Item Coversheet

New Business and Commission Requests - R9  E




COMMISSION MEMORANDUM

TO:Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission 
FROM:Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager 
DATE:October  17, 2018
 



SUBJECT:DISCUSS BELLE ISLE EXTENSION OF SOUTH BEACH TROLLEY SERVICE.

RECOMMENDATION

This item is presented to the Mayor and City Commission for discussion and direction. 

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

On January 17, 2018, the City Commission accepted the Neighborhood/Community Affairs Committee (NCAC) recommendation and directed the Administration to extend the South Beach Loops A and B to the Collins Park neighborhood, while keeping the “Via 10 Street Loop” as-is.  As a result of this route extension, the average service frequency of Loops A and B has increased to 20 minutes as compared to 15 minutes prior to the Collins Park extension, while average service frequency of “Via 10 Street Loop” is approximately 40 minutes.

 

At its January 24, 2018 meeting, the NCAC referred to the TPBPFC a discussion on the current trolley routes, with specific emphasis on whether the Belle Isle extension should be continued, and ensure that the Belle Isle Neighborhood Association is provided advance notice for the TPBPFC meeting.

 

Pursuant to City Commission direction, the Belle Isle Neighborhood Association was provided advanced notification of the March 12th TPBPFC meeting.  At the meeting, and in the presence of multiple residents from Belle Isle, the TPBPFC discussed the current trolley routes, with specific emphasis on whether the Belle Isle extension should be continued.  After discussion, TPBPFC made the following motion: “The TPBPFC asks that the Belle Isle Route be kept and work on a route that works best with emphasis on quality of service and keeping headways down.”

 

The Belle Isle extension was also discussed during the TPBPFC meeting on June 11, 2018. At the meeting, the TPBPFC made the following motion: “Due to the low ridership to Belle Isle, the TPBPFC asks the City to look into proceeding with eliminating Route A and B, keeping the “Via 10 Street Loop” to Belle Isle.”  However, the Belle Isle HOA was not notified in advance of this second discussion at TPBPFC as this subsequent discussion was not included in the agenda or anticipated.

ANALYSIS

Belle Isle is currently served by all three (3) South Beach Trolley loops and one (1) stop. The total number of times that all 3 trolley loops combined visit the Belle Isle stop is approximately 124 times per day, more times than any other stop along the South Beach Loops.  The average number of daily boardings from November 20, 2017 to December 31, 2017 was 28 and the average number of daily alightings was 26, meaning that for over 77% of trolley visits no passengers are boarding or disembarking at the Belle Isle stop.  It is worth noting that the historical South Beach Local ridership at this stop was very similar at approximately 33 boardings per day.  From January 1, 2018 to August 21, 2018, staff has observed a decrease in the average daily ridership at the Belle Isle stop, with only eight (8) boardings and six (6) alightings per day, meaning that for over 93% of all trolley visits to the Belle Isle stop, no passengers are boarding or disembarking.  The recent drop in ridership may be associated in part with a private development construction project taking place on North Island Avenue.

 

If the TPBPFC motion were to be implemented, Loops A and B would terminate at the Sunset Harbour Publix (see Attachment). This modification would improve overall service reliability and headways along Loops A and B from approximately 20 minutes to approximately 15 minute frequency of service. The “Via 10 Street" Loop would continue serving Belle Isle at approximately 40 minute service frequency.  Given the very low ridership at Belle Isle, it is anticipated that “Via 10 Street" Loop would provide adequate service, with approximately 23 visits per day to the Belle Isle stop.  Belle Isle residents would be able to use the Trolley Tracker Mobile Application to see when the next trolley would be arriving at the Belle Isle stop, in real-time.

 

Any further improvements in service frequency to South Beach Trolley Loop A, Loop B, and Via 10 Street Loop would require acquisition of additional trolley vehicles, thereby increasing the annual operating cost of the City’s trolley service.

 

 

Should the City Commission approve the TPBPFC recommendation, the Transportation Department will continue to monitor usage at the Belle Isle stop and provide updates via Letters to Commission as needed. 


CONCLUSION

 

KEY INTENDED OUTCOMES SUPPORTED
Ensure Comprehensive Mobility Addressing All Modes Throughout The City

Legislative Tracking
Transportation

ATTACHMENTS:
Description
South Beach Trolley Route Map