City of Lawrence

Public Transit Advisory Committee

November 10, 2015 minutes

 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Alan Black, Heather Thies, Samantha Snyder, Mark Hurt, James Pavision

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Marian Hukle, Jane Huesemann, Lyle Hettinger

STAFF PRESENT:

Robert Nugent, Serena Pearson, Wendy Koerner, Mike Sweeten   

PUBLIC PRESENT:

Lance A. Fahy  

 

1. Call to Order

Alan Black, Vice Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:15. Quorum met.

 

2. Introductions

 Introductions went around the room.

 

3. Approval of Minutes (Action Item)

Minutes from September 8, 2015 PTAC meeting were presented to PTAC members. There was a motion from Mark Hurt to approve minutes. Heather Thies seconded, all in favor, no opposed.

 

4. Service Change Proposals (Action Item)

Bob Nugent said that at the last PTAC meeting we discussed adding another route to the Lawrence Community Shelter (LCS). PTAC had decided to defer that decision. This would allow us some more time to determine what service would be needed and take it to the public. It is best to wait until August 2016 when the new Transit Guide is released.   

 

Bob gave handouts to the committee on proposed route changes.  He explained that we would like to have a reworked Route 1 that would serve downtown, LCS and East Hills Business Park. We also need to be concerned about how we serve Peaslee Tech.  We could have a bus that would serve Prairie Park and Peaslee and Downtown. Route 5 has struggled to serve both East Hills and LCS.  It may be trimmed back go to East Hills and not the LCS. 

 

There are also variations to these routes that we can discuss in public meetings. After public meetings, we can take recommendations to PTAC and make decisions from there. Right now, we are looking to take changes to the public to move forward on route changes next August. This is the first round of proposals. There will be more proposals at the January PTAC meeting.

 

Motion made by Mark Hurt that Bob Nugent put these proposed changes out to public. James Pavision seconded, all in favor, no opposed.

 

5. Proposed Rollout of 30 Minute Service (Action Item)

Bob Nugent reminded the committee that we approved looking into increasing service to 30 minutes on routes that currently run every 60 minutes. There may be issues with this, due to our limited amount of buses and drivers.  More drivers need to be hired and buses need to be purchased. We will need to purchase used or refurbished vehicles in the meantime since it takes at least 18 months to get new vehicles. What we can do is roll-out 30 minute service anytime, then ramp up service on individual routes as we get drivers and equipment. He said he would like to roll out extra service in a phased manner.

 

Jim Pavision said he was under the impression that either we get the transit center, or we get 30 minute service. Bob thinks we can have both. The intention was always to have 30 minute service. We need to match service to demand, so not all routes would be on 30 minute service. 

 

Alan Black asked how this would work with the Transit Guide and the printed timetables. Will we just have extra service on certain routes? Bob said yes, that is how it would work, but we will put the complete schedule on the website and update the “next bus” times on the mobile app and texting. 

 

Motion made by James Pavision to have an incremental roll-out of 30 minute service between now and August 2016. Mark Hurt seconded. All in favor, no opposed.

 

6. 15 Years of Service (Discussion)

Serena Pearson let the committee know that Lawrence Transit is about to reach its 15 year milestone, and in celebration of that we are doing a story writing contest. First prize is one year of free bus fare, second prize is six months of free bus fare, and third prize is three months of free bus fare. The deadline is December 1st for people to submit their story.

 

We would like to have the Mayor proclaim January as Transit Month and recognize the winners at a City Commission meeting in January. We will post all of the stories at the Library and on our website. We will be able to use these stories as a way to post rider profiles throughout the year on our website. 

 

Heather Thies said she will let the Joblink coaches at Cottonwood know about the contest.  Many of the coaches will have to write the stories for their clients.

 

Serena explained that anyone can submit their stories, including students. They can fill out the online form, or we will have forms in the office. There will be a judging committee and we need volunteers from PTAC to be on the panel to choose winners. Heather Thies and Samantha Snyder both volunteered.

 

7. Updates:

a.    Transit Center – Bob Nugent gave an update on the transit center project and explained that in meetings with KU, the Vice Provost suggested that Lot 90 might be a good place for a transit center. This is right outside the Central District by the Rec. Center.  KU is in need of a parking garage in that area, so we could use the bottom floor of the parking garage as a transit center.  Federal funds can be used to pay for it (80/20 grant) which would save us a significant amount of money. This is a win-win for the City and for KU since it would be a multimodal facility.   

b.    Service to LCS – Discussed earlier in meeting.

c.    Transit Amenities – Bob Nugent said that we have relocated a bench at LCS and changed the routes serving that area. We removed the bench from the Fairfield location, and it is now at the southbound Franklin bus stop.  The direction of the bus was also changed in that area and is going clockwise and not counter-clockwise on that loop. 

 

We have an easement at Haskell and 15th and we are getting ready to pour concrete for a bench in the next month or so. There is a new bench at Haskell and LaSalle across from Housing Authority. We are looking at sixteen other locations around town for amenities. It will come down to getting a contractor to do the work. 

 

Bob mentioned that in regards to the location at Haskell and 19th, 99% of the people waiting at the bus stop are waiting for The Jo (Johnson County Connector) bus. KCATA is now running that service, so he called them and asked them to put out some amenities for their passengers.

 

8. Public Comment

Lance Fahy had concerns about the sign in front of Dillons on Mass. Street. There is a nice bench, but the sign is away from the benches. Bob explained that Dillons didn’t want a bus stop sign next to their coffee shop.  Maybe at some time we could move the sign.

 

He also made the comment that he rides the Route 1 and it is extremely busy. They are using a small bus, and he is amazed that the drivers are able to handle the volume with such a small bus.

 

He also had a concern about bus service to downtown in case of a transit center on the KU campus. Bob explained that some people may have to make a transfer to get downtown, just like they are now. We will try to maintain as much service in to the same places as we are now.  There may be some bits and pieces that will change.

 

9. Next Meeting

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

 

10. Adjournment

Alan Black declared the meeting adjourned at 5:15

 

-Submitted by Serena Pearson