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Source: The Sun, Yuma, Ariz.mini storageOct. 04--Declining funds and rising costs could put the "squeeze" on the Yuma County Area Transit public bus system, according to consultants working on the five-year Short Range Transit Plan.With this trend, Michael Setty, principal at PublicTransit.us, and Jarred Walker of Jarrett Walker and Associates, noted that the Yuma County Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority, which operates YCAT, will have to prioritize either ridership or coverage."A ridership goal will choose its markets, just as a business does. It will deploy more frequent service -- many buses on each line -- but focusing only on the highest-density markets where the conditions are most favorable to high ridership," Walker noted. "A coverage goal will focus on getting a little bit of service to everyone, including at low densities where low ridership is the predictable outcome. The goal here is not ridership, but maximizing the number of people who have access to some service, regardless of how much they use it."About 70 percent of the YCAT's service currently reflects a ridership goal.Walker identified why the existing service isn't more useful to citizens: People see it as a "complex" and one-way service, the 60-minute frequencies are too far apart, and there's a lack of timed connection between San Luis and Yuma and other routes."Look more closely at the one-way loops," Walker pointed out. "You can get there, but you can't get back, or not by the same path. You have to compare several route schedules to figure out how to make a trip."How can YCAT increase ridership at the same cost? The consultants recommend shifting the priority further toward ridership at the expense of coverage. This would result in more useful service (two-way, more frequent) where demand is high, no service where demand is low and a small number of existing riders who will be upset.The Foothills, for example, has such small demand that routes could be scrapped. Nevertheless, Walker, said, it would affect people's l儲存ves, resulting in a "roomful of angry people."For higher productivity at a somewhat higher cost, the consultants suggest investing another all-day bus for hourly service or an additional two or three buses for half-hourly service on the strongest segments, such as the San Luis-Yuma, Yuma malls and medical routes.They recommend designing all routes to run two ways, which they termed as a "massive improvement in usefulness and simplicity."They also suggest timing connections at all key points, such as downtown, Walmart and Cocopah Casino.The consultants are still conducting an online survey for YMPO and YCIPTA to determine where future transit service will best meet the needs of the Yuma County community and to make service more attractive to more people, both bus users and non-users.The survey will identify the existing transportation gaps, develop improvement priorities and identify other transportation issues that need addressing.For most people this survey will take about 10 to 15 minutes to complete. To take the survey, go to .surveymonkey.com/s/S2TNV29.In other business:--Ruben Conchola was named employee of the month for July and Marissa Hernandez as the employee of the month for August. Conchola, while on duty, called in a motorist who appeared to be unconscious while driving. Hernandez "acted calmly and efficiently when a bus lost power in a potentially dangerous environment."--Agreements have been executed with vRide and Enterprise Rideshare to implement YCAT Vanpool through a $36,000 grant. The program has kicked off with about 10 vans through vRide. It's available to anyone who forms a vanpool that originates, travels through or ends in Yuma County. YCIPTA will subsidize $300 of the van lease costs per month.Mara Knaub can be reached at mknaub@yumasun.com or (928) 539-6856. Find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/YSMaraKnaub or Twitter at @YSMaraKnaubCopyright: ___ (c)2013 The Sun (Yuma, Ariz.) Visit The Sun (Yuma, Ariz.) at .yumasun.com Distributed by MCT Information Services儲存倉