Transit- Meeting Agenda (12/18/1997)

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Miscelianeous Mr. Andersen-Wyckoff referred to pages 75-90 of the agenda and said that --- Director Swenson had requested this information at the Oetober B~ard Fare Elasticiry meeting. It is a very complex issue, and is not one that can be taken lightly ~ because fare adjustments have very long-term effects. Director Swenson expressed his thanks and said he had read it and got a lot out of it. He said this information was about increases in fares, and unless it is just reverse math with fare decreases, he would be inte~ested in seeing that infoRnation. President Caraballo asked if there had ever been a study to show from the business strategy standpoint if a District has raised fares for a limited period and then reduced them. It takes a period of time to recapture lost ridership, but he wonders if anyone has done it as a strategy and then more quickly recaptured ridership when there is a retum to a static rate. Mr. Whittington said there is very little data in that direction because it does not happen very often. It is much less predictable when fares are reduced. Because so much study has been done on fare increases there is rather level predictability; however, the other direction is somewhat of a dark subject. Correspondence from FTA Referring to the letter from Helen Knoll, FTA Regional Administrator, on Regional Administrator page 93 of the agenda Mr. Andersen-Wyckoff said the District has been notified of grant award of $1,210,001 in federal capital and operating assistance. At this point, it looks as though the Distriet will be fully-funded although the InteRnodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) was only extended by six months. It appears in the language in Congress that the capital and operating assistance to small districts like this will be fully- funded but the SAMTD is waiting for confirmation. Board Committees President Caraballo said the Executive Committee had met and discussed two issues, but brings no requests for action. Executive Committee Fund Development and Director Kelley noted that Director Towslee had attended a meeting of the Community Relations West Salem Neighborhood Association. Committee Status Report Director Towslee said she particularly attended that meeting because she thought that Clem Wertz was going to show his video of his alleged bus speeding. She was anticipating that he would be at this meeting, and it is her hope that if he does attend in January he will attend not necessarily in a tone of complaint but can offer suggestions or will have a willingness to work with staff to relate his discomfort with the alleged speeding buses on his street. She said she drove Gerth Street the other day, and she agrees that it is nea~ly impossible to develop any speed. She could not do it safely-it is impossible. President Caraballo said on Monday evening he attended a preview presentation to the Chamber of Commerce on the Courthouse Square project as an observer, and he apologized to Board liaison Director Wieprecht for not inviting him to join him at the meeting. It was an opportunity to talk ta some of the business leadership one-on-one. Director Kelley said that stie attended the Chamber of Commerce Govemmental Relations Committee meeting. She normally attends not only for this Board, but for her personal participation in the Chamber. The Courthouse Square project was mentioned and the meeting continued for an additional hour. The Chamber will be meeting again on the moming of November 22. A Public Hearing has been scheduled for November 26 at Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting Salem Area Mass Transit District November 20, 1997 - Page 20