| Members present Judy Watford, Chair Diane Bomar, Vice Chair Mary Ward, Secretary, Chair STS Subcommittee Jane Lansaw, Chair Fixed Route Subcommittee Josè Loera, Member Fixed Route Subcommittee Cathi Schumacher, Member STS Subcommittee David Patterson, Member STS Subcommittee Members Absent William Brown, Member STS Subcommittee | Amy Litzinger, Member STS Subcommittee Malcolm Graham, Member STS Subcommittee (Pam Scott, proxy for MG) Capital Metro Staff Present Inez Evans, Director STS Rafael Villarreal, Assistant Director STS Nancy Crowther, Capital Metro Liaison Denise Guerrero, Training Department Guests Present Pam Scott, Proxy for Malcolm Graham Carlos Aleman |
- Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 5:38 p.m. by Chair Watford with seven members present and one proxy for a total of eight voting members. - Approval of Minutes:
Cathi Schumacher moved and Jane Lansaw seconded the approval of minutes with spelling correction of Cathi Schumacher’s name. The minutes were approved by unanimous vote. - New business:
Chair Watford noted that the next subcommittee meetings conflict with the board meeting for January 23rd and asked for a discussion. Jane Lansaw moved and Diane Bomar seconded that the subcommittee meetings be moved to January 30, which is the fifth Wednesday in January, to accommodate the board meeting. The motion passed unanimously. Ms. Watford noted that this change would need to be announced to the public via the web site and other forms of communication. - Citizens’ Communication:
Carlos Aleman spoke and complimented Capital Metro for improvements in wait times for scheduling of STS. He also asked about the video cameras in STS vehicles. Chair Watford agreed to put this item on the March agenda for the full committee to be presented by Denise Guerrero. - Announcements:
Nancy Crowther reminded the committee that Martin Luther King Day, which falls this year on Monday, January 21, is a holiday and that STS subscription rides will therefore be cancelled on that date. Capital Metro fixed route and STS will be on Sunday schedule.The Austin Mayor’s Committee meets at noon at City Hall on the second Monday of each month in the Boards and Commissions Room
The American Council of the Blind meets on the third Saturday of the month at 11:30. Currently, it meets at Threadgill’s.
The National Federation of the Blind also meets the third Saturday of each month at 10:30 a.m. at the Austin Historical Archives at 810 Guadalupe. CSAC (Customer Services Advisory Committee) will meet on Tuesday, January 8.
- Old Business
Diane Bomar asked if the purchase of the vans for STS is still moving forward. Nancy Crowther announced that the due date was extended. In the meantime, the item is on the agenda for the Capital Metro Board and Nancy Crowther is on the selection committee. - Staff Reports
Rafael Villarreal presented the usual STS statistical reports. These showed an overall increase in ridership, cancellations showed a very slight overall increase and on-time performance decreased approximately 1% over the past year. Mary Ward asked if there was any way that Capital Metro could provide a percentage of trips successfully scheduled through the IVR, but this is still not possible.David Patterson suggested that everyone get five people to call the Go Line. Mr. Patterson reported that he is hearing reports that both fixed route and STS riders are experiencing frustrations with the IVR. Chair Watford asked if we could be provided with data showing the cost of the IVR and that the minutes reflect this request. Capital Metro staff noted that the company that sold the system has gone out of business and is currently being managed by another company. It has been difficult for Capital Metro to get good data about the system. The new company is called Transched.
Access members reported experiencing problems with accidental cancellations of a whole week’s worth of STS trips while trying to cancel one trip. They also reported that the IVR still does not allow riders to specify a given store or other information when scheduling trips to malls, shopping centers, or centers with one address (Hancock Shopping Center). Jane Lansaw pointed out that most STS riders have physical impairments making it difficult for them to walk long distances, so that using one drop-off point for a large mall may cause a hardship. Inez Evans said that that it might be possible to develop lists of the drop-off points at places like Barton Creek Mall so that the passenger could specify the drop-off and pick-up points to reservationists. Chair Watford also pointed out that the drop-off points need to be well lighted and have a place for the person to sit while awaiting the ride. Ms. Evans promised that these drop-off points would be reviewed. However, Capital Metro has had to work with the security at the malls, and they have sometimes made demands and complained of the weight of the vans and other issues. However, as Jane Lansaw pointed out, the mall is a place to which the public is invited and therefore covered under the ADA.
