HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-11-01-TAC-rpt.pdf •
TOLZ.9 r_2pciz5for
November 1, 1979
Mrs. Mary Miley, Chairman
Board of Selectmen
Town of Lexington
Lexington, Ma 02173
Dear Mary,
LEXPRESS has started off as a huge success. Ridership has been greater
than predicted. Children have developed a new sense of independence
and responsibility. The elderly are no longer transportation dependent
There have also been problems, but they have been problems of success
If the ridership was low there would be no problem of overcrowded buses
or an overcrowded sidewalk
The Transporation Advisory Committee would like to present a preliminary
status report on the operations of LEXPRESS. In this report we will present
ridership and revenue statistics to date Basic financial information
will be presented, and projected through August 1980 The purpose of this
is not only to inform you of the present status but to provide the Board
and the Town Manager the information necessary to plan for the fiscal
1981 budget
The main statistics which can be presented are ridership (or revenue)
per day, ridership per time of day, ridership per route, and the various
combinations of the above. We are confident of our revenue per day figures
counting money is simple, straight-forward, and free of the need for
interpretation. Our other figures are less certain as they depend on
counts by the drivers which in many cases have been inaccurate. While we
have taken steps to improve on our numbers by having the contractor speak
to his drivers, and by providing mechanical counters instead of record
sheets, you must realize that the present figures are prone to possible
inaccuracies. In all cases the drivers figures have been lower than the
ridership implied by actual fare-box revenue.
%
e,••k
se:s
APRIL q.
,.,4fJc
1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINCITON, MASSACHUSETTS 02173 • TELEPHONE (617) S62-0500
-2-
Figure 1 shows the revenue per day for the first five weeks of service
Monday Oct 1st was the holiday at the occasion of the Pope's visit to
Boston, on which an extra bus was put onto the Burlington route as is done
on Saturdays No service was provided on Columbus Day, Monday October 8th,
Wednesday Oct 10th was the date of the unseasonal snowstorm, and Thursday
Oct 11th was a half-day of school for all of the schools. Apart from the
exceptions noted above, the figures are relatively constant on a week-to-
week basis Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays average about
$130 per day Thursdays average about $200 per day, reflecting the
half-day at the elementary schools. Saturdays average about $225 per
day On Saturdays an extra bus has been used in order to handle the
ridership to Burlington, and on Monday Oct 22nd the fare to Burlington
was raised to 50Q in order to pay for this extra service
The average revenue per week has been almost $1000, which projected over
the year translates into a total annual revenue of over $50,000
Figures 2 - 8 show the ridership per time of day for the week of October
15, 1979, which appears to be typical The ridership is relatively high
during morning commuter hours, and at 3 P.M , when schools are dismissed,
it sky rockets Between 9 00 and 3 00 a moderate ridership is reflected
and at 6 30 p m ridership dips extremely low. Figure 4 shows a ridership
increase starting after 1:00 p m due to the half day of school on
Thursdays at the elementary level Saturdays show a more uniformly high
ridership
Statistics on ridership per route are less certain, though fare-box
revenues per bus indicates less than a 10% variation between routes,
except for the Saturday Burlington run.
Now that LEXPRESS operations are relaxing to "normal," and problems have
been solved or are being decisively addressed, we finally have the luxury
to look ahead to the end of the year As mentioned above the revenue has
been a little under $1000 per week Ignoring the effects on the recent
Burlington fare increase, the projected annual fare revenue is about $50,000
This may be compared to the predicted revenue figure presented to the Town
Meeting of $40,487 (corrected from 8 hours/day to 12 hours/day) Pass
sales have been over $10,000, but have now been reduced to a dribble.
Though we expect a new surge of sales in December in response to our
planned Christmas promotion, we do not believe that total sales of
passes will exceed $15,000.
