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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.3 Cottage Grove Bus LOOP - Senior Bus Circulator TO: Economic Development Authority FROM: Matt Wolf, Economic Development Specialist DATE: September 6, 2019 RE: Cottage Grove Bus LOOP – Senior Bus Circulator Background In 2017 the City of Cottage Grove conducted its first Business Retention and Expansion Program. One of the key initiatives that came out of the program was the development of transportation options within the community. Initially research was focused on transportation from St. Paul to Cottage Grove and vice versa for the fulfillment of workforce needs in our Business Park. However due to required ridership numbers and route requirements it became apparent that workforce transportation would have to wait until the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations were put in place as part of the Red Rock Corridor project. The research however did point to a need for senior transportation within our community to access retail, health and senior programing services. As a result, the City of Cottage Grove setup a meeting with DARTS a nonprofit organization that provides professional services for older adults. Communities such as Hastings, Stillwater, Lakeville, Edina, West St. Paul and others have used DARTS services to setup once a week transportation loops for seniors in their communities. Discussion The proposed Cottage Grove Bus LOOP is a circulator that is focused towards senior citizens in our community and giving them opportunities to gain access to transportation to medical offices, pharmacies, banks, retail and restaurants. By providing a bus loop senior citizens and members of the community with physical disabilities will have better access to healthy food, social well- being, and the health care segments of Cottage Grove. The objectives of the bus circulator are as follows: 1. Provide a reliable and affordable transportation for residents of Cottage Grove. The primary demographic for the service is older adult residents and the secondary demographic is people with disabilities and low income. 2. Increase foot traffic in our shopping districts. 3. Encourage community interactions. 4. Decrease caregiver burden through enhanced mobility options. In order to provide guidance on forming the route an advisory committee was formed of local senior living facilities and transportation experts. The members were picked due to their knowledge with the local senior community and how to develop a bus circulator around seniors needs in the community. The advisory committee includes: Economic Development Authority September 6, 2019 ALDI Target Hy-Vee Walmart Cub Foods 6995 80th St Page 2 of 4 Senior Center Norris Square 9010 Jamaica Ave S 9300 E Point Dougls Rd 7280 E Point Douglas Rd8400 E Point Douglas Rd8690 E Point Douglas Rd8655 E Point Douglas Rd8240 E Point Douglas Rd 6999 E Point Douglas Rd Legends of Cottage Grove 7920 Hearthside Ave S The Cottages of Cottage Grove Woodland Park Apartments 10:0010:0610:1210:1810:2610:3110:3510:3910:4410:50 11:0011:0611:1211:1811:2611:3111:3511:3911:4411:50 12:0012:0612:1212:1812:2612:3112:3512:3912:4412:50 Janet Hix – DARTS Program Manager Transportation & Home Repair 1:001:061:121:181:261:311:351:391:441:50 2:002:062:122:182:262:312:352:392:442:50 Sheila Holbrook-White – Washington County Mobility Corrdinator Ben Van Vooren – Norris Square Campus Administrator Bailey Christenson – The Legends of Cottage Grove Community Manager Barbara Dacy – Washington County CDA Executive Director Jane Goers – School District 833 District Program Senior Center Manager Sally Anderson – Community Thread Executive Director Chris Hetland – City of Cottage Grove Management Assistant A survey was conducted with the help of the Advisory Committee that surveyed 99 senior residents in the Cottage Grove community. Using the input of that survey and the input of the Advisory Committee the bus route, stops, cost, and schedule were determined. Route, Stops and Schedule The Cottage Grove Bus LOOP is tentatively scheduled to start on October 15 and run from 10 am until 3 pm every Tuesday and will have 10 dedicated bus stops along the route. The total cost to ride the bus is $3 for an all-day pass and covers as many stops as desired for the day. Additionally, any rider can request an on-demand stop within .5 miles of the route. This includes all restaurants, medical facilities, retail, and banks along East and West Point Douglas and th within the 80 Street or Jamaica Avenue corridors. The dedicated stops with the time of each stop for the hourly loop include: Economic Development Authority September 6, 2019 Page 3 of 4 Figure 1 Map of Cottage Grove Bus LOOP Route Cost and Sponsors DARTS charges an annual fee of $25,000 to run the once a week loop. How this fee is paid varies from community to community but generally it is done through a combination of municipal support with private sponsors. There are two sponsorship levels a gold level at $5,000 or silver level at $2,500. Staff has reached out to a wide variety of businesses and community organizations to gauge their interest. Currently the Andersen Corporation Community Foundation/Renewal by Andersen have agreed to be a sponsor at the gold level and Allina Health has agreed to become a sponsor at the silver level. Additionally, staff is still having positive discussion on potential sponsorship with businesses and organizations that include Aldi, Fairview/Health East, and Lion’s Club. It is estimated that the City of Cottage Grove would be