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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-04-21 Transportation Committee Meeting 4.C.a OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE Public Works Conference Room - 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 21, 2015 AGENDA 1.Update on Bus Driver Recruitment 2.Update on Pay by Phone Parking 3.Update on Tram Advertising 4. Double Decker Bus Discussion Rick Manager feedback OCPD feedback FTA/MTA Funding Stance Comparative Analysis o Costs o Seating o Maintenance Facility Limitations o 5.Update on the letter/request to the MTA from the buses and (2) two artic buses. 6.Discussion on West Ocean City Park N Ride Bus Deployments 7.Discussion on Bike Route 8.Adjuourn Packet Pg. 15 TRANSPORTATIONCOMMITTEE MEETINGMINUTES APRIL21,2015 1.CalltoOrder:Themeetingwascalledtoorderat9:00aminthePublicWorksAdministration ConferenceRoom.PresentwereCouncilmemberMaryKnight,CityManagerDavidRecor, CouncilmemberDennisDare,CouncilmemberTonyDeLuca,MayorRickMeehan,HalAdkinsby phone,JimParsons,TomDy,KevinKirstein,SteveBartlett,RonEckman,EricLagstrom,SusanMaex ofDirectMediaviaphone,ZackHoopesandJoanneShriner 2.UpdateonDriverRecruitment:SteveBartlettgaveanoverviewofthedriverrecruitmenteffortto date. Currentlywehave179potentialdriverswhohavecompleted/passedtraining Wehave16driversforwhichwearewaitingtocompletetrainingandobtain credentials. HalrequestedthatSteveexplainwhatanapplicationofinterestis;thisisaformthatis beingfilledoutbypotentialcandidatesatthejobfairs.TheTransportationDepartment isthenfollowingupwiththecandidatestoseeiftheystillhaveinterest;iftheydostill haveinterestacompleteapplicationpacketismailedtothepotentialcandidates. AtthejobfairsperJimParsons,122applicationsofinteresthavebeenhandedout;of these122applications58candidateshavebeencontactedandarestillinterestedin applyingandhavebeenmailedacompleteapplicationpacket.Ofthose122candidates whofilledoutapplicationsofinterest62ofthemwehavenotbeenabletoreachto followupontheirintentorarenolongerinterestedinaposition.Two(2)ofthosewho filledoutapplicationsofinterest;havenowcompletedthefullapplicationpacketand arereadytobeprocessed. CouncilmemberDeLucacommentedthatin2weekswehavehadanincreaseof7 people;andaskedifwearestillacceptingapplicationsΑSteveBartlettrepliedthatwe arestillacceptingapplications. CouncilmemberDeLucaalsoaskedifloweringtheagehelpedtheTownobtainanymore applicants.SteveBartlettstatedthatisdidhelpalittleandthatwehavequiteamixof ageintheapplicantsthathaveappliedtobebusdrivers. CouncilmemberKnightaskediftheTownwouldberefundedthefeefortheUniversity ofMarylandEasternShorejobfairsinceitwascancelledduetosnow.The TransportationDepartmentreceivednotificationfromUniversityofMarylandEastern Shorethatthefeetoattendthejobfairwouldnotberefunded;butwouldbeusedas thefeefornextǤĻğƩ͸ƭjobfair. MayorMeehanaskedwhenwewouldseetheeffectsinthebusserviceduetothe recruitmentefforts.SteveBartlettansweredthatwearecurrentlygivingnewdrivers someseattimenow;andthatyoushouldseeresultsSpringfestweekendwithan increasednumberofdeployments. CouncilmemberKnightaskedifJessicaWatershasbeencontactedinreferencetopress releaseonincreasedbusservice.JimParsonsrespondedthathehascommunicated withJessicaandwillbehavingameetingwithherinthenextcoupleofweekstoplana pressrelease. 