FY 2008 - Greenville

Annual Report on
Transit Operations Services
Fiscal Year October 1, 2007 – September 31, 2008
By The City of Greenville
Under Contract to The Greenville Transit Authority

Stated Goals:
July 2007 Transit Proposal
• Providing to the transit operation certain City administrative services,
thus allowing reduction of the transit administrative staff.
• Leveraging increased revenue from the Federal government for the
transit operation through the contribution of allowable in-kind
services, thus freeing up existing local cash for other transit
purposes.
• Providing to the transit operation certain marketing, planning and
development services that the GTA needs now but cannot afford.
• Utilizing federal transit funds to assist in funding transit-oriented
improvements, thus freeing up local funds now dedicated to those
projects for new investments into the transit operation.

“Understood” Goal
Keep
transit
alive.

Transit Operations Contract
• Signed 1/2008
• City began services 3/31/2008
• Hired most GTA employees as City employees
• Contract includes:
– Management
– Operations
– Vehicle and Building Maintenance
– Indirect Services (HR, Finance, IT)
– In-Kind Services (Bus and Facility Improvements)

About Greenlink
• 11 fixed routes
• Monday - Saturday
• Hourly service
(more or less)
• Paratransit services
• 29 vehicles (17
large buses)
• 33 FT; 12 PT
Employees
• Pre-City 2008
Budget: $2.8
million
• 21% farebox
recovery rate

City
Comparison
National Transit Database (2006 Reports)
Number of
Buses
Passengers
(Annual)
Annual Budget
Greenville 15 904,000 $3,262,229
Charleston 65 2,763,700 $14,194,128
Columbia 54 2,548,800 $11,263,000
Greensboro 40 3,205,300 $16,279,479
Winston-Salem 52 2,982,000 $9,799,964
Knoxville 80 3,388,100 $14,277,391
Chattanooga 70 3,087,600 $12,796,712

Greenville
Transit
Authority
Greenville
City Manager
Transportation
Director and
Executive
Director of GTA
Admin.
Assistant
Parking
Manager
Transit
Manager
Greenville
City
Council
Greenville
County
Council
Greenville
Legislative
Delegation
Operations
Supervisor
(2)
Dispatch
Fixed
Route
Demand
Response
GTA
Legal
Counsel
Mass
Transit
Division,
SCDOT
Region
Four FTA
SCACOG
(Special
Grant
Programs)
GPATS
(Planning
Grant)
Indirect
Services
Transit
Grants
Manager
In-Kind
Services
S.C.
General
Assembly
Organization

2008 Revenue:
GTA Budget vs. City Actual
$4,000,000
$3,500,000
$3,000,000
$2,500,000
$2,000,000
$1,500,000
$1,000,000
$500,000
In-Kind
Federal
State
Local
Other
Passenger
$0
GTA Budget City Actual In-Kind
Services

2008 Expense:
GTA Budget vs. City Actual *
$4,000,000
$3,500,000
$3,000,000
$2,500,000
$2,000,000
$1,500,000
$1,000,000
Administration
Maintenance
Demand Response
Fixed Route
$500,000
$0
GTA Budget
City Actual
* Unaudited

FY 2008 Fuel Cost Trend
$70,000
$60,000
$50,000
$40,000
$30,000
$20,000
$10,000
$0
2/08 3/08 4/08 5/08 6/08 7/08 8/08 9/08

2008 Achievements:
Administration and Operations
Administration
• Cost reduction
• Transit branding
• Transit website
• Pre-employment physicals
Operations
• General Manager
• Operations Supervisor
• Reviewed routes for safety “hot
spots”
Operations
• Defined driver expectations
• Assessed driver competency;
observed employee/customer
interaction; provided training;
made improvements (example:
reduced radio
communications)
• Driver schedule improvements
(lunch break)
• Ongoing passenger data
collection

2008 Achievements:
Facilities and Vehicles
Transit Facilities
• Transit Center Waterproofing
(IFB, selection and substantial
project completion)
• Greyhound contract
amendment
• IFB for bus shelter purchase
• IFB for 154 Augusta St. roof
repair
• IFB for sale of 103 Augusta St.
• Moved offices to reduce cost
Transit Vehicles
• Repaired:
– Defective brakes
– Broken Air Conditioners
– Damaged Bodies
– Leaking Roofs
– Defective fuel systems
– Overheating Engines
– Leaking Engines
• Uncontaminated fuel
• Began bus detailing program
• “Art in Motion”

Performance Comparison
2007 2008 Notes
Riders 839,840 718,068 Route reduction in April 2007
On-Time
Performance
86%? Average delay
= 8.97 minutes
2007 statistic is improbable
Accidents 29 14 Better maintained vehicles; better
driver practices
Breakdowns 632 656 Many “breakdowns” associated with
electrical system (sensors that have
been reconnected)
Farebox
Recovery
21% 20% Result of increased fuel cost and
reduced passenger revenue

2009 Budget ($3,302,395) *
Revenue
22%
9%
Expense
45%
4%
35%
49%
19%
10%
Passenger Other
Local State
Federal
7%
Fixed Route
Demand Response
Maintenance
Administration
* Budget is being reviewed as part of FTA
audit, to ensure accuracy in expense allocation.

