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TRANSPORTATION THINK TANK NOTES FROM MEETING #14: AUGUST 4, 1999

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<> NEXT MEETING: WEDNESDAY AUGUST 18, 1999 <>
<> Starting at 5 pm, at the APTOS FIRE HOUSE <>
<> 6934 SOQUEL DRIVE <>
<> (just beyond Cabrillo College) <>
<> SPECIAL GUEST: LINDA WILSHUSEN <>
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AGENDA for AUG 18: We have invited Linda Wilshusen, the Executive
Director of the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission,
to be our special guest. She will be available to share her views
regarding the recent actions taken by the Regional Transportation
Commission, vis-a-vis highway widening, the rail right-of-way, bus
funding, bike amenity funding and related issues. It should be an
interesting meeting, especially given recent press "coverage" of last
week's "HOT lane" recommendations. Everyone is invited to attend.

NOTES FROM AUGUST 4:

Our meeting began at Cafe Brasil with Jennifer Brager, Madeleine
Hormann, Ian McFadden, Jeff North, Celia Scott, Peter Scott, Janet
Singer, Michael Singer and Dave Walworth attending. Emily Reilly
arrived later. We especially welcomed Jennifer, who is working for
the SCMTD on Consolidated Operating Facility (Metrobase) plans, and Ian
and Jeff, who are Metro Bus drivers. Ian is Chair of the United
Transportation Union Local 23.

SCCRTC ISSUES:

Madeleine reviewed for us the likely process for the Regional
Transportation Commission's meeting August 5, noting that it was
planned that public testimony would end by 10 pm. [NOTE: it did, just.]

Ian mentioned the letter from Commissioners Norton, Rios and Almquist,
recommending that $200,000 (of the $450,000 already recommended for
the environmental study of a rail option) be spent to study the Coastal
Trolley proposal. [NOTE: At the RTC meeting, Commissioner Beiers
expressed a willingness to reconsider the Coastal Trolley (the
agreed-upon process allowed a previous "no" voter to re-introduce an
item), but seeing support from only four other commissioners
(Fitzmaurice, Norton, Rios and Almquist) decided not to re-introduce the
Coastal Trolley for consideration, since it would have needed six votes
to approve.]

Janet asked if the Coastal Trolley proposal had been spelled out more
clearly. The answer was no, that is what the $200,000 would be for.

Celia noted that the MTIS, by limiting its coverage to only the Santa
Cruz-to-Watsonville corridor, was incomplete in not covering the Highway
17 corridor. Later in our meeting she asked if any "origin/destination"
studies were included in the MTIS. The answer is that there is only a
parking lot/license plate survey done by Caltrans, in which a sample of
license plate numbers of cars parked in parking lots are noted, and the
owner's addresses are deduced. Celia noted that real origin/destination
data is essential to the transportation planning process.

Janet spoke of a possibility that Hwy 1 be designated by Caltrans as a
"focus" route in order to qualify for "interregional funding sources".
[We could ask Linda what this would imply.] Janet also mentioned that
Commissioner Gabriel is a supporter of HOT lanes on Hwy 1, but not
general purpose (GP) or high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes.

Ian noted that HOV lanes would invariably be later converted to GP
lanes, as has been experienced elsewhere.

There was some discussion of whether it is possible to convert GP or
HOV lanes to HOT lanes, but there was little knowledge about such a
possibility. [seems unlikely, especially GP -> HOT]

It was noted that the only operating HOT lanes in California are in
San Diego County with State Route 91 and I-15. [Both of these are
many-laned freeways.]

There was discussion relating to the "screening" [a brief noting] of
environmental issues of various options in the MTIS, with Janet speaking
especially of the rail line. Peter noted that his experience, as a
member of an environmental technical advisory group reviewing the MTIS
work, that many impacts of the highway-widening option were given short
shrift. Madeleine said that the MTIS may well have missed recognizing
potential environmental impacts.

