Route Optimization Initiative:

South County

Tate Coleman, Chairman

A study conducted by the Great Barrington Public Transportation Advisory Committee

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This Route Optimization Project is intended to address:

• 30 years of changes in the community
• Decentralization
• Population, employment and activity centers moving away from Downtowns
• Customer Feedback
• System Performance
• Stagnant/Declining Ridership

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Current Situation:

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Low ridership

• 4.52 riders per hour on Route 21 (Great Barrington to Lee) in FY 2017 (down from 6.63/hr in FY 2014)
• 9.52 riders per hour on Route 2 (Lee to Pittsfield- with similar demographics etc.) (down from 12.6/hr in FY 2014)
• This is a part of a systemwide and national trend of decreasing public transit ridership
• The statewide average for rural fixed-route transportation systems is 16.52 riders per hour, and the nationwide rural fixed-route public transit average is 14.92 riders per hour.

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Inadequate Advertising

• Visitors, residents, students and prospective employees have little to no means to know or learn about the bus system
• There is little signage (only some in Gt. Barrington since July 2018)

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Ridership Deterrents

• Lengthy travel times (e.g., 4X travel time Pittsfield-Great Barrington- bus vs. car; 5X travel time Stockbridge-Lenox; 4X travel time Great Barrington-Stockbridge)

Framework for New System

• Service that is more
• Frequent
• Predictable
• Direct
• Increase Span of Service
• Decrease overall travel times (Goal: No more than 60% additional travel time vs. car for distances over 10 miles)
• Design schedules to facilitate better connections
• Meet the needs of a greater part of a changing community

Optimization Objectives

• Not to increase annual operating budget by any significant amount (by reallocating current resources)
• One time implementation cost (for bus stop signs, shelters)
• Increase ridership

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• Annual recurring revenue increase
• Create a ‘virtuous’ cycle instead of a ‘vicious’ cycle
• Reinvest increased revenue from ridership gains into service enhancements
• Provide fully accessible, more frequent and predictable service

New Route: Great Barrington Circulator

• Greater opportunity for additional deviations

• More frequent local service for tourists, trips to town and day-to-day errands

This could serve as a model for future community circulators throughout Berkshire County

New Route: Rapid Bus Line South County

• Provides frequent direct service from Pittsfield to Great Barrington (connecting towns in between as well)
• If distinctly branded (with passenger amenities such as WiFi), bus line has the potential to serve majority of residents/visitors

• Can be marketed as an appealing alternative to the car (travel time is only 5-10 minutes longer from Pittsfield to Great Barrington)
• Running 15 hours per day, it would be more dependable, predictable and direct than current service (expansion of current Route 21X)

This could serve as a model for future rapid bus lines throughout Berkshire County

NEW: Park and Rides

• Utilization of Church parking lots Monday through Saturday as Park and Rides
• Pilot one Park & Ride in Great Barrington in Summer 2020

• Will help attract new riders who may choose to use the new bus lines instead of driving, to work or into town
• Will help to relieve congestion in Downtowns and at cultural attractions (Tanglewood etc.)

This could serve as a model for future park and rides throughout Berkshire County

How Could We Achieve Enhancements Without Adding to Operating Costs?

• Increase schedule coordination
• Better align resources with demand

• Straighten routes
• Re-align circuitous routes with same frequency throughout

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Phase II:

Increase Service Frequency, Increase Coverage and Introduce Workforce Runs

Changes:

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• Pilot 30-minute frequency on R-Line
• Introduce 7AM and 3PM workforce runs to Nursing Homes and Lenox Resorts
• Introduce a seasonal Cultural Loop servicing Housatonic, Glendale, Stockbridge, Lee and Lenox - complemented by a seasonal Resort Loop in the winter to local ski areas (NEW)
• Introduce a Mall Shuttle from Lee Outlets to Berkshire Crossing via Downtown Lee and Lenox on Saturdays, 10 AM - 6 PM
• Pilot service to Sheffield and North/South Egremont

Phase I:

Increase Service in More Developed Areas; Decrease Travel Times

Changes:

• Create a Rapid Bus Line (R-Line) from Gt Barrington-Pittsfield via Lenox and Stockbridge running 5 AM - 10:30 PM every 60 minutes
• Create a frequent Great Barrington Circulator (every 30 minutes)
• Includes service every 30 minutes on the Route 7/7A corridor between Pittsfield and Lenox Town Hall
• Reduce Lenoxdale service; Route 2 services Laurel Lake on alternate trips
• Introduces service to Canyon Ranch, Kimball Farms, Cranwell, Foxhollow and Blantyre
• Reduce travel time between towns
• Increases service frequency (buses arriving/departing every 30 minutes)
• Increase service hours, operating 5 AM - 10:30 PM (from 6:00 AM - 6:15 PM)

