Baldwin County Public Transit Coalition

A Vision for Public Transit Services in Baldwin County
“Equal Access for All”

Executive Summary

Public Transit Services within Baldwin County are currently operating well below their true potential. A significant number of individuals and client groups are currently under-served within the county, preventing many areas of economic activity from flourishing. This document sets out a vision for the development of Public Transit Services for Baldwin county and its neighbors. A Series of fixed routes and schedules is envisaged, supported by a network of feeder services. These feeder services could be provided by local groups including, church based, employer based and possibly agency funded organizations. The system would cater to the needs of a wide variety of individuals, agencies and client groups. The effort would greatly increase the economic prosperity and quality of life for the residents and visitors of Baldwin County.

A new organization known as the Public Transit Coalition (PTC) would assist in the coordination and forward planning of the service.

Background

In Baldwin County a hundred years ago, an organized system of public transit was practically non-existent. At the beginning of the 20^th century, the total population of the county is estimated to have been around 13,194, mostly concentrated in a few small rural towns. The rest of the population was located in isolated communities scattered throughout the county. In 1899, the major form of transportation was by horse, or horse drawn carriage. Motorized forms of transit did not become a reality until the 1920's and even then, there was no organized Pubic Transit system in place. For a time rail lines and bus services like Greyhound and Trailways provided access from town to town. Eventually, the rapid and widespread availability of automobiles changed that and cars became the dominant form of transportation in the county and remain so to the present day.

A hundred years later, in the final few months of the 20^th century, organized public transit in Baldwin County has changed very little. In the meantime however, community needs have changed a great deal. At the present time, there are significant sectors of the community with no independent means of transportation, either for work or recreation. The situation is further compounded by employers who cannot find enough workers and workers who want to work, but have no means of transportation. In addition, the growing number of individuals choosing to retire in the county, will create a significant and different need for transportation in the future, especially as their ability to drive declines.

Baldwin County is one of the largest municipal counties in the United States with a total resident population of approximately 130,168. Tourists to the area, especially to the Gulf Coast, cause this number to rise by more than 450,000 during the summer months. As a consequence, the traffic density on many county roads and highways is extremely heavy. This congestion is further compounded during times of a weather emergency, caused by the approach of a hurricane. In addition, certain traffic corridors are experiencing significant increases in traffic density as a result of expanding commercial and residential development. This is particularly the case for Highway 98 from Spanish Fort to Fairhope and Highway 59 from Foley through to Interstate 10. In the case of Highway 59, the traffic density on this road increases dramatically during the summer months to the Gulf Shores area.

The eastern shore of Mobile Bay has for many years been a very popular residential area for individuals working in Mobile. This has produced a significant increase in the traffic density traveling across the Bay to Mobile. Since there is no alternative to driving across the Bay, it is clear that the traffic density and the associated environmental pollution will continue to increase in the foreseeable future.

In recent years, the Gulf Coast and Mobile Bay areas of the county have become a highly desirable retirement destination for many individuals. The increasing density of retirees in the community will mean that the elderly population will increase substantially over the next decade. At some point in time, these individuals will not be able to drive safely and will therefore have a significant transportation need.

At the present time, the only organized public transit service operating in Baldwin County is operated by the Baldwin Rural Area Transportation Services (BRATS). This service provides the only means of public transit for a  wide variety of client groups. It is extremely cost efficient as a public transit system, but it is limited by its financial base in the scope and depth of its operation. Nonetheless, BRATS has won national recognition for its innovation and dedication to the provision of transit services. However, it is presently able to meet only a fraction of the current and potential needs of the county.

The net result of this situation is that over the next five years, the increasing traffic density in Baldwin County will result in an urgent need to address the issue. Apart from building even more roads and expanding existing highways, an alternative solution is to develop an efficient public transit system which will not only meet the needs of a very diverse communit6y, but also reduce the traffic density, thereby reducing overall costs to the taxpayers and the environment. What then could such a system look like? How might it operate and whom would it serve?

