HomeMy WebLinkAboutDickson's DRAFT Findings-Rexburg12/4/13 – Meeting with City of Rexburg – Charles Dickson’s DRAFT Findings:
The technical assistance request submitted by Linx identified the following item to be considered in any assistance provided:
Assist the City of Rexburg, Idaho, with a concept of operations plan that can both attract FTA New Start funding and leverage private support to operate both an intra-city fixed route
system AND the intercity connections they desire across county and state lines.
Observations
Folks seem to understand there is a need
Decisions will be based on frugality
Town has drastically changed zoning…extremely high density near the school
Envision Madison – looking at countywide development
Following meeting with officials from City of Rexburg, met with representatives of Brigham Young University-Idaho and toured BYU-I Campus. Campus officials are interested in the possibility
of a new fixed-route service linking the campus with the rest of the community, but remain wary of the costs.
Following the meeting with Rexburg and BYU-I, travelled to towns of Driggs and Victor to meet with their planners. Both towns are interested in improving connections to Rexburg and Jackson,
WY and have taken steps to improve transit in their communities.
Proposed Next Steps:
The City of Rexburg has reached a point where it seriously needs to address the mobility challenges of its residents and the students at Brigham Young University – Idaho. The rapid growth
in the student population at the school, with the attendant increase in population density necessitates the consideration of transportation system for the town.
Some factors to consider;
A fixed-route, or flexible fixed route system can help to relieve congestion in the town.
Transit systems contribute to a more livable community by reducing traffic accidents, giving people more choice in mobility and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Due to the presence of BYU-I, the population of the town trends very young (according to the 2010 census almost 70% of the population is under the age of 25). This population group is
well disposed to using public transportation.
The City of Rexburg should seek funding to design a system that fits the needs of the city, maintains local control over the service and is the best fit for the region. Steps in this
process would be:
Review service in towns with similar characteristics (i.e. other small cities with a large college student population). A sketch of AppalCart is attached. AppalCart serves Watauga County
and the City of Boone, NC. Watauga County has a population of 51,000 and Boone’s population is 17,000.
Begin a process of engaging citizens, BYU-I, students and other stakeholders in a discussion of the need for and goals of a city transit service.
Begin planning for a service that would:
Maximize travel speeds
Serve multiple destinations
Creates maximum benefit for the lowest possible cost
Begin process of applying for a long-term technical assistance grant from the Community Transportation Association to accomplish these goals.