Charlottesville Area Transit: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Cat-logo.jpg|thumb|right|The original logo for Charlottesville Area Transit which was rejected]]
[[Charlottesville Area Transit]] ('''CAT''') is a public agency that operates several bus lines throughout [[Charlottesville]] and [[Albemarle County]]. In 1999, a free trolley service was initiated between downtown and the [[University of Virginia]]. The service changed its name from Charlottesville Transit Service to [[Charlottesville Area Transit]] in 2010. <ref name=prohnineridership/> <ref>{{cite-hook|title=CTS becomes CAT|url=http://www.readthehook.com/68429/cts-becomes-cat|author=Dave McNair|pageno=|printno=910|printdate=March 11, 2010|publishdate=March 3, 2010|accessdate=July 8, 2013}}</ref>
 
[[Charlottesville Area Transit]] ('''CAT''') is a public agency that operates several bus lines throughout [[Charlottesville]] and [[Albemarle County]]. In 1999, a free trolley service was initiated between downtown and the [[University of Virginia]]. The service changed its name from Charlottesville Transit Service to [[Charlottesville Area Transit]]. <ref name=prohnineridership/> <ref>{{cite-hook|title=CTS becomes CAT|url=http://www.readthehook.com/68429/cts-becomes-cat|author=Dave McNair|pageno=|printno=910|printdate=March 11, 2010|publishdate=March 3, 2010|accessdate=July 8, 2013}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
[[Image:Cat-logo.jpg|thumb|left|The original new logo for Charlottesville Area Transit which was rejected]]
The bus system was created in September 1975 to replace the privately run Yellow Transit Co. bus service. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Council Approves Transit Subsidy|url=|author=Peter Bacque|pageno=C1|printdate=January 21,1976|publishdate=|accessdate=|cturl=}}</ref>  In 2010, CAT began operating hybrid fuel buses. <ref name=prohnineridership/> New fareboxes will be installed in 2014 to improve the system's ability to measure performance. <ref>{{cite web|title=Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation
The bus system was created in September 1975 to replace the privately run Yellow Transit Co. bus service. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Council Approves Transit Subsidy|url=|author=Peter Bacque|pageno=C1|printdate=January 21,1976|publishdate=|accessdate=|cturl=}}</ref>  In 2010, CAT began operating hybrid fuel buses. <ref name=prohnineridership/> New fareboxes will be installed in 2014 to improve the system's ability to measure performance. <ref>{{cite web|title=Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation
F.Y. 2014 Mid-Year Funding Allocation - $565,105.|url=http://www.cvillepedia.org/mediawiki/index.php/File:20131216-CAT-Farebox-staff-report.pdf|author=John Jones|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Area Transit|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=December 16, 2013}}</ref>
F.Y. 2014 Mid-Year Funding Allocation - $565,105.|url=http://www.cvillepedia.org/mediawiki/index.php/File:20131216-CAT-Farebox-staff-report.pdf|author=John Jones|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Area Transit|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=December 16, 2013}}</ref>
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Youth ages 6 to 18 who reside in Charlottesville or Albemarle County ride free in summer months under the "Youth Ride FREE Program".
Youth ages 6 to 18 who reside in Charlottesville or Albemarle County ride free in summer months under the "Youth Ride FREE Program".


===FY2012 funding===
==Funding==
 
For FY2012, CAT's budget is based on $645,000 in passenger fare revenue. Of this amount $60,000 is from the University of Virginia as a contribution to the cost of the FREE Trolley. Also, of this amount $145,000 is from the University of Virginia as pre-payment of fares so that those students, faculty, and staff with UVA photo ID are allowed to ride Charlottesville Area Transit by displaying the photo ID.<ref>{{cite email|subject=Charlottesville Area Transit FY 2012 Revenue from Passenger Fares|from=Bill Watterson|sourceorg=Charlottesville Area Transit|to=Sean Tubbs|repositoryorg=Charlottesville Tomorrow|senddate=May 18, 2011}}</ref>


==County funding==
==County funding==
[[Albemarle County]] participates in the CAT program by paying a share of rides that operate within its borders. In FY2009, Albemarle paid the City $666,634<ref>Vinzant, Laura. "CTS budget question." Message to Sean J. Tubbs. 26 Jan. 2010. E-mail.</ref>to operate Routes 2B, 5, and 10.
[[Albemarle County]] participates in the CAT program by paying a share of rides that operate within its borders. In FY2009, Albemarle paid the City $666,634<ref>Vinzant, Laura. "CTS budget question." Message to Sean J. Tubbs. 26 Jan. 2010. E-mail.</ref>to operate Routes 2B, 5, and 10.


