted a official policy by SEMTA, and itinekides the requirement far an
Annual Service Plan. The firs Annual Service Plan for Se 1a'e Chy Ironst Divsion wes adoptee by the
SETA Board for Fiscal Year 194. sinar Anqual Service Phau pracedures were approved in 1999 fer
Shea's Suburban Transit Division and is Regional Ral vision,

Iu henge were hold tor this FY 2020 Annual Service Plan, and they hela serves
rmaalticatos for SEPTA'S eper ang units ~ Cty TansieDiveian and Suburan Crang aaa as wel
sn overhaul of SEPTAYs Seruce standards and Meacess document uliized by the SCPTA Service Planning
Department. There are no chanes or sation abindanments proposed forthe Railroad acon this year

‘The Annual Service Plan Is one-year scenatia Ural identifies all elevane proposal for route and
service charges for SEPTA's rans routes fr the forthearing year. I inleses siggestlans ftom elec!
officials, community groups, and passenger adwocale gous, the SEPTAChizens Aévisory Commies, the
CiayofPhiledelptia's Mayor's Office of Transportation & frasiuelate Syterns, local ud county planning
‘ommissions, passongere and SEPTA's Service Planning Daparanvent. Each sunittalfur changes Inova
for eration of @ new route is analyzed by S=PTA staff forts eoonvmie viability nx! passenger demand.
The financial impact a each change on thefarchcomlng annual oneratinggbunll is connidered. Proposals
that mest established service standztds ane hal pel the operating bucget are than subject to a
Comparative Evalation Prouess which ineluces ridershiptarecest, east analysis ana commly beef

‘The Annual Service Plan szcks to incorporate changes to the SEPTA system thal wil “ech
specific service goals and abjecives, art apporluniies far cost effective sevice expansion .. All major
Foute and svc adjustients which impact SEPUA's eperating budget wil be planned an implemented
zccording lo the Annuel Service Plan."

‘The: pret thal are ulimately selected for the fortncomning Annual Serves Plan are toate
into formal tarts, and a series ct public hearings are conducted, Basen ihe progorahs in the document,
fon tastimany at *he public hearings and an subtnitted eahibils, the Hearing Examiner then makes
revammeneations to the SEPTA Board, The Board makes the fina dacsian on wiwthey oF Hou to
implement aor portions o the Annual Service Plan
The Hearings
‘Tura public isarngs were condactes for the HY 9070 Anna Service Plan, 2 allows

wednesday, May 23,2019
41:00 Noon and 5:00 BM
SHIA Board Room
Mezzanine | svel

1244 Market Strat
Prilacephia, PA 19107

‘The SEPTA witnesses participating in the hearings ilu the following indivicuae from the
Service Planring Departnent: Mark Casal, Director of Suburban Service Panning an Schedules, Steven
DiAnton'o, Bieclor of City Service Planning; Harley Cooper, Senior Operations Plannar; and Danis!
emit, Senior Operations Planner.

The tarifs len connection with these hearings are ws follows

Tariff No. 22, Supplement No. § (Route 40}
> Tarif No. 30, Supplement Ho. 6 (Route 73}

% “alll No. 88, Supplement No. {Keute 108) and
% Tall No. 237, Supplement No.1 Route 241)

In adetion,propased changes Wo SCPTA's Service Sanat and Prosess were se forth

A total of fourteen (14) persons attended the two hearings and siv{8] spoke, {he recerd waskept

‘pen through 4:00 PA. June 5, 2019 for anyone whe wlehed ta submit adiional testimony, letters,
oremil

‘A stenographic transcript of the hearings was made ary availablofor inspection on the 5" floor
‘of the autlvrily’s olives at 1234 Markat cree, Philadelphia,

Included 2 port ofthe record are SEPTA exhibits and public exists, including four (4) e-mails

SEETA Exhibits

SEPTA Exhibit No.1: The appoinieent ofthe Hearing Exeminer

SEPIA bxhibre Na. 7: fifidaits establishing the publication af legal natices aaneeening te
public hearings in oral newspapers.

