Sue Crowe

Shasta County Regional Transportation

Planning Agency 1855 Placer Street Redding CA 96001

Dear Sue:

Subject: 2003 Unmet Transit Needs Comments

It appears that the only comments that were listed in the 2003 Unmet Transit Needs that require responses relate to a few operational improvements and policy issues. The Redding Area Bus Authority's (RABA) responses are as follows:

Policy Issues

The majority of the comments are requests for Sunday service and extended hours. With respect to the request for a survey to poll transit riders for the afore mentioned services, a similar poll was conducted by LSC Transportation Consultants, Inc. (LSC), during the development of the Short- and Long-Range Master Transit Plan Study in July 2001, copy enclosed.

Operational Improvements

Several of the operational improvements are currently under consideration, i.e., RABA is developing proposed route modifications that will be presented at a future public hearing. The comments pertaining to Routes 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, and 14 will be reviewed during the modification process.

Mark Millers request to convert the buses to bio-diesel fuel was reviewed by LSC in its study. At this time, it is neither cost effective nor is their adequate infrastructure in the North State to allow RABA to convert its transit fleet. However, RABA remains open to the idea of utilizing alternative fuels and periodically reviews this path as more research is completed. In addition, RABA has open communication with the Shasta County Air Quality Management District to determine what technology is in-place in Shasta County that would benefit RABA and the citizenry.

With respect to Mr. Millers comment on the "extra bike rack on the back of buses," RABA continues to review the current bike rack products. Currently, RABA is reluctant to place bike racks on the back of buses for three reasons: Insurance restrictions due to lack of sight visibility, impaired access to the

REDDING AREA BUS AUTHORITY

777 CYPRESS AVENUE,REDDING, CALIFORNIA 96001-3396 • (530) 225-4171 • FAX (530) 245-7024