DART Comprehensive Operations Analysis (COA)

Dallas   Area   Rapid   Transit   (DART)   has   reached   the   point   where   the   current   rail   build-­‐out   is   nearly  completed,   and   bus   routes   have   been   reorganized   to   facilitate   a   multi-­‐modal   transit   network.     DART  currently   operates   transit   services   to   thirteen   cities   providing   a   mix   of   light-­‐rail;   commuter   rail   (TRE);  local,   express,   rail   feeder,   crosstown  and   shuttle   bus   routes;   paratransit;   vanpool;   and   flexible   bus   route  service  including  on-­‐call  zones  and  flex-­‐routes.  DART  has  initiated  the  update  of  its  2040  Transit  Systems  Plan  through  a  phased  approach.  Phase  1  includes  the  development  of  a  10-­‐year  Transit  Plan  resulting  from  a  Comprehensive  Operations  Analysis  (COA).  Phase  2  builds  on  the  10-­‐Year  Plan,  examining  longer  range  higher   capacity   transit   improvements   designed   to   meet   future   regional   mobility   challenges   and   travel  patterns.      DART  has  contracted  the  COA  through  its  General  Planning  Consulting  Contract  managed  by  URS/AECOM.  Connetics   Transportation   Group   (CTG)   has   been   tasked   as   Lead   Project   Management   of   the   COA.   This  project   is   a   collaborative   effort   between   CTG,   URS/AECOM   and   DART   staff   designed   to   accomplish  significant   data   collection   and   analysis,   and   the   development   of   Near-­‐Term   (1-­‐5   years)   and   Mid-­‐Term  Service  Plan  Recommendations  for  implementation.    The   DART   COA   consists   of   the   following   tasks:   1)   Staff,   Stakeholder,   Public   and   Rider   Input,   2)   Data  Collection,   3)   Data   Analysis   and   Evaluation   of   Existing   Service,   4)   Travel   Pattern   Analysis,   and   5)  Development  of  the  Recommended  5  and  10  Year  Service   Plans.     The   COA   has   focused   on   the  development  of  recommendations  to  optimize  the  existing   transit   service,   improve   transit   mobility  and   improve   cost   effectiveness.   CTG   has   led   the  Staff   and   Public   Input   sessions   which   have   been  designed   to   solicit   input   concerning   what   is  working   and  what   is   not   working   in   the   existing  transit  network.  Extensive  field  level  analysis  was  conducted   to   experience   and   understand   the  riders   perspective   and   visually   understand   the  

environment   in   which   service   is   provided,   safety  issues,  passenger  facility  limitations  and  accessibility.      CTG  has  also  led  the  Data  Analysis  and  Evaluation  of  Existing  Service   task.  This   task   includes   the  analysis  of   on-­‐board   survey   results,   transfer   activity,   system  level   performance,   route   level   performance   and  effectiveness,   scheduling   practices   and   their  efficiencies   and   effectiveness.   CTG   has   developed   a  series   of   innovative   service   analysis   tools   designed  for   future  use  by  DART   staff.   These   innovative   tools  

 

include:   spreadsheets  designed   to  manage   large  APC  databases  reducing   this  data   to  manageable  service  reports   depicting   route   and   stop   level   ridership   analysis;   utilizing   Google   Earth   to   depict   a   series   of  relevant   service   analysis   data   including   APC   stop   level   boarding   and   alighting   data;   unsafe   turning  movements;  grocery  store  and  social  service  agency  locations;  population  and  employment  characteristics  and  travel  pattern  data.      The  Latent  Demand  Analysis  Task  has   included  a  new  dimension   commonly   missed   in   COA   Studies,  understanding   of   region  wide   travel   patterns   of   non-­‐transit   trips.   CTG   utilized   mobility   device   movement  data   provided   by   AirSage.   The   travel   data   was   made  available   by   trip   purpose,   time   of   day   and   daily   for  weekday   and   weekend.   CTG   utilized   this   data   to  develop   a   series   of   maps   depicting   trip   volume   and  density   by   TSZ;   identification   of   twenty-­‐two   activity  centers  within  the  region  based  on  trip  attractions  and  productions;   and   identification   of   significant   travel  patterns   to   and   from   these   activity   centers.   A   total   of  eight-­‐six   significant   travel   pattern   were   identified.  Each   significant   travel   pattern   was   analyzed   to  understand   volumes   of   trips   by   time   period,   desired  paths   between   a   significant   trip   market   and   each  activity   center,   and   was   used   to   evaluate   existing  service  effectiveness  in  serving  these  significant  travel  patterns.  The  Team  is  currently  using  this  information  to   assist   in   the   design   of   appropriate   and   specific  transit   services   to  more   effectively   serve   these   travel  markets   with   competitive   transit   solutions.   The   latent   demand   analysis   includes   the   analysis   of  Longitudinal   Employer   Household   Dynamics   (LEHD)   and   American   Community   Survey   (ACS)   data   to  determine  and  confirm  travel  markets  identified  through  the  use  of  mobile  device  data  sets.    

Under   CTG   Leadership,   the   consultant   team  is   in   the  process  of  developing  a  Short-­‐Term  (1-­‐5   Years)   and   Mid-­‐Term   (6-­‐10   Years)  Service   Plan   for   DART   approval.   The   initial  service   plan   recommendations  will   focus   on  what   can   be   done   within   limited   financial  resources   to   improve   transit   services,  maximizing   the   use   of   existing   resources.    The  Mid-­‐Term  Service  Plan  will  build  upon  a  strong  and  efficient  transit  network  designed  in   the   Short-­‐Term   Plan,   incorporating  transportation-­‐related   goals   set   forth   in   the  2030   Transit   Systems   Plan   and   guiding  principles  established  for  the  development  of  

the  2040  Transit  Systems  Plan,  DART’s  20  Year  Financial  Plan  and  the  NCTCOG’s  Mobility  2035  Plan.