Two key updates are available regarding the Causeway Connection service that is expected to replace the existing UC Davis Intercampus Shuttle in April 2020. 

First, the agenda item and staff report for the December 9th SacRT board meeting are available here.

Ongoing consideration of implementation steps and long-term planning for the Causeway Connection service.

For UC Davis affiliates, a variety of Causeway Connection questions revolve around the service monitoring, governance, and potential future route or service adjustments. The following summary provides a brief overview of the current approach along with some upcoming next steps that will accompany the Causeway Connection implementation.

• Campus Connectivity: Regarding future changes to the service, an ongoing discussion item has focused on service planning assurances related to future route changes. As UC Davis students and employees continue to expand collaboration between the Davis and the Sacramento campuses, our academic programs, patient care, parking and mobility management, and research opportunities are all expected to require additional connectivity with frequent, high-quality bus services such as the proposed Causeway Connection service.  In order to meet these current and expected future needs, transit connectivity planned around the needs of the UC Davis students and employees will be a key factor.  
  
  While the exact details of these future services are not known, UC Davis expects to lead the planning and options analysis to best serve UC Davis affiliates. Creating or expanding partnerships with public and private entities for transit services could create service options such as the proposed Causeway Connection that would be better than if UC Davis were attempting to provide these services independently.  Although service details in the long-term cannot be guaranteed and are always subject to change, continuation of direct transit service between the two campuses is a core operating element for the two UC Davis campuses. 

• Governance: With UC Davis, Sacramento Regional Transit, and Yolobus collaborating in the proposed Causeway Connection bus service, the ongoing management decisions of the service are expected to benefit from participation from all three entities.  In developing the operational memorandum of understanding for the Causeway Connection, UC Davis commits to participating, influencing, and leading key discussions about funding, service monitoring, and route adjustments for this service. 

• Service Monitoring:  As a new version of the long-standing UC Davis Intercampus Shuttle, the Causeway Connection will require both initial and long-term monitoring. The route performance details, rider utilization, and rider satisfaction are the key topics for evaluation. Collection of data from GPS in-vehicle sensors, boarding and alighting data from each bus stop, rider feedback from a variety of sources including direct on-board rider surveys will serve as the key types of data for both initial and long-term monitoring. During the initial monitoring periods, summary operating reports will be a key accountability measure with reports expected at the end of the first six weeks, the end of three months, and the end of six months. Report frequency after the initial monitoring period could range from one to four times per year utilizing data collected routinely throughout the reporting period. 

• Rider MOU Participation: UC Davis riders have provided substantial input and detailed advice on the service details and ongoing participation from the riders will help inform the upcoming operational MOU details.  For this reason,UC Davis will seek input and feedback from UC Davis riders once a draft of the detailed MOU is available. 

• Rider quarterly meetings: UC Davis mobility needs would benefit from ongoing rider input.  Potential options for this additional input include open forums, regular committee meetings, and other options.  At this point, the campus will initiate quarterly meetings with rider representatives to solicit ongoing feedback about the service. While the meetings may have some type of formal committee member selection process, the meetings will be open so any interested individual can attend. These quarterly meetings will begin in 2020.