HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 4.A 04/18/2011 Late DocumentFrom: sara Peracca [speracca@hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2011 3:30 PM
To: - City Clerk
Subject: agenda item number 4A
Dear Council Me nbers,
Please vote to support the improvement;of public transit service in Petaluma,. In, particular, please approve Agenda
item, 4A, "Resolution Awarding a Contract,to..MV Transportation for the Operations and Maintenance of Petaluma
Transit and Petaluma Paratransit Services,". which ,through increased efficiency secures additional funding ($200k per
year for 5 years) to improve our transit system and increase routes that had been previously cut.
I as a parent ofl hildren at River Montessori Charter School (RMCS) woulNike Petaluma City Transit routes to
service our school during our drop off and pick, up times. This would further help the city in its reduction of
greenhouse gasemission goals as well as help' the school reach its goals of maintaining a low carbon footprint. In
particular, we understand from Joe Rye that one, improvement the Petaluma Transit department would enact would
be to have route 24 provide service to the'two schools in the Kaiser area to coincide with morning drop off and
-afternoon pick up times. At present, there is no, bus service at these times -they were cut this year FY 2010/11.
In RMCS's first year (2009/2010), we, took advantage of Petaluma City Transit's bus service and had 10 regular
riders. This yearl(2010/2011),,many more wanted to ride the bus (parents estimate 20 students) but service was cut
during the hours we most needed a bus. Our school.is growing and we.believe Petaluma City Transit will see a
considerable boost'in ridership not only from our increased enrollment but also. because parents at Harvest -Christian,
a neighboring school, have expressed interest in bus.service.
So please approve this resolution recommended.byzstaff, the Transit Advisory'Cornmittee, and the ad hoc Selection
Committee!Let's be more efficient, consolidate the contracted operations. and maintenance of Petaluma Transit (fixed
route) and Petaluma Paratransit (ADA Paratransit, aka dial a ride) under:a single management contract, and put the
funds towards providing a needed service to the community- both in 'terms of reaching your ghg emissions and
addressing 'need`s,; of your constituents.
Please provide the funding to. (estore needed bus service. Get kids out of cars, and on the bus! Thank you for your
consideration. Loved seeing you` all in the'Butter-and Egg Day Parade.
Sincerely,
Sara Peracca
622 Liberty Street
Parent of 2 future riders!
River Montessori Charter School