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Minutes_Transit Board of Trustees 12 14 09 MINUTES Dubuque Transit Trustee Board Date: December 14, 2009 Time: 4:15 p.m. Place: Public Works Facility Conference Room 925 Kerper Court, Dubuque, Iowa Members Present: Joel Lightcap, Matt Esser, Ruth Scharnau, Thomas Croissant, Jr Members Absent: George Enderson, Jr Others Present: Jon Rodocker-Joanne Kiefer / Keyline Public Present: Linda Robinson December Lightcap called the meeting to order at 4:17 p.m. Agenda Approval Rodocker announced that Thomas Croissant, Jr will be joining the Board, and would like to add his Oath of Office to the agenda. Lightcap asked the Board if there were any other changes or additions to the agenda. Scharnau moved to approve the agenda with the addition of . the Oath of Office. Esser seconded. All ayes.Motion carried Rodocker announced that Thomas Croissant will be replacing John Curtis on the Board. Croissant was sworn into Office and introduced himself to the Board members. Croissant had been an Administrative Assistant for the Getting Ahead Program. He is living in Dubuque for the past two years and is going to school. He is from Sheboygan Wisconsin, but likes Dubuque and considers it home. Lightcap asked if he rides the bus and Croissant responded, “Yes.” Scharnau asked if Croissant is dependent on the bus and he said, “Yes.” Lightcap welcomed Croissant to the Board and introduced the other members. Nov 12, 2009 The Board reviewed the minutes from the previous meeting. Minutes Esser moved to approve the minutes as presented. Scharnau seconded. All ayes. Motion carried. Minutes - 2 Scharnau asked about an article in today’s Telegraph Herald regarding a grant awarded to the City of Dubuque and KeyLine Transit. Rodocker responded the grant is through the JARC (Job Access Reverse Commute) Program. Lightcap asked if there are funding stipulations for the money. Rodocker explained the funding may be used toward only two purposes, either the West-End Tripper Service, to serve the West Side Industrial Park; or extending hours of operation for KeyLine. Croissant asked how the trolleys perform in bad weather, and Rodocker replied just fine. Lightcap asked if the trolleys are equipped with a lift. Esser responded that the trolleys do have lifts that work really nice and he has ridden the trolley several times. Scharnau asked if the trolleys are used by KeyLine now. Rodocker explained the trolleys are used for the summer traveling a route throughout downtown Dubuque and the Port area. Currently, the trolleys are used for IBM Downtown Shuttle service in the morning and the afternoon. Managers Rodocker reminded the Board members this meeting is both the Report December Board meeting as well as a Work Session regarding the Comprehensive Operational Analysis. The primary focus of the meeting will be to discuss the final chapter submitted by the consultants, Chapter 16, and to draft a recommendation for the City Council on the Board’s vision for Transit’s future growth. Consequently, Rodocker will e-mail the financial summary for the month of November, usually presented at this time, to the Board in the next few days. Comprehensive Operational Analysis, Chapter 16 – Rodocker provided the Board members with a copy of Chapter 16. He explained this chapter outlines suggestions for changes that could be implemented in the near future with a smaller cost than the overall recommendation for KeyLine presented by the consultants to the City Council in November. Rodocker feels this is the basic question, “What can we do with what we have?” Considering that premise, he has developed improvement packages that focus on several concepts addressed in Chapter 16. The Orange Line Route – Rodocker noted that over two years ago KeyLine management had proposed changing the Orange Line Route to a more flexible Demand Response alternative. This is also the recommendation that is being made by the consultants at this time. The Orange Line service would not be eliminated, but would be changed to a more flexible and responsive route for the needs of the customers. The route would offer thirty (30) minute service to Mercy Hospital, Finley Hospital, and the HyVee Grocery Store at South Locust. These three locations would serve as anchors for the South End Demand Response Area as shown on the map in Chapter 16. There would be specific times the bus would be at these locations every thirty minutes. This route could also serve the relocated DMV office in Key West. In addition, the bus could travel to pick-up customers in the Minutes - 3 area and transport them to these locations or the Delhi Transfer point. The customer would need to request the ride at least one hour in advance. One of the newly acquired pre-owned mini-bus vehicles could be used for this route. Esser asked if the bus would be at certain places at fixed times, and Rodocker responded that would be correct. But it would also be able to pick up customers much nearer their