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Table of Contents
Page
Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1
Existing Services .................................................................................................................. 3
Augusta Public Transit ............................................................................................................................... 3
Richmond County Transit ........................................................................................................................... 4
Paratransit Van Program ......................................................................................................................... 4
Regional Transit Services.......................................................................................................................... 5
Augusta University Transit System .................................................................................................... 5
Best Friend Express .............................................................................................................................. 5
Columbia County Public Transit ......................................................................................................... 5
Intercity Bus Services............................................................................................................................ 5
Market Analysis .................................................................................................................... 7
Transit Potential.......................................................................................................................................... 7
Population Density ............................................................................................................................... 7
Employment Density ........................................................................................................................... 10
Major Employers ................................................................................................................................ 12
Transit Potential Index....................................................................................................................... 14
Transit Need ............................................................................................................................................. 16
Older Adults ........................................................................................................................................ 16
People with Disabilities ..................................................................................................................... 16
People Living in Poverty ................................................................................................................... 17
Youth and Young Adult Population ................................................................................................. 17
Households without a vehicle ........................................................................................................... 18
Transit Need Index ............................................................................................................................ 24
Document Review .............................................................................................................. 26
Augusta Regional Advanced Transportation Management System Master Plan ....................... 26
Augusta-Richmond County Comprehensive Plan ................................................................................ 27
Augusta Regional Transportation Study: Transportation Improvement Program........................ 27
Augusta Regional Transportation Study: Transportation Vision 2040 .......................................... 28
Table of Figures
Page
Figure 1 | Augusta Public Transit System Map ............................................................................................ 2
Figure 2 | APT Fixed-Route Services .............................................................................................................. 3
Figure 3 | APT Fares .......................................................................................................................................... 3
Figure 4 | Augusta Public Transit Service Characteristics by Route ......................................................... 4
Figure 5 | Augusta Regional Transit Providers Service Characteristics ................................................... 6
Figure 6 | Population Density .......................................................................................................................... 9
Figure 7 | Employment Density ...................................................................................................................... 11
Figure 8 | Top 10 Largest Employers in Augusta ...................................................................................... 12
Figure 9 | Major Employers ........................................................................................................................... 13
Figure 10 | Transit Potential Index ............................................................................................................... 15
Figure 11 | Density of Older Adults ............................................................................................................. 19
Figure 12 | Density of Populations with Disabilities .................................................................................. 20
Figure 13 | Density of Households Living in Poverty................................................................................. 21
Figure 14 | Density of Youth and Young Adults......................................................................................... 22
Figure 15 | Density of Households without Vehicles.................................................................................. 23
Figure 16 | Transit Need Index ..................................................................................................................... 25
EXISTING CONDITIONS & MARKET ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
Augusta Public Transit (APT) is a department of the City of Augusta, and as such, operates almost
exclusively within the City’s limits. Augusta Public Transit operates a fleet of 32 vehicles, employs
88 people, and provides close to 800,000 rides per year. In recent years, APT ridership has been
growing and perception of the service has improved. APT has begun a new branding effort,
ordering eight buses painted with City colors, and has installed new technologies on its buses
including Automated Passenger Counters (APC). APT is in the final planning stages of a shelter
repair and replacement plan and is planning a new transfer center. To ensure that this trend
continues, and that APT remains relevant and responsive to the mobility needs of the growing
region, the agency has initiated a Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA). The COA, called
Connect Augusta, will assess the strengths and weaknesses of the existing system, and identify
opportunities to improve service and increase ridership.
As a first step in determining the future direction for the agency, this memo includes three key
pieces:

An overview of existing transit services in the greater Augusta region, including current
operating characteristics;

A market analysis that examines both the need and potential for transit service in the
study area based on density and demographic characteristics;

