City of Lawrence

Public Transit Advisory Committee

November 11, 2014 minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Alan Black, Jane Huesemann, Mark Hurt, Lyle Hettinger, James Pavisian, Heather Thies, Marian Hukle, Jenny Erice

MEMBERS ABSENT:

James Canaday   

STAFF PRESENT:

Robert Nugent, Serena Pearson, Wendy Koerner, Mike Sweeten, Todd Girdler, Jessica Mortinger, Danny Kaiser

PUBLIC PRESENT:

None

 

1. Call to Order

Marian Hukle, Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:10. Quorum.

 

2. Introductions

Introductions went around the room.

 

3. Approval of Minutes from September 9, 2014

Minutes were approved. Motion: Moved by Heather Thies, Mark Hurt seconded, all in favor, no opposed.

 

4. Art and Image (Action Item)

Serena Pearson discussed how we would like to incorporate art on our buses, as well as the future transit center.  We discussed ideas about art on buses with the new Art Director Christina McClelland. We would like to have an art contest, where people can submit ideas and the winning images would be displayed on the outside of our city buses. KU will be working toward a new design for their new buses and we would like to incorporate some of their ideas.

 

Danny Kaiser explained how they use their buses for various reasons – tours, events, etc. 

They have had the same design on their buses for the last 8 years and they would like to move toward a different design. Their goal is to connect everyone on campus, build an awareness of KU on Wheels for visitors, and be safe, green and accessible. The KU buses currently are blue with a small Jayhawk on them. He showed an example of how the Jayhawk image will look different.  The bird will be larger and more visible on the rear side of the bus.  Also, the red stripe will be bigger to increase visibility. The beak on the front will look more an actual beak. They would like to put fun, informative messages above the windows of each bus. These messages will be geared towards college students. They will keep the design similar to design in the past.  These new designs will be featured on the new delivery of buses next summer. The existing buses may have the new beak and catch phrases on them, but not the Jayhawk image.

 

Serena Pearson stated that we would like the winning design(s) to be something identifiable to the people of Lawrence. People identify with art and it can bring the community together.  It also helps with co-branding our two services together.  The winning designs would be displayed in a similar fashion to the Jayhawk on the rear of the KU buses.

 

The Kansas City Area Transit Authority hired a company to do a branding presentation to bring the four Kansas City transit agencies together – KCATA, The Jo, Indie Bus and Unified Government.  In order to brand the four entities, they will need a common regional transit map, signage, website, fare system and name. In Lawrence, we have also worked toward this goal to brand Lawrence Transit and KU on Wheels together. We have many of the elements – the map, signage, and website and fare system.  Plus, we are working toward a similar bus design.

 

Bob Nugent stated in 2009 we started to migrate toward a common theme.  Our colors have changed, and we added the slogans that we have on our hybrid buses.  We will put art in the same location on our buses as the Jayhawk will be on the KU buses.  We would like the image to be representative of Lawrence.

 

Lyle Hettinger asked if the image for Lawrence is “The Flame?”  Bob Nugent said yes, but we are not sure if we want to get to that place.  The Flame may represent Lawrence, but we can come up with a unique design. The art would be placed on a vinyl wrap to be placed on the bus, which would give the artist the opportunity to have their art on the bus for a long time. We started this with Van Go, and we are continuing to create partnerships in the community. Lawrence is working towards becoming an art community.

 

Jenny Erice likes the idea of this. We are already considered a music Midwest mecca, and we are moving toward being more of an arts community. 

 

Bob Nugent said that many communities are featuring art on buses, but maybe not at this level.  If all of the buses have different art on them, this will attract positive attention to our buses.  We would like PTAC to give us direction on where to go on art – inside the buses, outside the buses and at the new Transit Center.

 

Alan Black was concerned that if all buses are different, how will people know it is a bus they can take?  Bob Nugent stated that the only part of the bus that would look different would be the back. The rest of the bus would look the same. This would create consistency and help with co-branding.

 

Jim Pavision asked who would determine the winners. Bob Nugent stated that we will need the profession community to help us with this and a panel of judges.

 

Mark Hurt asked when PTAC would see the art. It would be nice for the committee to see the art before it gets put on bus. Bob Nugent suggested that we could have PTAC subcommittees to be involved in this project, also all PTAC members would be invited to participate. 

 

Action: Marian Hukle asked if we want to start incorporating art in what we do.  PTAC can give direction on how we would like to use art and where we would place it on buses and at Transit Center.  Motion:  Jim Pavision motioned to approve art on the buses, second Lyle Hettinger, all in favor, no opposed. 

