Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTRANSIT_MINUTESTRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES DECEMBER 17, 2008 4:30 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Mary Louise Lewis, Jessica King, Diane Hoffman, Diane Lowe, Troy Monday and Mike Norton MEMBERS ABSENT: Jeffrey Olmstead OTHERS PRESENT: Christopher Strong, Transportation Director Chairperson Lewis called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. NEW BUSINESS: 1. PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2009 PROGRAM OF PROJECTS. Chairperson Lewis opened the public hearing at 4:30 p.m. No comments were received. The public hearing closed at 4:31 p.m. Mr. Norton recommended approval of the 2009 Program of Projects, Ms. Lowe seconded the motion. Motion carried (6-0). Mr. Norton asked when all the projects could be completed. Mr. Strong replied that the time frame is sometime between March 2009 and July 2009. However, it all depends on the State's approval. 2. OPERATING BUDGET AND PROPOSED FARE INCREASE. Mr. Strong noted that the Common Council had approved the fare increase as recommended by the Transit Advisory Board in its November meeting. He noted that the board's amendments to the original fare increase proposal will result in $42,000 less revenue than was projected in the city's approved budget. The complexity of the fare increase proposal prevented him from being able to provide the Board with a complete picture of the fiscal impact of amendments. Mr. Strong said he is exploring the idea of giving the Board a broader picture of the system's financial information. He feels it is important for the Board to have this information. Ms. Hoffman felt it would be helpful on the report to give percentages of total actual budget expenditures versus total budgeted amount. TAB MINUTES 2 DECEMBER 17, 2008 Mr. Norton questioned if we have ever looked into purchasing fuel in advance. Mr. Strong replied that we purchase fuel approximately every three (3) weeks. Ms. King thought it might be wise to look into purchasing fuel in advance because of the present low fuel prices. She felt this could really help the budget. STAFF STATEMENTS: 3. OPERATIONS SCHEDULE Mr. Strong noted that there have been some discussions about trying to extend weekday service into the evenings and potentially shorten Saturday service and/or make it less frequent. He was interested in comments from the Board. Ms. Hoffman would be opposed to a 45-minute schedule because it is too hard to keep a mental note of different time schedules. She felt it is easier to keep track of timetables if it's a 30-minute or 1-hour schedule. Mr. Norton agreed with Ms. Hoffman. He said the Neenah Route is a prime example of trying to remember odd timetables. On extended service, he felt many riders would like bus service to run until approximately 9 p.m. - 10 p.m. Ms. King said it would be nice to have some of the more popular routes run longer hours. However, she said one complication could be there is only one supervisor. If service hours were extended, there would not be an on-staff supervisor for these hours. Mr. Norton asked the cost of operating a bus route. Mr. Strong said it cost approximately $60-$70 per hour to operate. 4. TITAN TANSIT Mr. Strong has met with the UW-O Titan Transit Advisory Board and they are willing to fund this service through the spring. Operations will resume in February. Mr. Strong said the night ridership is really strong and the evening ridership has grown slightly. The lack of ridership growth in the evening may be due to marketing. Mr. Thomas Wolf, president of the Oshkosh Students Association, has agreed to appear on the Oshkosh Today sometime during January 2009. Mr. Norton felt the routes do not extend very far into Oshkosh residential areas. This could account for low ridership. Ms. King suggested marketing this service to people who live in the downtown area 5. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: Mr. Norton would like the board to discuss the Neenah Route at a future meeting. Mr. Norton suggested the transit system consider having a free ride day. Mr. Strong felt a free day would be a good incentive for new riders. Mrs. Lewis said we have done this in TAB MINUTES 3 DECEMBER 17, 2008 the past on Saturdays because it's normally a low ridership day. Ms. Hoffman suggested possibly having it on the first Saturday of the month for a couple months. Mr. Norton suggested having it in the summer when it is more comfortable to ride a bus. Ms. Hoffman suggested holding a day during Sawdust Days. Ms King felt it would make sense to have it on Thursdays to help with Waterfest. There be no other business to come before the Transit Advisory Board and upon duly being made and seconded (Norton, King), the meeting adjourned at 5: 00 p. m.