Adopted Budget 2015-2016

Infrastructure - Greensboro Transit Authority

Appropriation HEAT Service Since the inception of GTA’s university pass program known as the Higher Education Area Transit Service (HEAT), over 368,000 passenger trips were made by almost 11,000 area university and college students. In addition, almost 4,500 students have taken over 505,600 trips on non-HEAT or GTA regular fixed routes. Continuing strong ridership and large numbers of students riding indicate that students continue to place a high value on HEAT. A review of similar programs around the country prior to implementation suggested that ridership gains would be huge in the first year and would then level off in following years. HEAT ridership is leveling off in its ninth year, reflecting a successful partnership among the participating colleges and universities, the City of Greensboro and GTA. J. Douglas Galyon Depot The J. Douglas Galyon Depot, former “Southern Railway Passenger Train Depot” was originally built in 1927 as the train depot for Greensboro and surrounding area. The renovated Depot provides a covered, climate-controlled central transfer center for GTA routes merging downtown. In addition to a central transfer hub for GTA, the Depot offers access to PART Express, a Triad-wide transit service operated by the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation, and Greyhound and Carolina Trailways Intercity Bus Service, and taxicabs. The Depot houses GTA’s customer service call center and the operators' break room. The Depot also serves as the local Amtrak Passenger Rail Station. The Depot currently operates as a 24-hour facility. The Depot makes many public transportation providers accessible from one downtown location which makes the choice to use public transportation even easier for local and interstate commuters. The Depot is owned and maintained by the City of Greensboro and funded through Transit Operations.  Continue to provide the citizens of Greensboro with efficient, reliable and affordable transit service.  Continue to protect the quality of life of users by increasing the accessibility of services.  Continue the partnership with local colleges and universities through the Higher Education Area Transit Service that will continue to introduce the college population to public transportation, reducing student traffic and parking congestion.  Continue GTA’s sustainability efforts by reducing GTA’s “carbon footprint” through the use of solar lighting in bus shelters, operating transit vehicles at optimum efficiency, reducing emissions and maximizing fuel mileage, recycling of tires, operating Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) and maintaining GTA's new Operations and Maintenance Transit Facility & Administrative Offices (the city's first LEED Gold certified building).  Continue to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of GTA's transit services.  Work with businesses and civic community organizations to secure funding to support and promote transportation alternatives to all potential riders of the service.  Continue the effective use of advanced technologies to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of public transportation services provided by GTA.  Improve customer satisfaction by meeting customer service criteria as defined in the GTA Policy and Implementing Procedures Manual as adopted by the GTA Board.  Continue to improve community relations through participation in community and charitable events, educational programs, and joint promotions.  Develop and implement a comprehensive information assessment to enhance the effectiveness of GTA’s current customer information methods, to include telecommunications and customer relations, bus stop signage, upgrade of website communications, promotional print material and multi-media presentations to the general public, as well as community focus groups.  Continue to develop joint development opportunities with the private sector at the J. Douglas Galyon Depot.  Effectively promote fixed-route service to agencies with focus on Low English Proficiency (LEP) users.  Increase the efficiency and effectiveness of GTA’s ADA Paratransit Service through the implementation of the ADA Operational Plan as approved by the GTA Board. 0 0 0 0 885,197 885,197 Full Time Equivalent Positions 0 0 Appropriation 933,345 913,556 869,902 876,767 Full Time Equivalent Positions 0.00 0.00 2.75 2.75 Greensboro Transit Authority Strategies

Adopted FY 2015-16 Budget

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