Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/01/1994, 1 - UNMET TRANSIT NEEDS HEARING. •� -i 1`I '�� ►i�H►Iulllll���►��ui►���I city of San WIS OBIspo i COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT FROM: Michael D. McCluskey, Director of Public Works�ti`�. Prepared by Harry Watson, Transit Manager J SUBJECT: Unmet Transit Needs Hearing. CAO RECOMMENDATION: 1. By Resolution adopt a definition of"Unmet Transit Need" and 'Reasonable to Meet'; 2. Receive testimony; 3. Direct staff to analyze requests using City definitions of "unmet transit need" and "reasonable to meet". DISCUSSION: Background With the City's recent designation as an "Urban" community, San Luis Obispo has come under Federal Transit Administration (FTA) oversight and is eligible for Section 9 FTA funding. As a condition of Section 9 funding, the governing body (San Luis Obispo City Council) is required to hold annual unmet transit needs hearings. This hearing is to provide the public with an opportunity to request new, expanded, or modified transit services. In addition to the testimony received at the public hearing, the Council will be presented with testimony received by staff prior to the hearing through the mail or by telephone. After Council's having received the testimony, staff will analyze each request for transit services to determine if any meet the City adopted definitions of "reasonable to meet" and "unmet transit need". If any requests are verified to meet both criteria, staff will return to Council for direction to implement a new or expanded transit service. Attached are copies of the Notice of Public Hearing published in the Telegram-Tribune, News Release and the flier which was mailed to social service/activity agencies and distributed aboard SLO Transit. How is this different from past Practices? This is the first year of Federal Section 9 funding and hence its. requirements. Historically, the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) has held Unmet Transit Needs Hearings as a requirement of the Transportation Development Act (TDA). Locally, in concert with SLOGOC's hearings, our Mass Transportation Committee (MTC) has held like hearings to compliment and facilitate the actions of SLOCOG. These hearings are still required and will continue to be administered by SLOCOG. SLOCOG"s hearings are held to determine if all reasonable transit demands are met prior to releasing TDA funds for transit and streets and roads improvement purposes. The TDA states that "All transit needs that are reasonable to meet" will be addressed before TDA is spent on streets and roads projects. This is not an issue for San Luis Obispo as the City has determined that all TDA will be used for Alternative Transportation services. /_�_ Definition of an "Unmet Transit Need" and "Reasonable to Meet" In order for staff to review the testimony and make recommendations, Council must first adopt definitions of an "Unmet Transit Need" and "Reasonable to Meet".The currently adopted SLOCOG definition of "Unmet Transit Need" and "Reasonable to Meet" mirrors the industry accepted definitions. The following language is proposed to define the terms: "UNMET TRANSIT NEED" An "Unmet Transit Need" is one which would fill an existing gap in services currently provided, such as service to an area of the City not currently being served. A gap could also be perceived as an undue amount of time between current bus service. A gap can also be perceived as a sub standard level of service such as a route that only provides service in one direction, requiring a rider to complete an entire loop of the system to return from a trip. A sufficient number of people should request the same service to have a finding of an "Unmet Transit Need". Staffs suggested number is 15 requests for fixed route and 10 requests for paratransit service. The request should be an existing need, not a perceived future need, such as providing service now for an area that will be annexed into the City at a future date. An "Unmet Transit Need" finding should not be made to accommodate minor requests about operational issues such as route changes, and bus stop locations. "REASONABLE TO MEET" A request for service would not be "Reasonable To Meet", if the cost of providing the service exceeded the combined funding available to provide the service as a whole. A request for service would not be "Reasonable To Meet", if it did not generate at least a 20% farebox ratio, exceeded the general service level of the system as a whole or served a particular market in excess of 40% of the capacity of the bus. A request for service would not be "Reasonable To Meet" if the funding required to provide the new service would cause a reduction in other existing service. It is proposed that Council adopt the attached Resolution which contains our proposed definitions which are patterned after SLOCOG's. Unmet Needs Hearing and Evaluation Process Tonight's meeting is to take testimony and adopt definitions. At a future Council meeting, staff will