Untitled - Town of Windham

CART - WINDHAMThe Cooperative Alliance for Regional Transportation (CART), a regional public transportation agencyestablished by the legislature in 2005, provides shared-ride demand-response and flex-route publictransportation service to six (6) communities within the Greater-Derry Salem area including thecommunities of Londonderry, Derry, Salem, Hampstead, Windham and Chester.The benefits of CART transportation are broad and include: providing independence and mobilityoptions; supporting access to economic opportunities; promoting regional connectivity; and serving as aneconomic catalyst for towns and cities. Funding for CART is through a combination of federal,municipal and private sector dollars. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant funding coversapproximately 50% of CART’s operating expenses.The Town of Windham’s cost share of for CART is $12,900, which has been the same for the past fourfiscal years. Those funds are matched dollar for dollar by FTA funds. Trips during CART’s fiscal year2012 (October 2011 to September 2012) totaled 14,082 across contributing communities, with a total of269 (2%) provided to Windham residents. The most common uses of CART transit by Windhamresidents include medical trips (40%), employment (34%), and groceries/shopping (12%).CART’s current demand-response service available to all residents operates Monday through Friday 8:00a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Passengers are asked to schedule their trip at least 24 hours in advance by contactingthe CART call center at 603-434-3569. A zone based fare structure is in place for travel. Fares arebetween $3.00 and $5.00 per one way trip depending upon destination. Half fare passes are available forindividuals who possess a valid Medicaid card, or receive town welfare assistance, or reside in HUDsubsidized public housing/Section 8, or children with Healthy Kids Gold coverage. Out of region medicaldestinations, including to Manchester Hospitals, are provided on Tuesday and Thursdays.Ridership system-wide in 2012 was up 28.5% over 2011. In 2012 CART introduced several servicechanges. These included piloting regularly scheduled flex-route shuttles, with a goal of transitioningaway from open demand-response service to improve cost-effectiveness and broaden access. The otherkey service innovation in 2012 was launch of the Early Bird/Nite Owl service, a taxi voucher programlaunched in July with funding from FTA and NHDOT. The taxi voucher program expands transportationoptions for seniors and people with disabilities beyond the regular service hours of CART. EarlyBird/Nite Owl service is available Mon–Fri 5:00am–8:00am, and 5:00pm–8:00pm, and Saturdays8:00am-Noon.CART has also been successful in the past year in increasing revenues from on-vehicle advertising,providing a valuable source of match for federal funding and limiting the need for increased fundingrequests from CART member communities. As CART moves into 2013, it will look toward maintaininga firm foundation for growth through innovative service modes, and better communication withpassengers and the towns it serves.Respectfully submitted,Scott BogleScott Bogle, CART Board of Directors2012 ANNUAL REPORTS 156 TOWN OF WINDHAM, NH