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07-13-2016 MTC Agenda Packet
Service Complaints: Complaints regarding bus service or routes are to be directed to the Transit Coordinator at 781-7531. Reports of complaints/commendations are available to the public upon request. MISSION: The purpose of the Mass Transportation Committee is to assist with the ongoing public transit program in the City and Cal Poly. As requested, the Committee provides advisory recommendations and input to the Council regarding routes, schedules, capital projects, fares, marketing and additional services. ROLL CALL: Elizabeth Thyne (Chair - Senior), John Osumi (Vice Chair - Business), Cheryl Andrus (Cal Poly), Denise Martinez (Disabled), Michelle Wong (Student), Louise Justice (Member at Large), James Thompson (Technical), Diego-Christopher Lopez (Alternate), Heidi Harmon (Alternate) ANNOUNCEMENTS: Committee Meetings Are Now Recorded (Audio) PUBLIC COMMENT: 10 min. At this time, the public is invited to address the Committee concerning items not on the agenda but are of interest to the public and within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Mass Transportation Committee. Public comment is limited to three minutes per person. The Committee may not discuss or take action on issues that are not on the agenda other than to briefly respond to statements or questions, or to ask staff to follow up on such issues. MINUTES: May 11th & June 8th, 2016 (Attachment 1, 2) PRESENTATION: 1. Self-Help Measure Presentation (SLOCOG) ACTION ITEMS: 2. Short Range Transit Plan - MTC Recommendation (Attachment 3) 3. Reschedule of September 14 Meeting Date 15 min. DISCUSSION ITEMS: 4. Committee Items 10 min. a) Marketing, Social Media, Promotion (Harmon) 5. Staff Items 20 min. a) Revisit of: Stroller & Electric Bicycle Policy (Fukushima) b) New Service Reduction Policy (Attachment 4) c) Transit Manager’s Report d) MTC Retreat on August 31st (Cutler) ADJOURNMENT: The next regular meeting will be held September 14th, 2016 unless otherwise noted The City of San Luis Obispo is committed to including the disabled in all of its services, programs, and activities. Please contact the Clerk or staff liaison prior to the meeting if you require assistance. Agenda Mass Transportation Committee Council Hearing Room, City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo Wednesday, July 13, 2016 – 2:30 pm Page 1 of 26 PRESENTATION: Agenda Item 1: Self-Help Measure Presentation (SLOCOG) SLOCOG is a collaborative regional body with representatives from local cities and the county that primarily focuses on transportation matters. SLOCOG is proposing a Self Help measure on the November ballot. The transportation investment plan (Self-Help Measure) would create a 0.5 percent sales tax for a nine-year period, generating an estimated $225 million. Those funds would be used exclusively for road repairs and transportation improvements (including intersections and traffic calming measures), public transportation, bike and pedestrian safety, and regional projects. It would allocate a base sum to each city and to the county, plus additional funds based on population towards these types of projects. More information available at: www.selfhelpslo.org (Non-Voting Item, Presentation Only) ACTION ITEMS: Agenda Item 2: Short Range Transit Plan – MTC Recommendation The Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP) is a five-year planning document that transit operators prepare to analyze current service levels and funding, and provide recommendations for improvement to overall service, stability and growth. This planning and operational document is used as the foundation for seeking community input, establishing priorities and funding programs to allow the City to apply for local, state, and federal grants. It is also a requirement to be eligible for certain funding sources. Finally, the City’s Circulation Element requires that the City adopt a SRTP every five years. The 2016-21 SRTP is aimed at addressing various operational challenges and to help ensure that local public transit remains relevant to the community’s development and social service needs. A total of eight Working Papers, specific to different parts of the analysis (e.g. operational, capital, financial, peer, etc.) were created and made available for public review throughout the entire process. The compilation of these Working Papers make up the draft of the SRTP, also available for public review. Throughout the process a number of remote and in-person stake-holder interviews, public perception and comment periods/opportunities have been afforded in efforts to help shape and guide the plan. With consideration of public testimony, a final draft has now been prepared to move forward for Planning Commission and City Council consideration. More information available at: www.slocity.org/government/department-directory/public-works/slo-transit/general-service- information/short-range-transit-plan Staff Recommendation: Adoption and recommendation of consideration, of the Short Range Transit Plan, by the Planning Commission and City Council Alternative Recommendations: Direct Staff/Consultant for additional work with a Special Meeting in August Agenda Item 3: Reschedule of September 14 Meeting Date Staff Recommendation: Hold the Regularly Scheduled September 14 MTC meeting earlier, perhaps on September 7th. Page 2 of 26 DISCUSSION ITEMS: Agenda Item 4: Committee Items a) Marketing, Social Media, Promotion (Harmon) - A conversation on how the MTC might assist to make the bus more intriguing to a wider group of residents. Give consideration of the use of a social media campaign as an initial step in growing the understanding and interest in taking public transportation. Agenda Item 5: Staff Items a) Revisit of: Stroller & Electric Bicycle Policy – A minor update to the Stroller Policy which would not require the folding of strollers until AFTER they have boarded the bus vs. prior. Additionally, and at the request of the Bicycle Advisory Committee (Fukushima), a revisit and MTC comments on revising SLO Transit’s policy on electric bicycles. b) New Service Reduction Policy – Development of new policy based on Triennial Review findings identifying the method by which the public will be notified of Service Reductions and Fare Changes c) Transit Manager’s Report – Verbal report on various transit related stats, happenings, events, promotions, etc. d) MTC Retreat on August 31st (Cutler) – Update on the development of the anticipated MTC Retreat. The next meeting will be held: September 14, 2016 unless otherwise noted ATTACHMENTS: 1. Minutes of the May 11, 2016 MTC meeting 2. Minutes of the June 8, 2016 MTC meeting 3. 