Planning Future Services

• Service
• Funding
• Communication

Goal: Provide high quality mobility options with effective and efficient service

Objective 1: Monitor transit demand and improve span and/or frequency of service where needed.

• Initiative: Conduct a comprehensive operational analysis (COA) by December 2013 to identify service efficiencies, inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement.
• Initiative: Complete a performance assessment on an annual basis based on performance standards for fixed-route and paratransit services.
• Initiative: Pursue funding opportunities to expand service to underserved areas and increase frequency on deserving routes.
• Initiative: Complete Phase 1/One-year pilot for FlexBus technology on demand-response services as a pre-requisite to completing a broader service strategy for NeighborLink transit offerings and a Strategic Plan for Flexible Services.

Objective 2: Right-size the fleet to better match capital resources with service demand.

• Initiative: Update Vehicle Capacity Analysis on an annual basis.
• Initiative: Extend useful life of 40-foot buses as available and transfer to routes suffering from overcrowding; transition small body on chasis vehicles from overcrowded routes to emerging NeighborLink service at appropriate time.

Objective 3: Locate and establish permanent satellite facilities in the northern and southern portions of the LYNX service area from which to more efficiently distribute service and provide minor maintenance.

• Initiative: Continue search for and evaluation of potential sites for a permanent satellite facility in the southern portion of the LYNX service area.
• Initiative: Initiate search for and evaluation of potential sites for a permanent satellite facility in the northern portion of the LYNX service area.

Objective 4: Transition from a hub-and-spoke approach to planning service (where most routes originate and/or terminate in downtown Orlando) to a network approach.

• Initiative: Conduct a comprehensive operational analysis (COA) by December 2013 to identify service efficiencies, inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement. The COA should specifically include an on-board survey to update origin and destination patterns of existing riders and monitor changes in user demographics and travel behavior. The on-board survey should be updated every three-to-five years.
• Initiative: Update Five Year Service Plan.

Objective 5: Effectively coordinate with SunRail on service and other issues of mutual concern

• Initiative: Implement SunRail Feeder Plan.
• Initiative: Complete studies and identify funding for implementation of premium service on US 192, SR 50 and the North/South LYMMO.
• Initiative: Develop with FDOT a streamlined join and/or coordinated procurement process for products and services of mutual interest

Goal: Secure a dedicated source of funding to allow LYNX to better meet varying transportation and infrastructure needs.

Objective 1: Collaborate with regional partners to build support for a dedicated source of transit funding with which to most effectively and reliably serve the region’s residents, businesses and visitors.

• Initiative: Provide input and support for funding studies and related efforts of the Authority’s regional partners.
• Initiative: Participate in the Transportation Funding Task Force, a subcommittee of the MetroPlan Orlando Board of Directors.

Objective 2: Secure complementary and/or supplementary sources of funding for both capital and operating expenses to reduce the overall financial burden on resource-limited local government partners.

• Initiative: Identify and pursue grant funding opportunities from a variety of sources including FTA, DOT, HUD, state and local programs.
• Initiative: Identify public-private partnership (P3) opportunities to share costs for projects, programs and initiatives that will be of joint benefit to LYNX and another entity, such as another agency, investor or private developer.

Goal: Improve internal and external communication to improve organizational efficiency and meet the evolving needs of the community.

Objective 1: Provide real-time information to customers.

• Initiative: Develop a real-time customer information plan that identifies appropriate technology and internal staffing and maintenance requirements.

Objective 2: Utilize social media to provide and share up-to-date information and to receive input from customers and partners.

• Initiative: Dedicate one staff person to manage all social media including Facebook and Twitter and other types. This person will be responsible for releasing communications via social media on behalf of LYNX, monitoring comments related to LYNX and its services, and responding to customer issues and inquiries.
• Initiative: Update informational signage at key stops and transfer points to include schedule information and steps to accessing real-time customer information.