FY 2013 Operating and Capital Budget - Metro Transit

A multi-year radio system replacement project is underway with design and planning of
optimal sites for location of new radio towers being planned. This $34 million project is
the result of FCC regulations requiring changes in technology and operating frequency to
be in place by 2013. The radio system upgrade will incorporate Automated Vehicle
Locator (AVL) technology. The addition of AVL should result in operating savings of
more than $500,000 annually. If the radio project were not undertaken, the operational
issues that would result from losing operating radio frequency would be unacceptable.
Transit Development - Facility, Centers, Stations, Parking Lots, Loops,
Other
Planning is underway for a downtown bus transfer center and a transfer center in the
North County portion of our service area. With the construction of these two new
facilities, additional operating costs will be necessary to provide for positions,
maintenance contracts and utilities. Seven other centers have been built since 2002.
They include Ballas, North Broadway, Clayton, Civic Center at 14 th and Spruce,
Shrewsbury, Riverview and Meridian MetroBus Center. These centers permit improved
transfers between bus routes in a safe and secure location. These transfer centers have
added $160,000 annually for maintenance contracts, utilities, additional positions, and
landscaping.
Parking lot upgrades at our five operating facilities, ADA access improvements and other
service improvements at our North Hanley transit center will decrease current
maintenance efforts. These projects continue the hub and spoke system Metro created
nine years ago to support better transfer options for customers connecting via bus-to-bus
or bus-to-rail.
Information Technology Improvements
Investments to improve Customer Service Information and Operations Management are
planned over the three-year period. Additional technology upgrades will include a
number of enhancements to the systems that will improve our customer relations and
system management efforts without increasing manpower costs.
Long Range Capital and Operating Budget Impacts
Planning and alternative analysis for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is planned during the
current capital budget period. As a part of long range capital planning, funding will be
sought to support system improvements and equipment needs to build and operate BRT
corridors. Capital and operating costs will be determined based on outcomes of the
alternatives analysis and design of the BRT corridors.
123