Access meetings Minutes
Members Present: Shelly Brisbin, Jerry Doran, Randall L. Glock and Robert Raines. Members absent: Scott Meyer and Juan Munoz.
Capital Metro Staff Present: Nancy Crowther, Fred Gilliam, Denise Guerrero and Jan Johnson
Guest(s) Present: Julie Maloukis, Mark Thompson (Scott Meyer's Proxy), Audley Blackburn, Kathy Blackburn, Christine Guevara and Michael Zitz-Evancih.
All decisions are voted upon and all votes are unanimous unless stated otherwise.
The meeting was called to order at 5:09 PM. Attendance was noted. A quorum was present.
Minutes: The minutes of the August 4, 2004 ACCESS Advisory Committee were approved as written.
Citizen Communication: Audley Blackburn. Mr. Blackburn stated that increasing STS scheduling difficulties, late pickups, etc. are generating many complaints right now and creating bad feelings toward Capital Metro in the community. He emphasized that it's important to note that these bad feelings tend to hurt any program, such as All Systems Go, that Capital Metro is attempting to promote.
Special Guest: Fred Gilliam. Chairperson Shelly Brisbin welcomed Fred Gilliam, President and CEO of Capital Metro. Mr. Gilliam began by acknowledging Mr. Blackburn's statements as an important point to remember.
Mr. Gilliam stated, "We have what we have." STS has larger vehicles that it needs and has what appear to be large, fairly empty buses on the streets but we have to deal with what we have and work toward what we need. He also said, "We need to give proper priority to demand." STS needs to provide service where it's needed. It needs to work toward more efficient service with respect to late cancellations and no-shows and meet the needs of expanded ridership with added capacity.
Mr. Gilliam responded to the following questions:
- Please describe the funding package for All Systems Go. Are the federal funds guaranteed?
- STS currently faces the need to prioritize and streamline services, and large areas of the Capital Metro service area have little or no fixed-route service. What impact will All Systems Go have on existing Capital Metro services, especially for disabled customers?
- We believe that the success of the commuter rail component of All Systems Go is dependent upon availability and accessibility-accessibility for all citizens, to employers, services, shopping and residential areas. What hours, and how often, will All systems Go trains operate, and will the service disrupt existing freight traffic?
- What, if any, plans does Capital Metro have to interface with or serve Round Rock? Are there any plans for a shuttle service to the Round Rock Express baseball games?
- How will All Systems Go benefit the disabled population as a whole, the majority of whom are already settled in homes and do not have resources to relocate to be near the train?
- I live in an outlying area serviced by the new commuter rail or one of the super express route buses. I work in downtown Austin but my children attend daycare and school near my home. If I take the rail or express bus to work and the school calls to say that my child is sick, how fast will I be able to get back to my child? Can I depend on the All Systems Go plan to get me there quickly?
- Many citizens have recently voiced interest in an expansion of the All Systems Go services to their neighborhoods and activity centers. How quickly after the implementation of the initial commuter rail line will it be possible to extend it, and are such extensions on the drawing board?
Subcommittee Reports:
- STS Subcommittee. Jerry Doran gave the report on behalf of Juan Munoz. The subcommittee met on Wednesday, August 24, 2004. The main topic was the cancellation policy. While members are in agreement that the policy should be changed from a 1 hour to a 2 hour required cancellation time, there was considerable disagreement about how to handle policy violations.
Currently riders are allowed four violations per month and are billed $1.20 for each additional violation. Jan Johnson stated that this is more trouble than it's worth and STS wants to move away from the billing and collection business. Each late cancellation or no show costs STS approximately $16 and it prevents another potential rider from being scheduled.
Members felt that changing the policy will not really help unless STS enforces a significant deterrent. Some felt that riders should be billed at $16 per violation while others felt that riders should be penalized via suspension of service or a reduced number of rides. One suggestion was to allow riders to continue rides to work and/or medical appointments but to suspend all other rides.
