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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/05/1996, 1 - UNMET TRANSIT NEEDS HEARING MEETING DA ��►nni�II�I�I��P�I��II city of San tins OBISPO 3—s— EM A; COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT REKA NUMBER:/ FROM: Michael D. McCluskey, Director of Public Wor Prepared by: Harry Watson, Transit Manager SUBJECT: Unmet Transit Needs Hearing CAO RECOMMENDATION: 1. Receive testimony. 2. Direct staff to analyze requests, using the City's adopted definitions of "unmet transit need" and "reasonable to meet" and return to Council at a future meeting with recommended findings on transit needs. DISCUSSION: Back�grund With the City's designation as an "Urban" community in 1992, San Luis Obispo became eligible for Section 9 Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding. The governing body (San Luis Obispo City Council) has chosen to hold annual unmet transit needs hearings as a part of the Section 9 grant process. This is the third year to hold a hearing 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 has 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". Staff will return to Council with recommendations on each request and ask 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 flyer which was mailed to social service/activity agencies and distributed aboard SLO Transit. This public hearing should not be confused with the unmet transit needs hearings held by the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG). SLOCOG annually is required to take testimony on-unmet transit needs, as a requirement of a different transit funding source, the Transportation Development Act (TDA). SLOCOG's hearings are held to determine if all reasonable transit demands are met, prior to releasing TDA funds for transit and street and road improvement purposes. The TDA states that "All transit needs that are reasonable to meet" will be addressed before TDA is spent on street and road projects. This is not an issue for San Luis Obispo, as the City has determined that all TDA funds will be used for Alternative Transportation services. I ������► i�IIIII�IIp ��IB city of San 1UjS OBISPO COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Unmet Needs Page Two Definition of an "Unmet Transit Need" and "Reasonable to Meet" Previously, Council has adopted the following definitions for "Unmet Transit Need" and "Reasonable to Meet". "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". Staff's 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. ���H�i�►►�IIIII���I���I���U City of San LaIs osispo aiis COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Unmet Needs Page Three Unmet Needs Hearing and Evaluation Process Tonight's meeting is to take testimony. 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" that are not "reasonable to meet" (meets the definition of unmet transit needs, but does not meet the definition of reasonable to meet), or 4. there are "unmet transit needs", including those that are "reasonable to meet". The Council will then consider, discuss, and/or modify the findings prior to adoption by resolution. FISCAL EMPACT Holding this public hearing is a part of the City's Section 9 Federal grant application process. The current Federal grant application amount is $1,202,300 as the Federal share of a total project cost of$2,171,100. The grant application is the subject of a separate Council agenda item. Attachments: Notice of Hearing Flyer U'merap2 i-3 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO Public Notice is hereby given that on the fifth day of March 1996, at the hour of 7: 00 pm, or as soon thereafter as possible, the San Luis Obispo City Council will hold a public hearing in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo CA for the purpose of inviting discussion and statements relative to UNMET PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NEEDS (bus) which can reasonably be met. If you have concerns about service level, frequency or hours of operation, the City Council wants to hear from you. All interested persons are invited to be present and to submit statements orally or in writing before or during the meeting. Additional bus service will be provided for the return trip for those attending the meeting. Statements may also be made by phone by calling Harry Watson at 781-7121, or by mail to City of San Luis Obispo, (transit) , 955 Morro St. San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Kim Condon - City Clerk unaidad SLO BUS SERVICE PUBLIC HEARING y Are your transit needs . not being met? The SLO City Council wants to hear from you! ! ! March 5th @ 7: 00m p City Hall , 990 Palm Street For Transportation Info: 541 -BUSS If you are unable to attend, please write the City of SLO at: 955 Morro Street, SLO For those who plan to attend this 93401, ATTN: Harry Watson or call hearing, evening serivice will be 781-7121. All written and phone requests available on SLO Transit will be presented to the Council. /-.5'