TRANSIT SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Meeting Summary
Thursday February 8, 2007
PRESENT: Jenifer Falls, Huntersville
Linda Newton, Charlotte
Walter Horstman, Matthews
Barry Dodd, Charlotte
STAFF: Jim Zingale Vida Covington, Ramon Robinson, Patrick Hoskins, Elizabeth Presutti, Larry Kopf, Jean Leier, Brooks Newkirk, Pamela Seward, Thomas Stringer, Vince Brown, Africa Otis, Theron Barrino, Donald Ivey, Dee Pereria, Kim Taylor
MEETING TIME: 4:00-5:30 PM
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I. Call to Order and Approval of January Meeting Summary Jenifer Falls
Chairman Paul Edmunds was not present. Jenifer Falls called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. The January 11, 2007 TSAC meeting summary was not approved due to lack of a quorum.
II. Public Comment
Mr. Zingale announced new procedures for public speakers. They will be asked to sign-in and as with MTC and City Council, TSAC will implement a three minute speaking time limit. He said these changes are being made to capture the names of speakers in case staff needs to follow-up for additional information.
III. Action Item
There were no action items.
IV. Information Items
A. July Service Change Larry Kopf /Ramon Robinson
Mr. Kopf gave a preview of July service changes. He stated the next service change will be July 2 in coordination with the fare increase. These changes are being proposed to combine, extend, and redesign various routes to better serve customers, improve the overall system, and increase ridership. Major changes that will occur include extending Route 26, combining Routes 231 and 203 to become Route 205, combining Routes 13 and 21 to become one Route 13, extend Route 201 and, redesigning Route 202.
Additional adjustments will be made to Routes 6, 18 and 20.
The South End shuttle will be discontinued due to low ridership, and other running times will be adjusted to accommodate various routes.
Mr. Horstman also asked if neighborhood routes were the only routes that deviate.
Mr. Kopf answered no, routes in the North Meck area deviate.
Ramon Robinson then presented the proposed changes to routes 13, 202 & 203.
Routes 13 and 21 were slated to have increased service frequency based on the Countywide Transit Services Plan. To do this, CATS combined the routes into the new Route 13. The new route would increase services in the Double Oaks community via Graham and Statesville, would run on 10 minute headways from the CTC during the day and 30 minute headways at night. The service will have a short-line route that will go to the Double Oaks community and back to the CTC and a long-line that would travel up Statesville Ave. The proposed changes will save money on the number of vehicles needed to provide the service and additional vehicle hours to run two routes to the same area.
Routes 202 and 203 are circulator routes that travel through the Lincoln and Washington Heights neighborhoods. The proposed option is to interline the two routes so that they are on a 30 minute cycle from Rosa Parks Transit Center using only 2 vehicles. The routes would look like one continuous route that will change at the Rosa Parks Transit Center. The proposed 202 route will travel the same route as today, but eliminate the Oaklawn / Mulberry /Jennings section of the route. The proposed Route 203 would travel the same route, with the exception of traveling McAllister Dr. on the outbound trip (only inbound), and staff is exploring extending the route to the Peachtree area.
Mr. Horstman asked what the frequency was for the buses. Mr. Robinson said 30 minutes.
Mr. Kopf explained that the 202 bus had the lowest ridership. He also explained that there are still adjustments being made for Routes 6, 8 and 20 with their running times.
Mr. Horstman asked when the service changes would occur. Mr. Kopf answered July 2.
Mr. Zingale stated there were challenges at the CTC with the buses doubling up in bays.
Mr. Horstman stated it seems like the buses are fuller and that the February service change has gone very smoothly for people he knows that ride the bus.
Mr. Kopf accredited Thomas Stringer and his group for their efforts with the changes. He also noted that January ridership for the bus system was up 5.8 percent from last January.
Ms. Covington reported that an ACPD (Advocacy Council for People with Disabilities) member was pleased with the service adjustments and that they shortened his riding time.
Theron Barino asked if Route 24 was going to go through the neighborhood to help customers connect to light rail. Mr. Kopf stated bus service will not run into the neighborhoods but staff is trying to develop straighter routes for faster service. He said CATS is currently holding public meetings that deal with the buses connecting to light rail.
B. FY08/09 Transit Operation Program
Dee Pereria/Vida Covington
Dee Pereria, Chief Financial Officer for CATS, presented the 2008/2009 Transit Operating Program. Ms. Pereria explained that the proposed program focused on business priorities for the next two fiscal years.
