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Agenda Item # 8

BOARD MEMORANDUM

BACKGROUND: 

The FY 2005 Third Quarter Transit Operations Performance Report presents key performance information regarding the transit operations of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA).

DISCUSSION: 

System ridership (bus and light rail) through the third quarter of FY 2005 totaled 27.7 million passengers, a 3.5% decrease when compared to the same period in FY 2004.   System-wide average weekday boardings were 118,177, down 3.8% compared to the same period in FY 2004.  However, there are positive indicators from the April 2005 Summary of Operating Statistics Report that suggest the decline in ridership will stabilize and then trend upward in the near future.  System ridership for May 2005 showed a modest increase of 0.3% with average Saturday and Sunday/Holiday ridership both up 4%.  The increase in system ridership is significant, as it foreshadows a reversal of the downward trend VTA has experienced since FY 2001.

Bus ridership through the third quarter totaled over 22.7 million boardings, an 8.3% decrease compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year.   Average weekday ridership was 96,911, a decrease of 8.2%, and average Saturday and Sunday ridership decreased by 7.4% and 9.1%, respectively.  Bus ridership for May 2005 signals the possibility of a positive trend as the gap between ridership levels last year and this year is narrowing.

Light rail ridership continues to be strong totaling more than 5 million boardings, an increase of 25.9% through the third quarter of FY 2005 over the same period last year.   Average weekday ridership was 21,266, an increase of 23.8%. 

Fare revenue increased 3.6% and system operating expenditures decreased 2.3 % compared to the same period last year.   System cost per hour decreased 0.8% from $158.92 to $157.59.  The farebox recovery ratio improved to 13.8%, a 6.2% improvement over the 13.0% farebox recovery ratio for the same period in FY 2004. 

Bus and light rail service reliability performance exceeded the established goal of 99.30% through the first three quarters of FY 2005, providing 99.35% of scheduled service. 

Unscheduled Time-off for both Bus and Light Rail Operators and Maintenance personnel experienced significant improvements.   Bus Operators unscheduled absenteeism declined to 8.51%, an improvement of 24.4%, and Light Rail Operators unscheduled absenteeism declined to 7.29%, an improvement of 26.1% as compared to the same period last year.  Bus and Light Rail Maintenance personnel unscheduled time-off declined to 9.83% and 7.62% respectively, an improvement of 12.4% (bus) and 33.1% (light rail). 

Paratransit ridership through the third quarter of FY 2005 totaled 679,977, down 2.7% from the FY 2004 ridership of 699,055 for the same period.   The average cost per trip through the third quarter of FY 2005 was $25.57, down 6.1% from $27.24 for the same period last year.

VTA is a funding partner supporting Caltrain, ACE, Highway 17 Express and Dumbarton Express.   Ridership through the third quarter of FY 2005 compared to ridership the same period in FY 2004 is as follows:

• Caltrain ridership was 6,899,421, up 16.9%;
• ACE ridership was 478,909, up 5.7%;
• Highway 17 Express ridership was 146,864, up 53.8%;
• Dumbarton Express ridership was 141,358, down 10.2%. 

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