Charlotte County Ten Year Transit Development Plan

Charlotte County Ten‐Year Transit Development Plan Final Report Prepared for Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners 18500 Murdock Circle, Suite 536 Port Charlotte, FL 33948 (941) 743‐1300 Charlotte County–Punta Gorda Metropolitan Planning Organization 25550 Harbor View Road Port Charlotte, FL 33980 (941) 883‐3535 August 2014 Prepared by Tindale‐Oliver & Associates, Inc. 1000 N Ashley Drive, Suite 400 Tampa, FL 33602

Access Pasco: A Plan for Transit TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION . Objectives of the Plan . Organization of Report . 1‐1 1-1 1-4 SECTION 2: BASELINE CONDITIONS . Physical Description of Study Area . Population Profile . Population and Employment Densities . Transportation Disadvantaged Population . Demographic and Journey-to-Work Characteristics . Labor and Employment Characteristics . Tourism . Major Trip Generators . Work Force . Major Developments . Land Use . Roadway Conditions . Commuter Travel Patterns . 2‐1 2-1 2-3 2-4 2-11 2-12 2-17 2-18 2-19 2-20 2-22 2-24 2-24 2-27 SECTION 3: TRANSIT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION . Existing Transit Services . Trend Analysis . Farebox Recovery Monitoring . Peer Review Analysis . Peer Community Review . Future Peer Review Analysis . 3‐1 3-1 3-8 3-17 3-19 3-28 3-30 SECTION 4: PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT . Public Involvement Activities . Public Involvement Summary . 4‐1 4-1 4-5 SECTION 5: SITUATION APPRAISAL . Review of Plans and Studies . Situation Appraisal . 5‐1 5-1 5-5 Charlotte County 2015–2024 Transit Development Plan i

Access Pasco: A Plan for Tra ansit SECTION N 6: GOALS & OBJECTIVE ES . Vision Staatement . Goals, Ob bjectives and Policies . 6‐1 6-1 6-1 N 7: TRANSIT T DEMAND ANALYSIS A . SECTION Discretionary Markett Assessmentt . nal Market Asssessment . Tradition Dial-A-Ride Demand Assessment A . 7‐1 7-1 7-5 7-9 N 8: ALTERNATIVES DEV VELOPMENT T . 8‐1 SECTION Developm ment of Alterrnatives . 8-1 Service Needs N . 8-2 Capital Needs . 8-7 8-8 Other Improvements . TBEST Riidership Foreecast . 8-10 N 9: ALTERNATIVES EVA ALUATION . SECTION Evaluatio on Process . Alternativ ves Evaluatio on . Evaluatio on Results . 9‐1 9-1 9-5 9-7 N 10: TEN‐YE EAR TRANSIIT DEVELOP PMENT PLAN N . SECTION 10-Year Cost C Efficientt Transit Plan n . 10-Year Financial F Plan . 10-Year Implementat I tion Plan and d Unfunded Ittems . TDP Impllementation//Coordinatio on Action Item ms . 10‐1 10-1 10-5 10-10 10-11 BOX RECOVE ERY REPORT T . APPENDIX A: FAREB MENT PLAN AND SUPPO ORTING MAT TERIALS . APPENDIX B: PUBLIC INVOLVEM S AND STUDIIES REVIEW W . APPENDIX C: PLANS ORMANCE MONITORING M G PROGRAM M . APPENDIX D: PERFO A‐1 B‐1 C‐1 D‐1 F LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2-1: ber of TD Passengers Serv ved, 2008–20 012 . Numb Age Distribution of o Residents, 2010 . Figure 2-2: otte County Household H In ncome, 2013 . Charlo Figure 2-3: Labor Force Distriibution by Seervice Area, 2 2011 . Figure 2-4: otte County Tourist T Development Taxx Collections . Charlo Figure 2-5: Charlo otte County’ss Education Attainment A . Figure 2-6: 2-11 2-16 2-17 2-18 2-19 2-21 e County 201 15–2024 Transsit Developmen nt Plan Charlotte ii

