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TRANSPORTATION THINK TANK AGENDA FOR MEETING #8: MAY 5, 1999

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** NEXT MEETING: Wednesday May 5, 5 pm at CAFE BRASIL **
** 1410 Mission Street in Santa Cruz. All are invited. **
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The AGENDA for the May 5th meeting will involve a discussion of a
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Highway 17 Express
Bus 1998 On-Board Passenger Survey. It is possible that Chris
Augenstein from VTA will be there to facilitate the discussion.
Chris sent us a copy of the summary report of the survey, which I now
have. The survey was conducted in the Spring of 1998. It is a 31-page
single-sided document. I will make a few copies (double-sided, so as
to make only 16 pieces of paper per copy) for those that wish them.[1]

It is a fascinating document, with lots of information, including not
only the almost universal spontaneously expressed praise for driver Mark
Krovetz, and the observation that over half the riders have an income of
over $50,000, but also information that provides good guidance for
prioritizing improvements, such as the fact that over 36 per cent of the
riders have Santa Cruz City zip codes and nearly 10 per cent have Aptos
zip codes, and that nearly 80 per cent of the riders have internet access.

It also makes it clear that the service is very popular with its riders.

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The AGENDA will also include discussion for how our TTT can assist
with the issues currently before the Santa Cruz County Regional
Transportation Commission---on how to prioritize the fifty-item "wish
list" for improvements to the Route 1 corridor from Santa Cruz to
Watsonville. The issues are more complex than just choosing between
"widening the highway" and "providing passenger service on the rail line".

For example, Peter Beckmann told me that he would be willing to chair
a subcommittee of three or so people that would work to attach to each
wish list item, in addition to its cost (which the RTC staff plans to
do), an estimate of its life cycle. Others have suggested that we
gather information on what Santa Clara and Monterey Counties are
planning so that we, as a community, can see how our community's plans
might form a part of the larger picture. No doubt many of you will
have additional suggestions for what we might do, AS THE "TRANSPORTATION
THINK TANK", to provide useful assistance in these difficult decisions.
Large amounts of money could be available, and that money should be spent
so as to provide the greatest benefit to our community.

Well, as you can see, it is likely to be a lively meeting, with engaging
tasks to undertake. Hope you can make it. It's a way to "get places
socially".

-- Peter Scott (notice-sender)

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[1] Let me know if you would like a copy of the Route 17 passenger
survey summary report, so I will know how many copies to make.


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