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DTA Encourages Summer Transportation for Day Care Groups by Tom Elwell, Duluth Transit Authority

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DTA Encourages Summer Transportation for Day Care Groups by Tom Elwell, Duluth Transit Authority JULY 2010 A bimonthly newsletter published by the Minnesota Public Transit Association. DTA encourages summer transportation for day care groups By ToM elwell, Duluth Transit Authority DULUTH — It’s not uncommon out the Daycare Rider’s Trip Request rides. The DTA encourages adequate to see groups of children traveling Form online at www.duluthtransit.com. supervision of young children when around on DTA buses or waiting at the riding DTA buses by allowing up to downtown transit center during the As an incentive, day care groups who three children, age four and under, to summer months in the Twin Ports. The contact the DTA one day ride without charge on buses when DTA welcomes the business; but has in advance receive a “Fun accompanied by an attending established a policy to limit the number Activity Packet” when passenger age 13 or of day care and summer youth group they board the bus. older. riders allowed to board a bus at the This packet includes a same time. coloring section and When large fun activities which day care In the past, day care groups would can be used as a groups call in show up at a bus stop — some with as group activity at advance with many as 30-40 children. More often another time. As their travel than not, there were passengers already an added incentive plans, the DTA on the bus and more to pick ensures that a up along the route. This DTA rewards day care groups bus with adequate became an inconvenience who give advance notice seating capacity for those groups and regular is scheduled for riders who experienced delays about field trips with a their trips. The or over-crowding of buses, “Fun Activity Packet.” The DTA also helps with especially in recent years packet includes a coloring arrangements for when overall ridership has splitting up groups increased. section and fun activities for a this year, larger than 20 using group activity at another time. day care several regular route Now, the DTA sends letters groups who buses to transport the group. This often to all day care providers in Duluth contact the DTA five days in advance requires half the group taking the next and Superior every spring, inviting receive four complimentary one-ride scheduled bus or another route. The them to utilize DTA services for group tickets. DTA does not provide extra service to outings and field trips during the accommodate day care groups, beyond summer months; and encouraging them The DTA also recommends that group regular route service; but strives to to contact the DTA in advance when trips be planned during mid-day hours serve all segments of the population in they plan to transport groups of 20 or when buses have more capacity; and the Twin Ports. more at the same time. Groups can also to use the DTA’s online Google Plan & notify the DTA in advance by filling Ride feature to plan out the roundtrip From the President Tony Kellen, President Minnesota Public Transit Association Director of Operations & Technology St. Cloud Metro Bus [email protected] 320.529.4481 President’s Column The Legislative Session is over and transit services will I had planned to be in Washington in June as part of continue uninterrupted! With all of the dire news about the Minnesota Transportation Alliance Fly-In, but had the state’s budget deficit, everyone was on edge with to cancel the trip when I received word that my father proposed new cuts to existing budgets. was extremely ill. I was fortunate to be with my father Levern who passed away Wednesday June 9th peacefully Thanks to the hard work of our MPTA lobbyist and at home in Ft. Walton Beach surrounded by his loved members, we worked to communicate with lawmakers ones. Although he is gone, he will always be in my heart about the importance of maintaining existing transit and the smile he gave me I will carry forever. service during these tough economic times. Our MPTA lobbyist, Sherry Munyon represented the You can read the details about the session in the Association and made sure that the Congressional Legislative Report. The bottom line for this year is a Delegation understood the funding needs of all transit continuation of existing service with no increases in systems in Minnesota. fares. Next year may be a much tougher year so we can’t relax or let up in our advocacy for transit. The state faces We now turn our attention to planning and preparing the a projected $5 billion deficit for the coming biennium 2010 Minnesota Public Transit Conference. Our theme (2012-13) or almost three times the deficit faced this year. this year is “Public Transit: A vote for the future.” You With all of the easy fixes already used up, the path to a can find lots of information about this year’s conference balanced budget becomes incredibly difficult next year. on the MPTA website: www.mpta-transit.org Many states are