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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTAB Meeting Minutes 9 19 18Committee Name: Transit Advisory Board Date: 9/19/18 Location: City Hall 1 1 Attendees: Absent: Jim Collins, Transportation Director Jane Cryan, Board Karl Buelow, Board Korbin Figg, Operations Manager Mike Norton, Board Lori Palmeri, City Council Marlene Binder, Secretary Lee Williams, Board Evelyn Meuret, Chairperson Troy Monday, Vice-Chair Topic Facilitator Discussion Actions Meeting Started Troy Monday Evelyn Meuret called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m. The August 15, 2018 TAB meeting minutes were accepted. 1st: Lee Williams 2nd: Mike Norton Agenda Items Transit Development Plan Draft Update Mick Musson Nick Musson, of East Central Wisconsin Regional Plan Commission (ECWRPC), gave Board members a handout and presented the highlights of the changes made to the draft Transit Development Plan (TDP). He told the Board there were formatting changes such as font size and he added demographics and the survey responses. He said he updated a map with the connecting trail for Route #10 and added 8 more agencies to a table chart. He told that he planned to add more information on why a fare increase is needed and would like to reorder recommendations that come up over and over. He explained when the steering committee is comfortable with the draft plan he will get feedback from the public and the 4 main areas of focus are fares, Route #9, transfers, and 3-month passes. Committee Name: Transit Advisory Board Date: 9/19/18 Location: City Hall 2 2 Topic Facilitator Discussion Actions Transit Development Plan Draft Update Mike Norton Nick Musson Mike Norton asked how people would access a late night Route #9 with no other buses in operation and said he doesn’t see the advantage of it. Nick Musson told about a pilot project for rural Winnebago County. He said the agreement with Foenix Mobility Rising is signed and an Easter Seals Grant will fund the program for one year. He told the program utilizes volunteer drivers to serve rural areas and operates similar to Uber. He said there will be an informational meeting introducing the technology and the people behind it at the Algoma Town Hall on September 26, 2018. Staff Statements New shelter & carriage walks are installed at Walmart Free Fare Friday Jim Collins Jim Collins told the bus shelter and carriage walks are installed and the new bus stop on Washburn Street in front of Walmart is in use. He said drivers find it safer for everyone including loading/unloading wheelchairs. He said GO Transit provided 3,053 free rides on Free Fare Day, on August 31, 2018. He explained Friday was selected for the Free Fare Day because it presented an opportunity for students and parents to explore the bus as transportation to school. Jim Collins said the UW-Oshkosh budget is tight and they have inquired about our revenue agreement and possibly purchasing passes instead. He went on to say he had a budget meeting with the city manager and the finance director. He told the budget looks ok for this year but state & federal funding decreases every year so that is a concern as well as unpredictable fuel pricing. Committee Name: Transit Advisory Board Date: 9/19/18 Location: City Hall 3 3 Topic Facilitator Topic Actions Mike Norton Jane Cryan Jim Collins Mike Norton said he missed his connection at the downtown transit center twice in the past two weeks. He says some drivers do not let the other drivers know to wait for passengers wanting to transfer to their bus. He said buses leave the transit center at inconsistent times and explained one time the bus he was on arrived the transit center at :30 past the hour, and he saw the bus he wanted to transfer to leaving the transit center as he arrived. Jane Cryan said she wishes the drivers would announce to everyone onboard when connections will be missed at the transit center when the bus is late. Jim Collins said he has a radio in his office and hears the drivers communicating when they will be late and trying to make transfers. He also explained that there are unpredictable delays due to construction, accidents, bridge openings, wheel chair boardings and other variables that may make buses late. However; they are on-time 95% of the time. The buses have a 3 minute window and then they must depart in order to keep other routes on schedule. He will reiterate with operations the need to communicate with passengers. He also told that disabled riders have told us they prefer drivers announce 1080 (ramp needed) so the next driver is able to prepare for them so drivers are permitted to communicate this. Adjournment Evelyn Meuret Meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m. Next meeting: October 17, 2018 1st: Jane Cryan 2nd: Lee Williams