Bullhead Area Transit System Commission Meeting - May 5, 2025

The Bullhead Area Transit System Commission met on May 5, 2025. All members were present except Olivia Hendrickson, and Commissioner Cindy Frizel participated by telephone. The meeting included a design presentation for the proposed Bullhead Area Multimodal Transit Facility, public comment, approval of prior minutes, and staff reports on transit grants and operations.

Consent Calendar

• The commission unanimously approved the minutes of the February 3, 2025 commission meeting by voice vote after a motion and second.

Presentation: Proposed Multimodal Transit Facility

• Rob Sampson of Salberg Associates, joined by associate Barisa Barraza, presented construction documents for the new multimodal transit facility on Lomus Way, located east and north of the current meeting site.
• The proposed site plan includes five bus pull-in areas in a sawtooth configuration, a terminal building, a maintenance building, employee and public parking, park-and-ride spaces, bicycle parking, and the ability to add electric vehicle charging later. Renderings show covered parking; solar panels are not in the current plans but could be added later.
• The terminal building is 4,200 square feet and includes a 560-square-foot air-conditioned lobby, ticketing and dispatch areas, management offices, unisex restrooms with an adult changing station, a secure training room, and a private bus driver lounge.
• The maintenance building has a 5,100-square-foot footprint excluding mezzanine storage. It includes three general service bays, a wash bay, oil and sand interceptors, eight portable lifts that can raise two buses at once, locker rooms, unisex showers, and mezzanine storage for tires and parts.
• The design is meant to give Bullhead Area Transit a single identity, match city building themes, and allow intermodal connections. Greyhound does not currently serve the city, but one end bay could accommodate a Greyhound or similar large bus.
• Designers chose not to shade the bus stops closest to the terminal building to encourage riders to use the lobby and to preserve the building’s iconic appearance. City Manager Cotter had raised shade as an issue, and the design team said they reached a consensus on the approach. One commissioner praised the design as beautiful and said they were excited for it, while another commissioner questioned the practicality of unshaded, hot benches in summer.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Scotty from Bullhead opposed the unisex bathroom plan, saying there are only male and female, and asked whether it would cost more and whether electric vehicle charging sites would be included.
• Scotty expressed support for portable lifts instead of underground pits, based on his school board experience, and suggested the city investigate lift types when bidding.
• Scotty said artificial intelligence is coming and that he did not see provision for it in the plans, suggesting some spaces may go unused.
• Scotty emphasized the need for shade, especially for elderly riders waiting during wheelchair boarding, and noted that his own bus stop had been removed and he now has no place to sit except the curb.

Department Reports & Discussion

• Mr. Peluso reported that the 5311 grant is being wrapped up: ADOT had delays, FTA extended processing, the August reimbursement was accepted, and the final reimbursement submission was planned for the next day. A final 5311 recap is expected at the August commission meeting, and a new FTA apportionment grant period is expected to begin in October.
• First-quarter ridership is trending as expected, with an uptick in March continuing through late May and early June, leveling off in summer, increasing in fall, and dropping in winter.
• The senior van has had no rides since late December because it is operated 100% by volunteers and only two volunteers were available, both with medical issues. Staff is advertising for volunteer drivers through Bullhead City Human Resources and hopes to restore service in the summer.
• No passenger complaints were received in the last quarter.
• For the 5307 program, staff is preparing the application and taking an updated Title VI plan to City Council the next day. Because Bullhead Transit is no longer an ADOT sub-recipient, it must adopt its own Title VI plan; staff hoped to complete needed steps by late June or early July.
• Staff and the Bullhead City MPO were awarded a $250,000 5305E planning grant for a new short-range transit plan. The grant covers about 93% of the cost, with about $12,000 to $13,000 in local match to be provided by the MPO, possibly through in-kind services. The previous long- and short-range plan became about 75% obsolete after the UZA designation. The new plan is expected to take about a year and will include public involvement.
• A commissioner relayed a community member’s commendation of transit staff as professional, always on time, and helpful, allowing him to volunteer in the community.
• Commissioner Frizzell asked about naming the transit system; staff said naming is included in the short-range plan’s marketing component and should come forward within about a year. Staff also identified MPO interim director Johnny Loera and Human Services department head Jeff Tipton.
• Upcoming non-service days are May 26 for Memorial Day, June 19 for Juneteenth, and July 4 for Independence Day.

Key Outcomes

• The commission unanimously approved the February 3, 2025 minutes.
• No formal vote was taken on the facility design; the presentation was for discussion, with city council consideration as the next step.
• Staff planned to submit the final 5311 reimbursement, continue 5307 application steps, develop the MPO short-range transit plan RFP, and advertise for senior van volunteers.
• The meeting adjourned by unanimous voice vote after a motion and second.