There have been a couple noteworthy changes in mass transit policy made by the Obama Administration.
First, in grading out light rail proposals, economic development and land use have now been put on par with cost-effectiveness. The last criteria was the top criteria alone for the Bush Administration.
An official of Virginia's Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) speculated that the effect of the change will be that it will now be easier to meet the Federal standard for funds, but that more localities will now probably seek to apply.
Second, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is now partnering with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on transit system development. The former is obviously in it for the positive environmental impacts, while HUD seeks to construct affordable housing near mass transit transfer centers.
Friday, February 26, 2010
My First Senior Citizen Discount
Coming home from yesterday's TDCHR meeting, I stopped at the Farm Fresh at Victory Crossing to pick up a couple items. The cashier rang them up, and I went to get the money out of my wallet. When I looked back up, the price was reduced.
The cashier had given me the Senior Citizen discount of 5%. At age 45. Maybe it's the lined bifocals....
The cashier had given me the Senior Citizen discount of 5%. At age 45. Maybe it's the lined bifocals....
TDCHR February 25, 2010
The Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads (TDCHR), the governing board of Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), met Thursday afternoon at HRT headquarters in Hampton.
Issues were raised about getting the Federal government to release the final funds for Norfolk's light rail Starter Line. However, if it can be shown that cost increases happened due to an enlarged scope for the project, the Feds may cover up to 80% of those costs.
The agency is currently about $1.5 million under it's FY 2010 budget.
A draft budget for FY 2011 was presented. However, the figures are very preliminary, as a number of factors could change: state aid in the new state budget, what services the seven cities agree to contract for, and whether or not there is a fare increase and for how much (more on that later).
The first phase of the new Southside facility is on time and within budget. However, the new administrative building that was to be part of that project will now be delayed due to the state not making a planned bond issue with revenue down.
The draft of Phase II of the Regional Transit Vision Plan is due out in July. Those working on the project have been meeting with Staff in the seven cities. Also, there is a wish to include High Speed Rail and it's connectivity in the Plan.
Fun Facts from Thursday:
1. The cost of operating a HRT mainline bus is $58.01 per hour.
2. There are 59 mass transit systems in Virginia.
Finally, a couple of pieces of business of particular interest for my fellow bus riders:
1. The City of Suffolk is in talks with HRT about increasing service "in the northern part of the city". It wasn't mentioned exactly where.
2. Per TDCHR policy of allowing for a fare increase once every two years, the process has begun for considering one. Up to 4 options will be prepared for the TDCHR. There will be Public Hearings at the TDCHR meetings on April 22 in Hampton and May 27 in Norfolk, with a vote slated for the Norfolk meeting. The second Hearing was at the insistence of TDCHR Chairman Jim Wood, who noted the problems some bus riders have in crossing the water. (They thank you, Jim.)
Two facts to ponder on the issue. First, HRT's farebox cash fare has been at $1.50 since the 1999 merger of TRT and Pentran. Second, HRT's peer agencies now have an average farebox cash fare of $2.01.
A draft of the options is to go to HRT's Operations and Oversight Committee on March 12, with the final going to HRT's Budget and Audit Committee on March 24. A Presentation on it will be made to the TDCHR's March 25 meeting in Norfolk.
In addition, Henry Ryto, Chairman of HRT's Transit Riders Advisory Committee (TRAC) has requested that the information be provided to TRAC's March 17 meeting in Hampton. (As it's slated to go to O & O five days earlier, it should be ready.) It is hoped that TRAC can then provide recommendations from a bus riders prospective.
Issues were raised about getting the Federal government to release the final funds for Norfolk's light rail Starter Line. However, if it can be shown that cost increases happened due to an enlarged scope for the project, the Feds may cover up to 80% of those costs.
The agency is currently about $1.5 million under it's FY 2010 budget.
A draft budget for FY 2011 was presented. However, the figures are very preliminary, as a number of factors could change: state aid in the new state budget, what services the seven cities agree to contract for, and whether or not there is a fare increase and for how much (more on that later).
The first phase of the new Southside facility is on time and within budget. However, the new administrative building that was to be part of that project will now be delayed due to the state not making a planned bond issue with revenue down.
The draft of Phase II of the Regional Transit Vision Plan is due out in July. Those working on the project have been meeting with Staff in the seven cities. Also, there is a wish to include High Speed Rail and it's connectivity in the Plan.
Fun Facts from Thursday:
1. The cost of operating a HRT mainline bus is $58.01 per hour.
2. There are 59 mass transit systems in Virginia.
Finally, a couple of pieces of business of particular interest for my fellow bus riders:
1. The City of Suffolk is in talks with HRT about increasing service "in the northern part of the city". It wasn't mentioned exactly where.
