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Transfort Strategic Plan
Update Information
An update to the Transfort Strategic Operating Plan was approved for funding by City Council for 2017-18. A multi-disciplinary team of City staff members is currently working on a joint City Plan, Transportation Master Plan, and transit plan update process, with a start date of late winter/early spring 2017.
Transfort Service Philosophy
Transfort operates under a defined philosophy that has been approved by the Fort Collins City Council. The Transfort service philosophy focuses on productivity, meaning that bus routes focus on areas with higher ridership potential, as opposed to dispersed coverage.
Phased Service Concepts
The Transit Strategic Operating Plan presents a framework for implementation of future transit improvements in three phases.
Phase 1 recommended modest transit growth over existing service. It assumed the implementation of MAX service and the refinement of local routes to coordinate with MAX. Many, but not all, of the recommended improvements from this Phase were made in 2014 with the start of MAX, and additional routes were created to serve CSU campuses through a new CSU partnership.
Phase 2 recommends significant expansion of transit service in Fort Collins, as well as expansion of regional connections to Denver. This phase assumes the continued refinement of local routes to coordinate with MAX. Phase 2 introduces a transition to a grid network in Fort Collins and provides greater route coverage, higher service frequencies, and longer span of service.
Phase 3 recommends additional transit growth in Fort Collins including longer service hours and limited Sunday transit service, as well as expansion of regional service to Denver, Boulder, Berthoud, and Longmont. This phase assumes the implementation of additional MAX services that extend outside of the Mason Corridor and completes the transition to a full grid network in Fort Collins.
Transfort Strategic Plan PDFs
Implementation & Funding
The chart above shows the funding shortfall for implementation of Phase 3.
Costs of each Phase were compared to likely revenue sources, and funding shortfalls were identified of $2.7 million, $7.9 million, and $13.7 million for phases 1, 2 and 3 respectively.
A Citizen's Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) recommended a series of funding mechanisms, all designed to allocate the costs of Transfort services to those that benefit from them. The following funding mechanisms were chosen based on their ability to provide a reliable revenue stream and to grow with the community:
- Maintenance of Effort – The continuation of municipal general fund revenues with a growth in fares commensurate with an increased level of service.
- Dedicated Sales Tax – An excise tax on retail goods imposed to the point of sale. The FAC recommended a 1/4-cent tax.
- Transit Utility Fee – An additional fee charged to residential and business utility accounts.
- New Negotiated Agreements – The active investigation of new partners, including PSD and FRCC, as well as the re-negotiation of current agreements.
- Special Assessment – An annual per household or square foot charge placed on property within a special improvement district.