The Tri-State Transit Authority Finding Creative Pockets for Funding By: Paul Davis, General Manager and CEO 8/11/2016 Tri-State Transit Authority 1
Goals 1. Give SUN attendees history of TTA & overview of services 2. Review TTA s funding sources 3. Discuss Marshall University case study 4. Provide lessons learned 5. Share key messages to secure tax levy support from community 8/11/2016 Tri-State Transit Authority 2
History 1888 - Huntington Electric Light and Steel Railway Company started operating streetcar service. 8/11/2016 Tri-State Transit Authority 3
History 1899 The Ohio Valley Electric Company was organized. 8/11/2016 Tri-State Transit Authority 4
History 1903 - The Ohio Valley Electric Company changed its name to the Camden Interstate Railway Company. 8/11/2016 Tri-State Transit Authority 5
History 1925 Buses where introduced to the Huntington area. The introduction of the bus signaled the beginning of the end for the history of streetcars in Huntington. By the thirties the streetcar lines were abandoned. 8/11/2016 Tri-State Transit Authority 6
History 1971 The Ohio Valley bus operators and mechanics went on Strike. 1972 Since July 17, 1972, The Tri-State Transit Authority, known today as TTA, has operated without interruption for forty-four years. 1994 - The Authority opened a transfer center in the historic Greyhound bus terminal located in downtown Huntington. 2004 TTA partnered with a private developer to construct an intermodal facility in downtown Huntington known as Pullman Square. 2012 Major renovations were done to the General Office and Maintenance Facility 8/11/2016 Tri-State Transit Authority 7
8/11/2016 Tri-State Transit Authority 8
8/11/2016 Tri-State Transit Authority 9
8/11/2016 Tri-State Transit Authority 10
By The Numbers Employees 74 Annual Expenses FY 2014 $6,561,524 Operating Grants FTA $1.2 mill Miles FY 2015 1,319,081 Customers 940,000 8/11/2016 Tri-State Transit Authority 11
TTA s Fleet 34 - Buses 6 - Replica Trolleys 12 - Paratransit Vans 8/11/2016 Tri-State Transit Authority 12
Other Services Non emergency medical transportation services. TTA serves as the primary fueling station for the following first responders: Cabell County Sheriff Department Cabell County EMS TTA is the backup fueling site for the City of Huntington also. 8/11/2016 Tri-State Transit Authority 13
What This Means TTA can move approximately 1,000 people each trip. TTA buses can be used for temporary shelter during fires, vehicular accidents and other emergencies. 8/11/2016 Tri-State Transit Authority 14
Funding No state funding Uses 5307 funding ($1.2 million from FTA + local match) $1 million from Farebox 8/11/2016 Tri-State Transit Authority 15
Other Sources Leveraged 5-year property tax levy since 1982 CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality Improvement) STP (Surface Transportation Program) - $280,000 Most recently, Marshall University 8/11/2016 Tri-State Transit Authority 16
Marshall University Previous president opposed; Mayor supported. New president arrived. New student body Vice President supported. Platform: technology & mobile apps Campus survey = 82% wanted transit $16 per student, per semester Marshall has 12,100 students Added downtown circulator and late night service on weekends 8/11/2016 Tri-State Transit Authority 17
Marshall University Marshall University 8/11/2016 Tri-State Transit Authority 18
Getting Marshall Students Excited Radio clips 8/11/2016 Tri-State Transit Authority 19
Marshall s New Green Machine 8/11/2016 Tri-State Transit Authority 20
Part of the TTA Web site 8/11/2016 Tri-State Transit Authority 21
What We Learned Find the right stakeholders. Be visible everywhere. (Rotary clubs, civic organizations, city councils) Lead with the technology message. Make it personal. Use social media; let your staff be ambassadors. 8/11/2016 Tri-State Transit Authority 22
8/11/2016 Remember to vote twice in Huntington 23
Since you last voted for TTA TTA Customers have taken 3,226,664 trips on buses and Dial A Ride to work, Medical Services, School, Marshall, Shopping Entertainment and visits with friends and family 8/11/2016 Remember to vote twice in Huntington 24
Since you last voted for TTA TTA Dial A Ride Customers have taken 160,401 trips to medical services, work, school, Marshall, shopping, entertainment and visits with friends and family. 8/11/2016 Remember to vote twice in Huntington 25
Since you last voted for TTA TTA has brought over 15 million dollars in Federal and State grants to the Tri-State Area for transit services and economic development. 8/11/2016 Remember to vote twice in Huntington 26
Since you last voted for TTA TTA Traveled over 5 million miles in the Tri-State Area. Along the way, TTA customers depart their buses and Dial A Ride vans to earn money and to spend money. TTA is vital for economic development in our community. 8/11/2016 Remember to vote twice in Huntington 27
TTA means greater access to job opportunities and expands the labor pool. TTA reduces household costs and enhances worker and business productivity. Every dollar that property owners in Cabell County and Huntington invest in transit generates $3.00 to $6.00 in economic returns. 8/11/2016 Remember to vote twice in Huntington 28
Since you last voted for TTA The average household spends 19 cents out of every dollar on transportation. 94% goes to buying, maintaining and operating cars. The automobile is the largest source of household debt after mortgages. TTA provides an affordable, and for many, necessary alternative to driving. 8/11/2016 Remember to vote twice in Huntington 29
Don t Miss the Bus Nearly 20% of TTA trips are taken by people over the age of 65. Harris polls reveal that nearly 87% of seniors strongly agree that as they get older, its is extremely important to maintain their independence an ability to get around. 8/11/2016 Remember to vote twice in Huntington 30
Don t Miss the Bus A White house conference on aging ranked transportation options for older Americans to be among the top three priorities facing seniors. 8/11/2016 Remember to vote twice in Huntington 31
Don t Miss the Bus Riding a TTA bus is 79 times safer than car travel. TTA services reduce pollution and help promote cleaner air. TTA is part of a national mass transit industry that presents the most effective strategy for achieving significant energy savings and environmental gains without new taxes, government mandates or regulations. 8/11/2016 Remember to vote twice in Huntington 32
Don t Miss the Bus Your vote for TTA on May 10 th can help keep Cabell County and Huntington safer and more secure. TTA is fundamental element in handling emergencies in the community. TTA gives critical support to first responders. TTA can help evacuate potentially dangerous situations. TTA can shelter victims and emergency workers at the scene. 8/11/2016 Remember to vote twice in Huntington 33
Don t Miss the Bus Location location location. This wellknown real estate axiom means access to people, markets, goods and services and makes any property location more desirable and valuable. TTA Dial-A-Ride and route buses provide enhanced travel options and mean rising markets value for adjacent properties and buildings. Its clear that real estate, residential and commercial, served by TTA can command higher rents and maintain higher values. 8/11/2016 Remember to vote twice in Huntington 34
Don t Miss the Bus RENEWAL OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON AND THE CABELL COUNTY LEVIES FOR TTA INVOLVES NO CHANGE IN THE LEVY RATES. THESE ARE THE SAME TTA LEVIES THAT HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED AND ACCEPTED BY THE VOTERS IN 11 ELECTIONS SINCE 1982. 8/11/2016 Remember to vote twice in Huntington 35
Don t Miss the Bus ON MAY 10 th, TTA IS AT THE END OF YOUR BALLOT. DON T MISS THE BUS! AND REMEMBER TO VOTE TWICE IN HUNTINGTON. 8/11/2016 Remember to vote twice in Huntington 36
Don t Miss the Bus 8/11/2016 Remember to vote twice in Huntington 37