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Phase I

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• Route 8 runs from Gt. Barrington Big Y to Price Chopper, every 30 minutes, 6 AM - 9 PM
• Route 21 operates between Gt Barrington and Lee via Housatonic and Stockbridge every 60 minutes, 6 AM - 6 PM (no change from current)
• Route 2 operates between Pittsfield and Lee every 60 minutes, 6 AM - 7 PM (no change from current)
• R-Line runs express from Great Barrington to Pittsfield every 60 minutes, 5 AM - 10 PM (expanded service of Route 21X)
• Route 2 and the R-Line (21X) are staggered as such to provide service every 30 minutes between Lenox Town Hall and Pittsfield Intermodal Center
• Route 21 and the R-Line (21X) are staggered as such to provide service every 30 minutes between Gt Barrington Price Chopper and Big Y

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Route 2 - Lee to Pittsfield Local

Operates as current Route 2 between Lee Outlets and Pittsfield Intermodal Center via Lenoxdale and Lenox, allowing for a 1-seat ride between Lee and Pittsfield

Frequency:

Monday - Friday:

6 AM - 7 PM: Every 60 minutes

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Saturday:

7:30 AM - 6:30 PM: Every 60 minutes (terminates at Walmart via Holmes and Williams every other trip)

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Route 8- Great Barrington Circulator

Streamlines services operating between Great Barrington Big Y and Price Chopper via Fairview Hospital, Simon’s Rock College, Gt Barrington Main St and Price Chopper Plaza

Frequency:

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Saturdays:

7 AM - 9 AM: Every 60 minutes

9 AM - 6 PM: Every 30 minutes

6 PM - 9 PM: Every 60 minutes

Weekdays:

6 AM - 8 AM: Every 60 minutes

8 AM - 6 PM: Every 30 minutes

6 PM - 9 PM: Every 60 minutes

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Destinations Serviced:

• Big Y Supermarket Plaza
• Brookside Manor Senior Housing
• Gt. Barrington Senior Center
• Beechtree Commons Housing Development
• Timberlyn Heights Nursing Home
• Gt. Barrington Healthcare Nursing Home
• Fairview Hospital
• Oakwood Commons Housing Complex
• Simon’s Rock College
• Berkshire Heights Neighborhood
• Gt. Barrington Town Center

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• Gt. Barrington Mason Library
• Gt. Barrington Post Office
• Highland Ave. Housing Development
• Forest Springs Housing Development
• Butternut Ski Resort
• Blue Hill Road Neighborhood
• Hilton Marriott Hotel
• Price Chopper Supermarket Plaza
• Berkshire South Community Center
• Holiday Inn Hotel

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Route 21 - Gt Barrington to Lee Local

Operates as current Route 21 between Great Barrington Price Chopper and Lee Outlets via Housatonic and Stockbridge, allowing for a 1-seat ride between any GB stop and Lee

Frequency:

Monday - Friday:

6 AM - 8 AM: Every 120 minutes

8 AM - 6:30 PM: Every 60 minutes

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Saturday:

7:30 AM - 9:30 AM: Every 120 minutes

9:30 AM - 6:30 PM: Every 60 minutes

R-Line- Gt Barrington to Pittsfield Express

Creates an rapid bus line operating between Downtown Pittsfield to Great Barrington via Lenox and Stockbridge (following current 21X route; becomes Route 8 upon arrival of Price Chopper Great Barrington)

Frequency:

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Monday-Friday:

5 AM - 10:30 PM: Every 60 minutes

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Saturday:

7 AM - 8 PM: Every 60 minutes

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Destinations Serviced:

• Pittsfield Center
• Lenox Stop and Shop
• Price Chopper Shopping Center in Gt. Barrington

and Lenox

• Lenox Commons Shopping Center
• Lenox Center
• Lenox Post Office
• Lenox Library
• Shakespeare and Co. Lenox
• Canyon Ranch
• Blantyre

• Stockbridge Center
• Stockbridge Library
• Stockbridge Post Office
• Monument Mountain High School
• Great Barrington Center
• Great Barrington Mason Library
• Great Barrington Post Office
• Big Y Shopping Centers in Great Barrington and Pittsfield

