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Minutes 05-30-96MINUTES OF THE JOINT CITY COMMISSION/SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD/ PALM TRAN WORKSHOP MEETING HELD IN THE LIBRARY PROGRAM ROOM, CITY LIBRARY, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON THURSDAY, MAY 30, 1996, AT 6:30 P.M. PRESENT Shirley Jaskiewicz, Vice Mayor Matthew Bradley, Commissioner Henderson Tillman, Commissioner Jamie Titcomb, Commissioner Senior Advisory Board: Betty Collins, Chairwoman Raymond Eney Geraldine Graham Esther Stranahan Mary Toth Mary Cannon, Alternate Marion Moore, Alternate Carrie Parker, City Manager Carel Fisher, Deputy Public Works Director Palm Tran Cliff Hayden, Asst. Director Wayne Specght, Special Projects Jeannie Cantelmi, Transit Planner I. OPENINGS: A. Call to Order - Vice Mayor Shirlev Jaskiewicz Vice Mayor Jaskiewicz called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. She welcomed everyone. B. A.qenda Approval: 1. Additions, Deletions, Corrections There were no additions, deletions, or corrections to the agenda. 2. Adoption Commissioner Titcomb moved to approve the agenda as presented. Commissioner Tillman seconded the motion which carried 3-0. (Commissioner Bradley had not yet arrived for the meeting.) Vice Mayor Jaskiewicz acknowledged the fact that the City is aware of the residents' concerns about transportation. The focus of this meeting is to hear those concerns, listen to Palm Tran, and try to coordinate with them to meet the needs of our residents. She advised that the City does not intend to stop bus service throughout the community. MEETING MINUTES JOINT CITY COMMISSION/SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD/ PALM TRAN WORKSHOP MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 3O, 1996 At Vice Mayor Jaskiewicz' request, everyone present introduced themselves. She announced that Mayor Taylor is out of the country. Commissioner Bradley arrived for the meeting. I1. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION: Review Routes [location/maps) Review timetable for implementation of new routes Palm Tran representatives distributed copies of route maps. Mr. Cliff Hayden advised the current transportion service has been in place since 1971. Since that time, the County has grown and the service is behind the times. In 1989 or 1990, the Metropolitan Planning Organization devised a plan for improved transit service to Palm Beach County. In August, 1993, the Board of County Commissioners approved a six-cents gas tax. Three cents were given to transit and three cents were given to roads. Beginning in late 1993, continuing through 1994 and halfway through 1995, using the MPO plan, Palm Tran conducted over 100 public meetings to gather input. After those meetings, over 500 modifications were made to that plan. Some of those modifications have been minor, and others have been major. This plan has gone through the most intense public input process that has ever taken place in Palm Beach County. A totally new system has been devised to serve the County. Thirty-two new routes were added to the system. Implementation of some of those routes has begun in areas which are not currently served by transit service. Palm Tran is limited by the number of drivers they can train at any one time; therefore, this has been a phased implementation which began in December, 1995. The first new route was a Congress Avenue route which runs from the Gardens Mall to Town Center Mall. A few new routes have been implemented each month. On Monday, June 3, 1996, three additional routes will be implemented. On August 5, 1996, the current operation will cease, and Palm Tran will implement the new plan which has been in the planning stages for five to six years. There are three main north/south routes covering U.S. #1 from Jupiter to Boca Raton, Congress Avenue from the Gardens Mall to Town Center Mall, and Military Trail from the Gardens Mall to Town Center Mall. The remainder of the routes are primarily east/west routes which feed the north/south routes and the Tri-Rail stations. The CoTran system operated every one to two hours or more. Getting from one ptace to another is very difficult because the system is outdated. The new system is unique. It is MEETING MINUTES JOINT CITY COMMISSION/SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD/ PALM TRAN WORKSHOP MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 30, 1996 a timed-transfer system. Major locations throughout the County have been identified (Boynton Beach Mall, Town Center Mall, downtown West Palm Beach, and other major destinations). Whenever two or more routes go into those locations, the buses will be scheduled so that they will arrive at the same time. This means a transfer rider should be able to get off one bus, and get on the next bus to continue to the destination. All of the Palm Tran schedules to be implemented on August 5 will be timed transfers. Mr. Hayden advised that he has gone through this process in the past. He was executive director in Tampa for 13 years. In 1980, they eliminated a system that was in operation for approximately 25 years, and implemented a new system. Mr. Hayden realizes that when this new system is implemented in Palm Beach County, there will be chaos for approximately