A summary of previous planning efforts.
A subsequent memo will delve into more detail about the performance of each individual route.
An overview of Augusta Public Transit’s fixed-route network is shown in Figure 1.
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Figure 1 | Augusta Public Transit System Map
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EXISTING SERVICES
The study area for Connect Augusta is Augusta-Richmond County. This section reviews the
existing local and regional public transit operators to provide a full picture of transportation
services and options in the City of Augusta and the surrounding region.
AUGUSTA PUBLIC TRANSIT
Augusta Public Transit (APT) provides fixed-route bus service within Augusta-Richmond County
(Figure 2). APT service consists of nine fixed-route bus routes that operate in a radial pattern. Six
of the system’s nine routes originate west of downtown Augusta at APT’s Main Transfer Station
on Broad Street. A second transfer facility—the Kmart Transfer Center—is located in the
Southgate Shopping Center on Deans Bridge Road and serves four APT routes.
Figure 2 | APT Fixed-Route Services
Route
Name
Service Description
Route 1
Walton Way
Connects downtown to Augusta State University and Forest Hills
Route 2
West Parkway
Connects Doctor’s Hospital to Augusta Mall and Richmond Plaza
Route 3
East Augusta
Connects downtown to East Augusta
Route 4
Turpin Hill
Connects downtown to Southgate and Kmart Transfer Center
Route 5
Washington Road
Connects downtown to Lakemont and Columbia County
Route 6
Kmart
Connects downtown to Judicial Center and Kmart Transfer Center
Route 7
Augusta Mall
Connects downtown to Augusta University and Augusta Mall
Route 8
Barton Chapel
Connects Kmart Transfer Center, Barton Village, and Meadowbrook
Route 9
Lumpkin Road
Connects Kmart Transfer Center to Augusta Technical College and
Georgia Regional Hospital
APT routes operate at frequencies of 40 to 80 minutes, and most run from approximately 6:30
AM to 8:00 PM, Monday through Saturday (see Figure 4). APT fares are detailed in Figure 3; a
regular one-way fare is $1.25, with an additional $0.50 charge applied for transfers, while a
discounted one-way fare is $0.60, with an additional $0.25 charge applied for transfers. Weekly
and monthly passes are also available at regular and discounted rates. Students from Augusta
University, Augusta Technical College, Paine College, and Virginia College may ride all APT
routes at no charge by displaying their valid student ID.
Figure 3 | APT Fares
Fare Type
Cash Fare
Transfer
Weekly Pass
Monthly Pass
Regular
Discount (Senior, Students, Disabled)*
$1.25
$0.50
$15.00
$50.00
$0.60
$0.25
$7.50
$25.00
*Valid ID must be shown upon boarding to receive discounted fare rate
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Figure 4 | Augusta Public Transit Service Characteristics by Route
Route
Service Span
Service Frequency
Route 1 – Walton Way
Monday-Friday: 6:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Saturday: 10:30 AM – 6:30 PM
80 minutes
Route 2 – West Parkway
Monday-Friday: 7:10 AM – 5:50 PM
Saturday: 7:10 AM – 5:50 PM
40 minutes
Route 3 – East Augusta
Monday-Friday: 6:00 AM – 8:30 PM
Saturday: 6:30 AM – 8:00 PM
60 - 80 minutes
Route 4 – Turpin Hill
Monday-Friday: 6:30 AM – 7:30 PM
Saturday: 6:30 AM – 7:00 PM
60 - 80 minutes
Route 5 – Washington
Road
Monday-Friday: 6:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
40 - 80 minutes
Route 6 – Kmart
Monday-Friday: 5:50 AM – 7:30 PM
Saturday: 6:20 AM – 8:20 PM
40 minutes
Route 7 – Augusta Mall
Monday-Friday: 6:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
60 - 80 minutes
Route 8 – Barton Chapel
Monday-Friday: 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
60 minutes
Route 9 – Lumpkin Road
Monday-Friday: 6:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Saturday: No service
70 minutes
RICHMOND COUNTY TRANSIT
Richmond County Transit began service in 1989 and is operated by the Augusta-Richmond
County Commission and the Department of Transportation. The service serves non-urban areas
in Augusta-Richmond County (as designated by the Georgia DOT), specifically areas south of the
Bobby Jones Expressway, including Hephzibah, McBean, and Blythe. The service operates on
weekdays from 6:00 AM to 3:45 PM with service provided by a fleet of five passenger vehicles
with capacity from 11 to 17 passengers; two vehicles are wheelchair accessible. Fares must be
purchased in advance, by telephone; one-way fares are $3.00. Capital and operating expenses for
Richmond County Transit are funded through Section 5311, the Federal Transit Authority’s
formula grant program for rural areas.
PARATRANSIT VAN PROGRAM
Augusta Public Transit operates a curb-to-curb paratransit service for individuals that are unable
to use fixed-route transit service due to permanent or temporary disabilities. Operating hours for
APT’s paratransit services are concurrent with fixed-route service. One-way fares are divided into
four classes, depending on the trip’s origin and destination: $2.50. $3.50, $6.00, and $7.00.
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Reservations are scheduled by phone, and must be made by 5 PM the day prior to the requested
trip. All paratransit vehicles are outfitted with wheelchair lifts.1
REGIONAL TRANSIT SERVICES
Augusta University Transit System
Augusta University’s transit system, the JagExpress, operates four fixed-route bus routes: Teal,
Teal Express, Green, and Gold. The Teal Route connects the University’s Health Sciences Campus
to its Summerville Campus, serving five stop locations, while the Teal Express Route provides
non-stop peak period service between the two campuses. The Green Route serves northern areas
of the University’s Health Sciences Campus and the Gold Route serves southern areas of the
University’s Health Sciences Campus. Augusta University transit services operate Monday
through Friday between 5:30 AM and 11:00 PM and Sunday from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM with
frequencies ranging from seven minutes to 12 minutes.
Augusta University Transit Services are open to Augusta University students, faculty, and staff.
Best Friend Express
Public transportation in Aiken County, South Carolina, is provided by Best Friend Express (BFE),
a fixed-route bus service that operates on weekdays. BFE operates three routes (Blue, Green,
Red), which serve a variety of retail, employment, medical, educational, and social service
destinations throughout Aiken County. BFE also provides connection opportunities to Augusta
Public Transit at APT’s Main Transfer Station, expanding mobility options for both City of
Augusta and Aiken County residents. BFE services operate Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM
to 7:00 PM.
Fixed-route service in Aiken County is complemented by Dial-A-Ride (DAR) service. DAR service
is available to people with disabilities, and picks up and drops off passengers within a threequarter mile radius of existing BFE routes.
Columbia County Public Transit
Columbia County, Georgia, provides curb-to-curb demand response services to all county
residents. Service operates on weekdays from 10:00 AM t0 3:30 PM and can be used for travel to
and from educational, employment, shopping, medical, and recreational facilities. Reservations
must be booked at least one day in advance.
Intercity Bus Services
Greyhound Lines and Southeastern Stages both serve Greene Street in downtown Augusta and
provide connections to nearly 30 destinations in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
1
APT ADA Paratransit User Guidelines: http://www.augustaga.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8120
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Figure 5 | Augusta Regional Transit Providers Service Characteristics
Provider
Service Type
Eligibility
Weekday Schedule
Service Coverage
Fare (One Way)
Augusta Public
Transit
Fixed-route and demand
response
General public
Route 1: 6:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Route 2: 7:10 AM – 5:50 PM
Route 3: 6:00 AM – 8:30 PM
Route 4: 6:30 AM – 7:30 PM
Route 5: 6:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Route 6: 5:50 AM – 8:25 PM
Route 7: 6:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Route 8: 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Route 9: 6:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Augusta, GA
Parts of Columbia County, GAs
Regular: $1.25
Discount (Senior, students,
disabled): $0.60
Regular transfer: $0.50
Discount transfer: $0.25
Augusta University
Transit System
Fixed-route
Augusta
University
students, faculty,
and staff
Teal: 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Teal Express: 7:00 – 8:00 AM
(M-F); 6:00 – 7:00 PM (Friday)
Green: 5:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Gold: 5:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Augusta University
No charge
Best Friend Express
Fixed-route and demand
response
General public
Blue: 7 AM – 7 pm
Green: 7:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Red: 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Aiken County, SC;
Main Transfer Station in
Augusta, GA
Adults: $2.00
Students: $1.50
Seniors/disabled: $1.00
Columbia County
Public Transit
Demand response
General public
10:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Columbia County, GA
General public: $4.50
Senior (60+): $3.00
Children (under 12): $1.00
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MARKET ANALYSIS
Successful public transportation serves densities of population and employment and also fulfills a
public service for those who have no other means of transportation. As Augusta Public Transit
looks toward the future, the agency must understand where potential customers live and work,
and align routes to serve those markets. The purpose of the Market Analysis is to understand both
the need and potential for transit service by examining the following market characteristics:

Population and employment density, which are the strongest indicators of transit
demand. Larger numbers of people living and working near each other and along
corridors leads to a stronger market for transit and indicate transit ridership potential.

Socio-economic characteristics, such as income, auto availability, age, and disability
status are characteristics indicative of a higher propensity to use transit, and thus indicate
transit need.

The location of major employment centers, which equates to major daily
destinations as well as potential transit partners.
Each of these factors indicates demand for transit, but ridership is also affected by urban form,
land use, the pedestrian environment, and the convenience of other alternatives. For example,
nearly all transit riders are also pedestrians on at least one end of their trip. In 2015, 1.8% of
workers in Augusta commuted by public transit, 3.6% commuted by walking, and 1.2% commuted
by “other means,” which includes bicycles.2 Bicyclists are increasingly growing segment of APT
users; bike racks are installed on all APT buses, which improves and encourages multimodal
connectivity. Thus, the safety and comfort of the walking environment strongly affects ridership.
Likewise, areas with minimal traffic congestion and ample (and cheap) parking will have a more
difficult time attracting transit riders than areas with a variety of pain points for drivers.
The Market Analysis presented in this chapter is a starting point that broadly identifies regions,
neighborhoods, and activity centers that may be supportive of transit service. Data sources
include the U.S. Census, the 2010-2014 American Community Survey, and online research.
TRANSIT POTENTIAL
Transit service is generally most efficient in areas with high concentrations of people and
businesses. Combining both residential and employment densities yields a transit potential index.
This index shows where the conditions are most suitable for transit service based on the number
of jobs and people per acre.
Population Density
Public transportation is most efficient when it connects population and employment centers
where people can easily walk to and from bus stops. The reach of transit is generally limited to
within ¼ to ½ mile of the transit line (depending on the built environment), or a 10-minute walk.
As such, the size of the travel market is directly related to the density of population in that area.
As a general rule, a density of 3-6 households, or 7-15 people, per acre is needed to support baselevel fixed-routes transit service (service every 60 minutes). Lower-density communities support
2
American Community Survey 2015
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different types of transit services, including lower frequency or demand response modes. Figure 6
below shows the population density by Census block in the City of Augusta. The yellow color
matches with the densities that can support at least hourly service; areas with darker colors can
support more frequent service.
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Figure 6 | Population Density
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Key findings from the Population Density map include the following:

Much of Augusta features low population density (one to five people per acre).

