Agenda - Council - 12/13/2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

timing. Councilmember Elvig stated this is a multi -modal opportunity and a lot of grants and studies have shown Ramsey is the right place and this is the right time. He noted this is why Ramsey has been successful in obtaining grants. He felt it would be a mistake to take away bus service and not provide service enhancements. Mr. Byers stated he will ask service -planning staff to meet with businesses and people in the community about the ridership they could expect. He explained the study they completed indicates they will not see riders today so that is part of the issue. In addition, a bus to downtown when farther out is less attractive but there may be possibilities for local transit that their service development department should look at. Councilmember Elvig indicated the City's bus riders have been generous with their time to come in as a group and discuss what does and does not work for them. Mr. Byers stated he can commit to meeting several times over the next year to talk with riders about their concerns with the train and bus and options. He explained the guaranteed ride home program, a free service upon application that provides vouchers for taxi rides back home of $25 each quarter and can be combined. Mr. Byers stated this program does not get advertised enough and they will want to talk to current bus riders about that option. He noted they also hope to attract other riders, beyond bus riders, to grow ridership. Councilmember Strommen stated part of what the City is investing in is Northstar and access to a transit system. She indicated she is a former bus commuter and agreed that flexibility is the key. Councilmember Strommen explained that she had to drive to Anoka, which took half of the time of getting downtown. Once downtown, however, you need to know the different bus routes to get to your destination. She felt lack of flexibility became a deterrent for people riding the train or the bus and it would lower rider's risk if there are more options and flexibility. In addition, it will also reach Metro Transit ridership goals faster. Mr. Byers advised that throughout the entire system, they are not seeing a lot of weekend demand since the system was built as a Monday -Friday commuter line. However, they are hearing that customers want to get home during the middle of the day. Mr. Byers stated they are talking with BNSF about providing mid -day service even if it results in reducing weekend service. They currently run 72 trains a week on the Northstar line and are determining whether those trains are at the right time to serve as many as possible to build ridership. Mr. Byers stated NCDA has started a mid -day return trip on Friday for Northstar riders and maybe it should be better advertised. Mayor Ramsey stated he thinks students will use the Northstar to the Ramsey station and then a bus to get to the college, if that option is offered. In addition, the Veterans Clinic will be opening this week so that traffic needs to be factored in. Mayor Ramsey stated he will be hesitant to enter into a TTD without some ancillary service being provided. He asked if the City can enter the TTD at one-half the tax rate and pay the rest when another service, like an MTC bus, is provided. City Council Work Session / November 7, 2011 Page 3 of 10