START Board

October 22, 2020 START Board Retreat Zoom Meeting Information https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85455611816?pwd=TEl1aTRpTHliai93OUtKZUNWNTFGdz09 Meeting ID: 854 5561 1816 Passcode: START One tap mobile +13462487799,,85455611816#,,,,,,0#,,348810# US (Houston) +16699009128,,85455611816#,,,,,,0#,,348810# US (San Jose) Dial by your location +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) Meeting ID: 854 5561 1816 Passcode: 348810 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdpSgCzP9F 2020 START Board Retreat Minutes October 22, 2020 (Virtual Meeting) Board: Seadar Davis, Cathy Kehr, Jim Hunt, Wes Gardner, Susan Mick, Herb Brooks, Brett Simic, Ty Hoath, Jared Smith Liaisons: Luther Propst, Arne Jorgensen Staff: Darren Brugmann, Courtney Schwartz, Jeff Deal Facilitator: John Heymann 1. Review Last Year Retreat Objectives 2. Mission & Vision Statement Review and Development After discussion on Vision & Mission Statements it was decided to form a committee to bring recommendations to the full START Board. 3. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES Short Term: FY22 Operation Plan & Budget Considerations Breakout Session A: Implementation of Route Plan – Key Considerations Group #1: Micro-transit Cathy, Wes, Herb Micro-transit may be least affected by COVID-19 by likely not mixing user groups and having shorter trip times. The efficiencies and benefits of micro-transit could potentially allow new commuter expansion, Rafter J service and quicker trip times. Information requested that would be helpful to the START Board are the cost of the circulator, cost if START Bus managed micro-transit internally and if START Bus used a third-party administrator for micro-transit. An assumption was made that START should be able to do it for less than a TPA as it is likely that utilizing a TPA would also include sharing a profit. Ideally, micro-transit could have 2 different fare zones to match the current START Bus fare structure. Things to consider include what amount of base service would be needed to move to micro-transit as the efficiency of the Town Shuttle seemed to currently be squeezed by the Circulator, need based on the season and using the circulator this winter season to bridge to micro-transit. A shared concern is that micro-transit, if done internally by START, is that it could create bandwidth that START does not currently have. A seamless system with 1 fully functioning and reliable set of software would be required. Group #2: Commuter Expansion Seadar, Jared, Darren The Route Plan was originally to double the routes from 4 to 8. It was suggested that perhaps expanding to 6 runs in FY22 would be a step in the right direction as 8 runs is currently hard to justify with COVID-19 still being part of the equation in FY22. Current fare box recovery rate is 10 – 15%. While taking administrative and operational costs into consideration; going fare free has the potential to greatly increase ridership as the current fare is $8.00 one way. Going fare free on commuters could be a huge incentive to increase ridership and reduce vehicle miles traveled. Resources needed to make this attainable would be more drivers and buses, an employer partnership program and cost of $356,859.00 for 8 buses as mentioned in the Route Plan. Additional buses would be needed for the winter season. Surveying commuter riders for correct times, days and considering weekend service could be helpful while establishing additional commuter service. Group #3: Rafter J/South Park Expansion Susan, Jim, Jeff, Larry Conditions needed to add this service would include park and rides at Melody and Rafter J with managed parking being a motivator and required for success, express runs in Town and a way for pedestrians to cross Hwy 89 safely as there have been fatalities. Stakeholders that would need to be involved with this expansion would include Teton County Commissioners/Town Council, Teton County School District – Munger School, Friends of Pathways, South Park Business HOA, Melody Ranch, Rafter J and other South Park communities and WYDOT. WYDOT would have to be involved with this conversation as it is currently extremely difficult to make left hand turns out of Melody and Rafter J. A flashing yellow light, prioritized traffic signal or roundabout could be helpful. Teton County has considered potentially setting aside $1 million, which is included in their Capital Improvements Plan, for a southern park and ride. Starting conversations and discussing park and rides with HOA’s would be an important place to start. Group #4: ADA Service Area Courtney, Ty, Brett Without knowing the current usage, it is challenging to give an additional cost estimate and quantify the resources involved with expanding ADA service area to a 2-mile radius. Information regarding the current ADA mileage and hours would be helpful. Currently there is 1 ADA Bus in full operation (that currently fulfills all ADA service needs as there has been a decline in daily trip average due to COVID-19) with the ability to implement more service as START does have additional ADA buses available. Daily Avg. Last Year-2019 Covid - 2020 Variance % ADA 15 10 (5) -33% Exceeding the minimum requirements and having the ability to offer premium ADA service would entail same-day trips, “will-call” trips, trips beyond the defined service area, trips before or after established service hours and extending the ¾ mile corridor to 2 miles. Ideally START should be in a position to fulfill on any ADA request in order to serve the most vulnerable members of the community. A 6-month pilot program was suggested to gather a sense for ADA service demand beyond the current ¾ mile corridor. ALL: Fares – Fare Free Discussion START Bus going fare free was brought up earlier in the year in response to COVID-19. Out of concern for driver safety the START Board fully recommended going fare free. Ultimately Town and County did not come to an agreement on going fare free. This item will be continued during the budget discussion process. Future - Long Term: Breakout Session B. Group #1: RTPO Formation Discussion Cathy, Herb, Wes, Luther This group did not feel as though they had the background or expertise to be making a recommendation on a Regional Transportation Planning Organization. It was decided that an empowered Transportation Coordinator would be a priority to attain someone with the coordination and project implementation skills needed for an RTPO. While a Transportation Coordinator position (official title TBD) is not in the budget for Teton County or Town of Jackson it is a topic dealt with exclusively in the Integrated Transportation Plan and perhaps a budget amendment could be submitted. A transportation working group/task