05-21-2021 with attachments1
CHANHASSEN SENIOR COMMISSION MINUTES
May 21, 2021
MEMBERS PRESENT: Jerry Cerchia, Bhakti Modi, Ruth Lunde, Lisa Lyon, Linda Haight, Jim
Camarata, Susan Kibler.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Dorina Tipton
STAFF PRESENT: Sharmeen Al-Jaff.
GUESTS PRESENT: Dawn Plumer, Jake Simich, Marketing/Public Relations Administrator and
John Haggenmiller, Marketing and Public Outreach Manager with SouthWest Transit, and Katie
Boller Gosewisch, Executive Director with WeCAB.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Commissioner Camarata moved to approve the Agenda. Commissioner Lunde seconded the
motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
SENIOR COMMISSION MINUTES:
Commissioner Lyon moved to approve the minutes. Commissioner Lunde seconded the motion.
All voted in favor and the motion carried.
GUEST SPEAKER JAKE SIMICH, MARKETING SPECIALIST- JOHN
HAGGENMILLER, MARKETING & PUBLIC OUTREACH MANAGER UPDATE – SW
TRANSIT
See attached Power Point Presentation
GUEST SPEAKER KATIE BOLLER GOSEWISCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR -
UPDATE—WECAB
See attached Flyer
HOUSING INITIATIVE DISCUSSION:
The Commission elected to postpone this item to the June meeting.
FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN UPDATE:
Commissioner Haight and Chairman Cerchia visited the site. The commission considered
volunteering to package food for the organization. No final decisions were made.
MEMORIAL DAY UPDATE-MONDAY, MAY 31, 2021
Chairman Cerchia and Commissioner Kibler will volunteer at the Memorial Day event to raise
funds for the Veterans Court. Staff prepared all the posters and the details associated with the day
of the event were in progress.
MAY 27, PANEL DISCUSSION. KNOW THE VACCINATION FACTS-HOSTS NEEDED.
Commissioners Modi and Camarata agreed to be part of an event to share their experience.
Chanhassen Senior Commission Minutes – May 21, 2021
2
WEDNESDAYS – COFFEE AND ROLLS ON THE PLAZA, 9-10 AM-HOSTS NEEDED
Staff explained that volunteers were needed for the month of July. Most of the dates were filled by
members of the Senior Advisory Board and Commissioner Kibler.
SENIOR COMMISSION COMMENTS:
None
ADJOURNMENT:
Chairman Cerchia called for meeting adjournment. Commissioner Lyon move to adjourn;
Commissioner Modi seconded the motion. All voted in favor and the motion carried.
Prepared and submitted by Sharmeen Al-Jaff
SouthWest Transit Update
Commuter Services
May 20, 2021
SouthWest Transit (SWT) Overview
Public transit provider for Eden Prairie, Chaska, Chanhassen, as well as Carver and Victoria
(contracts).
Governed by a commission consisting of six individuals appointed by the member cities and
one rider representative.
Suburban provider established by State Legislative action in 1983 due to the fact that the
existing structure was not responsive or meeting the needs of the growing suburbs.
SWT was formed in 1986.
Pre-COVID: Operated over approximately 160 trips per day with 75 buses.
Major routes bring commuters to Downtown Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota.
National leader in innovation, technology, and transit-oriented development.
Introduced one of the nation's first microtransit operations –SW Prime
Provider of choice to many special events.
Has over $60 million in assets.
Pre-COVID: Annually provided over 1.2 million rides.
COVID-19 Impacts
Transit as an industry hit hard by the impact
of COVID-19.
SWT hit harder than most do the makeup of our customer base –“Choice Riders.”
Impacts/Actions
Initially lost over 90% of our riders and a
similar percentage of farebox revenue.
Furloughed or eliminated over 50% of our
workforce.
Reduced service by over 60%.
Received two rounds of Federal Stimulus Funding.
Took numerous safety measures to
increase customer and employee
confidence (mask mandate,
passenger/driver separators, air
purification systems, etc.).
Continuing Plan to
Address COVID-19
Continue reduced service with the plan to add back trips
to meet any increased demand as we come out of the
pandemic.
Targeting Labor Day for substantial service increases.
Continue high level cleaning/disinfecting vehicles and facilities.
Swapping out vehicles multiple times per day.
Maintain daily employee health screening.
Continue to make the wearing of masks mandatory in our facilities and on our vehicles.
This is a Federal mandate in effect until mid-September.
Self-perform versus contract (keep as many employed as
possible).
