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TABLE 29 TABLE 31
CHANGES TO OTHER ROUTES AS A RESULT OF THE ADA ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CIRCULATOR
DOWNTOWN CIRCULATOR
No. of Agencies % Agencies
No. of Agencies % Agencies ADA Issues Responding Responding
Changes to Other Routes Responding Responding No 34 82.9
No 27 67.5 Yes 5 12.2
Yes 13 32.5 Unsure 2 4.9
Total Responding Agencies 40 100 Total Responding Agencies 41 100
may be reasonable if the circulator market is tourists and visi- Identifying the market was difficult because there were elements
tors, and this is the case in five of the eight agencies that that could be useful for all shoppers, lunchtime, evening events,
or commuters. However, there was limited funding, so it was
reported no integration. impossible to serve all those markets effectively. We settled on
lunchtime trips as the primary market.
Table 31 shows that more than 80% of respondents
The City does not receive any regional transit money for the ser-
reported no issues related to complementary Americans with vices and must use local funds for the services. There are high
Disabilities Act (ADA) service associated with the downtown expectations from our stakeholders for services, and these cannot
circulator. ADA issues that have arisen include mandated free be met with our current funding levels. It is difficult to get all the
complementary ADA service, a lower fare for ADA service stakeholders to agree on the purpose of the service.
within three-quarters of a mile of the downtown circulator, Zero local (i.e., city and county) funding available. Trolley fund-
and difficulty maintaining various style mechanical lifts on a ing must be from agency general fund and is at the expense of
mixed fleet of vintage rail trolleys. other more productive services. Routing tends to stretch in order
to cover more destinations. Stretching the route creates a longer
ride which discourages ridership and it also creates the need
Survey respondents described various elements in terms for additional vehicles in order to maintain frequency. More
of whether they were constraining factors in the start-up and vehicles = more cost.
ongoing operation of the downtown circulator. Table 32
The trolley routes are a `nice to have.' The resources devoted to
summarizes the results. Funding issues are the only elements the trolley routes may be more effectively spent on other routes.
characterized as major constraints at a majority of programs.
"Other" issues include city-requested expansion without
willingness to increase the city's subsidy and the cost and MARKETING
added maintenance of specially designed buses for the circu-
lator service. Table 34 shows the responsibilities for marketing the down-
town circulator. A majority of respondents named the transit
Respondents also answered an open-ended question to agency as having primary responsibility for marketing. Agen-
describe the major constraint affecting a given program. cies promoting tourism, hotels, the convention center, and
Table 33 summarizes the responses. Examples of specific downtown employers are likely to participate in marketing
responses are noted here: efforts.
To be successful the routes need to operate much more fre- A wide variety of marketing activities are undertaken for
quently. Our system is at capacity. We need more buses and funds
downtown circulators. Table 35 shows marketing activities
to operate to expand this service or we take it away from other
areas. Currently these routes are not particularly high producers mentioned by at least 10% of all respondents. Interesting
so there is no logic in taking from others to increase these. marketing activities not included in Table 35 include pocket
TABLE 30
INTEGRATION OF DOWNTOWN CIRCULATOR
WITH OTHER TRANSIT ROUTES
No. of Agencies % Agencies
Means of Integration Responding Responding
Connections at Major Transfer Points 33 80.5
Added Stops on Circulator 11 26.8
No Integration--Circulator Is Separate 8 19.5
No Duplication of Existing Route Segments 7 17.1
Fewer Stops on Circulator 1 2.4
Other 3 7.3
Total Responding Agencies 41 100
Note: Multiple responses allowed; percentages do not add to 100%.
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TABLE 32
RATINGS OF POTENTIAL CONSTRAINTS
Major Minor Not a No. of Agencies
Potential Constraint Constraint Constraint Constraint Responding
Funding in general 56% 18% 26% 39
Inability to identify a long- 40% 25% 35% 40
range funding source
Parking policies in downtown 15% 35% 50% 40
Cooperation with new 8% 41% 51% 39
partners
Difficulty in defining the 18% 30% 53% 40
route
Maintaining interest among 10% 38% 53% 40
stakeholders
Difficulty in defining the 8% 35% 58% 40
target market
Use of federal funds 11% 32% 58% 38
Disagreements on fares/fare 5% 23% 73% 40
instruments
Downtownneighborhood 0% 18% 82% 39
tension
Other 33% 0% 67% 6
Note: Percentages do not necessarily add to 100% due to rounding.
TABLE 33
MAJOR CONSTRAINTS FACING DOWNTOWN CIRCULATORS
No. of Agencies % Agencies
Constraint Responding Responding
Operating Funding 16 57.1
Target Markets/Conflicting Interests 3 10.7
Parking Issues in Downtown 3 10.7
Justifiable? Nice to Have, but Not Necessary 2 7.1
Other 4 14.3
Total Responding Agencies 28 100
Note: Percentages do not add to 100% due to rounding.
TABLE 34
RESPONSIBILITY FOR MARKETING THE DOWNTOWN CIRCULATOR
Primary Responsibility Also Participates
No. of No. of
Entity Agencies % Agencies Agencies % Agencies
Responding Responding Responding Responding
Transit Agency 27 69.2 7 17.9
City 7 17.9 13 33.3
Downtown Businesses 1 2.6 17 43.6
TMA 1 2.6 7 17.9
Agencies Promoting Tourism 1 2.6 24 61.5
Convention Center -- -- 16 41.0
Hotels -- -- 20 51.3
Downtown Employers -- -- 10 25.6
Other -- -- 4 10.3
Primary Responsibility Shared 2 5.1
Among Multiple Agencies
Total 39 100.0 39 100.0
Note: Multiple responses allowed for "participates in marketing"; percentages do not add to 100%.
TMA = Transportation Management Association.