2009 Work Plan:
Administration
• Select Transportation Director
• Realign existing grants with current operations
• Bring all FTA-required reporting current
• Refine accounts payable, accounting and grants management
processes
• Implement new accounting software
• Participate in Financial Management Overview Audit
• Participate in Triennial Review
• Obtain FTA approval for Cost Allocation Plan
• Complete Board Training Manual
• Develop Finance/Grants Management Manual
• RFP for Transit Vision and Master Plan
• Build relationship with staffs of Greenville County, SCDOT and FTA

2009 Work Plan:
Transit Operations
• Make incremental route modifications leading to better
on-time performance
• Implement plans for designated stops; complete
installation of new signs
• Develop transit technology recommendations

• Transit Vehicles
2009 Work Plan:
Vehicles and Facilities
– Develop and begin implementation of a fleet replacement
program
– Continue providing high level of vehicle maintenance activities
• Facilities
– Complete design and begin Transit Center renovation
– Complete Roof Repair at 154 Augusta Street
– Develop plans for installation of first 50 bus shelters
– Develop plans for transit oriented infrastructure improvement
program

Comparison to July 2007 Proposal
• Bus Shelters
– A plan for improving bus shelters, extending sidewalks to shelters and
funding sidewalks/shelters will be finalized. A design for new
prefabricated shelters will be selected. A request for bids on new
shelters will be written, issued and awarded. Some new transit shelters
will be installed.
• ON TRACK
– A procedure for reporting and effecting needed facility repairs will be
implemented.
• COMPLETE
– Regular solid waste collection and landscape maintenance will occur at
each shelter.
• ONGOING

Comparison to July 2007 Proposal
• Transit Center
– Improved security measures, additional lighting, and a scheduled police
patrol will be implemented.
• COMPLETE.
– Renovation, funded with Federal funds and City in-kind services, will be
begin, addressing deferred maintenance, waterproofing, lighting,
pavement parking, signage and other issues. Renovation design will
also address enhanced passenger waiting area and amenities.
• ON TRACK.

Comparison to July 2007 Proposal
• Vehicle Maintenance
– Maintenance of trouble-prone buses will be upgraded.
• ONGOING.
– Specifications for reliable, heavy-duty buses will be written and orders for
the first buses will be placed, aiming to gradually replace Optima buses.
• ON TRACK.
– Buses will be cleaner, due to enhanced bus servicing program.
• ONGOING.
– New graphics will be created and installed.
• COMPLETE.
– Plans will be developed for integrating transit vehicle maintenance
operations into the City’s Public Works Department. MAY NOT BE
FEASIBLE.

Comparison to July 2007 Proposal
• Marketing
– The City will develop and implement a marketing strategy.
• ON HOLD.
– The City will complete a new transit website.
• COMPLETE.
– New bus stop sign designs will be created and installed.
• ON TRACK.
– Efforts to increase ridership will occur through targeted ridership
promotion campaign.
• ON HOLD.

Comparison to July 2007 Proposal
• Finance
– City administrative services will be provided, allowing reduction of the GTA
administrative staff.
• COMPLETE.
– GTA will experience more financially-stable operations.
• ONGOING.
– The City will develop and begin implementation of a plan to utilize more federal
funds to assist in funding service expansions and transit-oriented improvements.
• ONGOING.
– Space needs will be reviewed and a design for relocating administrative staff will
have been completed.
• COMPLETE.
– The City will assess GTA’s office technology environment and make improvements
• ON TRACK.

Comparison to July 2007 Proposal
• Human Resources
– The City will offer employment to the remaining GTA employees,
conditional on successful completion of standard City background
checks and pre-employment testing. GTA employees will receive
enhanced employee benefits.
• COMPLETE.
– The City will recruit, screen and hire a full-time Transit Director.
• ON TRACK.

Comparison to July 2007 Proposal
• Planning
– A pilot area will be determined based on ridership and route planning will
be conducted to explore service expansion. If feasible, a service
enhancement will begin implementation.
• ON HOLD.
– The City will work with partners and stakeholders to arrange funding for
a community-wide transit master plan and vision.
• COMPLETE.
– A Request for Proposals for community-wide transit master planning
services will be issued and a consultant hired. The planning process will
be well underway.
• ON TRACK.

Comparison to July 2007 Proposal
• Planning
– Transit capital funding will be integrated with City capital planning. A
transit capital plan will include acquisition of buses and improving bus
shelters as well as the construction of transit-oriented improvements,
such as sidewalks and trails.
• ON TRACK.
– Passenger and trip data will be collected to refine routes and services.
• ONGOING.
– A transit planning team will integrate ongoing transit planning with
redevelopment planning.
• ON HOLD.

Recommendations:
Long Term Transit Goals
• Improve the reliability and predictability of transit services, so that
“choice” riders see transit as a viable alternative for commuting.
• Promote increased support for transit from elected officials and
community opinion leaders.
• Build supportive partnerships with business and organizations such
as major employers, colleges and shopping centers to increase
transit ridership and provide additional local revenue.

Recommendations:
Long Term Transit Goals
• Provide a dedicated local funding source adequate to subsidize
transit operations costs, which can provide the local match needed
to access additional Federal funds for capital and preventative
maintenance.
• Reconfigure routes and add services emphasizing new service to
areas of the community that are currently unserved, thus providing
additional opportunities to increase ridership.
• Integrate transit planning with community and economic
development planning in order to support transit-oriented
development.

Thanks....
• To all of those who have worked hard to make transit
better
• Particular thanks to:
– Fleet Services Division
– OMB Accounting staff

Questions? Comments?