3.UpdateonPaybyPhoneParking:TomDystatedthataconferencecallisscheduledforWednesday, nd April22withParkMobilewhofromtheRFPappearstobethebestvaluevendor. TomDystatedthatthehopeistohavethePaybyPhoneParkingupandoperatingby MemorialDayweekend.TomwillalsoworkwithJessicaonputtingapressrelease togetheraboutthenewparkingapplication.MayorMeehansuggestthatyoustart outreachnownotifyingthepublicofthepaybyphoneparkingoption;donotwaituntil applicationisupandfunctional. CouncilmembersDeLuca,KnightandDarewereallabletodownloadtheParkMobile applicationontheirsmartphoneswhileinthemeetinginlessthanaminute. 4.UpdateonTramAdvertising:SusanMaex,DirectMediaviaphonestatedthatshehaddone additionaloutreachsincethelastmeeting. DonnaAbbottonbehalfofOceanCityTourismsentoutanemailto335business ownersinformingthemoftheTramadvertisingavailabilityandpricingforDirectMedia. OCDCsent125emailsfromtheirorganizationscontactlist. SusanMaex,DirectMediasentoutemailto500contactsfromhercontactlistonthe availableTramadvertisingspaces. SusanalsostatedthatshereachedouttobothourZoningDepartmentandthe BoardwalkDevelopmentgroupfortheirassistanceandhasreceivednoresponsefor eitherorganization. SusanalsoinformedtheCommitteethatshehassold1morebackpanelontherear th coachofthe8TramtoGrottoPizza.PerSusanthepriceofthe2sidepanelsthatare availableis$6000andtheavailablerearpanelsare$2400.00 CouncilmemberDeLucawantedanupdateonthefabricationofthetwoadditional assembliesfortwoadditionalTramsΑHalinformedthemthatSelbysignwasworking onfabricationofthetwoadditionalassembliesnowandthattheywouldbeconstructed th andinstalledbyMay15.HalwillupdatethestatusatthenextTransportation Committeemeeting. 5.BusPurchaseRFPDoubleDeckerBusesΑArticBuses:ProsandConsofthetwobustypes. nd EricLagstrom,RiskManagerhasconcernsabouttheridersonthe2floorofthedouble deckerbuses;howdoyoumonitorthem,safetyconcernsregardingridersfallingand nd trippingonthestairstogettothe2floor. Ericalsohasconcernsontheheightofadoubledeckerbusandlowhangingwiresand treelimbsalongtheroute;aswellasoverhangheightsattransitfacilities. EricLagstromdoesnotknowofanymajorissuesthatwehavetodatewhenusingthe articbuses. Articbusesisonefloorandthedrivercanhearandseewhatishappeninginsidethe articbuses. KevinKirsteinstatedthatprostothedoubledeckerbuseswerethenoveltyattractionof themandthefactthattheadditionalspacemayaidinreducingovercrowding. ConsthatwerebroughtupbyKevinKirstein;lackofabilityforthedrivertomonitorthe ndndnd 2levelorabuscoptomonitorthe2levelwithoutbeingonthe2level.Healso broughtupthefactthattherearetwotypeofdoubledeckerbusesthosewithanopen ndndnd 2floorandthosewithanenclosed2floor;hewouldbeagainsttheopen2floor duetoissueswithpeoplejumpingoff,bussurfing,etc. Kevinalsobroughtupthefactthatthedoubledeckerbusescouldpotentiallyrequire nd additionalemployeestomonitorortaketicketsforthe2floorarea. MayorMeehanaskedhowadoubledeckerbuswouldaffectthebuscopsplannedfor nd thissummertoimprovesecurity;Kirsteinrespondedthatthe2floorwoulddefinitely nd makeitmoredifficulttomonitorduetolackofvisibilityonthe2floorandtheneedto nd climbstairstothe2floorshouldanincidenthappenandthecopneedtogetupthere. Halpointedoutthatthefiguresthathehadavailableshowedthatanarticbushasthe capabilityofcarrying120passengersandthedoubledeckerbuscarries83passengers; nd asstandingroomcannotbeallowedonthe2floor. HalalsoinformedtheCommitteethatthebasepriceofanarticbusis$700,000andthe