COMMITTEE FOR TRANSIT ACCESSIBILITY CALL TO ORDER Wednesday, January 13, 2016 MINUTES The Regular Meeting of the Committee for Transit Accessibility (CTA) was called to order at 1:03 p.m. by Chairperson Morrow in the Auditorium, Building A, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), 3331 North First Street, San José, California. 1. ROLL CALL Attendee Name Title Status Kathy Bonilla Member Present Christine Fitzgerald Member Present Katie Heatley Ex-Officio Member Present Troy Hernandez Member Present Jeffery Jokinen First Vice Chairperson Absent Lupe Medrano Member Present Laura Michels Member Present Aaron Morrow Chairperson Present Lechi Nguyen Member Absent David Robinson Member Absent Mark Romoser Member Present Dilip Shah Member Present Barbara Stahl Member Absent Chaitanya Vaidya Second Vice Chairperson Present Lori Williamson Member Present Hope Cahan Representative/Board Chairperson Chavez CTA Ex-Officio Present A quorum was not present and a Committee of the Whole was declared. 2. Orders of the Day Approve the Consent Agenda There were no Orders of the Day. 3. INTRODUCTION OF AUDIENCE MEMBERS Marcella Rensi, Transportation Planning Manager; Patrick Griffin, Customer Experience Manager; Mohammed Basma, Program Manager, Project Delivery; Kathleen Podrasky, Public Communications Specialist II; Steve Fisher, Senior Transportation Planner; David Ledwitz; Management Analyst; Tamiko Percell, Transportation Planner II; John Sighamony, Senior Transportation Planner ; and Jay Tyree, Transportation Planning. 3331 North First Street San Jose, CA 95134-1927 Administration 408.321.5555 Customer Service 408.321.2300
4. PUBLIC PRESENTIONS There were no Public Presentations. 6. General Manager s Report The Agenda was taken out of order. Nuria I. Fernandez, General Manager, provided a brief overview of 2015 noting VTA was able to achieve the priorities set by the Board at the beginning of the year. Ms. Fernandez provided a presentation highlighting the following: 1) Stand up for Transportation participation; 2) VTA s BART Silicon Valley Berryessa Extension Project update; 3) New Eastridge Transit Center opening celebration; 4) I-280/I-880 Stevens Creek Interchange Improvements Project completion and ribbon cutting event; 5) Super Bowl 50 activities and operations plan; 6) Super Bowl 50 light rail train wrap; 7) New 60 ft. articulated bus on display; 8) Mountain View double track project completion; 9) FLEX pilot program launch; 10) New Board leadership of Cindy Chavez as Chairperson and Jeannie Bruins as Vice Chairperson; 11) Envision Silicon Valley project evaluation; and 12) Strategic plan. The Committee of the Whole discussed the following: 1) extra spaces for wheelchairs and the disabled persons aboard new buses; 2) Super Bowl 50 additional security measures; and 3) future of the Berryessa Flea Market. 8. Envision Silicon Valley John Sighamony, Senior Transportation Planner, provided a brief report on Envision Silicon Valley (ESV), highlighting: 1) ESV overview; 2) stakeholder groups; 3) evaluation of projects; 4) VTA Board Workshop in April; 5) fund estimates and funding sources; and 6) grouping of projects. Mr. Sighamony indicated projects will be brought to the Committee for feedback as they are being evaluated. 7. Board of Directors Report Hope Cahan, Policy Aide, representing CTA Ex-Officio Board Chairperson Chavez, introduced herself to the Committee and indicated she will be attending meetings on her behalf. She welcomed the Committee to share with her any thoughts and concerns and noted her willingness to provide assistance. 5. Election of the Committee's Chairperson, First Vice Chairperson and Second Vice Chairperson for 2016 Whole deferred the Election of the Committee's chairperson, first vice chairperson and second vice chairperson for 2016. CONSENT AGENDA 9. Regular Meeting Minutes of October 7, 2015 Whole deferred the Regular Meeting Minutes of October 7, 2015. Committee for Transit Accessibility Minutes Page 2 of 5 January 13, 2016
10. Transit Operations Performance Report First Quarter Whole received the Transit Operations Performance Report. 11. Chief Operating Officer's Report Whole received the Chief Operating Officer s Report. 12. January 2016 Service Changes Whole received the January 4, 2016 Transit Service Changes report. REGULAR AGENDA 13. Rapid 523 Berryessa BART to DeAnza College Tamiko Percell, Transportation Planner II, provided a presentation, highlighting: 1) Introduction; 2) Rapid 523 route; 3) Plan features; 4) Example shelter; and 5) Next steps. The Committee of the Whole discussed the following: 1) other bus service to BART; 2) outlets to charge electric wheelchairs; 3) coordination with DeAnza College (DeAnza) on improving the transportation facility; 4) requested express buses from Mountain View and other areas to connect to Milpitas BART; and 5) having a clear and well defined travel path at DeAnza. Whole received a report on Rapid 523 Berryessa BART to DeAnza College. 14. FLEX Service Pilot Jim Unites, Deputy Director, Operations, and Committee Staff Liaison, provided a brief update on the launch of the FLEX pilot program, noting this is a dynamic on-demand transit service. On Order of Chairperson Morrow and there being no objection, the Committee of the Whole received a report on the FLEX Service Pilot. 