2016-2021 SRTP Executive Summary 4. New Policy on Service Reduction Public Notification G:\Transportation Division\_Transportation Committees\MTC Committee\FY 2017 Page 3 of 26 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson James Thompson called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: James Thompson (Chair – Technical), Elizabeth Thyne (Vice Chair – Senior), Cheryl Andrus (Cal Poly), Denise Martinez (Disabled), John Osumi (Business), Louise Justice (Member at Large), Diego-Christopher Lopez (Alternate) Absent: Michelle Wong (Student), Heidi Harmon (Alternate) Staff: Tim Bochum (Public Works Deputy Director), Dee Lawson (Transit Coordinator), Megan Cutler (Transit Assistant) ANNOUNCEMENTS Mr. John Paul Maier (Assistant City Clerk) led Mr. Osumi in Oath of Office. PUBLIC COMMENTS None. MINUTES Approval of March 9, 2016 Meeting Minutes Mr. Thompson requested an approval of the March 9 minutes. Per the request of MTC members, the minutes were amended as follows: Draft Minutes MASS TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE Council Hearing Room, City Hall, 990 Palm St., San Luis Obispo, Wednesday, May 11th, 2016 – 2:30 pm Page 4 of 26 Page 2 – “shared” was changed to “stated” Page 5 – “dinner” was changed to “event” Page 6 - “ques” was changed to “cues” Ms. Justice questioned if Route 2 and Route 3 have been evaluated for a Tripper service. Mrs. Lawson responded there is nothing yet to report. Ms. Justice clarified this service would be for the homeless. Mrs. Lawson responded we cannot single out a particular demographic. Ms. Thyne questioned LOSSAN (Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo Railroad Corridor Agency) agreement. Ms. Andrus clarified there was a brief mention of this agreement at the March 9 MTC meeting. Mr. Thompson requested an approval of the minutes as corrected. Ms. Thyne moved to accept the amended March 9 draft minutes. Ms. Andrus seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. ACTION ITEMS Agenda Item #1: Nomination of Chair and Vice Chair Ms. Justice nominated Ms. Thyne as Chair. Ms. Martinez seconded the nomination. The nomination passed unanimously. Ms. Justice nominated Mr. Osumi as the Vice Chair. Ms. Thyne seconded the nomination. The nomination passed unanimously. Agenda Item #2: 2016-17 MTC Meeting Schedule Mrs. Lawson clarified the meeting time will remain the second Wednesday of every other month beginning with July unless the committee decides otherwise. Per the request of Mr. Thompson the projected 2016-2017 meeting dates are: July 13, September 14, November 9, January 11, March 8, and May 10. DISCUSSION ITEMS Agenda Item #3: Committee Items None. Page 5 of 26 Agenda Item #4: Staff Items a.) Transit Manager’s Report Mrs. Lawson stated overall ridership is increasing. In particular Cal Poly ridership is increasing and general ridership is declining. Pass sales are slightly declining due to high ridership from Cal Poly. Mrs. Lawson pointed out an error on Attachment 2 of agenda. For February ridership, there were 13 courtesy rides, rather than 0 courtesy rides, and 656 children under 5 years old, rather than 0 children under 5 years old. For March ridership, there were 16 courtesy rides, rather than 0 courtesy rides, and 735 children under 5 years old, rather than 0 children under 5 years old. Mrs. Lawson stated the LOSSAN (Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo Railroad Corridor Agency) agreement begins June 1, 2016. Mrs. Lawson clarified, per the agreement, if a passenger gets off the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner in San Luis Obispo, their train ticket is valid for a one-way ride on SLO Transit. For example, the passenger can ride SLO Transit from the Amtrak station to the Transit Center where they can then transfer to their next destination. Ms. Justice questioned if the LOSSAN agreement only applies to the Pacific Surfliner. Mrs. Lawson responded this is correct. Mrs. Lawson stated the Transit Center project has been put on hold and there is no additional information regarding the status. Ms. Thyne stated the developer, Mr. Firestone, pulled out of the project. There was an item on a recent City Council consent agenda in which the City Manager requested a sum of money to hire a consultant to evaluate the feasibility of having a garage in the Transit Center project area. Ms. Thyne acknowledged the City’s General Plan from approximately 10 years ago projected there would be public parking garages in four corners of the City. Ms. Justice questioned whether we know anything further regarding the proposal to parallel park our buses on Higuera. Mrs. Lawson responded, since the developer pulled out, we do not have any further information. Mr. Bochum, City of SLO Public Works Deputy Director, offered to address the Transit Center project. Mr. Bochum acknowledged he reviews much of the developmental review activity, including the Firestone “NKT” project. This project was pulled by the applicant. Mr. Bochum acknowledged this was a conceptual application, not a formal application. This project went to the Planning Commission (PC), the Architectural Review Committee (ARC), and City Council for review of the concept. The applicant did not move forward with a formal submittal due to concerns with timing of approval and other interests in the property. Internal staff is discussing whether or not to move forward with parking analysis of this area. As far as the transit element, Page 6 of 26 meetings are being scheduled with SLOCOG to further discuss pros and cons of transit center options. Ms. Thyne stated, she learned about Firestone project through “Save Our Downtown” committee. Mr. Straw, Executive Director, Regional Transit Authority (RTA), provided insight on Firestone project from RTA perspective. Funding is still being secured to fund the development of a Transit Center, a high priority for SLOCOG, RTA, and SLO Transit. Mrs. Lawson stated the Automatic Passenger Counters (APC’s), purchased with Prop 1B funds, have been fully installed. Mr. Osumi confirmed the APC’s have been fully installed in 80% of the fleet. Mrs. Lawson stated the APC data allows transit staff to better analyze the ridership boardings and alightings at every stop. Riders using the bus tracker app can also see how full each bus is as the bus approaches their stop. Mrs. Lawson stated Gillig is moving up the bus production schedule for three new buses from April 2017 to January 2017. Production requires 30 days. Three new buses are anticipated by March 2017. These new buses will be 40 foot, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicles. Ms. Cutler provided a marketing update to review the promotional events from April through May. For Earth Day, April 22, SLO Transit provided free rides for all riders. For the SLO Marathon, April 29 through May 1, transit staff attended the marathon expo and encouraged runners and their supporters to choose public transit for the weekend. Special event passes were distributed at the marathon expo. 84 riders used these special event passes. For Mother’s Day, May 8, SLO Transit provided free rides for moms. Ms. Cutler provided an update on upcoming