basepriceofadoubledeckerbusis$825,000. RonEckmanstatedhisconcernswiththeheightofthedoubledeckerbuses;fromhis researchtheheightofadoubledeckerbusisЊЌ͵Њ͸toЊЍ͸andthedoorheightstothe shopareЊЌ͵А͸toЊЌ͵В͸andwouldbetightgettingintoshop.Onceintheshoponlifts duetolightingandotherequipmentinceilingofgaragethemaxheightyouwouldbe abletoliftthebuswouldonlybeabout2ч͸whichwouldmakeitdifficulttoworkonin theshop.Healsohadaconcernwithtrainingforthemechanicsontheengineand systemsofadoubledeckerbus. th Ronalsopointedoutthattheywouldmostlikelynotfitunderthecanopyatthe65 streetfueldepot;andthatifhismechanicshadtotowthemtotheshopitwouldbea challengeduetothedimensionsofthedoubledeckerbus. MayorMeehanaskedaboutissuesinpastwhenusingArtics;Ronstatedthattheywillfit intheshopandthatthemechanicshavehadsometrainingonArticssincewehave borrowedtheminthepastfromMDOT. CouncilmemberKnightmotionedtoproceedwithArticbusesintheRFPsecondedby CouncilmemberDeLuca. HalstatedthattheTransportationDepartmentwillnowmoveforwardwithanRFPfor three(3)ЍЉ͸busesusinggrantsfromC—͸ЋЉЊЍandanRFPfortwo(2)articulatingbuses withfundsfromC—͸ЋЉЊЎgrantsandtheremainingbalanceleftoverfromthe2014grant purchaseofthree(3)ЍЉ͸buses. CouncilmemberMaryKnightmotionedtoproceedwiththeRFPforthree(3)ЍЉ͸buses andtwo(2)articulatingbuses.CouncilmemberDeLucasecondedmotion.Thismotion willberecommendedtotheMayorandCityCouncilatthenextcouncilmeeting. 6.Updateonletter/requestforseasonalloanofЍЉ͸busesandtwo(2)articbuses:Theletterswere th mailedtoSecretaryPeteRahnoftheMarylandDepartmentofTransportationonApril15forthis request. 7.DiscussionofWestOceanCityParkNRideDeployments:SteveBartlettinformedcommitteethatin 2009wehadfivedeploymentsattheParkNRideovera22hourperiodoftime.Lastyearwehad4 busesdeployingovera22hourperiodoftime.ThisyearC—͸ЋЉЊЏwearereducingto3bus deploymentsfromParkNRidefortheentiredayscheduledfrom6amto2pm;10amto6pm;and 6pmto2am. StevestatedthatittakesaParkNRidebusapproximately10minutesperroundtrip; dependingontraffic st SteveexplainedthattheParkNRideloopisfromtheSouthEndTransitCenterto1 Street,turnleftonPhiladelphiaAvenue;followoutoverRt.50bridgewestboundtothe WhiteMarlinMallandthentotheTangerOutletstothebusstopbyPacSunandKitchen Collections.ThenthebusproceedsoutthebacksideoftheoutletstoGolfCourseRoad andthenproceedseastboundonRt.50totheParkNRide.Currentlyservicesthemall areauntil10pm. MayorMeehanaskedifitisthesameschedulingduringtheweekdaysastheweekend. Steverespondedthatyesitisthesameschedule;howeverifahighvolumeof passengerswereatParkNRideanditwarrantedanadditionalbushewouldpulloneoff oftheCoastalHighwayroutetoassistwiththehighvolumeofpassengersuntilitwasno longerrequired. MayorMeehanaskedifwewouldincreasedeploymentsfromtheParkNRidefor SpecialEvents:i.e.Springfest,AirShow,etc.Steverespondedthatyesadditional deploymentswouldbeaddedasandifneeded.MayorMeehanaskedifthree(3) deploymentsfortheParkNRidewouldbeenoughandSteveBartlettrespondedthathe feltitwould. MayorMeehanaskedaboutlevelofservicefromParkNRideandSteveBartlettstated that1buswouldberunningallthetimeandattimestherewouldbetwobusesrunning fromParkNRidebasedoncurrentdeploymentschedule. CouncilmemberMaryKnightsuggestedthattheWestOceanCityParkNRideservice androutebeincludedinthepressreleasebeingcreated. CouncilmemberDarewhywegotothemallandnotjusttotheParkNRideandback. SteveBartlettstatedthatShoreTransitonlycomeseveryhourinseason.Mayor