Remote Rural Mobility Solutions and theCreation of a Rural Transit District

Linda K. Cherrington

Sponsored by

Topics for Discussion

Transit in Texas Rural Transit Services How is Rural Transit

Funded? How is Rural Transit

Organized?

Transit in Texas

Regional Transit Authorities Dallas DART Houston METRO San Antonio VIA Austin Capital Metro Fort Worth The T Corpus Christi RTD

County Transit Authority Denton County

Municipal Transit Depts. El Paso Sun Metro Laredo El Metro

Transit in Texas

Small Urban Transit 30 transit systems

Rural Transit 39 transit providers

Rural Transit in TexasCharacteristics Largest Rural Transit by Land

Area Panhandle Community Services

25,749 sq mi West Texas Opportunities

23,360 sq mi Smallest Rural Transit by

Population South Padre Island

1,425 population Webb County

17,535 population Rural Transit in Areas of Lowest

Population Density Concho Valley

3.69 persons/sq mi

Why Transit in Rural Communities?

Access to Basic Necessities Medical Social Services Essential Shopping

Improve Quality of Life Personal Business Family Recreation

Advance Economic Opportunity Jobs Education

Population Served by Rural Transit

Seniors Persons with disabilities Persons without limited

economic resources Families Persons in remote areas

Rural Transit in West Texas

El Paso County Services in El Paso County

outside El Paso Sun Metro Fixed Route General Population Commute services to

connect with Sun Metro Area 809 square miles Population 31,157 in 2000

Rural Transit in West Texas

Permian Basin Rural Transit District Provider is West Texas

Opportunities, Inc. Services in 17 counties Demand-response General population Sub-regional dispatch

centers Area 23,360 square miles Population 166,056 in 2000

Funding Rural Transit in Texas

Federal Section 5311 Funds for Rural Areas

State of Texas Public Transportation Funds

Local Funds

Federal Funding for Transit 1992-2009

Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act

(SAFETEA-LU)

Six-year funding policy 2004-2009 Revisions to Urbanized Area Formula

Funds Revision to Section 5311 Rural Area

(Non-urbanized) Formula Apportion 20% of funds to land

area Increased funding

New Formula Funding Programs for Transit Growing States and High Density

States Program New Freedoms Program Alternative Transportation in Parks

Section 5311 Rural Areas Rural Areas

Under 50,000 Population Formula Funds

Population (80%) Land Area (20%)

Set aside 15% for intercity bus, 2% for Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP)

Eligible Uses Capital projects including preventive

maintenance Eligible 80/20 federal/local

match* Operating expenses

Eligible 50/50 federal/local match*

Administrative and planning expenses 80/20 federal/local match*

Local match is any non-federal source of match

Section 5311 Funding Allocation to Rural Areas

Federal Funds to the Governor of each State

Governor of Texas designates TxDOT as responsible state agency

Funding formula established by Texas Transportation Commission

Indirect Sources of Federal Funds Rural Community Advancement

Program Vocational Rehabilitation State

Grants Independent Living Programs Medicaid Temporary Assistance for Needy

Families Community Services Block Grants Developmental Disabilities Grants Welfare to Work Grants Workforce Investment Act

Programs

State of Texas Funding

Public Transportation Fund Health and Human Service

Programs

Public Transportation Fund

State Funds for Public Transportation Small Urban Areas Rural Areas

Subject to Biennium Funding from Texas State Legislature

Allocation Historical Trend Continued Revised by Legislation 2003

Public Transportation in Texas

Significant Legislation House Bill 3588 revamped

Texas Department of Transportation responsibilities

House Bill 2292 revamped organization of health and human services programs

TxDOT has responsibility for all public transportation funding

Administration of programs not consolidated

State Funds for Transit in Texas

Responsibility delegated by the Legislature to Texas Transportation Commission in 2003

Texas Transportation Commission named Public Transportation Committee (PTAC) to advise on funding formula

PTAC recommended goals and objectives for funding transit

Includes Rural Federal and State Funding Allocation

PTAC Goal #1

To improve access to public transportation in Texas in a fiscally responsible manner.

• Support transit to provide basic mobility for dependent populations in all counties using obtainable resources

• Provide incentives for local investment to support public transportation

• Encourage service enhancements to support economic opportunity, job access, cleaner air and congestion mitigation by encouraging transit as a mode of choice

• Improve awareness of the availability of services to increase the utilization of transit.

PTAC Goal #2

To improve the effectiveness and efficiency of public transportation services. • Recommend state funding formulae that reward efficiency and effectiveness • Recommend changes to current policies that will result in improved efficiency, effectiveness and utilization • Recommend enhancements to processes used to obtain and verify performance data • Recommend programming of capital investments to support managing assets (vehicles, facilities) for enhanced utilization, safety and reliability

PTAC Goal #3

To improve cooperation and coordination of services. • Recommend state funding formulae that reward coordination of services • Support changes to legislative and administrative codes to resolve barriers or remove constraints to the coordination of services

• Ensure implementation of the recommendations from the Regional Services Planning (RSP) initiative to coordinate public transportation services

State Transit Funding Allocation

State Transit Funds

35%Urban Systems

65%Rural Systems

Needs Performance Needs Performance

75% population

25% land area

100% population

Federal 5311 Funds, too

Funding Formula Performance Indicators

33% local $ / expense

33% rev. mi. / expense

33% riders / rev.

mi.

RuralPerformance

Sources of Local Funding

Transit generated revenues Private sector General revenue Bonds for capital Non-traditional

Impact fees, parking fines Special districts

Economic development sales tax

Federal programs that take on a local veil Community Development Block

Grants

Sources of Local Funding (continued)

Dedicated sales tax Regional Transit Authorities Municipal Transit

Departments County Transportation

Authorities Eligible: Funding through

Regional Mobility Authorities

Organizing for Rural Transit in Texas

Rural Transit Districts Texas Transportation Code

Chapter 458 Political subdivision of the

state that provides and coordinates public transportation

Eligible to receive funds from State via TxDOT

Single County or Multicounty New rural transit district Join an existing

Things to Consider

Goals for Public Transportation in Your Area

Service Plan Provider Local Funding Challenges Opportunities

Questions?

Contact Linda Cherrington TTI 409-740-4734 L-Cherrington@tamu.edu