Transportation Coordination Committee

tcc_minutes_feb_23.pdf (85 KB)

Present: Chairwoman Gramling, Fry, Klepper, Demers, Moore, Brown, Ellington, Cheers, Running, Schulte, Goodman, Pritzkow

SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION:

1. Call to Order and Certify Compliance with Open Meeting Law; Meeting called to order by Chairperson Gramling at 10:05 a.m. and was found in compliance with Open Meeting Law.
2. Adopt Agenda; Motion to adopt agenda made by Moore, second by Klepper. Motion carried, noting that “community needs” will be struck.   
3. Adopt Minutes of Previous Meeting; Motion to adopt agenda made by Demers, second by Ellington. Motion carried, noting that “agenda” must be changed to “minutes.” 
4. Public Comment; None.
5. Communications; None.
6. Business Items
   1. Introduction of Robin Goodman, new Transportation Coordinator
   2. Transportation Financial Review 2015; the ADRC is still looking for information from 2014; the current table shows cost per rider in 2015.

3. Committee Discussion on Priorities of Transportation Issues

Inconsistencies in billing were discovered in Volunteer Escort Driver (VED) program; may explain high costs. The oversight committee has asked to see these figures monthly; this may help monitor the per rider cost.

Ridership data shows cost per one-way trip and does not account for duplicated vs. unduplicated riders. Ridership decreased from 2014-15; during the last half of 2014, there were more riders than in all of 2015.

Bus trips will be biweekly instead of weekly beginning in April 2016 to see if this affects ridership. The ADRC will provide detailed data for all rides provided for shopping and fun-day buses with the change from weekly to biweekly.

The ADRC will work on issuing more than on taxi card per month to riders needing them for medical transportation; they would need a note from their medical provider.

Fry asked why VED is reimbursed at the rate they are (.54/mile); this is the current federal rate. The rider pays .40 per mile, so the county covers the remaining .14. ContinuUs reimburses at $1.26 per mile.

The ADRC is considering getting a passenger van to replace the need for buses during shopping trips; buses would be kept to accommodate wheelchair transport.

Fry questioned whether riders are ever offered ride-shares; Blodgett shared that transportation offers this for long trips so riders can share the cost.

Fry indicated Interfaith Volunteer Network is still being called by riders who were turned down by the ADRC; Bldogett shared that, previously, riders were turned down for rides due to past-due balances; this was unacceptable and has been stopped. The ADRC has funds available for individuals who cannot afford rides; though this is not publicized widely, it is there to be used.

Places in our county still lack transportation options; outreach has been done in LaValle and Loganville to address this issue. No turnout in Loganville; high turnout in LaValle.

4. Fee Structure Discussion

The price for fun-day buses has been an issue; it was suggested that local trips be priced at $5 and trips farther away be priced at $10.

Blodgett shared that Mauston is buying taxi tickets for dining site people who cannot drive themselves and do not have a ride and selling them for 50 cents; it was asked if the ADRC could start doing this. Schulte suggested that instead the dining site attendees’ use their punch card (or pay out of pocket) for their trip to the dining site and then receive a free ride home.

5. Community Needs; Struck from agenda.

7. Public Comment; None.
8. Next Meeting:  Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.
9. Adjourn; Motion to adjourn made by Moore, second by Klepper. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 11:27 a.m.