APPENDIX I COMMUTER AND INTERCITY BUS SERVICE

Transcription

1 APPENDIX I COMMUTER AND INTERCITY BUS SERVICE

2 Introduction Intercity bus service provides scheduled connections between cities within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and to cities in neighboring states. In the SMMPO region, two public Regional Transit Authorities (RTA) provide local service with connections to private intercity bus service. Both the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA) and the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA) provide intercity connections among the region s cities. Intercity bus service operated by private carriers is also referred to as commuter bus service in that they provide scheduled service during peak commuting hours. Commuter bus service operates on fixed routes with stops at regional park and rides as well as private parking lots. Four private carriers operate intercity service in the SMMPO region: Bloom Bus Lines, DATTCO, Megabus, and Peter Pan Bus Lines Providence Division. Bloom Bus Lines operates service between Taunton and Boston; DATTCO operates service between New Bedford and Boston via Taunton in addition to daily service to points in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York; Megabus provides service between Fairhaven and New York City with stops in New Bedford, UMass Dartmouth, and Providence; Peter Pan Bus Lines Providence Division provides service between Boston and Woods Holes, New York City to Cape Cod via Providence, Newport to Boston via Fall River, Providence to Boston, and New York City to Providence. Private Company Intercity Bus Service Bloom Bus Lines has provided service from Taunton to Boston since Service operates daily between the Bloom Bus Terminal in Taunton to the South Station area stop located at 212 Stuart Street. The route stops at the Raynham Dog Track Park and Ride and the MA 106 and MA 24 Park and Ride in West Bridgewater. Bloom operates flag stops at Friendly s on Broadway in Taunton and in Easton at the corner of MA 138 and MA 106. Limited service is available between Taunton and the Westgate Mall in Brockton. Bloom Bus Lines weekday service begins at 5:30 AM and ends at 8:15 PM. DATTCO, with a local office in Fairhaven, operates commuter service between the New Bedford Terminal and South Station in Boston with stops at the Mt. Pleasant Street Park and Ride and the Silver City Galleria Park and Ride. DATTCO weekday service begins at 4:40 AM and ends at 12:50 AM. Megabus began service between Fairhaven/New Bedford to New York City with stops at the State Pier in New Bedford, the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, Newport, and Providence on July 11, Megabus weekday service begins at 5:15 AM and ends at 12:35 AM. Peter Pan Bus Lines Providence Division offers several commuter service lines in Southeastern Massachusetts. Service between Boston and Woods Hole stops in Wareham, Bourne, and Falmouth; the 2016 SMMPO Regional Transportation Plan I 1

3 New York to Cape Code and the Albany, NY to Cape Cod lines both stop in Providence, Fall River, New Bedford, and Bourne; the Newport to Boston line stops in Fall River, and the New York to Newport line stops in Providence and Fall River. The Fall River stop is located at the SRTA Terminal located at th Street. The New Bedford stop is located at the New Bedford Terminal located at 134 Elm Street. The Wareham stop is located at the Park and Ride located at US 6/MA 28 and MA 25 at Exit 2. Peter Pan Bus Lines Providence Division provides regular service to Boston Logan Airport direct from Woods Hole, Falmouth, Bourne, Wareham, Providence, and Foxboro. Peter Pan Bus Lines also provides direct service from Boston Logan Airport and Foxboro/Mansfield to T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, RI. Bloom Bus and DATTCO customers can connect with Boston Logan Airport via the MBTA Silver Line at Boston South Station. Security Bloom Bus Lines has equipped its entire fleet with global positioning systems (GPS) and can track vehicle location, traveling speed, and engine diagnostics remotely. This system was purchased with federal grants from the Department of Homeland Security. Terminals and garage facilities have been equipped with digital video equipment and all personnel entering the facilities have photo identification security key cards to allow entrance. DATTCO continues to utilize both GPS and DriveCam to monitor security and manage driving behaviors. GPS technology will be updated later this year as telecommunication providers begin to phase out the 2G wireless network. Functionality will remain the same though communication speed and reliability is expected to increase with the move to 4G. Peter Pan Bonanza employees have attended special terror/threat recognition training sessions and they have developed new operational policies and procedures to better secure vehicles and luggage bays at garages and terminals. Terminals and garage facilities have been equipped with digital video equipment and have been improved with fencing and better lighting. Peter Pan Bonanza also uses Sprint Nextel wireless communication devices, GPS location devices and video cameras on all vehicles. Vehicles Since 2012, Bloom Bus has purchased 8 new vehicles to replace older vehicles. Bloom Bus replaces vehicles on a ten year cycle and currently have only four buses that are older than ten years. The vehicles greater than ten years old are kept as reserve equipment and are not used in regular service. All buses are equipped with 110 volt power outlets and Wi Fi. Bloom Bus was the recipient of 2 buses through the Massachusetts Department of Transportation BusPlus + program and received one bus through a joint federal grant with the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority SMMPO Regional Transportation Plan I 2