The majority of Augusta that features transit-supportive population densities are served
by at least one Augusta Public Transit route. Exceptions are Fort Gordon, and portions of
South Augusta; Grovetown in Columbia County also features transit-supportive
populations, but is not located within the APT service area.

Augusta’s highest population density occurs at Fort Gordon, where residential housing is
largely clustered around Barton Field on Chamberlain, Barnes, Brainard, and Lane
Avenues.

High population density areas exist off of Wrightsboro Road at Augusta University’s
Forest Hills campus, the neighborhood north of Walden Drive and east of Highland Drive
(which includes several apartment and townhome complexes), near the intersection of
Route 1 and Richmond Hill Road, and south of Poplar Street between 15th Street, Holley
Street, and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Pockets of high population density are also
present on James Brown Boulevard and Greene Street in downtown Augusta.
Employment Density
The location and number of jobs is a second strong indicator of transit demand, as traveling to
and from work accounts for the largest single segment of transit trips in most markets.
Additionally, transit that serves areas of high employment density provides key connections to job
opportunities. The minimum level of employment density that is typically needed to support
hourly transit service is five jobs per acre. This corresponds to the yellow color in Figure 7. Higher
densities can support greater frequency.
The employment density presented in Figure 7 reveals several findings:

As would be expected, relatively high employment density is concentrated in a few key
pockets of the service area. These locations include downtown Augusta, along Broad
Street, Greene Street, and 7th Street, and the neighborhood southwest of downtown that is
home to Augusta University, Augusta University Hospitals, and Paine College.

Additional pockets of high employment density exist at Doctor’s Hospital, in the district
off Wrightsboro Road that includes Augusta Mall and Forest Hills Shopping Center, at
Southgate Plaza off Gordon Highway, and at Washington Crossing and Washington
Square Shopping Centers.

High employment density also exists at select tracts on Fort Gordon. While Fort Gordon
accommodates over 25,000 employees, job sites are dispersed throughout the base.

Many areas served by Augusta Public Transit routes have low levels of employment
density, with fewer than five jobs per acre.
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Figure 7 | Employment Density
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Major Employers
Identifying large employers in Augusta-Richmond County is useful, not only because of the large
concentration of jobs they represent, but also because of the marketing and other partnership
opportunities that they may offer. Partnerships such as employer-supported transit passes,
vanpool programs, and on-site transit coordinators can attract choice riders to a transit system
and translate into higher overall system ridership. The 10 largest employers in AugustaRichmond County, as reported by the Augusta Economic Development Authority, are shown in
Figure 8. It is important to note that some of the city’s top employers have more than one office in
Augusta. For example, employees for the Augusta-Richmond County Consolidated Government
and the Richmond County School System work at multiple government offices and schools
located throughout Augusta-Richmond County.
Figure 8 | Top 10 Largest Employers in Augusta
Employer
Sector
Employees
U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon
Government/Defense
25,265
Augusta University
Education
4,656
Richmond County School System
Education
4,418
University Hospital
Health Care
3,200
Augusta University Hospitals
Health Care
3,054
Municipal Services
2,612
VA Medical Centers
Health Care
2,082
East Central Regional Hospital
Health Care
1,488
EZ-GO Textron
Manufacturing
1,277
Doctors Hospital
Health Care
1,210
Augusta-Richmond County
Source: Augusta Economic Development Authority: http://augustaeda.org/LargestEmployers.html
The U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon are the largest employers in Augusta, employing
more than 25,000 workers–including both military personnel and civilians. Health care is firmly
established as Augusta’s second-largest employment sector, with five hospital systems
representing half of the city’s top 10 largest employers. Combined, the five health care systems
listed employ approximately 11,000 workers. Manufacturing is a smaller, but integral industry in
Augusta. The top five manufacturing companies in Augusta each employee 500 or more workers,
and account for nearly 4,000 total jobs: EZ-GO Textron, Covidien, International Paper, Kellogg’s,
and FPL Food. Additionally, the Augusta-Richmond County Consolidated Government employs
over 2,500 workers.
Figure 9 shows the location of the 10 largest employers in Augusta-Richmond County. The
majority of Augusta’s largest employers are served by Augusta Public Transit, with the exception
of the U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon and EZ-GO Textron. The main offices for the
Richmond County School System and Augusta-Richmond County are served by multiple APT
routes. Augusta University and University Hospital are served by Route 1, Route 9 provides
service to East Central Regional Hospital, and Doctors Hospital is served by multiple stops on
Route 2. Similarly, while no APT route provides front-door service to the Charlie Norwood VA
Medical Center, Route 7 operates on Wrightsboro Road adjacent to the VA Medical Center.
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Figure 9 | Major Employers
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Fort Gordon is located 11 miles southwest of downtown Augusta, and is not currently served by
Augusta Public Transit. APT service was established to Fort Gordon in November 2014 (Route
10), but was discontinued in June 2015 due to low ridership and high operating costs. Presently,
Route 8 operates service to Barton Village, five miles northeast of Fort Gordon’s main entrance.
Similarly, EZ-GO Textron is not served by APT, despite the plant’s location near several
influential manufacturing employers, including Georgia-Pacific, Kellogg’s Snacks, and Covidien.
Large manufacturing and medical-based employers (such as EZ-GO Textron) often have multiple
shifts, some of which fall outside traditional commute hours. In addition, manufacturing and
other industrial facilities sometimes require large campuses that tend to be located outside of city
centers. Combined, these factors can make manufacturing and medical facilities difficult to serve
with traditional fixed-route transit service only. Other options such as vanpools and ridematching can either complement or replace fixed-route service at these locations.
Transit Potential Index
The Transit Potential Index, shown in Figure 10, is a composite of the population and
employment densities and is an indicator of the viability of fixed-route service in a particular area.
A higher Transit Potential Index score for a Census block points to a higher likelihood of
generating substantial transit ridership in that block. For the transit potential of an area to be
fully realized, however, the area must also have transit-supportive infrastructure such as
sidewalks and crosswalks. Actual ridership is also highly dependent on service characteristics
such as schedule and routing.
A review of the Transit Potential Index for the study area suggests:

