MINUTES Transit Committee Meeting

Transcription

1 Committee Members Present Janet Nguyen, Chair Greg Winterbottom, Vice Chair William Dalton Lorri Galloway Paul G. Glaab Peter Herzog Miguel Pulido Staff Present Will Kempton, Chief Executive Officer Darrell Johnson, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Laurena Weinert, Assistant Clerk of the Board Mary K. Burton, Deputy Clerk of the Board Kennard R. Smart, Jr., General Counsel OCTA Staff and members of the General Public Committee Members Absent None Call to Order The September 13, 2012, regular meeting of the Transit Committee was called to order by Committee Chair Nguyen at 9:05 a.m. Pledge of Allegiance Director Dalton led in the Pledge of Allegiance. 1. Public Comments Public comments were offered under Item 3. Special Calendar There were no Special Calendar matters. Consent Calendar (Items 2 through 7) 2. Approval of Minutes Director Dalton, and declared passed by those present, to approve minutes of the August 9, 2012 meeting. September 13, 2012 Page 1 of 9

2 3. Title VI Policies and Plans Approval This item was pulled by the public for comment. Public comments were received from Jane Reifer, representing the Transit Advocates of Orange County, who expressed their concerns about ridership data i.e., bus changes, frequency, waiting times, on-time performance, overcrowding, pass-bys, and travel times. Committee Chair Nguyen requested staff to respond to her comments/questions before the item goes to the Board and to copy their responses to Committee Members. Director Dalton, and declared passed by those present, to: A. Receive and file the public hearing, survey, and community meeting comments for the proposed updates to the following proposed Title VI policies and plans: System-Wide Service Standards and Policies, Service and Fare Change Evaluation Policy, and Public Involvement Plan. B. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to implement the proposed Title VI System-Wide Service Standards and Policies, Service and Fare Change Evaluation Policy, and Public Involvement Plan, as revised. 4. Federal Transit Administration Sections 5307 and 5309/5337 Programs of Projects for Federal Fiscal Year 2013 Director Dalton, and declared passed by those present, to: A. Approve the federal fiscal year 2013 Federal Transit Administration Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Program of Projects, including federal and local funds, the use of match credit for projects, and the five-year programming plan for federal fiscal years 2013 through 2017 based on estimated federal apportionments. B. Approve the federal fiscal year 2013 Federal Transit Administration Section 5309 Transit Capital Investment/Section 5337 State of Good Repair Program of Projects, including federal and local funds and the use of match credit for projects. September 13, 2012 Page 2 of 9

3 4. (Continued) C. Authorize using $2,001,000 in Federal Transit Administration Section 5309 Transit Capital Investment/Section 5337 State of Good Repair funding in place of Proposition 1B Public Transportation Modernization, Improvement, and Service Enhancement Account Program funding for the Anaheim Canyon Station Project. D. Authorize staff to adjust individual project funding consistent with final apportionments and eligibility determinations through Moving Ahead for Progress for the 21st Century, and direct staff to include updated numbers in grant and programming status reports. E. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to submit and execute the federal fiscal year 2013 Federal Transit Administration Section 5307 and Federal Transit Administration Section 5309/Section 5337 grant applications to the Federal Transit Administration. F. Authorize staff to process all necessary amendments to the Federal Transportation Improvement Program and execute or amend all necessary agreements to facilitate the above actions. 5. Amendment to Agreement for Compressed Natural Gas Fueling Station Operation and Maintenance Director Dalton, and declared passed by those present, to: A. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute Amendment No. 7 to Agreement No. C between the Orange County Transportation Authority and Integrys Transportation Fuels, doing business as Trillium, to combine Agreement No. C and Agreement No. C for the operation and maintenance of three compressed natural gas bus bases. B. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute Amendment No. 7 to Agreement No. C to amend the payment terms, extend the term of the agreement, and reduce the maximum obligation for the operations and maintenance portion by $3,555,313, bringing the total contract value to $32,938,466. September 13, 2012 Page 3 of 9

