PTAC Minutes 03/20/2024MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC TRANSIT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING
NAPLES, FLORIDA
MARCH 20, 2024
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, the Public Transit Advisory Committee in and for the County
of Collier, having conducted business herein, met on this date at 1:00 P.M. in REGULAR
SESSION at Collier County Museum Lecture Hail, 3331 Tamiami Trail E, Naples, Florida
with the following members present:
Chair: John DiMarco, III
Vice -Chair: Peter Berry
Devon Browne (Virtual Participant)
Dewey Enderle (Virtual Participant)
Sonja Lee Samek
Open Seat
Open Seat
ALSO PRESENT: Brian Wells, Director, Collier County PTNE
Omar DeLeon, Public Transit Manager, Collier County PTNE
Alexander Showalter, Senior Planner, Collier County PTNE
Keyla Castro, Operations Specialist, Collier County PTNE
Felicia Kirby, Jacobs Engineering
Jacob Stauffer, Transit Planner, MV Transportation
Nolan Begley, Fixed Route Manager, MV Transportation
March 20, 2024
1. Call to Order
Chair DiMareo called the meeting to order at 1:01 P.M.
Mr. Showalter reported Martin de St. Pierre resigned from the Committee.
2. Roll Call
Roll call was taken, and a quorum was not established.
3. Approval of Agenda
The Committee agreed to hold an informational meeting in accordance with the Agenda.
4. Approval of Minutes
a. January 17, 2024
The minutes of the January 17, 2024, Public Transit Advisory Committee meeting will be
considered at the April 17, 2024, meeting.
5. Committee Action
a. Approval of Draft PIP for TDP Major
Mr. Showalter presented an Executive Summary "PIP for 2025 Transit Development Plan
(TDP) Major Update" for consideration. The five-year planning document which identifies
recommendations and implementation strategies to achieve the goals and objectives of Collier
Area Transit, will be presented to the Collier County Metropolitan Planning Organization
(MPO). He provided an overview of the update noting:
• To receive State Block Grant Funds for system operations, each transit agency must
develop a Transit Development Plan (TDP) Major Update every five (5) years and an
Annual Progress Report for all other years.
• The report outlines Collier Area Transit's progress made over the past year(s) towards
achieving the goals and objectives identified in the TDP Major Update, approved October
27, 2020, by the BCC and FDOT on December 14, 2020.
• A public involvement plan was established for distribution to solicit public comments.
• Comments received will be provided to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC)
during final approval before transmitting to FDOT.
• The final TDP Major Update draft will be submitted for review and comment in March
2025.
• The proposed final TDP will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners for
approval in June 2025.
• The deadline to submit all TDP updates to the Florida Department of Transportation
(FDOT) for approval is September 1, 2025.
• The draft was prepared by CAT Staff, Collier MPO Staff, and Stantec consultants.
11r. DeLeon noted any questions on the proposal plan should be subnnitted via email to Mr.
Showalter.
Recommendation
Members in attendance endorsed the Collier Area Transit Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Progress
Report to the Transit Development Plan.
March 20, 2024
Approval of CAT Regional Service and Fare Study
Mr. Showalter presented the Executive Summary "Collier Area Transit Regional Service and Fare
Study. " The Study was performed with the Collier Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and
CAT to evaluate the prospect of implementing a new regional transit corridor for Cat to provide a
service between Collier County and Lee County, connecting to the Lee County Transit (Lee Tran)
system. The Study proposes a new regional connection operated by CA and analyzes existing
conditions and funding opportunities.
Felicia Kirby, ,Jacobs Engineering, presented the draft noting:
• The Regional Transit Vision mission is to provide effective and efficient multimodal
mobility services cross -county and connect the transit network to facilitate the needs of
workers, residents, and visitors to support economic, environmental, and community
benefits.
• Performance measures developed include:
o Decrease travel time and increase coverage and frequency of service to areas cross the
county.
o Development of a plan to fund improved/expanded services.
• Public Outreach and Survey
o All Participants: The I-75 Premium Express received the most first place rankings.
o Bus Riders only: The OF/IFAS and Lehigh Acres route received the highest rankings.
• Recommended regional route:
o Based on the outreach data, the OF/IFAS to Lehigh Acres route was selected.
• Capital cost projection:
o Bus, equipment and bus stop improvements are estimated at $628,700.
o Annual operating costs are estimated at $605,000.
• Fare Policy Recommendation: Separate and joint fare policies were evaluated.
o Both agencies, LeeTran and CAT, recommended maintaining a separate regional pass
structure.
• An interlocal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for terms and conditions of future
regional service will be created.
Next Steps
Presentation of the "Study" to the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for approval.
Comments
Mr. DeLeon reported:
• A Corridor Ranking criteria focusing on servicing the current needs for commuters was
utilized.
• U.S. Census data and economic data were taken into account.
Recommendation
Members endorsed the proposed Collier Area Transit Regional Service and Fare Stw4y for
presentation to the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).
March 20, 2024
6. Reports and Presentations
a. CAT Paradise Beach Trolley
Mr. Showalter updated the Committee on the Paradise Beach Trolley service providing
transportation from Conner Park to Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park and Vanderbilt Beach. He
noted:
• The beach bus, rebranded as the Paradise Beach Trolley with a resort themed beach wrap,
commenced February 16 and will end April 28, 2024.
• The travel route, a loop from Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park to Vanderbilt Beach,
stopping at Conner Park in between, is complimentary.
• The trolley transported 1700 passengers in five weeks, 610 of which were booked during
spring break (March 10th —15`n)
• The service has had great success in previous years and CAT plans to continue to provide
the service.
7. Member and Staff Comments
Committee Vacancies
Mr. Brown's term expires March 22, 2024, leaving three seats available on the Public Transit Advisory
Committee. The term is four (4) years.
Chair DiMarco urged members to reach out to the community and their peers to invite candidates to
apply for Committee membership.
8. Public Comments
None
9. Next Meeting Date
April 17, 2024 - 1:00 P.M.
Collier County Museum Lecture Hall
3331 Tamiami Trail E
Naples, FL. 34104
10. Adjournment
There being no further business for the good oft unty, the meeting was adjourned by the
order of the chair at 1:41 P.M.
Public TranV*visory Committee
John DiMareo IIl, Chair
These minutes approved by the Board/Committee on MAY 15 ,2024 as presented or
as amended
El