| Members: | Acting Chairman Rene Barrera, Oscar Gaytan, Roger Cauvin, David Patterson, Rich McKinnon, James Harris |
| Visitors: | Mark Sze-To, Alfredo Ojeda, Alta Moten, Lee Hill |
| CMTA Staff: | John-Michael Cortez, Carol Delgado, Dottie Watkins, Maria Garza, Justin Marlin |
- Meeting called to order - Introduction of CSAC members, staff, and visitors
- Approval of Minutes for January 15, 2008 and February 5, 2008 CSAC MeetingsMotion to approve January 15 minutes passed unanimously. Approval of February minutes tabled until April CSAC meeting.
Transit Advertising – Carol Delgado
Ms. Delgado provided an overview of the Capital Metro’s transit advertising program. Brief transit advertising history: from 1998 to 2005 Capital Metro outsourced transit advertising. In 2005 Capitol Metro brought transit advertising back in-house as a part of Office of Business and Community Development.
The majority of transit advertising business comes from out of town marketing firms. Transit advertising also works with nonprofits and community partnerships, which only pay for installation and removal of ads, with ads running for 3 months.
- The majority of advertising is on outside of buses, with king size ads being the most popular.
- The transit advertising goal for Fiscal Year 2008 is $1 million in sales revenue.
- Rail advertising is handled through marketing department.
- Currently there is no advertising at bus stops, shelters, or park and rides, but this practice is currently under examination.
- Capital Metro is excluded from a proposed city council ban on mobile advertising.
- All buses are available for advertising opportunities.
- Bus wraps are not reusable once removed from the vehicle.
CSAC inquired about route specific advertising. Ms. Delgado reported that there is no route specific advertising, explaining that different buses are used different routes each day. Therefore, it would be costly and time consuming to change ads everyday to make them route specific.
CSAC asked if there are guidelines for the look and design of advertising. Ms. Delgado reported that such guidelines do not exist. So long as advertisements are not lewd or offensive, all are permitted. Seemingly controversial ads are approved by Cap Metro’s legal department before application on the bus, but there are no guidelines governing the design of advertising.
CSAC asked what the budget is for Transit advertising. This will be reported in the April CSAC meeting.
Coordinating Detours for Street Closures - Dottie Watkins
Ms. Watkins presented information on how street closures are determined and Capital Metro’s role in notifying the public. The City of Austin Right of Way Management handles street closures. There is a street closure application, part of which includes notification to Capital Metro about street closures. Final notice of street closure is provided by the City.
Additional information on street closures and detours is also gathered from the Austin Police Department’s special events group, which handles parades and large rallies. This APD group provides Capital Metro with information such as size, location and duration.
Once information is received by Capital Metro, it is handled by an action team, which is a cross functional group that meets on a weekly basis to deal with special events. This group works closely with the Public Relations and Marketing departments of Capital Metro.
Buses are now equipped with information systems, located behind the driver, where detour and special event information is placed. Literature racks post major detours the Sunday before an event. In addition, all detours are posted on the Capital Metro website.
Capital Metro uses an independent vendor to display notice of bus stop closures or detours, with the posting of weatherproof signs. The outsourcing of this service has resulted in better dissemination of information at a reduced cost to Capital Metro.
Ad hoc closures such as peaceful protests or accidents are handled by Cap Metro street supervisors. There are five street supervisors, each with their own district who communicate with drivers via radio.
Buses on detour alert riders with a PR detour sign displayed on the front of the bus which alternates the detour message with route information. E-Mail alerts are also used to notify riders of changes to regular service. New ITS (Intelligent Transportation System), which utilizes GPS tracking, will help alleviate problems with planned and ad hoc detours. Finally, Capital Metro has improved communication with the city of Austin over the years to better deal with construction issues.
CSAC member asked if there are ways to create temporary shelters for stops moved due to construction.
- If construction is long enough Capital Metro will relocate shelters on a temporary basis, or install a pole to designate temporary bus stop location.
CSAC inquired about what could be done to improve and attract more users to the rider alert system andif there an effective way to utilize annunciators to better alert riders of detours. These items will be reported on at the April CSAC meeting.
CSAC member noted that stops on detoured routes may be too infrequent. This input was acknowledged by Ms. Watkins.
CSAC inquired about how 311 calls regarding Capitol Metro are handled. Are these calls redirected to the GO line? This item will be reported on at the April CSAC meeting.
