• Call to Order:

• Public Comment Period:

• 2001/02 Unmet Transit Needs Process- Consider Approval of 1) Unmet Transit Findings - a) Cottonwood Transit Service, b) Burney/Fall River Transit Service, c) Airport Road Corridor Area, d) Sunday Service for RABA, e) Extended Service Hours for RABA, 2) TDA Allocation Instructions and 3) TDA Claims:

Staff conducted three public meetings in May in Burney, Cottonwood and the Airport Road Corridor area to identify and assess the transit needs in these areas. All meetings were well attended with individuals who indicated they would utilize transit services if they were available to them. Staff then met with the Department of Social Services to discuss the best way to use the $150,000 subsidy. Social Services indicated they would like to see trial transit services in the Cottonwood, Burney and the Airport Road Corridor area. It was felt that these areas would be beneficial for CalWORKS clients living or looking for work in these areas. Social Services did not support subsidizing longer services hours or Sunday service for RABA.

Staff concurred with SSTAC concerning the three new trial services. However, SSTAC recommended that the Burney Express continue to McArthur to accommodate high school students in the area. Staff disagrees with this recommendation as there does not appear to be enough density to support such a service, and by definition, unmet transit needs specifically exclude school trips. Further, if the service went to McArthur, the van would need to be in McArthur at 5:15 a.m. each morning in order for it to be in Burney in time to connect with the Burney Express.

Staff and SSTAC both agree that the if the Airport Road Corridor service is approved, stops at Meadowview Lane and Charlanne Drive should be on the route. However, the jurisdiction sponsoring the service would have the freedom to schedule routes.

SSTAC is recommending extending hours and Sunday service for RABA, but staff does not concur with this recommendation. Staff feels that current ridership would not support extended hours or Sunday service.

Executive Officer Kovacich stated that the success of any new transit service will depend on how well it will integrate into the RABA system. Staff suggests keeping track of ridership by stop and using the average fare per passenger to determine if the service can support itself without a subsidy. For cost purposes the average cost per RABA service hour will be used plus direct marketing costs. Agency Member Clarke felt that a one year trial period was an adequate amount of time to determine if the service will be successful.

Agency Member Hawes supported the extended transit service in Burney to as far as McArthur.

Agency Member Duryee felt that a $10,000 advertising budget was not enough to get the word out to the public regarding new transit. Executive Officer Kovacich responded that $10,000 is minium level of

Mr. Evans reported there is a new level of excitement among the SSTAC. SSTAC and staff had a few differences regarding the Burney Express to McArthur transit service and negotiating a bus stop at Stingy Lane to hook into Route 9. SSTAC is anxiously awaiting the RABA Short/Long Term Transit Plan and hope it provides a foundation for more creative approaches and better transit services.

Mr. Evans stated he would like to SSTAC meet over the next few months to discuss potential transit improvements He still would like to see extended RABA service hours and Sunday service. The SSTAC will gather data and attempt to demonstrate a need for next year's unmet transit needs process.

Mary Onwiler

Ms. Onwiler stated the Airport Road Corridor meeting at the Fairway Oaks Mobile Home Park was well attended. She feels the service would be successful. She is willing to post flyers in the area to get the word out, as well as work with the Rotary and Soroptimist Clubs to help promote the service. Ms. Onwiler would also like to Route 9 to hook up with Airport Road. Agency Members Clarke and Wilson agreed.

Bob Smith

Fairway Oaks Mobile Home Park

Mr. Smith stated that he was also pleased with the public attendance at the Airport Road Corridor meeting. He asked the Agency consider approving transit service in this area.

Robert Hardy

Mr. Hardy strongly felt that transit should recover at least a 50% farebox return. He stated that taxpayers dollars are being spent on transit services in an area where density cannot support a large ridership. It was his opinion that the money could be better spent on improving the roads in the area. He would like to see transit downsized, more efficient service and more air quality friendly buses used.

Vi Klaseen

Ms. Klaseen would like to see the farebox ratio lowered, not raised. She would also like to see unmet transit needs address college students' needs.

Joy Newcomb

Ms. Newcomb advocated the need for extended transit service hours for the disabled.

Alternate Member Stegall encouraged the SSTAC to continue to meet and to look seriously at finding ways to make extended hours and Sunday service viable.

Alternate Member Stegall made a motion to adopt the staff recommendation as stated in the staff report. Member Wilson seconded the motion.

Agency discussion lead to the motion being amended to extend the Burney Express expansion to McArthur. (Stegall/Wilson) By unanimous vote the amended motion was adopted.

Executive Officer Kovacich reported that staff will update the Agency on the status of the new services in six months and also evaluate whether more funding should be used on advertising.

• Conduct Regional Transportation Plan Workshop Concerning Future Transportation Projects - Informational only:

Representatives from each local agency and Caltrans presented in a PowerPoint presentation for both the short- and long-range fundable projects that will be included in the updated RTP. There were 18 short-range fundable projects and 30 long-range fundable projects.

Agency Member Wilson left the meeting at 3:40 p.m.

Agency Members McGeorge and Clarke complimented the local agencies, Caltrans and staff on the presentation and the team work that was put into the entire RTP process.

Alternate Member Stegall asked for a withdrawal of the motion to approve the Consent Calendar. She made note that in the last paragraph on page 3 and the first paragraph on page 4 in the June 12 Special RTPA meeting that it was her understanding that the City of Redding will be shorted approximately $27,000 if the staff recommendation were approved. She felt that minutes stated just the opposite.

Agency Member Clarke made a motion to withdrawal the motion and Agency Member Hawes seconded the motion.

Agency Member Clarke made a motion to approve the Consent Calendar with the amended wording to the June 12 Special RTPA Meeting minutes. Agency Member Hawes seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,