Table 1 is a copy of the expected operating budget from our original
proposal as presented to Town Meeting A number of major changes have
occurred, which we list chronologically
i) appropriation amended to $90,000 by Town Meeting in order
to increase service to 12 hours per weekday,
ii) low bid much higher than expected; $15 39/vehicle-hour vs
$12 00 expected,
• -3-
•
iii) in order to make up for increased costs a pass program was
started, but has not met expectations,
iv) total ridership considerably higher than expected, yielding
higher revenues,
v) extra bus instituted to handle ridership on Saturday Burlington
route.
Table 2 presents the budget as amended by Town Meeting, the expected budget
for this year (as can be projected-from this date) , and a proposed possible
budget for next year The greatest driving force in next year's budget is
the unknown vehicle per hour cost. Considering the present rate of infla-
tion, we would expect the cost to rise by about 15%. We doubt that the
MBTA would increase it's contribution to more than $60,000. In order to
face the increased cost there are three possibilities;
1) decrease service,
ii) increase the Town's contribution considerably,
iii) increase revenues by raising fares and/or increasing ridership,
or some combination of the above. We believe that the Town Meeting
will continue- to essentially want the same level of service, and will not
want to substantially increase it's appropriation. We also believe that a
substantial increase in fares would decrease the total ridership.
Since we are only in operation six weeks we do not have the figures necessary
to accurately project figures for next year, but given our projections above,
and recognizing the political factors, we recommend that the proposed budget
for next year include:
1) one hour per day less service (no cut on Saturday) ,
ii) increase Town appropriation to $100,000,
iii) increase fares to 300 (150 over 65 years old and under 6 years)
We are sorry that our statistics and recommendations are so nebulous, but
that is to be expected after only six weeks. Hopefully our statistics,
projections, and uncertain recommendations will give you sufficient infor-
mation on present operations, and enough information for you and the Town
Manager to prepare a preliminary Town budget.
Sincerely,
Fred D. Rosenberg, Chairman
Transportation Advisory Committee
FDR/bc d _
I
a t, .� ,ter: .� ..n.„,., ,,
I t
emue,/a/4y DoLL4i ._
f , I , t ,
a
I
c4
.rj.
c.
11 I 1
_--- _ 1 Qosq--ftsrfimaa
3_ - _ ri _..._
Ti I
I - - AFL,Vol kteP::
I
E.
-- - I --
- r
-- I. —
- ._ - Urias CRY
11
_3Atow _ _
-- — ----- --- - I (z Ay ....Hoac
J
-_ . _ - -- -
(11
I - --
71 _
11_ - -- -
0.1
3 -- I &LWdow4 AtA/K
(rrN� y
V t_ ---- --
Pt - - --- ----
-
T.
I 1 - , f .1 1
I I 1 Y - -i_-= _
I i i j— ! 1 1 i 1- , 1 -I I I -) i ( I ; . 1 I—T E.
I I j + I I i 1 ! 1 i
I 1 ',fir/, ,/'n �/J��� a l_ill y(__ ' II I 1 i ( j ' I 1 i 1 ! ! '- •I i I
' , 1 i Y I I I 1 ! I ! i i 1 1 ! I
{ , - � _ - -L-- - - T
II f ; I • I t ! ;
1 f ! i I 1 � �---� 1 I i •; i 1 i I i
1 --- ; ' - -I-- � ' I 1 I i 1 l t- i ! 7 r t 1 `
I j — 1- - 1 i ! ! f ! I i i
j i 1 • 1 1
1 4 1 i I ; ! 1 111 ' 1 1 ' 1 ! I I
',......-1
_ 1 ! I !
I
1 • 1 i ; I 1
I 1
--
g i ro „ 1z I 2.. 13 ! b 1 I _ 1 ,
- • - - - , -i- --.
! 7 i ' ' ' - i i I
c I
•
I • ! I i 1 � I ' ;
^ f
— ---- _ , _ __. art. _ ,,- .,t C� �2'rS ! r - 1 '-
---{ -- - _ - ) a 1 _Ut. n.aCLnurt4eA --r1,,-- {�..t.c.cirs t.�70' of fa{ 0.6 8_ri.sxcs
i !
