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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980 Transit-1 - Transit Report Jack Dougherty, Asst. to the Superintendent of Public Works, commented on the Transit Report which hadbeen handed out to the Board at the start of the meeting. He stated that riders were just a little bit under thirty percent for the year and so far the raise in fare has not had any great impact on the number of people riding the bus. Discussion followed concerning amount of subsidy contributed by City, Town of Ithaca, Tompkins County, Village. of Cayuga Heights, Village of Lansing and Cornell. University. Joe Spano, Assistant Controller and Jack Dougherty explained the process and answered questions asked by some of the Commissioners. Ii3Iyo Report of Operation of Transit' System By. Comm. Cleveland: Seconded by Coimn. Walker, II� O �l , RESOLVED, That the report of operation of the Transit System for the first quarter of 1980 be received and placed on file. Carried Unanimously Ithaca Transit System Report By Comm. Cleveland: Seconded by Comm. Brown RESOLVED, That the Ithaca Transit System Report for the period January to June 1980 be accepted by the Board. Discussion followed on the floor. A40 A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously Ithaca Transit System Report By Comm. Cleveland: Seconded by Comm. Walker /°/f`P RESOLVED, That the Ithaca Transit System Report for -the period July through September 1980 be accepted by the Board. Carried Unanimously us' Reso uon. -' 12' ,0 0 � By Comm. Maclnnes.: Seconded by Comm. Walker .WHEREAS, The Ithaca Transit System must use an over age and G unreliable bus as backup for its bus fleet, and. WHEREAS,all of the reliable bus fleet owned by the Transit Division is required to meet the daily service requirements of the system, and WHEREAS, there areonly two bus companies manufacturing buses meeting the requirements of the system, and ;WHEREAS, only one of these bus companies is able to deliver a bus during 1980; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,'That this Board of Public Works declares that an emergency exists requiring the suspension of normal bidding processes, and authorizes the department to negotiate the I purchase of one.35-passenger bus costing approximately $125,000, to the extent that such funds are made available by the Common Council. Discussion followed on the floor. ,_A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Ayes (4) - Schickel, Maclnnes, Brown, Walker Nay (1) - Ditzell Carried Authorization to Release Funds to Use Towards Purchase of Bus Assistant to the Supt. of Public Works, Jack Dougherty, stated that the State has a funding program whereby money actually comes from the Federal government, is given to the State to be distributed, and the States distribute it on a County -wide basis. Under this program Tompkins County has been alloted, for this fiscal year, $21.,500 for mass transit. .The City of Ithaca is the only municipality at the moment who can make any use of the funds and Asst. to the Supt. Dougherty proposes that the. City apply to the County for these funds to use towards the purchase of a bus, adding the balance out of City funds. Dougherty requested that he, Mr. Dingman or the Mayor be authorized to write a letter to the County requesting that these funds be released to the City of Ithacafor this purpose. Resolution By Comm. Schickel: Seconded by Comm. Ditzell.. RESOLVED, That authorization be. given to Jack Dougherty, Assistant to the Supt. of Public Works; Robert 0. Dingman, Superintendent of Public Works or Mayor Raymond Bordoni, to write to the County of. Tompkins requesting that the funds alloted to the County by the State of New York for mass transit for the fiscal year 1980, in the` sum of $21,500, be distributed to the City of Ithaca for its use towards the purchase of a new bus. Carried Unanimously Supt. of Public Works Bus Purchase Status Supt. Dingman commented that .based on a verbal polling of the Common Council prior to the March Sth Council meeting, requesting funds, the department placed an order for 'a.transit bus.. At the regular meeting of the Council, the request was referred back to the Board of Public ;`.Works forexploration of whether a school -bus type vehicle at much less cost might .be substituted for the transit bus. He recommended at this time that the Board confirm: its action to purchasea:full transit bus.. Resolution By Comm. Walker: Seconded by Comm. Brown RESOLVED, That this Board confirms its recommendation to authorize staff' to purchase a full transit bus. Comm. Schickel reported researching into buses and their cost. He gave comparisons of figures obtained from the Ithaca School District, Cornell University and the City. Comm. Walker responded emphasizing the differences in type of use, hours.', of use and geography of the region. A vote wastaken on the resolution which resulted