pages: TransportationCommission/2015-04-22.pdf, 6
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TransportationCommission | 2015-04-22 | 6 | Transportation Commission May 27, 2015 Item #4B Page 6 of 8 how an increase in ferry patronage will ever solve the problem with the neighborhood and that has caused negativity with the public. He felt they needed a plan or commitment that looks for a long- term solution because funding is not immediately available. He also brought up the fact that there was no commitment to a long-term solution for a viable ferry service in the Bay Farm Island area. Commissioner Schatmeier thanked the community for coming out and thanked staff for their report. He said that he lives within a seven minute walk of the Harbor Bay Ferry, so he has an interest in how this comes out. He said he was excited by the staff proposal and he believed they deserved credit for listening to the community and coming up with a proposal that represented a positive look at all points of view. He was prepared to offer a motion to approve the staff recommendation. However, he wanted to include in the motion the issues presented by the Commission and they would be in three parts: (1) The Commission support the maintenance of the ridership increases that have taken place and the enhancement of ridership overtime for the health of the Harbor Bay Ferry. (2) The City needed to identify adequate parking in the short term and the long term. (3) The City must minimize the disruption to the surrounding residential neighborhoods by monitoring parking in the neighborhoods both before the short-term solution is implemented and afterwards. Commissioner Miley thanked the community and staff. He stated that he lives within a ten minute walk from the ferry terminal. He asked Kevin Connolly about the parking demand projections. Kevin Connolly replied WETA has experienced growth averaging nine percent annually for four years. He expected parking demand to grow between five and seven percent, if they keep the same mode split. Commissioner Schatmeier asked Kevin Connolly about the additional 6 pm ferry trip. Kevin Connolly replied that WETA planned the service expansion for a while ago because the 5:30 pm boat typically goes over capacity and the overage has been happening 30 percent of the time. Also, WETA would be considering an additional morning trip. Commissioner Bellows replied the evening ferry addition will most probably not add to the parking load because those people are just picking up their cars at another time. However, the morning ferry addition could possibly increase parking demand. Kevin Connolly replied the 208 space parking lot is generally at capacity before the 8:30 am departure. Commissioner Schatmeier stated that Kevin Connolly cited that although ridership has gone up the percentage of customers driving alone has gone down. As he remembered, the statistics showed a percentage increase of people walking to the ferry and bicycling, which means the ridership increase was from people living close to the terminal. Kevin Connolly replied that was correct, roughly 93-98% of their riders are within a three-mile radius. | TransportationCommission/2015-04-22.pdf |