Citibus assessed transit operations in 2019 and envisioned a layered system that incorporated routes that serve different trip purposes:

• Express Service: Most direct connections between destinations with most buses per hour

• Core Service: Connections to key destinations across the city and more buses per hour
• Neighborhood Service: More circuitous routes that connect many locations around the city and fewer buses per hour
• Microtransit: For unserved or underserved areas, connecting to fixed route

This analysis developed new routes like the Marsha Sharp Express and 98^th Street Route, while adjusting others. The microtransit recommendation was implemented in response to Covid.

In 2021, Citibus developed a hybrid route plan that improved service in the southern areas of the city and through a facilities plan identified new “mobility hubs” that would improve amenities and transfers at key stops like the Downtown Transfer Plaza.

During the Citibus Transit Board Visioning Workshop in January, the project team reviewed recent Citibus planning activities and trends with the board, including changes from the Covid-19 pandemic and initial recovery. Staff also sought to understand board members’ vision for Citibus in 5-10 years,

Board members widely agreed that in five years, they wanted to see:

• Return of riders lost during Covid-19
• Some integration of Citibus service with TTU Routes
• More fixed route service (bus routes)
• Targeted microtransit service (OnDemand) that works with fixed route services
• More frequency for key bus routes (buses per hour)
• Strategic geographic expansion of fixed route and microtransit service
• More investment in transit amenities and security than today
• Continued investment in improving the transit fleet
• Pursue increased funding for operations
• Support from internal factors like funding, system frequency and reliability, marketing and branding
• Support from external factors like city population and traffic growth, shifting travel patterns

The Citibus board met again in May 2023 to discuss city demographics and ridership trends, citywide travel patterns, and service plan priorities and opportunities.

Much of the Citibus route network covers areas of Lubbock with poverty levels greater than the citywide average and with a greater-than-average non-white population. These areas of the city, particularly in northwest, south central, and west Lubbock, also have higher ridership levels, some of the highest-boarding stops, and the highest-performing routes.

Assessing OnDemand microtransit travel data, many of the most popular on-demand trips mimic existing fixed routes, suggesting riders choose Citibus OnDemand microtransit over bus service due to poor frequency or during hours when bus service doesn’t operate. Some trips on microtransit cover areas not served by fixed route bus service.