STAFF REPORT SUBJECT: Transit Needs Assessment MEETING DATE: January 11, 2012 AGENDA ITEM: 6 RECOMMENDATION: Receive presentation by transit operators on input from COLT and SMAT public workshops. STAFF CONTACT: Aubrey Spilde DISCUSSION: Two components of the 2012 Transit Needs Assessment public outreach strategy include the following: Public workshops to discuss schedules, routes and desired changes to public transit services in the City of Lompoc and the City of Santa Maria, with representatives from the County of Santa Barbara in attendance Public hearing in North County Transit Agency Public Workshops City of Lompoc Transit (COLT) held a public workshop at 6:00 PM on Thursday, October 20, 2011, in the City Council Chambers at Lompoc City Hall. A memorandum summarizing the input received at the COLT workshop is attached to this staff report (see Attachment 1). Santa Maria Area Transit (SMAT) held a public workshop at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, November 16, 2011, in Shepard Hall at the Santa Maria Library. SBCAG staff recommends that Lompoc, Santa Maria, and County staff present the input received at the workshops to SBCTAC today. SBCAG Public Hearing The SBCAG Board scheduled the Unmet Transit Needs public hearing for January 19, 2012. The flyer is attached (see Attachment 2). SBCAG staff would like to remind committee members to distribute the flyer widely, particularly in Lompoc and unincorporated North Santa Barbara County. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 1: Memorandum—Lompoc Annual Transit Unmet Needs Workshop Attachment 2: 2012 Transit Needs Assessment flyer Memorandum To: Peter Imhof, Deputy Director, Planning, SBCAG CC: Larry Bean, P.E., Public Works Director Kevin McCune, P.E., Assistant Public Works Director From: Richard Fernbaugh, Aviation/Transportation Administrator Date: October 21, 2011 Re: Annual Transit Unmet Needs Workshop The Annual Lompoc Community Transit Unmet Needs Workshop was held at 6:00pm on October 20, 2011 in the City Council Chambers at Lompoc City Hall, 100 Civic Center Plaza, Lompoc, CA. This workshop is part of the yearly Transit Unmet Needs process spearheaded by Santa Barbara County Association of Governments and held in various areas of Santa Barbara County to determine if there are any unmet transit needs that are not being met. Public notices of this workshop, in English and Spanish were placed in the Lompoc record from October 14, 2010 through October 20, 2010. Public Service announcements were also sent to TV Stations KSBY, KCOY, KPMR, KTAS and radio station KRQK. Posters in both English and Spanish were posted in each bus and at each bus shelter from October 10 thru October 20, 2011. Notices were individually mailed to the Coalition for Sustainable Transportation, Santa Barbara County Action Network, PUEBLO, The Fund for Santa Barbara, California Rural Legal Assistance, and the Law Office of Marc Chytilo. Those in attendance were: Councilmember Dirk Starbuck Richard Fernbaugh, Aviation & Transportation Adm. Matt Dobberteen, Santa Barbara County Peter Anderson, City Resident Debra Moegelin, City Resident Antoinette Munoz, City Resident Richard Fernbaugh opened the meeting by talking about services the City of Lompoc Transit (COLT) provides. In addition Richard provided brochures for the bus routes for COLT, The Wine Country Express, Clean Air Express and the Breeze. Richard also gave a brief update on the all services. Richard then opened the meeting for questions from those in attendance. Comment #1 –Residents Anderson and Moegelin commented on the buses being late. Richard explained that COLT was doing a complete revamp of the route schedules and also some route changes and this should be implemented by the first of the year. Comment #2 – Resident Anderson suggested that each bus stop be numbered for reference at both the stop and in the brochure for easier identification by the riders. Richard indicated he would look into this. Comment #3 – Resident Moegelin suggested that when the new schedules are ready to be implemented that COLT do a mass mailing to the community. Richard said there would be substantial community outreach to inform the public of the new changes. Comment #4 – Resident Anderson asks if Saturday service on the Wine Country Express and the Breeze would be forthcoming. Richard noted that the Wine Country Express and the Breeze were very popular and that Saturday service would be considered if there was enough demand and that request for service should be forwarded to him. Comment #5 – Resident Anderson asks if an extra bus could be added for the VTC users so their use (multiple wheelchairs) would not slow the routes down. Richard explained that we are not allowed by the FTA to provide what would be considered charter service and that the cost of doing this would have a substantial impact on our fare box. Richard also explained that the additional time allotted in the new schedules should allow for the impact of multiple wheelchair boarding’s. Comment #6 - Resident Anderson asks if an additional bus could be put on line when a route is running late. Richard explained that we do this when we can schedule drivers ahead of time, such as the first run for school kids in the morning otherwise we would have to have a driver always on standby which would have a negative effect our efficiently. Comment#7 – Resident Moegelin commented that routes are late sometimes because drivers are late coming back from lunch. Richard noted that he would check with the contractor to make sure this is not happening. The meeting ended at 7:30 pm. How can the bus better serve your needs? The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments will be holding a public hearing to learn about the transit needs of the residents of the North County. Please plan to attend and present your comments or concerns about transit service in the North County. When: Thursday, January 19, 2012 @ 10:00 AM Where: Board of Supervisors Hearing Room 511 East Lakeside Parkway Santa Maria, California It’s Easy! Simply come to the public hearing on January 19, 2012 by 10:00 AM. Fill out a comment card located on the table in the back of the Supervisors Hearing Room. Staff will forward your card to the Chair, who will call your name for you to come to the podium and express your views. You may also send your comments in writing by January 27, 2012 to: Santa Barbara County Association of Governments 260 N. San Antonio Rd., Suite B Santa Barbara, CA 93110 -or by email to- [email protected] ¿Como puede servirle mejor el autobús? El Santa Barbara County Association of Governments tendrá una audiencia publica para aprender cuales son las necesidades de transito que los residentes del norte del condado tienen. Por favor asista y presente sus comentarios o preocupaciones acerca del servicio de transito en norte del condado. Cuando: Jueves, 19 de Enero del 2012 @ 10:00 AM Donde: Salón Board of Supervisors Hearing Room 511 East Lakeside Parkway Santa Maria, California ¡Es Fácil! Simplemente llegue a la audiencia pública a las 10:00 am el 19 de Enero del 2012. Llene la tarjeta de comentarios que esta en la mesa atrás del salón. El personal entregara su tarjeta a el Encargado, quien llamara su nombre para que vaya al podio y exprese su punto de vista. También puede mandar sus comentarios por escrito antes del 27 de Enero 2012 a: Santa Barbara County Association of Governments 260 N. San Antonio Rd., Suite B Santa Barbara, CA 93110 -o por correo electronico a- [email protected] .