BUS ISSUES:

Ian reminded us of some history, in that prior to the earthquake, bus
service in the southern part of the county, especially Capitola and
Watsonville, was better than it is now. For example, Watsonville used
to have eight routes; now it has four. The "aggressive" bus option
would allow us to pay attention to these shortcomings.

Ian also mentioned that the previous General Manager of the District
was wont to predict a 5 per cent per year DROP in bus service, whereas
now (especially with our new General Manager) just the opposite is
occurring, namely a 5 per cent per year INCREASE in service. [As we
have before mentioned, our 8 million annual ridership is the highest in
the nation for a district of our size, a fact some speakers at the RTC
hearing did not seem to realize. I wanted to jump up and shout at them.]

Ian also mentioned that the 50 per cent farebox recovery on the Hwy 17
Express is phenomenal. Celia also added that if the service were
improved [this seems likely to happen] it would be well-subscribed and
could provide significant relief to Hwy 17 congestion during commute
hours.

Peter mentioned that the quality of experience is also an important
factor on any kind of transportation mode, and mentioned again the
spontaneous positive remarks made by Hwy 17 Express riders about driver
Mark Krovetz.

Celia mentioned that cultural factors were important, noting that she
had just learned that in France, approximately 80 per cent of the
working force goes home for lunch.

Madeleine noted that some large employers are now recognizing the value
of "office parks" where employees can eat and relax, and so not have to
drive somewhere during the lunch hour.

Jeff noted the extent to which high schools are either already or
rapidly becoming auto-oriented. Madeleine noted that she routinely
walked a mile each way to school. Janet asked about school buses. Ian
remarked that the Live Oak School District asked to be served by the
SCMTD, and that service for SLV High School now costs about $100,000 per
year. Madeleine suggested that a school bus funding project might
qualify for a "grants for liveable communities" grant.

There was some discussion of whether compressed natural gas (CNG) was an
improvement over "clean diesel" as a fuel for buses and similar
vehicles. Michael noted that CNG was "more C02 efficient". Apparently
the Monterey Bay Air Pollution Control District likes CNG.

OTHER ISSUES:

Regarding bikes: Janet mentioned that Bruce Gabriel will propose that
significant funding of bicycle facilities. [NOTE: Commissioner
Wormhoudt suggested a figure of $20 million, which was unanimously
endorsed by the Commission.] Janet also suggested that Prop 116 funds
($11 million specifically earmarked for rail projects) could be
reprogrammed for bike use by the State California Transportation
Commission. She thought that the availability of this $11 million would
expire in June of next year.

Jeff noted an opinion piece he saw [alas, I forget where. Was it at the
Spokesman Bicycle Shop?] that suggested that we not have "free parking"
days, but rather "no parking" days.

We suggested that the "Metrobase" be a topic to be discussed at our next
meeting, which will be at the Aptos Fire House. [NOTE: It was
subsequently recommended that we postpone for a meeting or two the
discussion of a possible public forum relating to the "Metrobase" or
"COF", and that it would be more topical to continue our discussion of
RTC issues. Our next meeting (at the Aptos Fire House) will therefore
feature Linda Wilshusen, the Executive Director of the SCCRTC, as noted
at the start of these notes.]

-- Peter Scott, note-taker

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[p.s. I received a note from Rick Hyman regarding a new bus bike rack
that accommodates THREE bicycles. I don't know anything about the
specs, or whether they would work on our SCMTD buses. Here is the
reference:

http://www.moover.com/releases.htm
CONTACT: Randy Schoonmaker, 802-464-8487 RELEASE
DATE: June 1, 1999

West Dover, VT Those aren't horns on the cow spotted buses.
Instead they're the new bike racks on the DVTA's summer bus fleet.

Racks that will hold up to three bikes have been installed on the front
of the MOOver's three new International buses that were purchased last
fall. The racks are self-service and padded, and will provide more
mobility throughout the Valley for bikers of all ages. Racks will be
added to six other vehicles later this month. The racks were built by
Wilmington welder Marty Goodell of High Country Welding.]

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