Posts in Transit Advisory Minutes

Minutes of the Transit Advisory Committee
Monday, May 16, 2011
City Council Chambers
6:30 PM

Members Present: Chair Glenn Siders, Vice-Chair Joshua Sabin, Brenda Conry, James Jetter, Adam McLaughlin, Jim Sayre, Councilor Brian Wayson, Councilor Coleen Chipman Members Absent: None

1. Call to Order. Glenn Siders called the meeting to order at 6:30, noting that all members
were in attendance.

2. Staff led a discussion of the survey results and possible indications from the data. Consensus was reached on the following:
– The focus of continuing discussions should be fixed-route service, with the understanding that transit-dependent users are part of the mix and will be served by both fixed-route and dial-responsive (SEATS) systems.
– The focus of the service should be commuter destinations outside of North Liberty, as identified in the survey results. Additional routes/times are needed.
– Increasing fares to help pay for service increases is still on the table, but may not be technically practical.
– Service area distance should be considered to be 3 blocks. Information to be gathered and provided by staff at the next meeting includes:
* Summary of destinations cited in the survey responses.
* Estimation of cost for expanding the current route to a loop within North Liberty.
* Map showing 3-block service area for current route and for a potential loop route, and showing higher density housing areas in North Liberty.
* Rough idea of hourly costs for private providers.
* Cost of fixed-route transit service – percent of total budget and per capita.
Discussions are to continue at the next meeting.

3. Review and Approve Minutes. James Jetter moved to approve the minutes of the March 11 meeting. The motion was seconded by Joshua Sabin and approved unanimously.

The meeting adjourned by unanimous consent at about 7:45.

Minutes of the Transit Advisory Committee
Monday, April 11, 2011
City Council Chambers
6:30 PM

Members Present: Chair Glenn Siders, Vice-Chair Joshua Sabin, Brenda Conry, James Jetter, Adam McLaughlin, Jim Sayre, Councilor Brian Wayson
Members Absent: Councilor Coleen Chipman

1. Call to Order. Glenn Siders called the meeting to order at 6:30, noting members in attendance.
2. Discussion of survey results with consultant Dan Wiese. Dan was present and gave the committee an overview of the results of our successful survey. In general, there was very little interest in demand-responsive, van-pool, or car-pool options, while fixedroute interest appears to be average or above for an Iowa community.
3. Recommedation. Chairman Siders suggested that the committee consider the survey results and be prepared in May to start eliminating options and ideas that have no obvious support within the survey results.
4. Review and Approve Minutes. James Jetter moved to approve the minutes of the March
11 meeting. The motion was seconded by Brenda Conry and approved unanimously.
The meeting adjourned by unanimous consent at about 7:45.

Minutes of the Transit Advisory Committee
Second Meeting: Monday, November 8, 2010
City Council Chambers
6:30 PM

Members Present: Brenda Conry, James Jetter, Adam McLaughlin, Joshua Sabin, Jim Sayre, Glenn Siders, Councilor Coleen Chipman, Councilor Brian Wayson
Members Absent: None

1. Call to Order. Staff opened the meeting at about 6:35, and reported that Del Long will not be able to
participate with the committee because he has conflicts on Monday evenings.

2. Presentation of New Information by Staff and Discussion. Wheatley briefly summarized the information sent to committee members with the agenda packet. In addition to the summary, the following information was attached and discussed:
• 28E Agreement with Coralville for transit services, and amendment.
• Historic North Liberty ridership and costs.
• SEATS Rider’s Guide.
• Summary of the North Liberty Transit Survey, 2009. Jim Sayre suggested that a new survey might be done to gauge current demand for various types of service, and there was general agreement on that point after discussion of the 2009 survey. Jim Jetter feels strongly that additional buses are needed, and staff reminded the group that one direction from Council was to stay within or close to the current budget. Glenn stated that the group should not reject the potential of more service without more study. Josh asked the group to think about identifying the value of the bus service to the city, and discussion returned to the 2009
survey. Everyone thinks it could have been done better in one way or another. There was consensus among the group that a new survey and analysis would be very desirable, followed by assistance from a transit consultant to identify best alternatives. Brenda feels that the city should do a better job of promoting bus use because of its environmental benefits.

3. Election of Chair and Vice‐Chair. Jim Sayre nominated Glenn Siders for the Chair position. Josh seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Glenn then asked for volunteers to serve as vicechair, and Josh said he was interested. Brenda seconded and Josh was elected Vice‐Chair
unanimously.

4. The next meeting will be December 13, when staff will report back on possible costs for survey and transit consulting work. The meeting adjourned at about 8:15

Members Present: Brenda Conry, James Jetter, Adam McLaughlin, Joshua Sabin, Jim Sayre, Glenn Siders, Councilor Coleen Chipman, Councilor Brian Wayson

Members Absent: Del Long
1    Call to Order. Staff opened the meeting at about 6:35.

2    Introductions. Staff and members introduced themselves and gave a brief background for the benefit of the others. Dean (staff) is a 1 year resident and has been with the city for about 3 years. He worked closely with the Cedar Rapids Bus Department in his previous job, preparing surveys, planning documents, route analyses, grant applications, and other materials.
Brian is a 20+ year resident and Council member.
Colleen is a 29 year resident and Council member.
Jim is a 5 year resident and fixed‐route rider.
Glenn is a 41 year resident and interested in transportation for seniors.
Brenda is a 14 year resident and fixed‐route rider.
Josh is a 5 year resident and interested in transportation issues.
Adam is a 1 year resident and interested in transit issues.
Ryan Heiar is the City Administrator and interested in getting the most and best service possible
with city funding.

3.     Overview of Committee Responsibility. Staff reviewed the committee’s assignment from Council.

4.     Presentation and Consensus of Draft Scope Outline. Rather than define a specific scope at this time, the committee requested that staff provide information for analysis, including:
•    Background on decision to start fixed route service. Did leaders know the impact on SEATS service or vanpool users?
•    What is the AM‐PM ridership split?
•    The service contract with Coralville.
•    Costs for vanpool vehicle, a SEATS bus, and a city bus.
•    SEATS service characteristics – days, times, etc., and how it was different before we started the fixed route service.
•    Cost for UofI vanpooling.

5.     Set Future Meeting Dates, Times and Locations. It was decided informally by unanimous consent to meet at 6:30 on the second Monday of each month.

6.     The meeting adjourned at about 8:15.

Next Meeting: Election of Chair and Vice‐Chair Review of Data Collection