WORK PROGRAM

MetroWest Regional Transit Authority Sunday Service Feasibility Study

August 6, 2020

Proposed Motion

The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) votes to approve this work program.

Project Identification

Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) Classification

Boston Region MPO Planning Studies and Technical Analyses

Project Number 11493

Client  

MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA)

Project Supervisors

Principal: Paul Christner
Manager: Jonathan Belcher

Funding Source

Future MWRTA contract

Schedule and Budget

Schedule: 12 months after work commences

Budget: $75,000

Schedule and budget details are shown in Exhibits 1 and 2, respectively.

Relationship to MPO Work

This studyis supported in full with non-MPO funding. Committing MPO staff to this project will not impinge on the quality or timeliness of MPO-funded work.


 

Background

The MWRTA currently only operates fixed-route bus service Monday through Saturday, and has never provided fixed-route service on Sundays. MWRTA has requested the Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS) conduct a study to evaluate the potential for Sunday fixed-route service in the MWRTA service region.

Objective(s)

CTPS staff will review existing MWRTA ridership and demand, with a concentration on off-peak demand. CTPS will consider where the need for expanded off-peak service on Sundays is most likely to be the greatest, and will assist MWRTA in developing potential schedules and operating plans for Sunday service.

Work Description

The work required to accomplish the project objectives will be divided into five primary tasks.

Task 1  Review existing ridership data provided by MWRTA

CTPS will work with MWRTA staff to develop methods to analyze the ridership data collected by the MWRTA. CTPS will then review existing ridership data provided by MWRTA, and examine where existing off-peak demand suggests the greatest potential for Sunday service.

Product of Task 1

Develop methods and analyze ridership data provided by MWRTA

Task 2  Review passenger survey data provided by MWRTA

CTPS will work with MWRTA staff to develop methods to analyze survey data collected by MWRTA. CTPS will then review the passenger survey data provided by MWRTA, and examine where customer responses suggest the greatest potential for Sunday service.

Product of Task 2

      Develop methods and analyze survey data provided by MWRTA

Task 3  Develop potential fixed-route service scenarios for Sunday service

CTPS will develop Sunday fixed-route service scenarios in cooperation with MWRTA staff. Scenarios may include draft schedules and consideration of operating unique Sunday routes, which may be hybrids of existing Monday through Saturday routes. Staff will consider the operating costs of the proposed fixed-route services, and the costs to provide required Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (or ADA) complementary paratransit to the expanded fixed-route network.

Product of Task 3

      Draft scenarios for Sunday fixed-route service, including operating cost estimates

Task 4  Summarize results in technical memorandum

CTPS will summarize the results of Tasks 1–3 in a technical memorandum, and make recommendations for new Sunday fixed-route service.

Product of Task 4

A technical memorandum summarizing the potential for Sunday service in the MWRTA service area, and recommendations made by CTPS

Task 5  Provide ongoing support and update data

CTPS will provide ongoing support to assist MWRTA in an implementation plan for Sunday bus service, and will update products of Tasks 1–4 if additional data is available from MWRTA.

Product of Task 5

Ongoing support to MWRTA, and updates to earlier tasks if new data is available


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) operates its programs, services, and activities in compliance with federal nondiscrimination laws including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and related statutes and regulations. Title VI prohibits discrimination in federally assisted programs and requires that no person in the United States of America shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin (including limited English proficiency), be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity that receives federal assistance. Related federal nondiscrimination laws administered by the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, or both, prohibit discrimination on the basis of age, sex, and disability. The Boston Region MPO considers these protected populations in its Title VI Programs, consistent with federal interpretation and administration. In addition, the Boston Region MPO provides meaningful access to its programs, services, and activities to individuals with limited English proficiency, in compliance with U.S. Department of Transportation policy and guidance on federal Executive Order 13166.

The Boston Region MPO also complies with the Massachusetts Public Accommodation Law, M.G.L. c 272 sections 92a, 98, 98a, which prohibits making any distinction, discrimination, or restriction in admission to, or treatment in a place of public accommodation based on race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or ancestry. Likewise, the Boston Region MPO complies with the Governor's Executive Order 526, section 4, which requires that all programs, activities, and services provided, performed, licensed, chartered, funded, regulated, or contracted for by the state shall be conducted without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, disability, veteran's status (including Vietnam-era veterans), or background.

A complaint form and additional information can be obtained by contacting the MPO or at http://www.bostonmpo.org/mpo_non_discrimination. To request this information in a different language or in an accessible format, please contact

Title VI Specialist
Boston Region MPO
10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150
Boston, MA 02116
civilrights@ctps.org
857.702.3700 (voice)
617.570.9193 (TTY)

Exhibit 1
ESTIMATED SCHEDULE
MWRTA Sunday Service Feasibility Study


Task
Month
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
1.
Review existing ridership data provided by MWRTA
From Month 1, Week 1 to Month 2, Week 2.
2.
Review passenger survey data provided by MWRTA
From Month 1, Week 1 to Month 2, Week 2.
3.
Develop potential fixed-route service scenarios for Sunday service
From Month 1, Week 3 to Month 2, Week 4.
4.
Summarize results in technical memorandum
From Month 1, Week 1 to Month 4, Week 3.
Deliverable
A
Delivered by Month 4, Week 3.
5.
Provide ongoing support and update data
From Month 1, Week 1 to Month 12, Week 1.
Products/Milestones
A: Technical memorandum no. 1

Exhibit 2
ESTIMATED COST
MWRTA Sunday Service Feasibility Study

Direct Salary and Overhead

$75,000

Task
Person-Weeks Direct
Salary
Overhead
(106%)
Total
Cost
M-1 P-5 P-4 Total
1.
Review existing ridership data provided by MWRTA
0.2 1.0 0.5 1.8 $3,175 $3,365 $6,540
2.
Review passenger survey data provided by MWRTA
0.2 1.0 0.7 2.0 $3,531 $3,743 $7,273
3.
Develop potential fixed-route service scenarios for Sunday service
0.0 3.0 1.0 4.0 $7,406 $7,850 $15,256
4.
Summarize results in technical memorandum
1.5 2.0 0.0 3.5 $6,762 $7,168 $13,931
5.
Provide ongoing support and update data
0.0 7.8 0.0 7.8 $15,534 $16,466 $32,000
Total
2.0 14.8 2.2 19.1 $36,407 $38,592 $75,000

Other Direct Costs

$0

TOTAL COST

$75,000
Funding
Future MWRTA contract