! I i !
j - - ,' - -4- ` '-_I.- -. i____. •- i '-- ._�. " 1 i
t - I -r
LI r , 1. I -i i 1 I ; i-
' ! I -, - -1-i- I- ' f i - I f ! 1 I -1—'
i T ;- 1 1 ,
• ; ! I i i I I 1 i I 1 i I I I I i k.
1
' i 1 1 L , ; , I t ! j I � I
i
_.! -. — 1
Ir - { - - 1 i j i I —� 1 ,
1---
i 1 I , i 1 1 ..�
.....
I
- L__- __ _I i• __-r.� ._i-._' ___I
- ------- ----------2.a -- —`
g 1O /, 1z 1 2 3 L/ s 6
-- - --- --- r -
I ! 1 i
---------------- -' i I i_ -• I I t 1 I , i ' 1 I
I t ; j , 1 • I 1 I 1--- I 1 i ; , i
• Ii ! ii .t ! .-i----4-----L-- •__—_ ', , —__,._
I t • o
_I , , i , , i 1 I ! ___1_ ± , i i i I i ! i_ , 4_.._; , ; 1 • ; I I' l
i , ______L__ _ ; - ;_ 4 __•,..
I II11 , 1111 „
--- ,
U ) _Q ( 11 1 i i i ; i !
=
. , , 1
, • , , I ! TT— 7— — --= -1----'!-- 4- -4---71---•-----77-----!--
t , __•,_
! t 1 , i : i , I ! , , . , -1-----; j • • • i J j . —I--
, i 1 , ; ; ____ , ___I__ _ i ; _L • ...L. ._ _i••• ._. .,. i
I I --7-f --17. i • I 1----- 7 ---
I
.__3,_____,._ .1. __A______i___I___' , • ____I_____I j __1- 4.'_ • --__:. _? I ' I J i 1
I ! ,
—
' • VI----1 0-4— , 1 1
i i i ‘....... II
1
_. ,,. , , . i , i
. ,
--E-F-I--- v44--------- .
_ -- __
i 11I i I ----_-_-
j 1 _L4D___ i i i f I
- I 1 ' I I ' -4 ---f_____;.___t___. i • 1 , i , ( I i
, t 1 j ! i 1 i•
1 • . , j . , I 1 i I i
I 1 i i • , . . ; • --,
1 ....c.. ' t
! i
--7----t.;
I ;
-'.- 1----f•-• -- 4-0 - 1 1 i I . 1 t i I i i
7-- ' 4-- i
-...... i , •
: I f_ •I il
, . _:--4__.-:.• , •
1 f
! + 4._ __..;_ • ...-4,1r ..''''. ' 4
- I ....) • i
— —
1 f ,..—•••• *
--- _
_ ________.
, .--- ---- - --
-.... F.,—
- i
, . ——— ...1 l • --,.
0/ .
I , u----7-Cf--f-it-1.- - 11 = i".1-____ / I. A. t 3
i
- , r -L .- 1.11-,,,A..... _ . - - cu) L i
, 4 , _i 1 -1----fr- --:---7-
' -I• I ' i
-- t--_'
i
,----4-1 ! - .-4,_ _____ ___4_ --4 I ! • .' _. __;._ :- .
, __I__ ' ! •
_
, i, • ;
?.; • . ,...._
, —
, _ LL i 1 il
, •
...,_ — •
I I !
Lit
1.
I ,
• __ . .
,,_ ___. -,
, __ ______, _ T. _.-___ ._,.___;____j...• ,
1 ,
_..4_—_..4-----.—.,_17.1.1._(_.r-!_— 'Zs% —____4____1, . „.._____,,,,' ' ' • 1 I ) i i i 1 !
