Fiscal Year 2004 Proposed Budget

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
PLANNING DIVISION
COMMUTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

PROGRAM MISSION: To encourage transit, high occupancy vehicle (HOV) and alternative modes of travel.

The goals of the Commuter Assistance Program (CAP) are to: maximize use of existing public transit and HOV infrastructure, reduce traffic congestion, reduce demand for parking in Metrorail corridors, and improve air quality by encouraging alternatives to driving alone (i.e., mass transit, carpool and vanpool, bicycling, and telecommuting). CAP accomplishes this through contracts with a number of private sector vendors to perform the following programs and services:

• The Commuter Stores™ Program Operations provides for operation of stores located in Ballston, Rosslyn, and Crystal City and along Columbia Pike and provides back office support and order fulfillment services to the other CAP programs. In FY 2002, two mobile commuter stores began operations under contract with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation as a pilot serving the northern Virginia community. The Commuter Stores provide full service retail outlets for all transit and commuter fare media and information to support the Arlington community including: travel advice; bus and rail passes; bus tokens; train tickets; maps; timetables; carpool and vanpool ride-matching services; Smart Cards; information about bicycling and elderly and disabled services; and more.

• Employer and Residential Commuting Services – Arlington Transportation Partners (ATP). ATP's Employer and Residential Commuting Services efforts are intended to increase transit and alternative commute market shares among Arlington based businesses and residents through targeted promotions, commuter benefit program development and supporting services. ATP provides over 500 area employers with guidance on starting and sustaining Metrochek assistance, coordinating work site promotions, assisting employees with commute options associated with relocation, awareness of commute related tax information, and education on such topics as starting telework programs and bicycle friendly workplaces. Access to other information and services provided by County, regional and state agencies is also provided to ATP clients with transit maps and schedules, car/vanpool matching and guaranteed ride home services, bicycle information, individual trip planning, and more.

• Arlington Public Transportation Marketing supplements regional Metrobus and Metrorail marketing efforts with award winning, Arlington specific promotional campaigns and services to increase ridership and resulting system revenues to fulfill service budget and planning objectives. These efforts are coordinated with promotions for Arlington Transit (ART) and other CAP programs and services to provide for a comprehensive program of product awareness, information, user advice, safety tips and promotions intended to replace the annual 25% turnover of transit customers in Arlington and increase transit's travel market share.

• Internet Programs and Services - CommuterPage.com™ and CommuterDirect.com™. CAP's nationally-recognized web sites provide information and online services for all of its programs 24 hours a day, 7 days per week via the Internet at www.CommuterPage.com. Special features include online schedules and maps, online carpool matching and online purchase of transit fares with credit cards, automatic transfer from checking accounts, and Metrocheks.

• CAP Administration and Regional Coordination. In addition to administering the five basic contracts necessary to accomplish the programs described above, much coordination takes place with other local and regional transit and rideshare agencies. On behalf of the County, CAP staff participate in the development of regional work plans addressing clean-air measures, transit promotions, employer commute services, ozone reduction and bicycle and pedestrian advocacy.

Funding for CAP programs and services is provided by a number of sources including: federal and state discretionary transportation grants, state formula operating and capital grants, program income, site plan conditions, commissions on fare sales and direct contract service payments. More than 98% of the CAP budget is derived from non-County General Fund sources. County staff positions designated for CAP are budgeted in Transit Planning.

SIGNIFICANT BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS:

• The increase in budget between FY 2003 adopted and FY 2004 proposed reflects a change in budget practice and not a significant change in the program. Previously, CAP's budget had been proposed at a base amount and amended as grants were approved and appropriated. The FY 2004 proposed budget reflects a fully funded effort based on expected grant award amounts.

• The FY 2002 actual revenues include state and federal grant reimbursement payments for CAP expenditures incurred during FY 2001 that were not received until FY 2002.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES:

Objective: Maximize the use of existing public transit and HOV services and infrastructure with efficient and effective promotions and supportive services.

• Net cost per customer is the budgeted cost of operating the stores and web sites (including customer service operations) less commission and transaction fee revenue made on the sale of fare media, divided by the number of customers.

• The number of customers visiting the Commuter Stores remained stable, but overall fare media sales increased approximately 24% in FY 2002.

• ATP member companies are private sector companies in Arlington that are providing a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program to their employees with ATP's assistance.

FUTURE BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS:

• Because the Commuter Assistance Program is funded almost entirely from state and regional transportation sources, the annual scale of CAP's operations corresponds directly to the ability to obtain such funding. The state has been cutting program funding levels in FY 2003 and will continue to do so in FY 2004 to balance the budget. CAP is expecting a 10% decrease in state discretionary funding for FY 2004.

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