4 DATTCO replaced 7 previously refurbished coaches with coaches procured through the Massachusetts Department of Transportation BusPlus + program during The new coaches are in service between Boston, Taunton, New Bedford and Fairhaven and feature three point seat belts, wireless internet capability, 110V power outlets and fully ADA compliant wheel chair lifts. The buses seat 55 passengers and have accommodations for up to two persons in wheelchairs. Peter Pan Bonanza places an annual order for new buses. The number of buses ordered varies based on factors such as: the current size of the fleet, the age of the oldest buses being replaced, the trade in value, the need to update technologies and more importantly, the state of the business and the resources the company can commit for capital programs. Peter Pan has ordered 20 new buses with 2014/2015 deliveries. The entire Peter Pan fleet has wireless internet service, seats with 110V outlets to charge phones, computers, and other devices. All new buses are ordered with 3 point seatbelts; approximately 50% of the Peter Pan fleet is equipped with seatbelts. Regional Intercommunity Bus Service Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority The Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA) contracts with Professional Transit Management, a division of Veolia Transportation, to operate a route from the Taunton bus terminal to downtown Attleboro via Norton. GATRA also contracts with A&A Metro Transportation to provide intercommunity bus service between Norton and Mansfield, connecting to the Mansfield MBTA station. GATRA also contracts with Bill s Taxi to provide intercommunity bus service between Wareham and Lakeville, connecting at the Middleborough Lakeville MBTA station. Southeastern Regional Transit Authority The Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA) contracts with SouthCoast Transit Management, a division of First Transit Incorporated to operate the Intercity Route between New Bedford and Fall River via US 6. In January 2013, SRTA implemented a new fare structure which eliminated costly zone fares between New Bedford and Fall River with the result being significant growth in ridership on the Intercity Route. Due to funding limitations however, additional service to meet the increased demand on this route has been delayed. Bus Facilities and Intermodal Centers Bus facilities in the SMMPO region include intermodal terminals in Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton, and Attleboro. Intermodal centers provide passengers a safe and convenient location to transfer between intercity bus service and local bus service as well as commuter rail services. Intermodal centers also include ticket counters for both intercity and local bus service; in addition, customer service representative are available to assist passengers with their travel needs. Intermodal centers provide parking for passengers, and may offer food concessions as well. In the SMMPO region, intermodal centers are located in the urban cores with convenient pedestrian access to downtown areas SMMPO Regional Transportation Plan I 3

