The following questions were graciously answered by Heather Ornelas, Public Transportation Mobility Manager, Bend Area Transit. Thank you, Heather!
Q: Why did the City of Bend start BAT?
A: Prior to September 2006, the City of Bend delivered public transportation using a general public Dial-a-Ride (DAR) program, where every ride was first come first served and door to door. The City of Bend population was growing eight percent each year, but that growth did not result in additional funding for the transit system.
As a result of quickly expanding population and higher expectations for services, the City created a fixed route system for the general public and made the door to door Dial-a-Ride program eligibility based, meaning it was for those with disabilities and low-income seniors. As a result of implementing a fixed route system, eligibility based ridership has increased by 20 percent and general ridership by 91 percent.
Q: Why are some buses more full than others?
A: You will see the occasional bus with only a few persons on board, but there are peak ride times and locations. If you add all the riders on the fixed routes and divide by the total hours of bus time you get an average of rides per service hour. BAT delivered 18.31 rides per service hour last year.
It is typical to see Dial-a-Ride buses with only a couple people on board, since this door-to-door service has an average of 3.08 rides per hour per bus. Nationally, these systems average around 2.9 rides per bus hour, but to increase efficiency BAT uses a computer to map out routes and maximize ride delivery. Bend Area Transit will purchase smaller minivans and modified vans for Dial-a-Ride that cost less, get better fuel efficiency, and have better access into driveways.
Q: What is the current BAT budget, and where does the funding come from?
A: The 2008/2009 fiscal year transit budget is $3,031,344 – including $500,000 in capital costs. Here is a breakdown of BAT funding:
48 % - Federal and State grants
45.5 % - City’s General Fund
6.5 % - Rider fares
Click here for BAT and DAR Ridership and Performance Measures Tables.
Q: Why can’t this service pay for itself?
A: Public transit systems nationwide do not pay for themselves with fares alone. They are subsidized by federal and state grants which require matching funds from the local jurisdiction. Public transit is similar to other transportation infrastructure like roads, bridges, and rail in this respect.
Q: Why do people ride?
A: DAR: 43 percent for medical appointment, 12 percent for work, 27 percent to shop, 7 percent to visit friends/family, 9 percent for recreation, 3 percent other.
BAT fixed route: 42 percent for work, 18 percent to shop, 7 percent for medical appointments, 14 percent for school.
Q: What is proposed to Voters?
A: Voters in the urban growth boundary of Bend and the area of Deschutes River Woods, an unincorporated area of Deschutes County, are asked to consider creating a Transportation District and a permanent property tax rate of $0.393/$1,000 taxable assessed value (TAV).
This is a permanent rate and cannot be increased. The only way a transit district can raise additional funds in the future is by going to voters for five year operating levies or bond measures for capital projects. The property tax of $0.393/1,000 TAV would raise an estimated $2.9 million that would leverage other state and federal transit resources and grants.
Q. • What will BAT change if the measure passes?
A. The measure would create a stable funding source for public transportation services in the Bend and Deschutes River Woods area. The proposed budget for the District would allow for 14,600 additional hours of DAR/BAT bus service annually. The proposed increase in hours would augment service in the following ways:
1) Operation of services until 8 p.m., which is two additional hours of evening service on all fixed routes and Dial-a-Ride (current operation until 6 p.m.)
2) Route 11 would be redesigned to serve the Century West and Southern Crossing Neighborhoods and be a full time route
3) New North to South route(s) to be developed from NE Bend via 18th, Empire, Boyd Acres, 8th &9th St, Brosterhouse, and Knott Rd to Deschutes River Woods. This corridor crosses two other routes and adds service to five main residential areas and two large industrial zones
4) Increases Dial-a-Ride service with four added bus hours each Sunday and four added bus hours each day during peak demand
The proposed augmented services will go through a public review process, so there may change based on the public input received.
Q: What would be the percent change in total service hours?
A: Total service for BAT/DAR would increase by 32 percent. Dial-a-Ride service would increase by 11.5 percent.
Q: When would services change if it passes?
A: The Transit District would be created on July 1, 2009. The proposed changes would then go through a public review process. The final approved changes will then be implemented. Improvements to Dial-a-Ride could be made within 45 days. Scheduled fixed route improvements could start January 1, 2010.
Q: Would property tax fund all operations?
A: No. Federal grants currently supply almost $850,000 annually for operations, and the district would be eligible to continue pursuing federal and state grant opportunities.
Q: How much will it cost taxpayers?
A: A home with an assessed value of $182,750 (approximate market value of $425,000) would pay approximately an additional $70 in property taxes each year. See tab;e below to see your tax estimate based on your home's assessed and market values.
Transportation District Tax Estimates |
If you estimate your house's Market Value at around: | Then your Assessed Value would be: (* see note below) | And your Yearly Tax would be approximately: (at $ .393 per $1000 of Assessed Value) |
| | |
$100,000 | $43,000 | $16.90 |
$150,000 | $64,500 | $25.35 |
$200,000 | $86,000 | $33.80 |
$250,000 | $107,500 | $42.25 |
$300,000 | $129,000 | $50.70 |
$350,000 | $150,500 | $59.15 |
$400,000 | $172,000 | $67.60 |
$450,000 | $193,500 | $76.05 |
$500,000 | $215,000 | $84.50 |
$600,000 | $258,000 | $101.39 |
$700,000 | $301,000 | $118.29 |
$800,000 | $344,000 | $135.19 |
$900,000 | $387,000 | $152.09 |
$1,000,000 | $430,000 | $168.99 |
(* Computed at 43% of true Market Value per Deschutes County 2007-2008 Assessment &Tax Summary, Exception Value Ratio - Residential) |
Q: Is anyone exempt from paying the tax?
A: Public property owners are exempt from paying property taxes, so the City of Bend, Deschutes County, and St. Charles Hospital will be encouraged to sign a group enrollment and support agreement, as these large public employers benefit from public transit services. For example, the state pays an in-lieu-of tax by state law to the transportation district based on its payroll.
Q: How is a Transportation District Formed?
A: A Transportation District is formed through a two step process. First, the district is placed on the ballot by the Deschutes County Commissioners by a resolution. The resolution is then placed on the ballot for an election so voters can approve or deny creating the District with a permanent property tax.
Q: Who runs the District?
A: If a Transportation District is approved the Deschutes County Commission will appoint temporary board members to the Transportation District Board of Directors. In the May 2009 election, voters will be asked to vote on an elected board, just like the Bend Metropolitan Parks District and the Bend School District.
Q: Would a new Transit District be part of the city or county government?
A: No. It is a separate governing board just like the Bend Metropolitan Parks District and the Bend School District.
Q: If the measure passes, when would the District start to get the funding?
A: The District would begin to “earn” tax funding starting July 1, 2009. The funding would then be received by December 2009.
Q: How would the District operate if they don’t get money from taxes until December 2009?
A: The district may apply for a tax anticipation loan, a short term loan product available through the Special Districts Association of Oregon.