events. For Public Works Night at Farmers’ Market, May 12, SLO Transit staff will be present and two buses will be available for the public to tour. Youth Ride Free (YRF) begins June 1 and is effective through August 31. Youth 18 years old and younger can ride the bus for free. RTA and South County Transit (SCT) YRF begins on June 15 and is effective through August 16. Ms. Thyne questioned if Youth Ride Free (YRF) includes the summer day campers. Mrs. Lawson clarified that the YMCA and Parks & Recreation summer day campers can bring 10 free children and 2 free counselors, up to 20 riders total. Any additional riders surpassing 12 free riders need to pay. The YMCA and Parks & Recreation groups will provide Mrs. Lawson with a schedule before the summer begins, so transit staff can coordinate and ensure both groups are not trying to use our system at the same time. Page 7 of 26 Ms. Thyne questioned smaller summer camp groups, such as churches, and how these small groups are handled under the summer camp group policy. Mrs. Lawson responded we do not coordinate with these smaller groups, but they must follow the same group policy. Ms. Cutler stated that the summer schedule begins June 13. For Father’s D ay, June 19, SLO Transit will provide free rides for dads. Ms. Cutler stated that SLO Transit’s goal for Fiscal Year 2015/2016 is to reach 1,250,000 riders. SLO Transit will push for this ridership goal in June and is planning a competition to encourage ridership. Ms. Thyne questioned the free rides for moms on Mother’s Day, asking how our drivers monitor whether or not a rider is a mom. Mrs. Lawson clarified if someone says they are a mom, our drivers do not question them. b.) Recommendation of Award for Operations & Maintenance Contract Mrs. Lawson stated the recommendation for award for the Operations & Maintenance contract, following Council’s approval to request proposals, is First Transit. Seven proposals were submitted and these proposals were evaluated by an evaluation team. First Transit will begin the new contract on July 1. Ms. Thyne questioned the number of years First Transit has this contract. Mrs. Lawson responded First Transit has the contract for four years with three single year extensions. c.) Update on SRTP Process; Review of Public Comments Ms. Cutler shared the public comments period was open through May 6. Twelve comments were submitted. Ms. Cutler welcomed the committee to comment on the summarized public comments and corresponding staff comments. Ms. Thyne questioned the stops on the Phillips, Pepper, Johnson loop being eliminated. Mrs. Lawson responded, per the SRTP, these stops will not be eliminated. Rather, the frequency of service will be reduced with less routes traveling this loop and less buses servicing this loop per hour. Ms. Justice questioned the second phase referenced in the staff comments. Mrs. Lawson clarified phase two will follow the Righetti development. Ms. Justice questioned the alternate routes within the SRTP in an attempt to better understand the particular routes SLO Transit will implement. Mr. Straw clarified there is a series of working papers for the joint SRTP with SLO Transit and RTA. Chapter 8 displays the consultant’s recommendations for both systems. Page 8 of 26 Ms. Justice questioned if the independent 3rd party consultant rode the bus prior to evaluating the SLO Transit system. Mrs. Lawson clarified surveyors rode every route in order to evaluate our system. Ms. Justice announced the City Planning Commission (PC) meeting scheduled for June 8 at 6:00 PM. Mr. Thompson requested an additional meeting for MTC to review the plan. Mr. Bochum acknowledged this SRTP is the first joint SRTP with RTA. He stated historically the MTC advisory body reviews the plan for final comments. The PC advisory body also reviews the SRTP at a higher level because they understand the City’s land use plans. The consultants plan to present to RTA’s board on July 13, so the City plans to take the draft SRTP to City Council on July 12. Mr. Bochum questioned if the MTC wants to schedule a special meeting in June, which would coincide with the PC meeting. Comments and suggestions from these two meetings will then go to City Council. Mr. Thompson requested MTC have the opportunity to review the full drafted plans before the consultant meeting. Ms. Thyne questioned who is being well served by the new revised plan and schedules. MTC members represent different parts of the community, so it is imperative that the entire committee review the plans together. Ms. Thyne requested that MTC see the final product before it officially is reviewed by the PC. She questioned if the preliminary SLO Transit route and schedule changes have been presented to other authorities, such as the Housing Authority, and other City departments. Mr. Bochum responded by questioning MTC regarding their desire to be involved in an in depth review of the SRTP draft. Ms. Andrus stated the last time she heard about the changes was when the consultant came and discussed the reasoning behind the recommended changes, such as based on the ridership. She acknowledged the meeting with the consultant was the last time MTC had the opportunity to provide input regarding the SRTP and have discussion. Mr. Bochum shared two options for MTC: (1) providing the MTC with a full draft SRTP for MTC review or (2) providing MTC with more discussion on full draft SRTP, so MTC can provide consultant with input and comments on current draft prior to consultant’s final recommendations. Mr. Thompson requested MTC provide input on full draft SRTP before draft is finalized. Mr. Thompson requested the full draft SRTP be formally presented, so MTC can then provide input. Page 9 of 26 Mr. Straw acknowledged the joint MTC/RTAC meeting already reviewed the first approximately 140 pages of the document. Mr. Thompson stated providing service on the Pepper, Phillips, Johnson loop was recommended to be removed from the plan, which has not been done. There are currently two routes servicing this loop. Mr. Thompson requested more discussion regarding the method for the alternative routes displayed within the draft SRTP. MTC needs to give more input. Mr. Bochum requested a group consensus to review the draft. MTC agreed that they desire to review the draft SRTP in greater depth prior to finalization. Mr. Bochum informed the MTC that the full draft SRTP will need to be reviewed by both the MTC and the PC, which will most likely require a special MTC meeting for the in-depth review they requested. Mr. Osumi suggested meeting with the consultant via a video conference. Mr. Bochum and Mr. Thompson requested a motion from the MTC for the special meeting. Ms. Thyne moved that the MTC arrange at least one meeting with the consultant to review the projected changes to the routes and schedules via tele-conferencing or in-person at 3:38 PM. If a second meeting is needed prior to being presented to the PC, the