homes. This would not be door-to-door service, but could pick up at a corner or nearest intersection to the customer’s home. Lightcap noted that he works with people doing vocational rehabilitation and job training. He is often asked about bus service to the Technological Park south of Dubuque. It would be great to be able to provide service to this area. Rodocker agreed this area would be included in the South End Demand Response Area. The Board discussed how this route could be implemented, and Rodocker explained KeyLine has done considerable research on timing and customer needs in the South End Area. The Board members agreed that this would be their First Recommendation. The Green Line Route – Rodocker reviewed the consultant’s suggestions regarding the Green Line Route. The members were uncertain regarding this proposal. Concerns were expressed regarding service to the Washington Area Neighborhood, an area with higher transit needs. Lightcap asked if the consultants had completed any test scenarios for timing runs and location pick-ups on the West End Demand Response. Rodocker responded not to his knowledge. Lightcap is concerned about heavy traffic in those areas and how that would affect service. He also asked how the West End Demand Response Tripper could accommodate such a large area with only one bus. Rodocker noted that probably two buses would be needed. The Board members felt this option would need considerably more research and discussion. The Gray Line Route – Board members expressed concern about reducing service to Kennedy Mall. The suggestion from the consultant is to have the Gray Line stop serving Kennedy Mall. Lightcap commented that there are several regular riders for the Mall, and feels we need to extend service to that location, not reduce it. Croissant agrees that anywhere people could be employed that need bus service should be considered a priority. Industrial Park Tripper – Rodocker explained that the vehicle he plans to assign to this route is an International medium duty bus, almost like a large mini-bus, and could seat up to thirty passengers. This service has also been proposed by Rodocker as an improvement package in the past. Of course, the timing for this service depends on the opening of the Hormel plant. Lightcap asked if we knew the opening date for Hormel. Rodocker does not know if that date has been set. In addition, KeyLine is still researching the various schedules of other plants in the West Side Industrial Park, including flex times. Lightcap asked Rodocker to review the number of buses available in the KeyLine Minutes - 4 fleet at this time. The Board discussed vehicle usage for a variety of routes. Rodocker reminded the Board that when the consultants refer to Demand Response that is not door-to-door service. The bus would stop at the nearest location as needed during the time period requested. Asbury Tripper – The Board members discussed this service as outlined and felt that one trip in the morning and one in the evening would not be sufficient for the Goodwill location on Holiday Drive or for Asbury Plaza. Rodocker agreed with the members. The current service need has regular riders who work at Goodwill traveling there at two different times in the morning, and several times throughout the afternoon. In addition, the public riders to that area have increased. The Board feels more information is needed regarding how the Asbury Tripper would operate. Downtown Shuttle Service – Rodocker stated that the trolley is currently used throughout the summer months and into the autumn to provide service throughout the Port of Dubuque and the downtown historic area. This proposal would expand the current service area by a few blocks so that it would be more feasible for individuals who work downtown to use the service. It would not be aimed just at visitors and tourists. This proposal has also been part of an Improvement Package submitted by Rodocker in the past. Esser asked if the trolley would have enough seats to meet the greater demand. Rodocker responded the seating should be adequate, and of course, there is standing room available. Both trolleys could be used to increase the frequency and meet greater demand if needed. Extending Operating Hours – Rodocker explained this could be very costly, but longer hours or equalizing hours could be phased in so that the impact on the budget would not be so dramatic. KeyLine management is in the process of researching what routes have the greatest need to begin sooner, or stay on road longer. For example, the Gray Line Route would have the least expense staying out longer, since it is already the latest bus on the road. The Green Line Route would have the greatest expense in starting earlier, since it currently is one of the later buses to begin each morning. Rodocker feels changes need to be made in this area, and it is a priority for better customer service. University / College Shuttle – Rodocker explained he has been working with the area