The Minnesota Department of Transportation, Office of Transit, presents… “The Forgotten Mode” Intercity Bus in Minnesota Minnesota Public Transit Association Annual Conference October 16, 2013 This session One 30% Zero 38% Two 18% Four or Three More 6% 8% What is intercity bus? What is intercity bus? Intercity bus… …is regularly scheduled Intercity bus… …is for the general public Intercity bus… …operates between communities not in close proximity Intercity bus… …is meaningfully connected with the larger network What is NOT intercity bus? A niche mode Source: 2001 National Household Travel Survey Early success The long decline “The Forgotten Mode” New life Intercity Bus Trivia Time What do these two have in common? The Answer: Hibbing, MN Intercity bus in Minnesota Section 5311(f) Section 5311 Local, non-urbanized public transportation, §5311 85% Intercity bus, §5311(f) 15% = $2.2 million (Minnesota FFY 2013) Operating assistance Capital assistance Marketing assistance Learn more MN Intercity Bus Network Study • How can MnDOT improve our state’s current intercity bus service? • How can MnDOT better evaluate 5311f funding applications? • How can MnDOT encourage competitiveness and diversity among applicants? Existing network Subsidized network Ridership by stop on subsidized network Recent History • Trend in service reduction • Greyhound eliminated most routes. Some taken up by Jefferson • Service lost in: Hastings, Red Wing, Lake City, Mora, Cambridge, Park Rapids, Madelia, Paynesville, Northfield • Unserved connections: Walker-Wadena, St. Cloud-Willmar, Mankato-Fairmont Opportunities Direct participation Coordination Awareness Time of service on subsidized network Potential Unmet Needs • Latino/Hispanic – Pelican Rapids, St. James, Madelia, Northfield • Amish – Fillmore County • Colleges – Northfield, St. Bonifacius, New Ulm, Collegeville, Canby, Thief River Falls, International Falls, Ely • Correctional facilities – Togo, Red Wing • Medical facilities – Park Rapids, Red Wing Riders • Median income $28,000 – 18% below poverty • 66% white, 19% black, 6% Hispanic • 80% some college or high school; 25% college graduates among infrequent/first time riders Getting to the bus • 57% dropped off by friend/relative at bus stop – 10% took transit to intercity bus stop – 18% riders under 25 walked • Tickets: 57% visit website, 27% did not visit the website, 15% no internet – First time customers more likely to purchase ticket at a bus station • Price important factor to this mode – 27% riders no access to a vehicle Satisfaction • 54% satisfaction on subsidized vs. 44% on unsubsidized – Satisfaction higher among those 55+, more likely to recommend • High: – – – – Driver professionalism Heating/air conditioning Luggage Purchasing ticket • Low: – Frequency – Amount of travel time – Availability of power outlets on buses Next Steps • Refine survey analysis – Add household survey results • • • • Convene advisory committee Develop performance indicators Recommend program implementation policies Final report early 2014 Minnesota Intercity Bus Service • Jefferson serves more than 70 Minnesota communities • Each day Jefferson operates more than 8,000 miles in Minnesota or more than 3 million miles annually • During the past two years, Jefferson has contributed over 1.7 million dollars in private funding to support the rural intercity bus program in Minnesota Intercity Bus Service in the United States 1978 2013 • 15,000 communities had Intercity Bus Service • 2,400 communities have intercity bus service THE JEFFERSON AIRPLANE Ride the Jefferson Fat Cat to Kansas City Jefferson’s Tour to Europe Begins in Your Home Town My trip to Italy started on a Creston, Iowa transit bus Region 2 Transit Demand Response From Eight Iowa Counties The transit operator provides transportation to an intercity bus depot and charges the passenger the regular transit fare • Works with Demand Response service • This works well for small communities with limited potential. • Jefferson provides a toll free information number that can give intercity bus information as well as transit referral information • Works best with passengers traveling from the service area rather than to the service area Working together in Grand Rapids Arrowhead provides local service to the Jefferson Lines Bus Depot Arrowhead & Jefferson Joint Marketing Campaign • • • • • Paul Bunyan sells tickets and package express Transit receives a commission Good cross-promotion of services Jefferson is on Paul Bunyan’s web site Paul Bunyan is on Jefferson’s web site The transit operator provides regular scheduled service to the closest intercity connection point • The transit operator provides regular scheduled service to one or more communities to the closest intercity connection point • The passenger travels on one interline ticket • The transit operator shares revenue on the interline ticket • Works best when population exceeds 10,000 or the scheduled service also serves other needs • Transit operator has a sponsored membership in National Bus Traffic Association New Interline Service from Morris, Starbuck and Glenwood to Alexandria Pierre, SD Population: 13,500 Pierre, South Dakota River City Transit • Sells bus tickets and package express and receives a commission • Operates interline feeder service from Pierre to Vivian on Highway 90 – shares revenue • Operates demand response from 13 counties into Pierre – charges transit fare • Adding a new interline service from Pierre to Bismarck – will share revenue Critical Elements of Success • Community based marketing plan tailored to the area • Local Commitment to Project • When did the community have intercity bus service? • Intercity Marketing of the transit connection Marketing tailored to the community Media release Newspaper and radio ads Community website link to Jefferson Lines Brochure and poster distribution to colleges, grocery stores, medical offices, veteran and social services • On the transit bus brochures or ads • • • •