the first two to three weeks. Palm Tran has 150 new bus operators and 150 old bus operators who will be taking on new routes. Timed transfers will not be very good during the' first few weeks. However, Palm Tran is doing everything possible to try to mitigate the anticiPated problems. The bus rides will be free for two weeks beginning on Monday, August 5. Sixty-three (63) temporary employees have been hired to assist people on the timed-transfer system. Palm Tran is also remoting their phones to an information bank which will be manned with more than the usual number of operators. He urged anyone with a question to phone them. Mr. Hayden advised that. on May 10, the Administrator and Board of County Commissioners agreed that there will be no changes to the system until after August because there are a multitude of things that must take place in order to change a route. Palm Tran will accept input and make changes in October or November. Mr. Hayden further advised that new systems maps will be available within a week or two. He stated that Palm Tran has been overwhelmed by the requests for schedules; however, they are expecting the arrival of $168,000 worth of schedule/map printing. Mr. Hayden introduced Mr. Specght as Special Projects Coordinator. Mr. Specght has driven every bus route in the County, driven through every parking lot, and has been the troubleshooter for all of the bus stop sign locations. Wayne Specqht provided copies of Route 1, Route 2, Route 3, Route 63, Route 70, Route 71, and Route 72. He reviewed each of the routes in detail for the edification of those present. Following his presentation of the routes, Mr. Specght advised that when the printed maps become available, they will not contain abbreviations. All words will be spelled out in full so as to avoid confusion. Riders who are 60 years of age or over qualify to ride for half fare (50 cents). Anyone wanting a transfer Will pay 20 cents additional when boarding the bus. Senior citizens pay 3 MEETING MINUTES JOINT CITY COMMISSION/SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD/ PALM TRAN WORKSHOP MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 30, 1996 10 cents additional for a transfer. Mr. Specght reminded everyone that the transfer is only redeemable to the destination. Mr. Hayden added that Palm Tran has implemented a weekender pass which is good for any weekend or holiday. The cost of the pass is $5.00 a month, and it is good anywhere in Palm Beach County. Showing a Tri-Rail pass on any route that serves a Tri-Rail station wilt allow a rider free passage. Ms. Canteimi, Transit Planner, advised that the routes that affect Boynton Beach will run every hour. Route 71 has a peak-hour service. From 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m., and from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., the bus will run every half hour. The artery routes will run every thirty minutes. Mr. Hayden said the new service will operate until 9:00 p.m. on weekdays, and on Sunday from 9:00 a.m. until approximately 5:00 p.m. Vice Mayor jaskiewicz questioned how the new Palm Tran service will affect the City's present bus system. City Manager Parker advised that the City has two routes that are neighborhood oriented. It was the City's intention to determine how the new Palm Tran routes would fit in with our routes so that it would be possible to continue the present service, but be able to interface with the Palm Tran buses. There are no anticipated changes expected until all routes can be reviewed to see how everything interfaces, and until there is direction from the City Commission. If changes are needed at that point, the City wilI proceed. Carel Fisher, Deputy Public Works Director, said the only area that will not be serviced by Palm Tran will be on NE 4th Street near the Boynton Bay apartments, and up to the northeast end of Village Royale on the Green. The remainder of the routes currently being serviced by the City will be duplicated by Palm Tran service. When Palm Tran activates their route which affects Leisureville, the Bethesda Hospital area, and the area from Ocean north to the Boynton Beach Mall, it will be exactly the same route the City bus is now taking. Mr. Lee Wische questioned whether Palm Tran will service all three clubhouses in Leisureville. Mr: Specght responded negatively. He said Palm Tran will travel along 18th Street and stop every two blocks. Mr. Wische expressed concern because not all residents can get to 18th Street. Vice Mayor Jaskiewicz explained that the purpose of this meeting is to determine whether or not it is necessary to supplement Palm Tran service. Mr. Wische asked if the City service will dovetail with Palm Tran in the future. Mr. Fisher pointed out that if it is the Commission's desire, the City can easily alter its routes to dovetail with Palm Tran. Vice Mayor Jaskiewicz expressed concern that the Palm Tran route excludes Village Royale on the Green and Boynton Bay. 4 MEETING MINUTES JOINT CITY COMMISSION/SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD/ PALM TRAN WORKSHOP MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 30, 1996 Betty Collins, Chairwoman, Senior Advisory Board, advised that the members of the board have done a great deal of work on this issue. They have