City of Lawrence

Public Transit Advisory Committee

March 15, 2007 minutes

MEMBERS PRESENT:	Chair Marian Hukle, Ann Foster, James Dermody, Richard Heckler, Marc Epard, David Dunfield, Darlene Mortell
MEMBERS ABSENT:	Jessica Mortinger, Martin Miller
STAFF PRESENT:	Cliff Galante, Emily Lubliner, Mike Sweeten
PUBLIC PRESENT:	Linda O’Donnell, Jo Byers, Saunny Scott, Hub Collinsworth, Marion Babb, Janice Friedman

Call to Order

Committee Chair Marian Hukle called the meeting to order at 4:12 pm.

Public Comment

No public comment was provided.

Agenda Review

PTA added that he would like to update the committee on his trip to Washington, D.C.

Administrator’s Update on Washington, D.C. Trip

PTA said he, along with other representatives from KPTA, met with our state legislators in March to address three main issues and to present our earmark requests for 2008. The first issue was to ask legislators to stick to the funding levels promised in SAFETEA-LU. Although funding for transit has been increased by $400 million, it is still $300 million less than what was guaranteed in SAFETEA-LU, and this impacts all transportation agencies. Even with the increase, there is just not enough money to go around.

PTA said the second issue impacts Kansas directly as it pertains to the way funding is allocated to urban areas, and is currently based on population. Depending on the population of the urban area, restrictions are placed on how the agencies can utilize the funding they receive. So the group was basically asking for more flexibility in using the federal funding they receive.

PTA said the last item covered, is that transit agencies are experiencing increased difficulty in securing mobility devices, because there are no design standards for devices that are intended for use on public transportation systems. For example, fancier wheelchairs often have bumpers added for cosmetic reasons. Transit securements are meant to be attached directly to the frame of the mobility device, and bumpers often hide the frame from vision, thus preventing access to the frame. KPTA feels if Medicare and Medicaid clients know there are better models available for use on public transit, they will choose them over the cosmetically enhanced versions, which often do not allow proper securement.

PTA added that in terms of funding, the city and KU made a request for $2,320,000 to replace our fixed-route vehicles and $400,000 for a feasibility study to look at a joint use maintenance facility.

PTA ended by sharing a USA Today article about public transit providing 10 billion trips in 2006, which is the highest ridership in 50 years, since the Eisenhower administration.

Addressing Rising Demand of T Lift Paratransit

PTA said that at the previous month’s PTAC meeting, he had pointed out the fact that paratransit ridership had risen 16% in January, and 11% in February. As a result, we are now having trouble meeting the increased demand for T Lift service. In January, MV informed PTA about a pattern of denials forming on Wednesday mornings. The trend has continued into February, and random patterns appear to be forming on all days of the week, morning and afternoon.

In the past, when MV would notify PTA of potential patterns of denial, we would automatically increase service hours to cover the increased demand. However, we no longer have the flexibility in our budget to increase service hours. This is the third time in fifteen months we have had added service hours. After adding service hours last year, MV had to hire an additional road supervisor to cover the added paratransit routes. At this point, with no available funds to add hours, PTA feels the only way to avoid denials is to re-allocate service hours. PTA proposes cutting service on Saturdays by two hours, and re-allocating those hours during the week to cover demand.

Board members asked staff if there were obvious reasons for the increased certifications and the higher demand for service at certain times of the day. Mike Sweeten said he could not identify any cause or pattern to explain the increases, other than more people are submitting applications, which is most likely due to our population getting older. Mike also pointed out that the patterns keep changing and appear to be very random.

Board members felt that cutting service to cover demand elsewhere is too drastic, won’t solve the problem, and may have negative repercussions. Also, it may set a dangerous precedent of cutting service whenever times get tough. PTA said that staff has worked very hard to grow the system, and he wants to continue the momentum of our success. The committee discussed other options to help manage the cost/demand which include: raising fares to increase our farebox recovery, tightening paratransit and fixed-route policies, finding additional sources of revenue, the possibility of providing incentives to T Lift clients to use the fixed-route, and asking the City Commission for additional funding.

PTA said any changes in policy are not meant to penalize users. We want to make sure the paratransit service is available to those who truly need it, when they need it. Our current self-certification process is too lenient. PTA said some agencies go as far as requiring Means-testing in order to determine paratransit eligibility. He said this would be too stringent for our system. Somewhere we need to find a happy medium.

Richard Heckler moved that PTA go to the City Commission for emergency funding to cover the increased hours for paratransit. Marc Epard seconded.

During public comment, Hub Collinsworth said he feels we will really have to spell it out to the City Commission because this particular city council has already “thrown the gauntlet down” to social agencies that if you don’t spell it out, you’re going to lose funding. He said that last year, of all the outside requests from outside social agencies, not one received 100% of their request, and one agency was cut out entirely and went out of business. The city has some flexibility. How much they are willing to give to transit he said he didn’t know, but he advised that we be very “concrete” with our request.

Saunny Scott asked if we could request emergency funding from the county. PTA replied that it would be unlikely since we serve within the city limits and not the county as a whole.

Linda O’Donnell, current Chair on the Advisory Committee on Aging for the city/county, said that transportation plays an important role in allowing the elderly to remain in their homes as long as possible. Any cuts in service would have a negative impact on their mobility needs.

PTA said he’s spoken with DCSS, CLO, Independence Inc., about the increased demand. Unfortunately, with our 2007 budget, we were not prepared to handle this level of increased demand. He’s been advised that once the budget is set and approved, it is set. Live within your means and address increases in the following year’s budget. However, in the meantime, we will have to make this request for emergency funds, if other resources cannot be identified.

Marion Babb asked something about the process in changing fares and policies, and if there is a fare cap for paratransit services. Marian Hukle replied there is no cap, but paratransit fares cannot be more than double the cost of a fixed-route fare. In addition, all policy and fare changes must go through a public hearing process and be approved by the city commission before implementation.

Committee voted and the motion passed. David and Marian volunteered to accompany PTA when he makes the request to the City Commission.

Public Comment

A gentleman who did not sign the sign-up sheet suggested we raise fares during periods of peak usage.

Tentative Next Meeting Date: Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Meeting date changed to April 17^th as staff has a scheduling conflict due to an FTA conference.

The Policy and Standards subcommittee will be meeting on March 22^nd to work on policy changes.

Adjournment

Meeting was adjourned at 5:12 pm.

Minutes submitted by Wendy Koerner. Minutes approved by PTAC June 12, 2007.