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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTESTRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES MARCH 18, 2009 4:30 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Diane Hoffman, Mary Louise Lewis, Diane Lowe, Troy Monday and Mike Norton MEMBERS ABSENT: Jessica King and Jeffrey Olmstead OTHERS PRESENT: Christopher Strong, Transportation Director David Vickman, Transit Coordinator Jennifer Weigand, Recording Secretary Chairperson Lewis called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. NEW BUSINESS: 1. PROPOSAL TO DECREASE FARES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PARATRANSIT SYSTEM. Mr. Strong explained how there was confusion with how the vote on fare increases played out at the November 2008 meeting. At the request of Board Members King and Olmstead, the proposal to decrease after-hours (Cabulance) fares was being brought back to Board. Mr. Strong explained a few factors which should be evaluated when considering the fare reduction, including equity in after-hours service prices, the ability to recover costs of service beyond what the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires, and the cumulative effect of reduced revenue from various sources (unapproved fare increases which were budgeted for, unexpected changes in county revenues, and loss in revenue from the EAA shuttle). Mr. Strong also noted that, according to a survey completed by the Wisconsin Urban and Rural Transit Association, there are only two transit systems in the state that provide after-hours service: Oshkosh and Valley Transit. Valley Transit's after-hours service consists of limited service on Sunday from 7:30 AM to 2 PM; whereas, Oshkosh provides 24-hour service, 7 days a week. Valley Transit's Sunday fares are $ll, which is a little more than six times their current fixed-route fare. Mr. Norton asked how the per-ride charge for Cabulance was developed, and questioned if other bids were received at the time of contract renewal. Mr. Strong replied multiple bids were received, and that Cabulance was selected. Mr. Vickman said according to a survey of all systems, our rate falls right in the center of fares charged. He noted other systems normally charge one rate for all services (i.e. sedan and accessible van), whereas Oshkosh charges two different fares. If the rates are averaged, Oshkosh is similar to other systems. TAB MINUTES 2 MARCH 18, 2009 Marg Richardson, a social worker for Winnebago County, said if the ride is a medical run, Cabulance can also bill Medical Assistance for it. This seems like a double incentive for them to provide rides during the day; whereas, after-hour rides are for church services and social activities. She felt the higher fare isolates low income people. NIr. Strong noted in 2008 we provided 63,500 ADA rides and 41,000 non-ADA rides. Ms. Richardson said Cabulance has a monopoly on the system. NIr. Strong replied that competition does exist. NIr. Bob Poeschl, 912 Bay Shore Drive, works for ARC of Winnebago County, and was in support of the proposed lower fare. He pointed out that money is sparse to many of his organization's clients. This higher fare limits their interaction in the community and causes a burden to them, forcing them to choose between activities. It is important that people with disabilities have the same chance to partake in these activities. His concern is the increased cost would cause harm to their quality of life. Mrs. Lewis was against decreasing the fare at this time until the contract with Cabulance expires in 2010. She feels by lowering one fare and not the others, this would result in complaints from other riders. Deb Ackerson, 223 Merritt Avenue, said what she is hearing is that the City needs extra money and you're taking it from those who have the least. NIr. Norton requested more information on the loss in county funding. NIr. Strong explained that the City submits various contracts to the County early in the year, and normally we receive the amount we request. After the County approved its budget, we received the contracts back and found that the dollar amounts were lower. We are looking into how this circumstance emerged and how we can avoid this in the future. Ms. Richardson said she was confused because according to her notes taken at the November 2008 meeting, the fares were not going to be raised. She pointed out the impact of lowering the fare is only $2,000 in lost revenue. She said that reducing the fare, even for a few months, would enable these people to have additional mobility options to do something with their lives. She said the people affected by this fare are the weakest and poorest in the city. Ms. Hoffman felt it is a hard position for everyone all the way around. She said she would love to give away transit services to everyone. However, she said that if we give away too much in transit services, it risks damaging the whole system down the road. NIr. Norton moved to decrease the fare to $4.00. Ms. Lowe seconded the motion. Motion lost (2-3 Lewis, Lowe, Monday). 