CC Minutes - 10/13/08 Work Session

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Mr. Eyster thanked the council for the opportunity to speak, and presented a PowerPoint report describing in detail the current state of LTD ridership/revenues and also the proposed service reductions. He noted that the current financial crisis which had necessitated the proposed service reductions was precipitated by a “perfect storm” of increased fuel costs, increased use of accessibility services for elderly and disabled riders well beyond established projections, and decreased payroll revenue streams brought on by the generally unfavorable economic climate. Mr. Eyster commented that LTD had earlier in the year considered sponsoring a ballot measure to seek financial relief for LTD. He noted that LTD had ultimately chosen not to pursue such a course of action, and that subsequently the only option left was to reduce service by approximately 15%. Mr. Muller presented a slide detailing the LTD’s “Service Redesign Goals” and noted that the redesign goals were drafted with the intent of meeting the necessary budgetary goals while negatively impacting LTD service levels as little as possible. Mr. Muller noted that LTD had held several open houses and public input sessions over the last two months related to the proposed service reductions, and noted that public hearings would be held on October 13 and November 10. He added that the adoption of the service reduction plan was currently scheduled for the November 19 regular LTD board meeting and that the service reductions would go into effect no later than September 2009, with some portions of the service reductions being implemented as early as February 2009. Mr. Muller proceeded to guide the council through a sector by sector summary of the proposed service reduction changes listed in the agenda materials submitted to the council as they pertained to the Ferry Street Bridge, River Road, Highway 99, West Eugene, South Eugene, and Springfield area LTD sectors. Mr. Zelenka asked, with respect to the changes to the Ferry Street Bridge LTD sector and the elimination of the Breeze route, if the revised LTD bus routes would stop in the same places as those routes that had been eliminated or curtailed. Mr. Muller confirmed that they would. Mr. Muller also commented that while many express routes were proposed to be eliminated, all LTD destinations would still be served, albeit with more transfers and less-expedient alternative routes. Mr. Muller, responding to a question from Ms. Solomon regarding the proposed Highway 99 sector, noted that no new LTD transfer stations would be built at the new transfer point of Roosevelt and Danebo, although a covered shelter structure might be built if the level of ridership justified such an expense. Mr. Muller, responding to a question from Ms. Ortiz regarding the proposed West Eugene sector, clarified th the nature of travel for a person going from points along Highway 99 to the Wal-Mart location on West 11 Avenue, noting that a person traveling in such a manner would have to make one transfer along the way. Mr. Pangborn elaborated upon Mr. Muller’s comments saying that LTD had actually eliminated fare transfers a number or years ago in favor of all-day passes. Mr. Muller, responding to a question from Ms. Bettman regarding the South Eugene sector, noted that the th connector route along 29 Avenue between LTD routes 24 and 82 was not being eliminated as was indicated on the materials submitted to the council. Mr. Eyster added that the connector route had been reinstated in response to the aforementioned public input meetings. Mr. Muller reported that the Breeze route buses would be utilized for neighborhood service around town, specifically for the River Road connector service, the Bethel/Danebo connector route, the Campbell Center th route (LTD Route No. 1), the Jefferson Avenue route (LTD Route No. 33), and the routes along 18 and th 19 Avenues. He added that the Breeze buses would not be repainted for this purpose but would only MINUTES—Eugene City Council October 13, 2008 Page 3 Work Session