Chapter 7 Public Transit Plan Overview This chapter docum ents a review and assessm ent of needs, deficiencies, policies and im provem ent options affecting the public transit sy stem within the Medford Urban Growth Boundary (UGB). Included is a discussion of the local and regional policy contex t for developing and m aintaining this travel m ode, an evaluation of needs and deficiencies in the existing sy stem , a discussion of various im provem ent strategies for enhancing and expanding this sy stem , and st rategies for the City of Medford. Public transit service in the Medford area is currently provided by the Rogue Valley Transportation District and is supported by the city through requirem ents in th e land developm ent process to accom modate and/or provide amenities to encourage the use of transit – bot h within designated Transit-Oriented Districts and elsewhere in the city . This chapter also addresses intercity bus services. Inform ation contained in this section was obtained la rgely from the existing conditions inventory , input from RVTD planning staff, the City ’s Comprehensive Plan and Vision for the 21st Century , and on-going planning and im plem entation activities related to estab lishing Transit Oriented Districts (TODs). In addition, the public transit recom mendations in the 2001-2023 Rogue Valley Regional Transportation Plan were reviewed to identify service deficiencies a nd potential im provem ent strategies that have had previous planning attenti on at the regional level. Public Transit Policy Context and Back ground The 2001-2023 Rogue Valley Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) prepared for the Medford Urbanized Area by the Rogue Valley Metropolitan Planning Orga nization and adopted in 2002, establishes regional policy direction with respect to the public trans it sy stem within the Medford UGB. Many of these policies speak specifically to the services provided by the Rogue Valley Transportation District (RVTD) including m aximizing ridership, im proving service fre quency and coverage (i ncluding operating with headway s no greater than 30 m inutes on all routes dur ing peak periods and retaining off-peak, m idday service on all routes). However, som e RTP policies ar e directed at local governm ents within the RVTD service area. Specifically pertinent to the Medford TSP are the following: • “Local governments shall work w ith major employers to encourage transit use by their employees through fare subsidies and other programs”. (Policy 11-6) • “RVTD and local governments shall cooperate to the maximum extent to identify and include features beneficial to transit riders and transit district operations when developing plans for roadway projects”. (Policy 11-7) • “RVTD and local governments shall encourage conn ectivity between different travel modes, including accessibility of major transit facilities to bike, pedestrian, and automobile traffic” . (Policy 11-8) • “RVTD and local governments shall promote the use of transit services to residents and businesses as an alternative mode of travel” . (Policy 11-9) Medford Transportatio n System Plan 7-1 Public Transit Plan

Transportation System Plan 2018-2038