The proposed total operating income for FY08 is $126.4 million and FY09 is $132.9 million. The total proposed operating expenses are $103.7 million and $110.7 million for 08 and 09, respectively.
The proposed budgetary balance for FY08 is $228.3 million and $228.5 million for FY09. Ms. Pereria mentioned that CATS will contribute over $22 million to capital reserves in both years.
Ms. Pereria went on to discuss the FY08-09 sources of operating income, with the local sales tax the largest contributor at $73 million. The maintenance of effort, operating revenue, and operating assistance contribute $18 million, $17 million, and $14 million respectively.
Ms. Pereria explained it is very important for us to maintain our costs to move forward and to insure our credibility.
Ms. Covington continued the presentation by addressing several items that will impact the operating budget during fiscal years 2008 and 2009. It was mentioned that we aren’t seeing the ridership increases experienced last fiscal year. However, there is hope that there will be strong ridership months in the last quarter to finish the year. Discussion occurred on the Lynx Blue Line Operating Plan, including the integrated schedule, hiring status, travel training, and countdown to start-up. It was also mentioned that trolley service will resume in conjunction with light rail start-up.
Ms. Covington spoke of the necessity of the bus-rail integration plan and that Service Development staff is currently soliciting public input to the plan. Special Transportation Service’s (STS) budget was discussed next, specifically that a cost/benefit analysis was conducted by STS staff and discovered that the new certification process has yielded a year to date savings of over $30,000. It was also mentioned that possible changes to transportation provided by the Department of Social Services has led to an increase in customers applying for STS.
The Facilities program was presented, which includes bus stop shelters and benches, park and rides, the Charlotte Transportation Center, neighborhood transit centers, and will include rail stations. It was said that CATS is currently testing solar lighting in shelters at two locations, and the proposed capital budget includes funding to install solar lighting with all new shelters, if testing warrants them successful.
Ms. Covington continued with the Safety and Security program for fiscal years 2008 and 2009. We will see an increased police presence with the addition of eight CMPD officers assigned to CATS, bringing the transit unit to a total of 12 police personnel. The 2008 budget also calls for 35 private security officers and 5 fare inspectors. It was also mentioned that awareness and education for the public, customers, and employees is important to the Safety and Security program.
Fuel prices and projections were discussed. The adopted budget for Fiscal Year 2007 showed fuel at $2.05 per gallon, and it’s estimated that we will end the year at $2.15 per gallon. The FY08 fuel budget is at $2.15 per gallon and FY09 is $2.20 per gallon. Finally, Ms. Covington reminded committee members that implementing recommendations noted in the Countywide Transit Services Plan are also included in both budget years. Ms. Pereira and Ms. Covington ended their presentation by discussing the program calendar, which include presentations to the Metropolitan Transit Commission, City Council and Board of County Commissioners. The MTC is scheduled to adopt the operating and capital programs in April.
Ms. Falls asked when the plan will be presented to the MTC. Mr. Zingale answered it will be at the next meeting.
C. Schedule Redesign Kim Taylor
Ms. Taylor explained that with light rail coming onboard CATS is currently in the process of updating the public timetable of the system maps to include all routes. Due to adding new services, all the space on our schedule racks is used. So to save space, we have come up with a new tri-fold design for the schedules. She explained that the new bilingual schedules are half the size of the old schedules, color coded for the different lines and lighter in weight. Also, the new schedules include a frequency chart, safety measures, points of interest, and how to use ticket vending machines.
Ms. Falls asked how to get the systems maps. Ms. Taylor said that since racks are full, there is no place to display them. But by going to a smaller fold size the bottom schedule rack row will be available for system maps and other informative materials.
Mr. Horstman commented that he liked the new map and that it was much easier to understand. He also referred to the system maps online as being easy to access.
V. Service Issues All
Mr. Zingale reported a complaint about the Route 5 Airport bus stop being very hard to find and there should be better signage.
VI. Chairman’s Report Paul Edmunds
There was no Chairman’s report
VII. Chief Operating Officer’s Report Jim Zingale
Mr. Zingale reported that the public hearings for the fare increase will occur this month.
He noted that McDonald Transit and the Teamsters Union have reached a tentative agreement. The agreement will be voted on February 10 or February 14th. He also expressed that overall negotiations went well and that CATS appreciates the cooperation of both sides.
NEXT TSAC MEETING: THURSDAY, MARCH 08, 2007 4:00 PM
