Town of Mansfield

Transportation Advisory Committee

Minutes of the Meeting

February 14, 2005

Present:    Stephens (chair), Nash, Zimmer, Koehn, Hall, Hultgren (staff)

The meeting was called to order at 7:32 p.m. by Chair Stephens.

The minutes of the May 24^th and November 22, 2005 meetings were approved on a motion by Nash/Koehn.

Hultgren circulated the latest Storrs-Willi bus ridership figures noting that this year’s ridership is running 40% higher than last year’s.  This can be attributed to UConn’s participation in the fare-free program again, the price of gas and the early publicity for the program by WRTD.

The fare-free PowerPoint presentation was circulated.  It has been presented to the UConn Parking Advisory Committee and the Town-University relations committee so far.  Dates to show it to the Undergraduate Student Government and the Graduate students are trying to be arranged now.  Nash said he would help get a date with USG.  Improving the slide on peer university community transportation efforts was discussed.  Hultgren will try to get a better list of UConn’s peer universities for this research.  In the next few weeks, staff will contact the UConn Administration about extending their support of the program through the ’06-’07 year.  A press release on the 40% increase in ridership will be drafted as well.

Hultgren updated members on current transportation-related projects in Town.

The walkway priority listing (spreadsheet) as revised by the Traffic Authority was reviewed and discussed.  The top nine priorities were accepted with the proviso that #4 (Flaherty Road) and #9 (Rt. 195 to Liberty Bank plaza) should be looked at carefully to see if they could be combined into one project.

Hultgren showed members the schedule holders he had researched for the 20 Mansfield bus stops.  He will try to get financial support from WRTD in purchasing and installing them at the stops.  (Costs are about $100 each).

Koehn reported that the Town had received a grant to assist with transportation services for the elderly and disabled and thanked the Social Services Director for his work in securing these funds.

The next meeting will most likely be in April, depending on the business at hand.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Lon R. Hultgren

Director of Public Works

cc:                   Town Manager, Town Clerk, Town Planner, Assist. Town Engineer, Project Engr., Social Services Dir., J. Freniere