Transit Advisory Board Student Fare Recommendation_Hearing Copyright 2014
City of Dubuque Public Hearings # 3.
ITEM TITLE: Transit Advisory Board Student Fare Recommendation
SUMMARY: Proof of publication on notice of public hearing to consider
approval of the Jule Transit student fares effective for the
2016-2017 school year as recommended by the Transit
Advisory Board and the City Manager recommending
approval.
RESOLUTION Establishing a Transit Fixed-Route Student
Fare
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Adopt
Resolution(s)
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Transit Advisory Board Student Fare Recommendation- City Manager Memo
MVM Memo
Staff memo Staff Memo
Resolution Resolutions
Proof of Publication Supporting Documentation
THE CITY OF Dubuque
U E I
erica .i
Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007-2012-2013
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Transit Advisory Board Student Fare Recommendation
DATE: May 31, 2016
Student rides totaled 161,000 in FY15 and are expected to be even higher in FY16.
Along with the increase in ridership, the number of issues with student riders and
complaints about safety from general public passengers have also increased. The
Transit Advisory Board members who ride the bus believe that some students intimidate
general public riders and deter choice riders during the early morning and afternoon as
students fill the buses, are loud, profane and aggressive.
During the Transit Budget hearing, council members asked staff to explore options for
students paying to ride the bus.
All Iowa cities, with the exception of Davenport, charge a student fare ranging from
$0.60 to $1.55 per ride. School Year passes are available in about half of the cities for
a cost ranging from $160 to $200.
The Transit Advisory Board has had lengthy discussion of student accountability and
payment for rides over the course of the past year. The board requested that Transit
Manager Candace Eudaley talk with Dubuque Community School District staff
regarding their openness to an annual pass and fee to be implemented using swipe
card technology. The Transit Manager met with Dubuque Community School District
Director of School and Community Relations, Jefferson and Washington Middle School
Principals and all parties were in agreement that a minimal annual fee and the tracking
capabilities of the swipe card would be beneficial from both school and transit
administration standpoints.
The Transit Advisory Board discussed the merits of offering an annual student bus pass
as well as a student fare to help deter students from riding short distances for the sake
of riding. They also discussed the benefits of having the ability to truly ban a student
from riding who continually breaks the rules while on board.
The Transit Advisory Board made a formal recommendation at their March 2016
meeting to establish a student fare type. In this proposed scenario, all passengers will
either be swiping a card when they enter the bus or putting cash or coins into the
farebox.
Under the Transit Advisory Board's recommendation, each student aged 11-18 will
show a current year school ID when they purchase their $10 annual pass. They will be
assigned a swipe card and ID that can be deactivated in the case of poor behavior.
If a student aged 11-18 does not buy the annual pass, they can pay $0.75, the standard
half-fare, by showing a current school year ID.
Students under 11 years of age would continue to ride for free, but would need to
request the student swipe card for age verification.
The Transit Advisory Board recommended that these changes go into effect with the
2016-2017 school year. Staff would begin transitioning students to the new cards over
the summer.
Director of Transit Operations Candace Eudaley recommends City Council approval of
the student fare.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Candace Eudaley, Director of Transit Operations
2
NY OF
E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Candace Eudaley, Director of Transit Operations
SUBJECT: Transit Advisory Board Student Fare Recommendation
DATE: April 20, 2016
PURPOSE
This memo is being provided to outline the establishment of the proposed student fare.
BACKGROUND
Student rides totaled 161,000 in FY15 and are expected to be even higher in FY16. Along with the increase in
ridership, the number of issues with student riders and complaints about safety from general public passengers
have also increased. The Transit Advisory Board members who ride the bus believe that students intimidate
general public riders and deter choice riders during the early morning and afternoon as students fill the buses,
are loud, profane and aggressive.
During the Transit Budget hearing, council members asked staff to explore options for students paying to ride
the bus.
All Iowa cities, with the exception of Davenport, charge a student fare ranging from $0.60 to $1.55 per ride.
School Year passes are available in about half of the cities for a cost ranging from $160 to $200.
The Transit Advisory Board has had lengthy discussion of student accountability and payment for rides over
the course of the past year. The board requested that the Transit Manager talk with DCSD staff regarding their
openness to an annual pass and fee to be implemented using swipe card technology. The Transit Manager
met with DCSD Director of School and Community Relations, Jefferson and Washington Middle School
Principals and all parties were in agreement that a minimal annual fee and the tracking capabilities of the swipe
card would be beneficial from both school and transit administration standpoints.
The Transit Advisory Board discussed the merits of offering an annual student bus pass as well as a student
fare to help deter students from riding short distances for the sake of riding. They also discussed the benefits
of having the ability to truly ban a student from riding who continually breaks the rules while on board.
DISCUSSION
The Transit Advisory Board made a formal recommendation at their March 2016 meeting to establish a student
fare type. In this proposed scenario, all passengers will either be swiping a card when they enter the bus or
putting cash or coins in to the farebox.
Under the Transit Advisory Board's recommendation, each student aged 11-18 will show a current year school
ID when they purchase their$10 annual pass. They will be assigned a swipe card and ID that can be
deactivated in the case of poor behavior.
