HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-04-14 Transporation Committee TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
OPEN SESSION
TUESDAY,April 14, 2020
Call to Order:The meeting was called to order at 9:00 am by Mayor Meehan in the Public Works
Administration Conference Room. Present were Mayor Meehan, Council Member Dennis Dare, Council
Member Tony DeLuca, Council Member Mark Paddack, Hal Adkins, Mark Rickards,Jim Parsons, Steve
Bartlett, and Terry McGean.
Item#1- February 18, 2020 Committee Minutes
- Motion by Council Member Paddack; seconded by Council Member DeLuca to approve the
minutes as written.The vote was unanimous.
Item#2—Service Levels for buses and trams with respect to the summer season and COVID impacts
- We are still running a winter schedule in the bus division. It was agreed that as the Town creates
a re-entry program into a summer season,the Transit Staff will adjust deployments accordingly
to minimize expenses while still providing an adequate level of limited services.This overall
discussion was "general in nature" being no specific re-entry/re-opening strategy has been
announced yet.
- The addition of hand sanitizing dispensers or wipes for riders was suggested.
Item#3—Traffic Signal At 3rd and Philadelphia Ave
- A full signalized intersection will not be provided
- A 'firehouse style" signal with pre-emption button will not be provided
- SHA is intending to modify the signal at 5th and 2nd to accommodate the tram crossing, while 5th
will have an extended Red Cycle while 2nd Street southbound is Green flushing any southbound
traffic that exists between 51h and 2nd,thus minimizing the potential for accidents/incidents for
tram crossing.
- This effort will still require the use of a Tram Staff member as a Flagger to assist in crossing
similar to what has happened for years at Whiteside with trams exiting that lot on "the curve of
Phila Ave".
Item#4—Solar Panel Discussion
- The one solar panel installed on a shelter at 26th Street northbound has resulted in favorable
results
- The panel and brackets are custom built by Columbia Shelters to fit our shelter style (that was
also built for us by Columbia Shelter)
- Policy Members of the Transportation Committee will take time to view the 26th Street site
themselves some evening
- The Committee will discuss the potential for additional installations at a future meeting
Item#5—Discussion Pertaining to the overall Fleet size
- The intent of this discussion was simply to assure that the Committee was aware of the "aging
of the fleet",the lack of new replacements forthcoming from the MTA, the status of the VW
Grant for One Artic Bus (we are still in the running for a potential award) and that we have also
applied for One 40 foot bus and One Artic via another Grant Program (but, if awarded,those
busses won't be available until the late 2021)
Item#6—Expanded Service Levels for Special Events
- The intent of this discussion was simply to make the Committee aware that we, in
Transportation, get numerous requests each year for expanded levels of both bus or tram
service tied to Special events AND that we are not positioned to honor such requests without
the full support of the MCC via the Special Event MOU process at the Council Meeting level.
Motion to adjourn was made by Council Member DeLuca; seconded by Council Member Paddack;vote
was unanimous. Meeting adjourned at 9:50 am.
The next Transportation Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May, 12th, 2020 in the Public
Works Administration Conference Room at 9 a.m.