MTC will make themselves available for a final review of the document. Ms. Justice seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Bochum requested MTC review the full draft SRTP before the special meeting, record notes, and send notes to staff. Mr. Bochum pointed out where the full draft SRTP is located on the City’s website. By navigating to the SLO Transit webpage, select the General Info button toward the top of the page, then select the SRTP button toward the top of the page. Follow the link that reads “View full Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP) draft here”. Mr. Bochum confirmed that the MTC will need hard copies of the full draft SRTP document. Ms. Justice questioned if negotiations at Cal Poly have been completed. Mrs. Lawson responded the Cal Poly negotiations have not been completed. Ms. Justice questioned if SLO Transit is doing anything with Cuesta. Mrs. Lawson responded SLO Transit is not doing anything with Cuest a. Ms. Justice questioned the potential of Tripper buses to Laguna middle school. Mrs. Lawson responded Laguna Middle School students ride Route 4 and Route 5. Page 10 of 26 Mr. Thompson raised the concern that the modification of Route 4 and Route 5 will reduce service in the western portion of the City, including lack of service for Laguna Middle School. Mrs. Lawson stated there are a significant amount of Laguna Middle School and Cal Poly students that live in the northern portion of the City, so they typically ride on Foothill toward Los Osos Valley Road. Ms. Justice questioned a letter outside Council Hearing Room from a resident at Judson’s Terrace who spoke with Mrs. Jennifer Rice, City Transportation Planner/Engineer, regarding the speed bumps on Augusta. According to the Letter, Mrs. Rice informed the resident that Judson’s Terrace is up for review in two years. Ms. Justice questioned if this will affect the SLO Transit bus routes. Mr. Bochum responded there are traffic calming efforts on Augusta to encourage motorists to travel at 25 mph. Other streets within the City will be under review until Augusta is reviewed again in two years. Ms. Thyne questioned the temporary traffic circles on Chorro. Mr. Bochum responded the primary objective of the traffic circles is to monitor vehicle speeds and ensure vehicles are traveling no faster than 25 mph. Mr. Bochum acknowledged street speed limits are considered in the development of bus route schedules. Since these traffic circles are temporary, they are still under review. Ms. Justice questioned the elimination of the bus stop in front of the Salvation Army on Chorro at Islay. The buses have not been stopping here. Mr. Osumi acknowledged there is a sign on the door of the bus yard indicating that the Route 3 Chorro at Islay stop no longer exists. Mrs. Lawson acknowledged that she will investigate this stop. Mr. Bochum stated any comments regarding the full draft SRTP can be directed to Mr. Anguiano and copied to Mrs. Lawson. Ms. Thyne moved to adjourn meeting at 4:03 p.m. to the next regular meeting of Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. Ms. Justice seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Megan Cutler Page 11 of 26 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson James Thompson called the meeting to order at 2:03 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: James Thompson (Chair – Technical), Elizabeth Thyne (Vice Chair – Senior), Cheryl Andrus (Cal Poly), Denise Martinez (Disabled), John Osumi (Business), Louise Justice (Member at Large), Heidi Harmon (Alternate) Absent: Michelle Wong (Student), Diego-Christopher Lopez (Alternate) Staff: Tim Bochum (Public Works Deputy Director), Gamaliel Anguiano (Transit Manager), Megan Cutler (Transit Assistant) ANNOUNCEMENTS None. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mr. Logan Hunter thanked Mass Transportation Committee (MTC) and City staff for input during the draft Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP) update. DISCUSSION ITEMS Agenda Item #1: SRTP Presentation with Gordon Shaw, LSC Transportation Consultants, Inc. Mr. Anguiano provided brief overview the Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP), a complete analysis of our transit system conducted every five years, including stakeholder interviews, customer perception surveys, and public comment outreach. The advisory body, comprised of members who represent the interests of different populations within our community, has the opportunity to review this plan, so they can provide feedback to the staff and consultant. Draft Minutes MASS TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE Council Hearing Room, City Hall, 990 Palm St., San Luis Obispo, Wednesday, June 8th, 2016 – 2:30 pm Page 12 of 26 Mr. Anguiano thanked the MTC and the public for their part in the SRTP process. Many decisions are data driven, but he emphasized the importance of feedback from those who utilize the SLO Transit system, allowing decisions to be made that best serve the populations that ride SLO Transit and accommodate them effectively, efficiently, and safely Mr. Anguiano emphasized the SRTP presentation is based on a combination of data and feedback. The proposed route changes are not the final product. Ms. Thyne questioned the effective date for the proposed system changes. Mr. Anguiano acknowledged staff desires to mitigate any disruption to the public resulting from change. The system changes are anticipated to be made in conjunction with the transition from the academic system schedule to the summer system schedule in 2017. Mr. Anguiano emphasized these changes will be an improvement to the existing system. Implementing changes in the summer will hopefully reflect changes in the summer schedule, such as extended hours of service. Implementing changes in the summer also provides drivers with the opportunity to learn the new routes and schedules before the academic system schedule. Ms. Justice questioned date the SRTP will come before the City Council. Mr. Anguiano responded the SRTP will be reviewed by the Planning Commission (PC) on July 13. Mr. Bochum clarified City Council will review the SRTP on September 20. Mr. Gordon Shaw provided SRTP presentation. Mr. Shaw acknowledged this plan is not set in stone, but is seen as more of a business plan. The plan is a basis for state and federal funding, such as when the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awards a grant. Mr. Shaw reviewed the processes that comprised the SRTP, such as meeting with transit providers and stakeholders. Mr. Shaw stated on-board surveys were conducted on every run of every route over the course of a whole day. The results indicated the importance of sidewalks to and from bus stops, since 90% of passengers walk or use a mobility device, 64% passengers use the system to travel to school, 15% passengers use the system to travel to work. 39% of passengers have been using the system for less than a year. Many passengers use the system on a daily basis. 