Wasco County Public Transportation Advisory Committee The Dalles Transit Center, 802 Chenowith Loop Road, The Dalles Via Remote Access (Access information attached to agenda) Thursday, December 3, 2020 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. TOPIC TIME ITEM Introductions Minutes 5 minutes Approval Review and Recommend Approval of Wasco 15 Minutes Approval County Coordinated Human Services Public Transportation Plan to BOCC Review STIF Formula 45 Minutes Review • Oregon Public Transportation Goals • Project list (DRAFT) • Selection Criteria • Defining High Percentage of Low-Income Adjourn The meeting location is accessible to persons with disabilities. If you have a disability that requires any special materials, services or assistance, please contact MCEDD at 541-296- 2266 (TTY 711) at least 48 hours before the meeting. MCEDD is an equal opportunity lender, employer and provider. WASCO COUNTY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020 ZOOM TELECONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Jim Holycross, Louise Sargent, Charlotte Sallee, Kris Boler, Lee Bryant STAFF: Brad Houghton (Deputy Director), Kathy Fitzpatrick (Mobility Manager), Lauren Hernandez (Office Administrator) GUESTS: Theresa Conley (ODOT), Krista Purser (Kittelson & Associates) CALL TO ORDER/INTRODUCTIONS Brad Houghton called the meeting to order at 10:07 a.m. A quorum was present. A roundtable of introductions took place. MINUTES Louise Sargent motioned to approve the minutes of August 2020 as presented. Kris Boler seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. KITTELSON CONSULTANTS Krista Purser reviewed steps for the Transportation Development Plan. She noted Angelo Planning Group will be consulted on land use items. Krista explained project goals include considering fixed-route, demand-response, and intercommunity services; considering capital investments and infrastructure; and providing a coordinated vision for transit service. The TDP will include a vision of what transit service in Wasco County can become, with implementation and strategies; transit goals, policies, and practices, prioritized transit service needs, and more. This vision will be guided by public feedback and the advisory committee. Discussion: Jim Holycross asked if the advisory committee has already been formed. Krista replied the committee will be formed after contracting is complete. She explained step one includes creation of the advisory committee, and step four will look at the cost and includes check-ins with the public. Krista stated there will be two formal check-ins with the PTAC, including one at the beginning and one at the end of the project. There will be smaller updates between. WASCO COUNTY COORDINATED PLAN Kathy Fitzpatrick reported the Wasco County Coordinated Plan is almost complete. She noted she is checking in again with the PTAC, especially regarding the priorities moving forward. The intention of the plan was making deeper connections with stakeholders, but because of the pandemic, group meetings were changed to one-on-one interviews. Kathy noted there is much opportunity for more coordination between the LINK and stakeholders. She recommended the PTAC review the stakeholder list and interview/meeting list to see the connections made, pointing out that many of those connections were not just superficial. Kathy highlighted the Transpiration Needs and Barriers section of the plan. She pointed out the Link is looking into a program that will allow for real-time information about the arrival time for a bus. This will help alleviate stress riders experience from not knowing exactly when the bus Page 1 of 4 will arrive. Kathy noted that in discussions with health care providers, there is a need for door- through-door service. This will require a regional solution, as there are specifications in Oregon on providing this kind of service that the Link must follow. Long term, the Link may be able to work with other partners to address this barrier. Discussion: Louise Sargent asked if staff has reached out to AAA or Oregon Project Independence to provide escort service. Kris Boler stated OPI has rules and policies that get in the way of this service in addition to the restriction of staffing time. Kathy stated the conversation is an institutional conversation, as there are restrictions in Oregon but not in Washington. She noted Circles of Care may be a good program to coordinate with. Kathy stated one barrier is the gap between riders who qualify for transportation benefits and those who do not qualify through Medicare. Many of those riders do not have the means to afford the bus fare. Kathy explained some populations need a targeted needs assessment, as each community has specific barriers they have expressed that keep them from utilizing the bus. Some of these can be addressed by the Link, but much of these issues rely on trust and partnership building. Kathy noted there are also general public concerns about COVID-19, so the Link can market and coach people about how to be safe on the bus. Kathy reviewed Strategies to Address