City of Lawrence

Public Transit Advisory Committee

City Commission Room, First Floor of City Hall

June 11, 2018 minutes

MEMBERS PRESENT:	Heather Thies, Mark Hurt, Lance Fahy, Phyllis Farrar, Mike Wasikowski
MEMBERS ABSENT:	Sarah Trumble, Zachary Kelsay, James Pavision, Nick Kuzmyak
STAFF PRESENT:	Robert Nugent, Serena Pearson, Ashley Myers, D. Scott Forman, Dave Cronin, Aaron Quisenberry
PUBLIC PRESENT:	Rochelle Valverde

1. Call to Order and Introductions

Heather Thies, Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:15. Quorum met. Introductions went around the room. Mike Wasikowski introduced himself as the new PTAC member.

2. Approval of Minutes – (Action Item) – Mark Hurt made a motion to approve the minutes from the April 9, 2018 minutes. Phyllis Farrar seconded, all in favor, no opposed.

3. Approval of Bus Transfer Center Analysis Study (Action Item) – Bob Nugent explained that the Transfer Center Analysis Study is on the upcoming City Commission agenda. He showed a PowerPoint presentation explaining the previous planning efforts, the public process and the site goals and characteristics of this study. The goals and characteristics determined most important when determining the feasibility of a transit transfer location are: travel time, centralized location, accommodates and indoor facility, accommodates fleet operations, located outside a residential neighborhood, cost effective to acquire property and ease of constructability.

There were five candidate sites selected for additional analysis: Vermont Street between 7th Street and 8th Street, Lot 5 on Vermont Street between 9th Street and 10th Street, Southeast corner of Bob Billings Parkway and Crestline Drive, 1941 Stewart Avenue between 19th Street and 20th Street and Northeast corner of Clinton Parkway and Lawrence Avenue.

Based on the goals of the study, two locations were determined to be most suited to meet the criteria: The current location at Vermont Street between 7th Street and 8th Street, and 1941 Stewart Avenue between 19th Street and 20th Street. The Vermont Street location is operating at capacity right now, so if we grow any more we will need to look for other space. The other proposed location at 1941 Stewart is just north of the parcel presented a couple of years ago. It provides adequate space and will have a right in, right out turn onto Iowa Street. The location information will be presented at the City Commission meeting on June 19.

Further analysis and site plans will be needed.

Motion by Mark Hurt to accept the Bus Transfer Center Analysis Study, Mike Wasikowski seconded, all if favor, no opposed.

Motion by Phyllis Farrar to have Lance Fahy speak at City Commission meeting to represent PTAC on the topic of the Bus Transfer Center. Mark Hurt seconded. All approved, no opposed.

4. Upcoming Contract Procurements – Deferred to another meeting in the future.

5. Student Bus Fare – Bob Nugent explained that there are two City Commissioners who would like to change the fare structure so that students up to the age of 18 can ride the bus for free in Lawrence.

There are a couple of issues with this that will need to be discussed. For one, providing free service increases ridership and during peak times we may have to put on extra buses, particularly if school is starting or getting out. Not only would we lose revenue, but we would incur extra costs by running extra buses. Secondly, if you are offering free service on the fixed route service, would that also need to include complimentary paratransit as well? The federal regulation from the FTA require that the fare on the paratransit service can be twice the rate of the fixed route. If there was free fare, does that mean paratransit service would also need to be free? These are things that need to be looked into and discussed.

Bob will be writing a memo to the City Commissioners to discuss concerns. There is also the concern that the new Transit Guide is at the printer and it shows the current fare of $10.00 for the K-12 Semester Pass. This information will be what the public will see until August 2019, so changing the fare now would be confusing for the public.

5. Public Comment – Rochelle Valverde from the Lawrence Journal World asked for clarification on what the committee will be presenting to the City Commission – will they be making a recommendation for the Transfer Center location? Heather Thies responded by saying they will be accepting the study and letting the commission know they have a preliminary preference of the Stewart Ave location pending further information.

7. Next Meeting – July 9, 2018 (tentative)

8. Adjournment - 5:40 pm

-Submitted by Serena Pearson