The rail trains are being tested and seem to be successful. There were concerns from the community about the noise level, but Nancy Crowther assured us that they won’t have to sound the horn once the trains are actually in operation with quad crossing gates.
Chair Watford stated that she wanted to address some concerns with the Capital Metro Board and establish a better working relationship between them and the Access Committee. She noted that concerns from the public about STS are not entertained during Board meetings, though public concerns about fixed route and rail are addressed. She would like to see the Board take more interest in STS, in the Access Advisory Committee and in Capital Metro riders with disabilities in general. She is asking that we make more of an effort to attend board meetings to increase our presence there.
- Subcommittee reports:
Both the STS and Fixed Route subcommittee meetings for December were cancelled due to the holidays, so there were no reports given. The subcommittees will meet January 30. - New Business:
David Patterson wrote a series of resolutions that he has taken to CSAC as well as to the Access Committee. He believes that these proposals or resolutions address common concerns of people with disabilities, as well as those without disabilities, who ride fixed route.Cathi Schumacher asked why trips were currently being scheduled on STS two hours in advance of the appointment times. Rafael Villarreal responded that the cause of the early trips might be the polygon currently being used, which accounts for the issue of comparable service with fixed route service, among other things. He also pointed out that the Capital Metro policy of denying a trip because it was formerly refused has been changed. Both Rafael Villarreal and Inez Evans said that Capital Metro is looking into the problem of trips being issued early enough to cause hardships to people arriving at their destinations much earlier than the place of business opens.
Inez Evans reported at the Board meeting that STS riders should get two no-shows as voted by the Access Committee. She also noted that the committee had agreed on an amount of $30.00 as a charge for excessive no-shows during a month. She agreed that there should be a charge offered as an alternative to suspension of service, but she asked that the committee reconsider the amount. She proposed that we consider a revised amount of $10.00. These no-shows are extremely costly for Capital Metro and constitute one of the greatest challenges to STS tying up resources that could be used by others. She proposed a 90-day trial of the administrative fee of $10.00 for three or more no-shows. The Committee has already voted on the two-hour limit for cancellations as well as the 30-minute window. These changes should also help Capital Metro to control cancellations and wasted resources. When these changes are implemented, subscription services will, of course, have to be slightly adjusted.
Josè Loera asked about the progress of the new handbook. He pointed out that we currently have no good means of communicating with the people we represent.
Chair Watford brought up the meeting concerning the by-laws, which was held last month. Very minor changes were suggested. Malcolm Graham proposed that the Committee consider changing the by-laws so that terms would be lengthened or that term limits be removed. The Committee would need to discuss and vote on any changes. The ad hoc committee discussed the same proposal that was voted on earlier this fall concerning proxies, who can currently vote except in officer elections. Ms. Watford asked each of the members to state their opinion on the issue of proxies. David Patterson favored staggered terms and restrictions for proxies. Jane Lansaw favored staggered, lengthened terms to build up a awareness of the issues among members and to improve recruitment. Josè favored a three year term but would like to consider other options as well. Cathi Schumacher favored staggered, four-year terms. Pam Scott (For Malcolm Graham) said that she felt the committee does not get enough feedback from the public. Mary Ward favored longer terms and staggering of terms.
- Announcements:
Chair Watford asked about a proposal for talking signs that was made at a board meeting approximately two years ago. Jane Lansaw said that she was not certain as to whether this was still a possibility as the grant money was offered at a specific time. She will ask members of the National Federation of the Blind if this is still an option.Nancy Crowther announced that Meredith Highsmith will be discussing service changes for the January subcommittee meeting.
Chair Watford announced that the bulk of the March meeting will be taken up with the discussion of the by-laws and the presentation on the bus cams on vehicles.
- Adjournment:
Cathi Schumacher moved and Jane Lansaw seconded a motion to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Ward
Access Secretary
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
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