as Ayes (2) r Walker, Brown Nays C2)' _ Schickel, Ditzell Mayor Bordoni voted Aye, thus breaking the tie. Carried follows: -3 - Frank Moon, 507 Turner Place addressed the Board, on behalf of the Youth Bureau Board, in respect to the bus transportation to Cass Park. "The Youth Bureau Board, at its last regular meeting, February 25, 1980, expressed concern over the lack of public transportation to and from Cass Park. This problem is more acute now, since the Youth Bureau will not be providing buses to the park during the summer swim season. There is a very strong possibility that the Cass Park facilities (pool and rink) will decrease in use and/or will be used by only those who can afford to drive or be driven to the park. In view of the fact .that .we need to conserve energy, as well as promote the use of the park's facilities, the Youth Bureau Board passed the following resolution:" By Frank. Moon: Seconded by Bryna Fireside 1ig° RESOLVED, That the Youth Bureau Board recommend to the Board of Public Works that they consider reinstatement of bus service to Cass Park. Carried Unanimously Resolution By Comm. Schickel: Seconded by Comm. Walker RESOLVED, That the resolution passed by the Youth Bureau Advisory Board concerning transportation to Cass Park be referred to the Parking, Traffic and Transit Committee. Carried Unanimously Comm. Cleveland reported that•the Youth Bureau indicated that their budget would not permit them to buy bus service -to bring children from various locations within the city to the Cass Park swimming pool. They also indicated that because of gasoline price. and availability, •it was unlikely that people -would drive to Cass Park. They ask that the City Transit. System consider altering its present runs.so that a 'city transit bus could make at least two trips to serve people wishing to use the pool. At.a committee meeting attended by the Transit Committee, the Youth • Bureau and Department of Public Works staff, it was determined that if a need for public. transit to the pool exists, it cannot be met by the Transit System (see memo from Supervisor Carpenter dated April 7). I.f the need exists, it appears• that it can best be met as it has in previous years by special buses operated by the Youth Bureau, Resolution B .Comm. Cleveland: Seconded by Comm y Walker RESOLVED, That the request of the Youth Bureau for the extension of Ithaca City Transit bus service to Cass Park, be denied, •Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: • Carried Unanimously • • -4- Report on Ithaca Transit Plan 4)40 Herman Sieverding, Planner, reported that the plans for accessibility for the handicapped to city buses must be submitted by July 1980 if the Transit System is to continue receiving federal funds. Additional time may be granted in submitting this plan. • • -5- Northeast Transit Operation By Comm. Cleveland: Seconded by Comm. Walker RESOLVED, That the Common Council be requested to provide $3,700 in the 1980. budget for the continued participation in the Northeast Transit operation. IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Transit Supervisor be authorized to pro=: vide administrative services to the Northeast Transit operation, and that the services be considered as an additional $2,000 contribution by the city to the operation. Discussion followed on the floor. y0 A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously Contract Northeast Transit--Swartout and Ferris By Comm. Cleveland: Seconded by Comm. Walker RESOLVED, That an agreement between the Swarthout and Ferris Bus Service and the City of Ithaca which provides for the operation by Swarthout and Ferris of a commuter bus service between downtown Ithaca and the South Lansing -Triphammer. and Village Apartments -Sapsucker -Ithaca areas via the Cornell University campus for the period September 1, 1980 through May 31, 1981, be approved for signature by the Mayor. IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED, That an agreement between. the City of Ithaca, Cornell University, the Town of Ithaca, the Village of Lansing, Tompkins County, and the Village of Cayuga Heights, all as subsidizers of the Northeast Transit program, which agreement provides for administration by the City on two regular commuter bus service routes on behalf of the subsidizers, serving the downtown Ithaca areas and the South Lansing - Triphammer and Village Apartments -Sapsucker -Ithaca areas via the Cornell University campus for the period September 1, 1980 through May 31, 1981, beapproved for signature by the Mayor. l Discussion followed on the floor. �/ 7 �� A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Carried Unanimously -6 - Ithaca -Tompkins County Transportation Commission Resolution 6 // By Comm. Cleveland: Seconded by Comm. Walker /5-//v RESOLVED, that a letter from James A. Mason on behalf of the Ithaca - Tompkins County Transportation Commission which has been referred to the