==Ridership==
===FY2012 funding===
Ridership is measured on the fiscal year, ending June 30. For 2009, CAT reported ridership of 2,012,462, an 18% increase in boardings over the previous year. [[University of Virginia]] boardings represented nearly 30% of the total.<ref name=prohnineridership/>
 
For FY2012, CAT's budget is based on $645,000 in passenger fare revenue. Of this amount $60,000 is from the University of Virginia as a contribution to the cost of the FREE Trolley. Also, of this amount $145,000 is from the University of Virginia as pre-payment of fares so that those students, faculty, and staff with UVA photo ID are allowed to ride Charlottesville Area Transit by displaying the photo ID.<ref>{{cite email|subject=Charlottesville Area Transit FY 2012 Revenue from Passenger Fares|from=Bill Watterson|sourceorg=Charlottesville Area Transit|to=Sean Tubbs|repositoryorg=Charlottesville Tomorrow|senddate=May 18, 2011}}</ref>


==Transit development plan==
==History of changes leading to January 2014 system revamp==
The [[Connetics Group]] was hired in 2011 by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation to produce a transit development plan to prioritize funding in the next six years.<ref>[http://www.tjpdc.org/pdf/transportation/cts%20tdp%202006.pdf Document for Transit Development Plan]</ref> Preliminary results of their study were presented to council at a work session on March 4, 2011. Council rejected many of the suggestions, most notably that which would have realigned two low-performing city routes to provide additional service to the relocated [[Martha Jefferson Hospital]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Council blesses planning for bus route changes|url=http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2011/03/cat-route-changes.html|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=March 4, 2011|accessdate=March 21, 2011}}</ref>
The [[Connetics Group]] was hired in 2011 by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation to produce a transit development plan to prioritize funding in the next six years.<ref>[http://www.tjpdc.org/pdf/transportation/cts%20tdp%202006.pdf Document for Transit Development Plan]</ref> Preliminary results of their study were presented to council at a work session on March 4, 2011. Council rejected many of the suggestions, most notably that which would have realigned two low-performing city routes to provide additional service to the relocated [[Martha Jefferson Hospital]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Council blesses planning for bus route changes|url=http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2011/03/cat-route-changes.html|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=March 4, 2011|accessdate=March 21, 2011}}</ref>


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In the summer of 2012, City Council hired the firm Nelson Nygaard to study the system once again to suggest ways to redraw the system.<ref name="cvilleoct2012" /> The firm completed the $116,000 study<ref name="route 11">{{cite web|title=Council OKs new bus route into Albemarle|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/15243-route-11-approved/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=1 July 2013|accessdate=2 July 2013}}</ref> in March 2013. It explores ways to adjust to existing fixed-route bus services to improve service quality and increase ridership. It also considers potential new routes.<ref>{{cite web|title=CAT Transit Study|url=http://www.charlottesville.org/Index.aspx?page=3293|author=|work=|publisher=City of Charlottesville|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=2 July 2013}}</ref> Route 11 from the [[Downtown Mall]] to [[Fashion Square Mall]] along [[Rio Road]] East, which is one of the new routes suggested by the study, was approved by the Charlottesville [[City Council]] on July 1, 2013. Beginning in August, the new route will allow passengers to travel between downtown [[Charlottesville]] and [[Route 29]] in 30 minutes instead of the 50 minutes required by the Route 7 bus.<ref name="route 11"/>  
In the summer of 2012, City Council hired the firm Nelson Nygaard to study the system once again to suggest ways to redraw the system.<ref name="cvilleoct2012" /> The firm completed the $116,000 study<ref name="route 11">{{cite web|title=Council OKs new bus route into Albemarle|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/15243-route-11-approved/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=1 July 2013|accessdate=2 July 2013}}</ref> in March 2013. It explores ways to adjust to existing fixed-route bus services to improve service quality and increase ridership. It also considers potential new routes.<ref>{{cite web|title=CAT Transit Study|url=http://www.charlottesville.org/Index.aspx?page=3293|author=|work=|publisher=City of Charlottesville|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=2 July 2013}}</ref> Route 11 from the [[Downtown Mall]] to [[Fashion Square Mall]] along [[Rio Road]] East, which is one of the new routes suggested by the study, was approved by the Charlottesville [[City Council]] on July 1, 2013. Beginning in August, the new route will allow passengers to travel between downtown [[Charlottesville]] and [[Route 29]] in 30 minutes instead of the 50 minutes required by the Route 7 bus.<ref name="route 11"/>  


==Hybrid Bus Change==
===Protests for more funding===
A group of activists held a rally in May 2012 demanding that the city fully fund service on Sundays and holidays.<ref>{{cite-progress|title=Rally calls for better area bus service|url=http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2012/may/12/rally-calls-better-area-bus-service-ar-1910753/|author=|pageno=|printdate=May 12, 2012|publishdate=May 12, 2012|accessdate=May 14, 2012|cturl=}}</ref> That group's protest led to the formation of the group [[Transit Riders Association of Charlottesville]].
 
