START Board

We transport people. START safely provides the greater Jackson Hole community with convenient transportation that is affordable, service-oriented, and environmentally friendly, improving the quality of life in the region. October 29, 2020 Special START Board Meeting Zoom Virtual Meeting 11:30 am -12:15 pm Joining a Meeting 1. Click the meeting link below and then click Join. Meeting Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86070234267?pwd=cWVBWkNZbG0zaHlRKzUxVFlHUVEvQT09 Password: START Telephone – Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 9128 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 Webinar ID: 860 7023 4267 Passcode: 060531  We transport people. START safely provides the greater Jackson Hole community with convenient transportation that is affordable, service-oriented, and environmentally friendly, improving the quality of life in the region. October 29, 2020 Special START Board Meeting Minutes Zoom Virtual Meeting 11:30 am -12:15 pm Desired outcomes for our work: Route expansion and modification incorporating branding/marketing ● Increase service on existing routes ● Prioritize new routes with new funding ● Easier commuter connection to town routes Fare Policy ● Use fares to incentivize additional ridership especially during times of latent capacity Travel Demand Management ● Recommend employers mitigate the effects of their employees and guests on our community ○ Implement employer transit pass ○ Incorporate new TDM requirements for large projects in Land Development Regulations. Outcomes for today’s meeting: ● Bus Capacity for Winter Service Content Processes Notes/Minutes Time I. Opening Call to Order and Roll Call Board: Seadar Davis, Cathy Kehr, Jim 11:30 - Susan Hunt, Wes Gardner, Herb Brooks, Ty 11:35 Hoath, Jared Smith Liaisons: Luther Propst, Arne Jorgensen, Doug Self Staff: Darren Brugmann, Courtney Schwartz, Jeff Deal Absent: Susan Mick, Brett Simic II: Discussion and/or Possible Action Items Consideration of further COVID-19 Winter Service START Bus ridership numbers are 11:35 – Mitigation. Comparison Pass Capacity continuing to reflect around 65% below 12:15 Report normal ridership numbers due to COVID- 19 with slight increases in commuter service. Like many transit agencies across the country START Bus continues to follow guidelines from local public health organizations. START Bus continues to offer masks to passengers and follow increased and strict bus cleaning protocols which can be found on the START Bus website under the COVID-19 tab. A “quiet ride” and opening the windows to maximize ventilation are COVID-19 measures to be considered. The new electric buses do not have windows that are capable of being opened nor do some of the commuter buses. Signage is continuing to be shared on START Bus encouraging masks and space between passengers when possible. The first row behind the drivers has been roped off since March and boarding at the back of the bus is currently being practiced on the Town Shuttles. Suspending fares to accelerate the boarding process, limit interaction with drivers and allowing rear boarding would be ideal. Any limited capacity would require START to provide additional drivers, buses, and service. Sarah Budge and Ashley Cassat reviewed the draft guidelines that local health officials have been working with Dr. Riddell on for the transportation provider and the passengers. Items included were the impracticality of social distancing while utilizing public transit, wearing an actual mask vs. a gaiter, quiet ride campaign which consists of no talking, eating or drinking on the bus, symptom checking of employees, offering hand sanitizer and contact tracing via app. If there is an inability to offer contract tracing START Bus will have to announce if a START Bus rider tests positive for COVID-19. Apps that allow for contact tracing, and CARE-19 alerts that notifies people that they may have been in contact with a positive case, were also recommended. Close contact is considered to be within 6ft of another person for 15 minutes or more. Contactless fare would be ideal to minimize interaction and helpful in tracking ridership for contact tracing. Darren communicated to the START Board that START Bus will continue to collect fares as Teton County did revoke their decision to suspend START Bus fares. The current results of the START Bus COVID-19 Precautions Survey reflecting that the public feels strongly about enforcing the mask mandate and limiting passenger capacity. Limiting passenger capacity would include asking for a budget amendment process, hiring more drivers, and leasing more buses. Michael Cohen read this letter as public comment to the START Board. Melissa Turley from TVA made public comment recommending 75% of seated capacity while the community is in orange and red zones with returning capacity as numbers dip into yellow and green zones. Melissa encouraged START to continue to use mobile passes should the need for contract tracing arise. After discussion and consideration from the START Board and assistance from Town Attorney Lea Colasuonno the following motions were made by Ty and 2nded by Jim. 1. START follow guidance from the Teton County Public Health Department regarding mitigating COVID-19 for the START system, including, but not limited to, face masks, signage, ventilation and physical distancing, but specifically excluding bus  capacity, and direct the Transit Director to actively communicate with the Teton County Public Health Department and adjust COVID- 19 safety protocols on the START system in accordance with its guidance for the remainder of the winter season; and 2. Direct that each START system bus be run with rider capacity of 75% of the maximum seating for the winter season; and 3. Direct the Transit Director to provide the Board an analysis of funding options for how to increase bus numbers to make up for the system capacity lost by limiting buses to 75% rider capacity. START Board agrees unanimously. VII: Adjournment 12:15 Next Board Meeting: November 12, 2020, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, Zoom Meeting Items for future agendas: January 21, 2021 _____________________________________________________ Courtney Schwartz, Date Administrative Assistant (Minutes Editor) The undersigned duly qualified and acting chairman of the Southern Teton Area Rapid Transit Board certifies that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes approved at a legally convened meeting of the Southern Teton Area Rapid Transit Board. 01/18/2020 _____________________________________________________ Seadar Davis, Vice Chair Date