HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-27-2013 (3) � /��c CITY OF AUBURN
CI1Y OF —�-� * TRANSPORTATION, TRANSIT
AND TRAILS COMMITTEE
* November 27, 2013
WASHINGTON
MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Thordarson called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. in Conference Room#2,,located on the
second floor of Aubum City Hall, One EastMain Street,Aubum, Washington. CommiBee members
_
present were: Jim Fletcher, Terri Calnan, and John Daniels Jr. Also present during the meeting were:
DirectorDennis Dowdy, Transportation Planner Joe Welsh, Office Assistant Molly Hoisington, and
Desiree and Jason from the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe.
II. CONSENT AGENDA
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
It was moved by Member Fletcher, seconded by Member Calnan that the Committee approve the
Transportation, Transit and Trails Committee minutes for October 23, 2013. Motion carried.
111. DISCUSSION AND INFORMATION
A. METRO PLANNED CUTS (Welsh)
Transportation Planner Welsh stated Metro announced they are facing a $75 million dollarbudget
shortfali and may be forced to reduce service by up to 17%, about 600,Q00 hours of serqice. These
reductionsmay take place as early as September 2014 if new sources ofrevenue are not secured.
The current proposal is to eliminate three routes; routes 152, 910 and 919.
Route 152 is a commuter bus which provides weekday peak hours service betweenAubum, Star
Lake(I-5 & S 272ntl Street) and downtown Seattle.
Route 910 is a partnership route that the City of Aubum funds with Metro to provide more service to
the north end of town and also to the Supermall. This route also stops at Fred Meyer in the north
end, YMCA. Supermall and also connects into downtown at the transit center.
Route 919 serves up as far as the north_park and ride by the Aubum Airport, Fred Meyer, goes into
downtown and then serves the Aubum Senior Center or Library, Smoke Shop, Muckleshoot Casino,
then goes up and loops around in the Dogwood area. This route provides cove�age du�ing the
weekday.
Transportation Planner Welsh also discussed some potenUal schedule changes asMetro may;be
shortening some route times. For example, instead of pickups every 15 minutes, reducing to every
30 minutes. In addition, may reduce some overall service times, instead of the route running until
10 p.m., would only run until 9 p.m.
B. MIT TRANSIT NEEDS SURVEY (John Daniels Jr.)
Member Daniels introduced his two guests, Desiree and Jason. Member Daniels confirmed the
transportation portion of their transit"sur4ey results are now available.
Transoortation. Transit. and Trails Committee November 27. 2013
MINUTES
The survey resuits state:
Overview: There is far more transportation need by those respondents surveyed than there are
transportation options. The average household responder leaves hisor her home atJeast eight
times a week,with few availing themselves of shuttle or bus Vansportation. About 40% of the
drivers have no insurance; 30°/a of the drivers have no current legal license.
Transportation Choices: Many people rely on friends,family members or acquair�tances thatare
not legally licensed for driving or those without insurance. More people take the a Muckleshoot
shuttlethan driye a car(32.6%versus 26:1%). A quarter,of fhe respondents ask family and fiends
to driVe, a quarter walk, but only 8%take the bus. Over 80%never take4he bus.
Transportation imProyements: The respondents were asked what they wanted done in the next
fve years in the:area of transportation and about half offered they wanted more 24/7 shuttle and bus
service(including weekends)with more stops. Aboutl7%added they wanted more bus service for
elders. Several of the young respondents mentioned building more sidewalks, safer and more bike
trails, and more landscaping (Ieaye more of the trees)along the roads and lanes.
Transportation Ideas: Other ideas mentioned included building more bus stop shelters, having
child=fiendly shuttles, Tribal taxi service and Tribal car rentals, lower gas prices on the reservation,
and cleaner and safer shuttles.
Recommendatfons—Transportation
• The over-arching problem is that there are more people in need of moving around than there
a2 venues for them to do so. Public Transportation is almost neverused as it is
inconvenient, doesn't come on time and is not dependable. Tribal shuttle is better and more
used, but still does not go to a great enoughvariety of places at con4enient times. Farmore
work needs to be done with Iegislators, Tribal council,Auburn, the King County Council and
perhaps the US Go.ngressional delegation to get funding for moremass transit, bike and
walking"trails, and other mechanismsfor road andSrafficsafety.
• In addition, there were several suggestions for local tribal taxi's and limousine services. In
many urban areas, people use their own cars as private limo services which are all
organized online. Thought should be given to altemative, special weeklyappbintment travel,
increased shuttle hours and additional stops. The Cummi's now have a wonderFul bike trail
which has Tribal art seats along its way and is lit by solar energy which provides year-round
access for tourists and Tribal members alike—ali paid for by federafand state dollars.
N. ADJOURNMENT
Therebeing no further business to come before the Transportation, Transit, and Trails Committee,the
meeting was adjoumetl at 10:00 a.m.
Approved this- 22�� day of J �,VI�Gi.Yv1. , 2014.
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�oge hordarson Molly Ho' ington
Chairman Public Works Department Office Assistant
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