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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-01-14 Transportation Committee OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE PUBLIC WORKS CONFERENCE ROOM—204 65TH ST BUILDING E 9:00 AM TUESDAY, JANUARY 14 2020 TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE FOLLOW UP 1. Approval of December 10th, 2019 Minutes ➢ Council Member Dare made a motion to approve the minutes as presented; motion was seconded by Council Member Paddack. Vote was unanimous with Mayor Meehan absent. 2. Approval of 2020 "Meeting Dates" ➢ Council Member Dare made a motion to approve the 2020 Transportation Committee meeting dates as presented; seconded by Council Member Paddack Vote was unanimous with Mayor Meehan absent. 3. General Update and"Follow Up's": A. Review of Bus Ridership, Revenue and Deployments ➢ "Scheduled"vs "Actual" Deployments Per Shift ➢ Mark informed the Committee that ridership was down to date compared to last year; however New Year's Eve ridership was up approximately 10%. ➢ Council Member DeLuca requested that future information provided to the Committee focus a little more on peak shifts. B. Updated on Recruitment Efforts ➢ Mark stated there are currently 67 bus drivers on payroll; 61 part-time drivers and 6 full-time drivers. To date we have had 2 applicants for bus drivers' positions walk in and have had 12 applications submitted online. ➢ Staff is expecting approximately 44 bus drivers to return from last years' part-time drivers. ➢ Staff will be attending 4 upcoming job fairs in February and March for bus driver recruitment efforts. Will be doing a marketing campaign utilizing newspaper ads, radio spots, and marquees on buses and throughout Town in our recruitment efforts. Will also be working with Donna Abbott and MGH on utilizing budgeted funds for recruitment advertisements on billboards,public access TV, etc. ➢ Staff has currently received 14 applications for Tram Division; however Mark expects a large number of staff from last season will return. ➢ Council Member DeLuca would like to see the recruitment goal for bus drivers closer to 155 drivers. ➢ Council Member DeLuca also requested a comparison of recruitment numbers from prior years be presented at future meetings; as well as the turnover rate. 4. Further Discussion: Traffic Signal Installation Status for 3rd Street/Philadelphia Avenue (Verbal Discussion) ➢ Hal informed the Committee that Secretary of Transportation, Greg Slater and Mayor Meehan had discussed the need for a traffic light at 3rd Street. The Mayor stated the Secretary Slater will be meeting with Hal and the Mayor on this topic in the future when he visits the Town. ➢ Hal informed the Committee that he is already looking into other options; such as employee traffic direction or the Police Department's assistance in traffic direction during the time periods that the Trams will be crossing to and from the Tram facility. 5. Discussion Pertaining to the Requested Loaner Program of(7) Seven Articulating Buses ➢ Hal shared the letter that was written requesting MTA assistance in loaning the Town articulating buses for the season. If they cannot loan us articulating buses the option of provideing the Town with 40 foot buses will also be pursued. ➢ Hal is optimistic the MTA will loan us buses as requested. 6. A Follow-Up Discussion on the Park N Ride "Route" for 2020 ➢ Hal informed the Committee that based on recommendations from the Parking Task Force brought before Council; that staff will be cutting the Park N Ride bus service to the Mall; as this will not have any effect on the funding received from the County for the Park N Ride. ➢ Council Member Paddack asked about back lash from cutting this service. Hal explained that in 2003 when we started the service to the Mall; it was due to our bus drivers complaining about the safety of the pedestrians in that area. However, with the implementation of the Hiker/Biker trail that SHA is currently implementing in the West Ocean City Area this should not be an issue. ➢ Transportation staff will be reaching out to the Mall to inform them of the discontinuation of the service to the Mall; and will be removing any signage/literature that reference the Mall stop. 7. A Follow-Up Discussion of Solar Lighting of Bus Shelters ➢ Hal would like permission to work with the City Manager and the Budget Manager to find funding to do a pilot program on solar lighting in 2 bus shelters; in highly utilized areas. ➢ Hal also informed the Committee that he is also looking into solar options to light some of the Parkeon Kiosks that are in low lit areas. ➢ Staff will analyze shelters for heaviest use areas to install for pilot program. Per Council Member Dare; Hal will also be evaluating bus stops that could possibly be better lit by utilizing utility poles currently in existence without street lights on them near shelters in lieu of the expense of solar panels. 8. Council Member DeLuca asked about the status of the request to the County to extend the "Community of Life Program"to residents in the Corporate limits of the Town. Hal stated that he had not included that topic on this agenda because a letter has not yet been drafted to send to the County making this request. 