Transit Commission Regular Meeting Agenda (PDF)

Transit Commission Meeting May 19, 2026 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Eau Claire Transit Commission will meet on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 6 P.M. immediately following a presentation by the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) on the MPO’s five-year update to the Chippewa-Eau Claire Urban Area Long-Range Transportation Plan, 2025 Summary Report, and potential future projects. Additional information about the MPO event can be found by clicking on this public notice https://www.eauclairewi.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/51614/639138417482530000 The Transit Commission meeting will take place in the LE Phillips Library, Riverview Room, at 400 Eau Claire Street, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the items on the agenda below: 1. Call to Order: 2. Pledge of Allegiance and Roll Call 3. Reading and approval of minutes of the past meeting on April 15, 2026. 4. Open Public Comment Period for Items that do not appear on this Agenda. 5. Business Agenda items and Public Discussion a. Discussion and Recommendation on the Capital Improvement Plan I. Public Comment II. Action 6. Announcements and Updates a. Announcements and updates by the Transit Staff and Transit Commission 7. Adjournment: _____________________________________________ Phil Swanhorst, Chairperson c: News Media Transit Commission Meeting Minutes April 15th, 2026 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Eau Claire Transit Commission will meet Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 4:30 P.M. in Council Chambers at the City Hall, 203 S. Farwell Street, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the items on the agenda below: 1. Call to Order: 4:30PM Phil Swanhorst states we will wait 5 more minutes for a full quorum. 4:33PM – call to order. 2. Pledge of Allegiance and Roll Call: Present is Vuchetich, Swanhorst, Fowler, Greenwell, Otto including City staff Deetz and Harder. Absent is, Anderson, Ruf, Books. 3. Reading and approval of minutes of the past meeting on February 18th, 2026. Motioned by Greenwell, seconded by Fowler. Approved. 4. Open Public Comment Period for Items that do not appear on this Agenda. No public comment. 5. Business Agenda items and Public Discussion a. Discussion and direction on budget changes for 2027. Supervisor Deetz shared slide show on Fare Structure and Route change ideas. Public comment by Jeremy Gragert about where the direction to look into these ideas came from. 6. Manager’s Report a. Ridership Report b. Expense/Revenue Report Supervisor Deetz went over reports 7. Announcements and Updates a. Announcements and updates by the Transit Staff and Transit Commission None 8. Adjournment: 6:00PM _____________________________________________ Phil Swanhorst, Chairperson c: News Media MEMORANDUM COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT Date: May 19, 2026 To: City of Eau Claire - Transit Commission From: Katrina Running: Transit Manager Subject: 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan Review & Recommendation The proposed 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan is available online here for your review. The responsibility of the Transit Commission is to determine that the CIP is consistent with the Transit plans. A motion to declare the projects consistent with the City of Eau Claire Transit will be placed on the agenda for your consideration. Sincerely, Katrina Running Transit Manager Fund 408 - Expenditure Summary Proposal Name 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 Total 408-001: Transit - Replacement Buses $2,094,750 $2,199,500 $2,309,500 $2,424,975 $2,547,000 $11,575,725 408-002: Transit - Bus Surveillance Equipment $0 $0 $0 $0 $100,000 $100,000 408-003: Transit - Computer Replacement $0 $30,000 $0 $0 $0 $30,000 408-004: Transit - Bus Stop Improvements $0 $0 $20,000 $20,000 $10,000 $50,000 408-005: Transit - Public Safety Training Facility Driving Track $0 $0 $3,000,000 $0 $0 $3,000,000 408-006: Transit - Transit Development Plan $0 $0 $0 $150,000 $0 $150,000 408-007: Transit - (2) Transit Mobility Vans $190,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $190,000 TOTAL $2,284,750 $2,229,500 $5,329,500 $2,594,975 $2,657,000 $15,095,725 Fund 408 - Revenues Summary Itemization Description 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 Total Beginning Balance $0 $0 $1,500,000 $0 $0 $1,500,000 Intergovernmental: Federal Aid $1,827,800 $1,783,600 $3,063,600 $2,075,980 $2,125,600 $10,876,580 Promissory Notes-Tax Supported $456,950 $439,900 $761,900 $484,995 $509,400 $2,653,145 Transfer from General Fund $0 $6,000 $4,000 $34,000 $22,000 $66,000 TOTAL $2,284,750 $2,229,500 $5,329,500 $2,594,975 $2,657,000 $15,095,725 Fund 408 - Transit 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan 57 Project Information Contact: Katrina Running Type: Asset-Replacement Useful Life: 12 Years Category: Non-Recurring Priority Level: 1 Sources 408-001 Itemization Description 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 Total Intergovernmental: Federal Aid $1,675,800 $1,759,600 $1,847,600 $1,939,980 $2,037,600 $9,260,580 Promissory Notes-Tax Supported $418,950 $439,900 $461,900 $484,995 $509,400 $2,315,145 TOTAL $2,094,750 $2,199,500 $2,309,500 $2,424,975 $2,547,000 $11,575,725 Description Replace transit buses in the following sequence: 2027 - Replace one diesel transit bus from 2011 and one existing hybrid bus from 2013 with two new diesel hybrid buses. 2028 - Replace two existing hybrid buses from 2013 with new hybrid buses. 2029 - Replace two diesel hybrid buses. 2030 - Replace two diesel hybrid buses. 2031 - Replace two diesel hybrid buses from 2019. 408-001: Transit - Replacement Buses 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan 58 Justification This request supports the City's strategic goals and objectives #2 and #4. Replacing vehicles outside of their useful life allows for more reliable service to the community. This is anticipated to be supported 80% by the federal government. 59 Project Information Contact: Katrina Running Type: Asset-Replacement Useful Life: 5 Years Category: Recurring Priority Level: 3 Sources 408-002 Itemization Description 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 Total Intergovernmental: Federal Aid $0 $0 $0 $0 $80,000 $80,000 Transfer from General Fund $0 $0 $0 $0 $20,000 $20,000 TOTAL $0 $0 $0 $0 $100,000 $100,000 Description In 2026, Transit Staff is going out to RFP for replacement of surveillance equipment on 16 buses that have equipment beyond the useful life of 5 years. Once implemented, we will want a recurring item to make any camera replacements necessary. This item will support any camera replacements after the useful life of 5 years of those new cameras. Surveillance equipment on the buses is integral to providing safe transportation. The goal, if costs allow, would be for us to be able to pull a live feed immediately if an incident were to occur. This would offer peace of mind and reduce any barriers in communication between the buses and dispatch. With the obsolescence of the current system forcing us to update our system, we think it would be the best investment to go out for RFP for a new, updated system. Justification The request supports the City's strategic goals and objectives #2 provide safe, functional, and accessible infrastructure and #3A Utilize technology to maximize efficiencies and effectiveness. Federal funds will apply to 80% of the purchase of the equipment. 408-002: Transit - Bus Surveillance Equipment 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan 60 Project Information Contact: Katrina Running Type: Asset-Replacement Useful Life: 5 Years Category: Recurring Priority Level: 1 Sources 408-003 Itemization Description 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 Total Intergovernmental: Federal Aid $0 $24,000 $0 $0 $0 $24,000 Transfer from General Fund $0 $6,000 $0 $0 $0 $6,000 TOTAL $0 $30,000 $0 $0 $0 $30,000 Description Computer replacements for the Transit Manager and the Driver Supervisors. Justification This request supports the City's strategic goals and objectives #3. This request meets the City's strategic goal with up-to-date computers allowing staff to work more efficiently. Computers are replaced once their warranties expire. The computers in this request are scheduled to expire in 2028. 408-003: Transit - Computer Replacement 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan 61 Project Information Contact: Katrina Running Type: Infrastructure-New Useful Life: 20 Years Category: Recurring Priority Level: 3 Sources 408-004 Itemization Description 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 Total Intergovernmental: Federal Aid $0 $0 $16,000 $16,000 $8,000 $40,000 Transfer from General Fund $0 $0 $4,000 $4,000 $2,000 $10,000 TOTAL $0 $0 $20,000 $20,000 $10,000 $50,000 Description The City of Eau Claire currently has over 550 bus stops. Increasing ADA accessibility on those bus stops has been identified as an important initiative. This money will be used to add concrete pads and install bus shelters at high-boarding bus stops without nearby buildings for waiting during inclement weather. Justification This request supports the City's strategic goals and objectives #2, #4, and #5. Improving bus stops will improve the experience