Transportation Advisory Committee

AGENDA Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting 10:00 AM - Wednesday, December 10, 2025 City Hall Council Chambers Page 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2.1. Approval of the Transportation Advisory Committee June 11, 2025 meeting 3-4 minutes. 6-11-2025 Meeting Minutes 3. TOPICS OF DISCUSSION 3.1. Result on Low or No Emission Grant Program and Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Program 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 3.2. Elixr Building Update (future home of Hermann Express) 3.3. Update from Sarah Berg, Lead Driver  Ridership report usage for July 2025 to December 2025  Staffing 3.4. Update on Free Fare for Riders to Farmer's Market on Hermann Express and Heartland Express 3.5. Offer Free Rides for National Guard Members 3.6. Holiday Hours  Close at noon December 24th  Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day 3.7. Emerson Union Bench Ideas 3.8. Explore Additional Advertising for Hermann Express 3.9. Hermann Express 2026 Funding 3.10. Other discussion 4. MEMBERSHIP 4.1. Fill vacancies for following members:  Michelle Markgraf resigned 12-11-2023 (Citizen Representative)  Kim Marstone resigned 11-15-2025 (Brown County Representative) 5. NEXT MEETING 5.1. Select next meeting date of June 3, 10 and 17, 2026 6. ADJOURNMENT Page 1 of 4 Page 2 of 4  City of New Ulm Transportation Advisory Committee June 11, 2025 Meeting Minutes Attendance Pat LaCourse, Chair Present Kim Marstone Absent Nathan Moldan, Vice-Chair Present Eric Warmka Present Joseph Stadheim, Secretary Present Chris Dalton Present Anne Broskoff Present Tom Henderson Present Scott Windschitl Absent 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 December 18, 2024 Transportation Advisory Committee meeting, seconded by Chris Dalton. All ayes and carried. 3. Discussion 3.1 Electric Buses. Due to the buses not meeting the requirements of the routes the commitment to purchase has been cancelled. Testing for battery life was not favorable. There was hope to change to propane but that was not allowed under the grant. 3.2 Low or No Emission Grant Program New program for grant opportunities. Will need letter or resolution of support from City Council. Would cover 2 buses and needed infrastructure, tanks and filling stations. 3.3 Vehicle Addition for Hermann Express Questions on if we will see increases in ridership with an additional bus? Two buses would make the routes more rider friendly by reducing rider stop times, would possibly help increase ridership with shorter wait times along the route. Consensus is to move forward with two. There is interest in adding additional stops and two routes would allow that. 3.4 Elixr Building Update On hold until determination on the propane gas grant application and needs for complete buildout. 3.5 Lead Driver Update Sarah Berg shared information relating to 2025 ridership. 476 in January, 433 in February, 533 in March, 485 in April, 582 for May. Year to date: 2,509 riders, 73 free rides, 63 PreK. Compared to same time frame in 2024 – 2,233 rides, 46 free and 66 PreK; representing an 11% increase for 2025. Page 3 of 4  There is a request for a bench at Emerson Union by a rider. Could apply to the Optimist Club for funding. Will be explored further by Sarah Berg. 3.6 Free Rides for Farmer’s Market Free rides will be given to the Farmers Market through grant funding from MN Department of Ag. 3.7 Continuation of Free Rides for Veterans Consensus was to continue with the free rider program. 3.8 City Expenses for Hermann Express Operation in 2024 Billing came through this month for the operating expenses in 2024. 3.8 Other No other business. 4. Next Meeting Date 4.1 The next meeting date was set for December 10, 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 12:22 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Joseph Stadheim City Engineer Page 4 of 4