HomeMy WebLinkAbout08 02 10 City Council Work SessionCITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: AUGUST 2, 2010
PREPARED BY: JANE KANSIER, BUILDING & TRANSPORTATION SERVICES DIR
PRESENTER: JANE KANSIER
AGENDA ITEM: PRESENTATION ON THE CITY OF PRIOR LAKE TRANSIT SYSTEM
DISCUSSION: Introduction
The purpose of this workshop is to discuss the role of the City of Prior Lake
in providing transit services.
This agenda report outlines a history of transit services in Prior Lake. It
attempts to update the City Council on how we got to where we are today.
At the workshop, the staff will make a brief (20 minute) presentation on
current transit services.
Lisa Freese, Scott County Transportation Manager, Troy Beam, Scott
County Transit Manager, and Carol Becker, Humphrey Institute, will attend
the workshop to provide technical expertise about transit operations and
services.
History
For many years, the primary funding source for transit was a property tax
levied by the Metropolitan Transit Commission, and then the Metropolitan
Council. In 1984, the State Legislature adopted Minnesota Statutes
473.388, allowing communities to "opt out" of the regional transit system.
Twelve suburban communities, including the City of Prior Lake, chose to
take advantage of the opt-out provision. Property tax dollars collected for
transit operations in Prior Lake were then directed toward providing service
in our area. Initially, the City was a member of the Minnesota Valley
Transit Association (MVTA), a joint powers entity, comprised of cities within
a transit area, which pooled their transit funding from the Metropolitan
Council to provide transit service within the transit area. In 2001 the City
Council voted to opt-out of the MVTA to operate its own bus service (Laker
Lines).
In March 2003, Scott County, the Scott County HRA, and the cities of Prior
Lake, Shakopee, Savage, Belle Plaine, Elko, Jordan, New Market, and
New Prague created a Transit. Review Board (TRB) and Transit Planning
Team (TPT). The mission of both the TRB and the TPT is to enhance the
transit options of all Scott County residents through an intergovernmental
best management process. The TRB and TPT developed a Unified Transit
Management Plan (UTMP) which was adopted by Scott County and the
cities within Scott County in 2005, and updated in 2008.
R:1Council\2010 Agenda ReportslG8 02 10`,Tr~osit_Workshop_Report.doc
In 2007, the City of Prior Lake partnered with the City of Shakopee to
operate the BlueXpress service to downtown Minneapolis. This service
consists of Laker Lines buses and Shakopee Transit buses. Together, we
operate 8 morning and 8 evening routes to and from downtown
Minneapolis.
The City of Prior Lake has also operated a summer circulator service since
2006. Although originally intended to serve a variety of users, the primary
customers of this service have been summer school students.
ISSUES: The focus of this workshop is the future of Prior Lake's transit system.
Some questions the Council may wish to consider are:
• What role should the City of Prior Lake play in providing transit
services?
• Given the funding limitations, where should we focus our primary
efforts?
• What are the short-term goals and objectives for transit service in
Prior Lake?
• What are the long-term goals and objectives for transit service in
Prior Lake?
Reviewed by:
Frank Boyles, City Manager
R:ICounci112010Agench Reports108 02 101Transit_UVorfshop_Report.doc
"~
1984: Prior Lake "opts out"
2002: Laker Lines commuter service begins
2003: Transit Review Board and Transit Planning
Team created
2005: "Unified Transit Management Plan" adopted
2007: BlueXpress, commuter express service to
downtown Minneapolis, begins in July
- Analyzed transit needs in Scott County
- UTMP recommendations:
- Focus service on downtown Minneapolis via
~;, 169 corridor
- Immediate construction of an 1,100 stall park
and ride facility
Combine Prior Lake and Shakopee circulator
service (future)
~.,..~
- Laker Lines
- 3 coach buses to downtown Minneapolis
- Local Laker Link
- 3 small buses-summer only
- Circulator route
~ ~~
- Shuttle service ~`
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~a~ ~a~• 5eQ lac ~~~ ~eQ, lac ~~~ ~eQ ,mac ~a~ ~eQ,
Month
3
t Laker Lines Total Monthly Riders
2004-2010
Household Income
ySouthbridge
Crossings 28`h
Blackhawk
-200 cars per 50`h
day Apple Valley
Burnsville
-Safe Haven 42 & Huntington
Eagan
5.20 cars er da
p y Fort Snelling
Heart of City
Hwy 100
Minnetonka Blvd
Safe Haven
Seagate
Southbridge Crossing
SW Station
®Less than $20,000
^ $20,000- $40,000
^ $40,000-$60,000
^ $60,000- $80,000
^ More than $80,00(
82
8
3
1
1
20
1
54
4
Reverse Commute
Late 2010
1 new coach bus
Potential for 3 additional routes
L Eagle Creek Transit Station ~ ~~"
550 new parking stalls
:> Open 2012 `~
r Potential Partnership with Southwest Transit
y 3 20-passenger buses
Deviated Dial-A-Ride
yCommitted to Prior
i-Scheduled rides vs.
rMeet needs of a bro.
rMay require fare increa
assigned to City
_ake users
fixed routes
ader population
use from $1 to $2.25
1. What are the appropriate Park and Ride Locations?
Prior Lake Baptist Church
y Lakefront Park i~.-
Y Downtown 'r "~'
~. Y Other ,..,~~4~.~','
2. Should we provide service to Lakeville?
3. Should we continue to provide local service?
If so, at what level?
Who are the targeted users?
6
1. What role should the City of Prior Lake play in
providing transit services?
2. Given the funding limitations, where should we
focus our primary efforts?
3. What are the short-term goals and objectives
for transit service in Prior Lake?
4. What are the long-term goals and objectives
for transit service in Prior Lake?
7