SEPTA.EhIbie No.3. Alfdavts oonfieming the porting of Notices of thace Hearings at
votes SETA ocations

SEPTA Eyhibit No.4 Avopyol te lei of SEPTHVs public nati, refenenind in Exhibits Nes.
Dena
SCPTA Exhibit Mo. Sf:

SCPTA Cahibit No. 5(6)

SFPTA Feb No.6
SHELA tai No.7
SLPIA Lihibit No.8
SEPTA Fah No. 9
SEPIA Lahibit Ho, 10:

SUPIA Lahibit No. 32:
SEPTA Exhibit No. a2:

SEPIA exhibit No. 13:

affiaviindictingthata summary of SLPTA's seal Yesr 2020 Aral
Service Plan was distributed to te Asyociuted Services forthe alind,
1s well as made avalable on ASB wabsita (yw 2:b ony} and throu
‘the National Federation of the Blind {NFE) Newsline toll tex
‘telephone service.

“The CD disc identical to that provided by SEPTA ta the Asaclated
Serves forthe Blind and referenced in SEPTA Eaibil No. 5a

“arf No. 42, Supalement (Rete 0)

iff No. 50, Supplement No. 6 {Route 73.
Tarif No, 68, 5u

ipplemeni No.9 (Route 10}.
Twill No. 237, Supplement No.4 (Route 133

SEPTA’s Proposed fiscal Year 2020 Annual Sarvice Pin document,
dat July 2029.

SSEPTA’s Service Standatc al Press pale! 2029.

SCPTA FY 2018 Route Performance kvaluatlon Report, dated April
201,

FY 2020 Anmusl Servis Man hublie Hearing Testimony, May 23,
amis

ublic Exhibits Including Emails and Lettrs

Public Exhibie No. 1

Public Fehibit No. 2:

Public Exhibit No. 2

Lal éatod April, 2019 tram Michael White requting new roule
serving Snyder Plaze ond Quarlernaster Plaza, @ Ravte 51 en Welt
and fitner Steots, and also 2 Route 41 serving Styler Aveive to
(Grays Ferry on Mekean and Min Steels.

Enall dated May 28, 2019 rom Renjamin She, Phiadelphia, PA, Co-
Chait of the transit Committ tor 5 Square. Mr. She applaud the
work ofthe SEPTA staf regen te rew Service Standares and the
Comoretensive Bus Network Redesign (CBNR). He encaurayes
SEPTA, in studying bus network veleigns, la adopt a “blank sate”
fa9pr9ach, 2, dalieeraaly nat considering what your network does
‘urtenty 50 as to discover new patlcens offlaw that area hatter
tor he system currently, He opined thatthe reduction in idership
could hurt SLPTA's formula gant funding and fare reverve In general

Fivall dated May 7, 2019 from Mati Lockman, Navrztown, PA,
requesting an extension of the Koute 121 down to Adams and
>Monvow oulevard and to not change to Fal/Spring scheduling.
pardcular, the Fall schedule change mens those xing, rei
employment at Acwzay Mkeling fle 2230 °.M. rust wat nt
the 3:0 P.M. bus which, beonne i has ta eo threnigh to schoo
ores, do2s net make 10 the Novistoxn Transportation Center for
4000.M.

Public Exhibit No.s: _Lmall dated May 28, 2029 fram Joel Aroold, Philadelphia, PA, stating
‘that SEPTH!s service plan needs te cal tor more daddeatae bus lanes
‘throughout the City. Buses are le backbone of the system and any
service plan needs to elude detailed plans to roll aut an evtensive

network of excusive bus lancs to allow buses to travel separately
from general vehicle tratfc.

Public EehibitNo.5 Appar Fai of leffrey Cutie,

Public eR No.6 ——_Ajicatann: Fann of Brann Me Bide

Public Hehibr No. /* Appearance Form ot Douglas Diehl, TH uate Transit Canter

Public kshibitNo.&: Appearance Form of Charles Dude, TitSlale Citizens Council on
Transpertation,

Public CehibitNo.9: Appearance Farm af Atred Achter, I.

