1	Weirton Transit Corporation Changing for the Future
2	Weirton Transit Corporation Overview Public Transit Provider for the City of Weirton since June of 1989. Sub-recipient of a 5307 Grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for operating, planning, & capital funds, which requires local match funding sources. Local match funding source is primarily the City of Weirton. Additional sources include the Hancock County Commission, Advertising Revenues, and Donations.
3	WTC Overview Continued Buses Two 18 pax wheelchair accessible buses One 24 pax wheelchair accessible bus Staff 3 Full-time & 2 Part-time Drivers Transit Manager & Secretary
4	WTC Overview Continued Routes – Main Route & Feeder Routes Main Route Main Street, Penn Ave., Colliers Way to WMC, & Three Springs Drive Feeder Routes Marland Heights, Weir Crest, Weir Ave., & Cove Rd. Hours of Operation 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. M-F, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. From 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. M-F and Saturday, only one bus in operation.
5	WTC Overview Continued Services General Public Transit Service Paratransit Tripper Service (St. Joe’s School) HCC SWS Contract Service Oversight by an 8 member Board of Trustees
6	Why Services Have Been Critically Analyzed & How Services Were Analyzed Why Concern by the WTC and City of Weirton over a period of declining ridership and revenue. To determine what actions are necessary to maintain and gain ridership and increase revenue. How Independent consultant study conducted by RLS and Associates, a transportation consulting firm. Major study elements included community input.
7	Consultant Study Findings Most ridership is currently boarding on the Main Route (Main Street, Penn Ave., Colliers Way to WMC, & Three Springs Drive). The feeder route system (Marland Heights, Weir Crest, Weir Ave., & Cove Rd.), particularly the Weir Crest area, has much lower passenger activity and no ridership on some mid-day trips. The St. Joe’s Tripper Service & HCC SWS service, two major trip generators, require special dedicated service to adequately service clientele. This indicates that the WTC’s service must be flexible to respond to the needs of other residents.
8	Consultant Findings Continued Ridership levels are such that some form of demand responsive service can be provided without causing capacity problems. Most desired passenger service improvements included more bus shelters, extended evening service during the weekdays, & Sunday service.
9	Consultant Findings Continued The two basic routes, Main Route and Feeder Route, have several variations. While the variations are designed to provide flexibility and respond to local needs, the result is a complicated and somewhat confusing system. Running times for the Main Rt. do not permit a reoccurring clock face schedule for the entire day (i.e., buses are not arriving at a certain stop at a certain number of minutes past each hour all day). For most trips, passengers will need to have a schedule to know when buses will arrive at their stop.
10	Why Consider Change? To respond and conform to changing community needs. Regionalism Aging population and efficient accommodation of serving this ridership demographic To create greater efficiency To create greater flexibility
11	Proposed System Changes Change route system from a predominantly Fixed Route system to a Route and Point Deviated bus system that is split into two zones of deviation. Create a start/end point at the Weirton City Building/Community Center Parking Lot. This location will serve as a “Hub Point”.
12	Proposed System Changes Continued Offer two bus service until 6:00 p.m. and one bus service till 7:30 p.m. M-F Placement of five new bus shelters Zonal Fares
13	Route Service Types Fixed Route Route Deviation Point Deviation
14	Fixed Route A route operating on fixed path that makes stops at scheduled times.
15	Route Deviation “In route deviation systems, vehicles operate along a fixed route and follow a set schedule. Vehicles can deviate from the set route, however, if a request is made by a rider. After deviating from the route, the vehicle returns to the same point to continue their run”. Source: (ADA Paratransit Handbook, Sept. 1991 - Chapter 6, pg 6-9)
16	Point Deviation “Point deviation systems are similar but are even more flexible. In these systems, specific stops (pick-up and drop-off “points”) are established and the vehicle arrives at these stops at designated times. There is no set route between these stops, however, and the vehicle operates in a door-to-door mode as required to meet passenger needs”. Source: (ADA Paratransit Handbook, Sept. 1991 - Chapter 6, pg 6-9)
17	Benefits of Changing Fixed Routes to Deviated Routes Eliminates the application and eligibility process to provide a dedicated complementary paratransit service, while still allowing flexibility to accommodate the needs of the disabled. Complementary paratransit service is required when offering a fixed route service. Flexibility in Services To respond to needs that have evolved over the past 14 years. To respond to new public transit needs that arise.
18	Benefits Continued With Route Deviation, passengers utilizing the main route system can still be accommodated with a level of fixed service, while the bus is also flexible to meet other needs. Inefficient portions of the regular feeder routes can be serviced on a demand responsive basis.