Transit potential is particularly high in downtown Augusta along Broad Street, Greene
Street, and 7th Street, near the campus and hospital of Augusta University, at Fort
Gordon, and in the vicinity of Doctor’s Hospital in West Augusta.

High transit potential also exists along Wrightsboro Road between Interstate 520 and
Damascus Road (near Augusta Mall), at the Olmstead Homes public housing
development, in the vicinity of T.W. Josey High School, and on Stevens Creek Road and
Washington Road near Vaughn Square Shopping Center, Westside High School, and
Washington Crossing Shopping Center. Transit potential is also high in Columbia County
along Washington Road and in Grovetown, although this is outside of the APT service
area.

Outlying pockets of transit potential exist in the area surrounding East Central Regional
Hospital south of Tobacco Road, near apartment complexes on Lumpkin Road and
Richmond Hill Road, and in the neighborhood between 1st and 3rd Avenue west of Old
Savannah Road.

Much of Augusta features low-to-moderate transit potential, which is reflected in the
current transit coverage of the Augusta Public Transit system.
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Figure 10 | Transit Potential Index
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TRANSIT NEED
Above all else, public transportation is a mobility tool. Certain population subgroups are more
likely to use transit than other modes as their primary means of local and regional transportation.
These groups include:

Older Adults, who as they age, often become less comfortable or less able to operate a
vehicle.

Individuals in Poverty, typically because transit is less expensive than owning and
operating a car.

Persons with Disabilities, many of whom can’t drive and or have difficulty driving.

Young adults, who in general have a significantly higher interest in using many
transportation options such as transit, walking, and biking and a lower interest in driving.