Board of Public Works and the Planning Board by the Common Council and which proposes a. resolution which will authorize the Commission to make application for State and Federal funding for a two or three year rural/suburban transportation demonstration program, be referred to the Parking, Traffic and Transit Committee. Carried Unanimously Frank Liguori, Tompkins. County Planning Commissioner, addressed the Board, reporting that the Ithaca -Tompkins County Transportation Commission has this past year been concentrating on a program to try to extend some of the concepts of transportation into the rural areas, primarily for commuter's transportation,. to get people into work as an alternative to the automobile carrying one person. The plan would include ride sharing, park and ride lots, van leasing, van pooling, work with school administra- tor on use of school buses. :5/40 Mr. Liguori commented that he had been trying to get the whole program together to move the program ahead, and that he must file application: for funding by the 16th of June. He asked endorsement of the program by the Board of Public Works. Discussion followed on the floor. Supt. Dingman commented that he is a :bit disturbed that a study commission becomeSAnvolved in operation -of a program. Resolution By Comm. Cleveland: Seconded by. Comm. Schick.el RESOLVED, That the Common Council be informed that theBoard of Public Works supports the proposed application of the Ithaca/Tompkins County Transportation Committee for funding for a rural/suburban transportation demonstration grant. Carried Unanimously Section 18 Operating Assistance Grant Agreement By Comm. Varricchio: Seconded by Comm. Walker ,WHEREAS, the City's application for Section 18 transportation operating assistance .has been approved by the Federal Highway Administration, and � Vte) 'WHEREAS,Common Council authorization is required to execute the grant agreement; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works recommends that the Common Council authorize the Mayor to execute the Section 18 Operating Assistance Grant Agreement. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: . Carried Unanimously Letters from Paul E. Gibbons Mayor Bordoni called attention to two letters from Paul Gibbons, Director of Meadow House: one dated July 8, 1980,addressed to Bernard Carpenter, the other dated July 17, 1980, addressed to him- self and indicating there had been response from Mr. Carpenter. The letters were in reference to discounting rates for clients at Meadow House. Mr. Carpenter suggested that Mr. Gibbons address his concern to the Board of Public Works first, and subsequently to the Common Council. Mayor Bordoni turned the letters over to the Parking„)/5010 Traffic and Transit Committee. /, R duced- Rate- Clients of Meadow House By Comm. Cleveland: Seconded by Comm. Schickel 7/300' RESOLVED, That the request from Paul E. Gibbons, Director of Meadow House, for a reduced rate for clients of Meadow House, be referred to the Parking, Traffic and Transit Committee. Carried Unanimously Reduced Rates on the Bus System Comm. Cleveland reported that Mr. Gibbons of Meadow House has written to the Mayor and Transit Supervisor Carpenter suggesting that the Meadow House clients be considered for reduced rates on the bus system.. He pointed out that the system already discounts rates for students and senior citizens because of limited or fixed incomes of qualifying people and asked that the same consideration be given to clients at Meadow House who are also on limited or fixed incomes. Mr. Carpenter replied indicatingtht the responsibility of the- department.. with_respect..to the operation of the bus system did not include reducing.rates for. special groups or classes ofcitizens, and that such consideration, if given, should come from the Common Council. Resolution dr:* By Comm. Cleveland: Seconded by Comm. Brown RESOLVED, That the request from Mr, Gibbons for reduced bus rates for Meadow House clients, be referred to the Common Council and Mr. Gibbons be informed of this action. Discussion followed on the floor. A vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Ayes (3) - Verricchio,. Ditzell, Cleveland Nays (2) Brown, Walker Carried • Report of Bus Transit operations 1 BPW Resolution authorizing DPW to negotiate purchase one 35 -passenger bus 2 and Mown to write Tomp. Co. requesting release of funds for this purpose Youth Bureau Board -Request BPW to consider reinstatement of bus service to Cass Park 3 Report re plans for accessibility of handicapped to city buses 4 Northeast Transit Operations -Funds authorized for continued participation and administrative services- Contract agreements approved Rural/Suburban Transportation Demonstration Program -re application for State and Federal funding (Letter James A. Mason)Ithaca-Tomp.Co.Transp.Commission 6 5 Paul Gibbons, Dir.Meadow House -Request for reduced rates for Meadow House clients 7 •