,ok.5c-Vo 0\-_. .1-ernen3rort LL
__,____t__•_4_ ,
-- ------1------' , ; „ ;
i I 11 1 I i-- i i , '.-----! --t--
, ,
, --i
f • I j 1 I I i I i ' 1 ' 1 7
, _t____—_ ---t_ ' • i I
1 7 • T— , • • , ' —
- I I
; 1 ....17.-- i i - • ! -4._
il t ! 1S-' : I I i I
-.'s-
I I i . ..,--..• 1 ; L-__t_____.,_
,
, ; --' ' + '-----. i I -r-- '• 1 i 1
!
_ 3 0,.,,,_ ! i
1,---. - 1 ! • i ' i
-4--4- ....-,--..---;. 1
1 ‘ I
I -- ----I-
I
1 !
-
...........:
-
...... I 1 I
,........
, i 1
' I
0 ' -- I
I ,
•-, A .___.... , —
I
: I
_ . , i
. -.-• . -- --
1
T__.__ .„_..._ _ _,. •
rl i g (i io , It , \.2.. t , 0- S Lii s- , 6. 7 . , •
. . .
i 1 ,
• : , _ r-- ____
. ,
---- .. • A .,. , , ; . ______________ __._.
-11-
_4)
.. ,..... ., ,
- -,-, -r ?_tc..\.€_(-1- VC CA--t-t rya c.) i
• ,
1. CD 1 .1 1:7-o+oi, ',Ekico_rs\.ck'
. _p _..-...) -----
--:-----,---- - _:.. _ ______. ._ • • ____ ,__ • . _4._ .._ _L _ _ -____I______S‘',..1.,1&S . _
i .
_ ,, _ , I 1 —4---1. 4—— ! I 1-----!---1-1 ! ! --1,—;, 1---4 !- : • 7_. i 1 ___+.. f,
t i 1
#!, 1 i I ! i : 11 ;. 11 ; 11 ; L___i___ 1 ._4_ __• _L___i_ __,.__1_ ; 1 ! !_. 3 +! , 1 i 1----1---7-- I'—
iilli I —I- • ; 11 ! ; , t
;
I ) , t , ; -e.CS', — -I-ro&...--,--,0 r i I i ' ' • —1, ; I
ii
1
__I ! '-----1 • T-- I ' I I i 1 , —7-- I
1 ' I 1 1 I
___i _. .,. , 3
C)t f' •1_CL___ _ . ! 1 ' 1 i I ! i
r I 1
t I ,
i I ,i,
-- ----- 1• — -4-- 4--
, . ; ! t ! • i 11 I, ! ,.
—; ii
1 • ,
-.-- .. . —4 .-:-.. ,...._
i , 1
1___;__ t__ .;_._ ___.i....__i, ; .4 f_. + c i.
i • 1 ' cii ' l ; ; ; ;
.______,____L_ i 1 . _44. __L__ L_ • !__ _L ! 4. .44 _4.____ !,. 4 _7 1 — ..4_ i ,__ ..,,___! i____ . , • 4.___
' mi . i ' • t t
! t i 1 ! ijilitii i ! i'p-1 ! .i, i i I 1 i t ! , _1_ 11111 i I i t •
• ! i • t
I li I 1 1
.
11111 ' ; i
tic , ' t • ti ti i i • — ' t -— 1 ----
I 1
_ _L___I 1___ 1._ 1; .L__;_. ___, I 1 _1 ; I
' 4.11•11.11.1 1 1 1 ' i 1
i1 ;
-..-.--,— -1-.- ....---..'
; . , I I
1 . i T ,— 1 I il ! i ;
—___. ' " i ; ; ! i i -- 1 ; 1 ! ! ! i
; . ;
— 1 ; ; I / -".- I '""'"" --!-- 7-- c ----1---!!! 1 'I --T
1 , . 11 • 1 ' i . I ,
0, : .. ---i---,----- ; , • ----4-- _ .....1--- , . 1 , i .. ...„..._
iliii ,
, 1 , i ! ; i
-...-F--4 a-. •—•• ...ow* — —4— 1 1 7-- f--i--
• ---- '
i
_
_____ —;-- — —
-1
,, it.____,_
, .
i ?`• ; 1 ' to ' II ___,_ /.2-- .
