Implementation Plan

The existing and future analysis conducted for the CCATD service area and surrounding communities, and the subsequent public and stakeholder outreach, informed the recommendations provided in the implementation plan. The figure illustrates an overview of the implementation plan including short-, mid-, and long-term actions. Following are the short-term, mid-term, and long-term actions:

Short-Term Actions (2020-2024) include recommended service changes that were high priorities for stakeholders, low cost to implement, pandemic-related, and improved connectivity to other providers. These recommendations address significant unmet needs, including making the deviated fixed-route model permanent, addressing future transit and intercity demand, and building stakeholder support. Fifteen buses are eligible for replacement during this time period and $75,000 per year is recommended to be budgeted from FY 20/21 to FY 24/25 to replace three buses per year. The shot-term improvements are recommended to be implemented over the next few years. Other actions include:

• Service Changes: Short-term changes are described in the Service Plan
• Passenger Counters: CCATD currently has grant funding available for implementation of Ecolane to count number of passengers by stop locations
• Rider Tools and Information via Website and Mobile App: This technology has moderate potential to increase ridership and is relatively low cost to implement. After real-time vehicle location information becomes available, these tools would make it available and useful to riders
• Bus Stop Improvements: The superstop, improved signage at all stops, covered shelters at higher-volume stops, and benches at medium-volume stops have good potential to increase ridership by creating a more pleasant rider experience and increasing CCATD’s visibility in the community- These are low to moderate cost items. It is recommended that CCATD pursue grant funding for stop improvements and shelters
• Low-Floor Vehicles: Low-floor vehicles improve travel time by reducing the time required for passengers to get and off the bus, particularly passengers using mobility devices. Low-floor vehicles have minimal to no price differential from other vehicles and are recommended to be purchased as vehicles are replaced or the fleet size is increased

Mid-Term Actions (2025–2030) are those that were moderate to high priorities for stakeholders, had low to medium cost, and improved connectivity and access. These recommendations serve commute demand, provide service to transit-supportive areas not currently served, and address general transit demand growth resulting from population, employment, and land use changes.

• Service Changes: As described in the Service Plan, mid-term actions include providing weekend service, adding a new Bay Area route, and increased service span and frequency.
• Real-time Vehicle Arrival Information: Automatic vehicle location (AVL) technology tracks bus locations and communicates the information to the dispatcher. Automatic passenger counters provide data about where and how many passengers get on and off the bus. Both technologies would help CCATD manage and plan operations better. In addition, AVL data are a necessary first step to providing real-time vehicle location and estimated arrival time information to passengers, which improves the rider experience. These items were ranked as a top priority by online survey respondents and are relatively low cost to implement
• Continued Bus Stop Improvements
• Continued Fleet Replacement

Long-Term Actions (2031–2040) are those that were moderate to high priorities for stakeholders, had medium to high costs to implement, provided moderate to higher potential for new ridership, increased connectivity, and increased service availability and frequency. While many of these actions were high priorities for stakeholders and offered the opportunity for higher ridership, the increased frequency alternatives are better suited for longer-term implementation in order to allow current buses to increase their utilization (buses generally have not reached seating capacity) and to allow time for capital bus purchases.

• Service Changes: As discussed in the Service Plan, long-term actions include increased frequency, increased dial-a-ride services, and continuation of short- and mid-term improvements.
• Continued Bus Stop Improvements
• Continued Fleet Replacement

Both the mid- and long-term actions will require additional funding.