Practices in the Development and Deployment of Downtown Circulators (2011) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 28-49
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From page 28... ...
select a variety of agencies charged with operating or overseeing the operation of downtown circulators, including transit agencies, municipal DOTs, and a private-sector entity; (4) include at least one agency that has discontinued its downtown circulator to reflect real difficulties facing downtown circulators.
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The primary drawback of the downtown circulator is the cost. Annual operating costs are projected at $5.6 million when all three routes are up and running, or approximately $1.85 million per route.
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30 STEPHANIE RAWLINGS-BLAKE MAYOR FIGURE 3 Charm City Circulator route map.
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31 FIGURE 3 (Continued)
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in adapting the Metro Alliance's most recent campaign theme, "Hartford: New England's Rising Star." The downtown circulator was christened the Star Shuttle. Initially, it was viewed as a 90-day demonstration project; however, ridership exceeded expectations and therefore it was extended for one year.
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CTTRANSIT has a 40-ft hydrogen fuel-cell bus that is used primarily on the downtown circulator route. Even though it is branded somewhat differently, the "green" bus presents a very positive image of the city and the convention center (see Figure 7)
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The primary benefits of the Star Shuttle are a free connection between the convention center and downtown hotels, strong ridership during convention events, and providing the CVB with a sales tool to attract conventions to Hartford. The whole process of starting up and operating the downtown circulator has been positive for CTTRANSIT.
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LADOT worked with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) , the regional transit agency, when designing the original DASH routes and continues to do so when making changes.
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36 FIGURE 8 Downtown DASH weekday routes.
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37 FIGURE 9 Downtown DASH weekend routes.
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LADOT offers several lessons learned through its operation of the Downtown DASH: • Take sufficient time to coordinate with other agencies and municipalities and clarify the role of the downtown circulator system. • Get feedback from large employers, visitors' bureaus, convention centers, and hotels so that you clearly understand their needs.
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TARC operated a downtown circulator bus route along Main and Market Streets, an east–west, one-way pair. When the Louisville Slugger Museum opened in 1996, TARC replaced the buses with trolleys on this route.
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either side of building Public Parking Between Bayly & Hite, behind Carmichael's Bookstore Public Parking Franck & Frankfort Ave. Public Parking Alley between Ewing & Peterson, behind League of Women Voters Public Parking Corner of Keats & Frankfort Ave., next to The Irish Rover Free Parking Public Parking SM Trolley Free Trolley Stop FIGURE 12 Frankfort Area trolley route.
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The TMA manages the downtown circulator, known as the Phlash. The regional transit agency in Philadelphia is the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
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The mayor had witnessed something similar in Phoenix and thought that the concept would work in Philadelphia. SEPTA initially operated the downtown circulator under contract with the city.
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a management fee to manage the DC Circulator service, and Metro contracts out the actual 45-bus operation to a private contractor. Metro is the regional transit agency in the Washington D.C.
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The National Capital Planning Commission was another early proponent of a downtown circulator. DDOT worked with Metro to identify potential funding sources, and the DC Circulator began operation in 2005.
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Customers use the DC Circulator for multiple purposes, with recreation, shopping and dining, and work commute ranking highest among trip purposes The DC Circulator charges a fare of $1.00, less than the cash fare on Metro. DC Circulator passes and transfers are available, and the circulator also accepts Metro transfers, monthly passes, and SmarTrip cards.
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Circulator Origins and Operation This is the only case study of a downtown circulator that is not presently operating. The ‘Dillo, Austin's downtown circulator, began operation during the 1970s as a parking intercept/ circulator service and went through several transformations as an iconic part of downtown before being discontinued in 2009 owing to budget issues.
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The task force worked for more than 6 months to refashion the ‘Dillo. The task force based its recommendations on two principal concepts: • Shorter, more frequent, and linear routes; an emphasis on frequency as opposed to coverage; and • Downtown only; neighborhoods to be served by regular fixed routes.
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48 FIGURE 19 ‘Dillo routes (2007)
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This is important in general transit planning, but is critical for downtown circulators. The ‘Dillo circulator experienced both success and failure.
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