Short Range Transit Plan

Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) is seeking a qualified consulting firm to develop a Short‑Range Transit Plan (SRTP) that will guide service, operational and financial strategies for the next 1‑5 years. The consultant will assess current operations, model financial scenarios, evaluate fixed‑route, micro‑transit (CONNECT), General Demand, ADA Paratransit, and rideshare services, and produce a board‑adopted SRTP with route‑level recommendations, staffing and vehicle requirements, capital needs, and an implementation framework. The work is organized into four phases (assessment, plan development, implementation, sustainment) with a non‑mandatory pre‑proposal meeting on September 21, 2026 and a final proposal due October 5, 2026. BFT expects the SRTP to feed into its Annual Service Plan and Transit Development Plan, supporting long‑range goals for service expansion and equity. • Develop a 5‑year (2027‑2031) route and resource plan, including maps, frequencies, headways, and vehicle/crew staffing. • Conduct financial assessment and scenario modeling to support hiring, fleet procurement, and budgeting. • Evaluate CONNECT micro‑transit and General Demand operations, including in‑house vs. contractor options. • Provide lighter‑touch analyses of ADA Paratransit and rideshare/van‑pool programs. • Deliver Title VI/equity analysis, stop‑amenity prioritization, and signage recommendations. • Coordinate with BFT staff, stakeholders, and external data sources (e.g., StreetLight, regional travel model). • Produce final SRTP document for Board adoption (target Q1 2028) and supporting implementation schedule.