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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - December 5, 1990 (2)GV6 UNMET TRANSIT NEEDS PUBLIC HEARING HUTCHINS STREET SQUARE SENIOR REFERRAL CENTER 125 SOUTH HUTCHINS STREET, SUITE B 9:00 A.M. Assistant City Manager Glenn opened the meeting at approximately 9:05 a.m. Mr. Glenn first introduced Ms. Nancy Miller, Transportation Planner at the San Joaquin County Council of Governments (COG) and provided information to the public regarding the procedure of the City's acquiring funds from COG and how those funds are raised. Mr. Glenn provided some background information regarding a two-week sampling he prepared of Dial -A -Ride's activities. During the week of October 22, 1990 and the week of November 5, 1990, Dial -A -Ride provided 3,126 rides to Lodi citizens. Out of that number, 147 people waited over 45 minutes for Dial -A -Ride (21 people were from Woodbridge and 20 were in wheelchairs) and 31 waited over an hour (3 were from from Woodbridge and 7 were in wheelchairs). Overall this sampling showed that fewer people are having to wait over 45 minutes for Dial -A -Ride to pick up. Mr. Glenn explained how unmet transit needs public hearings help the City become aware of present and future needs for transportation within the City. Past meetings have expanded Dial -A -Ride considerably with longer operating hours, adding Saturdays for Dial -A -Ride and adding wheelchair -equipped vans. Mr. Glenn then opened the hearing to the public. Eileen St. Yves, 310 South Orange Street, Lodi, Ca., posed a question to Mr. Glenn asking what he sees as an unmet transit need. Mr. Glenn feels inter -City transit is needed, expecially to the hopitals and the courthouse. Lillian Goldsmith, 1830 South Hutchins Street, Lodi, Ca., introduced an inter -agency group who have been discussing Dial -A -Ride for the past few years and introduced Ms. Sally Podesta from Lodi Unified School District who worked with Mr. Glenn in formulating a Dial -A -Ride survey (see attached). Ms. Podesta informed the public that the inter -agency group meets monthly regularly and was formulated to discuss different issues among representatives of mental health facilities, the Salvation Army, the Chamber of Commerce, the Boys and Girls Club, preschools, United Way, and many more. The topic they have discussed most often has been Dial -A -Ride and transportation needs. One of the main problems she sees is citizens not being able to get to their appointments, especially at the County hospital. For this reason the Public Transportation Survey was distributed among Lodi citizens. Although the survey is not yet completed, present results show that a majority of Lodi citizens are satisfied with Dial -A -Ride and about 2/3 of those surveyed are very interested in seeing a bus system in the works that would connect with Stockton. This survey had responses mainly from citizens 40 years and older. Ms. Podesta also submitted her request that a standing committee be set up by the City Council to meet on a regular basis to discuss transportation needs. Continued December 5, 1990 Mr. Glenn then reiterated .the unmet transportation needs that were presented by Ms. Sally Podesta: a) Too many people missing appointments; b) Cannot connect with the County hospital; c) There is a desire for a bus system; and d) Would like to have a transportation committee set up to discuss needs with the Lodi City Council on a regular basis. Lillian Goldsmith posed another question that seems to come up quite often in regards to using Dial -A -Ride in emergencies without having a ticket. Dial -A -Ride will not pick up unless a passenger has a purchased ticket and so the service is not reliable in emergencies. Mr. Glenn pointed out that even if the City did incorporate a bus system, it would not suffice in emergencies. Ms. Podesta asked if Dial -A -Ride was used in case of emergencies, would Dial -A -Ride be in service beyond the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. There was further conversation among the public regarding the conception that Dial -A -Ride is mainly for Senior Citizens resulting in many of the youths not using the system. There is also a problem in that passengers must have tickets in order to ride Dial -A -Ride, and it is extremely di7 cult to get transportation without them, especially in emergencies. It was pointed out by Lillian Goldsmith that it took ten years for Dial -A -Ride to become this efficient and the City should now start looking into the future for a bus system. Mr. Glenn did not agree that there was an actual need for a bus system due to the fact that in the 80,000 rides per year, 95°% of the rides are picked up and delivered in less than 45 minutes for less than $4 per ride showing an efficient system. Ms. Podesta feels that teens would use a bus system or a mini -bus holding more than 4 people and picking up a few times a day more so than they would Dial -A -Ride. Is there some way that the City could get a system to connect with SMART in Stockton or the Grayhound bus system. Mr. Dorance Ochs of the Lodi Senior Citizens Commission brought up the subject of emergency medical dispensation in using Dial -A -Ride; however, each emergency would need to be a bonafide emergency and should not conflict with 911 Emergency. Mr. Brian Young with the State of California reiterated the need for some type of transportation connecting Lodi with Stockton. He spoke with Mr. Tom Dumas with SMART regarding the Stockton system who in turn explained their joint power agreement with other local cities to provide rides to other community services and all high schools in Stockton. SMART has an express system that begins at 7:00 a.m. in North Stockton and follows a route into downtown Stockton by 7:50 a.m. providing transportation to downtown workers. A question was asked why the City couldn't get into an agreement with SMART which could leave earlier in the morning and run through Lodi (Lower Sacramento Road to Lodi Avenue to Hutchins Street) and then through Stockton's route to provide transportation to Lodi citizens who work in Stockton. GU4 Continued December 5, 1990 Mr. Bob Phillips with the State of California who works with disabled people expressed his concern that many disabled citizens have difficulty getting places and expressing their needs regarding transportation, and he commended the recent public transportation survey that was put out. Mr. Phillips also offered the City his help in determing the transportation needs for disabled citizens. Questions were then posed by the audience regarding the increasing numbers of people using Dial -A -Ride, and whether or not the current system could service this increase in people. It was suggested that Dial -A -Ride add a mini -bus or a shuttle that would hold more people and travel a set route daily thatwould make stops at places like the hospitals, courthouse, post office, etc. It was felt that a shuttle would encourage more youths to ride Dial -A -Ride. Mr. Tom Dumas explained that SMART has youth passes and their system services all schools. After further discussion among Mr. Glenn and the audience, Ms. Podesta re -drafted her survey questions to be advertised in the newspaper as follows: 1. I am not able to get around Lodi due to lack of transportation. Yes / / No 2. I am not able to get to the City of Stockton to connect with SMART due to lack of transportation. / / Yes / / No 3. Dial -A -Ride is available every week Monday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. with tickets purchased in advance. 4. Tickets can be purchased at City Hall 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Farmers and Merchants Bank, Loel Center, the local hospitals, and Hutchins Street Square Senior Referral Center. After further discussion, the public hearing was then adjourned at approximately 10:25 a.m. and scheduled to reconvene on December 19, 1990 at 7:30 p.m. in the Carnegie Forum. JMP Attachment Attest: +niM. Perrin eputy City Clerk 3