people have using transit in our community. It is anticipated that the Federal 5339 grant will cover 80 percent of the cost. 408-004: Transit - Bus Stop Improvements 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan 62 Project Information Contact: Katrina Running/Kelly Thompson Type: City Facility-New Useful Life: 30 years Category: Non-recurring Priority Level: 2 Sources 408-005 Itemization Description 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 Total Beginning Balance $0 $0 $1,500,000 $0 $0 $1,500,000 Intergovernmental: Federal Aid $0 $0 $1,200,000 $0 $0 $1,200,000 Promissory Notes-Tax Supported $0 $0 $300,000 $0 $0 $300,000 TOTAL $0 $0 $3,000,000 $0 $0 $3,000,000 Description In conjunction with with the Regional Public Safety Training Facility project, there is the possibility since Transit will be able to utilize the track for training, federal funding could be secured to offset the general fund impact. Transit would utilize the track around 40 hours per month, which is about half of the entire expected usage. As such, half the $3,000,000 would be claimed as Transit funds eligible for 80% reimbursement using 5339 funds. This project is contingent on grant funding for the non-transit portion. Justification This project meets goal #2 by maintaining and repairing existing infrastructure, re-purposing a landfill site into a usable space, encouraging sustainability and exploring the possibility of using renewable energy to work towards the goal of 100% renewable energy by 2050.  408-005: Transit - Public Safety Training Facility Driving Track 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan 63 Project Information Contact: Katrina Running Type: Other Useful Life: 5 Years Category: Recurring Priority Level: 3 Sources 408-006 Itemization Description 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 Total Intergovernmental: Federal Aid $0 $0 $0 $120,000 $0 $120,000 Transfer from General Fund $0 $0 $0 $30,000 $0 $30,000 TOTAL $0 $0 $0 $150,000 $0 $150,000 Description Roughly every 5 to 7 years a transit development plan is created for the city. It is highly encouraged by the Federal Transit Administration. 2030 would be 5 years after the current plan is implemented. A 5 year cycle would work well with the release of the decennial census data. Justification The money would be used to support the long range planning grant offered through WisDOT. 408-006: Transit - Transit Development Plan 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan 64 Project Information Contact: Aaron Nicholson / Katrina Running Type: Asset-Replacement Useful Life: 10 Years Category: Recurring Priority Level: 1 Sources 408-007 Itemization Description 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 Total Intergovernmental: Federal Aid $152,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $152,000 Promissory Notes-Tax Supported $38,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $38,000 TOTAL $190,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $190,000 Description The procurement of two wheelchair accessible vans would allow flexibility within our existing service and opportunity to innovate to expand the services we could provide in-house. These vans would allow staff without a CDL to assist passengers to get to/and from their destinations. This could be utilized for small group travel within city staff, making up routes when bus breakdowns occur, serving revenue hours that don't warrant a full bus, and/or off-setting our contracted service of paratransit. These vans also have the opportunity to serve city staff for travel to trainings or other events with coordination. In addition, these vans are easier to obtain than heavy duty buses as buses typically have a wait time of 3 years once the process is started due to limited suppliers. Justification This aligns with the strategic goals of #2 Providing safe, functional, and accessible infrastructure and services that are environmentally sensitive and sustainable and #3 of optimizing the city's organizational potential. We get a lot of community feedback suggesting we purchase vans to run on some fixed routes and it will give us the opportunity to use them in other situations to save money. 408-007: Transit - (2) Transit Mobility vans 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan 65 MOTION I move that the Transit 2027 - 2031 Capital Improvement Plan, presented as the document on file in the Office of the City Clerk and open to public inspection during normal business hours, is recommended for approval by the Transit Commission. Motion made by: _______________________________________ Seconded by: _________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ May 19, 2026