StarMetro News
Citizen Advisory Council Unanimously Votes to Endorse StarMetro's Route Decentralization Plan
At tonight's special meeting, the Transit Advisory Council voted unanimously to endorse StarMetro's proposed route decentralization project, known as Nova2010.
"Nova2010 is a step in the right direction," said Transit Advisory Committee member Cecil Washington. "With a decentralized StarMetro, transit will be a shining light in the City of Tallahassee."
While a majority of the Transit Advisory Committee members and a few citizens stood up and praised Nova2010's positives, some citizens in attendance raised concerns about the safety of the proposed 39 transfer intersections and service to the Governor's Square Mall.
Ron Garrison, executive director of StarMetro, and Gabe Menendez, director of the City's Public Works Department, both addressed these concerns.
"By the time Nova2010 is implemented, we'll most likely have all 39 transfer intersections fit with painted crosswalks, pedestrian signals and sidewalks with complete curb cuts," said Menendez. "In addition, StarMetro and Public Works have identified grant monies that would help pay for ten to 15 audible chirpers, which goes beyond ADA [American with Disabilities Act] requirements for crosswalks. If we are awarded these monies, these chirpers would be installed at high priority transfer intersections."
Garrison and Menendez both noted citizen input regarding safety issues was very important and thus were pleased to offer updates on the safety improvements to be added at all transfer intersections.
"StarMetro is a mass transit system, and as such we make our decisions based on what is best for the entire community," said Garrison. "We believe Nova2010 is what is best for this community, and tonight the citizens have spoken."
With the backing of the Transit Advisory Committee, StarMetro intends to take the proposed route decentralization plan to the City Commission for final approval in the spring.
StarMetro's Nova2010 route decentralization plan aims to take the current downtown oriented route structure and break apart each route to create a more grid-like route structure with routes running from north to south and east to west, many bypassing downtown's C.K. Steele Plaza.
For more information, please call StarMetro’s main office at (850) 891-5200 or visit online at Talgov.com/starmetro. For additional project updates, please call the Nova2010 hotline at (850) 891-5283 via email. Citizens may also follow updates on FaceBook and Twitter.
StarMetro and Ability1st Partner for Sensitivity Training
Last week, StarMetro drivers participated in sensitivity training presented by Ability1st, a local advocacy group for persons with disabilities. Over 100 drivers participated in the sensitivity training sessions, which spanned three days.
Curriculum for the training sessions included lectures, discussions and interactive exercises. Through these interactive exercises, StarMetro drivers experienced cognitive and physical disabilities while performing everyday tasks. The big exercise of the sessions called for StarMetro drivers to cross busy intersections around the city while being blindfolded and/or physically handicapped in some way.
"Our goal was to provide additional insight into the challenges people with visible and invisible disabilities face every day as they move about our community," said Judith Barrett, executive director of Ability1st.
Each StarMetro driver must complete extensive classroom and bus simulator training before taking to the streets. Typically, driver training can take up to two months. In addition, each driver must complete refresher-training courses at least once a year.
"Our Nova2010 Project calls for a more grid-like system with various transfer points located across the city, most of which will be located at major intersections," said Ron Garrison, executive director of StarMetro. "In order to better understand how persons with varying disabilities will navigate this proposed system, we are all taking additional sensitivity training sessions."
StarMetro Installs Solar Trash Compactors
Last week, StarMetro installed five solar-powered trash compactors at StarStops located at the intersections of Tharpe Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Capital Circle North West and Tennessee Street, Tennessee Street and Woodward Avenue, South Adams Street and Orange Avenue and Appleyard Drive and Jackson Bluff.
These new BigBelly compacting trash receptacles use 100 percent solar power and hold five times the volume of a traditional trashcan. Due to the large capacity of the BigBelly trash receptacle, StarMetro will save in labor, fuel and maintenance costs. In addition, the BigBelly provides environmental benefits from reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants.
"Introducing the five BigBellys will serve as a pilot project for StarMetro," said Ron Garrison, executive director of StarMetro. "At the end of the project, we'll look at expanding the number of BigBelly trash compactors at StarStops."
The five trash compactors were purchased completely with stimulus funds.
StarMetro's Dial-A-Ride Rolls Out New Buses
This week, StarMetro's paratransit service, Dial-A-Ride, will place 14 new buses on the streets. The new 23-foot 'Challenger' buses, made by Champion, will replace older buses from Dial-A-Ride's current fleet. The new buses seat 16 passengers and come equipped with three foldaway seats, three wheelchair positions and a rear lift.
A grant from the Federal Transportation Authority paid for the complete replacement of the 14 buses at a cost of $1,027,852; each bus cost $73,418.
"The replacement Dial-A-Ride vans will allow the City to continue to provide safe, timely and efficient transportation for our elderly and disabled citizens," said Donna Peacock, Superintendent of Paratransit. "These vehicles are equipped with several new features designed for the comfort and safety of the citizen - a state-of-the-art farebox, three wheelchair securement areas with automatic self-tensioning belts, microbiotic fabric seats and a better suspension system for smoother rides."
Dial-A-Ride is a transportation service for elderly and qualified persons with disabilities living within the City of Tallahassee. In compliance with the American's with Disabilities Act, the Dial-A-Ride Program provides curb-to-curb service for those who cannot access StarMetro's fixed route service.