94% of passengers rated SLO Transit as an “excellent” or “good” system. 67% of passengers rated SLO Transit’s on time performance as “excellent” or “good”. Mr. Shaw stated online surveys were also conducted. Survey feedback indicated recommendation for hours of service and service frequency, such as later and more frequent service on weekdays and weekend. Mr. Shaw stated drivers were also questioned regarding issues they recognized along the routes for further system feedback. Page 13 of 26 Mr. Shaw stated the proposed nomenclature for the system: Route 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B. The A’s travel clockwise and the B’s travel counterclockwise along each route. Mr. Shaw acknowledged different names are needed since the routes are slightly different from the existing routes. Mr. Shaw described each route more closely. The new Route 1 services where the current Routes 1 and 3 service. Housing and employment south of Tank Farm encourages the potential for new ridership. The Damon Garcia sports field is also a ridership draw and bi-directional service promotes safety. Mr. Shaw mentioned the Augusta stop would be serviced on Laurel, which would keep the buses on Laurel. He acknowledged Augusta is a narrow roadway for buses. Ms. Thyne questioned how the elderly will get across Laurel to access another bus stop. Mr. Anguiano described how the conclusion for the alternative stop was derived. Parked cars and a narrow roadway make it challenging for buses to travel on Augusta. Mr. Anguiano addressed concerns regarding the grade increase near the proposed new stop. The grade increase is approximately 200 – 250 feet from the existing bus stop, just after the proposed alternative stop location. The alternative stop promotes safety, justifying its relocation. Mr. Anguiano acknowledged the 30-foot vehicles that primarily drive on Augusta are set to expire in 2019/2020. Traveling on arterial, rather than residential, roadways is essential for new buses. The existing 30-foot vehicles would not need to be replaced with new 30-foot vehicles, saving the system approximately $1,000,000 in capital replacement costs. Mr. Anguiano also acknowledged stops on both sides of Laurel allow passengers to board/get off the bus on the appropriate side of the street, promoting safety and reducing the need to cross the street. Ms. Justice questioned the service frequency along this route. Mr. Anguiano stated new service frequency will be approximately every 30 minutes. Public member questioned the number of feet from corner to proposed alternative bus stop. Mr. Anguiano clarified approximately 50 feet from the intersection. Ms. Thyne acknowledged projected residential and retail redevelopment on Laurel to build and questioned whether this development would affect the bus stop on Laurel. Mr. Anguiano responded the new bus stop would help serve the developed area by providing more frequent service. Public member acknowledged the roadway congestion due to school on Augusta, making it challenging for drivers to travel on roadway. Page 14 of 26 Mr. Thompson questioned the cost of implementing intersection control, such as a traffic signal or crosswalk, at Laurel and Augusta in order to promote safety when crossing Laurel. Mr. Bochum responded a full traffic signal runs at about $250,000. Alternatives include in ground paving lights, which run at about $45,000, and flashing warning signs. Mr. Bochum acknowledged staff has considered a road diet on Laurel, similar to South, in order to reduce the number of lanes. Mr. Shaw continued his presentation. Route 1B would be 30 minute service, twice an hour, and Route 1A would be 45 minute service. Mr. Shaw stated, although Route 1 travels in close proximity to the airport, the airport is actually a low transit trip generator. Mr. Shaw stated two buses will serve Route 2, one in each direction once an hour. Route 2 provides a better connection to the southern part of the community. Mr. Anguiano acknowledged Route 2 crossing the Los Osos Valley Road bridge allowed an elimination of service on the Auto Park loop, promoting safety and improving on time performance. Mr. Shaw stated there was a recommendation desire to provide better connectivity to downtown. Mr. Shaw stated there was a desire for expanded evening service during the academic year. Some buses will also begin service earlier. Mr. Shaw acknowledged the desire for more evening service in the summer, in particular the senior and disabled community feels more isolated in the summer. Four routes were identified that will have service up until 9:45 PM or 10:30 PM. This extended summer service would at least be provided during the week, since there is not as high demand for weekend service. Mr. Shaw stated the high number of fare options. Upon evaluating the number of people using each pass type, Mr. Shaw recommended focusing on the 3-day pass due limited use of the 5- day and 7-day pass. Mr. Shaw recommended coordination with the Regional Transit Authority, such as with bus tracking system and luggage policy. Mr. Shaw recommended more double decker buses. Due to the size of the bus stops, these buses make more sense than articulated buses. Mr. Anguiano questioned if the recommendation for more double decker buses means they need to get more. Mr. Shaw acknowledged more double decker buses is a recommendation but not crucial. Mr. Shaw acknowledged the proposed new system will result in higher frequency of service, better on time performance, and capital savings. Ms. Justice clarified Route 3A and Route 3B will service Monterey, rather than Mill. However, Route 4 will still service Mill. Page 15 of 26 Ms. Justice clarified the clearance of the railroad bridge. Mr. Shaw confirmed there is enough clearance. Mr. Thompson questioned the frequency of service on the Pepper Johnson Phillips loop. Mr. Anguiano acknowledged prior versions of the plan reflect service in this area. However, servicing Monterey reduces the frequency of buses servicing this route. Public member, Tania Arnold, questioned the bus stop locations on Tank Farm near Brookpine and Wavertree. Mr. Anguiano responded the development of Righetti Ranch will result in bus service on Tank Farm. Ms. Thyne indicated shovels have already hit the ground for this development. Public member, Eliane Wilson, questioned the storage facility for more double decker vehicles. Mr. Anguiano responded in the long term additional space will be needed to park additional vehicles. Mr. Anguiano stated the draft plan will be reviewed by the Planning Commission on July 13, then brought to Council for recommended adoption on September 20. Mr. Bochum requested any additional comments be submitted to Mr. Shaw within the next week. Mr. Bochum stated, aside from the Short Range Transit Plan, the City is working with Cal Poly to extend the subsidy contract by one year. Cal Poly requested