Access Pasco: A Plan for Transit Figure 2-7: Figure 3-1: Figure 3-2: Figure 3-3: Figure 3-4: Figure 3-5: Figure 3-6: Figure 3-7: Figure 3-8: Figure 3-9: Figure 3-10: Figure 3-11: Figure 3-12: Figure 3-13: Figure 3-14: Figure 3-15: Figure 3-16: Figure 3-17: Figure 3-18: Figure 3-19: Figure 3-20: Figure 3-21: Figure 3-22: Figure 3-23: Figure 3-24: Figure 3-25: Figure 3-26: Figure 3-27: Figure 3-28: Figure 3-29: Figure 3-30: Figure 3-31: Figure 3-32: Figure 3-33: Figure 3-34: Figure 3-35: Figure 3-36: Figure 3-37: Figure 3-38: Charlotte County’s Unemployment Rate . Service Area Population (000) . Passenger Trips (000). Revenue Miles (000) . Vehicle Miles (000) . Operating Expense ( 000) . Revenue Hours (000) . Vehicles Operated in Maximum Service . Gallons of Fuel Consumed (000) . Vehicle Miles per Service Area Capita . Passenger Trips per Capita . Passenger Trips per Revenue Mile . Passenger Trips per Revenue Hour . Weekend Span of Service. Revenue Miles between System Failures (000) . Operating Expense per Capita . Operating Expense per Passenger Trip . Operating Expense per Revenue Mile . Operating Expense per Revenue Hour . Farebox Recovery Ratio (%) . Revenue Miles per Vehicle Mile . Revenue Miles per Vehicle . Revenue Miles per Gallon . Average Fare . Service Area Population . Service Area Population Density (persons/square mile). Passenger Trips (000). Revenue Miles (000) . Revenue Hours . Operating Expenses ( 000) . Vehicles Operated in Maximum Service . Gallons of Fuel Consumed . Service Area Size (square miles) . Passenger Trips per Revenue Mile . Passenger Trips per Revenue Hour . Passenger Trips per Capita . Weekday Span of Service . Operating Expense per Capita . Operating Expense per Passenger Trip . Charlotte County 2015–2024 Transit Development Plan 2-21 3-10 3-10 3-11 3-11 3-11 3-11 3-11 3-11 3-13 3-13 3-13 3-13 3-13 3-13 3-15 3-15 3-15 3-15 3-15 3-15 3-16 3-16 3-16 3-21 3-21 3-21 3-21 3-22 3-22 3-22 3-22 3-22 3-23 3-23 3-24 3-24 3-25 3-25 iii

Access Pasco: A Plan for Transit Figure 3-39: Figure 3-40: Figure 3-41: Figure 3-42: Figure 3-43: Figure 3-44: Figure 4-1: Figure 4-2: Figure 4-3: Figure 4-4: Figure 4-5: Figure 4-6: Figure 4-7: Figure 4-8: Figure 4-9: Figure 4-10: Figure 4-11: Figure 4-12: Figure 4-13: Figure 4-14: Figure 4-15: Figure 4-16: Figure 4-17: Figure 4-18: Figure 4-19: Figure 4-20: Figure 4-21: Figure 4-22: Figure 4-23: Figure 4-24: Figure 4-25: Figure 4-26: Figure 4-27: Operating Expense per Revenue Mile . Operating Expense per Revenue Hour . Farebox Recovery (%) . Revenue Miles per Vehicle Miles . Average Fare . Peer Community Comparison . How often do you use Charlotte County transit? . Do you usually use a wheelchair or electric scooter to board a bus? . How long have you been using Charlotte County Transit Services?. If Charlotte County Transit were not available today, would you have access to another form of transportation?. What is the primary purpose you use Charlotte County Transit? . Do you think there is a need for additional transit service in Charlotte County? . Do you believe there is willingness in the community to consider additional local funding in transit? . Would you support Charlotte County funding expanded transit services? . What do you think is a reasonable one-way fare to pay for transit service? . What type of transit services do you think would benefit Charlotte County the most? . Have you used public transportation in places other than Charlotte County? . In what other locations have you used public transportation? . What is your ZIP code? . What was the range of your household income in 2012? . Do you have a driver’s license? . How many vehicles are in your household? . Which type of Charlotte County transportation service do you use?. How satisfied are you with each of the following? . Charlotte Rides Workshop Locations, October 2013 . Have you ever used Charlotte County transit service?. What do you think of the service? . How often do you use the service? . What types of trip(s) do you most commonly use the service for?. Have you ever used public transportation in the past? . Do you think there is a need for additional transit service in Charlotte County? . If yes, would you use a transit service that runs on a regular route with a printed schedule?. What transportation issues need to be addressed as transit service is planned for Charlotte County? . Charlotte County 2015–2024 Transit Development Plan 3-25 3-25 3-25 3-25 3-26 3-30 4-8 4-9 4-9 4-10 4-10 4-11 4-11 4-12 4-12 4-13 4-13 4-14 4-14 4-15 4-15 4-16 4-16 4-17 4-19 4-24 4-24 4-25 4-25 4-26 4-26 4-27 4-27 iv