4 6. Amendment to Agreement for Maintenance Services For the Orange County Transportation Authority's Railroad Right-of-Way Director Dalton, and declared passed by those present, to authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. C between the Orange County Transportation Authority and Joshua Grading & Excavating, Inc., in an amount not-to-exceed $1,500,000, to exercise the option term through December 1, 2013, bringing the total contract value to $5,100, Metrolink Ridership and Revenue Quarterly Report Director Dalton, and declared passed by those present, to receive and file as an information item. Regular Calendar 8. Authority to Submit a Proposal to Assume the Role of Managing Agency for the Los Angeles San Diego San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Michael Litschi, Manager of Metrolink Operations, provided background on the Los Angeles San Diego San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor and presented an update on the process to transfer administrative responsibility for state-supported Pacific Surfliner intercity passenger rail service from the California Department of Transportation to a new, locally governed Joint Powers Authority (JPA). Mr. Litschi noted that Senate Bill 1225 (which would authorize the transfer) is waiting for Governor Brown to sign. Pending the Governor s signature, a request for proposals would be issued to select a managing agency to provide administrative support to the new JPA. Committee Chair Nguyen asked who decides who the managing agency will be, and Mr. Litchi responded that it would be the LOSSAN Board of Directors. OCTA believes that it could be well-positioned to assume the role of managing agency and is working to develop a staffing plan and cost proposal to provide administrative services to submit to the LOSSAN Board of Directors that OCTA be considered as managing agency. September 13, 2012 Page 4 of 9

5 8. (Continued) Committee Chair Nguyen asked if there was any indication that the bill would not be signed and noted for the record her concern about the shared-work concept where OCTA staff could be overloaded with extra work. Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Will Kempton, responded that he has been in contact with the Department of Transportation, High-Speed Rail, and the Housing Authority, and is hopeful that the bill will be signed. He also indicated that OCTA staff would not be inundated with work as the provisions of the agreement ask for an additional 12 to 15 dedicated staff be hired to support the managing agency. Director Herzog asked about funding and noted that the legislation only specified an initial three-year contract. Mr. Litchi responded that the legislation is set up for an initial three-year pilot program with the provision that the state would guarantee funding; however, at the end of the initial three-year contract, there is an option for the management to revert back to the state. Director Herzog asked who chooses the 12 to 15 dedicated employees and CEO, Mr. Kempton responded that the agreements being worked on would require the appointment of a Managing Director, who would report to the LOSSAN JPA Board and be involved in selecting the employees. Director Galloway, and declared passed by those present, to authorize the Chief Executive Officer to submit a proposal to the Los Angeles San Diego San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency to assume the role of managing agency for a new joint powers authority that would oversee state-supported intercity passenger rail service in Southern California, pending the Governor s signature of Senate Bill State College Grade Separation Project Development Jennifer Bergener, Director of Rail and Facilities, provided an overview of efforts to date to advance grade separation projects along the LOSSAN Corridor. Committee Vice Chair Winterbottom asked about the $92 million cost estimate for the State College Boulevard grade separation project, and Ms. Bergener responded that the cost estimate includes design, engineering, right-of-way, and construction costs, and is on par with costs for other grade separations. September 13, 2012 Page 5 of 9

6 9. (Continued) Director Herzog amended staff s recommendation to exclude Recommendation C. A motion was made by Director Herzog, seconded by Director Glaab, and declared passed by those present, to exclude Staff s Recommendation C and to: A. Authorize the use of up to $33,284,500 of Measure M2 funds, State Proposition 116 project cost savings currently estimated to be $2,714,500, and any available Public Transportation Modernization Improvement and Service Enhancement Account funds currently estimated to be $10,001,000, to match approximately $46 million in State Proposition 1A funds, for a total project cost of $92,000,000, for the State College Boulevard railroad grade separation project, located in the City of Anaheim. B. Authorize staff to process any necessary amendments to the Federal Transportation Improvement Program. 10. October 2012 Bus Service Change Program Update Scott Holmes, Manager of Service Planning and Customer Advocacy, provided opening comments and introduced Audrey Saller, Manager of Service Planning and Customer Advocacy, who provided an update on the October 2012 bus service change. Ms. Saller reported that as part of the schedule maintenance process, staff reviews passenger load and on-time performance data collected throughout the year along with input from passengers, coach operators, Transit Advocates of Orange County, the System Improvement Team, Service Review Committee, and the Special Needs Advisory Committee. Bus schedules are then adjusted to improve passenger load distribution and schedule reliability. Ms. Saller noted that some changes in routes and schedules may be required in response to major construction programs. New trips will be added to StationLink Lines to accommodate additional service on the Metrolink Inland Empire Orange County line. Contingent upon receiving Mobile Source Reduction Committee grant funding, staff is seeking to reestablish StationLink shuttle service to selected Ducks home games. Committee Chair Nguyen, and declared passed by those present to receive and file as an information item. September 13, 2012 Page 6 of 9

