Public Transit Advisory Committee Minutes

August 18, 2005, 4:10 pm – 5:30 pm

Public Transit Division Office, 933 New Hampshire

 

Members Present: Chairman Danny Kaiser, Jessica Mortinger, Alan Black, Marian Hukle, Marc Epard, and Richard Heckler.

 

Members Absent:  Andy Stahmer, Jo Ann Garrett, and Rob Tabor.

 

Staff Members Present:  Transit Administrator (PTA) Cliff Galante, Mike Sweeten, Wendy Koerner, and Rachel Cornish.

 

 

Call to Order

Chairman Danny Kaiser called the meeting to order at 4:15 pm.

 

Public Comment

Saunny Scott asked how LTS was going to respond to a recent letter to the editor.  She stated she and her daughter have not received such treatment.

 

Cliff Galante said it is not city policy to respond to letters to the editor.  However, safety for all passengers is the number one concern.  Earlier in the day the PTA attended the monthly safety meeting for the drivers, where they received a refresher course on the proper use of the restraint systems for mobility devices along with sensitivity training.

 

PTA explained that some routes have been running late, particularly Route 6, due to infrastructure improvements and the drivers may be feeling stressed to remain on schedule.  But safety of passengers and other traffic takes precedence over on-time performance.

 

Agenda Review

Chairman Kaiser asked if there were any items to add to the agenda and Alan Black requested the board review the scheduled meeting times.  This item was added to the end of the agenda.

 

Public Transit Administrator Update

Introduction

Cliff Galante introduced himself to the board as the new public Transit administrator.

 

Ridership

PTA reviewed the ridership reports from February through July, pointing out that fixed route ridership was still on an upward trend.  Paratransit ridership has remained level and even showed a slight decrease at times which may be due in part to passengers transitioning to the fixed route system. 

Performance Statistics

Through July, LTS has recorded 243,085 passengers for both systems combined.  July 21st was a free ridership day for the annual sidewalk sale and was our highest ridership day for the year.

 

Alan Black pointed out the ridership reports indicate close to one hundred percent on-time performance even though the PTA just said several routes were running late due to reroutes.  PTA explained the provider had no control over reroutes imposed by city infrastructure improvements and these were not considered in the on-time performance calculations.  Mike Sweeten offered additional clarification on how on-time performance information is collected.  For paratransit, driver manifests are confirmed or compared to the Trapeze scheduling software.  For fixed route MV pulls a random sampling of trips from their computer which represents 5% of the service.  These are then assigned to the road supervisors which observe these trips during their shift.  The methodology used is recommended and approved by FTA and the National Transit Database. 

 

Safety and Security

Shortly after the terrorist attack on the London public transit systems, the FTA raised the alert level to orange.  Since LTS is not a controlled access service, our security measures are covered during monthly safety meetings which are mandatory.  Some of the items covered are heightened awareness of passengers and surroundings and the performance of post trip inspections to look for suspicious packages.

 

Triennial Review

LTS experienced a very favorable Triennial Review in July, 2005, with only two minor findings in the Technical area.  One finding was in regards to an open grant which FTA wanted an updated plan on how the remainder of the funds would be utilized.   The second finding related to the City’s grants management procedures which lacked detail of staff responsibilities, particularly Milestone Progress Reports, Financial Status Reports, and National Transit Database reporting.   Documents LTS submitted were adequate to close the findings and a final letter from FTA was received on August 12, 2005, finalizing the review.

 

Kansas Public Transit Association (KPTA) Annual Meeting

PTA informed board that KPTA Annual Meeting will be held in Topeka, September 12–14.

 

Marketing Update

The LTS Marketing Coordinator updated the committee on the marketing and communications plan.  LTS has begun advertising in the following quarterly publications: USD-497 School Curriculum Newsletter and Lawrence Arts Center Arts in Action Guide.  This is a great way to reach parents and students since the school district no longer allows us to advertise in schools.

 

Plans to celebrate the annual Communities in Motion event were scaled back so efforts can be concentrated on the 5-year anniversary of the system on December 16.  An item considered for the anniversary is a T-shirt design contest, with a submission deadline of approximately November 1.  LTS will then have T-shirts printed with the design.  LTS will offer free ridership on Thursday, October 6, in recognition of Communities in Motion.

 

Another idea under consideration is to coordinate a “Stuff the Bus” campaign with a local grocer during the holiday season.  The idea is to collect non-perishable food items to be donated to local social service agencies.  

