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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-08-2017 - MTC Agenda - Final Packet 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), Louise Justice (Member at Large), James Thompson (Technical), Diego-Christopher Lopez (Alternate), Justin Frentzel (Student), David Figueroa (Alternate) ANNOUNCEMENTS: None 0 min. 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: January 11, 2017 (Attachment 1) ACTION ITEMS: 1. MTC Bylaw Changes 20 min. DISCUSSION ITEMS: 2. Downtown Concept Plan Presentation (Rebecca Gershow) 30 min. 3. Transit Manager Updates 10 min. ADJOURNMENT: The next regular meeting will be held May 10, 2017. 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. 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, March 8, 2017 – 2:30 pm Page 1 of 7 ACTION ITEMS: Agenda Item 1: Action Item – MTC Bylaws The City’s Clerk’s Office is working on updating the Advisory Body Handbook. The primary reason is to update the manual before the annual recruitment, appointment process and training which takes place in March and April. One of the goals of this update is to standardize as much as possible and to document and clarify best practices. The Handbook requires that each advisory body review its bylaws by May 1st of each year. Staff Recommendation: MTC to approve a motion of staff’s recommended fare changes, or to approve a motion for some version of them, for City Council’s adoption. DISCUSSION ITEMS: Agenda Item 3: Discussion Item - Downtown Concept Plan (Gershow) The update of the Downtown Concept Plan has been underway since December 2016. A consultant team lead by Michael Baker International is working with City staff and volunteers on the update of the Conceptual Physical Plan For The City's Center, originally adopted by the City in 1993. The primary objectives of the project are to assess and update the present development, vision, goals and concepts related to downtown, in order to p rovide a road map for future public projects and guidance for private development in the downtown and surrounding areas. Learn more at: www.slocity.org/downtown. Presentation by Rebecca Gershow, Associate Planner. Discussion Item only. Agenda Item 4: Discussion Item - Transit Manager Updates General verbal update on the events, happenings, promotions, on -going projects, data and status of the transit program. Discussion Item only. The next meeting will be held: May 10, 2017 ATTACHMENTS: 1. Minutes of the January 11, 2017 MTC meeting G:\Transportation Division\_Transportation Committees\MTC Committee\FY 2017 Page 2 of 7 Minutes - DRAFT MASS TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE Wednesday, January 11, 2017 Meeting of the Mass Transportation Committee CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the Mass Transportation Committee was called to order on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at 2:34 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Thyne. ROLL CALL Present: Committee Members Elizabeth Thyne (Chair - Senior), John Osumi (Vice Chair – Business), Cheryl Andrus (Cal Poly), Denise Martinez (Disabled), James Thompson (Technical), Justin Frentzel (Student), Diego-Christopher Lopez (Alternate), David Figueroa (Alternate) Absent: Louise Justice (Member at Large) Staff: Transit Manager Gamaliel Anguiano, Transit Assistant Megan Cutler, Recording Secretary Lareina Gamboa PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA None. ANNOUNCEMENTS None. MINUTES Amendment to Minutes of the Mass Transportation Committee, meeting of December 8, 2016, Discussion Item 4, deletion: Though Cal Poly has continuously increased over the years, and make up 65% of ridership, that only takes into account half of the City. Page 3 of 7 DRAFT Minutes – Mass Transportation Committee Meeting of January 11, 2017 Page 2 ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THOMPSON, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER FRENTZEL, CARRIED 8-0, to approve the Minutes of the Mass Transportation Committee Meeting on December 8, 2016. ACTION ITEMS 1. Title VI Plan The Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits any federally funded group or program from discriminating a person based on race, color, and national origin. SLO Transit receives federal funds, so accepts and abides by Title VI regulations. The City’s existing Title VI Plan has been updated in compliance with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Title VI regulations. The Title VI Plan holds accountable all City staff, as well as contractors, subcontractors, and vendors to abide by these rules. The Title VI Plan identifies the methods the City and its contractor will operate in order to help prevent Title VI violations from occurring. The Plan also includes the method for formally submitting a Title VI complaint and the method by which this complaint will be responded. Should a problem arise, all complaints will be investigated, responded to, and reported back to the person. Complaints must be submitted no later than 180 days from the alleged date of discrimination. A letter acknowledging receipt of complaint will be mailed within 30 days. There will be information on how the person can appeal a decision, and how to contact the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the ultimate authority, should a person be unhappy with the outcome. Committee Member Frentzel questions the complaint submittal procedures (Section V, Page 2) and proposes additional submittal methods be listed, such as in person, by phone, or by email. Transit Manager Anguiano responds complaints can be submitted by phone or email, but will also need to be formally documented