Title
Discussion - Transit
Body
Issue/Request:
Discussion - Transit
Key Issues:
- The Transit Study is an assessment of current conditions, evaluates options for improved service, provides recommendations, and discusses plans to implement recommendations.
- The City Council and Public Works Committee desired continue discussion by the Public Works Committee regarding implementing recommended transit service changes.
- Staff supports transit service changes recommended in the transit study recommending consolidation of KCATA Route 252 and OATS.
- The annual contracts with KCATA are due for renewal January 1, 2017.
- City Staff is requesting the Public Works Committee to direct City Staff to draft the contracts with KCATA that implement recommendations of the study for presentation to Council in December 2016.
Background:
The Transit Study is the basis (or plan) for new, sustained or changed transit services offered in Lee's Summit. A study for Lee’s Summit was first done in 2000. Another, the most recent study for Lee’s Summit was started in 2007 and completed in 2009. These prior referenced studies and current study are specific to the City of Lee’s Summit. Other studies have been done and are underway that address transit in the Kansas City metropolitan area or Jackson County sub-areas. The regional studies can be referenced from the Mid-America Regional Council and Jackson County. Regional transit studies are noted in the local plans. Like other planning documents for infrastructure or service programs (e.g. Thoroughfare Master Plan, Greenway Master Plan), the Transit Study has limited applicability over time before an update is necessary to account for the many changes in demographics, community growth/development, service innovations and alternatives, funding, etc. This Transit Study provides an assessment of existing transit services and ridership demand. Based on the current assessment, the study evaluates options that may be considered to address current and future transit needs and explore opportunities for enhanced service, service alternatives, improved financial program management and/or increased use.
This Transit Study for Lee's Summit was authorized and managed by staff through its agreement with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) as the designated administrator of Lee's Summit's Federal Transit Administration Funding and their on-call consultant, Olsson Associates. This study was completed in February 2016, and then presented to the Public Works Committee in August, 2016. Staff was asked to advance the more immediate study recommendations and propose a detailed plan for consideration by City Council to implement. Staff has continued to work with KCATA and OATS to scope a practical and affordable approach for implementing the recommendation of on-demand service consolidation (i.e. OATS and KCATA Route 252).
The study and City Staff recommend consolidation of KCATA Route 252 and OATS. Before staff prepares service contracts that incorporate recommended transit service changes, staff seeks concurrence with City Council on the direction, definition and impact the recommended changes may incur. KCATA transit service contracts are considered annually on the calendar year-end cycle, so end of 2016 is the time to consider contract renewals effective January 1, 2017. City Staff is requesting Public Works Committee to direct City Staff to process contract renewals with KCATA implement the recommendation proposed in the study.
Impact/Analysis:
Timeline:
Other Information/Unique Characteristics:
Presenter
Presenter: Michael Park, City Traffic Engineer
Recommendation
Recommendation: