Laserfiche WebLink
City Council Meeting Minutes September 21, 2021 <br />Mr. Binion provided the proposed next steps, as follows: <br />• Continue coordination with the FTA <br />• Draft Interlocal Agreements with FTA review <br />• Return Interlocal Agreements for Council consideration <br />• Execute transit projects on behalf of the community <br />• Continue to assess future grant fund opportunities <br />The staff noted that the Council Direction needed today is — are we ready to <br />move forward with the ILA as staff and Texas State have negotiated? <br />Mayor Hughson opened the discussion for questions from Council and <br />thanked Staff for their work on this project. <br />Council Member Baker expressed concern with the split of FTA funds. He <br />expressed concerns with the impact this has on our roads. Mr. Baker would <br />like to see bus lanes instead of more capacity on our roads. <br />Mayor Hughson asked if the funding received has to be used for buses. Mr. <br />Binon stated yes, these funds must be used for capital, operating or planning <br />assistance. <br />Council Member Baker asked what the deliverable is we will receive and <br />inquired what Texas State University would use the money for. Mr. Binion <br />mentioned the money will be used for capital planning for bus routes and <br />purchasing buses for this service. <br />Mayor Hughson inquired about routes and if these would be more intertwined. <br />Mr. Binion said this will take some time but in the future there will be <br />opportunity to add or modify routes. He stated whether the City of University <br />utilizes these funds, it is a benefit to the citizens. <br />Eric Algoe, stated the bus system is currently running at a deficit with the <br />money collected from the student fee. To avoid a future bus fee increase this <br />revenue will allow for another 5 years without the need of an increase. The <br />University intent is to purchase their physical buses and stop leasing. Once the <br />City and University agree a Request for Proposal (RFP) to hire the joint transit <br />system, then at that time the University will be able to bring in 50-60 owned <br />buses which will save a lot of dollars in the future. Once there is a single <br />operator, they will revisit the bus routes. <br />City of San Marcos Page 3 <br />