CC_Minutes_2018_0108 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Regular City Council Meeting Monday,January 8, 2018 Page 7 Veeck also suggested the next step is contacting the St. Paul Police Department to make sure there is adequate traffic control to handle those buses. Councilmember McGehee asked how many people a bus holds. Mr. Olson stated anywhere from 12 to 14, depending on how many wheelchairs there are. Councilmember McGehee asked Mr. Olson to clarify his earlier comment regard- ing NewTrax having 45 buses. Mr. Olson clarified the entire NewTrax fleet consists of 45 buses. During the 10- 12:30pm timeframe, all of those buses are sitting idle, which allows them the op- portunity to build these loops in the middle of the day. Discussion continued about the current route schedule and time. In considering the bus capacities, Councilmember McGehee noted that there are likely more than 3 x 12 to 14 people who would like to attend a St. Paul Saints baseball game. Mr. Olson agreed and stated that Group A, for example, may attend one game, and Group B might attend another game. The logistics are still underway. Councilmember Etten also expressed support for the overall concept, and agreed with the statements of the transportation concerns in the City. He appreciated this plan includes both senior places and also immigrant communities that may not have as many cars. He agreed that many senior residents in Roseville continue to live in their homes, so this other piece of transportation may be an important complementary component for those who stay in their homes but still get out in the community. He asked about the DARTS loops. Mr. Olson explained the DARTS loops are in West St. Paul, South St. Paul, and Hastings, so there is a gap in White Bear Lake. There is no competition between NewTrax and DARTS, and in fact, DARTS is complimentary of NewTrax's ef- forts. In response to a question by Council, Mr. Olson responded there are five different senior facilities that have opted not to purchase their own bus; NewTrax is their sole mode of transportation. On average, those facilities are saving $1,000 to $1,100 per month by utilizing the NewTrax services. Additionally, instead of get- ting out to five activities a month, they are able to get out to eight activities per month.