Public Transportation Stakeholders Advisory Board
Monthly Meeting Minutes
February 12, 2008
City Commission Meeting Room
(4:10) Meeting called to order.
Members Present: Chairman Chris Budeski, Gus Pfaehler, Colleen Lindner, Carol Shannon and Suzanne Winchester, Commissioner Eric Bryson and Patty Gunderson.
Members Absent: Commissioner Bill Murdock (excused due to MACo conference in Billings)
Others Present: Lisa Ballard, Current Transportation; David Kack, WTI; Lee Hazelbaker, HRDC; Deepu Philip, ASMSU; Debbie Arkell, City of Bozeman; and Recording Secretary Crystal Turner.
Public comment not on the Committee's agenda: Suzanne Winchester said that Sterling Savings Bank (the current temporary bus "transit station") is wonderful. They have been excellent community partners during the construction on Mendenhall. They have recently added two benches for riders to sit at while they wait for the bus, a garbage can, and at Christmas they put a sign out say offering cookies and coffee inside. She would like the Board to send some sort of "thank you note." David Kack stated that he did write a letter to Sterling Savings Bank, on behalf of Galavan/Streamline. Lisa Ballard suggested a "thank you" plaque with the Streamline logo to be offered to the bank. Suzanne suggested Lisa contact Personalize It as they already have the logo on file and may offer a
discount or free service.
(4:15) Approval of Minutes for December 11, 2007
Gus Pfaehler moved to approve the minutes as written. Suzanne Winchester seconded the motion. No comments or corrections to the minutes from the Board. Motion carried unanimously.
(4:15) Update on Bus System
David said that the Skyline system's ridership increased 470% in December '07, compared to 12/06 numbers (this is strictly Bozeman to Big Sky), going from 1,100 to 6,500 riders! In January '08, ridership increased from 3,500 to 8,200, compared to January '07.
Lisa gave a presentation (copy attached) of Streamline's status. Key items: MDT application was submitted on time; modified late night routes and schedule (now begins at 8:30pm instead of 9:30); Bus stops and shelters are being "reviewed" by MSU architecture and engineering students; public outreach in place (meeting with Congressional staff on Friday the 15th); ridership still increasing. Lisa also discussed some carbon footprint savings that the buses are helping to improve within the County. This is a topic the City of Bozeman has been asking Streamline to do. 500 rides per day save about 200 tons of carbon per year (this number is may vary depending on the number of riders not being equal to the number of cars that would be used if those 500 riders were driving). City Commissioner Eric Bryson asked
what the break even point is in regards to carbon foot printing; Lisa didn't have the answer. Eric also asked for a "dummy sheet" of how carbon foot printing is calculated.
Lisa continued with her presentation, reviewing the Federal FTA Funding chart; Streamline as a 5311 fund is Galavan, Headstart, Reach and Streamline/Skyline. She reviewed the New Service Requests slide: Late night service now begins an hour earlier than previously scheduled (started mid-January). The new brochures have been printed and distributed to reflect this change. In December 2007 the ridership averaged at 550 rides per day; January 2008 the average grew to 700 rides per day (daytime routes) and had spikes around 900 rides per day in January, with one day's highest at 922 rides! FY07 had a total of 141,217 rides; this was prior to Bridger Bowl and weekend service being implemented. So far in FY08 there have been about 121,000 rides, and there is still one more quarter left this fiscal year.
Chris Budeski asked about the status of the "Who rides the bus?" survey. Lisa replied that this information is in the document she emailed prior to the meeting. Patty Gunderson asked if service to the airport (once put into action) will also continue through Belgrade. Lisa replied that this service action plan is very complicated so therefore #5 on the new service requests. It is still unknown if this route, if ever in effect, will also have other Belgrade stops. Chris asked if the proposed nine mills will even fund the entire system as it is now, let alone added to in the future. David responded that the current costs are about $600,000 a year, so no, it would not cover additional service. The Greenline could expand, if funded by both the County and the City of Belgrade. Johnny
(driver for First Group) drove the early evening Greenline the other week. This bus holds 23 passengers and John counted 47. The ridership numbers are now finally proving to the County and City of Belgrade that this service is currently being used and any future expansion is justified. Deepu Philip said that he spoke with a few students that have decided to not buy cars since the bus is so prevalent and free. Chris asked Deepu to ask those students to write letters to the editor letting the public know this information. Deepu will ask them.
(4:45) UTD Discussion
Group discussion on what the future UTD board would look like: number of ASMSU members, city representatives, etc… Discussion on additional routes: Citizens would benefits most if Belgrade routes were added right now. (The costs of additional services were covered in Lisa's presentation, slide #4.)
(4:50) Bus Service to County Fair
Fair Board asked if Streamline could contract service to and from the Fair this summer. They could put stops at the mall and near residential areas that could transport people directly to the Fair. Lisa reminded the board that once a route is in place, even if contracted, it is open to the public. It may not be able to be a direct route, but may have a few stops to and from the pick-up and drop-off at the Fair locations. Chris will ask Sue Shockley (Fairgrounds Director) for the dates and times the Board is thinking about.
(4:55) Miscellaneous
An application for this board was received but no vacancy exists for a representative where the applicant lives. Applicant lives very close to Belgrade's limits. Would the board like to ask Belgrade City Manager Joe Menicucci to reconsider this applicant as a Belgrade representative, since Belgrade has one vacancy? The board agreed. Chris Budeski made a motion to send a letter to Belgrade asking them to reconsider Brook Jacksha as a Belgrade representative even thought he lives outside the city limits. Gus Pfaehler seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Crystal will draft a letter for Chris' signature asking Mr. Menicucci to reconsider.
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be on March 11th.
Agenda items: Ridership fees, Background on Streamline (for Commissioner Bryson's education and board recap).
(5:00) Meeting adjourned
| 