force for a position description and educational plan to raise awareness with the electeds and to come up with a plan to fund this role. Group #2: WY22/390 Corridor: HOV, BUILD Grant & Snake Bridge Replacement Seadar, Jared, Darren Snake River Bridge Replacement / HWY 22 – 390 Intersection • START is supportive and we have been actively in coordination • Scheduled for construction in 2023/2024 • WYDOT did conduct a transit study and confirmed compatibility with HOV and transit priority • Agreed to install transit signal priority based on local funding (funding part of BUILD grant) Tribal Trails intersection (should be included in overall discussion) • Both school district and START have determined that there would be significant benefit to transit and school bus access • Want to ensure HOV compatibility at HWY 22 intersection • Does the START board want to take an official stance on this? Ty mentioned the idea of START not taking an official stance, but instead stating what START would like to see if it is completed. HOV / HWY 22 Corridor • START Board is supportive of HOV lanes on both HWY 22 and 390 o High priority for HWY 22 o Further study needed to determine if there are significant benefits for 390 (with new 22/390 intersection, may negate the need for HOV on 390) • Recent transit planning indicates HOV, including transit, is most viable (likely 2+ carpools initially plus transit) • Recent occupancy survey study supports near term implementation • Next Steps o WAM / Wyoming Association of County Commissioners: local legislators are moving forward o Enabling legislation needed (possible study session summer of 2021 with legislation in 2022)  o Local legislators have been engaged and seeking partnerships with other Wyoming communities o Can any local commissioners or council members give an update on what the next steps should be and if START needs to be doing anything on our part? o Educational Effort: HOV 101 to help get WYDOT more comfortable with HOV lanes. We should include peer agencies in Colorado and Utah to help WYDOT staff address policy concerns. o Could we push to advance 22 Corridor NEPA planning effort sooner than 2026? • Update from Commissioner Propst: o 2 bills that are important: ▪ 1 for HOV ▪ 1 for Camera at ID/WY line for trucks overweight that can automatically send tickets o Commission will likely write a letter of support. Might be able to get a bill in for 2021 session. o He will let START know if there are next steps for START Board to take. BUILD Grant • Grant Advancing o Stilson Transit Center / Park and Ride o New intersection on HWY 390 at Stilson with transit priority signal o Transit signal priority in 12 existing and 1 new signal county wide o 4 commuter buses and 2 electric buses o New park and ride facilities at 3 locations in Driggs • What involvement does the START Board want to have in planning for Stilson? o START should maintain high level of involvement in planning and design o Significant local match required once grant partner agreement is finalized ($554,000 for town, $667,000 for county) • There will be some preliminary design cost estimates, permits and environmental review that may not be reimbursable / Timeline: completed by 2nd Q 2022 • Implementation Timeline: FY23 and beyond (2 year minimum) Group #3: New Service Areas: Airport, National Parks & Teton Pass Ski Shuttle Susan, Jim, Jeff, Larry, Arne Airport While service to the airport is not included in the 2020-2025 Route Plan or Integrated Transportation Plan some START Board members feel START could target FY22 (winter of 2022/2023) for airport service. It would prevent tourists and locals from needing a car at all and really make an impact on vehicle miles traveled. It could be easier to implement if it begins with START Ride to Fly “on-demand” van service as an interim step. Aspects to consider - different seasons, tourists and employees, peak, weekend and early morning service for employees, fixed route vs. on-demand vans. Among a litany of other items that need to be taken into consideration and discussed; the current START Buses could not handle airport service due to baggage and skis. National Park Engaging the National Park in the beginning would be key as it would not work to drop people off in Moose without service in the Park. Park processes tend to take time and an annual or semiannual check-in could be helpful. It should be noted that TVA is also discussing Teton Village to Moose service. Teton Pass Ski Shuttle This service would have the smallest impact on reducing vehicle miles traveled than other areas START could service, and START does not currently have the capacity to operate this service. The demographic would be receptive, but this service would bear further discussion after the grant process next year. Group #4: Land Development Regulations (LDR): Northern South Park Courtney, Ty, Brett Rezone of a site currently under agricultural use and located in the northwest corner of Northern South Park just south of High School Road and east of South Park Loop Road Discussions are currently underway with local employers including St. John’s Health and Teton County School District No.1 as potential housing participants in HSRH. Partners such as these will provide excellent potential for managing traffic through ridesharing opportunities, nearby proximity to the development, etc. The request is a robust health care worker shuttle program as the Hospital has communicated to us some of their ideas for incentivized transit and biking. The build out assumes that alternative transportation will include 9% bicyclists, 11% walkers and 3% transit via the START Bus (Source: Jackson/Teton Integrated Transportation Plan). One START board member to contribute to the steering committee for the neighborhood planning process and partner with consultant for the planning to include transportation. Neighborhood planning process applications- application online by Sunday, November 8, 2020 Steering committee members will be required to dedicate significant time to this effort by attending 2-4 meetings per month between November 2020 and July 2021 to provide consistent feedback to the project team (meeting dates and times TBD). 4. Conclusion ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ These are items that do not need to be discussed at retreat: ●Bus Capacity Policy Decision –COVID/Winter Season - This item will be a special meeting Week of October 26th. Future Board Meeting Agenda Items: • JPA Bylaw Amendments (Legal –Town Attorney) • Board Policy and Procedures (Legal –Town Attorney) • Advertising policy (Legal –Town Attorney) • Capital Needs: Alternative Fuels (Electric) January 20, 2021 Susan Mick - Board Chair January 20,2021 Courtney Schwartz - Board Minutes Editor