gathered information from visiting condos, visiting the Boynton Bay apartments, and from manning at booth a the G .A.L.A. In 1992, a task force was started. The members of the task force went into the community to determine the needs of seniors. One hundred percent of the seniors responding requested transportation. The 1990 census showed that 40% of the residents of the City of Boynton Beach were over the age of 55. At that time, 16% of the population was over the age of 75 years. There are tremendous amounts of people who were unable to be at this meeting because they have no means of transportation. When the issue of transportation was brought to the City Commission's attention, they found a way to get buses for the City service. One thousand surveys were disseminated, and 700 responses were received by the City. The survey indicated that seniors need transportation for food shopping. That service is still not being provided for seniors. Ms. Collins explained dilemma experienced by many of the seniors who use the buses to go shopping. They are left at a stop on the main road because the buses do not go into the centers. The seniors must walk into the center, do their shopping, and then walk back (carrying their sacks of groceries) to the bus stop which usually requires crossing the main road. There are no ramps or shelters and these people must wait for an hour until the bus returns. Ms. Collins said she has talked with every major realtor in this City. Ail of the realtors told her the first question the seniors ask is, "Is there transportation around the City?" The second question asked is, "Are there activities for seniors?" When families with children visit the realtors, they choose West Boynton where there are new homes and children. Ms. Collins advised that in one week, seven people bought in one development. The ages of those people were 85, 81,82, 83, and 78. People of this age are unable to walk a mile to a bus stop, do their shopping, and carry two packages back to their homes. Ms. Collins does not feel it is the working people who ride the buses. It is the senior citizens who are using the service. Ms. Collins complimented the bus drivers for the courteous and respectful service they provide. These operators are very sympathetic to the needs of their riders, but they are limited in what they are able to do. The bus stops are inadequate, and the time schedule is inadequate. While Ms. Collins realizes that the buses cannot be a taxi service, she feels it is necessary to look at the ridership to see how to better accommodate those who use the service. In addition, Ms. Collins pointed out the need for bus shelters. Pe.q.qv Stranahan, Senior Advisory Board member, advised that she rode the City buses to make sure she was aware of exactly where the buses were going. There are two bus MEETING MINUTES JOINT CITY COMMISSION/SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD/ PALM TRAN WORKSHOP MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 30, 1996 stops (one on each side of the road) at Bethesda Hospital at Recovery and SW 23rd. There ~s no place to stand to wait for the bus, and it is a desolated spot. She recommends that this stop be changed to a location where better use can be made of it. At 18th and Woolbright Road, the two stops are fine, but it is necessary to go over a very wide swale area to get onto the bus. Ms. Stranahan also pointed out that the buses do not go into the shopping areas. The passengers are eft out on the street. This makes it difficult for the elderly to get to the store, walk around to shop, and then carry packages out of the store and have to cross a major thoroughfare to catch the bus. Ms. Stranahan said the bus that travels north on Congress Avenue to the Winn-Dixie shopping center on Hypoluxo Road stops on the road that runs behind the center. This is a very long walk into the center and a very desolated stop. On the return trip, the bus had to make a left-hand turn onto Hypoluxo Road. It took nine minutes to accomplish that turn because of heavy traffic. Ms. Stranahan feels this is a very dangerous situation. She questioned why the bus does not enter the Publix shopping center. Ms. Stranahan advised that not ail of the bus stops are clearly defined. She suggests that the bus signs be marked on both sides so that the stop would be more easily recognizable. Ms. Stranahan feels the buses start too early in the morning. In addition, she feels the stops should be more accessible for the handicapped. In response to Ms. Collins' question, Mr. Hayden advised that all of the Palm Tran buses will be 100% wheelchair lift equipped. However, Palm Tran had to make an emergency purchase of old equipment while they wait for their new buses to arrive. Not all of the old buses are lift equipped. Twenty-one of 150 buses are not lift equipped. SpecTran is still in operation and is being expanded. SpecTran is now in compliance with the ADA rules set forth by the federal government. Anyone who is ADA eligible is permitted to ride SpecTran door-to-door seven days a week. Mr. Hayden advised that a person could be ADA eligible if that person is unable to get to the bus stop because there is no curb cut, etc. Mr. Hayden offered to assist in this area. Mrs. Fichtman, a citizen, reported on a situation