Morrisville Public Transportation Study

Service & Financial Plan

Fixed-Route Alternative

Fixed-route public transportation service operates along a fixed path with a set schedule. Customers access the service at designated stops, which are located along the fixed path. This service is very consistent but does not provide service outside of the designated path. The studied fixed-route alternative focuses on serving areas which will generate the most consistent customer activity, but does not provide service in many of the dispersed neighborhoods or provide front door access to employment at major commercial destinations (Figure 19). The studied

alternative includes two routes, each with a proposed frequency of 60 minutes, operating from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. This proposed span and frequency is based on an assumed operating budget of $841,000 annually for fixed-route and ADA paratransit. The alternative also assumed an additional annual cost of $172,000 for vehicle rental costs. In addition to the operating costs, the fixed-route alternative assumed a one-time capital costs of $3.7 million for stop locations and software. Inbound, the Orange Route would operate from the Walmart on Shiloh Glen Drive, and connect to the Regional Transit Center, before heading south through Perimeter Park, passing Wake Tech RTP campus, and then continuing along Town Hall Drive, and Chapel Hill Road to Park West Village. Inbound, the Purple Route would originate in Research Triangle Park along Kit Creek Road. The route would head south along Davis Drive past McCrimmon Corners and Bethany Village, before turning east on Morrisville-Carpenter Road, and then south on Chapel Hill Road to Park West Village. The proposed span and vehicle requirements are shown in Table 7 below. Table 7 | Studied Fixed-Route Service

Service Span

Frequency

Number of Vehicles

Minutes Between Buses

AM (6 AM – 8 AM)

Midday (8 AM – 3 PM)

PM (4 PM – 6 PM)

Late (6 PM – 9 PM)

Revenue Hours

Weekday

6 AM – 9 PM

60

3

3

3

3

Orange Route

Saturday

6 AM – 9 PM

60

3

3

3

3

Sunday

6 AM – 9 PM

60

3

3

3

3

Weekday

6 AM – 9 PM

60

3

3

3

3

Purple Route

Saturday

6 AM – 9 PM

60

3

3

3

3

Sunday

6 AM – 9 PM

60

3

3

3

3

The fixed-route alternative does not provide its own required ADA paratransit. As a result, Morrisville would need to provide curb-to-curb paratransit service up to ¾ mile beyond the fixed route to any individual with a qualifying disability, protected under the ADA. This increases the total cost of the fixed- route alternative by 10 percent. This alternative is ultimately not recommended because of the higher cost and the limited geographic coverage. Additionally, utilizing the preferred alternative, smart shuttle, will identify the potential for fixed-route market demand in the future prior to making significant investments into the fixed-route alternative.

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