colleges to develop a shuttle service, but there has only been a limited response from students. This could be a method to expand operating hours in the evening for at least Friday and Saturday. Rodocker agreed with the recommended approach from the consultants, the best method would be to obtain financial support from the students at the participating colleges for this service. Minutes - 5 Board Comments Lightcap asked if KeyLine is a long way off from the ultimate recommendation. Rodocker stated that to some extent KeyLine is a long way off, especially based on the number of buses needed for that ultimate plan and the increased cost. But he does believe several changes could be made, and adjustments phased in to enhance service with limited cost. KeyLine management will look at the highest service needs to be met at this time, remembering the objective from the Board, to maintain service in some manner for the passengers already riding KeyLine. Lightcap asked what suggestions were priorities for the KeyLine operators. Rodocker responded that he has heard the most requests for increasing hours of operation, changing the Orange Line Route, and increasing frequency. Of course, increasing frequency is one of the most expensive changes, requiring increasing the fleet and the number of operators. Lightcap asked if the Orange Line is the least productive route, and Rodocker stated this is correct. Croissant commented he rode that route once, and he was the only passenger on the bus for the entire route. Lightcap asked Croissant, someone dependent on bus service, what he thinks are the highest needs of KeyLine. Croissant responded extending service hours, providing service to the West Side Industrial Park, and installing more bus shelters. Lightcap noted that in the past concerns have been expressed when bus service and bus routes were expanded, and still KeyLine did not gain any additional riders. Croissant wondered if KeyLine would offer more public surveys, or a phone line dedicated to public ideas, if that would help the public know more about the bus service. A discussion of past rider issues, and possible marketing approaches followed . Lightcap asked what could be changed without adding considerable additional cost. He would like the Board to make a recommendation that the City Council could support. After some discussion, the Board agreed on the following priorities: the first action would be enhancing the Orange Line Route; the second action would be adding Downtown Trolley Service; the third action would be expanding hours of operation; and the fourth action would be improving KeyLine’s image to the community. Public Comments Robinson noted that people who have lived in a big city are used to walking a few blocks for a bus. She feels Demand Response service areas would be an asset to the citizens of Dubuque. Also, Robinson said she thinks the trolleys are just beautiful; and so fitting for a historic community like Dubuque. Robinson wondered if the trolleys could be used during the holiday season for Christmas light tours or to run through Murphy Park. She thought groups would enjoy renting the trolley for such an event. Rodocker explained there are commercial vendors in the area that offer charter trolley service and with the new federal regulations regarding charters KeyLine would not be able to offer such service. Rodocker did mention the trolley is used by various City of Dubuque departments as needed. Minutes - 6 Scharnau moved that the Transit Board recommend the following to Board the City Council: The Transit Board moves to accept Chapter 16 as Recommendation submitted by the consultants, and suggests the following priorities for Transit. 1) Develop a South End Demand Response Area and enhance service with a route anchored by stops at Mercy Hospital, Finley Hospital, and HyVee South Locust. 2) Create a Downtown Shuttle that would increase trolley usage. 3) Expand hours of operation within budget restrictions. 4) Implement a marketing strategy. Esser seconded the recommendation. All ayes. The motion passed. Adjournment Lightcapthanked all the Board members for attending this meeting, and for their participation in this Work Session. He appreciated their willingness to meet beyond the regular scheduled day, especially with the holidays quickly approaching. Lightcap asked for a motion to adjourn. Esser so moved. Scharnau seconded. All ayes. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 6:05 pm. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 14, 2010. The meeting time will remain at 4:15 pm, and KeyLine management will investigate to determine if the Board Room at the Carnegie Stout Public Library will be available at that time; or if the Library renovations will limit the use of that room. Respectfully submitted, Joanne Kiefer Secretary These minutes passed, approved and adopted on this _____ day of December, 2009. ___________________________________ Joel Lightcap, Chairperson Dubuque Transit Trustee Board