Transportation Advisory Committee

AGENDA Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting 10:00 AM - Wednesday, June 11, 2025 City Hall Council Chambers Page 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2.1. Approval of the Transportation Advisory Committee December 18, 2024 3-4 meeting minutes 12-18-24 Meeting Minutes 3. TOPICS OF DISCUSSION 3.1. Electric Buses  Cancelling commitment to purchase 3.2. Low or No Emission Grant Program and Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Program  Grant application to cover cost of for a bus and infrastructure  Application deadline is July 14th  Request letter of support from the City Council by June 27, 2025 https://www.transit.dot.gov/lowno - Low or No Emission Grant Program https://www.transit.dot.gov/bus-program - Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Program 3.3. Add Two Vehicles for Hermann Express  Determine if necessary  Double the cost; double ridership 3.4. Elixr Building Update 3.5. Update from Sarah Berg, Lead Driver  Ridership report usage for December 2024 to June 2025  Staffing 3.6. Offer Free Fare for Riders to Farmer's Market on Hermann Express and Heartland Express  Partner with New Ulm Chamber  Grant was awarded to cover costs for ridership 3.7. Continuation of Free Fare for Veterans 3.8. Update on City Expenses for Operation of Hermann Express in 2024 3.9. Other discussion 4. NEXT MEETING 4.1. Select next meeting date of December 3, 10 or 17, 2025 5. ADJOURNMENT Page 1 of 4 Page 2 of 4  City of New Ulm Transportation Advisory Committee December 18, 2024 Meeting Minutes Attendance Pat LaCourse, Chair Present Kim Marstone Absent Nathan Moldan, Vice-Chair Present Eric Warmka Present Joseph Stadheim, Secretary Present Chris Dalton Absent Anne Broskoff Present Tom Henderson Present Scott Windschitl Present Vacant Citizen Representative 1. Call to Order 1.1 Meeting was called to order by Chair LaCourse. 2. Secretary’s Report 2.1 Eric Warmka made a motion to approve the meeting minutes from the June 12, 2024 Transportation Advisory Committee meeting, seconded by Scott Windschitl, with correction that an architect has not been hired for the Elixir building. All ayes and carried. 3. Discussion 3.1 Electric Buses. State has notified that the electric busses will both be covered 100% under the Grant, no City share will be required. Slow process for getting buses delivered due to manufacturing delays. 3.2 City of Morris Visit Received electric bus grant in 2021 and estimated delivery of those buses is spring of 2025. Will be going to look at storage and setup for the electric buses. Pat will let the Committee know when the visit will be happening for those wanting to attend. 3.3 Elixir Building Update Grant will cover outfitting and retrofitting of the Elixir building to accommodate the electric buses. Pat is hopeful that it will also cover items for a wash bay as well. Should fund training for staff on maintenance and operations. Scott gave an update on the Elixir Building. Brown County will purchase the building, estimated early to mid-January. Looking at a number of options for the building with a focus on bus storage. Was shared with Nicollet County as part of the Brown/Nicollet partnership. Will be working with all parties utilizing the building, including MRCI. Will look at design options with an architect once hired. Will be looking at additional Committee meetings once the design process begins. 3.4 Parade of Lights Hermann Express participated in the 2024 Parade of Lights. Page 3 of 4  3.5 Staff Training New staff are being trained on Heartland and Hermann routes. 3.6 Lead Driver Update Sarah Berg provided an update and ridership numbers from June to December 2024. June 401 July 436 August 420 September 448 October 491 November 506 with an average of 450 per month in 2024. Attended Minnesota Public Transit Conference. Visited with software and bus sale vendors to get information and make contacts. New driver has been trained and additional being trained, along with cross training with Heartland. 3.7 Bus Stop Snow Removal Future discussion will be needed for future maintenance for bus stops and snow removal at shelters with City staff as structures are built at some stops. 3.8 Other League of Women Voters had representatives in attendance. Radios have been updated and installed using the ARMER system. Provides good coverage over the entire County. Old bus will be used for Fire Department training, possibly in the spring of 2025. Parts are being salvaged off the old bus. 4. Next Meeting Date 4.1 The next meeting date was set for June 11, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. A meeting may be called before that if determined necessary by Chair LaCourse. 5. Announcements and Adjournments 5.1 Chair LaCourse adjourned the meeting at 12:33 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Joseph Stadheim City Engineer Page 4 of 4