9. Report of Closed Session to discuss Contractual Matters As permitted under General Provisions Article 3-305(b)(14): Before a contract is awarded or bids are opened,to discuss a matter directly related to a negotiating strategy or the contents of a bid or proposal,if public discussion or disclosure would adversely impact the ability of the public body to participate in the competitive bidding or proposal process. This exception is being evoked to discuss tram and bus advertising request for proposal terms. ➢ Council Member Paddack made a motion to move to Council the recommendation of a 3-year base term with the option of 2 extensions of 1 year each. Council Member DeLuca seconded the motion;the vote was 2—1 with Council Member Dare opposed. Mayor Meehan was absent from the meeting. 10. Adjourn(Next meeting February 11, 2020) TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES OPEN SESSION TUESDAY,JANUARY 14, 2020 Call to Order:The meeting was called to order at 9:00 am by Council Member Tony DeLuca, acting as Committee Chair due to the absence of Committee Chair Mayor Rick Meehan, in the Public Works Administration Conference Room. Present were Council Member Dennis Dare, Council Member Tony DeLuca, Council Member Mark Paddack, Hal Adkins, Mark Rickards, Brian Connor, City Manager Doug Miller, Shawn Soper and Josh Kim. Mayor Rick Meehan absent. 1. Approval of December 10th, 2019 Committee Minutes. Council Member Dare made a motion to approve the minutes as written; motion was seconded by Council Member Paddack. Vote was unanimous with Mayor Meehan absent. 2. Approval of"2020 Meeting Dates". Council Member Dare made a motion to approve the 2020 meetings dates; motion was seconded by Council Member Paddack. Vote was unanimous with Mayor Meehan absent. 3. General Updates and "Follow Llp's": • Review of Bus Ridership, Revenue, and Deployments: Hal asked Mark to review ridership information and revenue information with Committee. o Mark informed the Committee that ridership was a little down to date compared to last year. However, New Year's Eve ridership was up approximately 10% o Council Member DeLuca stated that on the agenda it states per shift and he would like future documentation to focus a little more on peak shifts. o Mark stated that during the winter time peak shifts are morning and night with people coming and going from work; in the summer time the peak shift is late night. • Update on Recruitment Efforts—Mark gave update on recruitment efforts. o Currently we have a total of 67 bus drivers on payroll; 61 Part-Time drivers and 6 Full-Time drivers. o Mark stated that he expects 44 possible returnees from last season. o To date we have had 2 applicants' walk-in and fill out applications and we have had 12 applications submitted online by applicants. o Will be attending multiple job fairs in upcoming months. o Marketing campaign for recruitment will include newspaper ads and articles, radio spots, marquees,the GUIDE. o Working with Donna Abbott/MGH on recruitment efforts utilizing some budgeted funds for billboards, public access TV and recruiting materials. o Boardwalk Tram recruiting; Mark stated that he expected a lot of staff to return; have to date received 14 applications for Tram Division. o Council Member DeLuca asked Mark what the goal was for bus drivers this year. Mark stated that the would like to have 144 drivers; right now just working on incremental steps get to 100;work toward 120. Council Member DeLuca stated that he would like to see the goal more aggressive with a goal of 150 plus drivers. o Council Member DeLuca requested that for the February and March meetings he would like for the Committee to be presented with a comparison of the recruitment numbers from the prior year as well as the turnover rate. 4. Further Discussion: Traffic Signal Installation Status for 3rd Street/Philadelphia Avenue—Hal wanted to let the Committee know that via text Mayor Meehan informed him that he has spoken with Secretary of Transportation, Greg Slater regarding the traffic signal and that the Mr. Slater intended to meet with Hal and the Mayor to discuss the 3rd Street light when he visits the Town. • Hal also informed the Committee that since he is not certain that this light will come to be before the season starts that he is preparing other options for the Trams to cross to and from the Boardwalk at 3rd and Philadelphia; such as employees directing traffic while Trams are crossing the area; as well as possible assistance from the Police Department with traffic direction as needed. 