People without Access to a Vehicle, whether it be by choice or due to financial or
legal reasons, often have no other transportation options besides using transit.
Identifying areas with relatively high concentrations of these groups can help determine where
the need for transit service is greatest. It should be noted, however, that high transit need does
not necessarily mean that traditional fixed-route transit is ideal for an area. In some locations,
the density of transit-dependent population is high, but the total population is still quite low,
meaning that the transit potential of the area is also low. The maps in this section utilize the same
scale as maps in the Transit Potential section to provide an equal understanding of potential and
need. Each community, however, has its own priorities and may choose to focus resources on one
or both markets.
Older Adults
Older adults (65 and older) are more likely to use transit than the general population. Many
seniors are retirees, and as a result, take fewer daily trips. Some choose or are forced to stop
driving due to health issues, while others simply prefer a car-free lifestyle. Transit provides an
important means for this population demographic to remain as active and independent as
possible, and to age in place. As of 2015, 13% of Augusta’s population was 65 years of age or
older.3
In general, the density of older adults in Augusta is low, and well-dispersed throughout the city.
The densest tracts are typically related to the presence of assisted living facilities. For example,
the tract featuring the highest density of older adults in Augusta is located between John C.
Calhoun Expressway and Walton Way, which is home to Peabody Apartments, a 245-unit public
housing development designed to serve elderly and disabled residents. Currently the areas with
the highest density of older adults are served by at least one, and sometimes multiple Augusta
Public Transit routes (Figure 11).
People with Disabilities
Residents with disabilities are another group with a high propensity for transit use. While many
disabled individuals are eligible for Augusta Public Transit’s paratransit service (curb-to-curb van
service), there has been a strong national trend toward “mainstreaming” in recent years.
3
2015 American Community Survey Estimate
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Mainstreaming encourages people with disabilities to use fixed-route transit service instead of
paratransit service whenever possible. For the user, this means a greater level of flexibility, as
fixed-route service does not require advanced reservations, but less convenience since the
passenger must walk or be dropped off at transit stops. For the transit operator, mainstreaming
can result in cost reductions and greater service productivity by shifting trips from costly
paratransit service to fixed-route service. For those with disabilities to reasonably be expected to
rely on fixed route service, however, the service must be physically and geographically accessible.
Over 21,000 residents—16% of Augusta’s adult population—have a disability, significantly higher
than the national average (11%). As Figure 12 demonstrates, disabled residents reside in multiple
tracts west of downtown and south of Augusta University. This population sub-group is currently
served relatively well by existing APT routes.
People Living in Poverty
Poverty status is a strong indicator of a higher-than-average propensity to use transit because as
income falls, the cost of owning and using a private vehicle becomes more burdensome, which
makes transit a more attractive option. This analysis used the Census classification of poverty
status to identify those living in poverty. Since disposable income is largely a factor of household
size and household income, the Census considers household income and the number of members
in the household in classifying a household as in poverty or not.
Twenty-eight percent of Augusta’s residents live below the poverty level. The highest densities of
poverty-status individuals are located in the neighborhood surrounding T.W. Josey High School.
Low densities of individuals below the poverty line appear throughout the city, clustered east and
west of downtown Augusta, and off Deans Bridge Road (Figure 13). The density of people in
poverty in these neighborhoods may be due to clusters of apartment buildings and public housing
developments.
Youth and Young Adult Population
In the same way that older adults are more likely to ride transit than the general population, so
are young adults and youth aged 15 to 21 who either cannot drive or do not own a vehicle. This
demographic is also increasingly seeking alternative transportation options beyond the
automobile. A recent survey of Millennials by Transportation for America and the Rockefeller
Foundation reported that more than half of Millennials would prefer to live in a place where they
do not have to rely on cars to get around, and two-thirds say access to high quality transportation
will be one of their top three criteria when deciding where to live.4
Youth and young adults make up 12% of Augusta’s population. As shown in Figure 14, the highest
concentrations of this population are located in Fort Gordon on Chamberlain and Barnes
Avenues, and near Augusta University’s main campus. Densities of youth and younger adults also
exist along Jackson Road and in East Augusta. Excluding Fort Gordon, nearly all of the areas with
youth and young adult densities above six people per acre are served by an Augusta Public Transit
Route.
4 “Access to Public Transportation a Top Criterion for Millennials When Deciding Where to Live, New Survey Shows”:
https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/about-us/news-media/access-public-transportation-top/
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Households without a vehicle
For self-evident reasons, individuals without access to a vehicle represent a particularly strong
market for transit. In some cases, individuals do not have access to an automobile for health,
financial, or legal reasons, while others simply choose to live car-free. Currently, 12% of
individuals in Augusta do not have access to a vehicle.
As shown in Figure 15 the highest densities of zero-vehicle individuals are concentrated in East
Augusta, the Laney-Walker neighborhood (near Lucy Craft Laney High School and CT Walker
Traditional Magnet School), and in South Turpin Hills along Old Savannah Road and Olive Road.
Additional Census block groups featuring concentrations of zero-vehicle individuals are located in
the Sand Hills, Summerville, Harrisburg, and Turpin Hill neighborhoods.
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Figure 11 | Density of Older Adults
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Figure 12 | Density of Populations with Disabilities
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Figure 13 | Density of Households Living in Poverty
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Figure 14 | Density of Youth and Young Adults
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Figure 15 | Density of Households without Vehicles
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Transit Need Index
In order to aggregate transit needs across all socio-economic subgroups, a score was assigned to
each Census block group based on the concentration of each population subgroup in that area. As
shown in Figure 16, high need for public transportation equates to the dark red color and
indicates high concentrations of individuals in poverty, persons with disabilities, seniors, young
adults, and people without access to a vehicle. Transit need does not necessarily equate to transit
demand; rather, this analysis highlights areas of the community where high concentrations of
people who typically rely on transit live. Actual ridership is based upon additional factors such as
route structure, frequency, reliability, convenience, and safe access serving these geographic
areas.
The areas of highest transit need in Augusta are located in East Augusta, downtown Augusta, west
of Augusta University, the South Turpin Hill and Laney Walker neighborhoods, and extending
west from downtown along Wrightsboro Road and Walton Way. Downtown Augusta features a
dense and walkable pedestrian grid, with high transit coverage. Several residential neighborhoods
south of downtown that contain populations with a high need for public transit—including South
Turpin Hill and Laney Walker—are served by APT (Route 4 and Route 6), but these
neighborhoods lack effective pedestrian networks. Other areas of Augusta with elevated transit
need are less well served by transit. Neighborhoods south of Daniel Field Airport and on Rosier
Road each feature high transit need but few fixed-route transit options. However, Richmond
County transit serves areas south of the Bobby Jones Expressway with demand-response service,
including Hephzibah, McBean, and Blythe.
Additional pockets of populations with high levels of transit need are also located at the Norton
Acres and Faith Hill neighborhoods east of Deans Bridge Road, between Lumpkin Road and
Windsor Spring Road, the Meadowbrook neighborhood east of Deans Bridge Road, the
Tanglewood neighborhood north of Wrightsboro Road, the neighborhoods adjacent to Daniel
Field Airport, along Rosier Road, and north of the Washington Crossing Shopping Center (east of
Carl Sanders Highway). Clusters of populations with moderately high levels of transit need are
located west of Carl Sanders Highway in both Augusta-Richmond County and Columbia County.
These neighborhoods are currently only served by Route 5. Additionally, several residential
neighborhoods located south of Tobacco Road (Pinnacle Place, Town and Country Park, Raintree)
are home to populations with moderately high transit need but are not currently served by APT’s
fixed-route service. Richmond County Transit operates demand-response passenger van service
to these areas.
Overall, the area of highest transit need in Augusta-Richmond County correspond closely to areas
of high transit potential in the community. This is a positive sign for the prospects of developing a
transit system that resonates with a broad range of users, including both choice riders and transitdependent riders.
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Figure 16 | Transit Need Index
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DOCUMENT REVIEW
Augusta Public Transit has been the subject of numerous surveys and studies in recent years.
Some of these efforts resulted in specific recommendations, while others helped capture the
sentiments of the community with regards to transit service. Both of these outcomes offer
valuable insight for Connect Augusta.
This review is included for documentation purposes and to provide context on Augusta-Richmond
County’s history of transportation planning. It provides an overview of the priorities and purposes
of relevant planning studies at the time they were produced. Information contained within this
review may no longer be accurate or consistent with the current policies promoted by AugustaRichmond County or Augusta Public Transit.
The Nelson\Nygaard team identified and reviewed the following four studies that are directly
relevant to Connect Augusta:

Augusta Regional Advanced Transportation Management System Master Plan (2002)

Augusta-Richmond County Comprehensive Plan (2008)

Augusta Regional Transportation Study: Transportation Improvement Program (2015)

Augusta Regional Transportation Study: Transportation Vision 2040 (2015)
A summary of each study is provided below, including the purpose of the study and the
implication to the current project.
AUGUSTA REGIONAL ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM MASTER PLAN
Date of Publication: 2002
Prepared by: PB Farradyne, Gresham Smith and Partners, Manual Padron and Associates
Purpose
The Augusta Regional Advanced Transportation Management System (ATMS) Master Plan was
completed in 2002, and presents the planning foundation for deployment of an Intelligent
Transportation System (ITS) in the Augusta Regional Transportation Study (ARTS) area.
Summary
The plan includes an inventory of existing transportation systems and plans, staffing and design
analysis for the Augusta Regional Transportation Control Center, and recommended ITS projects.
The recommendations of the Master Plan include: use of central control software and traffic
signal control software, implementation of Highway Emergency Response Operators (HEROs),
use of video image detectors, surveillance devices, traveler information services for traffic and
transit, and weather detection equipment, and implementation of Advanced Vehicle Location
(AVL) and automatic passenger count (APC) systems on transit vehicles.
Implications
The recommended plans and priorities identified by the ATMS are to be implemented in three
distinct phases over a 20-year period.
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AUGUSTA-RICHMOND COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Date of Publication: 2008
Author: Augusta Planning and Development Department
Purpose
The Augusta-Richmond County Comprehensive Plan’s Transportation chapter is a review,
inventory, and assessment of the transportation options, services, and facilities in AugustaRichmond County.
Summary
The majority of the Transportation Improvement Projects recommended in the AugustaRichmond County Comprehensive Plan are road widening and lane modification projects.
Implementation of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), as originally proposed in the 2002
Advanced Transportation Management System Master Plan, is also recommended.
Recommended ITS components include a communications network, cameras, detectors, dynamic
message signs, weather detectors, and upgrades to the traffic control system.
The primary recommendations for APT are to increase service productivity, to maintain current
levels of service on fixed-routes, and to enhance service on routes where the potential for
increased ridership exists. Additionally, a cross-county connector route was recommended, along
with expanding service to Fort Gordon and North Augusta.
Implications
The 2008 Comprehensive Plan endorses several recommendations from the APT Transit System
Analysis, completed in 2001. Limited funding, along with increased fuel and operating expenses,
constrained Augusta Public Transit’s ability to implement improvements.
AUGUSTA REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION STUDY:
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Date of Publication: 2015
Produced by: Augusta Planning and Development Department, Aiken County Planning and
Development Department, Lower Savannah Council of Governments, Georgia DOT, South
Carolina DOT
Purpose
The Augusta Regional Transportation Study (ARTS) Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
was prepared by the Augusta Planning & Development Department in cooperation with multiple
local, regional, state, and Federal planning and transportation agencies.
Summary
The majority of the proposed transportation improvements included in the TIP are road widening
projects or intersection improvements. The capital improvement budget for Augusta Public
Transit is $16.315 million, and is divided into the following categories: Transit vehicles,
replacement vans, Americans with Disabilities (ADA) expense, management training, capital
maintenance items, preventative maintenance, bus shelters/benches, bus stops/route signs,
surveillance/security equipment, stationary bus fare collection, ADP hardware and software, bus
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maintenance and administration facility, planning comprehensive operations analysis, and transit
operations. The largest projected expense is for bus maintenance and administration facility
transit operations, which includes $2.5 million for rehab and renovation of the administration
and maintenance facility. Two replacement buses and two replacement vans are included in the
budget.
Implications
The Transportation Improvement Program is used to determine and prioritize capital
transportation projects for Augusta-Richmond County of FY 2015 – FY 2018.
AUGUSTA REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION STUDY:
TRANSPORTATION VISION 2040
Date of Publication: 2015
Produced by: Augusta Planning and Development Department
Purpose
Transportation Vision 2040 is the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) prepared by the
Augusta Planning and Development Department (APDD) for the region’s Metropolitan Planning
Organization, the Augusta Regional Transportation Study (ARTS). The study was adopted in
September 2015 and was produced following a 14-month planning process that included intensive
public engagement and coordination with ARTS, the Georgia Department of Transportation, and
the South Carolina Department of Transportation.
Summary
Transportation Vision 2040 establishes transportation strategies, plans, and goals for the
Augusta-Richmond County region—including parts of South Carolina–through the year 2040.
The study reviews the region’s existing transportation infrastructure, systems, and services by
category, including regional travel and commuting patterns, traffic safety, congestion
management, public transportation, bicycle and pedestrian systems, and complete streets.
Recommendations and strategies for future transportation improvements are also proposed. This
document review primarily focuses on the study’s public transit recommendations in the
Multimodal Transportation Strategies (Section 6.3).
Public transit is recognized as a critical service that is essential to connecting employees to jobs
and enabling opportunities for employment, increasing the mobility of all residents, and
revitalizing neighborhoods. Improving service cost-effectively is also identified as a priority.
Recommendations specific to Augusta Public Transit’s bus services and facilities include the
following:

Expanding weekday service to 10:00 PM (and potentially Saturday service) in 2016

Expanding the bus fleet by 10 new buses

Reduce bus headways from 60 minutes to 30 minutes

Replace all bus shelters
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
Add new transit stop amenities, including ADA accessible ramps, trash cans, advanced
fare box technology, sidewalk approaches; features requiring electricity should be solar
powered

Develop rural services to operate as feeder bus service connecting to mainline APT
services

Upgrade the Kmart Transfer Station by replacing the bus shelter, improving signage (bus
stop and wayfinding), improving security, beautifying the immediate surroundings, and
improving lighting

Explore relocating the Broad Street Transfer Center
Policy and organizational level strategies for APT include the following:

Rebrand APT with help from communication and marketing students at Georgia Regent’s
University

Form additional partnerships with local community agencies, organizations, and
businesses

Engage underserved areas with transit to “stimulate socio-economic regeneration and
revitalization”

Start a “Travel Training Program” that increases transit awareness among senior citizens

Improve data collection efforts in coordination with the City of Augusta’s Information
Technology Department
Improvements are also included for Best Friend Express (BFE), the transit service operated by the
Lower Savannah Council of Governments. BFE operates in Aiken County, South Carolina, and
provides service to APT’s main transfer station on Broad Street. Transit improvements and
strategies for BFE include: adding more ADA compatible vehicles, upgrading the transit facility
and vehicle storage facility, hiring eight drivers and two dispatchers, expanding the dial-a-ride
operating period to five days, extending operating hours and ADA offerings, expanding service to
northeast Aiken County, and restoring Saturday service.
Several related transportation strategies are recommended to help improve transit accessibility
and regional connectivity:

Bike racks on buses to improve multimodal connectivity

Consider regional express transit routes linking commercial and residential hubs, or
transit centers, to reduce vehicular congestion

Bicycle and pedestrian improvements to enhance mobility and reduce vehicular
congestion

Installing Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) or Advanced Traffic Management
Systems (ATMS) to increase safety and security of users and improve traffic flow

Encourage transportation demand management (TDM) policies to reduce congestion

Consider creating high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes to effectively manage mobility
throughout the region

Coordinate the land use and transportation planning processes
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
Implement access management principles to move vehicles and goods safely

Focus on creating a transportation network that incorporates age-friendly design

Designing Complete Streets to safely accommodate all travel modes and users
Implications
Transportation 2040 was adopted in September 2015 by elected officials from Augusta-Richmond
County, Aiken County, South Carolina, the Georgia Department of Transportation, and the ARTS
Policy Committee.
Augusta Public Transit has completed several initiatives since the plan was adopted, including
expanding the existing bus fleet and rebranding the agency. Going forward, APT has designated
$17,946,335 for capital transit projects for FY 2015-2018, $32,302,936 for Tier 2 Long Range
Projects (2019-2029), and $35,927,979 for Tier 3 Long Range Projects (2030-2040).
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