Harbor Transit Multi-Modal Transportation System
Local Advisory Council Meeting Minutes
May 14, 2025 at 1:15 P.M., Four Pointes Center for Successful Aging
1. Meeting called to order 1:15pm by Carrie Uthe, Chairperson
2. Roll Call by the Board Chair
Norman Cunningham – Present
Christina Shannon – Present
Carrie Uthe – Present
Lisa Greenwood – Present
Heather Phillips – Absent
Sarah Wheeler – Absent
John Phillips – Present
Rebecca Hopp – Present
Kim Sibilsky – Present
Brandon Bucek – Present
Harbor Transit Staff Present:
Tom Burghardt
Shonda Walski
Brian Woline
3. Approve or Change Agenda – Cunningham motion to approve, seconded by Sibilsky. Motion passes.
4. Call to Audience – No Comments
5. General Business
a. Approval of the February 12, 2025 Meeting Minutes – Cunningham motioned to approve, Shannon seconded. Motion passes.
b. Welcome and Introduction of New Council Member, Brandon Bucek – Uthe welcomed Bucek to the council and gave a brief summary of his background.
c. At-Large Member Nomination and Vote – The group reviewed resumes from both candidates, Bonnie Shears and Cindy Wilhelm, and agreed that both were highly qualified. While Cindy Wilhelm, who represents the Momentum Center, would be a valuable addition, the group ultimately voted to nominate Bonnie Shears for the At-Large seat. This decision was based on the desire to bring in a different perspective, as the group already includes a member affiliated with the Momentum Center. Bonnie’s nomination will be forwarded to the Harbor Transit Board for approval.
5. Reports
a. Operations Report – Tom Burghardt
• Ridership: 13,928 rides provided in April 2025. Average ride distance was 4.2 miles, with an average duration of 12.9 minutes.
• On-Time Performance: 93% on-time pick-up rate and 97% on-time drop-off rate.
• No-Shows: 192 no-shows recorded in April.
• Safety: No reportable crashes, injuries, or road calls.
b. Finance Report – Brian Woline
• Revenue: $1,978,781.23 YTD (36.28% of budget completed).
• Demand Response Fares: $64,323.87 (32.16% of projection)
• Trolley Fares: $182.35
• Expenses: $1,816,174.27 YTD (37.84% of total budget used).
• Administration Department: $309,564.58 (38.80%)
• Operations Department: $1,156,373.08 (38.53%)
• Maintenance Department: $165,991.92 (30.14%)
• Dispatch Department: $183,695.82 (40.84%)
• Deviated Fixed Route Department: $269.70 (new department)
• Assets: Cash: $2,195,455.72, Land: $2,191,726.80
c. Transportation Directors Report – Tom Burghardt
• FTA Triennial Review: Originally scheduled for May, now moved to July 23–24, 2025 at the FTA’s request.
• NEPA Compliance: SHPO concurrence letter sent April 14; FTA requested clarification on May 8. Resubmission planned for May 16.
• MDOT Local Bus Operating (LBO) Reimbursement: Reimbursement rate changed from 60% to 50% due to population adjustment.
• Legislative Visit: State Senator Roger Victory to visit Harbor Transit on April 16 to discuss LBO funding cuts and project updates for the new facility.
d. Board Members’ Comments
• Bucek: Shared highlights from a recent advocacy trip to Washington, D.C., where he attended six meetings representing the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS). He met with two U.S. Senators and commended Harbor Transit’s services, emphasizing how well the system serves individuals with disabilities.
• Greenwood: Promotes Harbor Transit services to senior residents inquiring about transportation alternatives after they can no longer drive. Noted that many seniors choose to remain in the area because of Harbor Transit’s accessible service, which isn’t available in many other communities. Suggested exploring expanded service hours and implementing weekday hours on Saturday.
• Uthe: Noted that local businesses are utilizing the trolley system for staff transportation and expressed support for the deviated fixed-route model, citing its reliability and timeliness. Also shared that some riders have expressed concerns about using the MATS connection due to fixed route limitations.
6. Meeting adjourned at 2:35pm.