the City evaluate the feasibility of extended service hours. Public member, Eliane Wilson, questioned the phasing of the implementation of new routes. Mr. Anguiano acknowledged the implementation of these routes relies on funding, most likely meaning the new routes will be implemented in phases. Mr. Thompson noted concern for people crossing the street at the Orcutt at Tank Farm stop. Ms. Justice noted concern regarding Route 3 (found on page 141), in particular eliminating stops on Broad from the Marigold Center to Capitolio. Mr. Shaw confirms two-way service on Broad is reflected in the latest version of the plan. Ms. Thyne moved to adjourn meeting at 3:33 p.m. to the next regular meeting of Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. Ms. Justice seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Megan Cutler Page 16 of 26 SLO Transit Short Range Transit Plan – Executive Summary LSC Transportation Consultants, Inc. / AECOM, Inc. Page 1 Executive Summary 2016 SLO Transit Short Range Transit Plan Prepared by LSC Transportation Consultants, Inc. and AECOM, Inc. This document presents a five-year Short-Range Transit Plan (SRTP) developed for SLO Transit -- the City of San Luis Obispo’s public transit program. An SRTP is intended to provide a detailed business plan to guide the transit organization over the coming five years. It includes a review of demographics and its transit needs, a series of surveys and ridership counts conducted for all SLO Transit services, a review of the effectiveness and efficiency of existing services, a review of similar systems, analysis of a wide range of options, and the results of public input processes. The resulting SRTP provides operational, capital and institutional plans, including an implementation plan. This SRTP plan has been prepared jointly with the development of a parallel SRTP for the San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority (RTA) program, in order to identify means to best coordinate the two services. EXISTING DEMOGRAPHICS The population of the San Luis Obispo area (including portions of census tracts extending beyond City boundaries), per the 2009-2013 US Census estimates is 58,684. Persons living in households without vehicles total 231, or 1.3 percent of the total countywide population. Youth (persons under 18 years of age) total 2,838, or 5 percent of total population. Elderly persons age over 60 total 3,068 (15 percent). There are a total of 14,579 persons living in households below the federal poverty level (24.8 percent of total population). Persons who indicate they have a mobility disability total 2,259, or 4 percent of total population. Of all population, 99 percent live within 1/4 mile of a public transit route, reflecting very good overall coverage by the SLO Transit program. Population is forecast to increase by 2.3 percent by 2021. OVERVIEW OF SLO TRANSIT SLO Transit is a service provided through the City of San Luis Obispo’s Department of Public Works, providing fixed route services throughout the city as well as the adjacent Cal Poly campus1. Management, marketing and planning are provided by a small three-person staff of City employees, while service operations and vehicle maintenance is provided by a private contractor (First Transit). The City Council is the decision making body, with input from the Mass Transportation Committee. SLO Transit operates a total of seven bus routes on weekdays, six routes on Saturdays, and four routes on Sundays. Routes 1 and 3 are one-directional loops connecting Cal Poly and downtown with the southeast portion of the city. Route 2 connects downtown with the southern portion of the city. Routes 4 and 5 comprise a large bi-directional loop connecting Cal Poly and downtown with the western and southwestern portions of the city. Routes 6A and 6B connect the Cal Poly with the neighborhoods immediately adjacent to the campus, including 1 Complementary paratransit services requires by the Americans with Disabilities Act are provided by the RTA Runabout program. Page 17 of 26 SLO Transit Short Range Transit Plan – Executive Summary Page 2 LSC Transportation Consultants, Inc. / AECOM, Inc. downtown. Service is generally provided from 6:00 AM to as late as 11:00 PM on weekdays and 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekends. Lower service levels are operated during the summer. In addition, the Old SLO Trolley service is operated from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM on a route within downtown on Thursdays (year-round) on Fridays in the summer, and on Saturdays from April to October. Limited “tripper” services are also operated to serve San Luis Obispo High School as well as to provide necessary capacity to the Cal Poly campus. The service requires 10 vehicles in operation at peak times (excluding tripper buses). It operates 362,000 vehicle-miles per year over 29,700 vehicle-hours of service. Financials The SLO Transit program has an annual operating cost of approximately $3,500,000 per year. The base cash fare is $1.25, or $0.60 for senior citizens age 65-79, passengers with disabilities, and Medicare card holders. Free boarding is provided for Cal Poly students, faculty and staff (through an agreement with Cal Poly), seniors age 80 and above, and children age 4 or below. Passes are available at discounted rates. Operating revenues consist of Federal sources (particularly the Federal Transit Administrations 5307 program), state/regional sources (particularly Local Transportation Funds), and local fares and revenues. Ridership In total, approximately 1,029,000 passenger-trips are served annually. Of these, 58 percent are Cal Poly students, staff or faculty. Overall, 35 passengers board per vehicle-hour of service, or 2.8 per vehicle-mile of service. Since 2003, ridership has grown by 64 percent. Fleet The SLO Transit fleet consists of a total of 17 revenue vehicles, including 14 standard buses, one double decker bus, one cutaway vehicle and a trolley replica vehicle. Vehicles use clean diesel technology, except the cutaway and trolley vehicles that are gasoline powered. Facilities The SLO Transit operations and maintenance facility is located at 29 Prado Road. The primary passenger facility is the Downtown Transit Center adjacent to City Hall. SLO Transit serves over 170 bus stops, of which 46 have shelters/benches and an additional 66 have benches. Onboard Surveys Fixed Route Onboard Survey An onboard passenger survey indicated that respondents were primarily coming and going for the purpose of either school (64 percent) or work (15 percent). 