Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRexburg Bus System ResearchRexburg Bus System The BYU-Idaho chapter of the Jefferson Public Policy Society is interested in the development of a bus system in Rexburg that would serve the transportation needs of both students and the permanent residents of Rexburg. We feel that a bus system would be in the best interest of the school and the community as it would provide more mobility to students and Rexburg residents. We believe that increased mobility will have many benefits including; reduced traffic on roads, reduced traffic and parking congestion around the BYU-Idaho campus, reduced risk to pedestrians, and increased economic activity by increasing access to business centers. We believe that a coordinated effort between citizens, students, the City of Rexburg and the University can be highly beneficial at a relatively low cost to both the administration and users of a public bus system. We looked at Bozeman, Mt, a city with similar characteristic to Rexburg (ie. local University and population). According to US census data, Bozeman, MT has a population of 38,695 (US Census). Bozeman is also home to Montana State University – Bozeman (MSU). According the MSU website there were 14,102 students in the spring 2014 semester, BYU-Idaho reported 15,625 students enrolled during the winter 2014 semester on its website. In 2006 a local nonprofit, the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) and the Associated Students of Montana State University (ASMSU) developed and implemented a plan to enhance the transit system for the Bozeman community and the MSU student body. From this partnership the Streamline bus system was created, and since 2006 has been seen as a huge success in the community (CTA). According the a 2012 business plan developed for Streamline by Current Transportation Solutions, Missoula, MT, ridership form 2006 to 2012 increased by over 300 percent. Streamline’s business development plan highlights the fact that the University is the cornerstone of Bozeman, and the area’s largest employer. BYU-Idaho is the cornerstone of economic growth in Rexburg, and one of its largest employers as well. Streamline reports that 63 percent of their users are students, faculty and staff of MSU. A bus system also reduces the number of cars on the road and provides transportation for individuals and families who do not have a personal vehicle. 52 percent of Streamline’s ridership reported that they do not have a car, while 41 percent of riders who own cars choose the public bus system (Business plan). Reduction of CO2 emissions for the first ten months of 2009 were estimated at just over 1 million pounds of CO2, because of the reduction of cars on the city streets (Business plan). The benefits to the community are clear. For Rexburg, a bus system would benefit the community in a similar way that the Streamline bus system has benefited the Bozeman community. The question of feasibility is dependent on the cost. Yes a bus system would be great, but how much is it going to cost the community and the riders? Streamline provides a fare-free service, and research suggests that a fare-free service is actually more cost effective (Business plan). There are many programs available to communities to fund the implementation of a community bus system. A 2012 report on transportation systems in rural America identified seven different federal formula grants and six other competitive grants geared toward implementation of transit systems in rural communities around the United States. The Idaho Transportation Department provides funding through a number of programs, including the VIP program which was created to provide necessary funding for vehicle upgrade, such as making buses that are handicap accessible. These state programs are aimed at improving public transportation in rural communities like Rexburg (ITD). Additionally private non-profit groups can be a source of funding such as the United Way, which has partnered with Streamline (CTA). Funding for the Streamline bus system was provided through a combination of federal and local government funding, and private funding. In addition funding can, and should provided by student organizations and the University. We realize that University employees and students will likely make up a majority of ridership, and therefore should accept some of the associated costs. The students at MSU, as well as the University provide $90,000 worth of funding for the implementation of the Streamline bus system. The Streamline business plan, created in 2012, provides projected fixed-route cost allocation figures for their fixed-route service. These costs are summarized in figure 1. Given the size of Rexburg, we suggest that no more than four, and no less than two fixed bus routes could serve the interests of the community. Using google earth we came up with two hypothetical routes, both were less than five miles roundtrip. According to the cost allocation model in figure 1, it would cost approximately $161,000 per year to operate a fixed-route bus system within the city of Rexburg. Our calculation are based on our hypothetical routes, running a six day 7:00am – 6:00pm service with three trips per hour (every 20 min). Figure 1/ We hope that this research will shed some light on a great opportunity: improving mobility in a rapidly growing city. We hope our work can pave the way for more thorough research into the feasibility of a bus system to serve the citizens and students of Rexburg. Sources Community Transportation Association, (May 2012). Putting Transit to Work in Main Street America. Reconnecting America. Retrieved from: http://web1.ctaa.org/webmodules/webarticles/articlefiles/201205 ruralfinal.pdf. Current Transportation Solutions, Missoula, Montana, (January 6, 2013). Streamline 2012 Business Plan. Retrieved from: http://static.squarespace.com/static/52f124e8e4b03e1f2f5548ca/t/535910b4e4b09312 a903b931/1398345908659/Bozeman%20Business%20Plan%20-%20Final%203.pdf. United States Census Bureau. (2010). State and County quick facts, Bozeman, MT. Retrieved from: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/30/3008950.html. Idaho Transportation Department. (2014). ITD funding programs. Retrieved from: http://i-way.org/Mobility%20Funding/itd-funding.