Amador County – The Amador Regional Transit System board of directors last week heard an abbreviated update on its staff’s concept “Grapevine Express” winery touring trolley route. Terry Grillo, advertising consultant for ARTS, asked for 5 more minutes for an item not on the agenda, and showed 3 logo concepts for the proposed Grapevine Express. ARTS board members in a previous meeting were concerned about liabilities in using a transportation vehicle in the winery row route along the Shenandoah Valley. Supervisor Richard Forster last week said he was further concerned that they were using the new trolley busses, which do not have seatbelts, and could increase liabilities. ARTS Manager James Means told the board that the busses are designed with a taller passenger area, to be above traffic, and therefore safer that regular traffic. He said the trolley busses are designed to be ridden without seatbelts. Means said if they get to the point where they have to worry about seatbelts on the Grapevine Express, then they should probably end the program. Grillo also presented a handout with advertising sales data, on billboard sales on busses. Board Chairman Greg Baldwin said it would have been nice to get the information before the meeting. Amador County Transportation Commission Executive Director Charles Field said the he has asked Means to present such information to him, so that he can oversee the propriety of the agenda packet, and so that the board can be “able to read it before the meeting.” Means said he would provide full “Grapevine Express” information in the next agenda packet. Councilman Pat Crosby asked if there would be alcohol consumption on the Grapevine Express, and Means said that there would not be, though there might be alcohol consumption at the wineries along the way. The board said ARTS should expedite the implementation of a “Compressed Natural Gas” filling station in Amador County, if the new trolleys are to be used on the Grapevine Express. The trolleys operate on both natural gas and diesel fuel, but must get the natural gas fueled at a station in Roseville, the nearest place to do so. Forster said they did not want to have the trolleys running weekend routes along the Shenandoah Valley while only half-filled with fuel. Means said opening a CNG fueling station could be handled in the next 30 days. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Monday, 22 March 2010 01:46
ARTS Board Hears About Concept 'Grapevine Express'
Amador County – The Amador Regional Transit System board of directors last week heard an abbreviated update on its staff’s concept “Grapevine Express” winery touring trolley route. Terry Grillo, advertising consultant for ARTS, asked for 5 more minutes for an item not on the agenda, and showed 3 logo concepts for the proposed Grapevine Express. ARTS board members in a previous meeting were concerned about liabilities in using a transportation vehicle in the winery row route along the Shenandoah Valley. Supervisor Richard Forster last week said he was further concerned that they were using the new trolley busses, which do not have seatbelts, and could increase liabilities. ARTS Manager James Means told the board that the busses are designed with a taller passenger area, to be above traffic, and therefore safer that regular traffic. He said the trolley busses are designed to be ridden without seatbelts. Means said if they get to the point where they have to worry about seatbelts on the Grapevine Express, then they should probably end the program. Grillo also presented a handout with advertising sales data, on billboard sales on busses. Board Chairman Greg Baldwin said it would have been nice to get the information before the meeting. Amador County Transportation Commission Executive Director Charles Field said the he has asked Means to present such information to him, so that he can oversee the propriety of the agenda packet, and so that the board can be “able to read it before the meeting.” Means said he would provide full “Grapevine Express” information in the next agenda packet. Councilman Pat Crosby asked if there would be alcohol consumption on the Grapevine Express, and Means said that there would not be, though there might be alcohol consumption at the wineries along the way. The board said ARTS should expedite the implementation of a “Compressed Natural Gas” filling station in Amador County, if the new trolleys are to be used on the Grapevine Express. The trolleys operate on both natural gas and diesel fuel, but must get the natural gas fueled at a station in Roseville, the nearest place to do so. Forster said they did not want to have the trolleys running weekend routes along the Shenandoah Valley while only half-filled with fuel. Means said opening a CNG fueling station could be handled in the next 30 days. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Latest from
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