5 In 2013, GATRA completed renovations of the Attleboro Intermodal Center which included the redevelopment of abandoned properties, improved access to parking, a new busway and shelter, bicycle storage, and improved access to the MBTA Attleboro Commuter Rail station. In 2013, SRTA opened the new Louis D. Pettine Transportation Center at th Street in Fall River. The terminal is located on a former Eastern Edison property. The terminal provides underground parking, a ticketing window for Peter Pan Bus Lines and SRTA, and a climate controlled waiting area. In 2014, SRTA completed renovations of the New Bedford Terminal which included replacing ceiling tiles in the terminal area, upgrading the electrical systems, and upgrades to the key card entry systems. In 2014, GATRA began renovations of the Taunton Bloom Bus Terminal which included replacing the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, a new fire suppression system, and the relocation of the GATRA Administrative office to the ground level. In anticipation of the planned restoration of commuter rail service to southeastern Massachusetts, plans have been developed to build two additional intermodal centers; one on Davol Street in Fall River and one on Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford, also referred to as Whale s Tooth Station. The Fall River Davol Street station would include a 500 space parking garage and be designed to accommodate SRTA and commuter buses with at least four bays. New Bedford Whale s Tooth station would become the SRTA primary terminal in New Bedford and would include ten bays for SRTA and commuter buses. SRTA intends to maintain a bus shelter downtown and to restructure existing routes to continue service to downtown as well as provide service to the new Whale s Tooth station. BusPlus + In September 2013, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced the formation of the BusPlus + program to increase intercity commuter bus options throughout the Commonwealth. The program is a public/private partnership between MassDOT and private intercity bus carriers to provide new buses to carriers that agree to operate specific intercity routes. The program replaced the Intercity Bus Capital Assistance Program. Key elements of the BusPlus + program include providing modern buses equipped with fully outfitted restrooms, increased leg room, Wi Fi, comfortable seating, 110V power outlets at every seat, and a functional, accessible, and aesthetically pleasing interior. The program has five priorities: establish new routes or re establish prior routes, expand service along existing routes, increase the frequency of service on existing routes with low frequency of service, increase frequency on medium frequency routes, and increase frequency on high frequency routes. In the SMMPO region, Bloom Bus Lines, DATTCO, and Peter Pan Bus Lines all received replacement buses through the BusPlus + program. Bloom Bus received 2 coaches, DATTCO received 7 coaches through the program, and Peter Pan received 17 coaches SMMPO Regional Transportation Plan I 4

6 Commuter Bus Issues Commuter bus service provides an excellent alternative to single occupancy vehicle travel, especially for commuting purposes. New modern equipment with free Wi Fi, comfortable seating, available power outlets, and on board restrooms provide an opportunity for passengers to make the time spent commuting much more productive than driving alone. The network of intercity bus carriers in the SMMPO region all connect with local transit systems at many of the destinations served, making it possible to travel throughout the region, Commonwealth, and beyond with limited need for a private automobile. The cost of regular commuting via intercity bus is affordable, especially when compared against the costs of owning and driving a private automobile. Intercity buses however, are subject to the same traffic congestion and delays experienced by private automobiles due to the fact that they operate in mixed traffic on the region s roadway network. As the region s roadways become more congested, the reliability of the intercity bus network will diminish, resulting in less predictability in arrival time. Impact of Commuter Rail on Ridership With the expansion of the MBTA Commuter Rail network throughout eastern Massachusetts, intercity commuter bus carriers are now in competition with the rail service for customers. The competition however is mutually beneficial to both modes of travel. Intercity commuter bus carriers have an opportunity to realign schedules to provide trips during the off peak hours of the commuter rail network at a much lower cost and with a greater level of flexibility. This need is most prevalent along the Middleborough/Lakeville Line which does not provide weekday midday service between the hours of 9:40 AM and 3:15 PM, then with limited service after 3:15 PM. The limited service presents an opportunity for an intercity bus carrier to provide midday service without directly competing for passengers with the MBTA Commuter Rail service. In addition to providing off peak trips, the intercity commuter bus network can help alleviate any concerns with overcrowding on the commuter rail by providing peak hour commuting service as well. Operating in this manner, intercity commuter bus and commuter rail can increase the opportunities for residents and employees of the SMMPO region to travel without the need for a private automobile. Joint Ticketing with MBTA Joint ticketing remains an unresolved issue between the region s intercity bus carriers and the MBTA. Joint ticketing would permit a passenger to use a monthly commuter bus pass for MBTA transit services in the same manner that an MBTA Commuter Rail monthly pass holder can access the MBTA transit services using the pass. As of 2015, a MBTA Zone 8 Monthly Pass, which includes trips from the Lakeville Middleborough MBTA station and full use of the MBTA transit services costs $330. By 2016 SMMPO Regional Transportation Plan I 5