===Changes made===
Service changes were made on January 4, 2014 despite protests. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Uneasy riders: Group rails against CAT route changes|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/uneasy-riders-group-rails-against-cat-route-changes/article_027dbcc2-742a-11e3-a9c4-0019bb30f31a.html|author=|pageno=|printdate=January 2, 2014|publishdate=January 2, 2014|accessdate=April 28, 2014|cturl=}}</ref> A few months later, Jones reported to City Council that ridership was down 8 percent. <ref>{{cite web|title=Transit manager briefs council on ridership decrease|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/17767-cat-ridership-decrease/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=April 8, 2014|accessdate=April 28, 2014}}</ref>
 
==Operations==
 
===Ridership===
Ridership is measured on the fiscal year, ending June 30. For 2009, CAT reported ridership of 2,012,462, an 18% increase in boardings over the previous year. [[University of Virginia]] boardings represented nearly 30% of the total.<ref name=prohnineridership/> That dropped in 2014.
 
===Hybrid Bus Change===
In January of 2011 the first hybrid buses were introduced to the fleet.<ref>[http://www.newsplex.com/green/home/headlines/Charlottesville_Transit_Introducing_Hybrid_Buses_114133214.html]</ref> The hybrids cost the city about $179,000 more each than diesel buses, with a plan to replace most all by 2020, but CAT's Transit Manager John Jones has stated that CAT does consider this project to be worthy in assisting the city in their sustainability goals.<ref>Thoms, Paul. "Interview with John Jones." Message to John Jones. 1, Nov. 2013. Email.</ref>
In January of 2011 the first hybrid buses were introduced to the fleet.<ref>[http://www.newsplex.com/green/home/headlines/Charlottesville_Transit_Introducing_Hybrid_Buses_114133214.html]</ref> The hybrids cost the city about $179,000 more each than diesel buses, with a plan to replace most all by 2020, but CAT's Transit Manager John Jones has stated that CAT does consider this project to be worthy in assisting the city in their sustainability goals.<ref>Thoms, Paul. "Interview with John Jones." Message to John Jones. 1, Nov. 2013. Email.</ref>
==Protests for more funding==
 
A group of activists held a rally in May 2012 demanding that the city fully fund service on Sundays and holidays.<ref>{{cite-progress|title=Rally calls for better area bus service|url=http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2012/may/12/rally-calls-better-area-bus-service-ar-1910753/|author=|pageno=|printdate=May 12, 2012|publishdate=May 12, 2012|accessdate=May 14, 2012|cturl=}}</ref> That group's protest led to the formation of the group [[Transit Riders Association of Charlottesville]].


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 13:42, 28 April 2014

Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT) is a public agency that operates several bus lines throughout Charlottesville and Albemarle County. In 1999, a free trolley service was initiated between downtown and the University of Virginia. The service changed its name from Charlottesville Transit Service to Charlottesville Area Transit in 2010. [1] [2]

History

The original new logo for Charlottesville Area Transit which was rejected

The bus system was created in September 1975 to replace the privately run Yellow Transit Co. bus service. [3] In 2010, CAT began operating hybrid fuel buses. [1] New fareboxes will be installed in 2014 to improve the system's ability to measure performance. [4]

Fares

For rides requiring a fare,

  • Single-ride, one-way: $0.75. A reduced fare of $0.35 per trip is available for seniors, who must apply for a reduced fare card.
  • All-day unlimited: $1.50 (lowered from $2 in September 2009).[5]
  • Month unlimited: $20 (introduced September 2009).[5]

Under a pre-paid arrangement between CAT and the University of Virginia, UVa photo IDs of students, faculty, and staff are accepted as fare on all CTS buses.[1]

Youth ages 6 to 18 who reside in Charlottesville or Albemarle County ride free in summer months under the "Youth Ride FREE Program".

Funding

County funding

Albemarle County participates in the CAT program by paying a share of rides that operate within its borders. In FY2009, Albemarle paid the City $666,634[6]to operate Routes 2B, 5, and 10.

