Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTransportation Coordination Committee - Minutes - 8/23/20211 BAYFIELD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TRANSPORTATION COORDINATING COMMITTEE MICROSOFT TEAMS MEETING 8/23/2021 3 – 4 PM Committee Members Present: Perri Shuga-Campell, Jeremy Oswald, Mary Dougherty, Carla Becker, Carrie Linder Committee Members Excused: Jeff Benton, Beth Probst Committee Member Absent: Staff Present: Elizabeth Skulan, Other Present: Pat Daoust, Jenise Swartley Call to Order and Introductions Mary Dougherty called the meeting to order at 3:03 PM. Agenda item (List each individually and provide brief overview) 1. Discussion and Possible Action – Review of the April 20, 2021 Meeting Minutes Motion by Jeremy, second by Carrie to approve the minutes, motion carried. 2. Rural Transportation Grant-Update by Pat Daoust Grant Status Update: FTA is still reviewing the grants despite it being past the initial notification date they set. They have not given an updated timeline for notification of the grant. Pat believes there were a lot of applicants but is optimistic that the BART/Bayfield County application is competitive. Review of Application Details: The application proposed a door-to-door van service with no fixed route through all of Bayfield County. This service would transport people anywhere within Bayfield County as well as to Ashland and Hayward. On-demand service would be available, but riders are requested to schedule their rides ahead of time to ensure that transportation is available when they need it. BART would have the flexibility to adjust the hours of service as they discover which days and hours are most popular. Rides will be shared with multiple riders as able. This service is considered “paratransit.” Funding Update: There is still the possibility to run the program even if we do not receive the grant. Funding can come from the 5311 grant/program. The 5311 grant can provide 50% of the funding, the 8520 grant can provide 12.6%, fare box can provide 12%, and the local share can provide 25%. Discussion regarding funding a service like this or a fixed route bus service withing Iron River. Pat included the Iron River route in the 2021 budget, so could start that as soon as permission is granted and local share secured. If a door-to-door service is considered more of a priority rather than Iron FINAL-APPROVED 2 River service, funds may be reallocated to do so. A door-to-door service may also show what the demand to Iron River is and show whether or not a bus service for Iron River is necessary or not. Discussion regarding the local share of $25,000 took place. This would alleviate the risk of using grant money that needs to be directed to services that are utilized by certain percentages of older adults and people with disabilities since we do not know who will be utilizing this new service. The County is currently going through the budget process, and we have the ability to ask the county to direct funding to the door-to-door van service. Mary sees the need for this service due to the requests for transportation received by CORE Community Resources. Both Jeremy and Mary are willing to advocate for this funding from the general county budget. There is also the possibility that ARPA funds could be directed to this service. ARPA funds do not need to be spent until the end of 2024. If the grant is received, the ARPA funds can be put on hold until the grant funding runs out. 3. Review and refine TCC’s goals and activities How can we continue to do transportation better in Bayfield County? What is the TCC’s role in it? Work on getting the door-to-door service will continue as the main priority. This will include evaluation and assessment of it’s success. 4. Discuss next action steps Carrie and Pat will put together a proposal by Thursday the 26th. Mary will present the proposal to Mark Ables-Allison and ask for it to be put on the Executive Committee’s agenda. The next DHS Board meeting is on Sept 23rd at 4 PM. If the Executive Committee approves the proposal, it will be presented to the DHS Board. Mary will give an update on the TCC committee and present the proposal, as appropriate. If it is passed by DHS board, it will be presented to the County Board on September 28th. Future Meeting Date Next meeting October 12th at 3 PM. Adjournment Motion by Jeremy, second by Carla to adjourn at 4:10, motion carried. Minutes respectfully submitted by Jenise Swartley on 8/30/21.