Public Transit Advisory Board

August 2025 PTAB Minutes Monday, August 25, 2025 3:30 PM Cooper Room City Center 231 N Dakota Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57104 Staff Liaison: Bren Schweitzer, bren.schweitzer@siouxfalls.gov (605) 367-8689 Fletcher Lacock, fletcher.lacock@siouxfalls.gov (605) 367-8896 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 (TTY) 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING. Facilitator - Chair Quorum Determination Quorum was met with four board members present: Johannesen Absent: Tschetter Whiting Sonsalla Gutierrez Cleveringa Abbott Call To Order Meeting Procedures - City Staff - B. Schweitzer Approval of Agenda - Chair Board Member Joni Tschetter made the motion to adopt The August Agenda. Board Member Sonsalla seconded the motion.  The motion Passed 4 to 0. PTAB Meeting Minutes - Chair Board Member Royal Sonsalla made the motion to adopt the June 2025 Minutes. Board Member Tschetter seconded the motion. Voice vote to adopt: 4 Yes: Johannesen, Tschetter, Sonsalla, Cleveringa 0 No: (None). Motion Passed. Unfinished Business a. PTAB Members Report on Bus Rides Staff: Tschetter, Johannesen, Cleveringa, Sonsalla PTAB Members shared their recent experience riding SAM, both Fixed Route and On- Demand systems. Ease of app use, time factors and exceptional customer service by dispatch and drivers were noted. . Facilities Update - SAM Offices & Depot Renovation Staff: Bren Schweitzer Schweitzer reported on the upcoming remodel of the interior of the Depot, which is projected to begin late fall. Improvements include adding space for ticket agents/dispatch, staff break room, and updates to the restrooms. Safety and security updates will be added. The restrooms at the SAM offices will also be refreshed and updated. New Business a. Via Update Staff: Torin Kalberg Kalberg presented the SAM update to include: • July and year-to-date ridership statistics. Total ridership Y-T-D: 400,863 (+19%) • Enunciators have been installed in all Fixed Route vehicles. These allow safer, more efficient ADA communication for passengers and drivers. • Implementing distance caps to ensure On-Demand does not absorb trips that should be served by fixed route; will help improve On-Demand availability. The three-leg intermodal will allow the rider to plan trips that could include micro -fixed route- micro. This distance cap will impact rides of 6 miles or greater. • Internal studies are being done on the discounted fare programs, fare structures, etc. Any future considerations will be communicated with PTAB and through public engagement. This includes the Pass-it-On program. b. Grant submission to FTA for Bus Shelters/ADA Stop Improvements Staff: Bren Schweitzer Schweitzer reported that a competitive 5339 (Capital) Grant application has been submitted for the purpose of replacing, adding and updating bus shelters and bus stops for the redesign of the Fixed Route system. Current bus shelters are approximately 30 years old. These bus stop improvements will be phased in using grant funds, if awarded, or city funds. Notification of grant awards will be in September or October. Work has been done by SAM, Public Works and Planning & Development to assess needs. c. Rep. Johnson's Legislative Director's Tour of SAM Staff: Torin Kalberg Rep. Dusty Johnson’s Deputy Chief of Staff/Legislative Director, Elizabeth Walters, toured the SAM facility and spoke with Kalberg and Schweitzer. The updated system redesign was discussed, along with facility needs and ongoing national transit safety concerns. d. Pass-it-On Program Review Update Staff: Torin Kalberg The above Via update addressed the ongoing work with reviewing the Pass-it-On program, as well as other fare programs. More information will be provided in the upcoming months. Operations Report - Operations Report is now included with the SAM update. a. Ridership Stats for May/June/July; Summer Free Fare Friday Update Staff: Torin Kalberg/Glenn Wright The Free Fare Friday promotion that has been in effect this summer, ending 8-29- 2025, has been well received. Public input on non-agenda items - Chair Public input was given on the following: Positive choice rider experience with SAM, reminder that public transit is an economic investment, On-Time-Performance for Paratransit frustration, scheduling oversight for vehicle capacity, reminder of the limited phone availability by some passengers. Adjourn