   

5. 21st Street Neighborhood Meetings (Discussion)

Bob Nugent gave an update on the neighborhood meetings on the Transit Center.  There were three meetings held in a workshop setting with residents in the neighborhood impacted by the transit center.  Traffic studies were completed which led to working with the neighborhood on mitigation studies.

 

The neighborhood groups were concerned about through-traffic and speed. They would like to realign 21st and Stewart.  An idea was suggested to realign 21st Street to create a “T” into Stewart Avenue.  This idea also included a diverter. There will be no eastbound traffic coming in on 21st Street from Iowa Street. After the diverter, the people in the neighborhood would have two-way traffic.  In order to reduce speed, they incorporated two chicanes east on Ousdahl Road.  

 

Alan Black asked why there is a concern of extra traffic on 21st Street. He also asked if there will there be a park and ride lot at the new transit center. Bob Nugent replied that if we put in a traffic signal at 21st Street and Iowa Street the traffic will increase. We are working to control the amount of traffic and the speed of the traffic coming through the neighborhood. No, there will not be a park and ride lot. 

 

Jim Pavision asked what the cost of this will be. Bob Nugent answered that the cost of the traffic light and realignment of the intersection will be around $500,000.  We have the money set aside to do this. The main issue will be whether the neighborhood will vote to approve the traffic calming ideas.  

 

Jane Huesemann asked if Olsson put together the traffic calming options.  Bob Nugent said yes, and City engineers also weighed in on the process. All options were presented.  Then, the neighborhood group made the choice on what they wanted. 

 

6. Transit Center (Discussion Item)

Bob Nugent explained that this item was supposed to go before the commission by end of November, but it will probably be later, maybe January.  There is not a date set at this time. There will be preparatory meetings with city engineers, planners and Olsson before this goes to the City Commission.

 

Jane Huesemann asked if they could be notified before this item goes before the City Commission.

Bob Nugent said that PTAC will be notified.  There is no action to be taken at this time. 

 

7. Quick Updates

A. Venture Park and East Hills Business Park – Bob Nugent explained that the road between East Hills and Venture Park is now open.  We would like to get our bus service off of K-10 and use this road instead.  It is not a safe situation for buses to be operating on K-10. This new route would give us the opportunity to serve the Community Shelter and cross the highway at the traffic light. We are not sure if this change will happen next August or not. 

 

B. Route 2 – Bob Nugent said that we are now providing service to Rock Chalk Park on Route 2. It has been a “soft” rollout, but in January we will begin to market the route. Bob Nugent stated that we will need a bus stop sign at Rock Chalk Park.  The bus will stop every 30 minutes. 

 

Jane Huesemann stated that the Sports Pavilion is the new gym practice space for basketball and soccer. We could notify the agencies that are running these programs to increase ridership. Everyone agreed that this is a good idea.

 

Jim Pavision asked if we have a plan for more buses to Rock Chalk Park for events. 

Bob Nugent said not at this time.  We don’t know where we would have people park their vehicles and we would need to know where people are coming from.  We could plan on putting a larger bus on the route during an event.  If it is a KU event, they could provide charter service.

 

C. Johnson County Transit and KCATA – Johnson County Transit will be managed by KCATA (Kansas City Area Transit Authority) starting in January 2015. KCATA is also looking to manage Independence and Wyandotte transit systems as well. It will be great for their passengers.

 

Marian Hukle asked if Johnson County will still need our funding. Bob Nugent said that he did not know. If Johnson County does not have staff to evaluate routes, then KCATA will do that. KCATA knows how to evaluate routes so they will be able to do something to look at the K-10 route. We don’t know yet if we will continue to help fund that route. Johnson County did receive the $120k this year and it was approved for next year. Starting in the spring of 2015, Dave Corliss has committed to having PTAC learn about the budget process. 

 

Alan Black asked if it is conceivable that there will be a bus route from Lawrence to downtown Kansas City, and if it will still be called Johnson County Transit. Bob Nugent said that it will still be called Johnson County Transit for a while and he is not sure about service changes.

 

Bob Nugent stated that there is also a possibility of a route from Lawrence to Topeka.

Todd Girdler stated that there is no secured funding for operational expenses for a route from Lawrence to Topeka, but the ridership feasibility looked very good. Topeka is very interested in the route. This has been in the works for around 10 years. 

 

 

 

8. Public Comment:

No public to comment

 

9. Next Meeting (Proposed):

January 13, 2015

 

10. Adjournment

Meeting was adjourned at 5:15 p.m.

 

-Submitted by Serena Pearson