HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-09-09-TAC Lexpress Annual Report.pdf 4
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cr., 4 Lvaz5top September 9 , 1980
To Board of Selectmen
From Transportation Advisory Committee
Subject Lexpress Annual Report
We are happy to present our provisional first annual report
for Lexpress You are quite aware of the teething pains we
have gone through in the past year, but which have been well
worth the effort considering the success we have achieved
In this report we will try to summarize the adjustments we
have made in the system over the first year , the operating
statistics , and the budget to date As a bottom line let
us state that the Lexpress net operating costs per passenger
are the lowest and the ridership per vehicle hour the
highest of any suburban transit system in the country that
we know of.
Figure 1 shows the daily revenue collected in fares through
Sept 6 , 1980 . We present for this purpose revenue instead
of ridership figures since the former is less likely to vary
according to the vagaries of the drivers ' counting. Over
the long term we see a gradual increase in revenue from the
start of service lastSept 15 through the Christmas shopping
season and school vacation, then a general leveling of
revenue , a marked decline in July and an increase in August
back to the "normal" level . Over the shorter term we see
a decline at the end of January coincident with a flu
endemic. On a day to day basis we see huge variations , some
due to weather , but most associated with students not being
in school Saturdays and Thursday afternoons The highest
single day' s receipts were $381 . 90 on Thursday Nov. 29 ,1979 ,
a half-day of school for all schools , while the highest daily
ridership was 1828 riders on Thursday March 6 , 1980
(35 .8 passengers per vehicle hour)
Figure 2 shows the ridership per vehicle hour for a typical
weekday. Note that there are two peaks , one before 8 30 AM
representing commutters and school children, and a big peak
starting at 3 00 PM caused mainly by school children The
ridership per vehicle hour averaged through the year has
been above 20 , while most other successful mini-bus systems
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1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON MASSACHUSETTS 02173 • TELEPHONE (617) 1362 0500
Over the course of the year we have made many adjustments to
the system to make it more accessible , safer and efficient
Being a community run system we try to continue to be atuned
to the needs of the community, and adjust to those needs .
Even before the start of service we had to face two issues ,
one the connection to the MBTA Arlington Heights bus terminal ,
and the other the exact long term location of the central
transfer point . Interestingly both of these issues have
still not been settled to our complete satisfaction The
following is a list of issues that have been addressed
through the year
1 . Extra Bus to the Mall - From the first day of
service the normal bus to the Mall has not been able to satis-
fy demand on Saturdays and half-school days We have met
this demand by running an extra bus during these times , and
applying a 25,t surcharge to cover the additional cost . Be-
ginning in the spring we realised that we could divert the
route 5 bus to service the Mall , and thus save us the cost
of an extra bus . This has worked out quite well , though
the Mall diversion typically causes the route 5 bus to run
late In order to keep the system on time we try to run
the diversion only on demand, and have modified its original
route so that route 7 now services Meriam Hill instead
2 Diamond J H S - A number of students in the Lowell-
East St . area, within the school walking distance , wished
to take Lexpress in the morning, but the timing was unsuit-
able . In order to accomodate these students the 7 30 AM
route 7 bus deviates off its normal route , goes to Diamond
and returns back to its regular route .
3 Lexington H S Mornings - Again a number of students
wished to take Lexpress (route 5 this time) in the morning,
but were not able to get to school before 7 50 AM For the
7 30 run the route 5 bus goes by way of Forest St . to
accomodate these students
4 Lexinton H S Afternoons- Students leaving at
2 25 were not able to make the buses at Depot Sq leaving
at 2 30 , thus during weekdays the buses leave at 2 35 instead.
2
5. Hayden Bus- Each of the even numbered buses service at least
two schools, with the route 2 bus serving three (Bowman, Franklin and
Clarke). What was happening was that the Bowman students would almost
fill up the bus, and then the Clarke students would walk down Waltham
St. and overfill the bus, thus leaving out the franklin students. No
suitable solution to this problem was found, even with the offer of
several hundred dollars in subsidy from Hayden to provide special service,
until through the offices of Mr. Maloney of the Hayden and C & W a
special bus was provided to serve Hayden from these three schools. We
expect a similar problem this year, but since we have not been contacted
by the Hayden, and because a possible solution includes the school
department, we have not yet been able to attack this projected problem.
6. Vinebrook Village- The residents of Vinebrook Village re-
quested that the Lexpress bus come in just as it does at Greeley Village.
We gratified them by bring in the bus between 9:00 and 2:30. Few
of the residents avail themselves of this service, probably because of
their nearness to the center.
7. Hayden-Route 5 Bus- Many parents would not allow their
younger children to use the route 5 bus to come home from the Hayden
since their children would have to catch it at the corner of Mass. Ave.
and Worthen Rd. , necessitating crossing at least one major road. The
bus has been rerouted to go around Hastings Park so that no streets
have to be crossed from the Hayden.
8. Eldred & Winter Streets- A number of requests continue to
come in concerning Lexpress service to these areas. Unfortunately
route 6 is as long at it can be without always being late. Also
route 6, the most popular route, is already filled to capacity most
afternoons as it is. The combination of Lexpress on Grove St. and
the MBTA on Bedford St. does service this area, though we would still
wish to give additional service.
9. Lillian,Summer & Haskell Sts.- While only a small area is
involved it is densely populated, many of its residents being elderly.
We have considered a number of possible route changes, none of which
seem satisfactory. One problem is that there is no safe place to turn
around, Haskell St. being a dirt road.
10. Five Fields- Residents of this area on the south side of
state route 2 have requested service for a year, which we are now able
to provide by slightly cutting back service on Monroe Hill. The new
route 3 is at least as long as what we consider feasible.