Goal : To give the agency the opportunity to meet all challenges and be financially solvent once we are able to put the coronavirus behind us.
What’s Next After
COVID?
Build back express operations as
Downtown/U of M reopens
U of M back on campus in the Fall
Downtown employers starting to return in
Summer/Fall
Explore new markets.
Suburb-to-Suburb Services –
Shakopee expansion completed
494/MOA/Airport –Service
started April 2021
Opportunity to build back services
smarter
Create more efficient and
attractive service schedules
Better leverage microtransit
capabilities –First Mile/Last Mile
What’s Next After
COVID Cont.?
Resume Special Event services
Trips will require reservations
to start
State Fair –Planning for full
service
Sporting Events
Twins Express resuming June 8th
Concerts
Pilot evolving technologies
Mobility as a Service (MaaS)
Electric Vehicles
Autonomous Vehicles
What’s Next? –
SW Prime/Prime MD
Expansion
Expanded SW Prime and SW Prime MD services.
Expanded SW Prime hours of service
June 7th –Service to start earlier (5:30am)
Service into evening hours being planned
Expansion into Shakopee (up and running)
Canterbury Park, Valleyfair, Mystic Lake
MVTA service connections
Expansion of SW Prime MD Locations Serviced
Methodist Hospital
Park Nicollet Clinics in St. Louis Park
494 Corridor Expansion
MSP Airport
Mall of America
Entire corridor between Eden Prairie and MOA
What’s Next? –
494 Service
Regional Solicitation grant awarded in 2016 for 3-year demonstration service.
Provides for service between SouthWest Station and Mall of America.
Award amended in 2020 to include service to MSP Airport.
Service scheduled to start in 2022.
Limited on-demand service already in operation.
Primary Service Locations: SouthWestStation, Mall of America, MSP Airport, Normandale Community College, Orange Line BRT, France Ave, Lyndale Ave, and others.
Weekdays and Saturdays.
SWLRT & SouthWest Transit
3.5-year negotiation process.
Final agreement adopted in December of
2017.
Results of the agreement met the needs
of both SWT and the Met Council.
SouthWest Station site is being redesigned
to support existing SWT bus operations
and LRT.
Ultimately, the LRT operations will open
up new service opportunities for SWT.
Improve service efficiencies for mid-day,
evening, weekend, and special event
services.
Improved first mile/last mile connections
via SW Prime.
What’s Next? –
SouthWest Station
Mobility Hub
Regional Solicitation Grant awarded in 2018 for 3-year demonstration service.
Planned Implementation: 2024 to coincide with SWLRT start of operations.
Focuses on providing a high level of first mile/last mile multi-modal connectivity centered around the SouthWest Station SWLRT station.
Consists of:
Additional SW Prime microtransit service.
Providing eBike and/or eScootersharing.
5 Carsharing vehicles.
Other mobility solutions as they evolve.
What’s Next? –Golden Triangle
Autonomous Demonstration
Eden Prairie’s Golden Triangle Area (GTA)
Largest Suburban Business Park in the Twin
Cities Metro Area
20,000+ Jobs
9.8 million sqft. of office, commercial, and
industrial property.
Accounts for 9% of all office/industrial space in
the Twin Cities
Increased employment density anticipated with
SWLRT
Large Employers: Optum, 3M, Starkey Labs,
iMedia, Cigna, Lifetouch Studios
Majority of jobs outside of ¼-mile buffer of
planned SWLRT stations
Currently in discussions with multiple AV
vendors/MnDOT/FTA about possible pilots.
What’s Next? –Electric Vehicles &
Autonomous SW Prime
Contact Us
Matt Fyten, COO
SouthWest Transit
mfyten@swtransit.org
952-974-3100
www.swtransit.org
Employer Resources
•Receive email updates about Southwest LRT from
Commuter Services
•Return to Work guidance
•Bus pass programs –Metropass
•Telework resources and training
•Preferential carpool / vanpool parking management
•Free outdoor bike rack
•New hire packets, e-blasts, newsletter articles
Commuter Resources
•Customized transit itinerary + free ride passes
•Transit Assistance Program (TAP)
•Carpool, vanpool matching and tips
•Bike-to-work materials and trail construction updates
•Try It Campaigns
•Sign up for monthly commuter newsletter
•Guaranteed Ride Home
NEW Twin Cities Telework website!
www.tctelework.com
Free resources for employers and
teleworkers
Contact Us
Kate Meredith
Commuter Services
Kate@494corridor.org
952-405-9425
www.494corridor.org
QUESTIONS