If a student aged 11-18 does not buy the annual pass, they can pay $0.75, the standard half-fare, by showing a
current school year ID.
Page 1 of 2
Students under 11 years of age would continue to ride for free, but would need to request the student swipe
card for age verification.
The Transit Advisory Board recommended that these changes go into effect with the 2016-2017 school year.
Staff would begin transitioning students to the new cards over the summer.
The Transit Advisory Board advised that staff either be available or coordinate with the school district to sell the
annual passes during student orientation as well as where Jule bus passes are sold.
FINANCIAL
There will be revenue related to this item, however, it is difficult to estimate. If 500 students purchase the
annual pass, fare revenue for fixed-route would increase by$5,000.
RECOMMENDATION
In concurrence with the Transit Advisory Board recommendation, I recommend that City Council approve the
student fare type as presented.
cc: Jennifer Larson, Budget Director
Maurice Jones, Economic Development Director
Page 2 of 2
RESOLUTION NO. 227-16
ESTABLISHING A TRANSIT FIXED -ROUTE STUDENT FARE
Whereas, the City of Dubuque provides fixed -route and paratransit services for the
citizens of Dubuque; and
Whereas, the number of rides to students has increased; and
Whereas, the cost to provide said services have continued to increase; and
Whereas, The City of Dubuque desires to continue to provide fixed -route and
paratransit services to its citizens; and
Whereas, the proposed fare will impact student riders and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA:
The newly established student fixed -route fares are as follows effective August 1,
2016:
Student Fixed -Route Fares
Student under 11 years
Free with Jule -issued Swipe Card
Student 11-18 years annual pass
$10 annual pass with proof of age
Student 11-18 years per ride
$0.75 per ride with student ID
Passed, approved and adopted this 6th day of June, 2016.
Ric W. Joayor Pro -Tem
Attest:
Kevin Si.„ Firnstahl, CMC tity Clerk
STATE OF IOWA {SS:
DUBUQUE COUNTY
CERTIFICATION OF PUBLICATION
I, Suzanne Pike, a Billing Clerk for Woodward Communications, Inc., an Iowa corporation,publisher
of the Telegraph Herald,a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Dubuque, County
of Dubuque and State of Iowa; hereby certify that the attached notice was published in said newspaper
on the following dates: May 20, 2016, and for which the charge is $19.52.
CITY OF DUBUQUE,
IOWA
OFFICIAL NOTICE
Subscribed to before me NOTICE IS HEREBY
Notary Public in and for Dubuque County, Iowa, GIVEN that the oubu-
this day of , 20 1Iy econd cit a publ c�lh airl,l
ing, at a meeting to,
commence at 6:30 p.m.
on June 6 2016 in the
Historic Federal Build-i
irq:. ouncil�.Chambers� d
(second floor), 3501
West h:,Street; on a
proposed,Jule Transit y
student are to include''
Notary Public in and for Dubuque County, Iowa. a per ride and low-cost
annual pass,option for
students The'following
student fare type cate
Bonesfares are {
proposed:
Student Fi
Rou
te Fares
Student under 11:'
,+�a�easdrsrrarua�+
�, tc ��� ��, � years:.Free with Jule-a issued Swipe Card
Commission Number 154888 Student 11-18 years
annual pass:$10 annu-"ST My 00p1m' F0, FEB, 1, 22017 al pass with; proof of
age
Student 11 18 years
per ride $0.75 per ride
with student ID
n
tten comments re
garW.ding the above pub
lic:hearings may be
submitted to the City
Clerk's Office on or be
fore said time of public`
hearing. At.said:time
.,and place.'of public's
hearings all interested
citizens and.. parties
will be given an oppor i
tunty to be heard for.'
or against said actions.'[
Copies-of 'supporting
documents fo,rthe pub
lip hearings are on'file
in'the City Clerk's Of-
fice-, and may-,, be
viewed during regular',
working,hours.
.Any visual or hearing
impaired persons
needing special as is: l
tarice or,persons with
special accessibility,
needs should contact-:i
I
,City Clerk's Office
at ;(563) 589-4100'+orl'��
TTY;(563)'69,A.6678 at
least' hours prior to
the meeting. I
Kevin S.Firnstahl, j
CMC,City Clerk
It 5/20
Page of
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Kevin Firnstahl Fwd: Proposed Student Fee on Buses
?
From:
Matthew Esser <matt.esser81@gmail.com>
To:<kfirnsta@cityofdubuque.org>
Date:06/05/2016 7:53 PM
Subject:Fwd: Proposed Student Fee on Buses
Can my comment regarding the recommended student fee be included in the comments to the city
council. I will not be able to attend the public hearing. My comment is this:
"As current chair of the city's Transit Advisory Board, I support the Board's recommendation to
introduce a student bus pass for the 2016 / 2017 school year. The pass students will swipe to
board the bus will help the Jule and its drivers address issues with bad behavior, whereas it's
currently based on drivers recognizing and remembering individual students and
communicating with other drivers.The additional data collected will also be helpful in
evaluating ride patterns and planning future route changes to better serve those who use the
bus system."
Thank you,
Matt Esser
90 Main St Apt 308
2133913
?
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