TRANSIT SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Meeting Summary
Thursday January 11, 2007
PRESENT: Paul Edmunds, Davidson
Jenifer Falls, Huntersville
Sherry Helms-Miller, Charlotte
Linda Newton, Charlotte
Randy Wheeless, Charlotte
Walter Horstman, Matthews
Barry Dodd, Charlotte
Marshall Grier, Charlotte
Rick Sanderson, Charlotte/Pineville
STAFF: Jim Zingale Vida Covington, Ramond Robinson, Patrick Hoskins, Elizabeth Presutti, Larry Kopf, Jean Leier, Brooks Newkirk, Pamela Seward, Thomas Stringer
MEETING TIME: 4:00-5:30 PM
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I. Call to Order and Approval of Nov. Meeting Summary
Paul Edmunds
Paul Edmunds called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. The December 14, 2006 TSAC meeting summary was approved with the following correction:
Marshall Grier was not present at the December meeting.
II. Public Comment
Franklin Green asked about the plans for bus service once light rail starts in the University area. Larry Kopf said there are drafted plans for shuttles to transport commuters around the area when light rail starts.
Mr. Green asked how shuttle routes are determined. Mr. Kopf explained that areas of high density are identified and then a committee determines the path of the route.
Jim Zingale pointed out that if citizens want to request a new shuttle route they can go to the City’s website or call 336-RIDE.
Mr. Green said there are a lot of UNCC students that have no way to get around and noted that a shuttle would help them with their transportation needs. Mr. Kopf suggested that Mr. Green write a proposal for shuttle service in that area for review and consideration.
III. Action Item
There were no action items
IV. Information Items
A. Route Performance Monitoring Larry Kopf
Mr. Kopf gave a presentation on the Route Performance Monitoring System. He said the system evaluates bus routes month to month to track ridership trends and determine needed changes.
Rick Sanderson asked if all express routes have Saturday service. Mr. Kopf said no, just the 77X and the Arrowood express have Saturday service. They operate only during the midday.
Jenifer Falls asked how Saturday ridership is encouraged. Mr. Kopf said staff is currently looking into the Saturday service to see where and how to make improvements.
Mr. Edmunds asked how the cost per passenger is handled if the service is subsidized.
Mr. Kopf said to get the cost per passenger staff divides Bus Operations Division’s (BOD) budget by the total number of revenue hours and divides that by the number of passengers. He said staff then compares that average to the system and category averages to come up with a score.
Ms. Falls asked how often drivers are consulted about riders’ complaints or concerns. Mr. Kopf said Service Development staff meets with the drivers prior to implementing new service to discuss complaints or concerns.
Mr. Edmunds asked if a route’s score is falling what is the justification for adding additional service.
Mr. Kopf said the additional service results in additional capacity, and for the 77X, ridership is actually increasing even though the route monitor score has dropped. The North Meck service still has excess capacity during the midday periods and that steps need to be taken to attract customers and fill capacity. He added that additional service on the Lincoln County Express is 90 percent subsidized by other funding sources, allowing additional service without a significant cost to CATS.
Sherry Helms-Miller asked why Saturday service is provided on the 77X. Mr. Kopf explained that there are people that need to get out of the North Meck area on the weekends to go to work and the 77X has the highest ridership.
Ms. Helms-Miller followed-up by asking why other express services don’t operate on Saturdays. Vida Covington added that CATS received a Job Access and Reverse Commute federal grant which was used to help start the Saturday and midday service on the 77X.
Mr. Edmunds pointed out that the scoring system has many factors that contribute to the score of a route. He said staff should emphasize that on its scoring system. He added that the chart is a very good tool but it should not be used to determine a particular route’s success.
B. Bus Stop Amenities Program Demo Patrick Hoskins
Patrick Hoskins gave a demonstration on the Bus Stop Amenities Program. He said the necessity for an amenities collection project came about because of the number of bus stop changes related to new or discontinued services. He said the project started with 80 stops and at each stop, four pictures were taken and the bus stop sign labeled with a barcode to keep the program organized. He noted that the bar code is also used to help with inventory, issue work orders, examine stops for access, and lighting installation. He said the information is then loaded into the HASTUS scheduling system. The IVR and 311 information services also use this information. The results of keeping the data base current has saved time and helped to discover and correct errors staff otherwise would not have known about. Mr. Hoskins said because of the program staff now has accurate amenity information for each of the 3,700 stops in CATS’ network.
