HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/16/2004, COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT #2 - SLORTA r
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November 16, 2004 Council Meeting
Liaison Report
SLOCOG/SLORTA Meging November 3, 2004
From Ken Sch ouncil delegate to the Boards
This meeting was a continuation of the October 6"meeting that was cancelled for lack of
a quorum.
SLORTA issues were simple and routine. Staff reported on the success of three summer
time transit programs: 1. Summer Youth Bus Pass Program carried.about 18,580 youths
on all fixed route transit systems in the region for a sat fee of $25.00;2. Lopez Lake
Shuttle zeroed in South County youths desiring to use the recreational facilities at Lopez
Lake. Rider-ship was up 27%to 1,248 from last year,and 3. Santa Margarita Lake
Shuttle is programmed much like the Lopez Lake program but designed for youth using
recreation facilities at Santa Margarita Lake. Neither the Lopez nor the Santa Margarita
shuttles had any direct effect on SLO youth.
Also of transit note, Route 10 serving the South County with connections to Santa Maria
and SLO has received a budget stipend from Santa Barbara County/Santa Maria in
recognition if the newly recognized`wban"region status.
COG discussion centered on staff presentation of the first five chapters of a document
entitled, "A Transportation Vision for 2025." I will place my copy in the Council's
reading file should any be interested in thumbing through it. One major point of the
long-range proposal is the focus of increasing the width of highway 101 through our
County to 6 lanes. Obviously,the impact on all communities and their interchanges will
be significant and the land use ramifications will be tremendous. (However,the
alternatives whether they be alternatives to motor vehicles or???will likely require the
acquisition of new rights of way separate from the existing 101 ROW and that will also
have devastating impacts on existing land uses—no easy choices here.)
Two other items of interest: 1. A$3,000 State Transit Assistance fiord has been granted
to subsidize and to encourage Amtrak rail users to transfer to local transit buses to
complete their journeys without having to pay a transfer fare;and 2. a new Amtrak train,
also called the Surfliner,will have an inaugural run on Wednesday,November 17.
Council members should be receiving an invitation to bus down to the Grover Beach
depot and return to SLO on the new train—this should make for an interesting diversion,
but it will cost you$5.00 as elected officials must pay for their transportation so says
Amtrak.
CL2 Q- I