19	Benefits Continued In general, the system has been evolving into a deviated type of system to provide the level of service desired by the community.
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22	Route & Point Deviation Route Deviation and Point Deviation Service “Reviewing fixed route alternatives may be particularly important in rural and small urban areas. It may be cost-effective in some areas to consider replacing existing fixed route service with a general public demand responsive service. Another alternative which may be appropriate in these areas is route deviation or point deviation”. Source: (ADA Paratransit Handbook, Sept. 1991 - Chapter 6, pg 6-9)
23	Challenges of Changing Route From a Fixed to Deviated Route Q. How do you keep any type of schedule with a deviated transit system? Q. How do you handle demand for services? Q. How do you educate customers on how to use a new type of service?
24	WTC’s Method of Addressing Challenges Deviation and Schedule Control – Based on a two bus system, one bus will be Route Deviated & one bus will be Point Deviated. The Route Deviated bus will follow a fixed path, a similar version of the current main route, and will also deviate. However, the deviations will be limited to a specific geographic area. Limiting the deviation will allow this bus to hold a relatively fixed schedule. This area of deviation will be deemed Zone 1.
25	Addressing Challenges Continued Deviation and Schedule Control – The Point Deviated bus will only have major stop points scheduled with larger gaps in stop times, thus, it will have time to respond to larger deviations. The point deviated bus will deviate within the entire city limits. The area of deviation outside of Zone 1 will be deemed Zone 2.
26	Addressing Challenges Continued Scheduling Control For all trips where a deviation is required in Zone 1, same day requests for deviations in all cases should be accommodated, however, it will be recommended that a 24 hour advance request be made in order to assure service. For deviations to any point in Zone 2, a 24 hour notice will be required. Accommodation of services requested on the same day will be accommodated as the schedule permits.
27	Addressing Challenges Continued Scheduling Control A scheduling procedure between the office and Bus Drivers will need to be developed, as requests for service will become more phone intensive to coordinate deviated services. If requests for deviation in Zone 1 become to cumbersome to hold a steady schedule, requests for deviated stops will then be required 24 hours in advance. Scheduling when office is closed Answering service in office Cell phone on bus that will be in service later than normal office hours to handle passenger requests.
28	Addressing Challenges Continued Scheduling Control Encourage use of the bus without deviation for trips that can be reasonably accommodated by walking up to stops along the “Main Rt.”
29	Addressing Challenges Continued Educating Riders Communicate how to use the bus Public involvement process Detailed schedules explaining service Encourage phone inquiry for questions Speak with local community groups Advertising
30	Benefits of Utilizing the Weirton City Building/Community Center Parking Lot as a Start/End Point Passenger recognition of common point where buses will have frequent service. Creates a common point for other transportation services to transfer ridership promoting coordination of services. A more fixed interval of service, or clock face headway, will be created promoting a more consistent service frequency.
31	Zonal Fare Structure All Trips in Zone 1 will remain at the current rate of $1.50. For Trips that are inter or intra Zone 2, a premium fare will apply, not to exceed more than double the Zone 1 fare.
32	Proposed System Changes Identified by WTC as Potential Areas Where General Service Improvements Could Increase Ridership. Develop the Route Deviated bus route, or “main route”, to incorporate the Housing Authority and Wells Terrace locations as regular stops. Current service to these locations is somewhat limited, and there is a potential population that could use public transportation if it were able to better respond to their daily transportation needs.
33	Proposed System Changes Identified by WTC as Potential Areas Where General Service Improvements Could Increase Ridership As part of the Route Deviated bus route, or “main route”, reroute the main route on Pennsylvania Ave. to incorporate the corner of Elaine St. and Park Ave. as a regular stop. Current route does not have a built in stop at this location. Including a stop may increase public transit use to the WVNCC. To respond to a request for transit service for Madonna High School students. Although the service would not be as customized as it is for St. Joe’s, it increases a transportation option.
34	Summary of what New Changes will do The combination of a Route Deviated and Point Deviated bus will allow for a flexible service that has a fixed route or “main route” structure meeting the needs of riders accustomed to the current service. It also has the flexibility to increase service to un-served areas and eliminates unproductive scheduled routes by serving those areas on a demand responsive basis.
35	Summary of what New Changes will do The system will be flexible to consider new community transportation needs that arise. Rider request for later service in the evenings will be accommodated. Rider request for more bus shelters will be accommodated. Bus system should be less complicated to understand and easier to use. A more consistent frequency of service will be created.
36	Summary of what New Changes will do Increased service for the Housing Authority and Wells Terrace residents. Increased regular service to WVNCC and a potential transportation option for Madonna High School students.
37	Weirton Transit Corporation