TSAC Meeting Dec 19, 2022

TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS ARAPAHOE COUNTY

By Zoom
Dec 19, 2022, 1 – 2:30 pm

Mission: Transportation Solutions Arapahoe County is a community-based group that works collaboratively to identify and find solutions to the transportation needs within Arapahoe County.

Vision: Transportation Solutions Arapahoe County will work to achieve sustainable, person- centered, coordinated solutions that support the dignity, independence, and quality of life for older adults, people with disabilities, and the low income population in the County.

In all meetings and communications of the Arapahoe County LCC (Transportation Solutions Arapahoe County) each member will respect and value everyone’s comments and time.

Desired Outcome:
*  Receive Info on the RTD Free Fare for Better Air *  Begin discussing the new Strategic Plan

Notes

A. Welcome & Introductions: Chair Suhaka called the meeting to order at 1:04pm.

• Present were: Jeff Fernengel, The Arc of Aurora; Susan Ganz, Love INC; Lauren Kurtz, DRMAC; Charlie Stansfield, RTD; Courtney Stryker, Arapahoe County; Andrea Suhaka, Chair; Doug Tisdale, RTD District H Board member; John Voboril, City of Englewood; Melanie Ward, City of Centennial; Luke Wheeland, The Arc of Arapahoe, Douglas & Elbert Counties

B.    Review notes from 17 Oct.: There were no comments on the notes of 10/17.A

C.   Finance Report

• There are still some outstanding dues owed.

• ·Same $4. Ending 896.68

D.   Community Meetings Update: I GIVE UP! We need folks to really be a part of TSAC!

• ?, Bowmar

• ?, Columbine Valley

• ?, Foxfield

 E.    Free Fare for Better Air, Charlie Stanfield, RTD

• The State Legislature allocated funds for 80% of the usage.

• RTD picked up the other 20%.

  Without have a specific count, it was figured that ridership increased 22%.

• The difficulty with that number is that ridership ticks up naturally in Aug. because of back to school.

• Some riders were lost in Sept.

• Fernengel asked if you could tell if air quality improved. Stansfield replied that it’s hard to quantify the air quality. They also need to do some sort of customer survey to check on the numbers of riders.

• Fernengel also asked if they thought they would do this again next year; to which Stansfield replied that the State has approved the funding but, the RTD Board hasn’t officially made that decision, yet.

• Ward asked if RTD has met with the National Renewable Energy Lab about the Free Fare project. Stansfield replied that RTD hadn’t but, that we will look into it for next year. Tisdale added that he believes the Board will authorize it. We are committed to this pro-cess of improving air quality and offering options to the people. How to replace the lost fare is the problem.

·    * RTD is committed to fast, frequent, reliable service; those are our concerns.

·    * Tisdale spoke about the ongoing Fare Study and urged everyone to check out the website: https://www.RTD-Denver.com/farestudy for information. They are looking at 2 possibilities: 1) one fare for all rides, except to the airport or 2) lower fares all around. Public comment is closed right now but, there should be another round of public com-ment when the Board makes a choice.

* Fernengel commented that he used the rail more than normal in Aug. Visitors who fly in feel that  the transit is good; renting a car is expensive is they can get around Denver easily with transit..

 *. Suhaka said she had one of the RTD apps to send a text on an issue to RTD and they responded within minutes. Just a comment on how good the app is.

F.  Discussion to set up for the Strategic Plan meeting on 1/24. Please, consider if there’s something you still want to accomplish from the existing plan.

  * Noone had anything to share.

G.  Wrap Up & Announcements

• Tisdale: RTD Board elections were disappointing with a few positions not having anyone on the ballot, some were elected completely by write-ins. Please, if you have the interest, run for the Board. Tisdale is term limited in 2024. Fernengel asked if there was a job description. Tisdale responded that he’d have to get something to Suhaka.

• The next meeting will be on Tuesday, 24 January, 1pm! This will be our meeting with Cady Dawson to work on our Strategic Plan. It will be in person at 6980 S. Holly Circle (1/2 mile north of Dry Creek Rd./1/2 mile south of Arapahoe Rd., off of S. Holly St.), where we met in August. TSAC will provide sandwiches again, BYOB. If at all possible, please, come in person for better give and take with Cady. We should have Zoom available. This will probably take the allotted time. Do your homework!!

• Suhaka adjourned the meeting at 1:33pm.

We urgently need more members to attend our meetings

Next Meeting – 24 January 2023, 1pm, In-person/Zoom