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Home My WebLink About2011-1003 Study Session MIN CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION October 3, 2011 Page I of 3 JOINT STUDY SESSION WITH ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL AND RVTD BOARD OF DIRECTORS AGENDA Monday,October 3,2011 SOU Stevenson Union Arena, 1250 Siskiyou Blvd. 5:30 p.m. Study Session Mayor Stromberg called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. in the Siskiyou Room. Councilor Slattery, Lemhouse, Chapman, Silbiger, Morris, and Voisin were present. RVTD BOARD OF DIRECTORS: RVTD Staff. Connie Skillman Julie Brown,General Manager William Mansfield Paige Townsend, Senior Planner Sharon Kohlmeier Luanne Spencer, Executive Assistant Stan Littrell Nathan Broom, TDM Planner Wade Six Tim D'Alessandro, Operations Manager Joel Marks Scott Eason, Transportation Manager Rick Dyer 1. Will the City Council and the RVTD Board agree on near and long term transit goals that impact Ashland? Rogue Valley Transit District (RVTD) General Manager Julie Brown explained RVTD had been stable for the.past three years and could continue to provide service at the current level through 2015 without additional funds or increased taxes. However, a demand to extend bus runs in the evenings and have Saturday service prompted RVTD to apply for a $983,000 competitive Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) Grant. If awarded, they could match the funds and provide the requested extended service for three years. Additionally, RVTD could have a ballot measure in 2012 or 2014 to secure more hinds through a tax increase. Ms. Brown stressed the need for the region to work together to leverage more dollars and support projects. Ms. Brown described how an enhancement or addition to the service RVTD provided pulled resources from other areas within the District and used reinstating Route 15 as an example. The City of Ashland needed to determine trip generators, resolve parking issues, encourage Southern Oregon University (SOU) Student Services and employers to create pass programs, prioritize bike and pedestrian transit, and commit to a three year plan with RVTD. It was a cost and resource burden for RVTD to go through the contract renewal process annually. She went on to provide a summary of the long-term Tier Plan that included: Tier One,Extended Hours and Minor Service Ex ansion Region Mayor Destination Southeast Medford Barnett Rd x N Phoenix Rd/RVMC Ex and service hours-4am 10 m All Routes except low productivity routes West White City Table Rd x Antelope Rd Saturday Service Base service from Sam to 6 m CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION October 3, 2011 Page 2 of 3 Tier Two,Tier One,Additional Routes,Express Routes,Peak Service Region Mayor Destination West and southwest Central Point Twin Creeks TOD East Medford McAndrews Ed x Foothill Rd Ashland Talent Phoenix Circulators West.of Hwy 99 in Talent and Phoenix/East of Hwy 99 in Ashland 4 Hour Peak Service All Routes except low productivity routes Southwest Medford/Jacksonville Stewart Ave x Lozier Rd Express Routes(15 min)-to Ashland & White City Front St to Ashland Plaza & Front St to Cascade Shopping Center Northwest Medford Sae Rd x Rossanle Dr(North Gate Centre Tier Three,Tier Two,Additional Routes/Grid Sy stem Region Mayor Destination Foothills Rd Corridor from Barnett to Coker Butte Table Rock Rd Corridor from Midway Rd to Antelope Rd Hwy 99 Corridor from Table Rock Rd to Scenic Ave Delta Waters TOD Region not yet defined South Ashland Region not yet defined Direct airport service was not included in the plan. RVTD currently served the airport through their Medford transfer hub. Alternately, private shuttles effectively addressed airport service. Saturday service was limited from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with hourly runs but could change in the future once RVTD better understood whom they were serving. Council was concerned Saturday hours were not compatible with employees traveling to Ashland for work. RVTD would conduct a rider survey fall 2011. Mayor Stromberg suggested collaborating with the Ashland Chamber of Commerce to determine rider focus. Senior Planner Paige Townsend added RVTD was in contact with larger businesses, hospitals, and SOU to tailor expanded service hours to hit key shift and class time changes. Council suggested a cost study on Saturday service from 6:00 a.m. to midnight for people traveling to jobs in Ashland. SOU had established a new research center in their Economics Department that could possibly help with the study. Another Council concern was the City bearing the majority of cost and resources for a bus pass subsidy when participating organizations should contribute. Council and the Board discussed forming a team possibly consisting of Mayor Stromberg, Councilor Chapman, Ms. Brown, Ms. Townsend, and other Board members to strategize lobbying for RVTD to receive the CMAQ Grant. Public Works Director Mike Faught noted the December 31, 2011 deadline regarding the reduced fare program and summarized three possible options. One would end the reduced fare program and increase free fare for low-income riders at an estimated cost of$50,000. The second option would create a new program to provide a 50% subsidy for Ashland businesses at an estimated cost of $20,000. The third would subsidize private shuttles for Ashland tourists. Ms. Brown thought the highest priority was subsidizing low-income constituents. As for subsidizing bus pass programs for businesses, she suggested the City meet with RVTD TDM Planner Nathan Broom and work with a small committee to explore that option. RVTD had funds and the City should only pay a small subsidy, if any. An alternative would have businesses subsidize bus passes enough so the employee could purchase the pass at a deep discount. She did not encourage developing a private shuttle service unless the City felt the need. She thought the City should invest in Option 1 and Option 2 only if the CITY COUNCIL STUDYSESSION October 3, 2011 Page 3 of 3 amount allocated to subsidize business pass programs was lower. She reiterated the cost effectiveness of having a longer contract with RVTD. Council supported subsidizing low-income riders. There was a concern committing to a two year contract to buy down bus fares when there was no supporting data. Additionally, some thought employers should develop their own bus pass programs. Ms. Townsend explained Ashland could establish parking management policies through the planning process that require major trip generators to consider vehicular reduction strategies like car sharing, commuter resources, buss pass programs, and car pooling at no cost to the City. If RVTD failed to obtain the CMAQ grant, they would maintain present service without Saturday runs or extended hours. However, RVTD would continue to look for money to fund those services. Meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Dana Smith Assistant to the City Recorder