2. Per TDCHR policy of allowing for a fare increase once every two years, the process has begun for considering one. Up to 4 options will be prepared for the TDCHR. There will be Public Hearings at the TDCHR meetings on April 22 in Hampton and May 27 in Norfolk, with a vote slated for the Norfolk meeting. The second Hearing was at the insistence of TDCHR Chairman Jim Wood, who noted the problems some bus riders have in crossing the water. (They thank you, Jim.)
Two facts to ponder on the issue. First, HRT's farebox cash fare has been at $1.50 since the 1999 merger of TRT and Pentran. Second, HRT's peer agencies now have an average farebox cash fare of $2.01.
A draft of the options is to go to HRT's Operations and Oversight Committee on March 12, with the final going to HRT's Budget and Audit Committee on March 24. A Presentation on it will be made to the TDCHR's March 25 meeting in Norfolk.
In addition, Henry Ryto, Chairman of HRT's Transit Riders Advisory Committee (TRAC) has requested that the information be provided to TRAC's March 17 meeting in Hampton. (As it's slated to go to O & O five days earlier, it should be ready.) It is hoped that TRAC can then provide recommendations from a bus riders prospective.
TPPC February 25, 2010
On Thursday morning the Transportation, Parking, and Pedestrian Committee (TPPC) of Virginia Beach's Resort Advisory Commission (RAC) met.
The first topic was a look at Ocean City's "Walk Smart" program. While committee members and Staff acknowledge we have a pedestrian safety problem in the Resort Area (worst in the city), questions were raised as to how cost-effective additional measures would be. Still, some further steps may be taken. Fact of the morning: you are 7 times more likely to be a fatality while walking than by any other form of transportation.
Staff from Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) presented some requested information: a 2007 vs. 2009 VBWave ridership comparison, Ticket Vending Machine (TVM) figures for the Resort Area, and written answers to questions the TPPC asked but HRT Staff didn't know the answers to off the top of their heads.
As part of the City's ongoing maintenance of traffic signals, the stoplights at Pacific Avenue's intersections with 21st and 22nd Streets are going to be replaced. Not only are the current lights far short of national standards, but they utilize utility poles of Dominion Virginia Power. The new signals will utilize a single 72 foot mast arm.
A Briefing of City Council on The Hippo, the waterslide that would go on the beach at the 24th Street Park, is slated for next Tuesday, March 2. The Hippo would require Council granting a franchise for it's operation.
Finally, the TPPC approved it's list of Top 5 Priorities for the upcoming March 4 RAC strategic planning meeting:
1. Extension of a mass transit mode (i.e. LRT) to the Oceanfront, including expansion of VB Wave and HRT bus feeder network.
2. Improving/enhancing resort parking (including employee parking).
3. Dome site and 19th Street redevelopment.
4. Development of Laskin Road Gateway.
5. Promoting development of a Resort Area Master Transportation Plan.
The first topic was a look at Ocean City's "Walk Smart" program. While committee members and Staff acknowledge we have a pedestrian safety problem in the Resort Area (worst in the city), questions were raised as to how cost-effective additional measures would be. Still, some further steps may be taken. Fact of the morning: you are 7 times more likely to be a fatality while walking than by any other form of transportation.
Staff from Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) presented some requested information: a 2007 vs. 2009 VBWave ridership comparison, Ticket Vending Machine (TVM) figures for the Resort Area, and written answers to questions the TPPC asked but HRT Staff didn't know the answers to off the top of their heads.
As part of the City's ongoing maintenance of traffic signals, the stoplights at Pacific Avenue's intersections with 21st and 22nd Streets are going to be replaced. Not only are the current lights far short of national standards, but they utilize utility poles of Dominion Virginia Power. The new signals will utilize a single 72 foot mast arm.
A Briefing of City Council on The Hippo, the waterslide that would go on the beach at the 24th Street Park, is slated for next Tuesday, March 2. The Hippo would require Council granting a franchise for it's operation.
Finally, the TPPC approved it's list of Top 5 Priorities for the upcoming March 4 RAC strategic planning meeting:
1. Extension of a mass transit mode (i.e. LRT) to the Oceanfront, including expansion of VB Wave and HRT bus feeder network.