no later than 180 days of the alleged incident. Committee Member Figueroa questions how a passenger will file a complaint against another passenger. Transit Manager Anguiano clarifies this complaint would not fall under the Title VI Plan, but would need to be reported to the police. The Title VI Plan will be produced in Spanish, in addition to other critical pieces, such as the transit guide, fares, and policies. Title VI Plan is currently and will continuously be displayed in every vehicle. The public is invited to submit comments in regards to the Title VI Plan until February 13, 2017. These comments may further shape the Title VI Plan before it is submitted to City Council. The Plan may also be updated according to any new government rules or technology developments. Page 4 of 7 DRAFT Minutes – Mass Transportation Committee Meeting of January 11, 2017 Page 3 ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THOMPSON, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LOPEZ, CARRIED 8-0, to support the Title VI Plan with recommendations from the general public before finalizing the plan. 2. Draft Fare Change Transit Manager Anguiano reviews why a fare change is necessary. Per the implementation of the Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP), there will be new routes and schedules to provide better service to the public. Cal Poly routes will no longer be the only routes that run later or earlier. The weekend and summer services will also be more consistent. However, with the lo ss of Measure J, and scheduled improvements for buses, routes, and schedules, a proposed fare change is in the works to make up the losses of grants and federal funds. The proposed fare changes will be as follows:  Cash Fare: $1.25 to $1.50  1 Day Pass: $3.00 to $3.25  3 Day Pass: $6.00 to $7.00  5 Day Pass: $10.00 to $12.00  7 Day Pass: $14.00 to $15.00  31 Day Regular Pass: no increase  31 Day Student Pass: no increase  31 Day Senior/Disabled Pass: $12.50 to $22.00 Committee Member Thyne questions if certain pass types will be eliminated per the Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP). Transit Manager Anguiano acknowledges the SRTP makes this recommendation, but explains the benefit of offering the public with more pass type options since some cannot financially commit to the 7 Day Pass or 31 Day Pass. As for the 31 Day Senior/Disabled Pass, there has not been an increase in at least 7 years. Therefore, over the next five years, the rate will increase in $2.00 increments while Transit Manager Anguiano looks into obtaining grants to help keep rates stable. Interior advertising space will continue to help increase revenue. Committee Member Figueroa acknowledges the sensitivity of fare increases, but suggests an increase in the cash fare in a manner that encourages the purchase of multiple ride/day passes. Committee Member Frentzel questions the frequency of our ride free events contributing to a loss of revenue. Transit Manager Anguiano responds these free ride events are intended to promote ridership amongst people who will try transit for free, which will hopefully generate future ridership. These free ride events typically occur on low ridership days, such as Sundays, so results in minimal revenue loss. Page 5 of 7 DRAFT Minutes – Mass Transportation Committee Meeting of January 11, 2017 Page 4 RTA Executive Director Geoff Straw suggests conducting a far e elasticity analysis to further evaluate the proposed fare changes. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER FIGUEROA, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER MARTINEZ, CARRIED 8-0, to move the draft fare change topic to a special meeting on February 8, 2017 at 2:30 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room, located at 990 Palm Street. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Committee Items a. Update on SRTP 4. Staff Items a. Transit Manager’s Report Transit Manager Anguiano reports on ridership. A decline in ridership is seen in October and November, then an increase in ridership is seen in December due largely in part to rainy weather conditions. Transit Assistant Cuter reports on the New Bus Unveiling Event scheduled for Thursday, March 9, 2017 in Mission Plaza at 4:30 p.m. The purpose of the event is to draw public attention to our new vehicles with new features. In addition to new buses, new bus stop signage and bus passes will be revealed to the public. Transit Manager Anguiano states the new signage meets the new Federal guidelines for reflectiveness. The city emblem, route number decals, website and phone number will all be included on these signs. Transit Manager Anguiano highlights the features of the new buses, such as BRT aerodynamic styling, elongated escape hatches that increases safety and natural light, two-toned flooring, perimeter seating for more space, LED lighting, infotainment systems, and a new paint scheme. The double decker has returned to the bus yard and will return to service following thorough inspection, likely within the next couple weeks. ADJOURNMENT ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER OSUMI, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER MARTINEZ, CARRIED 6-0 (Committee Member Andrus left at 3:31 p.m. and Committee Member Lopez left at 3:37 p.m.) to adjourn the meeting at 4:24 p.m. until the Special Meeting of the Mass Transportation Committee, February 8, 2017 at 2:30 p.m. Page 6 of 7 DRAFT Minutes – Mass Transportation Committee Meeting of January 11, 2017 Page 5 Respectfully submitted, Lareina Gamboa Recording Secretary Megan Cutler Transit Assistant APPROVED BY THE MASS TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: XX/XX/2017 Page 7 of 7