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Purpose
Next Steps
Background
Purpose
The purpose of the Naperville Circulator Study was to examine the potential for the successful implementation of a local transit service within the City of Naperville. A circulator transit service is a local transit service with two purposes: to provide mobility within a defined local service area, such as within the Naperville boundaries, and to provide connections between the local service area and other regional transit services such as Metra stations and Pace routes.
The overall goals of the Circulator Study were to:
- Determine the characteristics of a circulator transit service that will best meet the needs of Naperville residents, workers, and visitors, and to fully design such a service.
- Develop a feasible plan to effectively implement the designed transit service.
The Circulator Study analyzed the market for a circulator service in Naperville, which identified important locations to serve and the markets of people who would be interested in using a circulator service. The Study also addressed the relationship of a circulator service with existing Metra and Pace service as well as Ride DuPage, a local dial-a-ride service for the elderly and disabled.
The Circulator Study resulted in specific recommendations concerning service specifications for implementing the transit service; identify potential funding sources, plan for marketing the service, and strategies for monitoring and evaluating the service’s performance.
The Naperville Circulator Study Final Report was approved by the Naperville City Council on July 17, 2009.
Following is the Naperville Circulator Study Final Report.
Next Steps
The Naperville Circulator Study resulted in specific recommendations and service specifications for implementing a local bus service. In recognizing the financial commitment associated with the implementation of a local bus route and in light of the current state of the economy, staff recommends that Strategic Plan Goal #18 be completed prior to moving forward with the implementation of a local bus service. Strategic Plan Goal #18 will establish benchmarks to measure the success and cost effectiveness of transit projects in Naperville, and will ensure that any local funding towards the circulator service meets the goals of the city. It is anticipated that the preliminary transit benchmarks will be presented to the Transportation Advisory Board and City Council in late 2009.
Following the completion of the strategic plan goal to establish transit benchmarks, the first step towards the implementation of a local bus service in Naperville will be to secure outside funding for the operation of the service. Staff will evaluate potential funding sources to determine the most appropriate funding for Naperville’s local bus route.
Background
The City of Naperville has a population of approximately 140,000 and is a major regional employment and commercial center in the Chicago metropolitan area. However, current transit services within the community are very limited. Over the past few years, the City of Naperville has placed greater emphasis on increasing the mobility options available for residents, visitors, employers and employees.
The Naperville Circulator Study builds on several previous regional studies that have indicated the need for a circulator transit service in Naperville. These studies include:
The City of Naperville hired RLS and Associates, a transportation planning firm, to conduct the Naperville Circulator Study. The Circulator Study was funded through a Regional Technical Assistance Program (RTAP) grant from the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). The RTAP grant provides 80% of the funding for the study, with the City of Naperville paying the 20% local match.
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