John Anciria noted that we need to be careful to consider what ADA will and will not allow. It was noted that ADA will allow STS to bill or to suspend service. However, ADA does not allow STS to prioritize rides - to give higher priority to riders going to work or medical appointments than to other places.
Discussion was tabled pending additional information.
- Fixed Route ADA Subcommittee: Julie Maloukis gave the report. The subcommittee met on Wednesday, August 24, 2004. Accessible bus stops were addressed.
South First Street at Ditmar. Juan Munoz reported that there is no sidewalk at this stop and drivers are letting people using wheelchairs off in the grass. He asked if drivers could be asked to let people in wheelchairs off in the 7-Eleven driveway (about 10 feet north of the stop) or on the side of the road in the intersection (about 3 feet south of the stop). Nancy Crowther referred this to Roberto Gonzales and it has been determined that Capital Metro will install a sidewalk at the stop. In the meantime, drivers have been alerted to disboard wheelchairs in the 7-Eleven drive.
Criss Cole Rehab Center. Mark Thompson reported that citizens have "beautified" the stop with an assortment of bushes and plants. The bushes attract bumble bees. They have also made the stop inaccessible to people with visual impairments who attend the Criss Cole Center and frequent the stop. At least one person has been harmed by the bushes and/or the bumble bees. A Capital Metro employee was sent to take care of the problem but did not finish due to an apparent confrontation with the person who planted the bushes. Nancy Crowther referred this to Roberto Gonzales. Roberto will visit the stop to address the problem.
Wheelchair Fitness Center. Julie Maloukis gave a report on behalf of Chase Bearden, an employee of the Wheelchair Fitness Center who uses a wheelchair. The bus stop in front of the center (IH 35 Frontage at Hancock Center) is inaccessible to most people using wheelchairs. The bus lets people on and off onto a raised median but there is no curb cut. People using wheelchairs must "jump" the curb to get on and off the median.
This item has been addressed by the committee two times previously. Capital Metro determined that a curb cut is needed and addressed the property owner. The property owner agreed to do the work and Capital Metro agreed to pay for it. However, the property owner decided it would be more work than originally deemed and the curb cut is in limbo. In the meantime, numerous individuals using wheelchairs are unable to safely negotiate the bus stop that serves the Wheelchair Fitness Center. Nancy Crowther has referred the matter to Roberto Gonzales once again and hopefully Capital Metro can expedite the curb cut.
Fare Box Demonstration: The fare box demonstration has been delayed. Instead, the demonstration will occur at the next Fixed Route Subcommittee Meeting. Nancy Crowther reported that the new fare boxes have been up and running on all buses since August 23, 2004. For the most part, they are working well. However, there is a problem with the smart card technology software that will operate the new mobility impaired cards and a solution is being sought.
Chair Report: Shelly Brisbin
- New ACCESS Members. Shelly Brisbin noted that there are four ACCESS committee member vacancies that need to be filled for term beginning with the November meeting. Committee members were asked to make recommendations. Nancy Crowther will also distribute information about the vacancy. Applicants will need to submit a completed application to Nancy Crowther by Friday, October 1, 2004 at 5:00 p.m. Applicants will be interviewed by a Selection Committee consisting of Shelly Brisbin, Randall L. Glock and two past chairs of MISAC.
- Board Report. Shelly attended the August 30 Board meeting where the All Systems Go Long Range Plan was adopted and the referendum was voted upon.
- Announcement. The next subcommittee meeting will be on September 22, 2004, the fourth Wednesday of the month and not the last Wednesday of the month.
Any future agenda items should be submitted to Shelly Brisbin.
Next Access Advisory Committee Meetings: October 6, 2004
Next subcommittee meetings: September 22, 2004
Capital Metro and/or the chairperson will communicate any changes to upcoming meetings via e-mail.
Respectfully submitted by
Julie Maloukis (on behalf of Scott Meyer)
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
2910 East 5th Street | Austin, Texas 78702 | (512) 389-7400
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