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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09 15 21 TAB Staff AgendaPlease contact the Transit Advisory Board at TAB@ci.oshkosh.wi.us with any questions or concerns TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD STAFF AGENDA ITEMS September 15, 2021 PUBLIC COMMENT APPROVAL OF MINUTES OLD BUSINESS 1. Paratransit Update - Paratransit hours and days of service for the next request for proposal. As a follow-up to our last meeting, we had conversations with Winnebago County regarding the desire to continue offering paratransit service 24/7. We discussed the possibility of reducing service by eliminating service from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. The county agreed to fund their share of what we anticipate to be an increase in paratransit costs with the next Request for Proposal. Therefore; we will be able to continue with 24/7 paratransit service for the next year pending city budget approval and a successful RFP process. We would continue to be the only transit service in the state that offers 24/7 paratransit service. This continues to be a cost and equity issue. Transit riders that do not qualify for complementary paratransit service are only provided service during transit hours. GO Transit will continue to evaluate the feasibility of 24/7 paratransit service going forward and may bring the issue back to the board in the future based on budgetary and equity concerns. It is probable this will be a topic during our next transit development plan. The transit development plan is generally updated every 5-10 years. The last plan was completed in 2018. NEW BUSINESS 2. A request to no longer offer complementary paratransit services on major holidays. This would match the 6 holidays that fixed route transit service is not available. These days are New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, and the 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. This is an equity issue. These are also official city holidays. Additionally, we believe it is important our paratransit drivers and staff get a few days off per year to be with their family and friends. There is currently a national and local labor shortage including transit drivers and requiring them to work on TAB AGENDA ITEMS 2 SEPT 15, 2021 these holidays does not help the situation. GO Transit’s paratransit hours continue to be well above and beyond ADA requirements as well as all of our peers. There are options available for those that truly need a ride and have no other means of transportation on these holidays. There are volunteer driver programs through many organizations such as Advocap and Making the Ride Happen as well as the opportunity to arrange a private ride/pay through a cab company or transportation networking company. Additionally, it is likely that friends and family help with transportation on these major holidays. It is worth clarifying that we are not a medical transportation provider. It is worth noting (since there is often confusion) GO Transit’s complimentary paratransit program is not designed for medical transportation or discharges. Non-emergency medical transportation is administered through a program with the state that GO Transit is not affiliated with. I recommend approval. STAFF STATEMENTS 3. Ridership & Procurement Updates 4. Paratransit RFP – We have talking with our peers about their paratransit services. We have learned that many of our peers our contracting with companies that provided advanced technology such as real time access to the vendors dispatching information, vehicle location and the availability of mobile phone apps. for riders to schedule rides. We will be asking potential vendors about their technological capabilities as part of the RFP. 5. Route 10 RFP – We will issuing an RFP for the fixed route 10 service status quo. However; we believe this route may be better served in a different way such as “micro transit”, an on demand type model. We will be evaluating this further. FUTURE AGENDA REQUESTS ADJOURNMENT TAB AGENDA ITEMS 3 SEPT 15, 2021