08/24/1992 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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. transfers easily. Mr. Viggiano said that, additionally, as the station is located on the street, the district has little control over its use and cannot prevent loitering. Mr. Billings added that the district has exhausted its spaces at peak hours and is at capacity in the current station site. Responding to a question from Mr. Boles, Mr. Viggiano said that the citizen advisory committee had ranked the McDonald Theater site first and the Interna- tional House of Pancakes second. Staff had ranked the sites in the opposite order. Responding to a question from Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Viggiano said that the International House of Pancakes site has received the most public opposition. Ms. Hocken said that the board received negative comments about all the sites considered. In response to a comment from Mr. Nicholson regarding the levels of pollutants released by diesel-burning buses, Mr. Viggiano said that the district will do an environmental assessment for each site, which would encompass air pollu- tion. He noted that there was a new standard for diesel engines that will take effect in 1994, which will result in less air pollution. In addition, the environmental assessment will address noise pollution to respond to City standards. Mr. Viggiano said there were several ways to mitigate noise at the proposed station. Responding to a question from Mr. Miller, Mr. Viggiano said that the district intends to develop a security plan for the selected site. ~ Mr. Nicholson asked for information about an average fare, and the percentage of the fare subsidized by the public. Mr. Viggiano said that the current per trip fare is about $2; about 20 percent of the fare is paid by the rider, while the rest is addressed through various subsidies. Mr. Nicholson asked if the board had considered the possibility that this algorithm was the wrong way to address public transportation. Mr. Nicholson asked how much the new station would cost. Mr. Viggiano anticipated a cost of between $8 million and $12 million. Mr. Nicholson asked how much annual earned income the district received from fares. Mr. Viggiano said that the district earned about $2,100,000 last year. Mr. Nicholson asked if there were any privately operated bus companies in the United States. Mr. Viggiano said he was aware of one private system serving a section of New Jersey. Ms. Loobey added that there may be other private commuter lines, but generally urban systems have gone public since 1945. Mr. Green asked about the district's plans for addressing the concerns of those living and working near the proposed sites. Ms. Loobey said that the district has met with such individuals in several different forums. There has been active participation at board meetings by neighbors. There have been proposals from neighbors of two of the four proposed sites to work together on the issues of most concern to those neighbors, such as security, noise pollution, and air pollution. . MINUTES--City Council Work Session August 24, 1992 Page 2 5:30 p.m.