Public EehibitNo. 10: Appearance Fam of Benjamin She, Transit ormmiliee for S* Street
Public FehibitNo. 11: Appearance Form of Charles Kruse,

Publichehibit No. 17. Appearance ‘orm of Palvet DiNetale, Olliee of Transportation,
Infiatructine ra Suntaiabilty (0715) of the Ciy of Philadel.

Public Exhibit No, 13: Appaarance Farm of Lee Wal, SEPIA Citizane Nausary Com tes.

Public EehibitNo. 14: Appearance Forin of tomas lasings, Delawore County Planning
Department

SEPTA PROPOSAL

SEPTA Service Planning ld not publly sot a request for prolect proposals. Tiss de to the
focus a7 updating SEPTA’s Service Standards and Process, slong with the prospect of 8 Cornprehensive
Bus Necwark Redesign {CRN}. The CRNA provess would look al etek melt rtler ther “oeusiny,

inc nvidia role. The four (@)projvels bei recommended ~ a listed below — canst soy of|
changes that have previously been implemented experimentally and are proposed for permavent status.

SEPTA RECOMMENDED PROIECTS
Suburoan Teens

+ Route 10¢ change ta the ene at line at West Chestar University to adress a
Lniversisypropaal to clase a stect a she previous end of line at Church Sereet
and University venue. The rie etl of lie keep buses on igh Ste ts and
fram the Swope Performing Arts Center.
+ Rove 131 — The change added service to 2 portion of Level Road and
‘Shannondell Boulevard to improve service to the Audubon Millage Shipping
CConter and Shannendell at Valley Forge.

Cirytranett

+ Route 40—A.change te the alternate routing sing Pine Slee curing times when
South street i congested, Albo, discontinuance of = nortion of the base route lo
Private property nea the intersection of front andl Lomard Straets, which was
proved but never implemented

+ Route73 Achangetotherouting ia enlee he Shopsesat Wissinoming Shopping
Canter during business hours for improved aecess to afl service supermarket.
Recent ridership counts show 13 rips on weekilays, 108 on Salukis and 51 on
‘sundays

‘Regional Rail Division
+ Na prajects recommended

Service Standards and Process Propotals
‘whats Proposed

As part ofthe F¥ 2020 Annual Service Plan, the SLPIA Service Planning Department undertank an
‘vernoul ofits Service Stondards and Process dacument. The updated snore document ithe result
ofan extensive reviaw process that included Incersieys vith aecr agencies and prasentation® ra intemal
‘departments, planning partners and the public

Sorviee Standards are guidelines that the SEPTA, Survive Planning Department uses 20 alan,
‘moniter and analyze trans servees, ane are typically broken into severslistnct categories.

+ Quality of Service Standards establish she miu level of service that custemars can
pect and reter to characteristis such a caverage and access, frequency, anime
perfomance andloed. Kony ofthere are standards rants Faecal Tail Adminis
“ike Wt program.

‘+ Performance standards create benchmarks for evaluating and allacatng service. SEPIA has
sterically used farebox racavery as ts primary perormanece standard

‘+ Design Standards dzal with matters such as network connectivity, route spacing, dreeiness
land stop sparing. While SEPT has alvays used these concepts in service planning, the
Uupvdated Service Standards integrate tham more lly nfo the Seruce Davelopment Provess.

SFPTA'S Service Standards ave “publie-acing” und Hoard aparoved,
SEPTA was one of the flst transit agencies in the Und Slales le adopt Service standards
Standards tor City services were formally adopted in 2995, with Subuthan Services and Regjtol Pail
‘coming in 1383. In 200%, all af the documents ware coms! into a set ct comprehensive servies
standards for ll modes at SETA,

Service Standare introduced route rankings, using operating rao o identity uncarperfarning
routes, and created the Annual Seruice Plan pracess. The wandards have heen sdjusted aver tine,
primatily lo comply with the Fedoral Transit aiminstration's Tie Vl program and PenaDOT's leacing
standarcs. Thi hovever, isthe rst overhaul af me Seruce Standard since they were frst adoptedl more
han 20 years ago.

