City of Lawrence

Public Transit Advisory Committee

City Commission Room, First Floor of City Hall

Mar 13, 2017 minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Alan Black, Heather Thies, Mark Hurt, Zachary Kelsay, John Augusto, Lance Fahy

MEMBERS ABSENT:

James Pavision

STAFF PRESENT:

Robert Nugent, Emily Lubliner, Wendy Koerner, Jessica Mortinger, Danny Kaiser, Mike Sweeten

PUBLIC PRESENT:

Linda Cottin

 

 

1. Call to Order

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

 

2. Approval of Minutes (Action Item)

Minutes from the February 14, 2017 PTAC meeting were presented to PTAC members for approval. There was a motion from Mark Hurt to approve the minutes, Heather Thies seconded, all in favor, no opposed.

 

3. Comprehensive Operational Analysis – Jessica Mortinger discussed the Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA.) This was a year-long process in 2016. The MPO had applied for $150,000 in competitive grant money, matched by about $50,000 in local transit money to fund this COA. This was the first time in 15 the system as a whole, the financials behind it and how it coordinates with other systems was evaluated. The consultants that did the study made some recommendations for changes. The study was very data-driven and included many things, some of which included land use and regional travel patterns. There was also a service analysis on route information with lots of information on boardings and alighting at stops, and then a public process with a survey to the public on bus service. The entire report is available for the public to see at lawrenceks.org/mpo/transitcoa.

 

4. Transportation 2020 – Jessica Mortinger passed out the “Share your Transportation Vision and Priorities Survey.” She said the MPO is in the process of updating the metropolitan transportation plan. Part of the process is to look at long-range transportation into the future. There is a public process and a survey. The MPO is currently out in the community talking about all modes of transportation, public satisfaction and priorities.

 

5. PTAC By-Laws (Action Item) – Alan Black said that the by-laws were distributed by email and there are some handouts. Bob has made the recommended changes. PTAC is now meeting every month instead of every other month, and on Monday instead of Tuesday. It is now a two consecutive term limit. Mark Hurt made a motion to approve. John Augusto seconded. All Approved, no opposed.

 

6. Student Summer Bus Pass Program– Emily Lubliner said that we are getting ready to launch the Student Summer Bus pass this year. This is the fifth year of the program. This year the pass will be good for four months instead of three months, from May – August instead of June through August. The numbers of passes sold has increased each year, starting at around 300 in 2013 and up to 537 passes sold last year. The library always purchases 100 to give to give to teens in their summer reading program. They also distribute flyers to the classrooms when they talk about the summer reading program. The price of the pass is highly discounted at $10 for the entire four months instead of $17.00 per month for a monthly pass.

 

Lance Fahy suggested that the neighborhood associations be made aware of the pass so they can pass the information along on their websites or on social media.

 

Linda Cottin asked to speak about low-income families who cannot afford a bus pass for their kids and live within 2 miles of their school so they are unable to take the school bus. She would love to see the city fund a no-fare bus service for students year round. She said she thinks it will help with ridership and make students lifelong bus riders. Lance Fahy suggested talking to the school board members to see about funding a free or discounted bus pass for students. Bob Nugent said that right now the schools currently purchase bus passes on a short term basis for students struggling to pay for a bus pass. Linda Cottin mentioned that schools don’t have funding for bus passes and currently use slush funds or money they raised for their funds. 

 

7. Updates:

a. Transit Day at the Capitol- Zach Kelsay said that it was a networking opportunity between the different providers and we did get to talk to some representatives. Bob Nugent said that we had a better turnout than last year. We also got to talk to representatives from Wichita and other cities. It was a successful event and we will probably do again next year.

b. Transit Center – Bob Nugent said that the MPO is proposing to do another Transit Center study through the work program. We will go to City Commission on March 21 to ask for permission to move ahead. We are working on an RFP to have ready if Commission gives the go-ahead on the study.  

c. Tax Referendum Subcommittee – Zach asked when would be a good time for the subcommittee to meet. After discussing with Heather and Alan, it was suggested March 22 at 4 p.m. The KU Parking & Transit office would work best.  Alan would like to do some research comparing Lawrence to other communities. Heather suggested doing another meeting on April 11.

d. PTAC Retreat- Bob said that we have two new members – Lance Fahy and Sarah Springsteen Trumble. She is unable to come to the first couple of Monday meeting since she teaches a class that night. We can do it end of April sometime on a Saturday from 9-1. 

 

9. Public Comment – Linda Cottin had already commented.

 

10. Next Meeting – April 10, 2017

 

11. Adjournment - 5:27 pm

 

 

-Submitted by Serena Pearson