5. Further Discussion Pertaining to Requested Loaner Program of(7) Seven Articulating Buses—Hal shared with the Committee the letter that was sent to Secretary of Transportation Greg Slater requesting MTA's assistance in loaning buses. • Hal stated that we are still optimistic that MTA will loan us the buses again although they have some concerns of their needs should they have a need for these buses due to issues. Hal stated that we would make an agreement with them that we would return the buses to them if they have a need. • The other option we can pursue is having MTA loan us 40 foot buses for our use. 6. A Follow-Up Discussion on the Park N Ride "Route"for 2020—Hal stated that he was just trying to get some clarification on recent decisions by the Mayor and City Council through recommendations from the Parking Task Force regarding service to the Mall from Park N Ride route. From his understanding if the Town stops the service to the Mall it will not have any effect on the funding the County give us for Park N Ride services. • At the present point it is Staff's understanding that we will be cutting out the Park N Ride stop to the Mall for the 2020 season. If this is a misunderstanding someone needs to clarify; otherwise Staff will be working to communicating this decision to the Mall and will be taking down any signage that shows the bus having the Mall as a stop. • Council Member Paddack asked about the backlash that we will receive by cutting this stop for out Park N Ride route. Hal stated that when the decision was made to include the Mall as a stop; it was brought about by bus drivers and their concern for the safety of the J1 students crossing in this area. Hal stated with the Hiker/Biker trail that State Highway Administration is currently implementing in the West Ocean City Area; it will be safer with the crosswalks and designated areas for pedestrians. 7. Follow-Up Discussion of Solar Lighting of Bus Shelters—Hal provided the Committee with price quotes for Solar Lighting from our Bus Shelter provider; Columbia Equipment. • Hal would like to work with the City Manager and the Budget Manager to find funding for a pilot program to install solar lighting in 1 or 2 of the shelters. Council Member DeLuca asked about the feasibility of one of the shelters in the Pilot program being the Gateway Grand shelter at 48th Street. Hal stated that due to the shell built around the original shelter the products provided by Columbia Equipment would not work for this shelter. However, he stated that we are working on finding a product that will work for that Shelter. Hal would like to be able to have pilot program funded and installation completed before Summer season. • Hal also informed the Committee that he is still looking into solar options available to light up the Parkeon stations that are in need of additional lighting. • Council Member Paddack stated that when selecting Bus Shelters to add solar lighting; we need to pick shelters that are in a high usage area and need additional lighting. • Hal said we would look into usage of shelters when selecting shelters for the pilot program. Currently trying to be cautious of amount of funding for pilot program. He believes the intent of the solar lighting is to provide a safer environment for our transit customers. • Council Member Dare stated that he felt that bus stops/shelters should be evaluated before we at solar lighting. Some of the shelters could be better lit and give a safer feeling to users just by adding street lights on utility poles near shelters that do not currently have street lights installed. Hal stated that he would evaluate our shelters and see if additional street lights could be utilized to better light shelters in lieu of the expense of installing a solar package. 8. Other Topics—Council Member DeLuca stated asked about the status of the request to the County regarding including Ocean City corporate limits in the "Community of Life Program" currently offered to County residents. Hal stated that a letter needs to be drafted and sent making this request and to date this has not been done. 9. Report of Closed Session: Council Member DeLuca requested to convene into closed session as permitted under General Provisions Article 3-305(b) (14): Before a contract is awarded or bids are opened,to discuss a matter directly related to a negotiating strategy or the contents of a bid or proposal, if public discussion or disclosure would adversely impact the ability of the public body to participate in the competitive bidding or proposal process.This exception was evoked to discuss tram and bus advertising request for proposal terms. Motion to convene into Closed Session at 9:35 a.m. made by Council Member Dare; seconded by Council Member Paddack.The vote was unanimous with Mayor Meehan absent. Persons present: Public Works Director Hal Adkins,Transit Manager Mark Rickards, Council Member Dennis Dare, Council Member Tony DeLuca, City Manager Doug Miller,Transit Administrative Manager Brian Connor. Absent from closed session was Mayor Rick Meehan. Council Member Paddack made a motion to move to Council the recommendation of a 3-year base term with the option of 2 extensions of 1 year. Council Member DeLuca seconded the motion; the vote was 2—1 with Council Member Dare opposed. Mayor Meehan was absent from the meeting. Motion to adjourn Closed Session at 9:56 a.m. was made by Council Member Paddack; seconded by Council Member Dare; Mayor Meehan was absent; vote was unanimous. The next Transportation Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 11, 2020 in the Public Works Administration Conference Room at 9 a.m.