| DATE: | October 5, 2004 |
| TIME: | 6:00 P.M. |
| LOCATION: | Capital Metro 323 Congress 1st Floor |
| Members: | Dr. Bob Harkins, David Patterson, Mike Waddles, BJ Taylor, Verona Thornton |
| Staff: | Barbara Chavis, Roberta Gonzalez, Lamont Ross and Sandra Maggitt |
| Visitor: | Jesse Chapa, UT |
- Meeting was called to order at 6:15 pm by Dr. Harkins and followed by introduction of members and CMTA staff.
- Minutes tabled, quorum not in attendance.
- Adopt-a-Stop Guidelines - Lamont Ross
- January 2005 Service Change - Roberto Gonzalez
Lamont presented a hand-out on the Adopt-a-Stop program Outline which answered questions regarding the program. Capital Metro rolled the program out on a small pilot basis for a couple of reasons. First, they were uncertain what the stops demand and what the time would be for the program. One of the main objectives in the program is for the neighborhood association or any organization that would want to adopt a particular stop to help out with making sure the stop is clean, to notify Capital Metro of graffiti, and possibly do some type of landscaping or anything that would add the neighborhood touch to the stop. Capital Metro modeled the program after doing benchmarking and looking at Via and a program in Denver as well as other places. Another reason the program is on a small scale is due to the Referendum on November 2nd. The community involvement team has been doing a lot of presentations in association with the All Systems Go Long Range Transit Plan. The community involvement team wanted to make sure that once there was a full rollout, they would be able to manage the program and that it was successful. The program is designed so that the people on the community involvement team build a better relationship with the members of the community that it serves. When a neighborhood adopts a stop, the particular community involvement person for that area will be their point of contact.
Signs have been developed for the Adopt-a-Stop Program. When a stop is adopted, the sign, with the name of the adopting organization, will be placed on the pole with the bus stop sign. Verona asked if there would be a telephone contact number placed on the sign just in case someone sees problems regarding stops. Lamont stated that they would be coordinating with the Customer Service staff to make sure they are aware of the correct person to refer Adopt-a-Stop questions. Verona stated that what she was referring to is that if someone was standing at a bus stop and there is an organization responsible for keeping that particular bus stop clean, could that person call the neighborhood organization directly or would they have to go through Capital Metro. Lamont stated that they would probably let the organization decide how they would want that handled because some people could be leery about putting up their phone numbers. Capital Metro would probably have the calls going into the call center and work with the organization on rerouting the calls.
BJ asked the cost to the organization that wants to adopt a stop. Lamont stated that there is no cost from the organization to Capital Metro. If the organization wants to do planning, etc, they would have to cover the cost of material.
BJ asked if there is an intersection with three stops, would the neighborhood association do all three or would they do one. Lamont stated that it would be up to the neighborhood association regarding how much they would want to take on. Some of the larger neighborhood associations are ready to adopt four or five stops. The smaller neighborhood associations may want to concentrate on one stop. Once Capital Metro does a full rollout, they will be working with business owners to encourage them to elaborate Adopt-a-Stops together. For example, there is a stop on Rutherford and Furness that Hart Elementary would like to adopt. They would also like to work with the Heritage Neighborhood Association and Wal-Mart. Capital Metro would be talking with some of the major businesses in those corridors to encourage them to participate whether it is donating trash bags or items for landscaping.
Dr. Harkins asked what CMTA was doing for advertising and getting the word out. Lamont stated that an ad ran in the article "On the Move" and also will be putting information on the website. When attending different neighborhood association meeting it is mention that there is an Adopt-a-Stop Program at Capital Metro.
Roberto presented a handout on the January 2005 Service Change. Capital Metro is proposing minor changes for this service change. August Service Changes are the peak periods. Beginning next year and the year after, Capital Metro will be opening new park and ride facilities and transfer centers which will require major changes to the system.
The handout indicated the routes that are being looked at for minor schedule changes. Information from the automatic passenger counters is used to find out how many people are boarding and de-boarding at each stop and the length of time it takes to get between each time point. This will allow Capital Metro to determine what adjustments are needed. In addition, there is a staff of people that are regularly, either on buses or at strategic points in the community, that perform point checks on how well operators are adhering to the schedules. These reports are done each month. More than 3,000 samples are collected on all routes over the course of each month. These samples are also used to determine what adjustments are needed. When this program was started two years ago, the system was operating less than 70% on time. Through different series of changes over the course of the past 2 to 3 years, the system has improved itself to a near 90% on time performance.