I c •-• I 3 ! it 1 ....5- ' -4, __ _7_1. _L 1 ! 1 ; ' i
_
, 7 I ' i • iic ili
_ i_____ _ -1—!--
; , ___ ____•
1 ;
I
i1 : ! ' !
,
_; __1 ; •
; ICI ;
___.• _. 4_4 ____4_4.__4___I__ ____ ' 1 t2 3 -T-_,2„,
. ._ . .. _ •,.. __, ,. : i- •,,_
r ..• •A 4,11.,er-) : 6
1_, , Un Cx'%•.C..40 k.t', 1‘1.‘)L.„
7--- • ; !, 7'
i cu4 'C4.r7; \IA 4SV-L&C.
I ; ,
, ,
1 ! ' ;
i; i ; ! Q I
_,_. ---_.L— , I--
-- 1 _ i 4--•---1—
i ; i it
it i .
__. ! . .1. t L L .LLL. ' —L —4—
--- —
,
1 —r---1--1-- —1---1----1;—1— 1
c !
i i , ; ; , • • ! _, t ; ...! _t_. _-1 _ ___
_4. .,----•!---' ; j I i----1---i— ; — ___, ; c
—!----- ' •
! ; .4 ; c c • ; I j
1 ! i i ' , i I 1 i
i ; i 1 1 1 I
1 • 4 I --' '— "-- 1 • ' ' I. --,.. ' 1
--r-- --,-.-—t----•—
L7 IC) .1,4- D o " I; ' ''
1 .
F.. iiL. i 1 I I 1 i
1. ; , iiiIIIII
! i ,
,
1_ _!, i ! d
! •
i
; 1 ; 1 ! 11 ; ! : ! ; : ; --, —;-----F—r---7--
; • ;
;;,----7--1-;;.0------1---!:---', ---t--r—r----,
. t, -t--.4 _!_ 1 ,i i •
1 l• 41: i
' I i • i : I
1 .--- -21-- 1 — T—
, -I---
;
-4- 4-- I
; • ; •4-! (.4 ; i11111 ; ; , 1 1 1 ; 1 ; ;
. ; 111i1
! i : !__Itlit
-t-t
1 1 1 1
----44--
. t
0 !
--t- i•-- I-- 4-- _ . . -4---1, :
. ,
i .......-. t t I
t t '
--- - i-- i
-- _
i t--
I i. 0 .• 1
..t...
i 4 ' ro ' // ' I - / a. ' .3 I/
_
;
i
---"" i . I .
_ ,Ne—, I —,„) I ---i- 4— - — 1— --1-
1?'-4.1/.- . -"-:',)-c_.;,‘.‘• , ..\--0 .1 Yi aki ; .... L :
• .
..,_ .• . ,
, e...r,...0-•(_,,, ie,A et_t_rs II ,0; -er-e 0Y ic-y•-•-,!
. • , _
...1 ...i
t/ 1-1.;cte._e.s..,(A ••ck •-q),,-, r,, ,4 it; .___41\r ,, .., .., 1,,,, ,_ ___ed
t t
_—_-- - -_----2._—7—--- — -r- . ___ __tit,t____ti_ . t-r _ t .t.
