Calendar > Westport Transit District Directors' Meetings > 3-9-2012 Agenda and Minutes

3-9-12 | Agenda and Minutes

AGENDA

1.  Approval of Minutes of January 27, 2012 Meeting
2.   Public Comment
3.   Ridership
4.  Survey Results
5.   State Budget
6.   Town Budget
7.   Other Business
      

MEETING | Minutes

Westport Transit District Directors:  Jim Hood (by telephone) and Bud Titsworth; RTM Transit Committee: Cornelia Olsen and Cathy Talmadge; and, Norwalk Transit District:  Louis Schulman and Nancy Carroll.

Cornelia Olsen and Cathy Talmadge, RTM Transit Committee members were present but had no comment. There was no other public comment.

Ridership

Mrs. Carroll shared ridership data through February 2012. Mr. Hood was pleased to see the upswing in ridership when comparing equivalent services.  Mrs. Carroll explained that this increase was consistent with other transit services.  However, it was noted, that the overall loss in ridership when comparing last year to this year (not equivalent services) was less than the proportionate decrease in Westport assistance. 

Survey Results

Both Directors indicated they needed more time to review the data before sharing the results.

State Budget

Mr. Schulman reported that FY’12 should end within budget.  He also reported that preliminary indications are the Governor reduced the budget for Public Transit by the amount that should be realized from the CTTRANSIT and Metro North fare increases.  This would suggest level funding or very modest increases.  Mrs. Carroll noted that the FY’13 budgets will be submitted to ConnDOT within the next couple of months.

Town Budget

Mr. Titsworth reported that the next Board of Finance (BOF) meeting is scheduled for 3/27/12 at 7:30 PM.  Additional information will be prepared for the Directors specific to questions that were posed at the February work session: costs for AM vs. PM service, and costs to provide service from the commuter lots located at exits 41/42 (RT 15) and exit 18 (I-95).  Mr. Schulman noted that adding another seat to a commuter’s travel is a disincentive, as well as sending them north.  He went on to say that the BOF’s suggestion that increased parking would eliminate the need for commuter services should only be evaluated when the actual parking becomes available. 

Other Business

Mr. Titsworth reported on a meeting held with new BOF members, Janis Collins and John Pincavage to give them more background on the Westport Transit District.  As a result of the meeting, Mr. Schulman has requested the South West Regional Planning Agency (SWRPA) to consider doing a study of Westport’s transportation needs as part of their Unified Work Program.

Mr. Titsworth also reported on an article that appeared in the CT Post about public transportation in the region.  State Representative Jonathan Steinberg was quoted in the article indicating his support of Westport’s transit service.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 AM.