Fixed Route Service Policy Update

What will this project do?

LTD’s Fixed Route Service Policy establishes the standards and framework that govern how LTD plans, evaluates, and adapts its service. The Federal Transit Administration requires transit agencies to develop and maintain service standards and service policies as a condition of federal funding. The Fixed Route Service Policy project included:

• Service Policy & Performance Review: Evaluation of fixed route performance against current standards, peer agency case studies, and analysis of how LTD and peer agencies apply policies to assess performance and make service adjustments.
• Integration of Bus Stop Balancing Methodology: Step-by-step guidance for applying bus stop balancing methodology developed in the 2024 System Review. The updated Fixed Route Service Policy incorporates this methodology, including a summary of the process and a companion document to ensure consistent application across all routes in the system.
• Integration of Updated Title VI Methodology: The updated Fixed Route Service Policy refines the Title VI Disparate Impact and Disproportionate Burden analysis developed in the 2024 System Review. The updated methodology is used to define major and minor service changes to evaluate potential disparate impacts on minority riders and disproportionate burdens on low-income riders. In the updated policy, documented processes are aligned with current practices.
• Document Refresh: Reformatted to improve legibility and accessibility, with updated graphic elements to better illustrate standards and design criteria that are difficult to convey through text alone.

Budget

The total project budget is $40,000

Project funding included:

• Technical assistance from consultant Nelson\Nygaard to review existing service policy and evaluate fixed route performance against current standards.
• Peer agency case studies of five transit agencies: Cherriots (Salem-Keizer), Utah Transit Authority, Spokane Transit Authority, TriMet, and Transfort (Fort Collins).
• Review of how existing policy is applied in practice when assessing performance issues and making service adjustments.
• Consultant facilitated two working sessions with LTD planning staff in July and October 2025 to develop draft revisions and incorporate staff input.
• Presentation of recommendations to the Strategic Planning Committee at its November 2025 meeting and revised draft policy at its May 2026 meeting.

Outcomes & Community Impact

Through this project, LTD’s goal was to:

• Establish the standards and framework that govern decisions regarding route structure, service frequency, service span, stop placement, and service changes, including LTD’s Title VI Disparate Impact and Disproportionate Burden policy.
• Support equitable access to healthcare, employment, housing, and education.
• Help decision-makers, members of the public, and partner agencies understand why and how LTD makes changes to fixed route service.