Fiscal Note
No funds required.
Title
AMENDED SUBSTITUTE - Creating an Ad Hoc Long Range Metro Transit Planning Committee.
Body
WHEREAS, the Madison Metro Transit bus system is experiencing an increase in passengers while it struggles deals with rapidly increasing fuel and other costs and increasing while state transit aid that are not keeping fails to keep pace with inflation; and
WHEREAS, in response to these pressures factors, policy makers have struggled been faced with the difficult choice of increasing fares, cutting service or increasing general tax fund support disproportionate to increases in support of Metro at levels higher than for other services; and
WHEREAS, several employers and schools, including the University of Wisconsin, St. Mary's Hospital, Edgewood College, MATC and the City of Madison, have found that providing their employees with free or reduced Metro fares can give their employees access to reliable workforce transportation which results in less need for expensive parking while giving their employees a significant benefit; and
WHEREAS, Madison Metro's is strategic plan calls for moving toward providing an ever more regional service by reaching out to our surrounding communities; and
WHEREAS, the Transit and Parking Commission, while providing excellent advice and direction for Metro in terms of short- and medium-range time horizons, cannot be expected to effectively explore long-range solutions to fundamental issues given the press of their routine business is best equipped to monitor and manage Metro operations;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Common Council hereby create an Ad Hoc Long Range Metro Transit Planning Committee to charged with exploreing ways of improving Metro service and while and securing adequate funding that moves Metro beyond the traditional alternatives cycle of fare increases, service cuts and extraordinary increases in general fund support; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the committee will be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Common Council and will be appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Common Council and that the Mayor will appoint three alders serving on composed of the Chair or his designee and three other members of the Transit and Parking Commission; two transit riders, one of whom is disabled one member of the ADA Transit Subcommittee who is eligible for paratransit; one low-income transit user; one city-appointed member of the Metropolitan Planning Organization; one member of the Contract Services Oversight Subcommittee; four representatives of the business community; one representative of the University of Wisconsin; and two one at-large members; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the committee is asked to address the following topics:
· Potential for the greater use of free or reduced pre-paid employee and/or student passes;
· Technological changes such as hybrid buses, alternative fuels and other technologies that might reduce costs;
· The possibility of the use of smaller buses and demand response, route deviation methods on certain generally low-use routes at certain off-peak times;
· The possibility of focusing on expanding the scope of inter-city commuter service;
· Opportunities for regional transit, potential structures for governance of a regional transit entity and necessary statutory changes;
· Opportunities for new revenue sources including advertising that have a regional focus and that include expanded advertising revenue;
· New or expanded techniques to market bus ridership transit;
· Other topics related to its charge that the committee deems appropriate.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the committee will keep track of and communicate with the Transport 2020 Implementation Task Force, including their Finance and Governance Subcommittee; the Transit and Parking Commission; and the Mayor's Street Car Study Committee.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the committee will target completion of its report, including recommendations to the Common Council and the Transit and Parking Commission, by October 1, 2006.