AGENDA #5a

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:        Information Report – Update on Request for Retail Shuttle Bus During Holiday Season

DATE:             October 23, 2000

This is the second information report regarding work with local retailers to coordinate a retail shopping shuttle bus during the upcoming holidays.  The first report was included in the August 28, 2000 Council agenda (see attached).

DISCUSSION

Since the August 28, 2000 information report, four additional meetings have been held between staff, interested retailers, the Chamber of Commerce, and Chapel Hill – Carrboro Downtown Commission.  During these meetings, the level of support/interest in this project has been more clearly defined, as well as the scope and design of service.  We have also gained approval from the property managers of Eastgate to operate the proposed shuttle service through their property using our newly acquired smaller buses.  At this time, plans for the shopping shuttle include the following:

• Sponsors:  Eastgate, University Mall, and Rams Plaza property management firms, the Chapel Hill – Carrboro Downtown Commission, the Chamber of Commerce.  The Carolina Inn has expressed some interest and could be an additional sponsor.

• Operating Days and Hours:

            Saturday December 2^nd  -   9:00 AM – 7:00 PM (kick off with holiday parade)

            Saturday December 9^th  – 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

            Saturday December 16^th – 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM 

            Sunday   December   3^rd – 12:00 Noon – 6:00 PM

            Sunday   December 10^th -  12:00 Noon – 6:00 PM

            Sunday   December 17^th – 12:00 Noon – 6:00 PM

• Service Frequency:  two buses providing trips every 15-20 minutes

• Route Design: see attached map.

• Operating Cost: Based on two buses operating on the days shown above, the operating cost would be approximately $4,400.  The entire cost will be covered by sponsors.

• Marketing: plans call for development of a common Shopping Shuttle logo that sponsors would use in their individual ads.  The logo would also be used in special signage to mark shuttle stops.  Bus card ads would also be placed in all buses promoting the service.  Although the proposed shuttle is being planned for the holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas, marketing materials will be generic enough to use at other times if this service proves successful.

NEXT STEPS

We look forward to providing this experimental service and will monitor cost and ridership carefully.  We will report results to the Council in January 2001.

ATTACHMENTS

1. August 28, 2000 Memorandum (p. 3).

2.   Shuttle Bus Map (p. 4).