looking to the federal government for During the conference, the Minnesota Public Transit assistance with transit funding and Minnesota is no Association recognizes outstanding transit programs and exception. Once again, MPTA was busy meeting with individuals deserving recognition for their professional members of our Congressional Delegation to stress the efforts and achievements. Forms are available on the need for a long-term transportation authorization act as website to nominate individuals or systems for the well as transit funding in the FY2011 Transportation and following awards: Friend of Transit, National Friend of HUD Appropriations bill. Transit, Distinguished Career Award, Transit Professional of the Year, Transit System of the Year, Management “Public Transit: A vote for the future.” Innovation, and Minnesota Bus Operator of the Year. 2010 Minnesota Public Transit Conference Nominate individuals or systems for an award Friend of Transit, National Friend of Transit, Distinguished Career Award, Transit Professional of the Year, Transit System of the Year, Management Innovation, and Minnesota Bus operator of the Year. Send us your nominations for these awards and help recognize some deserving colleagues. Legislative Update Margaret Donahoe MPTA 2010 legislative Agenda available at www.mpta-transit.org. Advocacy Director Minnesota Public Transit Association Legislative Report The Minnesota Public Transit consensus was that this reduction in governor. The Legislature included a Association (MPTA) worked hard funding would not lead to any service fairly significant amount of funding this session to fight for maintenance cuts or fare increases. for transit in the bonding bill this of transit services in the face of a year, reflecting the legislative general fund budget deficit that grew A few days before the session was support for new transit facilities. The to over $3 billion for the current scheduled to adjourn, the decision governor had included $10 million in biennium. from the court made the final budget his recommendations for the bonding deal more difficult and transit bill. In the end, the legislature Last session the governor used his was again brought into the budget included a lump sum of $43.5 million line-item veto and unallotment balancing act. The global deal to for “transitways” without specifying authority to cut approximately $2.7 balance the budget (Chapter 1) that how those funds would be distributed billion in general fund appropriations passed during a one-day special among a number of qualifying after the legislature adjourned. session called on May 17, included projects ( Bottineau Blvd, Central Metropolitan Area transit was hit additional cuts to the transit general Corridor LRT, Red Rock corridor, with a $1.5 million cut as part of the fund appropriation — both one-time Riverview Corridor, Robert Street unallotments. When the Minnesota cuts and ongoing cuts to the base corridor, Rush Line and Southwest Supreme Court ruled that Pawlenty appropriation. LRT). The governor decided to veto overstepped his authority in his the $43.5 million line item. Not use of unallotment, the legislature Thanks to the dedication of MVST only is this a setback for transit, it suddenly had to deal with another and the work done to increase is particular disappointing at a time $2.7 billion shortfall on top of the support for transit, the overall when the constructions cost are low previously projected $994 million state funding will continue to and the interest rates are down. We shortfall at the start of the 2010 increase as long as the projections will work on the project again next Session. for MVST revenue stay on track. year. The Metropolitan Council still has The one transit-related item that survived authority granted last session to shift For Greater Minnesota Transit, the funds from its Livable Communities the governor’s veto pen was a $1 million legislature included $2.5 million Fund to transit operations. Staff from in bonds for transit facilities. The appropriation for an extension of the the Council have indicated that there governor had not recommended any Northstar Commuter Rail line to St. Cloud. will not be a reduction in current funding in this area and he used his service or a fare increase other than line-item veto authority to delete that what has been planned. appropriation. This was far below the For transit, there are two budget request for Greater Minnesota and bills impacting transit budgets. The Bonding For Transit we will work this again next year as first bill, passed in April, reduced The good news is that the tax well. the general fund appropriation bill included authority for the for Greater Minnesota transit and Metropolitan Council to issue $34.6 The one transit-related item that Metropolitan Area Transit but took million in debt obligations financed survived the governor’s veto pen the projected increase in motor with the regional levy to fund its was a $1 million appropriation for an vehicle sales tax revenue into transit capital improvement plan.
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