Subject:
Title
Adoption, Re: 2023-2032 Transit Development Plan for Space Coast Area Transit
End
Fiscal Impact:
Adoption of a Transit Development Plan is required to draw the yearly Florida Department of Transportation Public Transit Block Grant Funds. The Fiscal Year 2022/2023 Block Grant allocation is $1,802,371.
Dept/Office:
Transit Services
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board adopt the 2023-2032 Transit Development Plan for Space Coast Area Transit.
End
Summary Explanation and Background:
The Transit Development Plan (TDP) is required by Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Florida Administrative Rule 14-73.001 as a prerequisite to the recipient of State Public Transit Block Grant funds. The rule requires that the TDP be the provider’s planning, development, and operational guidance document.
This is Space Coast Area Transit’s third TDP written under the updated rules issued in 2007. The rules require a 10-year planning horizon, an FDOT approved Public Participation Plan, and adoption by the transit agency’s Board of Directors. Public Outreach for this project included onboard surveys of existing Transit riders, an online survey of non-Transit users, 10 Stakeholder interviews, 5 Public Workshops, a survey of Space Coast Area Transit Operators and Web/Email & Social Media Outreach. Outreach for this project provided in excess of 1,700 participants.
A presentation of the TDP was made to the Transportation planning Organization’s Board on July 14th 2022 for their review. While no action was needed on this item, the TPO Board did not present or ask for any additions or changes made to the document.
There are three basic steps to the development of a TDP; (1) assessment of the current transit service, service area demographics and review of governmental plans; (2) public involvement and; (3) goal setting and 10 year service and budget projections. A checklist of the FDOT requirements for a TDP is included on page 3 of the TDP. This TDP was done alongside a Comprehensive Operations Analysis (COA) to identify operational efficiencies that can be implemented in the short-term.
Highlights of the 2023-2032 Transit Development Plan Service Alternatives
• Existing Service Improvements
• Implement COA operational adjustments
• Improve weekday service to 30-minute headways on priority routes
• Extend evening weekday service to 9 pm on priority routes
• Provide Sunday service on all routes
• Expanded Service
• Palm Bay to Micco via US 1
• Single beach route on A1A
• Palm Bay to Melbourne Orlando International Airport via Babcock Rd
• US 192 from A1A to west of I-95
• Mobility on Demand Service (Potential Pilot Zones)
• Port St. John
• West Palm Bay (north of Malabar Rd. and east of I-95)
• South Palm Bay (south of Malabar Rd. and east of Babcock St.)
• South Brevard County (Micco/Barefoot Bay area)
• Fleet replacement/expansion (transition to hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles)
• Bus stop amenities and infrastructure improvements
• New Cocoa transfer center
• New Centralized administration/operations center
Since the Transit Development Plan is a planning document, adoption of the Transit Development Plan does not require that Service Alternatives be implemented; however, any future service that is partially funded by the Florida Department of Transportation must be included in the Transit Development Plan.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
Please send copy of Board Memo to Yvonne Miles, Transit Services, 460 S. Harbor City Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32901.