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Dakota County and Minnesota Valley Transit Authority. Joint Board Meeting August 17, 2010. Welcome and Introductions. Dakota County Chair Thomas Egan MVTA Vice Chair Gary Hansen. Item 2 . Overview of Legislative Auditor’s Office and 2010 Governance Evaluation Judy Randall & Emi Bennett.
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Dakota County andMinnesota Valley Transit Authority Joint Board Meeting August 17, 2010
Welcome and Introductions • Dakota County Chair Thomas Egan • MVTA Vice Chair Gary Hansen
Item 2 • Overview of Legislative Auditor’s Office and 2010 Governance Evaluation • Judy Randall & Emi Bennett
Item 3 Roles and Responsibilities • County Board • 2008 Transit Plan • Transit Infrastructure • JPA with Railroad Authority
Roles and Responsiblitities • Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority • 7 Commissioners • Jurisdiction • Transit alternatives with rail • Cedar Avenue BRT • Activities
Roles and Responsibilities • MVTA: The MVTA Board governs with an emphasis on transit services that build vibrant communities. • Legislation §473.388 created Opt-out transit agencies. • Results: Transit study conducted by SRF per legislation, indicates interest in transit service, growing population and business base in MVTA area.
MVTA: The MVTA Board governs with an emphasis on transit services that build vibrant communities. • MVTA Board organized and later expanded to include representatives from Dakota and Scott Counties. • Results: MVTA cities of Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Rosemount and Savage form Joint Powers Agency in 1990 to address unmet transit needs of the cities – residents and businesses alike.
MVTA: The MVTA Board governs with an emphasis on transit services that build vibrant communities. • Results: • MVTA sees ridership growth nearly every year for 20 years.
MVTA: The MVTA Board governs with an emphasis on transit services that build vibrant communities. • Results: • MVTA deploys services that meet needs of businesses (Thomsen Reuters, USPS) as well as residents. • MVTA creates “right-sized” facilities constructed in communities to serve transit users and become community landmarks (illustration shows pending Rosemount facility)
MVTA: The MVTA Board governs with an emphasis on transit services that build vibrant communities. • Suburban Transit Association (STA) was formed in 1995 to assist suburban providers gain additional funding. • Results: • MVTA has successfully worked through STA to increase overall transit funding, not just enact legislation beneficial to MVTA and other Suburban Transit Providers.
MVTA: The MVTA Board governs with an emphasis on transit services that build vibrant communities. • Scott County Association for Leadership & Efficiency (SCALE) serves as model and resource for MVTA. • Results: • MVTA has become a transit resource, an acknowledged expert, not just for MVTA’s five cities, but for the broader Dakota and Scott communities.
Item 4 Coordination • Regional coordination • Project examples
Coordination – MVTA • Deliver Mobility to the MVTA Community • MVTA has established a creative and cost-effective service delivery model • Results: • MVTA contracts for service – transportation operations and maintenance (Schmitty & Sons), lawn care, snow plowing, computer consulting, janitorial, etc.
Deliver Mobility to the MVTA Community • Results: • Operating contract expects superior service performance, penalizes deficiencies, and incentivizes exceeding superior expectations • MVTA received top national award – the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Gold Award – in 2010 for stellar safety record
Deliver Mobility to the MVTA Community • Coordination: MVTA is customer-focused, with a well-documented customer service philosophy and system • Results: • All MVTA customer comments tracked in a database; staff informs Board and follow-up on constituent concerns; follow-up with riders
Deliver Mobility to the MVTA Community • Coordination: MVTA participates in regional activities and represents the region on a national scale • Results: • Participate in numerous regional committees (Transitway Guidelines, UPA, TPAC, Regional Fare Collection, etc.) and coordinate service and schedules at regional facilities. • Support efforts south of the river: Cedar & I-35W Transitways; Scott County Transit Review Board/Transit Planning Team; Scott County/ DARTS/ TransitLink/Metro Mobility vehicles use Burnsville Transit Station and other facilities. • Only transit agency in region to serve as an agent/station for Jefferson Lines intercity bus service.
Deliver Mobility to the MVTA Community • Coordination Results: • MVTA uses personalized outreach (current focus: seniors, students)
Deliver Mobility to the MVTA Community • Coordination Results: • MVTA produces public information for our routes; submit information to Metro Transit for inclusion in regional distribution channels
Deliver Mobility to the MVTA Community • Coordination: Joint Procurements • Results: • MVTA purchasebuses in collaboration with Duluth, Rochester, and Southwest, as well as using existing State blanket procurements when appropriate; “piggyback” procurements with other national transit providers; develop specifications for regional procurements. • MVTA operates a fleet of 118 buses of varying sizes to meet demands of routes
Deliver Mobility to the MVTA Community • Coordination Results: • MVTA has received national recognition for Driver Assist System, Safety record, and Planning process
Item 5 Transit Funding Issues • Complexity – Cedar example • Use of County levy and Rail Authority levy
Funding - MVTA • Strategic Area: Finance - Balance service with financial resources • Funding formulas (Suburban Transit Providers share 21.5% of MVST; have not shared in growth as Constitutional Amendment grows funding to a total of 36% when fully implemented in 2012) • Results: • Board adopts Operating Budget and CIP annually • Clean, unqualified audits annually by Certified Public Accounting firm
Balance service with financial resources • Other funding sources: CTIB, RTC, CMAQ, NTD • Results: • Nearly $20 million in CMAQ grants awarded to MVTA (Burnsville and Eagan Transit Stations, buses, etc.) • More than $12.5 million in CMAQ funding awarded to MVTA for projects in 2013-2014 (Including Rosemount facility)
Balance service with financial resources • Results: • More than $18 million in UPA, CTIB and other funds awarded to MVTA for Apple Valley and Cedar Grove Transit Stations between 2008-2010; Construction projects on time and on budget • Joint Use Development/stream of funds to cover ongoing maintenance costs
Balance service with financial resources • Funding: Public and private sector roles are complementary • Results: • Results-oriented operation; lean with nearly 85 percent of budget going toward contracted services (transit as well as other services such as janitorial, snow plowing, computer consulting); uses private-sector expertise and competitive- ness with close public-sector oversight
Balance service with financial resources • Results: • MVTA meets all regional performance standards.
Item 6 • Questions and Comments • Judy Randall & Emi Bennett
Item 7 • Closing Remarks • Dakota County Chair Thomas Egan • MVTA Vice Chair Gary Hansen