7 11. Orange County Transportation Authority Fleet Plan Update MINUTES Erin Rogers, Assistant General Manager Transit, provided opening comments and introduced Tony Chavira, Manager of Maintenance, who provided an update on the vehicle fleet plan. Staff will be seeking to purchase 17 gasoline-powered ACCESS vehicles, 11 mid-size compressed natural gas-powered contracted fixed-route vehicles, and up to 36 sixty-foot articulated buses. OCTA is part of a consortium for replacement vehicles which have met or exceeded the federal asset useful life requirements for age and mileage. A motion was made by Director Herzog, seconded by Director Dalton, and declared passed by those present, to receive and file as an information item. Discussion Items 12. Statistics on ACCESS Service Delivery At the request of Committee Chair Nguyen, Dana Wiemiller, Manager of Community Transportation Services, provided a handout outlining Fiscal Year figures for ACCESS trips, service delivery failures, and percentage of trips impacted, and reported that the numbers have been dramatically reduced. Ms. Wiemiller informed Committee Members that the request for approval to release a request for proposal for ACCESS service was being brought to the September 24, 2012, Board meeting. 13. Proposed Fare Adjustment Andrew Oftelie, Director of Finance, provided background and an update on the proposed systemwide bus fare adjustment scheduled to be implemented with the February 2013 service change. Mr. Oftelie reported that the main reasons for a fare increase are the declining farebox recovery and rising costs: OCTA no longer receives the 50 cent per gallon alternative fuel tax credit, and OCTA retirement rates are going up substantially (since , the OCERS employer rate has increased from 15 percent to 21 percent) without a change of benefit provided to the employees. The revenues are needed to balance the budget and to sustain the levels of service that OCTA is currently providing. September 13, 2012 Page 7 of 9

8 13. (Continued) Mr. Oftelie provided detailed information on the different fare types listed on the matrix. Committee Chair Nguyen stated she would like to see OCTA make it more feasible to encourage passengers to purchase the passes and requested staff provide data on usage of monthly passes. She asked for the trend in previous years to be included and to provide some type of incentive to get the public to buy monthly passes. Committee Chair Nguyen also suggested that staff might want to consider contacting social service agencies in order for those individuals seeking public assistance be able to purchase less expensive passes. Stella Lin, Manager of Marketing, reported that OCTA has a program in existence that staff works with several social service agencies and the combined agencies purchase more than 20,000 passes per month from OCTA. Staff will also be meeting with these agencies to communicate with them about the proposed change and find out how OCTA can help to provide more benefits to those individuals. Committee Chair Nguyen suggested that staff also include Cal Optima as one of the contact agencies as they provide Medical/Medicare assistance to seniors and the underserved core population in Orange County. Mr. Oftelie added the reason OCTA is proposing the $2.00 fare rather than the $1.75 fare is that the $2.00 cash fare would allow OCTA to stay above the 20 percent farebox recovery ratio for the next four years and allow OCTA to provide some type of mitigation. Mr. Oftelie noted that staff will be conducting several public community outreach meetings in September and October and will be bringing a staff report along with the matrix to the October 5, 2012, Board meeting so that all Board Members will be aware of what staff is proposing before the Public Hearing is held on October 22, Committee Chair Nguyen made a suggestion that the front page of future flyers announcing the community meetings should also include text for more information, see text inside, and said she appreciated the multi-language information; however, the language in the middle of the pamphlet referencing the language for the fare changes should also be in multi-languages, rather than just English and Spanish. September 13, 2012 Page 8 of 9

9 14. Chief Executive Officer's Report Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Kempton, reported on the following: The Angeles Express recorded 435 boardings to date, bringing the total boardings to 34,785, compared to 20,613 boardings recorded last year. This can be attributed to OCTA s robust marketing effort and the impact of significant amounts of promotional Angeles events. The OCTA annual Bus Roadeo will take place on September 22, 2012, at the Santa Ana Base. 15. Committee Members Reports Director Galloway reported that she attended the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, September 18, Director Glaab asked staff what the cost of compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel is versus the cost of gasoline fuel, and Mr. Oftelie responded that CNG fuel is 45 cents per gallon and gasoline fuel is $3.46 per gallon. CEO, Mr. Kempton, reported that staff is trying to get the alternate fuel tax credit reinstated. 16. Closed Session A Closed Session was not conducted at this meeting. 17. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 10:35 a.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of this Committee will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 11, 2012, at the OCTA Headquarters. ATTEST Janet Nguyen Committee Chairman Mary K. Burton Deputy Clerk of the Board September 13, 2012 Page 9 of 9