she encountered with Dial-a-Ride. After using the service with her legally blind husband, she received a phone call from Dial-a-Ride stating that she was not entitled to this service. A gentleman in the audience said he is a resident of a home on Lawrence Road in Boynton Beach. He moved here from Lakeland where there was no public transportation. He has experienced some difficulty with Dial-a-Ride because on a few occasions, the rides never showed up. He contacted CoTran and spoke with Mr. Irving Cure. He is now convinced that the Director of Palm Tran wants to service the handicapped and aged of Palm Beach MEETING MINUTES JOINT CITY COMMISSION/SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD/ PALM TRAN WORKSHOP MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 30, 1996 County. He was very impressed with the responses he received to the questions he asked. Mr. Hayden explained that Palm Tran is undergoing tremendous change. There are many people who may not have a long career with Palm Tran; however, it takes time to weed out the bad ones. Mn Hayden said the operators go through an intensive training program for six weeks. This training includes sensitivity training to deal with the handicapped. Mr. Wische pointed out that many disabled people do not know they can become certified under the ADA. He recommends letting these people know about the services available to them if they become certified. Ms. Stranahan explained that the Senior Advisory Board is attempting to get a senior center within the City. At present, events are scheduled every Thursday at the Madsen Center. If the buses were able to go past the Library, Arts Center and Madsen Center, seniors would have transportation to be able to take advantage of our senior center. City Manager Parker added that when the system began, the City was attempting to keep on a schedule. If we were to revise the routes and either not adhere so closely to the schedule, or revise the time schedule, it would be possible for the buses to swing into the shopping centers. Everyone has to realize, however, that if there is a jam up of people loading and unloading in the parking lots, the time schedule will be affected. If the timetable is not a critical issue any longer because we are relying on Palm Tran, then we might be able to address the issues mentioned. Ms. Collins feels that if the purpose of our buses is examined, we will be able to see what the priority is. She recommends that discussions take place with the people who ride the buses. City Manager Parker said it might be possible to have a Tuesday/Thursday route that is not the same as the MondayNVednesday/Friday route. Ms. Collins said she has spent the past year looking at towns that are one-quarter the size of Boynton Beach that have a smaller percentage of seniors than we have, and they have senior centers and special service buses catering to the seniors. Ms. Collins read the Vision 20/20 reports. There was no mention of seniors as an issue for Boynton Beach. This City has one of the largest senior populations, and those seniors are not going anywhere. These senior communities have been here 25 years or more. These people must be provided with the necessities. Ms. Collins is hopeful that Palm Tran will be very successful; however, she pointed out that the citizens of Boynton Beach need the City buses to help them get the necessities of life. Elizabeth Jenkins lives between Boynton Beach Boulevard and the C-16 Canal. She questioned whether there are any plans for bus routes for this area. MEETING MINUTES JOINT CITY COMMISSION/SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD/ PALM TRAN WORKSHOP MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 30, 1996 Commissioner Tillman asked why there is not a route off Boynton Beach Boulevard making a turn going north from NW 4th Street, traveling up NW 4th Street to 10th Avenue, making a right on 10th Avenue and returning to Seacrest. Mr. Fisher said the City could not do this because there were only two buses. The routes were spread as thin as possibl~ to serve the most people. The City also has one bus known as LiftTran for the handical ~ed, and the one remaining bus is used as a spare. The north/south routes were designe, to cover the City facilities. One terminated at Tri-Rail and one terminated at Inlet Park. C. Restrictions on Use of City Buses, if any At City Manager Parker's request, Mr. Hayden reviewed the restrictions involve, use of City buses. Mr. Hayden advised that the buses were purchased with federal grant funds. T thumb is "use them, or lose them". The City could have 10 routes that operated per week, and that would not cause a problem. D. Options for the City Vice Mayor Jaskiewicz explained that there is a possibility that all of the conce expressed can be addressed by the City. The majority of the people pre.