History of the 2002 Transfort Strategic Operating Plan

The first Transfort Strategic Operating Plan was completed in 1989. From 1989 to 2002, the City completed two Transit Development Plans which built upon the visions outlined in the Strategic Plan. Overall, the service changes implemented over that time period were a success. There were, however, several areas where new service failed to achieve a desired level of productivity.

Fort Collins saw rapid growth during the nineties. With increases in traffic congestion and the Mason Corridor planned for the future, the City of Fort Collins undertook the 2002 update to the Strategic Operating Plan as an effort to:

• Identify transit needs, opportunities and constraints,
• Prepare a transit development plan and strategic plan for the system, and
• Develop a more efficient and productive operating plan to support the strategic plan.

To address the study objective, four primary steps were completed as part of the planning process:

An analysis of existing conditions. The existing conditions analysis reviewed Transfort’s operations in 1999 and service modifications implemented in 2000. To complete the existing conditions analysis, the consultant interviewed key stakeholders including Transfort staff and drivers. Ridership data was analyzed, and city travel conditions were reviewed as were Transfort’s existing funding sources.

Policy identification by City Council. During the second step of the study, focus turned to the City of Fort Collins’ overall policies for the provision of transit services. Transfort staff presented findings of the existing conditions report to City Council representatives and City advisory committees to establish the goals for the service planning effort. Meetings and public open houses resulted in a call for allocating transit resources in a more “productive” manner.

Service alternatives. This iterative process was based on the City’s call for more “productive” transit service – service that carries a higher number of passengers per hour because it focuses on high ridership areas and dense transit corridors. Four service phase scenarios were developed. These phases identified increasing levels of investment in transit service that could be implemented over a ten-year period.

• Phase 1: Transfort Bus System (Implemented in January 2002). Complete
  This first no-budget growth alternative was a short-term service improvement plan. The focus was to provide modest modifications to the existing system. Many changes and improvements were implemented with limited disruption to the public.
• Phase 2: Minimal Redesign plus Mason Corridor Service
  This step adds the Mason Corridor service to the improvements made in Phase 1, above, and includes the addition of new service on Harmony Road and Prospect Road. Implementation of this phase will improve the quality of Transfort operations and increase productivity of the Transfort system. The Harmony and Prospect routes were added to Transfort’s system in 2007, along with a new route on Timberline Road. The Mason Corridor service is planned to begin operation in 2011. The focus of this phase is to provide the backbone of a highly productive transit system which will serve the Fort Collins community for years to come.
• Phase 3: Transition to Grid Service
  Phase 3 is an extensive redesign based on the principle of optimizing service within the existing service area and eliminating inefficiencies in previous service design. Implementation of this step continues to enhance the quality of Transfort operations and will further increase productivity of the Transfort system.
• Phase 4: Proposed Grid Route System
  Whereas Phase 3 lays the foundation for the preferred system, execution of Phase 4 requires significant budget growth to build out to a full grid network. These improvements position Transfort for continuing growth in Fort Collins that is consistent with long-range land use plans included in “City Plan.” Implementation of this phase continues to improve the quality of Transfort operations and to strengthen productivity of the Transfort system.

Operating, Implementation and Financial Plans.
In the final step, a recommended service design and Operating Plan was developed, along with plans to implement and finance the recommended services over a scheduled timeframe.