HomeMy WebLinkAboutOUTBoard minutes 0819151
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MINUTES
ORANGE UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION BOARD
AUGUST 19, 2015
MEMBERS PRESENT: Paul Guthrie, Chair and Chapel Hill Township Representative; Alex Castro, Vice -Chair and
Bingham Township Representative; Heidi Perry, At -Large Representative; Art Menius, At -Large Representative;
Ed Vaughn, Cedar Grove Township Representative; Gary Saunders, At -Large Representative; David Laudicina,
At -Large Representative; Amy Cole, At -Large Representative, Tom Magnuson, At -Large Representative
MEMBERS ABSENT: Eno Township Representative - Vacant; Brantley Wells, Hillsborough Township; Ted Triebel,
Little River Township Representative; Representative; John Rubin, At -Large Representative
PLANNING DEPARTMENT STAFF PRESENT: Abigaile Pittman, Transportation /Land Use Planner; Bret Martin,
Transportation Planner; Peter Murphy, OPT Transportation Administrator; Malcum Massenburg, OPT
Transportation Asst. Administrator.
TRANSIT SERVICES /OPT REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT: Janet Sparks (Child Support Services Dept.), Janice Tyler
(Aging Dept.), Anna Kenion (Health Dept.), Serena McPherson (Dept. of Social Services)
OTHERS PRESENT: Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager; Tamra Shaw, North Carolina Department of
Transportation
AGENDA ITEM 1: CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL; INTRODUCTIONS
AGENDA ITEM 2: APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR MAY 20, 2015
Two corrections were made to the list of those present.
MOTION made to approve May 20, 2015 minutes by Art Menius. Seconded by Alex Castro.
Vote: Unanimous
AGENDA ITEM 3: CONSIDERATION OF ADDITIONS OF THE AGENDA
No additions to the Agenda were made.
AGENDA ITEM 4: TRANSIT SERVICES, ORANGE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION (OPT) - This section of the
agenda is addressed jointly by the OUTBoard and supplemental staff from other
County departments (Aging; DSS; Housing, Human Rights and Community
Development, Health; Child Support Enforcement, and the Library) to address transit
services.
AGENDA ITEM 4A: PROPOSED OPT FARE STRUCTURE (BRET MARTIN) — Public hearing for the review of
proposed fare structure for fixed -route services.
OUTBoard /Transit Services Action: Open the public hearing; receive any
comments from the public; close the public hearing; and forward and recommend for
adoption the proposed OPT fixed -route fare structure and any modifications to the
BOCC.
Bret Martin: Gave presentation on proposed fare structure for fixed -route services.
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55 Paul Guthrie: What do you anticipate as an additional cost to collect this fare?
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57 Bret Martin: It depends on your collection system. If we use credit cards it's going to eat into to it quite a bit.
58 Right now all we are doing is collecting cash fares. The fare structure does have a proposal in it to pursue the
59 issuance of bus passes for distribution.
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61 Peter Murphy: To answer the question, we really haven't put a dollar value on it but certainly there is a cost with
62 counting the money and the time with that, and even printing bus passes to sell.
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64 Paul Guthrie: I remember many years ago a public transit study out of the Washington do metro area showed
65 that the fares charged by the DC transit were costing more to collect than the fares that were being collected. In
66 fact the collection of fares cost more than if they had no fares. If you have a small fare that doesn't change the
67 percentage of cost very much, I was wondering what the benefit was of the fare system.
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69 Bret Martin: Well to add to that, part of the reason to collect fares is not just to collect fares; it's also to keep too
70 many people from getting on the bus. For our system that's not going to be an issue.
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72 Art Menius: Have you analyzed the net gain or loss on the current $2 and $1 fares on the hill to hill route?
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74 Bret Martin: Not on that one.
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76 David Laudicina: It says Medicare or Medicaid card; you might want to put in there Medicare advantage card.
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78 Bret Martin: I'll make a note of that.
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80 Heidi Perry: Do you also offer an annual pass?
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82 Bret Martin: It's a consideration. It's not something transit typically provides.
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84 Paul Guthrie: The more process you have of issuing and reissuing cards, your management cost goes up.
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86 Art Menius: What is the status of the daily, weekly, and monthly passes? Are you implementing them or not?
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88 Bret Martin: It's not something that we're doing, it's something we asking approval for.
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g0 Amy Cole: Have you done any surveys with the seniors to see what they think of the rate increase?
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92 Bret Martin: We have not, but we have a public hearing tonight.
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94 Heidi Perry: The notices probably didn't say anything about rate increase. They probably just said new fare
95 structure.
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97 Bret Martin: The notice has to be specific that it's a rate increase because that's the only thing that requires a
98 public hearing.
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100 Amy Cole: Were the notices actually on the buses?
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102 Peter Murphy: I can't say I know that they got them up.
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104 Janice Tyler: They should be posted where the people who are being served can see.
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106 Peter Murphy: Does anyone have any questions?
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108 Janet Sparks: It seems to me that for $11,400 it's not worth the conversation.
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110 Janice Tyler: I agree.
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112 Bret Martin: You will need to open the public hearing, hear and receive public comments, and close the public
113 hearing. Staff has a strong recommendation on the deviated fixed routes.
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115 Peter Murphy: If they want door -to -door service they would pay $2.00.
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117 Bret Martin: The ADA service fare has already been set by the commissioners at $2.00.
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119 Heidi Perry: What is the deviated service policy?
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121 Peter Murphy: The route gives the basic structure and we will deviate off that route. There will be limitations with
122 that however. There is also a time allowance so that we will be able to get to the stops on time.
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124 Heidi Perry: It's not $2.00 on each end right?
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126 Art Menius: Its $2.00 one way.
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128 Janice Tyler: What is the policy for the deviation?
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130 Peter Murphy: They are going to have pie shaped zones, and it is two days a week.
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132 Amy Cole: Will it be income based? Will there be option for free fare for those who are below a certain income?
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134 Bret Martin: It could be but that would be more administration cost.
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136 Peter Murphy: It could be but that would not be through OPT. Another department may be able to provide
137 vouchers
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139 Amy Cole: What is the ultimate goal here?
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141 Bret Martin: The $11,400 annually year after year. If we are expanding service, the fare structure needs to be fair
142 for all riders.
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144 Janice Tyler: Are there funds to provide vouchers to seniors?
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146 Bret Martin: This is very loosely a fare increase since the services are new.
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148 Heidi Perry: We want it to succeed. I think age 60 is not elderly, I think age 65 is when people think about
149 retirement and getting on Medicare.
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151 Janice Tyler: We use 60 because that is what was established by the Federal government under the Older
152 Americans Act.
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154 Peter Murphy: Triangle Transit and most of the other agencies are using 65
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156 Bret Martin: The Federal Transit Administration has a definition for elderly and its 65. The reason we are using
157 60 with this is because that's what we were using previously.
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159 David Laudicina: You can't get a Medicare card until you're 65.
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161 Janice Tyler: You can get a Medicare card when you're 62.
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163 Gary Saunders: You can show your ID to show proof of age.
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165 Paul Guthrie: Requested motion to open hearing for comments.
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167 Art Menius: Motion to open public hearing. Seconded by Alex Castro.
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169 No comments from the public
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171 Alex Castro: Motion to close public hearing. Seconded by Art Menius.
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173 Discussion
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175 Janice Tyler: So Medicare is age 65 but age 62 is when you can take early benefits.
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177 David Laudicina: So you still have a problem with having to show proof of age?
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179 Bret Martin: Do you have a government issued ID?
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181 Gary Saunders: You'll need one to vote with.
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183 Art Menius: Motion only for new fare for fixed -route deviations. Motion seconded by Ed Vaughn.
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185 Anna Kenion: If a disabled person has an aide with them on the bus, do they have to pay as well?
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187 Bret Martin: If they are classified as disabled per the ADA plan, then no.
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189 Alex Castro: The other fares are staying the same, is that correct? The only increase is in relation to the senior
190 services?
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192 Bret Martin: The only increase is the new fare.
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194 Motion withdrawn
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196 Janet Sparks: Is the new fare only going to yield $11,400?
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198 Bret Martin: That is the difference between collecting a fare from seniors rather than nothing at all. If you don't
199 charge any fares then you will blow the financial plan out of the water.
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201 Peter Murphy: Operationally, I would be concerned if we offered free taxi service out in the county because
202 essentially that's what it would be.
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204 Motion by Art Menius to recommend with exception. No one -way fare on the non -peak fixed routes for seniors
205 over 60, passengers with disabilities, and passengers with Medicare or Medicaid. And no fare for seniors over
206 60, passengers with disability, and passengers with Medicaid or Medicare for the peak fixed route.
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208 Seconded by Alex Castro.
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210 Amy Cole: If the majority of people riding think that it is a fair rate to pay then I would like to support them, but I
211 would also want to make sure that those who want access but do not have the money for the fare will still have
212 access. I think we should get a survey from the people riding the bus.
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214 Janice Tyler: There was a good survey done by a student at UNC.
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216 Alex Castro: Gave Abigaile Pittman a copy of the survey.
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218 Heidi Perry made a motion to amend the motion: increase the 60 -year age for elderly to 65 years.
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220 Seconded by Gary Saunders.
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222 Vote: 4 -3 with Alex Castro, Amy Cole and Ed Vaughn in opposition to the proposed amendment to the motion.
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224 Alex Castro: Asked if in the rural deviated fixed routes at fixed locations would still be a dollar for seniors.
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226 Malcum Massenburg: To charge seniors for the transportation but not the meal is inconsistent.
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228 Peter Murphy: If they are eligible for one for free then they are eligible for the other.
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230 Vote on original motion: 6 -2 — Heidi Perry and Gary Saunders voting in opposition. Motion carried.
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232 AGENDA ITEM 413: STATUS REPORT (PETER MURPHY)
233 1. New buses for expansion services
234 11. New employees for expansion services
235 111. Start date for new expansion services /routes
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237 OUTBoard /Transit Services Action: Receive and review information, provide
238 comments.
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240 Peter Murphy: Provided update on expansion services.
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242 Alex Castro: Are there signs as to where the bus is stopping and are the schedules are on the buses?
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244 Peter Murphy: Yes we have a map with the stops on it.
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246 David Laudicina: So this service is not very useful for those who commute to UNC?
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248 Bret Martin: It is useful, connections can be made.
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250 Amy Cole: What about any advertisement?
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252 Heidi Perry: You should put this in a list serv.
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254 Bret Martin: Up until last week we were unsure we would have all the necessary equipment so we haven't
255 advertised it.
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257 Alex Castro: How many seats will this service provide?
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259 Bret Martin: The vehicles coming in now are 17 and 18 passenger buses which is midsized.
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261 AGENDA ITEM 4c: PRIORITIZATION OF TRANSIT RELATED TECHNOLOGIES (PETER MURPHY) — Prioritization of
262 transit related technologies reviewed at the May 20, 2015 OUTBoard /Transit Services meeting, for funding
263 purposes.
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OUTBoard /Transit Services Action: Receive and review information, provide
comments, recommend prioritization of transit related technologies.
Peter Murphy: Gave presentation, which included a power point.
Gary Saunders: How long it will take to incorporate the last item (AVL and Route Prediction Software)?
Peter Murphy: Years down the road.
Motion made by Alex Castro to approve the prioritization suggested by Peter Murphy. Seconded by Gary
Saunders. Vote was unanimous.
AGENDA ITEM 4D: TRANSIT SERVICES BOARD (TSB) CoMMENTS/QUESTIONS (PETER MURPHY) — Opportunity for
TSB members to offer transit related comments and ask questions.
OUTBoard /Transit Services Action: Provide comments and questions, receive
feedback.
Janice Tyler: In the Department of Aging brochure it says it can take up to 21 days to process an application.
We shorten that time frame by possibly looking at adding OPT staff instead of adding automated systems.
Malcum Massenburg: Discussed the language on the brochure.
Bret Martin: We try to get the application processed quicker than 21 days.
Abigaile Pittman: Are there any plans for amenities that will be at the bus stops?
Paul Murphy: It depends on budgets.
Bret Martin: OPT is understaffed.
Janice Tyler: With the new technology there will be more hours freed up. This may help with staffing.
AGENDA ITEM 5: REGULAR AGENDA (ACTION ITEMS)
No items.
AGENDA ITEM VI: STAFF UPDATES
A. ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PROJECT PRIORITY LIST (BRET MARTIN) —
Ranking of the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) transportation projects
for the Burlington- Graham Metropolitan Planning Organization (BGMPO),
Durham - Chapel Hill - Carrboro (DCHC) MPO, and the Triangle Area Rural
Planning Organization (TARPO), to be submitted for consideration of inclusion in
the 1018 -2027 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The
unranked list was approved at the Board's May 20 meeting and approved by the
BOCC at its June 2 °d meeting.
B. ORANGE COUNTY RESURFACING PROGRAM (BRET MARTIN)- At its April 15th
meeting the OUTBoard reviewed the NCDOT 2016 Resurfacing
Schedule /Program and commented with regard to several roads that could have
sufficient right -of -way to accommodate wider shoulders for bicyclists. Following
that meeting Staff emailed the OUTBoard's comments /prioritized list to NCDOT,
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and then met with NCDOT representatives on July 21st to discuss the
resurfacing program and any opportunities that may exist, based on existing
adopted transportation plans, for implementing these plans through NCDOT's
resurfacing program. NCDOT representatives explained that the funding
structure for resurfacing projects has changed and that the emphasis now is
solely maintenance and safety. It is no longer possible to divert funds to add 2 -ft.
or 4 -ft. wide shoulders on a resurfacing project. They will be on the lookout for
any other funding possibilities (from other resources).
C. DRAFT BICYCLE SAFETY PLAN (ABIGAILE PITTMAN) - The BOCC received the
OUTBoard's Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Report, including recommendations
at its June 16th meeting. The BOCC accepted the Report and instructed staff to
a. Review the list of recommended actions in the Report with regard
to financial costs, staffing capabilities, and required coordination
with other agencies /entities; and
b. Return to the Commissioners in the fall with information relevant to
implementing the lists of actions suggested the Report.
Staff will keep the OUTBoard apprised.
OUTBoard Action: Receive information, provide comments.
AGENDA ITEM 7: BOARD COMMENTS
AGENDA ITEM 8: ADJOURNMENT. THERE IS NO MEETING IN SEPTEMBER.
MOTION was made by Alex Castro. Gary Saunders seconded.
VOTE: Unanimous
Heidi Perry, Chair