City of Lawrence

Public Transit Advisory Committee

July 8, 2014 minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Alan Black, Jane Huesemann, Mark Hurt, Lyle Hettinger, James Pavisian, Heather Thies

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Marian Hukle, James Canaday   

STAFF PRESENT:

Robert Nugent, Serena Pearson, Mike Sweeten, Todd Girdler

PUBLIC PRESENT:

 

 

1. Call to Order

Alan Black, Vice Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:10.  Quorum.

 

2. Introductions

PTAC member Howard Hill passed away - a replacement was needed.  Heather Thies from Cottonwood, has been a strong partner and advocate for Transit, was introduced as the new member.

 

3. Possible Change in Meetings (Action Item) 

Bob Nugent stated that we need a good active quorum, especially to take actions on issues associated with the new Transit Center and changes to service.  

Is there a better day or time to meet? Most of City advisory groups meet at City Hall.  Should we meet at another location? 

 

Discussion: Send out an e-mail or notice to the group to see if there is a better time and location. We will discuss at next meeting. 

 

4. Transit Center Concept (Discussion)

Serena Pearson gave examples of transit centers throughout the country, amenities, art, xeriscaping and lighted info panels. Also, she showed examples of real time arrival signs, bike racks, driver bathrooms, etc.  We want to educate the public and get information from the public.  Public meetings next week will allow public to give their feedback.

 

Bob Nugent said that we want to show the public that a Transit Center is not what they are used to seeing (such as 7th and Vermont), but it can provide a sense of place, and can represent what transit is to the community. It will be specifically for bus riders and not for people to drive to in their cars.  It will not be a place for people to hang out. 

Public Meetings next week will touch on three things:

 1. What is a transit center?

 2. Restructuring Service (what are we doing right and wrong.)

 3. Iowa and 21st location.

The meetings will be on 7/15, 7/16, 7/17 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Carnegie Building, Indoor Aquatic Center and Holcom Recreation Center.

 

There has been a change of scope to do traffic analysis and mitigation study on 21st Street.  Consultants will work with the neighborhood on mitigation for 21st Street.   PTAC will be informed as to when the meetings will be. 

 

5. Service Restructuring Priorities (Action Item)

Bob Nugent stated that if Commission says we will be moving to 21st & Iowa, then all routes will need to be restructured.  There was a meeting with Operations Manager and Lawrence Transit Staff to discuss routes if this were to happen. We know that there is ridership in all corridors and at all bus stops. We want to maintain service where we currently have service.  Drivers were asked what would they do, and where people are coming from and going to.  We currently have six routes still operating on a 60 minute schedule. Restructuring could allow us to increase service to 30 minute schedules on some routes.

 

Recommendation: 30 minute service framework on all routes. Motion: Jane Huesemann, Second: James Pavision, all in favor, no opposed.

 

6. Funding Requests and Projects (Action Item)

Bob Nugent stated that last year Johnson County Transit came to the City of Lawrence to ask help fund the K-10 Connector.  The Commission decided that The City of Lawrence would not fund the K-10 Connector unless KU and JCCC also contributed. KU and JCCC decided not to contribute and City Commission decided to fund.

 

Committee: PTAC had made the recommendation not to fund the K-10 Connector, so the PTAC committee would like to know why the City Commission did not consider their recommendation when making their decision to fund the K-10 Connector. They also would like to know why this funding was approved after KU and JCCC decided not fund the K-10 Connector. Key funding is being depleted from Lawrence Transit for future service, which could put this service in jeopardy.  Johnson County is asking for (and has received) $120K this year, then they are asking for $200 next year and $300K the following year.  There is also the matter of sidewalk improvements that the city is looking to fund out the transit fund. 

 

Recommendation: The PTAC Committee would like to talk to the City Manager about this matter during the September meeting or even earlier to provide an explanation as to why this decision was made without taking PTAC’s recommendation into consideration. Motion: Mark Hurt, second: James Pavision, all in favor, no opposed.

 

7. Quick Updates

a. Bus Pass Sales/Student Summer Pass – There were approximately 375 Student Summer Bus Passes sold so far this summer.  They were available for sale at both of the city pools and City Hall, plus around 50 in our office (which included bulk sales such as the Housing Authority.)  The library purchased 100 passes for their summer reading program.

b. FTA Reviews – There was a Drug and Alcohol audit this morning that went very well.  There will be a Tri-Annual review in August. There is a lot of preparation involved in the Tri-Annual review.

c. Construction – We added additional service to routes due to construction this summer.  It is not really the big projects giving us problems - it is the smaller, short term projects (with only a day or two notice) causing last minute reroutes. 

d. Route 2 – New route to Rock Chalk Park. We don’t know what will be out there – it will be a flex route for a while, may be a fixed route eventually.  

 

8. Public Comment:

No public to comment

 

9. Next Meeting (Proposed):

September 9, 2014

 

10. Adjournment

Meeting was adjourned at 5:50 p.m.

 

-Submitted by Serena Pearson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

At 60 minutes on recorder.