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64 <br /> <br />side street improvements. The consultants worked with the Committee and public <br />through a number of focus groups. State and federal funds totaling $6 million are <br />available to the City. The Committee's recommendations include: renaming the transit <br />center, partial closing of 7~h Street, N.E., with access maintained to the post office, no <br />additional crossing of the mall at this time, links provided to Monticello, continued <br />reports to the public and reaching out to other groups. In addition, Mr. Toscano said the <br />project should be viewed with the broader context of malt improvements. <br /> Mr. Caravati said he has been contacted about the capacity at the proposed site for <br /> all the buses. <br /> Ms. Helen Poore, Transit Manager, said that the consultants say there is capacity for <br /> seven City buses and two tour buses, but she noted that there are usually only four or five <br /> buses at one time. <br /> Ms. Richards noted that the City's Five Year Transit Plan assumed a transit center, <br /> and asked if an increase in the ridership is projected after the center is built. <br /> Ms. Poore said that the increase in ridership is more related to actual service <br /> improvements, and noted that the ridership projected in the Plan has already been <br /> surpassed. <br /> Mr. Cox said that he feels ridership will catch up with this facility and it will give <br /> public transportation a face. Mr. Cox said he hopes people will see it as a major step <br /> forward. <br /> Ms. Richards said that facilities like this attract people to use public transportation. <br /> Mr. Lynch said he has a number of concerns. The massing is too much in one <br /> place, and he said he likes the Boechenstein design better. He said he is concerned abot~ <br /> the queuing of buses, and feels we need a system that does not bring them altogether at <br /> once. Mr. Lynch said he does not feel the building does much to add to the usefulness of <br /> the transit system aside from making it more attractive. He said he would prefer to use <br /> the money to improve the system. Mr. Lynch said he does feel it improves the east end <br /> of the mall. <br /> Mr. Caravati asked about the next step in the process and the role of the consultant <br /> and Steering Committee. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano said that if Council approves the appropriation, the consultant will <br /> start putting together design specifications. Mr. Toscano said the design will go through <br /> the BAR process, and noted that they have akeady been presented with preliminary <br /> designs which met with a lot of enthusiasm. Mr. Toscano said it is important to keep the <br /> public involved as well as the Steering Committee. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox noted that each meeting has involved public input, and said that Mr. <br /> Lynch's concerns are best addressed in the public forums. Mr. Cox said he feels the <br /> Steering Committee is critical and he would like Mr. Toscano to continue on as Chair. <br /> Mr. Cox made a motion to approve the $1 million appropriation of Federal Transit <br /> Administration and Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation Funds, and to <br /> continue the involvement of the Steering Committee with Mr. Toscano continuing as <br /> Chair. Ms. Richards seconded the motion and it was carried over to the next meeting for <br /> consideration. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he has more issues than just massing, and questioned whether we <br /> want to give up access to 7t~ Street for an obsolete queuing systen~ <br /> Mr. Caravati said he is not particularly enamored of the design, and he would like <br /> to have some influence on it and encouraged the public to do so as well. <br /> Mr. Toscano said 7th Street is really a critical issue as is access to the post office. <br /> Mr. Toscano said he would also like to hear ideas for naming the plaza~ <br /> <br /> <br />