2. DISCUSSION OF OPTIONS FOR EAA SHUTTLE TAB MINUTES MARCH 18, 2009 Mr. Strong said that staff had evaluated a couple of options: continuing the service with its existing frequency at a fare that would comply with the charter regulations; or discontinuing the service. Staff analysis indicated that continuing the service under this condition would cost no more than discounting the service. He believed that if we discontinued the service, there may be a lot of negative publicity. He noted attendees have been relying on our service for a long time. Since there would be no adverse revenue impact, he recommended continuing it. He said with the new presidential administration that there may be a different philosophy on charter regulations. By continuing the service, he said we would at least keep our foot in the door in the event the regulations do change. Mr. Norton questioned who would turn us in for running it at the $5.00 fare. Mr. Strong replied one of the private sector operators could and, if the system is found in violation of the regulation, this would result in a penalty. Mr. Norton said he would be in favor of a lower fare for this year but would like to analyze the data after this year's air show. Mr. Strong noted that EAA does not provide any money to us for operating this service. Mrs. Lewis asked if we could charge $2.00 per trip in place of a round trip fare. Mr. Strong said the guidelines talk about a "premium fare". He interprets a premium fare as any amount above our normal $1.00 one-way trip fare that we provide within the city limits. He believes that if we charge anything above our normal fare, it would be considered a premium fare. Mrs. Lewis felt if we drop the round trip fare to $2.00, we would be opening up a hornet's nest. She asked if we had talked to EAA. Mr. Strong replied he had, and that EAA has discussed running the service on their own, as one way to generate additional revenue. Mrs. Lewis noted if EAA went with a private contractor, they probably wouldn't be using air- conditioned or accessible buses like Oshkosh Transit does. Mr. Monday asked if we could contract with a private contractor to run this service. Mr. Vickman replied we would than be violating another regulation by taking hours away from our drivers. Mr. Norton moved to charge $2.00 for a round trip fare and $25.00 for an unlimited pass for EAA service. Mrs. Hoffman seconded the motion. Motion carried (5-0). Mr. Strong noted that there will need to be a public hearing on this fare reduction; this will occur at the next board meeting. Mrs. Lowe suggested installing donation jars in the buses. 3. FOLLOW-UP ON TRANSIT SERVICE FOR THE OSHKOSH AREA COMMUNITY PANTRY (2551 JACKSON STREET). Mr. Strong reviewed the Route 4 revision which will serve the pantry, which will go into effect starting March 30, 2009. Mrs. Lewis was glad to hear we will be providing them service. TAB MINUTES 4 MARCH 18, 2009 Mr. Strong said Mr. Vickman is currently talking with the pantry about them becoming a sales outlet for our monthly bus passes. Some of the Board members suggested selling monthly passes at the following locations: Target, Goodwill, Festival Foods, Morton Pharmacy across the street from the transit center, Aldi, and ARC of Winnebago County. Mrs. Hoffman suggested looking at businesses close to stop where bus riders frequent. Mrs. Lowe suggested putting in a machine at the transit center to sell passes, which other systems have done. Mr. Strong said that is viable, but we would have to consider the following issues: vandalism, the cost of buying the machine, and the current system of putting individuals' names on passes. Mr. Strong said the staff has talked about the possibility of having drivers sell passes, but this would make it difficult to assign names to passes as well. 4. FOLLOW-UP ON NEENAH ROUTE 10 Mr. Strong said that he and Mr. Vickman met with Valley Transit on March 13 to discuss various service improvements. Unfortunately, not enough information was available at the meeting to discuss specific ideas, so he didn't have much to share with the Board. Mr. Norton requested Route 10 be surveyed for the number and times of passengers boarding and alighting at Lakeside Packaging to justify the bus stopping there on every trip. He feels this bus needs only to go there twice a day versus every time. He would like to see the bus route extended to Parkview Health Center, even if on an on-call basis. He noted that Winnebago County is thinking about adding offices out there. Mr. Strong pointed out one of things discussed with Valley Transit is the current 90-minute headway doesn't work well. There has been discussion about returning to the 60-minute headway. He said that connecting better with the Valley Transit system is a main objective. There be no other business to come before the Transit Advisory Board and upon duly being made and seconded (Lowe, Hoffman), the meeting adjourned at 5: 35 p. m.