Access Pasco: A Plan for Transit Figure 4-28: Figure 4-29: Figure 4-30: Figure 4-31: Figure 4-32: Figure 4-33: What do you think is a reasonable one-way fare to pay for transit services? . Would you support Charlotte County funding expanded transit services? . Potential New Fixed-Route Service Options . Potential New Flex-Route Service Improvements . Potential Other Improvements . If Dial-A-Ride system were to expand service to the residents of Lake Suzy, what would be the best service for the residents of Lake Suzy? . What type(s) of trips would you mostly use the service for? . Where would you travel to using a new bus service? . Would you support Lake Suzy funding new transit service?. Flex-Route Transit Service . Transit Service Alternatives Evaluation Process . Annual Operating and Capital Costs (millions) . Costs and Revenues (millions) . 4-35 4-35 4-36 4-37 8-4 9-4 10-8 10-8 LIST OF TABLES Table 1-1: TDP Checklist . Table 2-1: Charlotte County Population Characteristics . Table 2-2: Charlotte County Population Trends for Cities and Towns . Table 2-3: Charlotte County TD Population and Passenger Trends . Table 2-4: Demographic Characteristics . Table 2-5: Journey-to-Work Characteristics . Table 2-6: Minority Populations in Charlotte County, 2000 & 2010 . Table 2-7: Charlotte County Top Ten Non-Governmental Employers . Table 2-8: Charlotte County Major Developments . Table 2-9: Approved Developments . Table 3-1: Dial-A-Ride Fare Structure . Table 3-2: Charlotte County Transit – Vehicle Inventory, 2013 . Table 3-3: Privately-Operated Service Providers . Table 3-4: Contracted Transportation Providers Operating within Charlotte County . Table 3-5: Dial-A-Ride Performance Review Measures . Table 3-6: Dial-A-Ride Performance Indicators Trend Analysis, 2007–2011 . Table 3-7: Dial-A-Ride Effectiveness Measures Trend Analysis, 2007–2011 . Table 3-8: Dial-A-Ride Efficiency Measures Trend Analysis, 2007–2011 . Table 3-9: Summary of Dial-A-Ride Trend Analysis, 2007–2011 . Table 3-10: Selected Peer Systems Dial-A-Ride Peer Review Analysis, 2011 . Table 3-11: Performance Indicators Public Dial-A-Ride Fixed-Route Peer Review, 2011 . Table 3-12: Effectiveness Measures Dial-A-Ride Fixed-Route Peer Review, 2011 . Table 3-13: Efficiency Measures Dial-A-Ride Peer Review, 2011 . 1-3 2-3 2-3 2-11 2-13 2-14 2-15 2-20 2-22 2-22 3-3 3-5 3-6 3-7 3-9 3-10 3-12 3-14 3-18 3-20 3-20 3-23 3-24 Figure 4-34: Figure 4-35: Figure 4-36: Figure 8-1: Figure 9-1: Figure 10-1: Figure 10-2: Charlotte County 2015–2024 Transit Development Plan 4-28 4-28 4-31 4-32 4-32 v

Access Pasco: A Plan for Transit Table 3-14: Table 3-15: Table 3-16: Table 3-17: Table 3-18: Table 3-19: Table 4-1: Table 4-2: Table 4-3: Table 5-1: Table 7-1: Table 7-2: Table 7-3: Table 7-4: Table 8-1: Table 8-2: Table 9-1: Table 9-2: Table 9-3: Table 9-4: Table 10-1: Table 10-2: Table 10-3: Dial-A-Ride Peer Review Analysis Summary, 2011 . 3-27 Peer Community Review for Charlotte County . 3-29 Future Charlotte County Transit Peer Systems . 3-32 Performance Indicators, Future Peer Review, 2024 . 3-32 Effectiveness Measures, Future Peer Review . 3-33 Efficiency Measures, Future Peer Review. 3-33 Public Involvement Activities Summary . 4-6 Ranking of Transit Characteristics . 4-17 Stakeholders Interviewed . 4-37 Charlotte Rides Plans and Studies Review Summary . 5-3 Transit Service Density Thresholds . 7-2 Dial-A-Ride Demand Assessment-Tiers of Trip Origins and Destinations . 7-11 Major Trip Clusters – Origins . 7-11 Major Trip Clusters – Destinations . 7-12 Charlotte County Average Weekday Ridership and Growth Rates, 2015–2024 . 8-14 Charlotte County Average Saturday Ridership and Growth Rates, 2015–2024 . 8-14 Alternatives Evaluation Measures . 9-2 Alternatives Evaluation – Scoring Thresholds . 9-5 Results of Alternatives Evaluation . 9-6 Rankings of 10-Year Transit Service Alternatives . 9-7 Ten-Year Cost Efficient Transit Plan – Service Characteristics. 10-1 Ten-Year Costs and Revenues-Charlotte Rides Cost Efficient Plan . 10-9 Ten-Year Implementation Plan and Unfunded Needs . 10-10 LIST OF MAPS Map 2-1: Study Area . Map 2-2: Population Density (2010). Map 2-3: Population Density (2024).

Charlotte County Ten ‐Year Transit Development Plan Final Report Prepared for Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners 18500 Murdock Circle, Suite 536 Port Charlotte, FL 33948 (941) 743‐1300 Charlotte County-Punta Gorda Metropolitan Planning Organization 25550 Harbor View Road Port Charlotte, FL 33980 (941) 883‐3535 August 2014 .