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Home My WebLink About01-10-2018 MTC Minutes FINAL Minutes - FINAL MASS TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE Wednesday, January 10, 2018 Meeting of the Mass Transportation Committee CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the Mass Transportation Committee was called to order on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 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: John Osumi (Chair – Business), Committee Members Cheryl Andrus (Vice Chair - Cal Poly), Elizabeth Thyne (Senior), James Thompson (Technical), Louise Justice (Member at Large), Denise Martinez (Disabled), Torina Wilson (Student), David Figueroa (Alternate) Absent: Diego-Christopher Lopez (Alternate) Staff: Transit Manager Gamaliel Anguiano, Transit Assistant Megan Weeks, Recording Secretary Lareina Gamboa PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA None. ANNOUNCEMENTS None. MINUTES Committee Member Thyne asked for expansion on reasons why the bus route cannot be moved to Mill Street. Reasons include: obstruction of power lines, telephone lines, and tree limbs. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THYNE, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER MARTINEZ, CARRIED 7-0, to approve the Minutes of the Mass Transportation Committee Meeting amendments for November 8, 2017. PRESENTATION FINAL Minutes – Mass Transportation Committee Meeting of January 10, 2018 Page 2 None. ACTION ITEMS None. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. Committee Items a.) None 2. Staff Items a.) Analysis of Phillips St. Stop Staff did an analysis of all 143 bus stops within the City of San Luis Obispo between June 19, 2017 and December 31, 2017. The stops were ranked by their usage from most frequented, being the Downtown Transit Center, to the least used, such as Johnson at La Cita. Staff found that ridership during these less frequented months of the year averaged on/off usage of 7.5 passengers per stop. Staff then narrowed down the analysis to the Phillips/Pepper loop and found that the two Phillips at Pepper stops have a combined average of 7.2 on/off passenger usage. Staff and Committee Members explored many ideas, such as new locations, eliminating the double decker altogether and operating extra buses, and improving the street or sidewalk. The ideas brought up many more questions, such as the possibility of moving just one stop, how funding will be secured for extra drivers and buses, which division would be responsible for street and sidewalk improvements, as well as conflicts that may arise with existing city plans. Staff highly discouraged the closure of these stops without justifiable reasons, as the buses will continue to run through this loop regardless. Ultimately the Committee decided to accept public feedback regarding the Phillips at Pepper stops and then agendize this topic for one more meeting depending on the public feedback. Public Comment: Logan Hunter, City of San Luis Obispo resident, finds these stops on the Phillips/Pepper loop redundant. A couple months ago he invited Committee Members to observe the impact for a day. Committee Member Lopez accepted this invitation and experienced firsthand the palpable amount of exhaust that occurs daily. Mr. Hunter suggested that maintaining these stops are at the neighbors’ expense, and urged the committee to take a stand. b.) TAM Report Transit Asset Management (TAM) is required by the Federal Government to adapt a new reporting strategy to grasp a better understanding of the lifecycle of vehicles, facilities, and FINAL Minutes – Mass Transportation Committee Meeting of January 10, 2018 Page 3 equipment that is valued at $50,000 or more. A business model was created including qualifying assets of current standing according to FTA, and a plan on replacing them when necessary was developed. This topic will be on the agenda for City Council to review on January 16. c.) Update on SB1 Senate Bill No. 1 (SB1), a road repair and accountability act, is designed to provide additional funding and is available to the City of San Luis Obispo. This grant, if approved by City Council, can provide additional funding toward transportation projects that will help the City implement the Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP). The City of SLO can receive up to $130,000 to supplement operating costs. The annual Transit budget for capital is $7,000, but a single bus shelter can cost $12,000. This funding can be paired with other grants to help the City begin to achieve goals that Transit wishes to achieve. Committee Member Figueroa reminded the room that Measure J did not pass due to lack of knowledge of the benefits that could have occurred and asked that everyone familiarize themselves with SB1 to better inform the public. d.) Transit Manager’s Report November 13, 2017 was the most recent round of changes since the June 19, 2017 systemwide changes. The final addition of extra service for Route 3A and 3B was a direct result of the Cal Poly trending hashtag #unsuckslotransit. Since the extra service was introduced there has been no feedback. The double decker was in repair due to the bridge incident, and is now back in the shop because of back axle issues from towing. Staff is hoping to have it back in circulation no later than the end of February, but hopefully by mid-January to alleviate the high ridership on the Laguna Tripper. The Token Transit app, where digital passes can be purchased, has seen growth in the number of passes sold, successfully generating additional pass sale revenue. The State of California Air Resources Board (CARB) has a goal for zero emission vehicles for California fleets and will roll out this goal in phases over the next several years. Zero emission buses can cost twice as much as regular diesel buses which leaves Transit staff seeking additional funding sources to achieve these goals. Committee Member Justice brought up that the current bus schedule causes confusion for new riders where it states “Summer Schedule” outside the timetable. She has also noticed an extra amount of eating occurring on the buses. In response, Staff will talk to contractors to remind drivers to enforce the no eating policy. Committee Member Justice also brought FINAL Minutes – Mass Transportation Committee Meeting of January 10, 2018 Page 4 up a general public concern for the schedule when it comes to those who are a one car household, as well as an issue of children seven years old being required to pay a full fare. Other cities charge by height and the City of San Luis Obispo chooses to charge by age. Children five years and under ride for free, and those who are age six years and older have the option of purchasing a discounted student pass. Committee Member Martinez asked if there was a policy that requires passengers to enter through the front door, and exit through the rear door as she was recently instructed. There is no policy that states such requirements. The issue with those passengers of shorter stature, and disabled passengers face exiting the rear door is there is nothing to hold onto while exiting, and the step down can be quite a fall if missed. ADJOURNMENT ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THYNE, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER ANDRUS, CARRIED 7-0, to adjourn the meeting at 4:31 p.m. until the next Regular Meeting of the Mass Transportation Committee, March 14, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lareina Gamboa Recording Secretary Megan Weeks Transit Assistant APPROVED BY THE MASS TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: 03/14/2018