A New Public Transit System for Baldwin County

Given the population density and distribution within the county, an extensive, county wide transit system is cost prohibitive. Nonetheless, an alternative model could be highly efficient and meet the needs within the county. Such a system would be built upon a series of fixed routes along the major traffic arteries, supported by an integrated network of feeder routes. Most, but not all of the feeder routes could be operated by a variety of local community based groups, such as churches, schools, businesses and charity organizations. Since the main system operates on fixed routes with defined timetables, it would be relatively easy for feeder routes to work into the main route schedule. It would be the responsibility of the local community groups to organize their local schedule and provide whatever service might be needed for their own area. This could be done on a voluntary basis and would not therefore be a burden on the taxpayers of the county. In meeting the needs of residents and visitors, local groups would be encouraged to seek as much financial support as possible from local business and community groups. The total system could work well, provided the fixed feeder networks were fully integrated and coordinated through a central dispatch / control center.

Although the overall system would be designed for Baldwin County, it is vitally important that it is designed to mesh with existing systems in neighboring counties. This will facilitate the movement of individuals across county lines, thereby making the overall system effective and cost efficient. This is especially true when bringing potential workers from one county to another.

Properly organized and funded, this system could serve the following groups and purposes:

Local Business

Baldwin County is a rapidly growing community with significant need for workers in a wide range of job classifications.  New businesses are starting every month and the labor demand is well ahead of the supply.  Many new business ventures have faced difficulties in hiring staff, simply because the potential staff have no means of getting to the positions that are available.  This is especially the case for individuals participating in the welfare to work programs.  A well designed transit network with reliable fixed routes feeding the major areas of development in the county, would make it easier for potential employers to recruit and retain staff.  It would also mean that county residents who cannot find suitable work in the county could, if necessary, travel to work in neighboring counties.  The overall employment situation in the county would be greatly assisted during the major tourism months, since the seasonal job opportunities would be open to individuals who otherwise might not be able to get to such work.  Taken overall, these activities will improve the general climate and economic vitality of the county.

Elderly Residents

Two distinct groups of elderly residents within the county could be served by this system.  The first group are the “well aged,” i.e. those elder residents who enjoy good health, are active and able to look after themselves with the minimum of assistance.  Many of these residents will be able to drive their own vehicles for a time, but eventually will have to abandon this activity through failing vision and/or motor control.  An integrated transit system would enable these residents to remain functionally independent for as long as possible, thereby reducing the need and associated cost of support services.

A second group of elderly residents consists of those who have a medical condition/ disability which requires some level of support services.  These individuals could be served by this system, both locally and within the county generally.  For example, the system would make it possible for an individual with no means of transportation living in Robertsdale, to attend Thomas hospital for an outpatient appointment.  In addition, the system would enable this same individual to travel across Mobile Bay to attend a specialist clinic at a hospital in Mobile if necessary.

Disabled Residents

As a group, disabled residents cover the entire range.  Apart from the obvious medical needs, these individuals have a range of everyday recreational needs which contribute significantly to their quality of life.  These needs range from a trip to the supermarket to the theater.  As with the elderly disabled, the transit system would be able to cater to the medical transportation needs of this group both within and outside the county.

Tourism

The Gulf Coast areas of Baldwin County are among the Nation’s most desirable recreational destinations.  An efficient public transit system would enable visitors to travel to other destinations within the county without increasing road traffic.  It would enable for example, different family members to engage in activities in different parts of the county at the same time.  Increasing the travel opportunities for tourists within the county will mean an increased exposure of the county to present and future visitors.  Taken overall, this activity could make a significant contribution to the level of economic activity for tourists, leading to increased revenues for the county.

Environmental / Safety Issues

There can be little doubt that the advent of the car and the proliferation of the infrastructure needed to sustain its relentless journey across the land, is a major source of environmental pollution.  The loss of habitat due to increased need for parking space is also a significant factor to be considered, therefore, reducing the overall traffic density is very likely to make a significant contribution to the reduction of environmental degradation and pollution.  An unspoiled and cleaner environment, together with efficient, cost effective access to work, home and recreation will serve to increase the quality of life for all residents and visitors to Baldwin County.