09-21>9-23-2001 City Council Retreat

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From: Connie Elston To: Jerry Clarke Date: 08/14/2001 Time: 5:51:58 PM Page 2 of 2 Page —2- Press Release • Bay Area Bus Service Closes Bay Area is not being provided with the sufficient time that is typically required in new transit service areas, to convert more 'potential patrons' into 'satisfied patrons"'. "As a Bay Area resident who understands the need for regional public transit availability, I view this service cancellation as a major blow to our region". "Consider these facts. The service has demonstrated a continued growth throughout the first year. The Partnership has established plans to address and further attract the large, untapped markets of potential riders who have not yet "discovered" the Bay Area transit service. This pilot project is already much more successful and better received than the service that was tried in the Clear Lake area in the 1980's. All of these factors point to real potential for success. But not now". The Bay Area Transportation Partnership recognizes the many volunteers in the Partnership's Transit Services Committee for their personal and professional dedication to the Bay Area's Circulator Service Pilot Project. Strong active committee support has come from the United Way of Texas Gulf Coast Bay Area Service Center, University of Houston -Clear Lake, San Jacinto College South Campus, Cities of Webster, League City, Nassau Bay, El Lago, Kemah, Seabrook, Taylor Lake Village, Friendswood, Pasadena, Clear Lake Shores, and Dickinson, Baybrook Mall, Bay Area Turning Point, Interfaith Caring Ministries, Bay Area Christian Services, Texas Polio Survivors, North Galveston County YMCA, Literacy Advance, Saint Paul Catholic Church„ and The Work Source. The Partnership expresses appreciation to Mr. William Peterson, Director, METRO Bus Service Development, and his staff. They provided their skills and • experience to propose and evaluate alternative transit route combinations designed to further improve ridership acceptance and participation from Bay Area residents, and at a reduced monthly service operations cost. The Partnership also expresses appreciation to Mr. John Ferrari, President of AFC Corporate Transportation for the exemplary job that his company performed in providing the daily operation of the Circulator. The Bay Area Transportation Partnership is a full service Transportation Management Organization (TMO) serving the Galveston Bay Area region including 18 municipalities in 280 square miles around the intersection of Harris, Galveston and Brazoria counties of Texas. The Partnership's TMO mission focuses on "regional congestion management and air quality" objectives that are addressed by five active Commute Alternative Committees staffed by over 350 member volunteers: Long Range Planning, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Transportation Enhancement, Emergency Evacuation and Transit Services committees. The Transit Services committee covers the BayTran Circulator pilot project. Despite the cancellation, H-GAC Transportation Policy Council officials, after experiencing the strong management and outreach by the Bay Area Transportation Partnership in support of this pilot project, have reported an increased H-GAC sense of need for local public transportation services to the Bay Area communities. H-GAC looks forward to exploring alternative ways in which this transit service need may be met and hopes that a new pilot project may be forthcoming in the near future. - END - • 9.4