81 percent of the riders were Cal Poly students, staff or faculty, while 4 percent were associated with Cuesta College. Page 18 of 26 SLO Transit Short Range Transit Plan – Executive Summary LSC Transportation Consultants, Inc. / AECOM, Inc. Page 3 Passengers were asked to rank transit service characteristics of SLO Transit on a scale of “Very Poor” to “Excellent.” Overall, 94 percent indicated “Good” or “Excellent.” “Safety”, “Driver Courtesy” and “Value for Fares” also received high scores. The lowest scoring category was “On-Time Performance”, which was ranked as “Good” or “Excellent” by 68 percent. The most common request for service improvements were for expanded hours or days of service. Online Survey In addition to the onboard surveys, an online survey was conducted. Asked to rate the service, the lowest rated service among SLO Transit riders was “Hours of Service” followed by “Service Frequency”. The highest rated services were “Value Received for Fare” and “Safety Performance.” The most popular way to improve SLO Transit was to extend service later on weekdays, followed by later weekend service. Peer Comparison Comparing SLO Transit with eight peer systems, SLO Transit was found to have the highest productivity, as measured in passenger-trips per vehicle-hour or passenger-trips per vehicle- mile. SLO Transit also had a per capita trip rate more than twice the peer average. Operating cost per vehicle revenue hour was relatively high but the cost per passenger-trip is substantially lower than the peer average (the third lowest of the peer group). The SLO Transit fares are slightly lower than the peer average. SHORT RANGE TRANSIT PLAN ELEMENTS Service Plan The existing route structure will be realigned to enhance service quality in key corridors, provide meaningful new connections, and improve service efficiency. Overall, the route network will be reconfigured into a series of four bi-directional routes. In addition, it is recommended that the routes be renumbered, and A/B designations be used to differentiate the direction of travel. The “A” routes will operate largely clockwise and the “B” routes largely counterclockwise: Routes 1 and 3 will be revised to create new Route 1A and Route 1B. Route 1A will be served by one route in a clockwise direction, operated every 45 minutes using a single bus. It will generally follow the existing Route 3, will extend service south of Tank Farm Road, and can be modified over time to serve new development. Route 1B will serve a counterclockwise loop generally along Broad Street, Orcutt Road and Johnson Avenue, similar to the southern portion of existing Route 1. One bus will provide service every half-hour. Route 2 will be modified to add service to the Madonna Road and Los Osos Valley Road corridors. A second bus will augment the one bus currently providing service every 40 minutes on Route 2 to provide hourly service in both directions along this Page 19 of 26 SLO Transit Short Range Transit Plan – Executive Summary Page 4 LSC Transportation Consultants, Inc. / AECOM, Inc. larger route. Both buses will serve the South Street/Santa Barbara Avenue/Santa Rosa Street corridor, providing service every 30 minutes on this busy corridor. Route 2A will operate the loop clockwise, and Route 2B counterclockwise. Routes 4 and 5 will be revised to provide hourly service, realigned, and renumbered Route 3A (clockwise) and 3B (counterclockwise). Service between downtown and Cal Poly will be shifted from Grand Avenue to California Boulevard (replaced with 4A/4B enhancements) and service on Los Osos Valley Road east of Madonna Road will be eliminated (replaced with 2A/2B). Overall, this will reduce service frequency in the low- ridership areas on the western side of the system, free up two buses for use in higher ridership areas, and improve on-time performance. Routes 6A and 6B will be configured into a bi-directional loop serving Cal Poly and downtown, and renumbered 4A (clockwise) and 4B (counterclockwise). During peak daytime periods in the school year, two buses will be operated in each direction over the 40-minute loop, providing service every 20 minutes in each direction. In evenings, one bus will operate Route 4A service every 30 minutes. This strategy will improve connections between the Foothill/Highland corridor and downtown (and connecting bus services). It will also result in a simpler route structure that is easier for passengers to understand. This route plan (absent the expansion of hours of service, as discussed below) will increase the annual number of runs by 6 percent of the existing total, increase the vehicle-hours of service by 9 percent, but only increases vehicle-miles of service by 0.5 percent. One additional bus will be operated at peak. The plan focuses transit resources on areas with the greatest ridership potential, provides new cross-town travel options between the Madonna Road corridor and the South Higuera corridor, improves on-time performance by building more layover time into the routes, increases service frequency in the key neighborhoods near the Cal Poly campus and to/from downtown, provides service to new neighborhoods and employment opportunities, and provides flexibility to expand services in the future to serve new developments, such as Righetti Ranch and the Margarita Area Specific Plan. Hours of service will be expanded during the school year , as follows: Route 1B (existing Route 1) – Extend service until 8:09 PM, and operate one earlier run at 6:15 AM. Route 2A/2B (existing Route 2) – Extend daytime service level until approximately 8:00 PM Operate both Routes 3A and 3B in the evenings, and operate one additional 3A (existing Route 4) run at 6:10 AM. Page 20 of 26 SLO Transit Short Range Transit Plan – Executive Summary LSC Transportation Consultants, Inc. / AECOM, Inc. Page 5 Route 4A/4B (existing Route 6A/6B) – 20 minute frequency until 9:00 PM, and 40 minute frequency until approximately 11:30 PM New weekday evening service will be operated during the summer , as follows: Route 1A (revised existing Route 3) until approximately 9:45 PM Route 2A (revised existing Route 2) until approximately 9:45 PM Route 3A (revised existing Routes 4) until approximately 10:00 PM Route 4B (revised existing Routes 6A and 6B) until 10:30 PM, at 30 minute frequency Finally, SLO Transit will investigate serving bell times at the Laguna Middle School by operating specific runs off of Los Osos Valley Road. Capital Plan The City will purchase 9 fixed route buses plus a trolley over the coming six years. It is recommended that two of the additional buses be double deck, to expand capacity in a cost-efficient manner. The City will also consider 100% electric buses, as technological improvements increase the operational and financial feasibility. New bus stops will be constructed at a total of ten locations to implement the route modifications. Bus stop improvements to be pursued include 15 additional shelters, 11 additional benches, 14 additional trash cans, 10 additional bike racks and new electronic transit information signs at five locations. Painting or repainting red curbs is also needed at approximately 75 stops. The City will continue to work with the SLOCOG and RTA to develop a new downtown transit center. As this project will require several