HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-84 Transpo Board & South Bend Common Council Olmunttirr P�1D1`t
(QUO tht &mown alounfil of Up Qlitg of Dont!! Wink JOINT MEETING OF THE TRANSPO BOARD
AND THE SOUTH BEND COMMON COUNCIL
The Joint Meeting of the Transpo Board and the South Bend Common
Council was called to order by Council President Beverlie J. Beck at 4: 10 p.m.
in the Council Informal Meeting Room,
Persons in attendance included : Councilmen Beck, Serge, Puzzello ,
and Braboy; Transpo Board Members: Margarita Howard , Frank Gootee , Richard
Pfeil, Jerome Vogel, and David Wells , Joseph ZaVisca, Joseph Griffith, Scott
Kosnoff , Intern, Jim Wensits , and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand .
Councilman Beck opened the meeting by having an introduction of
all persons in attendance and noting that she had requested this meeting to
review a safety problem experienced by residents of the Karl King Tower.
Councilman Puzzello then gave a brief history of the present
situation. She noted that prior to November of 1983 she had been contacted
by some of the 225 residents of the Karl King Tower regarding the problem
of boarding and disembarking the Transpo buses . A fire hydrant had been
taken out near the Tower due to the accidents in the area and that she had
gone to a Transpo board meeting in January of 1984 and requested that the
Transpo buses utilize the turn-around in front of the Tower . On February 16 ,
1984 she had a meeting in the Karl King Tower where Dave Wells and other
Transpo board members were in attendance. The situation was described as
very dangerous and that most residents were afraid to cross the street since
Monroe was a "raceway" in that part of the City. Councilman Beck echoed
the claim that Monroe is very dangerous ,
Mr. Wells noted that he had turned over to the staff Councilman
Puzzello ' s request and was informed that " not alot could be done". Spot
traffic enforcement was to be attempted in the hope of catching some of the
speeders. He noted that Farrington Apartments have a bus turn around which
was a staff decision some time ago, however this service would be removed if
the Karl King residents feel they are being discriminated against .
The Manager of Transpo noted that limited service of a few times
a day would not be of assistance from an operating standpoint . It is basically
a safety issue rather than an operating issue since the ingress and egress
of a Transpo bus would be of prime concern. It was the staff ' s decision that
using the turn-around would make a bad situation worse. This decision was
based on the Staff ' s knowledge and experience of transit situations.
Councilman Puzzello noted that a crosswalk and a blinker have
already been ruled out by the City. Councilman Serge and Councilman Braboy
requested that a test run a using the turn-around be tried.
Mr. ZaVisca then passed out a memorandum detailing their report
(copy attached) . Mr. Griffith added that . today there were two vehicles blocking
the entrance to the turn-around which would also cause problems .
Margarita Howard noted that operational questions are typically
treated by the Staff and that policy questions are heard by the Board . She
further noted that several individuals are unable to utilize Transpo but do
not qualify for STS since they are not "Transportationally disabled. "
•11 Pm,.• okeito. PV.11•MIM• CO.
Page 2 .
"Being elderly alone does not qualify for STS . "
Councilman Beck requested that the Beard make a decision one way
or the other .
Richard Pfeil thanked the Council for having the meeting . He wanted
to personally look into the situation, walk across Monroe and make this
an agenda item at a Transpo Board meeting .
Mr. Gootee stated that the. Transpo Board has much compassion and
consideration for the elderly. He noted that he would not cross Monroe,
and that he would give the request further thought .
Councilman Puzzello requested that Karl King not become an island
and that a test run be tried .
Councilman Beck thanked everyone for coming and noted that the Board
is doing a good job . The meeting was adjourned at 5 : 00 p .m.
Respectfully submitted ,
Beverlie J . Beck, President
CC : Joseph ZaVisca
South Bend Public. Transportation Corporation
901 East Northside Blvd ,
P. O., Box 1437
South Bend , IN 46624