2. Improving/enhancing resort parking (including employee parking).
3. Dome site and 19th Street redevelopment.
4. Development of Laskin Road Gateway.
5. Promoting development of a Resort Area Master Transportation Plan.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Shucet Holds Initial Session With Bloggers
On Monday morning new Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) CEO Phil Shucet held a roundtable session with bloggers. 5 of the 6 invitees were able to attend: Vivian Paige, Brian Kirwin of Bearing Drift, Eileen Levandoski of VB Dems, Archie Whitehill of Sparkling Diversity, and myself. It is hoped to be the beginning of a series of such sessions. Two ideas for subsequent meetings were discussed later: after the General Assembly session, and in June (after the cities have passed their budgets).
I'd give you a writeup, but Vivian actually did video of it. For those listening, I asked two questions: the one on budget tracking and the one on the "culture of fear".
I'd give you a writeup, but Vivian actually did video of it. For those listening, I asked two questions: the one on budget tracking and the one on the "culture of fear".
Thursday, February 18, 2010
71% Think Bellitto Has A Good Chance
Our previous poll question was on the chances of Rita Sweet Bellitto, just appointed to a vacancy on the Virginia Beach City Council, of winning a full term this November. 71% think she has a good chance, 10% Fair, 12% Poor, and 6% think She's Toast.
I'll be honest with you: I've never voted for Rita before. In her three previous runs for office, City Council in 2002 and School Board in 2004 & 2008, I have yet to cast a ballot for her. Also, just being named to City Council will require her to stand up a campaign team and raise money on a compact schedule. Possible, but problematic.
The new question is on today's rollout of a figure for Norfolk's light rail Starter Line: how much credibility do you give it?
I'll be honest with you: I've never voted for Rita before. In her three previous runs for office, City Council in 2002 and School Board in 2004 & 2008, I have yet to cast a ballot for her. Also, just being named to City Council will require her to stand up a campaign team and raise money on a compact schedule. Possible, but problematic.
The new question is on today's rollout of a figure for Norfolk's light rail Starter Line: how much credibility do you give it?
$338,284,251.00
The Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads (TDCHR), the governing body of Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), held a special meeting this afternoon in Hampton for the rollout of the final Norfolk Tide construction cost and an explanation of the figures.
New HRT CEO Phil Shucet gave everyone the number he had promised: Norfolk Tide construction will come in at no more than $338,284.251. While a significant increase over the original cost figure, the line would still be only $45.7 million per mile, the cheapest of any light rail line in the country in the past 12 years. While $13 million of that figure is for contingencies ($10 million unallocated; $3 million allocated), Shucet warned Commissioners not to use a $325 million figure, as such a result would require everything to go perfectly the rest of the way. In addition, Shucet stated he could find no analytical basis for the $288 million revised figure from 2008.
Almost as interesting was that fact that "one employee" (never identified) had done an in-house cost analysis during August & September of 2009. Completed in October, the in-house report put the Starter Line's cost at $324.7 million. Randy Wright was incensed that no one from the City of Norfolk had seen the in-house report before; in fact, Wright didn't see it until just before today's special meeting.
Moving towards completion of the Starter Line, contracts have been renegotiated to cut costs by $14.5 million. In addition, soft costs for the remaining 38% of construction are down to 9.75%.
Television crews arrived early from WVEC, WAVY, and WHRO. Also, a fourth crew (who I couldn't identify) arrived after the meeting had begun.
The TDCHR's regular February meeting will be next Thursday (the 25th), once again at 1:30 in Hampton. (HRT's website has read Norfolk for next week.)
New HRT CEO Phil Shucet gave everyone the number he had promised: Norfolk Tide construction will come in at no more than $338,284.251. While a significant increase over the original cost figure, the line would still be only $45.7 million per mile, the cheapest of any light rail line in the country in the past 12 years. While $13 million of that figure is for contingencies ($10 million unallocated; $3 million allocated), Shucet warned Commissioners not to use a $325 million figure, as such a result would require everything to go perfectly the rest of the way. In addition, Shucet stated he could find no analytical basis for the $288 million revised figure from 2008.
Almost as interesting was that fact that "one employee" (never identified) had done an in-house cost analysis during August & September of 2009. Completed in October, the in-house report put the Starter Line's cost at $324.7 million. Randy Wright was incensed that no one from the City of Norfolk had seen the in-house report before; in fact, Wright didn't see it until just before today's special meeting.
Moving towards completion of the Starter Line, contracts have been renegotiated to cut costs by $14.5 million. In addition, soft costs for the remaining 38% of construction are down to 9.75%.
Television crews arrived early from WVEC, WAVY, and WHRO. Also, a fourth crew (who I couldn't identify) arrived after the meeting had begun.
The TDCHR's regular February meeting will be next Thursday (the 25th), once again at 1:30 in Hampton. (HRT's website has read Norfolk for next week.)
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