Public Transit Advisory Board

PUBLIC TRANSIT ADVISORY BOARD IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL MEETING October 23, 2023 3:30 PM Staff Liaison: Sam Trebilcock, strebilcock@siouxfalls.org (605) 367-8890 Bren Schweitzer, bschweitzer@siouxfalls.org (605) 367-8689 Karla Resendiz, kresendiz@siouxfalls.org (605) 367-8895 MEETING ASSISTANCE: UPON REQUEST, ACCOMMODATIONS FOR MEETINGS WILL BE PROVIDED FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. PLEASE CONTACT THE HUMAN RELATIONS OFFICE, FIRST FLOOR, CITY HALL, 224 WEST 9TH STREET, SIOUX FALLS, SD AT 367-8745 (VOICE) OR 367-7039 (TDD) 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING. Public Transit Advisory Board Member Participants: Erik Nelson, Jaime Johannesen, Joni Tschetter, Sean Garney, Bailey Abbott, Manny Gutierrez Public Transit Advisory Board Members Absent: Allen Svennes Staff Participants: Sam Trebilcock, Tierza Lanham, Pam Jump, Glenn Wright, Bren Schweitzer, Ryan Weisenbach Public Participants (attending virtually and in-person): Kobi R., Monte M., Phyllis A., Trevor M., Ben T., Sean H., Patty M., Karen W., Lori M., Deb O., Lydia L., Julie B., Tracy B., Denna H., Ariel, Emily, Stephen (Via). Minutes Call to Order and Quorum Determination: Erik Nelson, Chair called the meeting to order at 3:31 pm and welcomed all participants. Member participants represented a quorum. 1. Meeting Procedures: Sam Trebilcock read the meeting procedures for the PTAB meeting. 2. Approval of Agenda: A motion was made by Sean Garney, and a second by Jaime Johannesen to approve the October 2023 PTAB Agenda. Motion passed unanimously. 3. PTAB Meeting Minutes: A motion was made by Jamie Johannessen and a second by Sean Garney to approve the August 2023 PTAB Minutes. Motion passed unanimously. 4. Public input on non-agenda items: Phyllis A. had questions on the Route 7 inbound at 6th and Phillips.  Tyler from Mark Luke Construction – preparing to break ground at the intersection of 41st & Ellis. Interested in putting a bus stop at this location (3000 S. Ellis Road). Currently this is not in the service area of SAM. We have been in the process of updating the Transit Development Plan. Any changes would run through the required process of budgetary changes, updating routes and services, which include public input. It is a process. Erik did suggest contacting his City Council representative, which he has. Unfinished Business 5. MPO Human Services/Public Transit Coordination Plan – 5 Year Update - (Board Action) Sean Hegyi introduced himself from the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and noted that this plan includes the entire MPO area, which extends beyond Sioux Falls. The purpose of the federally required plan is to make recommendations to FTA for the use of the 5310 funds for nonprofit organizations which apply for funding to serve the elderly and disability communities. This plan assists in the decision- making process in 5310 funding allocations. This update process includes Stakeholder’s Meetings, Open House, Surveys, addressing training needs, etc. Outside areas that cannot be served by SAM are, in some cases, organizations that are utilizing a voucher system as a strategy to assist riders with the overall cost for transportation. Bailey Abbott made a motion to recommend this plan for approval, Jaime Johannesen seconded this recommendation. Motion passed. New Business 6. Pass it On program (Informational) Lori Montis, Deb O’Donnell and Lydia Lensegrav from Minnehaha County reported on this program that collaborates with SAM. There are 40,000 rides allowed through this program, provided to various nonprofit organizations for those people they serve. Most of these rides are for employment purposes, job searches, medical and family visits. The county pays for the printing of the tickets. The Data information provided in this report included the agencies that have access these passes. Feedback includes these bus passes help launch and lift these passengers out of homelessness and into employment. Challenges include SAM no longer allows transfers, which results in needing multiple bus passes, relocation of the state services offices (resulting in longer commutes with additional passes needed), growth of the city. The biggest challenge this year to the Pass It On Program was the delay of the printing of new passes. This reduced the number of passes that agencies could utilize over the past 6 months. Benefits of this program include the ability to repay debt to the state of South Dakota as many have access to employment through these bus passes. This included $472,000 repaid debt from January through Sept. 30th, 2023, which included fines and restitution, child support and other debt. 8: Via Team Presentation (Informational) Via has been selected to replace First Transit’s current management contract as of 1/1/2024. A very sincere thank you to Joni and Jaime, PTAB Board Members, for serving on this RFP selection process. Each gave a brief report of their experience with this decision. Ariel Gordon , Emily Shapiro, and Stephen Kendall from Via introduced themselves and presented a brief overview of their program that will take over January 1, 2024. Operations, technology, and people are Via’s strengths. Benchmarks and goals include:  Continuity  Technology  Partnership  SAM Team connection  Evolve Service over time  Planning Study PTAB and attendees were able to ask questions following the presentation. 7. Operations Report (Informational) Glenn Wright presented the ridership and operations data; ridership continues to increase; up 24.54% YTD in August from the previous year, up 20.16% YTD in September. This reflects all operation modes. Staffing update as requested by Erik: Fixed Route has 36 of 38 drivers needed for full services. Para has 20 of 23 drivers needed for full services. Next meeting will be November 27th. Adjourn: Motion by Sean Garney., second by Jaime Johannesen. 4:52 PM Minutes prepared by Bren Schweitzer