7 comparison, a monthly pass for intercity service on DATTCO between New Bedford and Boston costs $320, however to access the MBTA transit system, the passenger would be required to pay a separate fare. Joint ticketing would eliminate the distinction between commuter rail and intercity passengers and eliminate the inequity in modal choice. In 2013, SRTA implemented the MBTA Charlie Card fare payment system. Charlie Cards with stored value (daily, weekly, and monthly passes are excluded) can be used on both the SRTA and MBTA systems. A similar arrangement could be made between the intercity bus carriers and the MBTA so that at no point in a commuter s journey would a separate fare payment system be required. In January 2015, MassDOT announced a partnership with Bytemark, a mobile ticketing software company that would allow intercity passengers to purchase tickets for any of the intercity carriers operating in Massachusetts through a single mobile app. When purchased through the mobile app, the passenger need only display the digital ticket upon boarding. This is a pilot program, and is a step in the direction of joint ticketing, but falls short of providing access to the MBTA. Lack of Connectivity and Bus Connections Despite a well developed network of intercity bus routes throughout the SMMPO region, gaps in service remain. Service between downtown Fall River and downtown Taunton does not exist through a direct connection; riders must first travel to New Bedford and transfer to the DATTCO intercity bus that serves the Silver City Galleria, then transfer to GATRA service. Completing this trip is lengthy, and subject to significant delays if a connection is missed. Implementation of South Coast Rail will address this need, however it could be several years until the connection is made. In the interim, efforts need to be made with the intercity carriers to address the unmet need and provide a more convenient and timely connection between downtown Fall River and downtown Taunton. Congestion on Route 24 Traffic congestion on Route 24 between Taunton and Randolph is a problem for intercity bus carriers. The daily peak hour congestion increases travel times and reduces the reliability of scheduled arrival times. The congested condition not only delays travel, it limits the ability of the intercity carriers from increasing the frequency of service without deploying additional buses. Once the intercity buses reach the HOV lane on the Southeast Expressway in Quincy, they are able to travel at a much more predictable speed into Boston. The difference in travel times is significant. A peak hour commuter bus trip between Taunton and Boston South Station is scheduled for one hour and thirty five minutes; the same trip mid day is 2016 SMMPO Regional Transportation Plan I 6

8 scheduled for one hour and five minutes. The difference of thirty minutes between peak and off peak travel times reflects the level of congestion experienced on Route 24. Recommendations I 1 The absence of joint ticketing creates a disparate financial burden for intercity bus commuters in southeastern Massachusetts. An agreement between the MBTA and the intercity bus carriers to permit joint ticketing will remove the financial burden placed on commuters that require the use of intercity commuter bus and MBTA transit service to reach their destination. I 2 A connection between downtown Fall River and downtown Taunton should be made via a single seat ride on an intercity bus. The need for this connection is well documented and should be explored further for implementation in the near term. I 3 The BusPlus + program should continue and be used to encourage connections between destinations that are either not currently served, or are underserved. I 4 Continued implementation of modern vehicles equipped with Wi Fi, increased leg room, on board restrooms, and 110V power outlets will make commuter bus service much more attractive and help to increase ridership. I 5 Mobile ticketing should be expanded beyond a pilot program. As the proliferation of mobile devices continues, riders are going to expect mobile ticketing. The intercity bus carriers should meet the expectations of their riders and provide a convenient mobile ticketing option. I 6 Expand service during off peak times and provide regular service to augment the MBTA Commuter Rail schedules. Expanding off peak service that is complimentary to commuter rail service will increase the opportunities and likelihood that residents of southeastern Massachusetts will travel by a mode other than a single occupancy vehicle. Study Needs Further study is needed to develop a connection between Fall River and Taunton. Commuter bus companies operate as private entities and make determinations on service availability and frequency consistent with their corporate strategy. The intercity bus companies operate as private carriers, however as the recipient of public funds and a provider of public transportation services must also operate with the best interest of the public in mind. Private carrier participation in the BusPlus + comes with the expectation that service will be provided to the benefit of the residents and visitors to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Through these avenues, service between Fall River and Taunton is an achievable goal that will benefit both the private carrier through additional fares and the traveling public through improved regional connectivity SMMPO Regional Transportation Plan I 7