years to implement, in the meantime the City should enhance lighting at the existing Government Center site. Improvements to the Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility will include reconfiguring existing space to create a training room, adding up to two additional maintenance bays, and expanding bus and staff parking. Management Plan Service standards will be revised to better match current conditions and goals. Coordination of SLO Transit with RTA will be enhanced by (1) working towards a single regional bus tracker website, (2) developing a single ID card for persons with disabilities, (3) defining a consistent policy on passenger baggage, (4) coordinating routes and schedules Page 21 of 26 SLO Transit Short Range Transit Plan – Executive Summary Page 6 LSC Transportation Consultants, Inc. / AECOM, Inc. where beneficial, (5) increasing joint driver training, and (6) working towards a common bus replacement policy. Financial Plan SLO Transit will implement the following fare policy changes: Offer a discount Regional Day Pass to enhance mobility throughout the region by persons with disabilities. Eliminate the current 7-Day Pass and 5-Day Pass, which get very little use. Consider a stored value card fare option are a replacement to the punch pass. SLO Transit will also monitor financial conditions to assess future need for fare modifications. No changes in base fares are included in this plan. This plan will increase annual operating costs by 6.8 percent. Services improvements are planned to be funded through a combination of existing funding sources, including fare revenues, Federal Transit Administration funds, Transportation Development Act funds, other state sources, and Cuesta College contributions. There also is a potential for new revenues from a potential new countywide ½-cent sales tax (though these revenues are not included in this plan). If passed, this new revenue would be focused on expanding evening service. Capital costs over the plan period exceed the current forecasted 5307 funds by $5.6 Million, which will require new funding. Page 22 of 26 LSCTransportationConsultants,Inc./AECOM,Inc. Page140SLOTransitShortRangeTransitPlan Cal Cal PolyPoly W e e e e San LuisSan Luis ObispoObispo 1 B r o a d S t Prado R d Hi g ue r a S t T o r o S t Ma r sh S t S a n t a R o s a S t Elk s Ln Fo o t h i ll R d Foothill Blvd C a l i f o r n i a B l v d Mon t e r e y St O r c u tt R d C h o rr o S t J o h n s o n A v e L o s O s o s V a l l e y R d South St Tank Farm Rd 101 E d n a R d Mado n n a R d £¤101 Service Layer Credits: Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community 0120.5Miles I Figure 36 SLO Transit Short Range Transit Plan Route 1A Route 1B Route 2A Route 2B Route 3A Route 3B Route 4A Route 4B LEGEND c cRoute 3A Route 3B OTHER PLAN ELEMENTS - Extend Hours of Service During School Year - Provide Evening Service in Summer - Fleet Improvements - Bus Stop Improvements - Discounted Day Pass - Eliminate 5-Day and 7-Day Pass - Ongoing Coordination Route 4A Route 4Bc c Route 1A Route 1B Route 2A Route 2B Improve Transit Center Lighting Operations Facility Improvements cc cc c c cc cc Page 23 of 26 City of San Luis Obispo Transit – SLO Transit Service Reductions & Fare Increase Policy & Procedures I. Purpose 49 USC Chapter 53, Section 5307(d)(1)(I) provides that urban grant recipient shall have: “a locally developed process to solicit and consider public comment before raising a fare or carrying out a major reduction of transportation.” The City of San Luis Obispo’s fixed-route SLO Transit (SLO Transit) system is a recipient of Federal Transit funding and therefore must establish an acceptable public hearing procedure with respect to fare increase and major reduction in service proposals as required by Federal law. II. Definitions a. Major Service Reduction: i. A reduction of more than 15 percent of daily revenue miles or hours; or ii. A number of service reductions in any given fiscal year that add up to more than 15 percent of daily revenue miles or hours. b. Fare Increase: i. Any increase to a fare price per unit of service. c. Emergency Service Change: i. Service change that is to be in effect for fewer than thirty (30) days; and ii. Service change does not meet the criteria of Section II.A. Examples of emergency service changes include, but are not limited to; those made because of a power failure, severe weather, major construction, reconstruction, and improvement projects. III. Procedure Page 24 of 26 a. If a Major Service Reduction or Fare Increase is determined to be necessary by SLO Transit staff, a recommendation and supporting materials will be submitted to the City of San Luis Obispo City Council (Council) for consideration. b. If the Council determines that a Major Service Reduction or Fare Increase may be necessary based on staff’s recommendation and supporting documentation, staff will schedule and advertise a public hearing in accordance with City’s most recently adopted Public Engagement Manual. At a minimum, public notices for public hearings will be posted at or electronically sent to the following locations, in both English and Spanish: i. City Hall (990 Palm St.) ii. Transit Center iii. On board fixed-route vehicles iv. County/City Public Library v. Local Access TV Channel 21 vi. SLO Transit website with email link for comments vii. City of San Luis Obispo website with email link for comments viii. Social Media (e.g. Facebook) ix. And notices in local print periodicals c. A public hearing on the Major Service Reduction or Fare Increase will be held in a convenient, accessible and diverse location. i. The location selected will be along bus routes whenever possible; ii. The public hearing will be held under the supervision of SLO Transit Manager; iii. The public comments will be recorded and filed; and iv. The public hearing may be held at a regular Mass Transit Advisory Committee meeting. v. Spanish speaking assistance availability d. After the public hearing is closed, staff will give a recommendation for consideration by the Council e. If Council adopts a plan for a Major Service Reduction or Fare Increase, the SLO Transit Manager shall be authorized and directed to implement the action according to the approved transit schedule. The schedule shall provide for adequate public notice of the service or fare changes prior to their implementation. IV. Exemptions Page 25 of 26 The following criteria establish certain instances which are exempt from the requirement to solicit public comment: a. Standard seasonal variations; b. An Emergency Service Change; c. Experimental service changes for a period of 180 days or less, unless the changes extend beyond 180 days and meet the criteria of a Major Service Reduction as defined in Section II.A; d. Any fare, ticket or pass rate changes that do not result in increased fares per unit of service; e. Increases in service; or f. Decreases in fares. Page 26 of 26