CSAC member expressed concern that the 15 route (Red River stop by Manor Rd.) has been lacking on-line and bus stop detour information during UT games. What is the detour status of this route during UT games? This item will be reported on at the April CSAC meeting.
- Subcommittee Reports:
- CSAC Bylaws Suggestion made to meet prior to next meeting to wrap up bylaw business.
- Officer Nominations Committee Floor was opened to nominations for chair person, vice chairperson, and secretary for CSAC. Discussion took place for need and role of future CSAC positions. Nominations were tabled until next meeting.
Report from Urban Transportation Commission – Rich MacKinnon
Mr. MacKinnon reported that the Police department is revising procedures for consent and non-consent vehicle tows. New policy states that if vehicle is not “fully prepared for transport,” then the tow truck driver has to let the car go at a reduced rate. The city has increased the maximum tow fee to $150 (with consideration to weight of vehicle), plus the addition of applicable state fees. UTC suggested a customer bill of rights, which would include tow lots accepting credit cards, and mandate that the tow lot should not be an unreasonable distance from the city limits.
Concerns about pedicabs resulted in the recommendation that their operating area be increased, but access to busy streets limited during rush hour.
UTC also recommended that taxis must pay fee to keep advertising on back of cab. Addition of new billboards in Austin is restricted, causing grandfathered billboards to be moved to new locations.
Report from ACCESS Committee - David Patterson
ACCESS resolution passed condemning Capital Metro changes to Paratransit services and the manner in which they were unveiled. (Mr. Patterson’s report and ACCESS resolution included as an addendum to these minutes.)
Mr. Patterson proposed a resolution requesting that the Capital Metro board clarify their expectations for the CSAC committee. It was the will of the committee that this, and the topic of extended service from the Greyhound station, not be discussed during the ACCESS report but rather be taken up as new business.
The acting CSAC chair inquired as to whether there is a way to gauge customer demand for extended service from the Greyhound station to downtown on the number 7. Mr. Barrera inquired about the possibility of working with Greyhound to administer surveys addressing potential demand for service.
- Report on Action Items – John-Michael Cortez
- Include a summary of Customer Call Reports in CSAC members’ meeting materials. This item is still pending, but Mr. Cortez is optimistic about reporting on this item next month
- Continue recruitment of additional CSAC members. There are seven pending applications and four going to the Capital Metro board in March for approval.
- Report on status of stop and service requests from CSAC meeting attendees.
- Relocation of stop on Riverside Drive: Waiting for city to purchase and install bollards.
- Sunday service for Route 201 to Southpark Meadows: This is one item on a list of proposed service changes to be considered by the Capital Metro board.
- Stop shelter at Southpark Meadows: Shelter is likely to be installed at Cullen and Slaughter lane.
- Increased frequency for routes # 26 and 27 at non-peak hours: This issue is being considered for inclusion on a list of proposals to submit to the Capital Metro board.
- Update on proposed rapid bus service. Staff may have a presentation to the Capital Metro board in April requesting authorization to move forward with this project. Improvements to South Congress must be made before implementation of rapid bus service.
- Report on procedures to ensure that route schedules are replaced at bus stops when service changes are made. Information is produced and installed by maintenance one week before actual service changes.
Report on pocket schedule distribution. Pocket schedules are stocked weekly by outside vendors for transfer centers and park and ride locations. System maps are stocked on Tuesdays. Bus pocket schedules supposed to be stocked by individual drivers daily. Non compliance by drivers needs to be called in by riders, so that the bus, route, and driver can be identified and the problem addressed.
CSAC members reported that some posting of service changes are not being done adequately. Specifically, the stop at 13 and Trinity is dated from 2004. A suggestion was made to check on this and determine if this is an isolated or systemic problem.
CSAC inquired as to whether there was a way to track and see how long literature lasts, on buses and at transit stops. Additional inquiry was made regarding advertising opportunities for pocket schedules. These items will be reported on at a later date.
Mr. Cortez reported sales of schedule change books have significantly reduced need to print schedule change books, while also bringing in revenue.
- New/Other Business
- CSAC Meeting Location. Need to determine available dates and times for city hall meeting space.
- Discussion of televised or recorded broadcast of CSAC meetings. This issue was tabled until the addition of new members. It was noted that broadcasting meetings can serve as another outlet for public notification of proposed service changes.
- Discussion of future agenda items and issues.
