HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-12-2017 MTC Minutes FINAL
Minutes - FINAL
MASS TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Meeting of the Mass Transportation Committee
CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the Mass Transportation Committee was called to order on Wednesday,
July 12, 2017 at 2:30 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis
Obispo, California, by Chair Osumi.
ROLL CALL
Present: Committee Members John Osumi (Chair – Business), Cheryl Andrus (Vice Chair - Cal
Poly), Elizabeth Thyne (Senior), Louise Justice (Member at Large), Denise Martinez
(Disabled), James Thompson (Technical), Justin Frentzel (Student), David Figueroa
(Alternate), Diego-Christopher Lopez (Alternate)
Absent: None
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
Regarding May 10, 2017 MTC Minutes, Page 3, line 4, state “due” instead of “do”. Committee
members clarified alternate member classification. Alternates do not vote unless a committee
member is absent, in which case an alternate should be established as a voter at the beginning of
the meeting.
ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THYNE, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE
MEMBER FRENTZEL, CARRIED 6-0, to approve the Minutes of the Mass Transportation
Committee Meeting with amendments for May 10, 2017.
FINAL Minutes – Mass Transportation Committee Meeting of July 12, 2017 Page 2
ACTION ITEMS
None.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. Committee Items
None.
2. Staff Items
a.) Transit Manager’s Report
The fiscal year came to a close in July. There was a slight decrease in ridership, which was not
unusual. Ridership will increase again once the Cal Poly quarter begins. Also, the incoming Cal
Poly freshmen will not be permitted to have cars on campus and will have to look to transit for
transportation.
Part of the fiscal year process involves preparing for the grant process, which is where the Federal
government reimburses funds.
When the fiscal year came to a close, so did the two-year transit budget with no changes. Though
State and Federal assistance is flat to declining, new funding is being researched, but not accounted
for during budget planning. Should an increase of funds occur, then the budget plan can be
revisited.
The new routes were designed to work with K-12 students, giving them more options, and getting
the middle school students closer to school. Middle school and high school students will be
educated about transit options at orientation days. Cal Poly freshmen will also receive transit
information during SLO Days orientation presentations.
There was a loss in sales for 5-day and 7-day passes, but the fare increase might help that shortfall.
Money was secured for improvements for the transit bus yard, however vehicles are aging out and
there is no identified funding source for new buses yet. A single new bus can typically take two
years to acquire.
i. Update on Cal Poly Negotiations
The one year extension for negotiations expired in July. The language agreement, since 2011, will
remain the same. Cal Poly agreed to provide a 3% incremental increase over the next two years.
This new 2-year agreement began July 1, 2017, and will end June 30, 2019.
ii. Update on Implementation of Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP)
FINAL Minutes – Mass Transportation Committee Meeting of July 12, 2017 Page 3
The City received a letter of concern from a member of the public in regards to eliminating the
Phillips/Pepper loop. The SRTP does not show the loop, however it is still active. It is a five year
goal to move off the loop. The double decker bus needs to detour off Mill Street because of low
hanging wires, as well as large tree limbs that would need to be chopped off, not just trimmed. At
the time of the meeting, trees were being trimmed, and staff informed the committee they would
look into it. If it is possible to make the move, the earliest the process can begin would be Fall.
This includes the need for a public comment session.
The Phillips/Pepper loop has seen a reduction of buses from six per hour down to two. And, the
Descanso/Prefumo Canyon loop was eliminated.
Over the course of summer, minor details were adjusted and improved. This includes placing the
straightline maps back into the buses once the design was improved, keeping the buses moving
constantly instead of idling at stops, and printing the schedules with clear indication tha t certain
routes operate Monday through Friday only.
Route 3 appears to have an added 20 minutes, making it an hour to come around. This route was
always late by 10 minutes, so an extra 10 minutes was added to ensure accuracy. There was also a
concern in regards to bus shelters for those who will be waiting. Bus shelters are approved by the
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and is based on ridership frequency at a particular stop.
ADJOURNMENT
ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER OSUMI, SECOND BY COMMITTEE
MEMBER FRENTZEL, CARRIED 6-0, to adjourn the meeting at 4:22 p.m. until the next Regular
Meeting of the Mass Transportation Committee, September 13, 2017 at 2:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lareina Gamboa
Recording Secretary
Megan Cutler
Transit Assistant
APPROVED BY THE MASS TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: 11/08/2017