HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/06/2009 04B Minutes 09-16-2009 Council Transit and Transportation Committee Minutes of +�
Yakima City Council Transit and Transportation Committee
Community & Economic Development Conference Room
Yakima City Hall, 129 North 2 Street, Yakima, WA 98901
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
4:00 — 5:30 p.m.
City Council Members Staff Other
Micah Cawley, Chair Chris Waarvick, Public Works Director. Gary Forester, BCNA
Rick Ensey Ken Mehin, Transit Manager
Bill Lover Joe Rosenlund, Streets &Traffic Operations Manager
Joan Davenport, Planning Manager
Laura Vallejo, Transit Department Assistant II
Transit Items
Councilmember Micah Cawley called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm in the Community & Economic
Development (CED) Conference Room at City Hall. Ken Mehin opened the session with the status
on the Transit budget status which was the first item on the agenda. Mehin reported that there will be
no budget cuts to service for 2009 and 2010 due to grants received that added services. Chris
Waarvick commented that they are not recommending fare increases at this time. Waarvick added
that most transit agencies have made dramatic cuts in their service but Yakima Transit has been able
to maintain its service. Waarvick continued to say that Transit has added newer buses to their fleet
and still have 5 new fuel efficient and more mechanically inclined buses that they have ordered with
the Federal Grant Stimulus money they received.
The second item was the transit service out to the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
(PNWU) in Terrace Heights. Mehin commented that it is an extension to Route 6 and is a one -year
project that they hope will continue. Mehin said that ridership is starting to increase and he will have
a report at the next scheduled CCTC meeting. Bill Lover questioned whether Dial -A -Ride would be
included if the route became permanent and Mehin responded that it would have to be provided with
their transit service.
The third item mentioned was the DAR Contract status, which Mehin reported the contract has been
extended to November 23 and they are currently working with the contractor. Waarvick added that
they should have the contract negotiations finalized really soon and are optimistic on the outcome.
Additional information shared by Mehin was bus ridership has been down by 4% but is increasing
again due to the rising cost of fuel. Mehin added that the vanpool vans in service have gone down as
well because of economy but have a few groups in the forming which should soon bring them to
about 24 vanpool vans in service. Mehin shared a letter of request from the Yakima School District
for transit services to a Greenway event coming up in October which Transit provides every year.
Lover asked if it would be an additional cost to Yakima Transit. Both Mehin and Waarvick responded
that it would not be because it is within the city limits and along the bus route.
Last comments made by Mehin were that Yakima Transit will again have free bus shuttle service to
and from the Central Washington State Fair and the Gateway Center.
The transit meeting adjourned at 4:10 pm.
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