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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-08-2016 MTC Minutes FINAL FINAL Minutes – SPECIAL MEETING MASS TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE Council Hearing Room, City Hall, 990 Palm St., San Luis Obispo, Wednesday, June 8th, 2016 – 2:30 pm 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. 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 FINAL Minutes – Mass Transportation Committee Special Meeting of June 8, 2016 Page 2 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. 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. FINAL Minutes – Mass Transportation Committee Special Meeting of June 8, 2016 Page 3 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. 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 FINAL Minutes – Mass Transportation Committee Special Meeting of June 8, 2016 Page 4 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 questioned Route 3A and Route 3B will service Monterey, rather than Mill. However, Route 4 will still service Mill. FINAL Minutes – Mass Transportation Committee Special Meeting of June 8, 2016 Page 5 Ms. Justice questioned 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 t o 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. FINAL Minutes – Mass Transportation Committee Special Meeting of June 8, 2016 Page 6 Ms. Thyne moved to adjourn special 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 APPROVED BY THE MASS TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: 07/13/2016