i '1 .....---
1 n•-3;•;;.3..-"P.A.-721 t
TABLE 1
,
• ORIGINAL PROPOSAL PRESENTED TO TOWN MEETING, 1979
LEXINGTON MINI-BUS
BASIC OPERATING STATISTICS
4 Buses , 8 Routes , 8 hours I day, 6 days I week
I Chaircar, 8 hours I week
FARES
I-5 free, 6-10 I0¢ , 11-64 25¢ , 65-over 10¢
chaircar 25¢ in town , $1.00 elsewhere
GROSS OPERATING COSTS
Buses $12.001hou r $119,808
less 7 holidays -2,632
Chaircar 3,000
Coordinator 7,500
Promotion 5,p00
Total Gross Costs $132,676
INCOME
Fares - 160 000 riders per year
65% at 25¢ $26,000
35% at 10¢ 5,600
Chaircar fares 500
Advertising I ,000
Total Income $33,100
NET OPERATING COST $99,576
LEXINGTON'S COST PER YEAR $49,788
MBTA's COST PER YEAR $49,788
Table A, 1
LEXINGTON MINI-BUS Fiscal 1980
BASIC OPERATING STATISTICS as amended
12 hours/day rslday weekdays
4 Buses , 8 Routes ,
8 hours Saturdays
I Chaircar , 8 hours l week
FARES
under 6 l0¢, 6-64 25(t, over 65 IO¢
chai roar 25(1 in town , $1.00 elsewhere
GROSS OPERATING COSTS
Buses $12.00lhour $ 165,696
Chaircar 3,000
Coordinator 7,500
Promotion & Administration 5,000
Total Gross Costs $181 ,196
INCOME
Fares - 205,000 riders per year
65% at 25$ $33,312
35% at IN 7,175
Chaircar fares 500.
Advertising 1 ,000
Total Income $41 ,987
NET OPERATING COST $139,209
LEXINGTON'S COST PER YEAR $89,209
MBTA's COST PER YEAR $ 50,000
•
Table ,A.
LEXINGTON MINI-BUS Fiscal 1980
BASIC OPERATING STATISTICS projected as of Oct. 1979
12 hours I day weekdays
4 Buses , 8 Routes ,
8 hours Saturdays
I Chaircar, 8 hours I week
FARES
under 6 100, 6-64 250 , over 64 100
chaircar 250 in town , $1.00 elsewhere
GROSS OPERATING COSTS
M
Buses $ 15.39lhour $ 217,110A,
Chaircar 3,000
Coordinator 7,540
Promotion & Administration 5.000
Total Gross Costs $232=,610
INCOME
Fares - projected - - $50,000
Passes _ 15,000
Chaircar fares 500
Advertising 2,000
Total Income $67,500
NET OPERATING COST $165,100
LEXINGTON'S COST PER YEAR ' $90,000
MBTA's COST PER YEAR ' $60,000
r includes extra Burlington bus Saturdays and 3 school holidays
Table A. 3
4
LEXINGTON MINI -BUS Fiscal 1981
BASIC OPERATING STATISTICS proposed
hours I day weekdays
4 Buses , 8 Routes ,
8 hours Saturdays
I Chaircar, 8 hours I week
FARES
under 6 15(t , 6-64 30$ , over 64 15¢
chaircar 25(t in town , $1.00 elsewhere
GROSS OPERATING COSTS
Buses $17. 70 /hour $250,526
Chaircar 3,000
Coordinator 7,500
Promotion & Administration
Total Gross Costs $266,026
INCOME
Fares - $78,000
C ha i rca r fares 500
Advertising 2,500
Total Income $81 ,000
NET OPERATING COST $185,026
LEXINGTON'S COST PER YEAR $100,000
MBTA's COST PER YEAR $60,000-
Includes extra Burlington bus plus one extra weekday in fiscal 1981
Reduced service not factored in.
-.'--
TALE 2
LEXPRESS BUDGET
OPERATING COSTS 1980 as 1980 projected 1981
Amended 1-Nov-1979 Proposed
Buses 165,696 217,110 250,526
Chaircar 3,000 3,000 3,000
Coordinator 7,500 7,500 7,500
Promotion & Admin 5,000 5,000 5,000
Total Gross Costs 181,196 232,610 266,026
INCOME
15,000(passes)
Fares 40,487 50,000 80,000
Chaircar Fares 500 500 500
Advertising 1,000 2,000 2,500
Total Income 41,987 67,500 83,000
NET OPERATING COST 139,209 165,100 183,026
META 50,000 60,000 60,000
LEXINGTON 90,000 90,000 100,000
BALANCE 791 (15,100) (23,026)
Increased Burlington fare 5,000 6,000
One hour reduced service 9,234(30 wks) 17,983
BALANCE (866) 957
I
I