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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/16/2006, PH1 - TRANSIT SERVICE REVISIONS i council �D 5/16/2006 j agenda Report � � CITY O F SAN LUIS OBISPO FROM: Jay D. Walter,Director of Public Works Prepared By: Austin O'Dell,Transit Manager SUBJECT: TRANSIT SERVICE REVISIONS CAO RECOMMENDATION Approve the following recommendations from the Mass Transportation Committee: 1. Reinstate City Bus Route 1 between Christmas Day and New Year's Day; and 2. Reinstate regular service on Presidents' Day. DISCUSSION The Mass Transportation Committee (MTC), on March 9, 2005, recommended that the Council approve a revised holiday service for San Luis Obispo Transit. For the most part, changes in 2005 resulted in Sunday service levels being used during this period. The revised holiday service schedule has proven successful in achieving the following objectives: a. Matching the appropriate level of service with service demand. b. Offsetting increases in operating costs (i.e. fuel) with minimal impact to riders. c. Providing basic city wide coverage. However, with the revised holiday schedule, some.minor issues surfaced that need to be addressed. The intent of holiday service is to provide basic levels of service throughout the city, addressing the decrease in service demand as compared to regular service days. There are many riders who still depend on the bus who have to work or to get around during the holiday period. 1. Holiday Service Between Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The Highland Drive area is not served by transit on Sundays because Routes 1 and 6a do not operate then. Because the intent is to provide basic citywide service during holidays, it is important to reinstate service in the Highland Drive area to allow riders to travel between Highland Drive area and Downtown to allow transfers to local and regional routes. Similarly, when holiday service was implemented for 2006, this area did not have service for that period. While most riders in this area were able to walk to nearby routes some could not and had concerns of difficult transfers to other bus routes. The unmet transit needs hearing last month confirmed this issue. 2. Presidents' Day. The City added Presidents' Day to the holiday service schedule because schools and major employers in the City observe this holiday. Generally, schools and employers observe Presidents' Day on Mondays. However, Cal Poly has modified their f Transit Service Revisions Page 2 academic calendar to observe this holiday on the Friday prior to Presidents' Day because there were "too many" Monday holidays in a calendar year. Cal Poly therefore has a regular school day on Presidents' Day. To avoid disruption to both CalPoly and non-Cal Poly customers, staff operated regular service on Presidents' Day even though it was technically "against" current approved schedules. MTC is recommending re-instating regular service on Presidents' Day unless Cal Poly modifies their academic holiday to observe Presidents' Day on Monday. FISCAL IMPACTS The estimated fiscal impact to the Transit Program is $2,800. There will be no impact to the General Fund by approving the CAO Recommendation. CONCURRENCES On March 8, 2006,the Mass Transportation Committee concurred with staff recommendations. ALTERNATIVES The Council could decide not approve MTC recommendations. The result of this disapproval is that it would impact passengers who depend on the city bus service for their daily commute to work and/or school. ATTACHMENTS 1. Resolution 2. MTC Minutes,March 8, 2006 I:\_CAR Reports\2006\Transit\Transit CAR,Holiday Service Reinstate Route I &Presidents Day-PRODUCTION.doc Transit Service Revisions Page 3 RESOLUTION NO. (2006 Series) RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO REINSTATING ROUTE 1 BETWEEN CHRISTMAS DAY AND NEW YEAR'S DAY, AND ON PRESIDENTS' DAY WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo (referred hereinafter as the City) operates SLO Transit; and WHEREAS, the Mass Transportation Committee has recommended and City Council has decided to revise the holiday service schedule; and WHEREAS, the purpose of holiday service is to provide basic transit service levels throughout the City appropriate to the service demand; and WHEREAS, there is a need to provide service in the Highland Drive area on Presidents' Day and between Christmas Day and New Year's Day. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Administration Officer or his/her designee be authorized to: Section 1. Reinstate Route 1 between Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Section 2. Reinstate Route 1 on Presidents' Day unless Cal Poly State University modifies their academic holiday to observe Presidents' Day on Monday. On motion of , seconded by , and on the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES` ABSENT: Transit Service Revisions Page 4 The foregoing resolution was passed and adopted this day of , 2006. Dave Romero, Mayor ATTEST: Audrey Hooper, City Clerk an P. Lowell, City Attorney /r Minutes of the Mass 1 ransportation Committee (DRAFT) ATTACHMENT March 8, 2006 B2. Transit Contract Services Mr. Bochum updated the MTC on the status of various contract items and upcoming revisions. He stated that First Transit was the highest-ranking service class provider and that he would be bringing the item to Council next month. He asked the MTC if they wanted to hold a special meeting to review the 30% contract cost increases within the 10-year contract. He also discussed revenue stream and funding options and stated they were re-negotiating the Cal Poly fare subsidy. Ms. Rains suggested that the committee could receive a copy of the Council Agenda Report,but did not see a need for a special meeting. MTC had consensus for this approach. Ms. Martinez joined the meeting at this point. C. ACTION ITEMS Cl. Receive Comment and Recommendations Regarding Reinstatement of Route 1 Between Christmas Day and New Year's Day and Regular Service on President's Day Mr. O'Dell discussed the basic level of service on Sundays and the need to reinstate Route 1 service between Christmas Day and New Year's Day and to reinstate regular service on President's Day. Staff recommended these reinstatements. Motion made by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Ms. Rains, to approve the staff recommendations. The motion carried with Mr. Doyle voting against. D. INFORMATION ITEMS D-1 Transit Manager's Report Mr. O'Dell discussed aspects of the submitted Report. Mr. O'Dell also discussed marketing opportunities between Regional Rideshare and City Hostess programs, targeting new residents with direct marketing promoting alternative transportation information. Mr. Bochum reported that Council had approved Margarita residential area projects and that this area would be the next large service area to be brought on line. D-2 Operating and Performance Mr. O'Dell discussed aspects of the submitted Report.