paying between $10,000 to $15,000 to finance the bus circulator in 2020. The funds are a part of the proposed 2020 budget that would come from the Economic Development Trust Fund. Letter of Support Request As part of launching a circulator in Cottage Grove for 2020. DARTS has requested a letter of support for their application to the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s 5310 program. Economic Development Authority September 6, 2019 Page 4 of 4 The 5310 program offers grant funds that can be used to purchase vehicles to support eligible activities, such as buses that serve senior citizen-based transportation. This letter of support would be used by DARTS as part of their application to the program to fund potential new buses as their services continue to expand. Recommendation Support the Cottage Grove Bus LOOP as it relates to costs, route, and schedule to start on October 15, 2019 and run through September of 2020. Attached Bus LOOP Survey Results Marketing Plan Schedule Letter of Support 5310 Program The City of Cottage Grove and other civic partners are teaming up with DARTS to provide a new transportation service for residents of Cottage Grove. The proposed circulator bus service offers an alternative to other options in that it make scheduled stops at selected local businesses and offers the flexibility of requesting a stop nearby. The service would run one day per week, making five one-hour loops. Please help us design the most effective service for the Cottage Grove community, by completing this short survey. We thank you in advance for your participation. 1. Would you or someone close to you be interested in a Cottage Grove bus circulator that runs one day per week, making five one-hour loops. a. Yes=76% b. No=18% 2. What is the zip code at your current residence? 55016=87% 3. Which best describes you? a. 55 or older=94% b. 54 or younger=7% 4. What transportation service features would you like to see on this proposed circulator bus? a. Wheelchair lift-equipped vehicle=22% b. Someone to assist you on and off the vehicle=32% c. Someone to assist you with unloading your bags off the bus=56% d. Other (please specify) 5. How do you currently get around in the community? a. I drive my personal vehicle=70% b. Friend or family gives ride=31% c. Use scooter/walk/bike=5% d. Taxi or Rideshare (Lyft/Uber)=5% e. Other 6. In which city do you usually shop? a. Cottage Grove=88% b. Inver Grove Heights=3% c. Woodbury=35% d. Other 7. Where do you do most of your shopping? a. ALDI=27% e. Online=9% b. Cub=56% f. Target=40% c. Dollar Tree=22% g. Walmart=59% d. Hy-Vee=60% h. Other 8. What five hour block of time would best suit your needs? a. 9am-2pm=22% b. 10am-3pm=51% c. 11am-4pm=18% 9. What day of the week would best suit your needs? a. Monday=19% c. Thursday=32% b. Tuesday=36% d. Friday=19% 10. Where in Cottage Grove do you think the bus should stop? (please circle all that apply) a. Shopping destinations=79% e. Medical offices=62% b. Recreation=12% f. Library=32% c. Restaurants/Coffee Shops=49% g. Other d. Personal Errands=21% 10. What shopping destinations would you like to see on the route? (please circle all that apply) a. ALDI=30% e. Target=56% b. Cub Foods=55% f. Walmart=68% c. Dollar Store=25% g. Other d. HyVee=39% 11. How much would you be willing to pay for an all-you can-ride pass for the day? Average=$3.79 Range=$2-$10 12. Do you use a smartphone? a. Yes=54% b. No=44% Any additional comments or other transportation needs? Thank you for participating in this survey! Cottage Grove Bus LOOP Marketing Plan Action Plan July 29 – City of Cottage Grove Newsletter Article to run in August Newsletter September 3 – Work with SWCTC on Video Promoting the Service September 5 – Norris Square Senior Citizens Meeting September 10 - Cottage Grove EDA Meeting Presentation September 11 – Facebook Post with Route Information September 18 – Cottage Grove City Council Meeting Presentation September 19 – Facebook Post with Update September 19 – Email to Businesses along Bus Stop informing them of Route Approval September 23 – City of Cottage Grove Newsletter Article to run in October Newsletter October 1 – Facebook post of SWCTC video October 3 – Norris Square Senior Citizens Meeting October 7– Press Release to Washington County Bulletin and Pioneer Press October 8 – The Legends of Cottage Grove Senior Citizens Meeting October 8 – Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Web Blast to Members October 15 – Ribbon Cutting/Grand Opening at Senior Center CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE Equal Opportunity Employer 2897 -458-Fax 651 2800 -458-651  emn.govcottagegrov Cottage Grove, Minnesota 55016 12800 Ravine Parkway  September 10, 2019 Tabatha Barrett Director of Social Services and Transportation 1645 Marthaler Lane West St. Paul, MN 55118 Dear Tabatha, This letter is in support of the Section 5310 grant application by DARTS for the purchase of a wheelchair- accessible transit vehicle. This vehicle will be used for several LOOP routes including the Cottage Grove LOOP. The Cottage Grove LOOP will provide an affordable opportunity for older adults to be provided transportation service to local stores and other amenities. This weekly service also fosters connections between the riders and helps keep older adults connected to their community. The City of Cottage Grove partners with DARTS to provide this transportation service in the Cottage Grove area and strongly supports the DARTS’ grant application for the purchase of an accessible transit vehicle. Sincerely, Myron Bailey Mayor City of Cottage Grove