March 12, 2010
Proposal to Reduce Golden Gate Transit Commute Bus Service
Read the staff report that was presented to the GGBHTD Transportation Committee on March 11, 2010, and approved by the Board of Directors on March 12, authorizing staff to initiate a Public Outreach Process on a Proposal to Modify Golden Gate Transit Commute Service.
Review Open House Materials (6MB) and Maps Showing Proposed Bus Changes: Sonoma County, Marin County, San Francisco (up to 3MB)
Why is There a $132 million 5-Year Budget Shortfall?
What Bus Service Changes are Being Proposed?
What are Projected Cost Savings?
When and Where are the Informational Open House Meetings and Public Hearings?
What are the Next Steps in the Process?
How May I Comment on the Proposal?
Why is There a $132 Million 5-Year Shortfall?
There are three RECENT developments that have created a projected $132 million 5-year shortfall: (1) The current recession has lead to reduced traffic and transit ridership, which in turn results in lower revenues to support the services provided (bridge, bus, ferry); (2) The State of California has taken away $6 million in annual transit operating funds; (3) GGBHTD committed to providing the Doyle Drive reconstruction with $75 million. The updated Financial Plan adopted by the Board of Directors on October 30, 2009, includes 33 specific initiatives for returning the GGBHTD to stable financial status; bus service reductions are included as #9 in the list of 33.
What Bus Service Changes are Being Proposed?
The proposed GGT reductions include specific COMMUTE routes that either have trips or segments with low ridership that falls below the Board-adopted productivity standard of 20 regional passengers/trip or are duplicative with another GGT services that have capacity available. These services are regularly evaluated to determine whether specific trips on a given route are meeting performance standards. Board policy requires that a public process be undertaken when these trip reductions exceed 25% of the service on a given route. Please note, that while the proposed San Francisco Civic Center trip reductions on Routes 72 and 76 do not exceed the 25% threshold, these Routes are included for public review and comment because all direct commute service from Sonoma County to the San Francisco Civic Center area is proposed to be eliminated, and instead require a transfer at the Golden Gate Bridge Toll Plaza to access the San Francisco Civic Center area.
The proposed bus service reductions represents about 13,300 annual service hours or 5.3% of total GGT (regional commute and basic) service hours that total 253,000 annual hours. The implementation date, if the bus service changes are ultimately approved in late May, would be no sooner than September 12, 2010.
GGT BUS ROUTE |
PROPOSED ACTION |
ALTERNATIVE SERVICE AVAILABLE |
| Commute Route 24 serving Lagunitas, Fairfax, San Anselmo Hub, San Francisco Financial District | Eliminate segment from Lagunitas to Fairfax-Manor which includes one am trips and one pm trip. | Ride West Marin Stage Route 68 from Lagunitas to connect with GGT services @ San Anselmo Hub |
| Commute Route 26 serving Sleepy Hollow, San Anselmo Hub, San Rafael Transit Center, San Francisco Financial District | Eliminate segment between Sleepy Hollow and San Anselmo Hub which includes two am trips and three pm trips. |
|
| Commute Route 44 serving Lucas Valley, San Francisco Financial District | Eliminate the Route which includes four am trips and four pm trips. |
|
| Commute Route 58 serving Novato, Hamilton, San Francisco Financial District | Eliminate segment between Ignacio and Rowland Blvd. via Sunset Pkwy and Ignacio Blvd. which included four am trips and three pm trips. |
|
| Commute Route 72 serving Santa Rosa, San Francisco Financial District and Civic Center | Eliminate direct service to San Francisco Civic Center which includes one am trip and one pm trip. | Ride the Route 72 bound for San Francisco Financial District (12 am trips and 12 pm trips) AND transfer to Route 93 at GGB Toll Plaza to access San Francisco Civic Center |
| Commute Route 73 serving Santa Rosa, San Francisco Civic Center | Eliminate the Route which includes four am trips and three pm trips. |
|
| Commute Route 75 serving Santa Rosa, San Rafael | Eliminate the Route which includes three am trips and three pm trips. | Ride GGT Route 101 from Santa Rosa and transfer at Redwood & Grant in Novato to Routes 70 or 71 |
| Commute Route 76 serving East Petaluma, San Francisco Financial District and Civic Center | Eliminate direct service to San Francisco Civic Center which includes two am trips and one pm trips. | Ride Route 76 Financial District trips (5 am trips and 5 pm trips) and transfer to Route 93 at Toll Plaza to access SF Civic Center |
| Route 93 serving the GGB Toll Plaza to San Francisco Civic Center. Trips will be added to provide sufficient capacity to account for elimination of direct SF Civic Center service on Routes 72, 73, 76 | ||
What are the Projected Cost Savings?
The package of proposed service reductions has an estimated five-year savings impact of $8.8 million. Once final recommendations are prepared following the Public Hearings, staff will present a refined fiscal impact assessment based on the final recommended changes.
When and Where are the Informational Open House Meetings and Public Hearings?
Review Open House Materials (6MB) and Maps Showing Proposed Bus Changes: Sonoma County, Marin County, San Francisco (up to 3MB)
Informational Open Houses
Marin County
Wednesday, April 7, 2010, 4 pm to 7 pm, @ Embassy Suites Hotel, 101 McInnis Pkwy, San Rafael (get directions and view map)
Sonoma County
Tuesday, April 13, 2010, 4 pm to 7 pm, Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, E. Washington St & Fairground Dr, Petaluma, CA (get directions and view map)
City and County of San Francisco
Thursday, April 15, 2010, 4 pm to 6 pm, second floor Board Room, Golden Gate Bridge Toll Plaza Building, San Francisco, CA (get directions and link to map)
Public Hearings
Wednesday, May 12, 6:00 pm, Whistlestop Wheels, 930 Tamalpais Ave, San Rafael, CA (get directions and view map)
Friday, May 14, 2010, 9:30 am, Board Room, Golden Gate Bridge Toll Plaza Building, San Francisco, CA (get directions and link to map)
What are the Next Steps in the Process?
Thursday, May 27, 2010: Staff presents findings from the Open House and public feedback to the Transportation Committee with a final recommendation. Friday, May 28, 2010: Final recommendation would go to the full Board if approved by the Transportation Commitee. September 12, 2010: Earliest possible implementation date, if the proposal is adopted.
How May I Comment on the Proposal?
- Submit comments to publichearing@goldengate.org
- Submit comments on our online comment form (the comment period is now closed)
- Attend one of the Informational Open Houses or Public Hearings
- Send letter to District Secretary, PO Box 9000, Presidio Station, San Francisco, CA 94129
Comments are due by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 14, 2010.
Additional Background
Golden Gate Bus and Ferry Transit Funding for FY 2009/2010
Golden Gate Transit Bus Division |
Golden Gate Ferry Division |
Total for Transit |
% of Cost |
|
| Golden Gate Toll Subsidy | 31.3 million |
11.2
million |
42.5
million |
41% |
| Bus and Ferry Transit Fares | 12.4 million |
10.5
million |
22.9
million |
23% |
| Other Marin County contract, advertising, concessions, leases) | 18.2 million |
0.7
million |
18.9 million |
18% |
| Government Grants | 9.0
million |
1.8
million |
10.8 million |
10% |
| From Reserves | 6.5
million |
2.3
million |
8.8 million |
8% |
| Total | 77.4
million |
26.5 million |
103.9 million |
100% |
Expenses |
in millions |
% of Total Expenses |
Bridge Division |
63.3 |
38% |
Bus Division |
77.3 |
45% |
Ferry Division |
26.5 |
16% |
District Division |
3.0 |
1% |
Total Expenses |
170.1 |
100% |