Transportation Committee Meeting

February 14, 2008

Kendall 209

9:00 am

Present: Bev Gentry; Julie Wright; Cale Whitehouse, Lesley Curry; Suzie Littrell, Tom Varga; Matt Hansen; Ken Sator; Lindsey Lipski; Alan Rellaford, Russ Mills; Anne Bykerk-Kauffman; Rick Rees; Matthew Hansen; Lindsey Lipski

Update from Bicycle Subcommittee: Subcommittee was organized to look at the City of Chico bike map. BCAG is using campus GIC to create a map for the City of Chico. A list of suggestions from campus was sent to BCAG. Alan Rellaford also offered services in design. Not sure when BCAG and GIC plan to have redesign ready; next round will probably be done in a couple of weeks. Possible completion date is mid June. They were hoping for completion by Bike Week, but that will not happen. Russ Mills is working on connectivity between bike ways on the map.

Side note:

Chico Bike week is May 11-16, 2008

B-Line’s Spare the Air Week is April 26-May 3, 2008

Used Bike Auctions will occur April 2 & 29, 2008

Bev Gentry reported the students who did presentation at previous meeting about their bike program are drafting a Bike Wildcat business plan; they may have an update at the next meeting.

Update on Transportation Demand Management Request for Proposal: The RFP went out; it closed on Jan 31^st. Committee that is selecting consultant met last week. Procurement will issue an offer to the selected consultant. Once an executed contract is in place, the consultant will have 6 months to complete the project. This consultative process will be used as an opportunity to obtain input from different groups (e.g. neighborhoods, what they’ve been asking for, etc.).  If a contract is executed this month, completion is anticipated for late August.  

Parking & Transportation Strategies for the Future – Bev Gentry presented a draft of Parking and Transportation Strategies for the Future. She reminded the group that the recommendations made by this committee typically go to the Vice President for Business & Finance.  She has been given responsibility of overseeing Parking and Transportation issues (including the Parking budget) for campus and realized there are some needs for changes. She hopes her presentation helps this committee draft ideas to bring to the VP. From there, it may go to other committees, (like fee committee, etc.) Wants input from this committee, to formalize a presentation of recommendations for the VP.

Beverly said the campus has taken steps (Parking Study completed by Fehr & Peers | Kaku in Aug 2007) to come up with some of these strategies. She continued that the needs of the campus have changed over the years; she believes we need strategies in place to guide those changes.

She reminded the group that “TAPS” – Transportation & Parking Services – came from a sub-committee from this group. Last year it was determined we needed one website or web portal that brought together parking and alternative transportation information.  Additionally, the sub-committee discussed that they did not want the focus to be “parking” nor did they want to make walking, biking, busing, etc just “alternatives” to parking. Thus, the website title Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) was created, as well as a virtual department on the web. Coordination of the site and TAPS was assigned to Bev because she was overseeing the budget for Parking Services.

The mission of TAPS is “To promote and facilitate access to the University through the coordination of transportation, alternative transportation programs, and parking services.” In other words, how to get people to, through, and around campus.

Beverly presented various ideas for the future potential of Transportation & Parking Services and how it supports the university’s strategic plan.

These ideas include:

1)            Transportation Access Strategy – more collaboration is needed; we need to look at how it impacts campus neighbors; the class schedule, etc.

2)            Transportation Modes Strategy – Promote “alternative” modes of transportation as main transportation modes, track annual transportation data, market current modes, develop new programs and/or grow current programs, and fund incentive programs. Currently there is some survey data; last year’s sub-committee assisted in creating flyers which are put in new student orientation envelopes, new employee orientation packets, and housing folders (for marketing purposes).Have had discussions about re-doing car pool program; believes there is a need to fund incentive programs.  The Transportation Demand Management plan will provide valuable input regarding modes of transportation.

3)            Parking Types Strategy – Overview of different types of permits currently being sold and explanation of how payroll deduction works (only deduct 9 months out of the year, even if calendar year permit is purchased). Discussion regarding various ideas.  

4)            Funding Strategy – Explanation of current budgets; there are no state (tax) dollars that support parking or alternative transportation on this campus. Funding for parking is user-fee based.  Currently, the number of parking spaces ultimately drives parking permit revenues and fines & forfeitures revenue (which funds alternative transportation). Every time we take space away, we reduce funding for parking and alternative transportation. Various data shared re: funding sources; expenses; B-line ridership data.

5)            Communication Strategy – Need to market alternative transportation, communicate any upcoming changes. Ensure TAPS website is used as a portal to transportation and parking information.

6)            Performance Indicators Strategy – Bev reported there is a need to track transportation and parking data more consistently. She said she is using the draft transportation survey (that this committee reviewed) with surveys from other CSU’s to create a survey with core questions that the CSU campuses can use. Suggested that other things be tracked, such as how the class schedule impacts parking. Continue to research – look at grants; sustainability measures. Also, work with AS on student support. The A.S. has been coming to us also.

7)            Parking Fees Strategy – Data presented related to KAKU Parking Needs Assessment; where CSU Chico compares to other CSU’s; discussed issues dealing with parking space to student FTE ratio and other matters relating to parking fees, such as metered parking, fees for vendor permits, etc.   Discussed increased access to parking while encouraging the use and vitality of alternative transportation and the potential recommendation for substantial fee increases.

Bev said the next step is to present recommendations to Vice President Graham from this committee. Rick Rees said he would like to talk about these issues more; others agreed. It was suggested the committee meet again prior to the next scheduled monthly meeting to discuss these issues in particular. A special meeting to be announced within the next week or so.

Meeting adjourned at 10:38 pm.