- Major service change proposals will be presented to CSAC from a member of the Capital Metro planning department, including restructuring of Dillo routes, and opening of south transit center.
- Quarterly Information Technology Update – May.
- Update from Inez Evans on Paratransit procedural changes – April.
- MetroRail connectors: concepts for buses and shuttles providing connectivity to MetroRail.
- Request speaker regarding Downtown Transfer Center.
- Request speaker from Vehicle Maintenance.
- Add agenda item for citizen communication for future meetings.
- Discuss proposed resolution from David Patterson.
- Adjourn
This report is being delivered in both written and oral formats for 2 reasons. First, there have been recent developments at Access which have implications for CSAC generally at this time, more than previously; and, secondly, it is hoped that the written version will give CSAC members and stakeholders the opportunity to reflect on the situation with the ability to have something to rely on other than their memory. Additionally, I will ask this report verbatim to become a part of the minutes of this meeting.
Attached as a part of this report is a resolution passed by the Access Committee at its last regular meeting. The resolution speaks for itself; and I am not asking CSAC at this time for a resolution of support of the Access Committee’s position on the specific issues involved. I will; however, ask for a CSAC resolution expressing its concern at the public dispute and asking for a clarification of its expectations regarding the conduct and interaction between Capital Metro staff and duly constituted Capital Metro boards, committees and commissions.
I think it is appropriate for CSAC to consider the following commonalities between CSAC and Access. We are composed of volunteer members, established by legislation, and by appointment by the legally constituted Board of Directors of Capital Metro. We have meetings open to the public and we are established for similar purposes as provided by various documents, including the by-laws and policies under which we operate. Although we are not paid, our operation requires the expenditure and use of public resources
Recent events have served to put Capital Metro staff (or at least a component of it) into an adversarial relationship with the Access Committee and a large number of members of the disabled community. I refer the Committee to last Saturday’s front page article in The Austin-American Statesman which describes certain proposed changes to the current STS program, offers quotes from various stakeholders and describes a restraining order against Capital Metro obtained in local district court.
As previously stated, the purpose here is not to go into the merit or lack thereof of the individual proposals. As can be seen from reading the attached Access resolution, there is not any dispute of the circumstances by which these changes were announced. No small part of the outrage expressed by Access in its resolution is what Access sees as a lack of respect and regard for the Access Committee as a body and to its membership as individuals. The resolution passed Access with one dissenting vote.
It is apparent that some of the changes, in some form or fashion, will survive court, Board of Trustees, and other hurdles with the inevitable result that some former STS clients will be forced off of STS and on to fixed route and other Capital Metro Services. Certain customer service issues will become even more sensitive as regular services begin to be used increasingly by members of the mobility impaired community.
Another item that makes this situation one of even more immediate concern is the impending officer elections of CSAC. I have been coming to CSAC meetings for upwards of 7 years. In that time, the sum total of CSAC tangible accomplishments are: 1. congratulating Joe Murillo on winning Texas transit drivers rodeo, recognizing Carl Tepper for serving as CSAC chairman and looking into moving a bus stop on Riverside Dr and sending a letter of appreciation to a customer for requesting a shelter at a bus stop. These are all appropriate actions for CSAC to take.
But, in a larger sense, how do we want to expend our energy and time? Do we want to continue to come up here monthly to polite, erudite, and informative discussions regarding relatively noncontroversial transit issues, or do we want to add a slightly increased proactive posture to what we are already doing? If we are going to elect CSAC officers soon, it seems appropriate to address this as well. Especially, adding the wholly new rail service this fall.
The resolutions I introduced previously to this Committee are appropriate customer satisfaction issues. They have somewhat derailed in Access due to the current firestorm there; but I am confident that they will be approved by at least the May meeting. I am gratified by the inclusion over the service change schedule postings update scheduled in this meeting and the timely updates promised for upcoming CSAC meetings.
I am NOT, however, satisfied with the Planning department response to the resolution calling for increased Sunday service to the Greyhound bus station. I will respond with the following:
Not much is happening Sunday night downtown—Even if that were the case why is there inbound service from the airport at 10:40 PM?
All routes are in by 10 PM—The following are end point times for the indicated routes on Sunday evenings: 1 South 11:03 PM, 1 North 10:50 PM, 2 East 10:26 PM, 3 North 10:29 PM, 5/26 South 10:52 PM, 5/26 North 10:28 PM, 6 East 10:26 PM, 10 North 10:43 PM, 10 South 10:19. 15/16 North 10:18, 17 East 10:22, 30 South 10:40. 37 South 10:20, 37 North 10:27. 100 Inbound 11:07, 100 outbound 10:37. These times do not include the trip back to the garage.
