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 Committee members present were Jan Schumacher, Andy Anderson,
Scott Schaffenacker, David Blankenship, David Hepler and Kevin
Bateman. Guests were Laura Dick from Showbus, Diane Turner, Alison
Rumler-Gomez, and Mike Booher from Community Action, Chuck Ruben,
and Emily Davenport.
In the ongoing public transportation issue, Schumacher said that
after the committee talked about having proposals submitted, she
found out after talking to Laura Dick that proposals are
"cumbersome."
Dick said you can make certain changes once the application goes in,
if you go for a "large change within the application, you have the
risk of it taking so long that it could interfere with your service
for the rest of the year." She said IDOT is understanding about some
changes, but, "once you go into huge structural change, you have the
risk of IDOT simply withholding your money until the process is
done."
 Dick said that if it is a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) and it
involves federal money and IDOT, "it can take up to three months to
get permission to even go out for bids." She said with everything
that needs to be done, it could take up to six months to get
proposals approved and with a smaller IDOT staff, they see even more
delays. Dick said "the more you can keep your changes within a
certain parameter, safer you'll be for maintaining your funding for
FY 2016." She said that Showbus started this year with no contract
because of how far behind everything is.
Dick said a deviated fixed route could be done within the framework
of the application turned in in March without causing huge waves.
Schumacher said the committee was not aware of the process when they
voted last week, and they are "not looking to have that kind of
cumbersome process and delay."
Hepler made a motion that the board not go out for proposals.
Schumacher said they can change contracts without a proposal.
Bateman said he "does not understand the pushback from Community
Action."
Dick said whatever the decision would be, "the more you can do it in
a collaborative, non-competitive way, the better off you will be in
terms of selling any change to IDOT. If they sense there is any
controversy or conflict, they are going to back away and become
extremely conservative." She said the board should handle their
concerns internally then go to IDOT as a "united front with a
wonderful plan," so IDOT will respond well to their ideas.
A motion to not go out for proposals passed.
Schumacher said she is suggesting the board sets up a transportation
advisory committee to advise the board in implementing
transportation grants. She said the committee members would include
one member of the Logan County board, the county PCOM employee, one
member from the operator of the grant, a member from Mason County,
and five to seven at large members that may include a representative
from tourism, the city council, ALMH, Lincoln College, Lincoln
Christian University, Logan County Health Department, Logan County
Housing Authority, and Workforce Development.
Schumacher handed out a list that showed responsibilities of an
advisory committee. The committee would identify transportation
needs in Lincoln and Logan County, suggest transportation programs
to meet those needs and ways to implement them, help promote county
transportation programs to county residents, provide input to the
county and operator in preparing grant requests, and provide input
on effectiveness of transportation programs covered under grants to
the county.
Dick said that the responsibilities of transportation advisory
committees vary, but they all identify transportation needs, review
grants, review what kind of transportation is available, review what
needs are unmet, and try to coordinate all the transportation assets
in the county. Anderson said an advisory committee will go a long
way with seeing how Community Action will do.
A motion to establish an advisory committee passed. Appointments
will be made in November.
Schumacher said she talked to Alison Rumler-Gomez about moving
forward with a deviated fixed route with busses going along a fixed
route on a set schedule. Schumacher also said she asked Rumler-Gomez
if they could move forward with it.
Rumler-Gomez said it sounds like there is a lot to be done and she
is still hesitant to go in without having answers firmed up. She
said she wants more latitude with the timeline.
Schumacher said she is concerned that Rumler-Gomez is not
comfortable with a deviated fixed route.
Schumacher also said she is frustrated the program has not happened,
but does not want it to be contentious.
Rumler-Gomez said she is concerned about how success is measured
and the cost per mile with a deviated fixed route. She said she does
not want to be set up for failure and wants to know IDOT's standards
for success of routes. Rumler-Gomez said she wants clarity in how it
will be done.
Schumacher said she feels the "number one" determination of success
is ridership. Bateman said ridership and cost per mile would be
towards the bottom of the list.
Bateman said advertising and legwork are important, but the
problem is they cannot find anyone who wants to get it going.
Bateman said it would take one or two years to determine the success
of the program.
Schumacher said, "To me, success is having a deviated fixed
route" and "operating around town for a year."
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Anderson said he understands Rumler-Gomez's concerns. Bateman said you cannot
force people to ride.
Dick said that Showbus's deviated fixed routes have worked well and ridership
usually builds up in six months. She said a deviated fixed route is usually
cheaper than demand response routes and success is determined by positive
community feedback.
Dick also said a deviated fixed route brings more awareness of public
transportation as it reaches out to a brand new population and does not see how
it would fail in Lincoln. She said Lincoln could tap into students and people
who are working but do not have a car, so they would reach out to populations
who have never considered using these services before.
Bateman said he measures success by knowing two people are happy that there is a
route where they can get on a bus and go downtown or out to Walmart. He said
most people just think of Community Action as senior transport because that is
all it has ever been. Rumler-Gomez said that forty percent of the ridership is
under sixty years of age.
Schaffenacker asked if operating costs would increase due to a deviated fixed
route.
Bateman said yes, but there is enough in the grant to cover the increase. Ruben
said the grant is for about $600,000. Rumler-Gomez said they run about $440,000
annually. She said that there is a lot of money there, but the Downstate
Operating Assistance Program (DOAP) money only reimburses at sixty five percent,
and it requires a significant investment on the part or operators and grant
recipients.
Shumacher asked Dick how they match the money.
Dick said that service contracts from not-for-profits are the biggest ones. She
said to help with costs that some cities have contributed, some colleges add it
to student fees with students riding free, and other not-for-profit or social
services agencies can help make up the local match. Dick said for deviated fixed
routes, it is easier to find matching funds.
Schumacher said she is also frustrated a program has not happened, but "does not
want it to be contentious."
Rumler-Gomez said if Community Action has clarity about what success looks like,
they will do it. She said she feels a "lack of clarity in the hand off between
PCOM and Community Action" has been a source of past issues. Rumler-Gomez said
that if the board says "we'll develop the strategy, you'll implement, we're in."
She said if they specify seven stops or want Community Action on the advisory
council, "we're in."
Bateman said he wants to just get these routes started.
Anderson asked how soon the routes could be started.
Ruben said it is dependent on whether the state has a budget. He said the state
must approve it first.
Dick said that money from the state is part of a continuing appropriation and
you do not need a budget. She said that there is a chance DOAP money may be cut,
but money is beginning to flow again.
Schumacher said she does not envision that the routes would start until this
spring.
Bateman said the board could at least start a dialogue, figure out routes, ask
people questions, and get all the legwork going.
Rumler-Gomez said there may be staffing issues if these changes are made because
Community Action would need a transportation director and office person.
Schumacher said a transportation committee could help with that.
Hepler said he feels Showbus will take on more responsibility and let the board
focus on other issues.
Rumler-Gomez said she is committed to not interrupting services and that Dick
has told her Showbus could take over services if needed. Rumler-Gomez said she
still feels Community Action is the best fit, but has no reservations about
handing it over to Showbus if they cannot do it.
Anderson said he feels going with Showbus will put the community up in arms.
Hepler motioned to designate Showbus as the provider.
Hepler's motion to change operators failed 3-2-1.
Schaffenacker's motion to request that Community Action moves forward with
deviated fixed routes was approved by the committee.
The full board will vote on the motion at the regular board meeting on Tuesday,
October 20, 2015.
[Angela Reiners]
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