City Council Minutes 2002 06 18 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Louisville City Council Meeting June 18, 2002 Page 3 schedule proposes bus service every ten to fifteen minutes along Pine Street. He stated that, the increase in bus service is not necessary and will add to traffic congestion. He stated that the buses rarely have anymore than six to eight passengers and many times are completely empty. He voiced his belief that there are already too many buses along Main and Pine Street and explained that many accidents have occurred at that location as a result of the number of buses. He stated that many of his neighbors would attend an RTD meeting in Denver and present a petition requesting that the Dash schedule be modified or the route be relocated. He asked Council to direct the City Manager to investigate this mater to see if anything can be done to curtail the bus traffic along Pine Street. He noted that Dash is federally funded and the bus schedule would be for a minimum of two years. COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL COMMENTS ON PERTINENT ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Mayer addressed the RTD Dash schedule and explained that during peak hours, the Dash bus service only adds two buses per each hour, per direction. He reported that currently buses come every fifteen minutes, or four buses per hour. During peak hours the numbers will be increased to every ten minutes, or six buses per hour. He stated that the increased number of buses would have very little impact in terms of the service provided. He explained that the bus service provides Louisville residents transportation to the downtown area, the middle school, the library and City Hall and connects with buses that take them to other communities. He stated that if RTD only provided bus service along South Boulder Road, the service would bypass Main Street. He stated that he has ridden the bus over the years and the rider-ship is quite heavy during peak times. He voiced his belief that the service in the summer has less utilization than other times of the year and agreed that sometimes during the day, mid morning or early afternoon, the bus service is not utilized as much. He stated his observation that many young teenagers use the bus and in many cases, it is their only means of transportation to school, to the recreation center, or to the library. He noted that the 227-bus route is heavily used in Louisville and provides service to the residents that do not have access to a car, or other transportation. Sisk thanked Council member Mayer for providing information to Council on the proposed RTD Dash and other bus schedules. He stated that Pine is a main arterial and collector street that is heavily used. He suggested that the activity of the Dash bus service be monitored and if the rider-ship is low, the Dash service's two-year commitment could be changed if warranted or requested by Council. Sisk reported on the Senior Board meeting and stated that they are very enthusiastic about the expansion Recreation/Senior Center and requested that a model be put on display at the Center. He stated that the Board has encouraged Council to get information to the residents. He reported on comments that the proposal for the commercial kitchen at the Senior Center does not include appliances. He explained that Boulder County will cutoff funding for the meal programs in January of 2003, and that responsibility will fall on the City. He stressed the importance of a fully operational commercial kitchen in the Senior Center. Sisk also reported on a program initiated by the City Staff where