‘Why Changes are proposed Nowe

The SCPTA Service Planning Department is moving lo change the Standards new for several

Fist, ere are new technologies and data sources thal srw now auallsbla ta the SEOTA Sersice
Planning Department. Ths inches mepping and database management capabilities ti ARCGIS, the
soltware Remix, which allows planners to evaluate Youting and schedale changes quikly and estimate
costs in realtime, 25 well 3s Aulomotic Passenger Cou

SFPTA roles.

data, which gives stoy by slop ridership on
Second, the dosire te incorporate more robust oulresch euperlunities inte the Service
Bevslopment Process.

“Wir, the performance mevsures established by PannNOT under Act 44, in ils \ransit agency
performance leven.

nally, the Philadslphia Choices Report, completed for SCPTA by Jarrett Walker & Associates in
2018, introcuced = series of industresupportoe design standard, several of which are being

recormmended for adoption inthis update

Goals

he Goals of the Sorvie Standards and SFPTA’s Servine Development Process are 2s fll

+ Promats tronsparcney and accountabilily Ls customer, postners nnd tn the Coniniorweatl
af Penneyhanias

+ Lngage customers and stakeholders anc ensuring thal they ate part af the service planning

+ Develop # data-driven and pertermance-based planning process that ties rele psfonmance
service development; and

+ Adon and apply indusery-aceaptes network design tunsdants thal halanee the meses of
customers with a responsible use of resources.
‘what Changes are Proposed!

‘The first change is to the route clasieaion system and the adoption af new mnetii ard
measures to delecraine how routes perform and witch routes are ure performing.

Curvenly, SEPTA routes are divided ina rw estegeries, ely soutes and suburban coutes, wth
som ity routes, such astheze operating in parts of NortheasPhiladelphi,idantiiag a having suburoan
choraetorisliee and judgad by slightly differant standards, Uhese routos ars ranked by operating rato,
wth routs faling below ol percent ofthe average vansideree lo be underperlorming

“The Service Planning Department recommends modifying the classification syle. There wil til
be city and suburban route eategares, with new categunon a expressway routes, which are ous route
travelinganl-76 ar 1-476, anor Ciy/Suburban arterial Routes, which re bus routes that travelon maior
roacwiayssuch as Roosevelt Gavlevard, Periylvania Route G41 and Wat chaster Pike. Imation, #94
services, inluding tha Trolley routes in West and Southwest Philatelptia, Rowles 101 ad 102, and Ce
Norristown High Speed Line, will be evaluated separstely because oftheir unique operating characrontis
andl cost inputs. There are aber tates, sacl thee 200esrias and he LUCY, thal will be evaluated
separately because ofthe unigue service needs that they fulfil

In adllton to the modifications ww Ue roule casieation system, SCFTA Service Planning
recommends adapting new primary mete ta evaluate route perfarmance, replacing operating ratio
‘These metrics are: Passengers per Revenue Hour, aproducivly measine, srl Cost per Passenger, «cost
few

To evaluate route performance, cach category of route wil be placed in a "scaterplat char”
Routes with the strongest performance wil be in the tap right ct each chart

Routes falling inthe botior 25° percentile in both metrics wil be considered uadeperfrring
and identtize as 2 cancldate far evaluation and poss intervestion, Interventin can inclu targeted
marketing effrls, routing aejust nents or other sralegies interlet! Lo boost ridership anelfor manage
rote.

Allof thisinforration wil he compiled nny nthe Route Performsnce Evaluetion Report snd
willlae made avalable to the public, This rsport will srve ae ons input into the Service Development

process.

Ainothe

rsjar change Service Maris

recommending Une elimination af the Community
Benefit Score and the adoption of a more network-fecused analysis. The Cormmunity Banelit Score is &
screening tol that evaluates the metit ofa service propesal based an a numberof factors, including she
aekivion or elimination ota transter, an ineraase or decrease in travel ime, and an Increase ar decrease
In waking distance.

‘These factors ere all important shen considering a routing change. Howsver, equally a5

‘he network 36-8 whole, ‘The Service Planning Department
recommends replacing the Comuniiy Berefi Score with series of aocess calculations using sochrone
mapping in Remix. 'sachrone maps show how far a parson can gct in a spelled porlod of ie using
‘shit; an¢ includes init esculatione walking, waiting aed transfor time. In Factors mmmany ef the same
inputs of the Community Benefit Scorn, but includes elhor Innail wrvices au wall Replacing the

Important the impact she propasal
community nef Sears with lsachrane mapaing will prevent the plementation of duplicative srvieas
st alfects # more afficient use of resources. To be considered a candidate for imalerenlion, ene
raposalssheuld increase access to oppartuntes for SEPTA custamers.

SHIA proposing te adapt a Route Directness Formula to evaluate route deviations and
patterns. This calculation, which determines the impact that a pattern or deviation has an thrcugh- riding
customers is adapted from sinlar formulas used by other transit agencies, incudirg King County Metra
In Seatle, Washington anche Ragional Transportalion Dbcl in Denver, Colored,

‘The: Route Blrectness Formula quantifies the impact on throuricing eusornets by sllplying
ths number of rire traveling thrave a patter or deviation by the amount of tr, In fuses, that
deviation takes Idvides that numbar bythe numberof beards andaligits alongthe pattem or deviation
10 determine che number ul pasenger minutes that deviation or pallern cosis. Service Planning
recemmende adaoting thresiwicl of eight passanger minutes for a deviation or pattenn ta be
Teconvnended for implementation. Caisiry, deviations or patterns that da nat meet lhe
‘threshold wil be Iertfed as candidates for posible intervention.

I mute

‘To clarity how this calculation works, this an example ota devistion Implemented on Route 52
adecatle po ta Park West Town Center, Based on recent ridership wookday pusenger counts, there ace
approximately 3.100 passengers traveling through Uhis deviaion on a cally bass, the deviation to the
Showing center takes two minates, There are 1,000 boards and wight within the deviation. This results
in the deviation counting 4or 62 passenger minutes, which would be under SFPTA’s thvushold ane
therefore an acceptable deviation

‘The finalrecommendied changes an expansion ofthe Service Development process. The unaled
recess will include an ackit'onal round af publle outreach focused an major transit venlers or other
Sopropiiate venues. This outreach wil include surveys ane! educational materials and provide custoriess
teith the oppertunityto interact with SFPTA Service Manning staf. Thelocalion of these events wil fate
Annually. In akllion ta greater focus om public eutrcach, the new Service Development Process wil
formalize the participation of elles SEPTA capartments and external par aers

Information about the revisions te SEBTIYS. Service Standards and Process are on

yom 0003 org! vet vie-standards

Public Testimony

Fourteen 24) members of the pubic entered appoarance forms rsh (6) spoke al the hearings
andi had questions which were answered by SEPTA representatives. In aditfon, there were four (8) &
‘rails submitted hy te public to Ure Wearing Examiner

Philadelghia, PA Hearings — Noon, May 29, 2019,

Jeffrey Cutler, former tax collertor within Permsylusnia, was first lo testy. He copyrighted 3
money raising proposal called “Jeffybonk a6 3 wa to provide almost unlimited Fees mony for 3EPTA,
“choo systarn, and other erganiaatiane by having peapla pay cxtratax~by contract. instead uf the State
Tox and gat back everything else 0¢Tovcree rnuntetpal interes. Ile asserted ius 2 wiay to "gonervle
billone at dollars for ree with no ably". BLT. 21, With this money, SEPTA could submerge the entire