Votes at a glance: Oshkosh Transportation Committee (Oct. 13) — minutes, GO Transit fares, parking changes approved

The Oshkosh Transportation Committee on Oct. 13 took several formal actions and advanced multiple items to the Common Council. Key votes and outcomes from the meeting are listed below.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes: The committee approved the minutes from its September meeting by roll call (Armstrong, Merrick, Hartman, Martin voting “aye”).

- GO Transit fare changes (recommended to council): The committee voted to support operational fare adjustments for GO Transit, including increasing the monthly fare cap from $40 to $50 (proposed to be effective Jan. 1), retaining a three-month advance-purchase bundle at $135 (a $15 discount) and adjusting paratransit agency fares (staff cited changes to $23 for non-roll applicants and $31 for qualified roll applicants). The committee approved the staff recommendation on a roll-call vote (Armstrong, Merrick, Hartman, Martin voting “aye”). Staff said fare caps at $50 move the system toward peer averages and noted a paratransit contract replacement is forthcoming next year.

- 300 West lot parking stalls: The committee approved converting three underused two-hour stalls to permanent permit stalls in the 300 West lot to accommodate current permit-holders and the newly opened police substation; vote passed on roll call (Armstrong, Merrick, Hartman, Martin voting “aye”). Staff said the lot is underutilized and the change should not impair event parking.

- High Avenue permit conversion to app-based paid parking: The committee approved converting certain underused city permit parking on High Avenue (near the university/College of Nursing corridor) to hour-by-hour app-based paid parking to expand options and generate modest revenue. Roll-call vote passed (Armstrong, Merrick, Hartman, Martin voting “aye”). Staff said the app fee would be about $1.50 per hour and that parking-control officers already enforce the area.

Other items: The committee heard a lengthy public discussion about permitting ATVs/UTVs on city streets but no motion was advanced; the committee deferred action pending further information.

What comes next: Items that require ordinance changes or council approval will appear on the Oct. 25 Common Council agenda. Meeting materials, including the full GO Transit fare comparison and the ATV/UTV survey, are posted on the City of Oshkosh website.