Needs, Barriers, and Gaps in the plan. She noted that after conversations with staff, there have been changes to reflect changing conditions. Kathy explained that so many high-priority strategies were identified that there were too many for the Link to focus on in a three-year period. Projects have been prioritized into categories of 1 (high priority), 2 (medium priority), or 3 (low priority). Kathy summarized projects originally categorized as high that have been lowered to a level 2 or a level 3, noting that most of them are already being worked on, but also that it is important for the PTAC to communicate with staff about if the rankings seem appropriate. Discussion: Kris Boler noted DEI training has been lowered to a level 2. She asked if this is because there is already work being done on this or out of necessity, as it is important. Brad Houghton replied it was moved down out of necessity. Louise Sargent asked if Warm Springs should be included in the priorities. Kathy replied Warm Springs is in Jefferson County, and that the Native population in Wasco County is concentrated in the Columbia River Gorge at in lieu sites and Celilo Village. Theresa Conley stated Cascade East Transit contracts with Warm Springs to provide service. She asked if there is another gap in transportation staff needed to be aware of. Kathy stated this has not been expressed to her by the Native population in Wasco County, but a needs assessment could determine the true need. Theresa stated the Wasco County TDP can assess this need, and Kittelson & Associates can incorporate this into their tasks. Kathy stated it is important to be culturally appropriate and sensitive in outreach, and assessments should be done by community-based organizations that do that kind of work and not a consultant team from outside of the area. STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT FUND Brad Houghton reported the next STIF Plan is anticipated to be due in February 2021 for the period of July 2021 through June 2023. Brad presented the timeline, noting the deadline to submit the application is February 1, 2021. Brad asked the PTAC to approve the timeline and to discuss possible projects, noting staff hopes to submit projects to the PTAC in November. Page 2 of 4 Discussion: Jim Holycross asked if staff has considered purchasing electric buses. Brad replied that MCEDD staff is looking for grant opportunities for this, as it is cost prohibitive. Staff is also looking at getting the Transit Center to be energy neutral or energy positive. Theresa Conley noted other transit agencies are researching energy efficient options, so the LINK may be able to leverage that work in the future. She noted ODOT is working on strategic plan action, and electrification is high priority. QUARTERLY ACTIVITIES AND RIDES REPORT Brad Houghton, Deputy Director, highlighted the following: • MCEDD was approved for $310,000 for continued support of LINK operations. This application supports general public demand response transportation in Wasco County, and matching funds for intercity service. Grant application includes costs for an additional 12/2 passenger bus, and operating costs to include personnel, maintenance, and personal protective equipment. Discussion: Theresa Conley noted the intent of CARES funds is to support transit agencies who have seen cost increases to deal with COVID-19. The funds are to keep transit agencies whole as they continue to operate during the pandemic as well as to backfill lost revenue. • MCEDD continues close collaboration with its Gorge transit partners to include sharing of intercity service between The Dalles and Hood River starting in the summer of 2021. Columbia Area Transit (CAT) has proposed submitting a joint CAT/LINK STIF Discretionary Grant application to support intercity service between the two communities. MCEDD Board approved staff proposal for a joint grant application. MCEDD is also working with CAT to submit a regional marketing grant focused on regional transit messaging, branding, COVID-19 recovery, transit access and mobility management. This will include a request to add an additional full-time equivalent employee to MCEDD for Mobility Management. • The Link started a second route on October 5th and offered free rides for two weeks. Service has been expanded to include a deviated fixed route focused on the east side of The Dalles. Bus stops include: Lone Pine - Seufert Park, Water’s Edge, East 12th Street and Dry Hollow Road, and Port of The Dalles - Klindt Drive. • The Link published and distributed new brochures in English and Spanish, updated its billboards, published public service announcement, and conducted radio spots to promote public transit and the addition of a second route. MCEDD received approval from the City of The Dalles to place twenty-five LINK information signs across the community, and the Public Works Department has completed installation. Brad noted his appreciation to the Public Works Department who covered the labor. • Delivery of the two new buses is delayed, but staff anticipates delivery by the end of the month.