Job Access and Reverse Commute (jarc) Program fy 2009 Service Profiles Region X alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington October 2010 fta-08-0162 Job Access and Reverse Commute (jarc) fy 2009 Service Profiles: Region X

Type: Trip-Based Services/Flexible routing
Goal: Improved access/connections
Service description: North County Connector service can best be described as deviated fixed route feeder service. While there are some published time points and boarding locations, customers may also contact the coach operator directly for same day rides or to arrange for recurring rides. This service is fully accessible to persons with disabilities and can provide curbside service upon request.
Currently there are three North County Connector routes. Routes 2201 and 2251 provide morning and afternoon service to LA Center, WA; Routes 2301 and 2351 provide morning and afternoon service to Ridgefield, WA; and Route 2202 provides midday service to both LA Center and Ridgefield, WA.
Evaluation: Because this is an innovative service, standard measurements for fixed route service do not apply. C-TRAN has contacted other agencies with similar services which have shared ridership information. In most cases, ridership is three to five customers per revenue hour. C-TRAN's ridership for Connector service falls within this range.
Another evaluation factor is the access to public transit which Connector service provides. Because the service district includes rural areas, customers in these locations would not otherwise have access to public transit. The sparse population in these communities cannot justify nor support a fixed route system.
Accomplishments: Connector service has been well received by the members of the communities it serves. Acting as a feeder service, it promotes the use of public transit. Also, because it is fully accessible to individuals with disabilities, it eliminates the need for a redundant, complementary paratransit service, resulting in a cost savings for the agency.
Lessons learned: Because this service is specialized, it required additional training for operators and support staff. In C-TRAN's case, it also required a modification to the labor agreement. These ramifications were not obviously apparent when this demonstration project began.