Access meetings Minutes
Members Present: Shelly Brisbin, Randall L. Glock, Scott Meyer, Jerry Doran, Juan Munoz, and Robert Raines. Members absent: none
Capital Metro Staff Present: Nancy Crowther, Jan Johnson, Pauline Walton, Judy Jenkins, John Ancira, Jane Schroter, and Roberto Gonzales
Guest(s): Julie Maloukis, Stewart Jarmon, Christine Guevara, Bryson Smith, Michael Zitz-Evancih, and Mr. Lava
All decisions are voted upon and all votes are unanimous unless stated otherwise.
Chairperson Shirley Brisbin called the meeting at order at 5:08PM. March 24th Minutes and Access By-Laws were approved.
Subcommittee members were finalized. The Special Transit Service (STS) Operations and ADA Paratransit Compliance Subcommittee will consist of STS Subcommittee Chairperson: Juan Munoz, Jerry Duran and Scott Meyer. The ADA Fixed Route Subcommittee will consist of Shelly Brisbin, Randall L. Glock and Robert Raines. The meetings will be held the fourth Wednesday of the month from 5-7pm at 323 Congress (5-6pm STS, 6-7pm ADA).
Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Telephone Update: Capital Metro staff member Jane Schroter, Information Technology presented information about IVR and answered many questions. There is a tentative focus group meeting on April 20-21, 2004, where Juan Munoz, past member of the Mobility Impaired Service Advisory Committee (MISAC), Capital Metro staff, and others will use IVR. Also, Ms. Schroter stated that she could come into the STS Subcommittee meeting on April 28, 2004, from 5-6PM in order to let members of ACCESS use IVR as well. The ultimate goal of using IVR is to reduce the time customers will need to wait on a phone line. IVR will be used for both STS reservations and cancellations, and fixed route information. IVR will have both English and Spanish language, touch and voice response. It will also be fully TTY compatible for the deaf community to use. Much more will be learned in the weeks ahead when the system is tested in focus groups. Ideally, IVR would be available to customers on June 1, 2004. A lot of discussion focused on Internet potential. Customers will not be able to book rides via e-mail at this time, perhaps in the future. However, information can be obtained using the Internet, and e-mail and fax confirmations can be made available for STS reservations and cancellations. IVR will hopefully dramatically improve efficiency in service delivery for STS customers as it will have the capability to place mass calls to STS customers about changes to scheduled rides, not to mention ease in setting up rides and cancellations.
Proposed August 2004 fixed route service changes were presented by Capital Metro staff member Roberto Gonzales. The discussion lasted a while. Bus routes discussed were the #15/#16, #19, #101, #242, #311, #325, #339, and others. In brief summary, #16 would stop at Westgate Mall and not service Barton Creek Mall area at 290, but #311 would be expanded to do this. There will be a new bus stop with a shelter at the Wal-Mart area at Norwood Park Blvd. where a new Goodwill office is going to be located. Overall, Capital Metro is looking to free buses to increase services for #242, which has had higher ridership. Also, a discussion will take place on a Friday around 3PM in the near future at the ACC-Northridge campus to discuss if the #242 could go into the campus again to make it more accessible to riders. There will be public meetings downtown on Thursday, April 22, 2004, from 11:30AM-1:30PM and 5:30PM-6:30PM, at 323 Congress to hear input from the public on proposed August 2004 Service Changes. There will be Public Hearing at the board meeting on Monday, April 26, 2004, beginning at 6:00PM, at 2910 East Fifth St. (5th & Pleasant Valley). Final decisions will be made by May 24, 2004.
Citizen Communication rules and guidelines will be written by Shelly Brisbin to be presented to ACCESS members in the near future.
Citizen Communication: Scott Meyer asked Capital Metro about an STS issue he was having at the Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center (CCRC) with STS Applications. Jan Johnson and/or Nancy Crowther will work with Scott on this.
Access Committee goals were briefly discussed. Shelly Brisbin expressed an interest in having a list of goals for the Access Committee to be able to work on and be proactive. Subcommittees will work on a list of goals to present to the Access Committee in the near future.
Brochures were passed out containing information about Capital Metro fixed route bus training. Services are available to people who need specialized training to use fixed routes. One-on-one or group training can be provided. This training program can help customers use fixed routes over STS and allow them more freedom to go where they want when they want.
Any future agenda items should be submitted to Shelly Brisbin.
The next Access Advisory Committee Meeting will be held on May 5, 2004 The next subcommittee meetings will be held on April 28, 2004 and May 26, 2004. Capital Metro and/or the chairperson will communicate any changes to upcoming meetings via e-mail.
Meeting adjourned 6:57pm.
Respectfully submitted by Scott Meyer Julie Maloukis
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
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