Phase II

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• R-Line service increase is piloted to operate with a 30-minute headway, 8 AM - 6 PM May - September
• Flex Route F6 *pilot* operates between Big Y GB and North and South Egremont, 7:30 AM - 5 PM
• Flex Route F9 *pilot* operates between Big Y GB and Sheffield, 7:30 AM - 5 PM
• Nursing Home and Resort Workforce Loop is introduced
• Saturday Mall Shuttle is introduced

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Route F6 - Egremont Connector

Creates a new *pilot* demand- response service servicing North and South Egremont with connection service to Great Barrington (timed transfers to/from GB Circulator and R-Line available from Downtown)

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Monday through Friday:

7:30 AM - 5 PM

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Route F9 - Sheffield Connector

Creates a new *pilot* demand- response service servicing Sheffield with connection service to Great Barrington (timed transfers to/from GB Circulator and R-Line available from Downtown)

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Monday through Friday:

7:30 AM - 5 PM

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Nursing Home Workforce Loop

Introduces a workforce route servicing Kimball Farms, Cranwell Resort, Kripalu, Laurel Lake and Canyon Ranch

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Frequency:

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Monday - Friday:

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Operates at 6am (drop-off) and 3pm (pick-up)

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Mall Shuttle

Introduces a weekend mall shuttle between Lee Outlets and Pittsfield Walmart via Downtown Lee, Chapman Corners and Williams Street Plaza

Frequency:

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Saturday:

10 AM - 6 PM: Every 60 minutes

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�Travel Time:

30 minutes Pittsfield Walmart- Lee Premium Outlets

Route 8

Seasonal Cultural Loop

Creates a seasonal Cultural Loop servicing the Norman Rockwell Museum, Chesterwood, Berkshire Botanical Garden, Downtown Stockbridge, The Mount, Canyon Ranch, Kimball Farms, Cranwell, October Mountain, Downtown Lee, Lee Premium Outlets and Stockbridge Main Street with connections to the Great Barrington Circulator in Housatonic

Frequency:

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May - October:

8:50 AM - 5:50 PM: Every 60 minutes

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R-Line

Increases service frequency on the rapid bus line running from Downtown Pittsfield to Great Barrington via Lenox and Stockbridge

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Frequency:

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Monday-Friday:

6 AM - 8 AM: Every 30 minutes

8 AM - 6 PM: Every 30 minutes (every other trip

operates between Lee Outlets and Pittsfield Walmart)

6 PM - 9 PM: Every 60 minutes

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�Travel Time:

30 minutes Walmart- Lee Outlets

Saturday:

7 AM - 9 AM: Every 30 minutes

9 AM - 6 PM: Every 30 minutes (every other trip operates between Lee Outlets and Pittsfield Walmart)

6 PM - 9 PM: Every 60 minutes

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Travel Time:

40 minutes Pittsfield- Gt Barrington Main St

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PROJECT TIMELINE

Public Input period begins

APR 6

Public Transportation Advisory Committee formed

JAN 28

Survey ended

MAR 20

Final report submitted to BRTA

MAY 28

Survey began; distributed to 50+ South County locations plus social media

FEB 1

Draft Report released

APR 1

PROJECT TIMELINE (TENTATIVE)

6-month pilot period of Phase II ends; ridership metrics evaluated

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OCT 2021

Report sent to BRTA; BRTA board reviews findings

MAY 2019

1 year pilot period ends; ridership metrics evaluated. If Phase I is successful, it will be permanently implemented

MAR 2021

If Phase II is successful, it will be permanently implemented (dependent on increased funding)

NOV 2021

Implementation of Phase I for a 1 year pilot period

MARCH 2020

If Phase I is successful, Phase II will be piloted for a 6-month pilot period

MAY 2021

Recommendations for Implementation

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• Run ads in the newspaper and on TV, send postcards to residents and businesses along routes alerting them of new, improved service

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• Provide signage for all local stops and shelters for express stops

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• Create enhanced branding, a route name and passenger amenities (such as WiFi and level boarding) for the Rapid Bus Line

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• Provide specialized evening service to cultural events/performances (e.g. late night service to Tanglewood on Saturdays)

• Make schedules, maps and bus cards readily available at grocery stores, schools, local hotspots

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• Talk with employers about funding subsidized commuter passes-- many businesses always looking for workers, good way to retain employees

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• Offer subsidised passes through schools

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• Provide increased service to (proposed) park-and-rides during peak season to incentivize reduction of congestion in downtown areas

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Appendix A

Route 8 Schedule (Weekdays)- Phase I

Route 8 Schedule (Saturday)- Phase I

R-Line Schedule - Phase I

Cultural Loop Schedule (May-September)- Phase II

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