FY2012 funding

For FY2012, CAT's budget is based on $645,000 in passenger fare revenue. Of this amount $60,000 is from the University of Virginia as a contribution to the cost of the FREE Trolley. Also, of this amount $145,000 is from the University of Virginia as pre-payment of fares so that those students, faculty, and staff with UVA photo ID are allowed to ride Charlottesville Area Transit by displaying the photo ID.[7]

History of changes leading to January 2014 system revamp

The Connetics Group was hired in 2011 by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation to produce a transit development plan to prioritize funding in the next six years.[8] Preliminary results of their study were presented to council at a work session on March 4, 2011. Council rejected many of the suggestions, most notably that which would have realigned two low-performing city routes to provide additional service to the relocated Martha Jefferson Hospital.[9]

CAT Director Bill Watterson left his position in February 2012.[10] Lance Stewart, the city's facilities manager, is serving as the acting director. Juwhan Lee is the operations manager.[11]

Nelson Nygaard study

In the summer of 2012, City Council hired the firm Nelson Nygaard to study the system once again to suggest ways to redraw the system.[11] The firm completed the $116,000 study[12] in March 2013. It explores ways to adjust to existing fixed-route bus services to improve service quality and increase ridership. It also considers potential new routes.[13] Route 11 from the Downtown Mall to Fashion Square Mall along Rio Road East, which is one of the new routes suggested by the study, was approved by the Charlottesville City Council on July 1, 2013. Beginning in August, the new route will allow passengers to travel between downtown Charlottesville and Route 29 in 30 minutes instead of the 50 minutes required by the Route 7 bus.[12]

Protests for more funding

A group of activists held a rally in May 2012 demanding that the city fully fund service on Sundays and holidays.[14] That group's protest led to the formation of the group Transit Riders Association of Charlottesville.

Changes made

Service changes were made on January 4, 2014 despite protests. [15] A few months later, Jones reported to City Council that ridership was down 8 percent. [16]

Operations

Ridership

Ridership is measured on the fiscal year, ending June 30. For 2009, CAT reported ridership of 2,012,462, an 18% increase in boardings over the previous year. University of Virginia boardings represented nearly 30% of the total.[1] That dropped in 2014.

Hybrid Bus Change

In January of 2011 the first hybrid buses were introduced to the fleet.[17] The hybrids cost the city about $179,000 more each than diesel buses, with a plan to replace most all by 2020, but CAT's Transit Manager John Jones has stated that CAT does consider this project to be worthy in assisting the city in their sustainability goals.[18]


References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 CTS Serves More than Two Million Press release, City of Charlottesville, 7/7/09 retrieved 9 July 2009
  2. Web. CTS becomes CAT, Dave McNair, The Hook, Better Publications LLC, March 3, 2010, retrieved July 8, 2013. Print. March 11, 2010 , 910, .
  3. Print: Council Approves Transit Subsidy, Peter Bacque, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises January 21,1976, Page C1.
  4. Web. [http://www.cvillepedia.org/mediawiki/index.php/File:20131216-CAT-Farebox-staff-report.pdf Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation F.Y. 2014 Mid-Year Funding Allocation - $565,105.], John Jones, Charlottesville Area Transit, retrieved December 16, 2013.
  5. 5.0 5.1 C'ville Transit Service Unveils New Fares, Keith McGilvery, NBC 29, Aug 18, 2009, Updated: Sep 01, 2009, retrieved 2 Sep 2009.
  6. Vinzant, Laura. "CTS budget question." Message to Sean J. Tubbs. 26 Jan. 2010. E-mail.
  7. E-mail. Bill Watterson, Charlottesville Area Transit. "Charlottesville Area Transit FY 2012 Revenue from Passenger Fares." Message to Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow. May 18, 2011.
  8. Document for Transit Development Plan
  9. Web. Council blesses planning for bus route changes, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, March 4, 2011, retrieved March 21, 2011.
  10. Web. City’s transit director departure means new era for system, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, March 1, 2012, retrieved May 16, 2012.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Web. Speeding change: A driver’s take on updating city bus routes, Graeyln Brashear, C-VILLE Weekly, Portico Publications, October 3, 2012, retrieved October 8, 2012. Print. October 3 .
  12. 12.0 12.1 Web. Council OKs new bus route into Albemarle, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, 1 July 2013, retrieved 2 July 2013.
  13. Web. CAT Transit Study, City of Charlottesville, retrieved 2 July 2013.
  14. Web. Rally calls for better area bus service, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, May 12, 2012, retrieved May 14, 2012.
  15. Web. Uneasy riders: Group rails against CAT route changes, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, January 2, 2014, retrieved April 28, 2014.
  16. Web. Transit manager briefs council on ridership decrease, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, April 8, 2014, retrieved April 28, 2014.
  17. [1]
  18. Thoms, Paul. "Interview with John Jones." Message to John Jones. 1, Nov. 2013. Email.

See also

External Links

CTS Website