HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/7/2023 Item 7a, Finger, H.
From:Helene Finger <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Transit Innovation Study - City Council Item 7
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I am writing to support efforts to increase transit ridership in the city of San Luis Obispo. To
accomplish this, it is critical that existing funding sources be maintained, and additional
funding is added. Some expanded funding sources to consider:
Target selling more passes because for every $40 monthly pass sold, the City is eligible to
receive an additional $160 from state/federal funds. In other words, for every monthly pass
sold, SLO transit has an additional $200. Equally important, if people have a monthly pass,
they are more likely to ride the bus.
Downtown Access Program (DAP) – The City should not subsidize large employers, such as
the County, for this program. Large employers are required by SLO City Municipal Code
(11.04.010: Rule 901 – Commute Alternative Rule) to meet average vehicle ridership (AVR)
requirements. Large employers should fund (and promote) participation by their employees,
just like Cal Poly does for faculty/staff.
Institutional Pass Program – Students at Laguna Middle School and SLO High School should
ride City busses instead of school district busses. With the money saved, SLCUSD could pay
for free monthly passes for students from low-income families and possibly subsidize monthly
pass for other students (currently only $25/month, a 38% discount). Each student pass sold
would enable the City to be eligible for an additional $100 from state/fed).
Lastly, as described in the Transit Innovation Study, one of the top recommendations is to
enhance fixed route service. I strongly advocate for providing more frequent service to
SLO airport. Route 1, the only service to the airport as well as to the newly added housing
along Broad St corridor, only runs once/hour, while other parts of the city are serviced by
routes running more often.
Sincerely,
Helene Finger
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