15. Santa Clara-Alum Rock Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Update Mohammed Basma, provided a brief overview of the staff report. Mr. Unites suggested the Committee be invited to take a look at some of the stations before they are opened to the public and provide comment on accessibility. Public Comment James Wightman, Interested Citizen, questioned when the BRT project will go to Palo Alto. Mr. Unites indicated the El Camino Real Rapid Transit Policy Advisory Board has given staff direction to conduct a pilot program in the El Camino corridor and several possibilities are being considered. Committee for Transit Accessibility Minutes Page 3 of 5 January 13, 2016
The Committee of the whole expressed appreciation for VTA s support of small businesses in the Alum Rock corridor. Whole received the Santa Clara-Alum Rock Bus Rapid Transit Status Update. 16. Transit Ridership Improvement Program (TRIP) Jay Tyree, Transportation Planning, provided a presentation, highlighting: 1) TRIP purpose, 2) TRIP elements; 3) Assessment of current system; 4) Policy development; 5) Partner education and involvement; and 6) Development of next network. The Committee of the Whole encouraged staff to keep the disabled and low income community involved and engaged in the discussion. Committee members suggested staff break down the information regarding TRIP so it can be better understood. Ms. Fernandez assured the Committee that the process is inclusive, which will give staff a better opportunity to go into details to help build ridership on the existing network. Mr. Unites commented on the level of outreach planned for the project and requested members attend the outreach sessions. Member Romoser offered the Silicon Valley Independent Living Center as a place to hold sessions. Ex-Officio Member Heatley indicated regularly used fixed route information can be gleaned from the Outreach card. She also expressed the need to get paratransit information on frequent locations served into the mix as all locations are not close to fixed routes. Mr. Unites indicated the data would be helpful as routes are being mapped out and changes discussed. He noted the information can be brought back to the Committee. Whole received an update on the Transit Ridership Improvement Program workplan for 2016. 17. One Bay Area Grant Cycle 2 Marcella Rensi, Transportation Planning Manager, provided a brief overview of the staff report. The Committee of the Whole discussed the following: 1) benefits for the disabled community; 2) importance of proximity to transit stations; 3) more housing for disabled and seniors who are unable to afford to live in the region; 4) jobs for people with disabilities; 5) inclusion of and accessibility to grocery stores and other necessities; 6) street paving needed in less affluent areas for easier travel; 7) safety statistics and disabled populations not emphasized; and 8) scoring of affordable housing for senior/disabled. Upon inquiry, Ms. Rensi provided clarification on the focus of Priority Development Areas (PDAs) and the requirements for approval. She invited the Committee to send comments in on the next round, noting the specific challenge with fitting mobility management into the PDA growth objective. Member Michels left the meeting at 2:40 p.m. Whole received and discussed information about One Bay Area Grant Cycle 2 Criteria. Committee for Transit Accessibility Minutes Page 4 of 5 January 13, 2016
18. Super Bowl 50 Transit Service Mr. Unites provided a presentation, highlighting: 1) Safe and successful transit for Super Bowl 50; 2) VTA light rail and bus service plans for Super Bowl Sunday; 3) Marketing and communications; and 4) Light rail vehicle train wrap. Whole received a report on Super Bowl 50 Transit Service. 19. Work plan update REPORTS Chairperson Morrow stressed the need for more collaboration with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) and suggested the leadership team from both committees meet during the year to look at strategic planning activities. Whole received the Work plan update. 20. Committee Staff Report There was no Committee Staff Report. 21. Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC)/Citizens Watchdog Committee (CWC) Report Chairperson Morrow indicated the CAC did not meet in December 2015. He noted his participation on the subcommittee to evaluate current Measure A Auditor, Macias, Gini, and O Connel, LLP (MGO), as their contract comes to a close. 22. Chairperson's Report OTHER Chairperson Morrow indicated he is going to be working with Stephen Flynn, Advisory Committee Coordinator, and Mr. Unites on quorum requirements for the Committee. 23. ANNOUNCEMENTS There were no Announcements. 24. ADJOURNMENT On order of Chairperson Morrow and there being no objection, the meeting was adjourned at 3:02 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Menominee L. McCarter, Board Assistant VTA Office of the Board Secretary Committee for Transit Accessibility Minutes Page 5 of 5 January 13, 2016