R2002-31 ADOPTING COMPREHENSIVE CHANGES IN THE OPERATIONS OF THE TRANSIT SYSTEM

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DECATUR PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM - PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES - FEBRUARY 7, 2002 (ATTENDANCE: 9 citizens. See sign-in sheet.) I. Welcome and Overview of the Transit Study: Paul McChancy II. Explanation of Route Restructuring; 1. New Route Names and Numbers: Richard Foiles 2. Explanation of New Routes and Frequency of Service: Kathy Moore with George Sinith -----Coininents and Questions: a. Will the Water route still go to Decatur Memorial Hospital,(DMH) and the YMCA? Answer: No. At this time we don't pro�ose to run the Water route over to DMH. The hospital has gotten the City to close some streets in front of the hospital, and we don't know what is about to happen with inore road closings. So we can't plan on access to DMH and the YMCA. b. (Discussion on streets closed or left open in the area of DMH). c. Senior citizens as well as young people use the bus to the YMCA. I hope you'll service the YMCA. Response: We'll continue to look into some way to service DMH and the YMCA, to see if there is any way to get to thein. d. Does the City even consider Transit's needs before they close streets? Answer. I'm sure that they consider Transit. However, these recommendations are made by the engineering department of the City, and Transit really doesn't have much ', input with them. I ' e. How long will you try out these proposed changes? Answer: These changes will 'I stay in place at least 6 inonths. I�uring those 6 inonths, we'll do a better job of , ' tracking the numbers of riders on each route, even by time of day, so we can really ' evaluate how well each route is doing. f. I'm concerned about tax money leaving the City, going to the Hickory Point Mall, since Forsyth doesn't support the Transit System. Response: We are trying to market the transit system to meet the needs of the traveling public. Taking shoppers and workers to the Mall is one way of marketing the systein - jetting people to start using the buses for all type of trips. This also gives the people of Decatur more opportunities, more places they can go by bus, even if it is outside of Decatu:. g. Does Forsyth subsidize the transit systein? Answer: Yes, they pay a certain ainount for every passenger we carry to or froin Forsyth. We plan to meet with them to discuss updating this arrangement. h. Where can the buses stop on US 51 by the Mall? Answer: The way the route is operated today, there's no safe place for the buses to stop along US 51 by the Mall. With the changes in this route that we're proposing, the buses will be able to stop safely just past the first (southernmost) traffic lights at the road that goes back to Menards.