04/19/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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tit Mr. Delay expressed concern about where the money would come from, and how the projects would be phased. He also questioned the deletion of No.5, having to do with possible toll systems, and requested an explanation as to whether or not the philosophy was against a users' charge. Mr. Bernhard said the intent of the Planning Commission was against a users' charge. Mr. Delay then wondered why a bike users' fee had been included. Mr. Bernhard said that suggestion was determined because it was felt there was a need for covered and locked areas for bicycles, with lighting and building of more bikeways. If bikes were to be used as a mode of travel, then they should be taxed as others are taxed. He reiterated that some recommendations coul d be .impl emented, whil e others may need to. be studied and changed. Ms. Smith wondered how much discussion at the Planning Commission level dealt with the transit goal and whether an attempt had been made to make comparisons with other cities in the country as to types of goals which could be achieved. Mr. Bernhard said the LTD people had been present at their work session and had said the transit ridership could not break even. Also he said, it was men- tioned the transit ridership split was somewhere between eight and nine percent. - Dave Rynerson, LTD, said in research he had done, the type of modal-split estimates that are available are not necessarily comparable. He cited the example of San Francisco as compared to the entire Bay Area. The most comparable figures were for Portland/Denver where they were experiencing in 1975 a three-percent ridership figure (Eugene-Springfield area is 2-1/2%). As for ridership comparisons in other countries, he said 14 percent was quite common in Canada, and the figure would be higher than that in Europe. He noted he was talking about transit only, as the percentage of total trips would not include paratransit ridership. Mr. Lieuallen requested Mr. Rynerson give some evaluation about the fea- sibility or likelihood of achieving a 15-percent level if the money were available. Mr. Rynerson said money would not be satisfactory in itself to achieve that level. Three other factors which were important to consider were: 1) Providing better bus service; 2) policies emphasizing increased density and attempts to coordinate land use and street planning with route planning; and 3) external influences beyond control of City Council such as the price of fuel, cost of autos and insurance, and national policies. Mr. Lieuallen requested a ball-park estimate of the money needed for vehicles and operating costs to fund a system that would carry 15 percent by the year 2000. Mr. Rynerson said the capital and operating costs for 1977 dollars were included in the materials distributed. - John Porter, Planning Director, said the percentage of transit rider~hip in western Canada has gone down as incomes have risen. He said a more comparable estimate would be the success of the Portland Tri-Met which has captured about three percent. Regarding the 15-percent goal, he felt it to be important for the city to be planning for that goal, as it would be achieved sooner or later. The community should be made aware of less reliance on automobiles. He also noted interesting statistics on the LTD ridership which indicate peaks and valleys. Mr. Haws left the meeting. 4/19/78 -- 9 273