return and recommend findings based on the adopted definitions that there are: 1. no "unmet transit needs", or 2. no "unmet transit needs" that are "reasonable to meet", or 3. there are "unmet transit needs" including those that are "reasonable to meet". At that meeting, Council will adopt by resolution the findings. The Council's findings and the resolution then become part of the application for Section 9 allocations. These hearings and the grant application will be annual events. FISCAL IMPACT Holding the public hearing will allow the apportionment of Section 9 Federal funds to proceed. The currently approved grant amount of $1,207,986 ($216,000 of which is for Regional Transit),and the 1994 apportionment amount of$615,385 requires tonight's action. attachment - Resolution, Definitions of"Unmet Transit Needs" and "Reasonable to Meet". News release Flyer nedshear /-3 RESOLUTION (1994 Series) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL. OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO ADOPTING A DEFINITION OF UNMET TRANSIT NEED AND REASONABLE TO MEET WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo has attained a Federal designation as an "Urban" community, and WHEREAS, the City's transit operation is now eligible for Section 9 funding from the Federal Transit Administration, and WHEREAS, said Section 9 regulations requires the City to adopt a definition of "Unmet Transit Need" and . "Reasonable to Meet" . NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo does hereby adopt the definitions of "Unmet Transit Need" and "Reasonable to meet" as appears on attached Exhibit "A". Upon motion of seconded by and on the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: the foregoing resolution was adopted this day of 1994 Mayor Peg Pinard ATTEST: Diane Gladwell, City Clerk Arney ty unmetreso EXHIBIT "A" THRESHOLD CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING IF REQUEST IS AN UNMET TRANSIT NEED An "unmet transit need" is a mobility need that is: not being met by the current public transit system; is essential for transit dependents or choice riders; and has been identified by community input through the public hearing process; and If a request fails to satisfy any of the criteria below, stop the analysis, the request is not an "unmet transit need". YES NO 1. The request fills a gap in transit service. 2. Sufficient broad based community support exists (15 requests for fixed route transit service, 10 requests for *paratransit service. 3. Request is a current, rather than a future need. 4. Request is not operational in nature (minor route change, bus stop, etc. ) EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING IF AN UNMET TRANSIT NEED IS REASONABLE TO MEET An unmet transit need is "reasonable to meet" if the new, expanded, or revised service, if implemented, would not cause SLO Transit to incur expenditures in excess of available TDA and Section 9 operating funds, and would meet the required farebox ratio (20%) based on projected ridership; and If a request fails to satisfy any of the criteria below, the request is not "reasonable to meet". 5. Request is projected to generate a 20% farebox ratio. 6. Service is comparable to other services, or is a market-driven service (greater than 40% projected load/capacity factor) . 7. . Request is fundable with existing TDA/Section 9 funds, without reducing other existing services. *Provided under Regional Transit agreement mmetneedAh l by r 5 �����������►i►►►►�►�I ililllllllllllh1°►"'° IAll III city of sAn luis oBispo 955 Morro Street • San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT HARRY WATSON, 781-7121 JANUARY 28, 1994 CITY TRANSIT BUS SERVICE REQUESTS SOUGHT DO YOU HAVE TRANSIT NEEDS THAT ARE NOT BEING MET FOR SERVICE IN THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO? THE CITY COUNCIL WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU. TO DETERMINE IF ANY CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE IN THE CITY TRANSIT SYSTEM, THE CITY COUNCIL IS HOLDING AN "UNMET TRANSIT NEEDS HEARING". THERE ARE THREE WAYS TO MAKE YOUR NEEDS HEARD. 1. COME TO THE HEARING, TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 1994_7PM AT CITY HALL. 2. CALL THE TRANSIT MANAGER AT 781-7121. 3. WRITE DOWN YOUR REQUESTS AND SEND THEM TO SLO TRANSIT, 955 MORRO ST. , SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 934011 ATTENTION, H. WATSON. ALL COMMUNICATIONS WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AT THEIR MARCH 1ST MEETING. newsrels © The City of San Luis Obispo is committed to include the disabled in all of its services, programs and activities. Telecommunications Device for the Deaf(805) 781-7410. Y o�� „ate � -..� � .. • � `�� -i� BUS SERVICE PUBLIC HE ARING 1 • YOU HAVE TRANSIT NEEDSNOT • The City Council wants to hear from you! ! You • or COME TO THE MEETING. PHONE WRITE - City of • f gss Morro St. • CA 93401 attn. H. Watson MEETING -- 7:00pmj, or as soon thereafter as possible March 11 1994, city Hall, 990 Palm Street F