~ concerned with local service. The City appreciates Palm Tran's expansion of t[ She is certain that when circumstances are appropriate, the citizens of Boynton I utilize the Palm Tran buses. The greatest concern this evening appears to be t;' within our communities. There are many options that can be worked out. with the ~e rule of two days 'ns being ent were e routes. ~each will e service She suggested the possibility of considering a regional service for specific areas of the City on specific days. The routes could be broadened and the rigid scheduling could then be eliminated. Vice Mayor Jaskiewicz is concerned about the ninety-year old people who are driving cars out of necessity. These people do not have an option because they cannot walk from a bus stop to a grocery store. They are endangering the lives of others. A regional service may be one way to solve this problem, but residents will have to realize that the bus will not be available in every area everyday. For those who want to travel on a more scheduled basis, Palm Tran buses would be available. She recommends that there be further Commission discussion of this issue, and suggested that the Senior Advisory Board assist the Commission by providing a proposal. Commissioner Bradley feels this is a complex issue. When the buses first came to be, the City struggled with routes and times, and staff worked very diligently on this issue. He feels it is important to assess what we currently have, and capture the information we have on the riders who use the system now. It is important not to forget the people who are currently riding the buses to work. However, a regional service could strengthen our MEETING MINUTES JOINT CITY COMMISSION/SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD/ PALM TRAN WORKSHOP MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 30, 1996 neighborhoods by getting people into a community spirit. He asked the residents to think about the ramifications of haying a Palm Tran bus traveling down the road half filled, with a Boynton Beach bus traveling right behind it. This will create twice the cost and twice the effect on the roads. It would be wasteful when we have an opportunity to tap into the Palm Tran system that is being put in place. Vice Mayor Jaskiewicz feels the surveys that were taken of the riders are not authentic because the people who live remote from the bus stops were not included in the surveys. These people would ride the buses if they were able to do so. Vice Mayor Jaskiewicz does not wish to duplicate the service that is in existence. She is willing to cut down on the rigid schedule of trying to cover too much space in too little time. She again requested that the Senior Advisory Board present a plan for the City Commission to consider. Everyone will be invited to any subsequent meetings in the future. Commissioner Titcomb said it is very important to gather input from the people who are not riding the buses rather than the ones who are currently riding them. City Manager Parker advised that the City was aware that the Palm Tran routes were anticipated for August. The City realized that we would probably be making major changes; therefore, we did not want to spend a lot of money printing brochures on the bus service that would have to be changed in a short period of time. The City has been operating the two routes until Palm Tran implemented their routes. We were hoping to interface with a feeder system to Palm Tran or provide shopping routes that fit the citizens' needs. Funds have been set aside to print brochures and maps, and provide newspaper ads once a decision is made. Commissioner Titoomb feels the timing is right to analyze the feedback we receive from the public and develope a plan to implement a system that will compliment Palm Tran's service. We can then convene another workshop meeting to set up complimentary routes. Commissioner Tillman is amenable to looking at those who do not ride the buses. The County is growing and the City is growing and we will need a big transit system. The City system will be more community oriented. He does not want to leave any segment of the community out of the transit system. Commissioner Bradley feels it is important to talk with the people who are not riding the buses, but he further feels that the people who are riding the buses are the experts. He feels he would understand the issues better if he had taken a ride on the bus. Commissioner Bradley suggested that the City print up survey cards that can be handed out to the riders to provide us with feedback on how to make the bus system better. MEETING MINUTES JOINT CITY COMMISSION/SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD/ PALM TRAN WORKSHOP MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 30, 1996 One of the residents who was present in the audience said the main focus is generally on service to condos. She is not only interested in using the buses to get to doctors' appointments and for shopping trips. She wants to use the transportation system for visiting relatives and friends. Jim McMahon explained that when he first got involved with the Senior Advisory Board, he had an interest in transportation. He took the bus from end to end and made a report to the board. The buses were clean and new. The drivers are wonderful. He feels we have a great asset in the buses and we have a great opportunity with Palm Tran expanding their services. III. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, the meeting properly adjourned at 8:30 p.m. CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH Mayor ~ ?~ '~ ~f~ ~ ', 1)ice Mayor J / .~ ATTEST: Cit¢Clerk //F~cording Secretary Ld"Three Tapes) June4 ~996 Commissioner /~m/missioner to