COMMITTEE FOR TRANSIT ACCESSIBILITY CALL TO ORDER Wednesday, June 8, 2016 MINUTES The Regular Meeting of the Committee for Transit Accessibility (CTA) was called to order at 1:03 p.m. by Second Vice Chairperson Vaidya 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 Absent Jeffery Jokinen First Vice Chairperson Absent Lupe Medrano Member Present Laura Michels Member Present Aaron Morrow Chairperson Absent Lechi Nguyen Member Present 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 Absent 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 There were no Orders of the Day. 3. INTRODUCTION OF AUDIENCE MEMBERS David Ledwitz, Management Analyst; Jim Unites, Deputy Director, Service and Transportation Planning; Adam Burger, Transportation Planner III; Jason Kim, Transportation Planner; Lorraina Alvarez, Customer Service Supervisor; Robert Gebo, Regional Transportation Services Supervisor; Jolene Bradford, Public Communications Specialist II; and Elaine Baltao, Board Secretary. 3331 North First Street San Jose, CA 95134-1927 Administration 408.321.5555 Customer Service 408.321.2300
4. PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS Member Nguyen expressed concern with correspondence received from Chairperson Morrow regarding paratransit rebranding and the paratransit audit. She noted his reflection of the CTA s view was incorrect, noting the Committee was not given a chance to review the report. She requested the Committee have a chance to discuss issues and express ideas before a conclusion is drawn. 5. Board of Directors Report Hope Cahan, Policy Advisor to Board Chairperson Cindy Chavez, provided a brief report from the June 2, 2016, Board of Directors meeting, indicating the Board approved placing the Sales Tax Measure on the November 8, 2016 ballot and noted strong support was shown from the community and stakeholders. CONSENT AGENDA 6. Regular Meeting Minutes of June 10, 2015 Committee of the Whole deferred the Regular Meeting Minutes of June 10, 2015. 7. Regular Meeting Minutes of October 7, 2015 Committee of the Whole deferred the Regular Meeting Minutes of October 7, 2015. 8. Regular Meeting Minutes of January 11, 2016 Committee of the Whole deferred the Regular Meeting Minutes of January 11, 2016. 9. Regular Meeting Minutes of April 13, 2016 Committee of the Whole deferred the Regular Meeting Minutes of April 13, 2016. 10. Third Quarter Transit Operations Performance Report Committee of the Whole received the FY2016 Third Quarter Transit Operations Performance Report. 11. Chief Operating Officer's Report Committee of the Whole received the Chief Operating Officer's Report. 12. July 4, 2016 Transit Service Changes Committee of the Whole received a report on the July 4, 2016 Transit Service Changes. Committee for Transit Accessibility Minutes Page 2 of 5 June 8, 2016
REGULAR AGENDA 13. Determine the Committee's Chairperson, First Vice Chairperson and Second Vice Chairperson for 2016 Committee of the Whole deferred conducting voting to determine the Committee's Chairperson, First Vice Chairperson and Second Vice Chairperson for 2016. 14. Transit Ridership Improvement Program (TRIP) Network Concepts Adam Burger, Senior Transportation Planner, provided a brief overview of the staff report and a presentation, highlighting: 1) Transit Ridership Improvement Program; 2) Ridership-coverage balance is key choice; 3) The purpose of public transit; 4) Transit access; 5) Access to jobs; 6) Access for residents; 7) Transit access for existing riders; 8) Next steps; and 9) Dedicated project web site. Members of the Committee discussed the following: 1) the ethics and morals of reducing routes and impacting transit dependent riders; 2) effects on bus route 81; 3) how reduction in routes affect paratransit; 4) how public meetings are advertised; 5) bus service connectivity and higher frequency in peak hours; 6) focusing on transportation to all places and not just employment centers; 7) difficulty for elderly and disabled people to travel half mile to access transit; 8) suggested adding analysis on access to medical centers; 9) suggested staff look at how previous cuts and policy changes have affected ridership; and 10) improved bus shelters for riders. Members of the Committee questioned the following: 1) will feedback from the meetings be brought to the Board in August and will they be presented with analysis of lines people have requested to keep; 2) can staff research which hospitals and medical centers do not have bus service; and 3) if community buses can be added in certain areas so people will not suffer. Mr. Burger stressed being presented are concepts and not final plans. He indicated feedback that is received from community meetings will be put together and presented to the Board. Members of the Committee requested the Board Office mail hardcopies of information sent via email to Committee members who request it. Mr. Burger distributed the future dates of the community workshops for Next Network. Jim Unites, Deputy Director, Service and Transportation Planning, noted staff will take a look at transit servicing medical facilities. Second Vice Chairperson Vaidya thanked staff for providing the meeting schedule to the members. On order of Second Chairperson Vaidya and there being no objection, the Committee of the Whole received the Transit Ridership Improvement Program (TRIP) Network Concepts. 15. Next Network Light Rail Service Plan Jason Kim, Transportation Planner, provided a brief overview of the staff report and a presentation highlighting: 1) Existing system; 2) Milpitas BART Station; 3) Future high ridership potential; 4) Future medium ridership potential; 5) Final three scenarios; Committee for Transit Accessibility Minutes Page 3 of 5 June 8, 2016
6) Scenario 1 base; 7) Scenario 1+; 8) Scenario 2 Base; 9) Scenario 2+; 10) Scenario 3 base; 11) Scenario 3+; 12) Ridership and operating costs; 13) Next network comparison; and 14) Upcoming schedule. Members of the Committee discussed the following: 1) bus connectivity with light rail; 2) how light rail express service will work; 3) passenger concerns; and 4) current express service. Mr. Unites indicated information on passenger concerns can be provided to the Committee. He noted staff is leaning toward Scenario 2 which will provide a good connection from BART to job centers and better service to Levi s stadium for events. Committee of the Whole received an update on the Next Network Light Rail Service Plan. 16. Potential Impact of Next Network Concepts on Paratransit Service Area Mr. Burger provided a brief overview of the staff report and a presentation, highlighting: 1) Background; 2) Next Network concept maps; and 3) Next steps. Members of the Committee discussed the following: 1) evening and weekend service; 2) Outreach ridership data presented; 3) staff providing an analysis of how additional weekend and evening bus service might impact paratransit; 4) ability to change information in December 2016 once feedback is received from community meetings; and 5) fares. Ex-Officio Member Heatley indicated she can provide data to staff on places that are currently not able to receive paratransit service on evenings and weekends. Mr. Burger encouraged the Committee to share input and noted staff is able to present to existing community groups and organizations. Committee of the Whole received and discussed information on Potential Impact of Next Network Concepts on Paratransit Service Area. 17. Work Plan Update REPORTS Committee of the Whole received the Work Plan Update. 18. Committee Staff Report Aaron Vogel provided brief report on the following: 1) paratransit ridership down 17 percent; 2) Committee quorum; 3) Committee recruitment; and 4) the Governance and Audit Committee forwarded the CTA bylaws update to the Board for final approval. Ex-Officio Member Heatley provided clarification on Outreach ridership, noting client ridership is up but passenger ridership is down and indicated there is a transition in service as changes in funding are being made. On order of Second Vice Chairperson Vaidya and there being no objection the Committee received the Committee Staff Report. Committee for Transit Accessibility Minutes Page 4 of 5 June 8, 2016
19. Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC)/Citizens Watchdog Committee (CWC) Report There was no Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC)/Citizens Watchdog Committee (CWC) Report. 20. Chairperson's Report OTHER There was no Chairperson s Report. 21. ANNOUNCEMENTS Member Medrano apologized for missing the April Committee meeting. 22. ADJOURNMENT On order of Chairperson Morrow and there being no objection, the meeting was adjourned at 2:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Menominee L. McCarter, Board Assistant VTA Office of the Board Secretary Committee for Transit Accessibility Minutes Page 5 of 5 June 8, 2016