11. Minuteman H.S.- For Minuteman's summer program we were
able to divert the route 4 8:00 AM run to go to the corner of new
Mass Ave. and state route 2a such that no crossing of route 2a on
foot was necessary.
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12. Old Res. & Centre Pools- For the summer route 4 was divert-
ed down Middleby Rd. to Bridge School, and routes 2 & 3 buses pulled
into the pool parking lot.
13. Safety Education- At the beginning of school last year we,
and several volunteer helpers, went to every classroom in every elemen-
tary school to explain how to use Lexpress safely,as well as stationed
parent helpers at each of the schools in order to actually help
students to safely take Lexpress. We will again be going into the
schools if requested by the teachers, for further safety instructions.
In this way we are also able to respond to student questions. The
various principals have been extremely helpful, sometimes slightly
altering their schools' schedule to be in line with Lexpress.
14. Fare Increases- In order to partly meet the greater than
expected increase in the cost of operating Lexpress, driven mainly
by the doubling in the cost of gasoline over the last year, we have
raised fares by an average of about 40%, the basic adult fare rising
from 250 to 400. For the convenience and economy of our riders we
have also begun selling books of 15 tickets for $5 (35.70 per ride).
15. Fare Collection Procedure- A small, but not negligible,
amount of revenue has been lost due to abuse of transfers, and impro-
per collection procedures at the center. Transfers now cost 100,
and are labelled with route number and date. Collection procedures
have been changed, and may change again, before we are satisfied.
15. Driver Performance & Turnover- Drivers are hired and supervised
by the contractor, TMC. Hours and pay scales are set by TMC. The
Town does have the right to ask TMC to dismiss any driver the Town
finds unsuitable for the job, an option that has never been used.
We do feel that the pay is too low and the hours too long, and thus
the turnover in drivers too high. We have suggested, but only
suggested, that pay scales be raised, that extra pay be given to
long term drivers (say after 3 months), and that more use be made
of part time drivers particularly housewives, the semi-retired,
and college students. TMC has chosen to not accept our suggestions
as is its rights.
Numerous other actions have been handled by the committee through
the year particularly the ongoing promotion of the system as a whole
and the marketing of passes.
Table 1 shows a monthly breakdown of the Lexpress budget thru
August 31, 1980, while Table 2 gives a synopsis of the first
annual statistics. No figure is given for advertising revenue since
for bookkeeping purposes it is applied directly toward reducing
marketing & administration costs. For instance, the total cost of
producing and distributing this years Lexpress map was on the order of
$4500, while about $6000 was collected in advertising revenues. The
advertising revenue was applied to the costs, and the profits will
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be applied to other marketing costs that will occur.
By the end of this month we, together with the comptroller, will be
able to give you a definitive financial statement. But, given the
figures to date, it is clear that the total Lexpress budget balances
in accord with its original projections, even with the large increases
in costs involved in delivering service.
In no way do the facts and figures truly represent the success of the
system. The mobility Lexpress has provided to some of the elderly and
handicapped residents (such as the seeing impaired) cannot be quan-
tified. Nor can the new independence of the young or the freedom
provided to parents be measured. We are very proud of Lexpress, and
look forward to its continued success.
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Week of February 25, 1980
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TABLE 1
COSTS INCOME
MARKETING
MONTH COORDINATOR 6 BUSES GROSS FAREBOX PASSES SUBSIDY TOTAL BALANCE
ADMINISTRA. COST INCOME
SEPT 1826 00 2013.98 9145.24 12985 22 2177 71 8135.00 6250 00 16562.71 3577 49
OCT 588 50 755 81 18680 38 20024.69 4057 05 2880.00 12500 00 19437 05 (587 64)
NOV 528.08 328 86 17681 86 18538.72 5107 75 1721 00 12500.00 19328 75 790 03
DEC 528 00 384 58 18099 39 19011.97 5551 80 1020.00 12500 00 19071 80 59 83
JAN 528 00 165 84 18470 77 19164.61 4877.53 746 50 12500 00 18124 03 (1040 58)
FEE 792.00 26 33 16944 58 17762.91 4321 07 540 25 12500.00 17361 32 (401 59)
MAR 528 00 44.43 17699.39 18271.82 4988 26 560.00 12500.00 18048 26 (223 56)
APR 528 00 35 94 16772 81 17336.75 4643 48 600 00 12500.00 17743 48 406 73
MAY 528 00 103 37 17652 33 18283 70 4527 13 75 00 12500.00 17102 13 (1181 57)
JUN 528 00 21 67 16667 37 17217 04 4223.84 153 00 12500 00 16876 84 (340 20)
JULY 264.00 75 83 16267 23 16607 06 3122.87 118 50 12500 00 15741 37 (865 69)
AUG 0.00 37 13 14820 57 14857.70 3378 65 16 50 12500 00 15895 15 1037 45
NOTES: SEPT FIGURES INCLUDE JULY THRU SEPT. SERVICE BEGAN SEPT 15. 1979
SUBSIDY FIGURES ARE AVERAGED OVER 12 MONTHS
T able 2
LEXPRES5
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BUDGET
15 SEPT 1979 thru 31 AUG. 1980
OPERATING COSTS
BUSES $198,901.92
COORDINATOR 7,166. 50
MARKETING & 3,993 87
ADM I NI STRATI ON
TOTAL COSTS $210,062 29
INCOME
FARES $50,977 14
PASSES 1.6,565 75
TOTAL INCOME $67,542. 89
NET OPERATING COST $142,519.40
M B TA 60,000. 00
LEXINGTON 82,519.40