 

Discounted T-Lift Pass for KU Students with Disabilities

PTA described the inclusion of students with disabilities in the “T” sticker program offered to KU students.  Students that qualify to use KU on Wheels paratransit service are also eligible to use the TLift.  The sticker is $205.00 and students must have a current, valid KU on Wheels bus pass to purchase the sticker.  Efforts have been coordinated between the university’s Disability Relations Department and MV Transportation to streamline the certification process.  Transit staff participated in the KU bus pass pick up days August 15-19.

 

KU Task Force Status

Danny Kaiser updated PTAC on the task force that has met weekly for approximately two months to explore transportation and parking options for the university.  The university has recognized that increasing development on the west campus will result in the need for improved transportation for students and faculty traveling between the two campuses.  The task force was asked to investigate all issues including funding, legality, federal aid to purchase buses, and left the door open for coordination between the two existing transit agencies, the Lawrence Transit System and KU on Wheels.  Members of the task force visited Lincoln, NE, Columbia, MO, and Ames and Iowa City, IA, to see examples of different transit and parking systems.

 

Cliff Galante distributed a newspaper article on the successful merging of the Ann Arbor, Michigan city and university systems.

 

Development of Performance Standards for Routes

PTA brought up the need of a type of measurement for the effectiveness of each route and to help address lower producing routes and “reward” or improve service on productive routes.  Performance standards or assessments would provide justification in the event of route or service changes.  Mike Sweeten offered the NTD daily reporting samples may offer insight until performance standards are developed.

 

It was discussed that a separate PTAC sub-committee should be set up for the development and evaluation of such standards.  PTA will review current PTAC sub-committee assignments to see if performance standard duties could be added or combined with an existing sub-committee.

 

Maintenance Facility Feasibility Study

 PTA updated the board on the status of the feasibility study for a new maintenance facility.  The grant is in place for the feasibility study and the environmental assessment.  The next step is to develop a scope of work for a consultant to perform the studies.  Coordination with the university is something that will need to be considered in the studies and plans.  We can build a facility to meet our current needs as long as there is room for future growth.  It is likely the facility will contain room for administrative offices, offices for the contracted service provider, dispatch, training room, bus maintenance bays and washing bays, secure bus corral, vault room, and possibly a bulk fueling station.

 

Designated Bus Stops

 PTA said in an effort to maintain our on-time performance, it is becoming increasingly apparent that we will need to move forward with designated stops.  He explained that a wave-down system is great for small and new systems trying to get established.  However, because of the age and growth of our system, it is beginning to affect our on-time performance and reliability.  Designated stops are more efficient, and would prevent the bus from stopping multiple times in a short distance.   

 

Staff will prepare an inventory of existing stops and will further explore locations where additional stops are necessary.  Marc Epard and Marian Hukle suggested adding additional signs to the back of existing signs so it’s easier for passengers to identify the bus stops regardless of the direction they are coming from.

 

Defining “Missed Trip” for T Lift Service

The PTA explained that as we try to increase efficiency and tighten up policies, this is an area where we have not had a clear definition.  At this time, FTA doesn’t have a definition for a missed trip, although it was referenced during the Triennial Review process.  Mike Sweeten explained that a “missed trip” for the fixed route is if we fail to complete any portion of a scheduled trip.  It is not relevant to timeliness of the bus, but whether it covered the full route without missing any sections. 

 

Mike Sweeten came across the following definition in a current KCATA RFP which may offer the committee a starting point for developing their own definition.  It is:  a scheduled trip not made by the rider because the bus/vehicle failed to show up within the on-time performance window, or an arrival at a drop off more than 30 minutes after an identified appointment time. 

 

Staff will obtain additional information regarding missed trips from other agencies.

 

“No Pay” Policy

PTA explained concern has been raised regarding patrons who fail to pay upon boarding the buses.  The policy in the past has been for the drivers not to confront passengers who do not pay upon boarding.  At this time less than 1% of riders don’t pay their fare, and although it’s not a major problem at this time, it is a source of frustration for the drivers.  PTA asked the board to think about how this subject should be addressed.  Staff will research how other cities handle the situation.

 

Public Comment

Juyin Chen suggested we place bus maps/schedules in the bus shelters.  The Amenities Committee will look into this request.

 

Meeting Times

Alan Black has been appointed to the Pedestrian Advisory Committee which holds its meetings at the same time at the PTAC meetings and he wondered if there was any interest in changing the PTAC meeting times.  In addition, the PTA asked the board if they wanted to call special meetings for a few months to catch up on all the impending business.  A special meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, September 20, from 4:10 pm to 5:30 pm.

 

Next Meeting

Tuesday, September 20, 2005.

 

Adjournment

Meeting was adjourned at 5:50 pm.

 

Submitted by Wendy Koerner                                  Approved via email