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46 <br /> <br />NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING <br /> <br />A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON Tuesday, September 13, <br />1994 AT 5:00 p.m. IN THE Basement Conference Room. <br /> <br />THE PROPOSED AGENI)A IS AS FOLLOWS: <br /> <br />Work Session: Transit Issues <br /> <br />BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR <br /> <br />BY Jeanne Cox (signed) <br /> <br />BASEMENT CONFERENCE ROOM - September 13, 1994 <br /> <br /> Council met in special session on this date with the following members present: Ms. <br />Daugherty, Rev. Edwards, Ms. Slaughter, 3,ir. Toscano, Mr. Vandever. <br /> <br />WORK SESSION: TRANSIT ISSUES <br /> <br /> Ms. Helen Poore, Transit Manager, reviewed the draft Transit Development Plan <br />submitted by the Corradino Group to the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). Ms. <br />Poore stated that the Plan recommended bus route changes, bus service alternates, and <br />changing the policy requiring bus service within four blocks of every residence. <br /> <br /> Mr. Michael Carroll, Assistant Transit Manager, explained that as a result of low <br />ridership the following routes were recommended to be eliminated: Route 5, the northwest <br />end of Route 3, Route 8, Saturday service on Route 1. New Route 1 would be combined <br />with existing Route 8 and a new Rome 3 would include Belmont Heights, Grady Avenue and <br />Greenleafpark. Mr. Carroll stated that in those areas where service is recommended to be <br />eliminated, alternatives of demand response service (a rider calls in advance for service at a <br />particular location), or route deviation (buses deviate slightly off the main rome) are <br />recommended. In addition, the rome elimination would allow increasing the frequency of <br />service on Routes 2, 4 and 6 to 30- minute intervals during the peak morning and afternoon <br />hours; increasng Route 9 from one to two- hour intervals; increasing Route 7 to 9:30 p.m.; <br />and increasing the frequency on new Routes 1 and 3 in the third year of phasing-in the plan to <br />30-minute intervals. <br /> <br /> Rev. Edwards asked what demographic population would be affected by eliminating <br />Route 5 and Ms. Poore replied that Rome 5 serves a fairly Iow density, high income area. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Toscano, Ms. Poore stated that staffcould develop <br />budget projections for the route changes within 45 to 60 days, or could consider the issue <br />during the budget process. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter stated that she would prefer to consider the issues separate from the <br />budget process. Ms. Slaughter asked if there was a possibility of slightly expanding some of <br />the routes at night and Ms. Poore stated that she could gather that data. <br /> Regarding the size of buses to be ordered, Ms. Poore stated that the Transit System <br />would have the greatest flexibility if all the buses ordered are 35 feet. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano questioned whether Transit staff have looked into the possibility of <br />experimenting with battery-powered buses and Ms. Poore stated that staff have been <br />following available information concerning alternative fuel buses and they may be an <br />alternative the next time new buses are considered. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano suggested exploring the possibility of buying one or two battery-powered <br />buses for use between the University and downtown. <br /> <br /> Mr. Hendrix stated that there is a strong possibility that a route will be worked om <br />uSing the trol, l,~ys between Monticello, U. Va., downtown, and the Visitors Center. Mr. <br /> <br /> <br />