MeehanstatedthatthemallroutedoesprovideaservicetoresidentsinOceanCitywho wanttogotothemall.Dennisstatedthathefeltitwouldsavesomemoneyifwedid notgotothemallandcuttheParkNRideserviceto2deployments.Healsostatedthat passengerscouldwalkfromParkNRidetomall;asStateHighwayhasaddednumerous crosswalksinthevicinitytoincreasepedestriansafety. CouncilmemberKnightaskedifwehaveeverapproachedTangerOutletsabouthelping tosubsidizeourcosts;sincethebusservicetothemallisabenefittothem.Mayor MeehanstatedthatwehaveneverdiscussedhelpingtheTownsubsidizethecostswith TangerOutletsortheWhiteMarlinMall. CouncilmemberDareaskedtostudyParkNRiderouteandseeifitcouldbedonewith two(2)busdeployments. MayorMeehanaskedtheTransportationDepartmenttocomeupwiththecost differenceinrunning3busesascomparedto2busesandthenwewillgobacktothe Countyfortheirassistancewithsubsidingthecosts;whichtheyhaverejectedinthe past. SteveBartlettwantedCommitteememberstobeawarethattheParkNRidebusesare ЌЎ͸busesandduetothespecificationsinthegrantthatpurchasedthemcanonlybe usedfortheParkNRideroute.Update:WhenusedontheParkNRideRoutethese busesarecodedtotheParkNRideforgrantreportingpurposesbuttheseven(7)buses canbeusedonanyrouteandarenotrestrictedtoParkNRideservice. MayorMeehanstatedthathewouldlikeTransportationtocomebacktothe Committeewiththeamountofcostsavingsthatwouldberecognizediswereducedthe ParkNRidedeploymentsfrom3to2.Thenhewishedtowriteanotherlettertothe Countyrequestingsubsidiaryfundstooffsetthiscost. 8.DiscussionofBikeRoute:KarenZerabroughtsomemapsthatshowedpossiblebikerouteoptions forthelengthoftheTown. nd CouncilmemberDeLucastatedthatyoucangofrom62StreettotheBoardwalk withoutgettingontoCoastalHighwaywithtwoareasthatareexceptionsandyouhave ththstth togoontoCoastalthosebeing29/30Streetareaand61/60Streetareas.Mayor MeehanstatedthatsomeoftheareastakeninthepathdiscussedbyCouncilmember DeLucaareprivatelyownedandwouldhavetogetwithGuyAyresand/orproperty ownersonthoseprivatelyownedareastomakeroute. KarenZerasaidthatshewouldgobackanddenoteonmapsphysicalobstacles,i.e. fences;andprivateproperty. MayorMeehanaskedwhattheCommitteememberswerelookingatastheirgoalfora bikeroute;CouncilmemberDeLucastatedthegoalwouldbetheabilitytogofrom whereRt.90comesintoCoastalHighwaytotheBoardwalkonabicyclewithouthaving togoontoCoastalHighwayorBaltimoreAvenue. MayorMeehansuggestedKarengobackandupdatemapsandwecontinuethe discussionofthebikerouteatthenextTransportationCommitteemeetingonTuesday, th May12. 9.AdditionalDiscussions:JimParsonsstatedthattheStateHighwayAdministrationhasrequestedto comebacktotheTransportationCommitteeduringtheTransportationCommitteeMaymeetingto revisitthediscussionontheRoadDiet. 10.ItemsforDiscussionatNextTransportationCommitteeMeeting: Updateondriverrecruitmentnumbers UpdateonstatusofͻtğǤbyPhonetğƩƉźƓŭͼimplementation Updateonthefabricationofthetwo(2)additionaladvertisingassembliesforthetwo (2)additionaltrams UpdateonstatusofRFPforpurchaseofthree(3)ЍЉ͸busesandtwo(2)articbuses UpdateonstatusofloanerbusesfromMDOT CostsavingsthatwouldberecognizedifwereducedtheParkNRidedeploymentsfrom three(3)deploymentstotwo(2)deployments Continueddiscussionofproposedbikeroute StateHighwayonRoadDiet 11.Adjourn:CouncilmemberMaryKnightmotionedtoadjournthemeetingat10:20andthemotion wassecondedbyCouncilmemberDeLuca.ThenextTransportationCommitteemeetingisscheduled forMay12,2015@9aminthePublicWorksAdministrationconferenceroom.