Minutes - Council Work Session - 08/11/2009

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! 12-ev,-~d. # Councilmember Elvig stated that the idea that the City will be competing with the commuter rail is exactly right. He stated that he feels the City should take a look at doing more marketing for the bus, such as discounts for the first 30 days that they ride. Councilmember Look stated that there is an established ridership base for the bus and if this service is discontinued, the numbers will go somewhere else. He stated that he fears that there will be "fuzzy math" showing that the City didn't actually have the ridership numbers to support a rail stop. He stated if people can ride a coach bus for less money that makes less stops along the way, that is what people will choose and not a train that costs more and makes a lot of stops. Bonnie Suby, 7201 - 149th Avenue, stated that they ride the bus and they will not ride the train. She stated that the first train that leaves here would make her 10 minutes late for work. Kari Meyers, 7061 - 148th Avenue, noted that she was hoping with the transit system that they would get more money into the City to help build up the area. She stated that she feels the bus riders support the local businesses, like Coborn's and Subway. She stated that she agrees with the time issue for the earliest train noted by Ms. Suby. Public Works Director Olson stated that they have changed the time of the earliest train because of the comments from bus riders that the first train began too late. Ms. Haas Steffan, Met Council, stated that she feels that Ramsey needs the transit line to be successful. She stated that when, and if, Ramsey gets a station, they do not want the competition from the bus line. She suggested that, right now, Ramsey should be making the Met Council nervous and should keep the bus se.rvice going. Councilmember Wise stated that he would like to decrease the subsidy that the City provides, but noted that the people will still get a heck of a deal compared to the train costs. Councilmember Jeffrey stated that he feels the City needs to keep some kind of transit in the area. He stated that he feels if the City has the bus service, it will eventually get a train stop because it will be competition for them. Councilmember McGlone asked if the City has considered what could happen if, for example, riders from Elk River want to come here and ride the bus and not the train and ridership greatly Increases. Public Works Director Olson stated that standing room only on the buses would be a good thing. Ms. Haas Steffen stated that the best negotiating tool the City has is to continue the bus service. Councilmember Look stated that for the bus riders that are present, it is important to note that the goal is to get the train stop here at the City and if that happens, the bus service will go away. There was a consensus by the Council to continue the bus service. City Council Work Session I August 11,2009 Page 2 of5 X l(.evl'Se...ol 'I/-