Connecting our Community

Why has this Coalition formed?• Because great cities need great transit.

Period. – Recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission – Vision of FUTUREBR

• Baton Rouge deserves a quality transit system with dedicated funding

• A healthy city leverages opportunities:

“We have job opportunities. But if people can’t get to the opportunities, there might as well not be

opportunities.”

Adam KnappBaton Rouge Area Chamber

Comprehensive Transit Reform• On April 21st Baton Rouge, Zachary and Baker

residents decide the future of Baton Rouge transportation

• 10.6 mills from these three areas will generate $18 million annually

• Duration of the millage is 10 years• This budget will be used to leverage greater state and

federal funding • Resulting in the system BR deserves

Map

New and Existing Routes

What will this cost me?

• The cost depends on your home value:

The 10.6 millage is less than the BREC, library

or public school millage.

What will BR get in return?• Decrease wait times from the current average of 75

minutes to 15-20 minutes at peak times

• Overhaul bus stops, with new shelters and benches

• Add GPS tracking to fleet, with exact arrival times accessible on cell phones

• Overhaul all signage for transit stops, providing detailed route and time information

• Build 3 new transit hubs to replace “spoke” system with “grid” system

• Increase service from 19 to 37 routes, expanding to

high-demand areas that currently are not served (eg. O’Neal Lane, Coursey Blvd., Essen and Siegen Lane)

• Increase peak-hour buses from 32 to 57

• Create 8 New Express Lines:– Express Routes:  Southern University to Downtown, Airport to

Downtown, O'Neal Lane to Downtown, Mall of Louisiana to Downtown, Highland/I-110 to Downtown

– Limited Stop Routes:  Baker/Zachary (through Southern University, to CATS Terminal), Florida Blvd to Downtown, LSU to Downtown

What will BR get in return?

Why don’t we have $ now?• Don’t have dedicated revenue source

for transit– One of the biggest systems in the

country not to have one

• Recent reductions in federal assistance

• Increased disability service after Katrina

Includes local taxes, fares and federal

funding

Current Funding

Source: National Transit Database, 2009

Peer Cities (2009)Per capita

funding

AtlantaNew OrleansAustinHoustonCharlotteKnoxvilleLittle RockRaleighMemphisPeer City AverageBaton Rouge (2009)Baton Rouge (2012)

$134

$32

$84$84$70

$133

$27

$59

$253$215$162$138

High dependence on rider fares for funding

Percent of

Peer Cities (2009) funding from fares

Peer City Average

Baton Rouge (2011) 25%

14%

Current Funding

10

Current Funding

4 measures of financial “efficiency” (output per input)

B. R. spends less per unit output than peer cities.

Other cities with dedicated revenue for transit

12

MORE cities with dedicated revenue for transit

13

STILL MORE cities with dedicated revenue for transit …

14

No dedicated funding means losing millions in federal match funding and grants.

Future Congestion

Future Congestion

FuturEBR prediction of congested routes in 20 years

Congestion + Gas = $$$$

2000 2008

< $900 $900-1800 $1800-2700 $2700-3600 > $3600

Congestion & Transit Impact

Congestion & Transit Impact

Congestion & Transit Impact

Congestion & Transit Impact

Transit is the first step• A bus system is the critical foundation for

– Light Rail– Streetcars– Bus Rapid Transit

• Catalyzes – Sidewalk network– Bike lanes – Trails

Governance Reform

• Support new criteria for CATS board members as recommended by Blue Ribbon Committee

• Support legislation to remove Metro Council from operational decisions about routes and fares

Accountability

• CATS promises to adhere to and publicize concrete benchmarks and timeline of deliverables for service improvement

Change Takes Time

• 2012– Feb – June:  Further develop implementation

plan– July - September:  Put new bus purchase in

process (1st wave of new buses – 10 – 15) and announce GPS system is installed and ready for use

– October - December: Expand number of bus shelters (25 shelters or more) and install new more informative and easier to read bus stop signs

Change Takes Time

• 2013– January – March: Expand CATS bus pass

sales locations– April – June: Continue to expand bus

shelters– July – September: Put second wave of new

buses for purchase in process (15 – 20 buses)– October – December: Transit education

(community meeting) on new routes and services

Change Takes Time

• 2014– January-March: Implement expanded

routes and decreased wait times.

Pledge

www.brtransit.blogspot.com