Planning For the Future

Five Year Short Range Transit Plan

YCIPTA/YMPO Short Range Transit Plan FINAL

Basis of SRTP

Federal statutes require that the Yuma Metropolitan Planning Organization (YMPO), in partnership with the state and with local agencies, develop and periodically update a long-range Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), and a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) which implements the RTP by programming federal funds to transportation projects contained in the RTP. In order to effectively execute these planning and fund programming responsibilities, YMPO, in cooperation with Region IX of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), requires each YCIPTA receiving federal funding through the TIP (federal grantees within the YMPO region) to prepare, adopt, and submit an Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP) to YMPO. SRTPs are funded in part by FTA Sections 5303, 5304 and 5307 funds. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and YMPO funded this project.

SRTP Purpose

A. To serve as a management and policy document for the Yuma County Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (YCIPTA), as well as a means of annually providing FTA and YMPO with information necessary to meet regional fund programming and planning requirements.

B. To clearly and concisely describe and justify the YCIPTA’s capital and operating budgets.

C. To submit requests for federal, state, and regional funds for capital and operating purposes through the YMPO TIP.

D. To assess an YCIPTA financial capacity to carry out proposed levels of operations and the associated capital improvement plan. This assists FTA in making its own assessment of an YCIPTA financial capacity.

E. To regularly provide YMPO with information on projects and programs of regional significance, which include: funding and scheduling of expansion projects included in YMPO, provision of paratransit service to persons with disabilities, older adults and others; compliance with federal Title VI reporting requirements; Environmental Justice outreach and public participation, and related service planning; results of the most recent FTA Triennial Review and related corrective actions.

F. To provide the basis for inclusion of an YCIPTA capital and operating programs in the RTP.

G. The goals, objectives, and standards specified in an YCIPTA SRTP serve as a basis for the assessment of the YCIPTA performance.

Planning Horizon

The planning horizon for the SRTP is five years from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2025.

What is in the Short Range Transit Plan?

• Executive Summary
• Overview of Transit System
• Goals, Objectives and Standards
• Service and System Evaluation
• Operations Plan
• Marketing Plan
• Financial Plan
• Capital Improvement Plan
• Bus Stop Standards

Work Products Associated with the Short Range Transit Plan

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic it is necessary at this time to engage in virtual public participation at this time and as such we have posted the YCAT Commmunity Survey in English and Spanish on SurveyMonkey.  The links to complete the survey are located here:

 English:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YCATen

 Spanish: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YCATsp

Yuma Hotel Del Sol Multimodal Transportation Center

As part of Yuma's drive to develop the northend of Yuma, preserver its history, culture, transportation needs, and future urban needs, the Multimodal Transportation Center (MMTC) will incorporate Amtrak's cross-country rail services, Greyhound's regional intercity bus lines, and YCAT local bus services.

Based on the Yuma Metropolitan Planning Organization's 1995 - 2015 Countywide Transportation Study, the MMTC addresses the needs for improved transportation for residents and visitors to the greater Yuma area. The study recognized the need for public transportation service in addition to the existing private inter-city bus services. It also recommended improved facilities at the current Yuma Amtrak station to provide a safe and convenient place to accommodate rail passengers.

The MMTC will provide a local transportation center that links these diverse existing and potential transportation services.

Project Goals:

Goal 1: Improve mobility. Facilitate the improvement of mobility throughout the community and the entire region.

Goal 2: Stimulate economic development and redevelopment of adjacent areas. The MMTC should be a part of a larger plan to help stimulate overall redevelopment, including economic development, either in downtown or wherever the facility is located.

Goal 3: Help preserve and enhance the local historic and architectural heritage. The MMTC can be an important part of local historic preservation and redevelopment activities by providing a place for artwork, museums, and other visitor activity, including potential use as a visitor's information center.

Goal 4: Raise the image and profile of transportation services. The MMTC can be an important first step in promoting and increasing the visibility of other modes of transportation such as Amtrak, Greyhound, and local public transit services.

This project is funded, sponsored and managed by the City of Yuma - Capital Improvement Program Division. Please contact Kevin Eatherly, CIP Supervisor for more details on this project at (928) 373-5195 or email: Kevin.Eatherly@yumaaz.gov.

2012 General Plan/Transportation: The General Plan is a policy document and guide to where Yuma wants to be in the future. It provides comprehensive direction for the growth and development of the City of Yuma. The plan is intended to be both long range and visionary and to provide guidance for actions to be taken in the next ten to twenty years.

Historic North End Corridor Plan: The Historic North End Corridor Plan is a written guide for various public and private stakeholders to make appropriate land use, design and development decisions in the Historic North End of Yuma. Once adopted, it will promote projects deemed appropriate through the use of economic incentives.

Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Management Plan/Executive Summary: The Executive Summary of the Plan for the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area recounts Yuma's rich history, sets forth its goals and objectives, and details the plans and programs for each of the seven districts within the Heritage Area.

Multimodal Transportation Center Final Report: The Multimodal Transportation Center Final Report addresses the needs of public transportation services in the Yuma region.

Hotel Del Sol Structural Analysis Report: This report provides information of the evaluation and condition of the Hotel Del Sol for use as a transportation center.

Countywide Transit Tax Initiative

A potential reliable funding source for the transit system is the establishment of a transit-dedicated sales tax which would be applied to certain transactions within the County, applied similarly to current county-wide sale taxes for the Health District. Such a tax collection would be submitted to voters for approval. Based on the Yuma Regional Transit Study, a sales tax of 1/10 of a percent sales tax (0.10%) is being considered. Revenues collected from such sales taxes are estimated to $2.240 million with 1/10 of a percent sales tax. It is anticipated that the transit-dedicated tax would be implemented at the beginning of FY 2016/2017 and this would be considered by the voters in November 2016.

A transit tax consultant has been hired to develop a study for YCIPTA to review and consider. This study will be presented to the YCIPTA Board of Directors in the fall.

Draft Informational Brochure Regarding Transit Tax

Draft Transit Tax Study

Transit Tax Study Presentation

For more information about the countywide transit tax initiative, please contact Shelly Kreger, Transit Director at (928) 539-7076 extension 101 or email: skreger@ycipta.az.gov.

Maintenance Facility Purchase

YCIPTA is currently looking to purchase a maintenance facility, within the central Yuma area to store up to 50 buses, house YCIPTA administrative staff, Greyhound ticket sales and YCIPTA operations and maintenance contractor staff. This proposed facility would have maintenance shop space, a bus wash area, a fueling area for diesel and gasoline fuels and parking for employees and customers. The purchase of a facility would allow YCIPTA to avoid paying leasing costs. It is anticipated that a maintenance facility would be purchased within the next one to two fiscal years.

For more information about the maintenance facility project purchase, please contact Shelly Kreger, Transit Director at (928) 539-7076 extension 101 or email: skreger@ycipta.az.gov.