City of Lawrence

Public Transit Advisory Committee

May 15, 2007 minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Chair Marian Hukle, David Dunfield, Marc Epard, Richard Heckler, James Dermody, Ann Foster, Martin Miller, Jessica Mortinger

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Darlene Mortell

STAFF PRESENT:

Cliff Galante, Wendy Koerner, Emily Lubliner, Mike Sweeten

PUBLIC PRESENT:

Saunny Scott, May Davis, Marion Babb

 

1.  Call to Order

Committee Chair Marian Hukle called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m.

 

2.  Public Comment

Saunny said she thought James Dunn’s idea about charging for downtown parking meters at night, and using the revenue for public transit, was a good idea. 

 

3.  Agenda Review

No changes were made to the agenda.

 

4. Consider Public Comment Regarding Proposed Service and Fare Policy Changes and Approve Recommendations to City Commission

Packets containing copies of the proposed policy and fare changes, a summary of comments received during the public comment period, and copies of the actual letters received from the public were distributed to all the board members.  PTA suggested they go down the list of proposals, discuss each one individually, and then decide if any changes should be made to the proposal.

 

(1)  Revised T Lift Certification Process

PTA said the proposal is to require a professional certification as verification of a person’s disability.  No changes were made to this recommendation.

 

(2)  Included Recertification Process

PTA said this proposal would eliminate the one-time certification process and would require people to recertify every three years.  This proposal would help us maintain an accurate database of actual and current T Lift users.  People who move out of the service area, are deceased, or are no longer eligible for paratransit services, will be purged from the database unless they recertify.  The committee felt that persons who are certified with a permanent disability, should not be required to go through the entire recertification process every three years, and should only be required to recertify that they intend to continue utilizing the service on a three-year basis.  This change will be made/added to the recommendation.

 

(3)  Included Conditional Use Eligibility for T Lift Service on a Trip-by-Trip Basis

Committee discussed this item at length as there were concerns about who would be making the trip-by-trip determinations for those conditionally certified.  Staff said the reservationists would be the ones making the determination.  Mike Sweeten said the current reservation software would alert the reservationists to the conditions of certification, and if the conditions were questionable, staff would be directed to err on the side of caution.  Staff reiterated that this is only one portion of all the policy recommendations and that no one individual change will be the magic bullet that solves our problems.  It was also stated that many other agencies use and enforce conditional eligibility as a way to manage their ADA paratransit costs. 

 

(4) Reduced T Lift Advanced Reservation Period

Committee recommended that language be added that clarifies that this policy does not apply to subscription service.

 

(5) Eliminated Honor System Policy to Obtain Reduced Fare for T Service

Committee recommends that students K-9th grade are not required to show identification to board the bus for the reduced fare.

 

(6) Children Under Age 12 Must Be Accompanied by an Adult for T and T Lift Service

Committee and PTA have differing opinions of this proposed rule.  PTA said that he would submit a recommendation establishing a minimum age limit, but at this time is not sure what that age should be.  Most of the committee members felt it was not necessary to set an age limit, and feel that setting a limit gives the “implied warranty” that all children over this age are capable of navigating the system, even if they are not.  They believe it should be up to the parents to determine whether their children are of an appropriate age, and are responsible enough to ride the system independently.  The committee decided to strike this policy recommendation from the proposed policy changes completely.

 

(7)  Suspend T Lift Riders Who Cancel 50% of Scheduled Trips over a 90-Day Period

Committee and staff decided a minimum of 6 cancellations, based on 12 scheduled trips during a 90-day period, would result in a possible suspension of service for 30 days.

 

(8)  Increased Fares for Fixed-Route T Service and T Lift Paratransit Service

PTA changed the cost for a reduced fare daily pass from $1.40 to $1.35 so it does not exceed more than half the cost of a regular fare. 

 

David Dunfield moved to approve the proposed policy and fare changes with the recommended changes discussed at this meeting.  Marc Epard seconded.  During public comment Marion Babb asked if the proposed changes were on tonight’s City Commission agenda.  PTA said it would go before the commission next Tuesday.  Committee voted and the motion passed.

 

5.  Consider Proposed Changes to University of Kansas Student Discount Fare Program and Approve Recommendations to City Commission

Marian Hukle said the policy and standards subcommittee discussed changes to the KU discount fare program.  In the past, LTS offered KU students who purchase a KU on Wheels bus pas the opportunity to also purchase a $25 sticker, giving them unlimited access to the T.   The committee recommends offering KU the same discount, half fare, that K-12 and Haskell Indian Nations University students receive.  Marc Epard moved to accept the recommendation; David Dunfield seconded.  Jessica Mortinger said she was concerned that no public notification was given to students or KU.  During public comment, Saunny said she felt it sounds a lot more efficient.  Jessica went on to say she thought it is a step in the wrong direction in regards to coordination with the university.  Committee discussed it, Marc withdrew his motion, and the committee tabled the decision until the next meeting.

 

6.  Subcommittee Updates

Due to lack of time, subcommittee updates were moved to the June 12 meeting.

 

7.  Public Comment

Saunny Scott pointed out that the second Tuesday of every month is when the Homeless Coalition meets, and since transportation affects many of the homeless, it would be nice if they didn’t meet at the same time.

 

8.  Tentative Next Meeting Date: Tuesday, June 12, 2007

 

9.  Adjournment

Meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.

 

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