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StarMetro's Service Area Expands To Include Fallschase Area
On Monday, December 7, StarMetro will begin providing service between Downtown Tallahassee and the Fallschase commercial district, located on Mahan Drive east of Capital Circle NE. The expansion includes extending the current route 12 to service the new area by traveling east on Mahan Drive past Capital Circle NE, south on Sabine Drive, west on Acadian Boulevard, north on Weems Road and back west on Mahan Drive traveling towards Downtown. The new loop will cover businesses, such as Wal-Mart and Costco, and provide park-and-ride opportunities for commuters traveling on Mahan Drive. View the new route at Talgov.com/starmetro/routes/rt12.cfm
"The current ridership on route 12 is 43,933 trips annually," said Ron Garrison, executive director of StarMetro. "We expect a significant increase in ridership with the extension of route 12 to Fallschase."
The funding for the extension comes from a service development grant through the Florida Department of Transportation for $240,000, with matching funds provided by the City and Leon County.
"This provides a great opportunity to provide additional service to unincorporated Leon County," Garrison said. "In addition, this extension serves as the initial step toward decentralization, which currently includes a route running along US 90/Tennessee Street/Mahan Drive from Capital Circle NW to Buck Lake Road."
By 2011, StarMetro hopes to decentralize its route system, which will increase the frequency of service along US 90/Tennessee Street/Mahan Drive from Capital Circle NW to the Fallschase area from one bus every hour to a bus every ten minutes during the morning and afternoon peak commute times.
StarMetro and Second Harvest Call on You
to Stuff-The-Bus!
This Friday, Nov. 20, StarMetro will hold the eighth annual Stuff-The-Bus food drive from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Winn-Dixie shopping center, located at Park Avenue and Magnolia Street. This event challenges citizens to donate canned and non-perishable food items to 'stuff-the-bus' for America's Second Harvest of the Big Bend. The Second Harvest Food Bank will then dispense the food donations to needy families in the Big Bend area for the upcoming holiday season.
"This year, more than ever before, we need the support of the community to help Stuff-The-Bus," said Cheryl Phoenix, director of the Second Harvest Food Bank. "The number of people coming to the food pantries in our area has skyrocketed, and we want to make sure everyone has food for the holiday season."
Citizens may also drop off food donations at any Farmers and Merchants Bank between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday, as well.
"We strive to support the community in any and every way we possibly can," said Ron Garrison, director of StarMetro. "Last year, we collected nearly 1,100 pounds of food that valued over $1,600. This year, we hope to take in more pounds of food than ever before."
StarMetro Participates in White Cane Day Event
On October 15, StarMetro's Executive Director, Ron Garrison, and the StarMetro Planning Staff participated in White Cane Day, presented by the Tallahassee Lions Club and the Tallahassee Council of the Blind. In order to better understand how visually impaired persons will navigate the new, proposed decentralized route system, Director Garrison and Planning Staff dawned blindfolds and white canes to cross the intersection of Capital Circle NE and Mahan Drive. "It was a humbling experience," said Garrison. "We will continue to work with the blind community to ensure that those persons can navigate the proposed system safely.
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StarMetro Route Changes Effective August 1
Eight Routes Revised and Two New Routes Added - StarMetro, the City of Tallahassee's mass transit system, will change several routes effective Saturday, August 1. These include the addition of two new routes and revisions to eight existing routes. The changes also include the elimination of four routes, but by consolidating the overall system, passengers will be accommodated through use of the new or existing routes.
"With these service improvements, our patrons will experience increased efficiency and on-time performance, while also reaching new customers," said Ronald Garrison, StarMetro Executive Director.
Specific details on the route changes effective August 1 are available on the City's website at Talgov.com/StarMetro. A general summary of the changes follows:
- Route 1 - revised to cover portions of discontinued route 9; revised route will include segment from Portland Ave. at Old Bainbridge Rd. to High Rd. at W. Tharpe St.
- Route 3 - to be discontinued, but coinciding with new routes 53 and 54 that will provide improved service to Tallahassee Community College students and new service to the Ghazvini Learning Center and other offices along Blountstown Highway.
- Route 9 - to be discontinued (see route 1 information).
- Route 10 - to be discontinued, but coinciding with route 18 that will provide more direct service along Mahan Dr. and Capital Circle N.E.
- Route 12 - extends service on Mahan Dr. to Weems Rd., to provide new park-and-ride options for Buck Lake and Fallschase area residents.
- Route 18 - revised (see route 10 information), and will now operate Monday-Saturday.
- Route 20 - revised to serve the High Magnetic Laboratory and adjacent offices in the Innovation Park complex; also adds an additional stop for Florida State University's Alumni Village.
- Route 21 - revised to include service to W. Tennessee St., Capital Circle N.W. and Commonwealth Blvd. Discontinued service along Blountstown Highway and Mission Rd. to be absorbed by new routes 53 and 54.
- Route 25 - revised from an hourly route to service every half-hour, including service to Governor's Square.
- Route 26 - revised to add service along Paul Russell Rd., Orange Ave., Blair Stone Rd. and Old St. Augustine Rd.; will also discontinue service to Governor's Square and Winewood Complex.
- Route 28 - revised to cover portions of discontinued route 35; will run along W. Pensacola St., Appleyard Dr., Jackson Bluff Rd. and Ausley Rd.
- Route 35 - to be discontinued (see route 28 information).
- Route 53 - new route (see route 3 information)
- Route 54 - new route (see route 3 information)
For complete information on the StarMetro's routes as of August 1, please download the new Rideguide. For more information, please contact StarMetro at 891-5200.