Question: What would be the cost to increase the frequency of DASH bus line 32 to the following headways:
• 30 mins between 7am and 9:30am, and between 3:30pm and 5:00pm on weekdays
• 15 mins between 7am and 9:30am, and between 3:30pm and 5:00pm on weekdays
• 30 mins 7 days a week (current hours) • 30 mins 5 days a week (current hours)
What would be the cost to increase the frequency of DASH bus line 32 only between landmark and Van Dorn Metro to the following headways:
• 30 mins between 7am and 9:30am, and between 3:30pm and 5:00pm on weekdays
• 15 mins between 7am and 9:30am, and between 3:30pm and 5:00pm on weekdays
• 30 mins 7 days a week (current hours) • 30 mins 5 days a week (current hours)
What would be the cost to increase the frequency of DASH bus line 32 to 15 mins headways between landmark and Van Dorn Metro and 30 mins for the rest of the route - 5 days and 7 days? Also, how does this route measure in terms of utilization and equity scores? (Councilman Elnoubi)
Response:
What would be the cost to increase the frequency of DASH bus line 32 to the following headways:
- 30 mins between 7am and 9:30am, and between 3:30pm and 5:00pm on weekdays
Staff Response: Line 32 already runs every 30 minutes during these weekday peak periods. No additional funding needed.
- 15 mins between 7am and 9:30am, and between 3:30pm and 5:00pm on weekdays
Staff Response: This scenario would increase the annual DASH subsidy by $410,000, however, additional peak buses would be needed for implementation, which will not be available until FY 2027. This would also create an unusual imbalance on the route between peak service (every 15 minutes) and off-peak service (every 60 minutes).
- 30 mins 7 days a week (current hours)
Staff Response: This scenario would improve Line 32 service from every 60 minutes to every 30 minutes during middays, evenings and weekends, which would increase the annual DASH subsidy by $850,000.
- 30 mins 5 days a week (current hours)
Staff Response: This scenario would improve Line 32 service from every 60 minutes to every 30 minutes during middays, evenings, but not weekends. This would increase the annual DASH subsidy by $460,000.
What would be the cost to increase the frequency of DASH bus line 32 only between landmark and Van Dorn Metro to the following headways:
- 30 mins between 7am and 9:30am, and between 3:30pm and 5:00pm on weekdays
Staff Response: Line 32 already runs every 30 minutes during these weekday peak periods along the full route. No additional funding needed.
- 15 mins between 7am and 9:30am, and between 3:30pm and 5:00pm on weekdays
Staff Response: This scenario would increase annual DASH subsidy by $210,000, however, additional peak buses would be needed for implementation, which will not be available until FY 2027. This would also create an unusual imbalance on the route between peak service (every 15 minutes) and off-peak service (every 60 minutes).
- 30 mins 7 days a week (current hours)
Staff Response: This scenario would improve Line 32 service from every 60 minutes to every 30 minutes during middays, evenings, and weekends, but only along the western segment between Landmark and Van Dorn Metro. This would increase the annual DASH subsidy by $460,000.
- 30 mins 5 days a week (current hours)
Staff Response: This scenario would improve Line 32 service between Landmark and Van Dorn Metro from every 60 minutes to every 30 minutes during weekday middays and evenings. No improvements would be made to service levels on weekends, or on weekdays for passengers traveling between Van Dorn Metro and King Street Metro. This improvement would increase the annual DASH subsidy by $240,000.
What would be the cost to increase the frequency of DASH bus line 32 to 15 mins headways between landmark and Van Dorn Metro and 30 mins for the rest of the route - 5 days and 7 days?
Staff Response: This scenario would improve Line 32 to run every 15 minutes during weekday peaks along the western segment. It would also increase off-peak service along the entire route from every 60 minutes to every 30 minutes. This scenario would the increase annual DASH subsidy by roughly $1.1 million but would not be possible until additional buses arrive for FY 2027.
Also, how does this route measure in terms of utilization and equity scores?
Staff Response: Line 32 typically ranks in the bottom half of DASH routes in terms of average weekday ridership. On a typical weekday, it will draw roughly 600 boardings for an average of 16 boardings per revenue hour. This is likely due in part to the relatively low service levels that make the route more difficult to rely upon.
In terms of equity, the route runs through many different communities along the South Van Dorn Street and Eisenhower Avenue corridors. As a whole, the route is relatively neutral on equity scores, basically mirroring the citywide minority and low-income percentages. For the western segment that runs between Landmark and Van Dorn Metro, the equity scores are markedly higher as a result of more diverse neighborhoods along North Ripley Street, Holmes Run Parkway and South Pickett Street. The residents living along this segment are more diverse and report lower incomes than the citywide averages.
A brief summary table of the potential Line 32 improvement scenarios is included below.