This will cost extra money. The number 7 makes return trips to the garage from highland mall directly around the corner from greyhound after 9 PM on Sunday. These are the final two trips on Sunday. The costs for bringing that bus down Duval, its regular route, would be minimal. I do not accept that the costs involved would be significant. The number 100 operates to and from the airport substantially empty. Eliminating one of the two buses on the route for the final run would more than pay the cost of the service requested in this resolution.
As a part of this report, I am requesting John-Michael for a revised repose from Planning. I would be willing to amend the Resolution to request service on Sunday until 9:30 PM instead of 10:30 PM, WITH THE PROVISO THAT A SCHEDULE BE POSTED WITHIN THE GREYHOUND TERMINAL SHOWING THE CAPMETRO SERVICE SCHEDULE AND THE LOCATION OF THE CLOSEST STOP. This is within the time frame of route 7 busses currently being dead-headed down I 35 to the garage from Highland Mall.
WHEREAS, The Capital Metro STS director announced orally, without providing any written documentation, at the February 27 STS Subcommittee meeting that sweeping changes would be made to STS service beginning in May and phased in over the next year; and
WHEREAS, this includes 8 planned changes only one of which has been discussed with the Access Advisory Committee within the last two years; and
WHEREAS, The Access Committee By-Laws state the Committee's purpose as; promoting successful implementation of state and federal transportation law by Capital Metro, and the pursuit of full access to Capital Metro services for passengers with disabilities; And
Whereas, the Access committee is charged to achieve this purpose by reviewing and responding to the pertinent issues, facilitate the sharing of information, recommend improvements, promote cooperation between the disability community and transportation industry. That it performs this function best when it is notified and consulted in a timely fashion regarding changes effecting people with disabilities who use Capital Metro Special Transit and Fixed Route services; and
WHEREAS, the Access Committee was informed that due to a public meeting in March 2006, no further public hearings are required for the transit company to make these changes despite the fact that The public meetings in 2006 did not address most of the changes currently being proposed. That these are "procedural" rather than "policy" changes, Not requiring a vote by the Capital Metro board of directors. That the board will nonetheless be informed of the proposed changes and that the Access Committee has not been consulted on most of the proposed changes, depriving them of an opportunity to carry out their designed function; and
WHEREAS, the members of the committee believe they have cogent reasons for recommending that several of these proposed changes be altered or abandoned; and
WHEREAS, members of the public will receive letters informing them of the changes to STS service too late to have opportunity to voice their concerns; and
Whereas, the Access Advisory Committee views the proposed changes and the process by which they are presented as a violation of the spirit of the various forms of legislation under which this Committee has been created; Now,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED On this fifth day of March, 2008 BY THE Capital Metropolitan Access Committee in the City of Austin, Texas that this Committee vigorously oppose the implementation of the changes to STS services about which it has not been consulted and upon which it has not voted, to include:
- the changes to the certification for eligibility for STS services;
- the change from allowing the scheduling of trips eight days in advance to restricting them to only three days in advance,
- the changes in call center hours,,
- the elimination of taxi voucher requests;
- the elimination of "open returns"
- the implementation of the 30-minute window, especially before technology is in place and tested that will alert riders when their ride is near,
- the name change; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That this Committee call upon Capital Metro staff to conduct dialog with the Committee explaining the details of how these changes will be implemented, along with an explanation of how they will improve services; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Committee demand that Capital Metro make documents, in accessible formats, available to the public outlining these proposed changes and that timely public hearings be held so that STS riders can voice their concerns before the changes take place.
Whereas, the Capital Metro Customer Service Advisory Committee has become aware of certain public disagreements between the Capital Metro Access Committee and the Capital Metro staff; and,
Whereas, some of this disagreement and certain actions of the Capital Metro staff have led to legal action against Capital Metro by certain members of its client base; and,
Whereas, the Capital Metro Customer Service Advisory Committee and Capital Metro Access Committee are similarly constituted;
Now Therefore be it Resolved, that the Capital Metro Customer Service Advisory Committee request that the Board of Directors of the Capital Metropolitan Transit Authority clarify for its staff and its duly constituted Boards, Commissions and Committees its expectations regarding the relations among them and their functions.
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
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