Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTBMinutes_2011_02_15C:\Documents and Settings\lcarruthers\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\5ZLTOVMI\02 tb.docx 1 Transportation Board Brookings, South Dakota February 15, 2011 OFFICIAL MINUTES The Brookings Transportation Board was called to order by Chairperson Michael Forgy on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at 2:00 PM in the City Hall Meeting Room. Members present were Art Conners, Rob Jones, Dean Kattelmann, Teresa McKnight, Robb Rasmussen, Deanna Santema, Jeff Weldon and Forgy. Roger DeGroot, Jared Ellefson, Nancy Hartenhoff-Crooks, Jerry Raabe, and Terrell Spence were absent. Also present were Brenda Schweitzer - BATA and City Engineer Jackie Lanning. Item #2 – (Santema/Weldon) Motion to approve the minutes from the January 18, 2011 meeting. All present voted aye. MOTION CARRIED. Item #3 – (McKnight/Conners) Motion to approve the amended agenda adding “Brookings Walk, Bike, Run Summit”. All present voted aye. MOTION CARRIED. Item #4 – Transportation Provider Updates - BATA- Schweitzer said the On Track program is still providing transportation to Sioux Falls on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Airport connections have been integrated into the system also. A one-way trip to Sioux Falls is $87.50. She said that she has placed advertisements at the Sioux Falls Airport and has a pick-up point there. Forgy said maybe some other smaller clinics in Sioux Falls would get on board if they knew of the availability of On Track. Schweitzer said she wants the medical community to know of the availability and is promoting it. Schweitzer said in the past day, BATA provided 594 one-way pre- scheduled trips in Brookings. The nonscheduled rides are in addition to that figure. She added that BATA continues to work with community events. Santema asked if the Boji Rides Taxi Service was operating in Brookings. Schweitzer said no, not as far as she knew. Item #5 – Project Updates – City Engineer Jackie Lanning explained the Signage Report sent in the packets. The report shows existing signage in Brookings at the present time. Forgy asked if more signage was planned. Lanning said there are no funds budgeted for 2011. Weldon commented that the signs all look very basic with nothing on them to identify them as local signs. Lanning added that 6th Street, which is a SD state highway, is controlled by the State of South C:\Documents and Settings\lcarruthers\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\5ZLTOVMI\02 tb.docx 2 Dakota. Weldon felt the new city logo or brand would be appropriate for the signs. McKnight agreed. Item #6 – Brookings Summit - Robb Rasmussen distributed information on the Brookings Walk, Bike, Run Summit to be held in Brookings on Saturday, March 19th. He said there would be speakers from the Department of Health. The summit would promote the established trails in Brookings. The Prairie Striders are working to get maps of the trail system for city visitors. Weldon said the Park and Recreation Department received a $13,000 grant for signage and maps. This is possibly the same program the Prairie Striders are working on. Weldon said the housing association trails (such as Indian Hills) are trail systems also. Item #7 – Priorities – Weldon asked Schweitzer about the fixed route issue which Schweitzer said is really a service route and not a fixed route. Schweitzer said a fixed route needed to be on a regular basis for the campus riders including demand/response pick ups on the peripherals. Schweitzer said she would need bigger vehicles for a campus route. Weldon asked if a circulator route would be around the campus only. Schweitzer answered that key points in the community would be included as well such as the Innovation Campus area, certain commercial areas, and housing centers. Weldon asked Schweitzer what the limits were to such a program. Schweitzer said fixed routes are based on population, but she can work with that. Smaller communities can get funds if they can justify it, but the congressional delegation definitely needs to be on board. The challenge is the funding, and the rural funding she receives barely covers expenses. She added that it costs $50/hour to operate a service vehicle. Santema said even though there may not be funding available now, the plan should be developed now so it is in place when funding is available. Schweitzer said the plan needs to be efficient, reliable, and must meet the needs of the university and the community both. Schweitzer said that to service the university with this type of route would require swipe cards in the vehicles, but BATA has the software ability to do that. Schweitzer said she is waiting to hear from Jared Ellefson so she can set a time to meet with the SDSU student senate representatives. McKnight felt the Transportation Board needed to get involved. She said the 2008 transportation study would be a good base to start with. (McKnight/Conners) Motion to form a committee or a group of people that are good at writing grants and working with the DC delegation and the community, and have them proceed with this project. All present voted aye. MOTION CARRIED. Forgy asked for volunteers for the committee. McKnight said she would be happy to assist. Conners also volunteered. Kattelmann said the SDSU students also needed to be involved. Weldon asked Kattelmann if he had the figures that would be needed. Kattelmann said yes. Schweitzer said she would also serve on C:\Documents and Settings\lcarruthers\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\5ZLTOVMI\02 tb.docx 3 the committee. Forgy asked McKnight if she would report next month on the progress made. She answered yes. The next meeting will be March 15, 2011. The meeting was adjourned. ____________________________ __________________________ Diane M. Spencer, Secretary Michael Forgy, Chairperson