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EDSR INFORMATION 02-13-2012INFORMATION MEMORANDUM .giver TO: Economic Development Authority FROM: Clay Wilfahrt, Assistant Director of Economic Development DATE: 13 February 2012 SUBJECT: Northstar Corridor Development Authority Marketing Committee NORTHSTAR CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY UPDATE Staff continues to attend Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA) Marketing Committee meetings to keep up to date on any happenings with the NCDA. Recently, Clay Wilfahrt has replaced Annie Deckert as the Elk River Economic Development Authority's representative on the NCDA Marketing Committee. Clay will attend future meetings and work with the NCDA to promote the Northstar and any special activities that occur. In the past, staff has worked with the NCDA to promote various events such as the free rides for special events such as Holidazzle, special services of the train such as service to major sporting events, and the benefit of the train to commuters. The Northstar carried over 100,000 passengers from the Elk River station in 2011. Staff recognizes the Northstar as a tremendous resource for the community, and will continue to have a strong relationship with the Northstar. ATTACHMENTS • NCDA Minutes Marketing Meeting Minutes January 30, 2012 Present: Leigh Lenzmeier, Matt Brown, Nick Ziegelmann, Katie Larsen, Pam Bowman, Kelci Stones, Heidi Nelson, Cal Portner, Clay Wilfahrt, Renee Sande, Tom Cruikshank, Jill Brown, Larry Farber, and Luci Botzek Update from Metro Transit • Friday route 810 will begin on March 5th servicing the business district and some residential areas. Residents will receive a direct mail promotion. • 811 will disintegrate with the new 810 route due to low ridership. • Trains will run for all Twins home games.. A calendar mailing will be sent out, possibly a magnet. • Hope to have online ticket purchase/print available by the home opener for family passes. • No increase in the cost of the family pass. • 30 second video banner ads on Comcast websites for Coon Rapids and Anoka. • Depending on ridership, banners for free parking may be installed at the Fridley Station. • Weathered triggered radio ads will begin if/when we get snow. • Guaranteed rides home provides customers who ride Metro Transit 3 or more times a week with a voucher for a taxi ride home if they mss the train. Voucher is good for $30 a ride up to $100 a year. • Looking into the possibility of van pools available from Enterprise at a cost $35/day. Vans would be parked in downtown Minneapolis. These could be used in an emergency, like the Guaranteed Ride program. Media Inventory Jill Brown handed out a list of media contacts and asked for additional contacts from the group. She's interested in media, government or business newsletters, or community blogs. Send ideas to her at jillcbrown(a~msn.com. Ramsey Event Heidi Nelson and Jill discussed the 11/16 event at the site for the new Ramsey Station. There was a lot of media coverage that lasted about a month. The Anoka County Regional Rail Authority recently approved the construction contract, groundbreaking is planned for March, or early April. The goal for the Ramsey Station is to average 200 rides per weekday, or about 51,000 rides per year. The Train Game Jill asked for ideas for a new mobile app that will provide interesting information about the train and the corridor. Complete a quiz and earn status levels. Status will be promoted on users' Facebook timelines. Suggestions included linking local newspapers, adding a survey to get more information about riders, including a link to a train schedule or map to the closest station, soft sales to promote Trip Tracker, how to buy tickets, or the commuter challenge, which runs in the metro area from April 1St -June 30th. Jill will follow up with members to get content on cities/agencies in the corridor. Metre Rue • Ridership was up 77% from 2010 to 2011. • Holidazzle had an overwhelming turn out. • Two free ride tickets were given to each. rider who utilized the bus for Holidazzle. • People can sign up on the website to get two free round trip passes. • 887F Friday mid-day bus is doing well, added Ramsey Station on January 6th • Twins 887T schedule is now online. • Please help promote the free ride tickets. They can be used for the Friday midday bus. • Commuter Challenge for Metro Bus will likely start in May and run through the summer. Holidazzle December 10th train gave 3383 rides. Train filled up at the Big Lake Station and did not stop at any other station along the way. Miscommunications with the Transit Control Center, not enough buses were not available to handle the demand. Added a train for the December 17th parade and buses were added to pick up people at the stations that the trains could not accommodate. Future Holidazzle Ideas • Nominal Fee. Free rides with a limited number of tickets available. o Could be monitoring issues with this. Rides on other nights -Thursday, Friday, or Sunday Other Ttems • Free rides will be given on St. Patricks Day, only affects the 7:00 p.m. train. • Looking into WIFI on the trains, possibly available in 3rd or 4th quarter. • State Fair still a no. • Tom Cruikshank would like to revisit the idea of a Singular Fare Structure. Luci will contact folks to set up the next meeting. Expect to meet quarterly.