Jim Zingale asked how many stops were identified as needing lighting and if the information is given to Leonard Ganther, the manager of Facilities and Transit Amenities.
Mr. Hoskins replied that one-third of the stops were in need of lighting. He said that information will be submitted to the Mr. Ganther after it has been prioritized.
Mr. Sanderson asked if there is a program in place to keep the data base updated.
Mr. Hoskins answered that at every service change the data base is updated.
Linda Newton asked how much a bus stop pole costs. Mr. Hoskins said approximately $150.
Mr. Sanderson asked if the data base is use to determine what changes in amenities are done at each bus stop. He also asked if staff can be tracked to see if they completed the work. Mr. Hoskins answered yes. He then gave a demonstration using the data base and the Automated Vehicle Locator System (AVL) for a current route in service.
There was a discussion with Ms. Helms-Miller about the location of the stop in her neighborhood for the Route 5 and safety issues with that location. She said she will not ride the bus at night if she has to walk farther than a block and submitted a proposal to relocate the stop. Mr. Kopf said he will review her proposal.
V. Service Issues All
Marshall Grier reported that at the Rosa Parks Place Community Transit Center a light pole has been knocked over. He said passengers are also complaining about getting wet while in the shelters. Elizabeth Presutti said she will follow-up with CATS’ Project Development staff.
Ms. Falls reported that someone riding the 9:10 a.m. bus inbound from Huntersville complained of there not being enough parking spaces at the park and ride because owners of large vehicles were taking up two compact car spaces due to the width of the allotted spaces.
Mr. Edmunds asked if anyone is enforcing parking. Mr. Zingale answered that staff will take a look at the situation. He said they may need to look into some type of enforcement. He added that CATS is hiring more police officers and may need to get their assistance with the parking problem.
Mr. Edmunds expressed concern for another bus stop in Davidson and suggested putting a stop at the Depot as people are already waiting in that area. Mr. Hoskins stated that CATS does have a stop there, but the sign is posted on a different type of pole, which may be why people are unaware of it.
Ms. Falls stated the stop at Exit 23 needs to be more convenient for park and ride users. Mr. Kopf stated that the stop was located there to encourage people not to park in places where their vehicle may get towed.
Mr. Sanderson asked when will the service changes take place. Mr. Kopf said February 5 and that rider alerts will be posted two weeks before the changes.
Mr. Edmunds asked if the signage at the CTC would have rider alerts as well. Mr. Kopf said yes.
Mr. Kopf mentioned that the airport bus stop will change to the lower level where other shuttles stop. Mr. Zingale said that location may cause more delays due to heavy traffic.
Pamela Seward stated that the stop will be in the commercial lane where there is less traffic in the gated area and that advertising will be posted at the welcome center. Mr. Zingale suggested signage as well. Mr. Kopf assured that there would be signage.
Some concern was mentioned that if the airport’s Welcome Center promoted CATS there might be some conflict with other agencies, like car rental companies. Ms. Seward assured this issue has been addressed.
Ms. Falls suggested there be overnight parking at the park and ride lots for those taking a bus to the airport. Mr. Kopf said that is something staff will look into.
VI. Chairman’s Report Paul Edmunds
Under the Chairman’s report Mr. Edmunds said the MTC voted to proceed with the North and Northeast corridors.
VII. Chief Operating Officer’s Report Jim Zingale
Mr. Zingale reported that most of the MTC Corridor decisions are behind us. He noted that at the December MTC meeting Ron Tober presented an alternative funding plan for the North Corridor, which was approved by the Commission, and Mr. Kopf presented information about the Countywide Service Plan.
He noted that union negotiations are underway between the Teamsters, and Transit Management of Charlotte. He said there may be some media exposure about a strike. He said CATS has very good relations with the Union so staff doesn’t think a strike will happen, but there is a plan in place if a strike does occur. He said public hearings for bus/rail integration will be starting soon and when schedules are developed for the hearings, staff will send them out to the public.
Mr. Zingale continued his report noting that eight of the sixteen light rail vehicles have arrived and four more should arrive shortly. He said the Light Rail section will move into the Vehicle Maintenance Facility on January 22. Concerning ridership, he said staff is reexamining the South End Shuttle because of its low ridership. Ms. Covington mentioned that the passenger display signs at the CTC now have a contract with a vendor, but staff is waiting to receive funding from the state before the project moves forward.
NEXT TSAC MEETING: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 08, 2007 4:00 PM
