AGENDA #6b

 

BUDGET WORKING PAPER

 

TO:                  W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

FROM:            Mary Lou Kuschatka, Transportation Director

                       

SUBJECT:       Report on Provision of Bus Service to High School

 

DATE:             April 30, 2003

 

INTRODUCTION

 

This memorandum responds to a Council request at the March 5, 2003 Council Meeting for the Manager to provide information about bus service that could be provided to Chapel Hill High School and Seawell School Road.  

 

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

 

On March 5, a Council member asked the Manager to bring back a report on a new bus route that would provide service to Chapel Hill High School.  Bus service was provided to Chapel Hill High School in 1998 and 1999 by way of the Cross Town Connector route.  This route was discontinued due to low ridership.

 

Bus service is provided to East Chapel Hill High on the T Route.  East Chapel Hill High School is located at the end of the line on the T Route.  The High School is served beginning at 6:15 a.m. and ending at 11:30 p.m. (7:18 p.m. on reduced service) with 25 daily trips.

 

Contact was made with Dr. Mary Ann Hardebeck, Principal of Chapel Hill High School to discuss the potential bus route to the high school.  The time period that is the first priority for bus service is in the morning.  Dr. Hardebeck indicated that service beginning at 7:00 a.m. would be desirable but the 7:30 a.m. trip is critical for the students who want to take an additional class in the arts.  An 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. trip would serve students, faculty, and staff for the 8:45 a.m. start of the school day.  Dr. Hardebeck indicated that service at 4:00 p.m. would be desirable as school is out at 3:35 p.m. but the most critical trips in the afternoon would be at 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to provide transportation for students that need to stay after school.  Dr. Hardebeck made it clear that the 2 most critical trips for service would be 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

 

COST

 

According to the memorandum of understanding for transit services between the Town of Chapel Hill, the Town of Carrboro, and the University, the partner that requests new service is responsible for payment for the first year of service.  The Town of Chapel Hill would be responsible for the first year payment.

 

·        If we provide 4 morning trips, at 7:00, 7:30, 8:00, and 8:30 a.m. and 4 afternoon trips at 4:00, 4:30, 5:00,and 5:30 p.m., the cost for the first year would be (3.7 hours/day X 230 days X $56/hour) $47,600.

·        If we provide 3 morning trips, at 7:30, 8:00, and 8:30 a.m. and 3 afternoon trips at 4:30, 5:00, and 5:30 p.m., the cost for the first year would be (2.7 hours/day X 230 days X $56/hour) $34,700.

·        If we provide 1 morning trip at 7:30 a.m. and 1 afternoon trip at 5:30 p.m. the cost for the first year would be (1hour/day X 230 days X $56/hour) $12,900.

 

This service would be provided with one of the smaller 15 passenger Champion buses and would not impact the peak hour bus requirement.