Jesse asked how successful it would be to get ridership information for bus routes around certain areas. Roberto stated that the information can be obtained by contacting either his staff or himself. The information can be ridership by bus stop, route, direction or time. He stated that more detailed information can be gathered because of the improved technology aboard buses. The information is collected via the new software. Jesse asked if this included the UT routes. Roberto stated that the UT Shuttle system is done a couple of ways. These routes have the automatic passenger counters that are randomly assigned in which information is collected. This is a process in getting this information because it takes a processing period to be able to look at all the information. Once you get the information, you have to look at it and sample it. If the UT system had a fare box it would automatically be done everyday. There is no need for fare box on the UT system because the students have already paid for their services and it is only a matter of them boarding the bus. Jesse stated that the accountability makes it hard for what's going in and out and if the routes are performing the way they should. Roberto stated that Dr. Harkins often sits down with Capital Metro to look at the reports to determine the best decisions. Sometimes it is not a black and white issue, it's a gray issue. The ridership may not be there, there are other reasons to keep the services out later in the evenings or during different periods. Over the course of the next year, Capital Metro will be looking at how to better integrate the Capital Metro Fixed Route System with the UT system. This should be a schedule that should be a little more work in unison in order to conserve resources on both sides to make it work a little better for the students.
David asked if the service changes had been approved by the Board. Roberto stated that this is a good point. Since the changes are minor in nature in terms of looking at schedule adjustments, Capital Metro went through a minimum process of alerting the public via passenger notices and the website. There were also public meetings. The Board asked to know the exact specifics that were to change on the schedule. This information was not able to be given to the Board because the Planning Department could not tell you if a time would move from 6:00 to 6:05. There were adjustments that needed to be made according to what was seen reported by passengers and checks that were done. What they attempted to do was minimize the disruptions to the existing schedules. For example, if it takes ten minutes to get from one point to the next, it might take nine minutes during the evenings versus ten and during peak times it might take eleven minutes. The Planning Department assured the Board that they would look and make all efforts to ensure that they could maintain the approximate same frequencies. If the buses are running every 20 minutes then they would continue to run 20 minutes. If it looks as if the time would change to every 25 minutes because of traffic, etc, Planning would have to go back and decide. This would be taken to the public to inform them of the possible change.
David asked if the schedule was still fluent and if the #7 had added service to Greyhound. Robert stated that it was and that decisions had not been made regarding Greyhound.
David asked to know the rationale of not being able to board an inbound 900 series bus at 38th and Lamar. Roberto stated that you could board at 38th and Lamar. He further explained that approximately a year also, there was a procedure put in place on the inbound express buses that would avoid delays for anyone trying to travel into town. What was found is that people were boarding express routes a matter of a couple of blocks. What Capital Metro decided to do was implement a policy that was published both in schedule books and on operator's paddles. Once this bus arrived in the UT area going southbound, they would not be boarding anyone for approximately the next 20 blocks. This would flash on the buses so that people are aware of the policy.
Another thing that is unique about the express routes is that once it passes a certain time points, the buses have instructions that would allow them to travel as fast as they can with safety so that they will be able to arrive at their park and rides, and keep going if needed. The instructions are listed on the schedules books, pamphlets and other material provided. The passengers are aware that park and ride times are anticipated arrival times.
BJ stated that she could understand this for a regular rider but suppose there is a first time rider who is expecting that bus to be parked at a certain time and doesn't get to the park and ride before the bus leaves and have to wait another period of time. How would Capital Metro adjust for that? Roberto stated that the likelihood of this would only happen at the Pavilion and Northwest Park & Rides. He stated that there are special instructions in the schedule books regarding the express routes.
New/Other Business:
Verona asked about the traffic lights that were to be placed at Loyola Lane and Colony Park. Roberto stated that the City has not approved lights in that area. Verona stated that that were told in their neighborhood meeting that there would be 2 to 3 lights put in this area. Roberto recommended that she contact Ali.Modzabar@ci.austin.tx.us, Chief Engineer for Traffic Systems. He stated that either Ali Modzabar or his staff could assist her. She stated that she was very please to see that shelters were placed in the Colony Park/Loyola area.
Dr. Harkins asked Roberto to go over the stop locations for the All Systems Go Commuter Rail Program. Roberto stated that the proposed stops are:
Leander Park & Ride - City of Leander is looking to develop a downtown core area
Northwest Park & Ride - rail already next to this facility
Howard Lane/McNeil Area - employment sectors in this area
Gateway/Braker Lane Area - Pickle Research Center and industrial area
Lamar & Airport - link core routes (#1 & #101)
Highland Mall - major transfer point and hub for commercial activity
MLKManor Area - future plans to develop land in this area and vital link to transport people to the North parts of downtown and UT area
Saltillo Plaza - plans to revitalize this area which is on the rail line
Convention Center - proposed as the West side of IH 35
Verona asked to know what Capital Metro is planning to do about Manor. She stated that there are a lot of development in this area and no transportation. Roberto stated that when the first interaction of the plan was brought out, there were only a few lines. There are a lot more lines now than in the original proposal. There are now additional Green and Purple Lines and Rail Lines. The Purple Line is for Express and Local Bus Service and the Green Line is for Rapid Bus. The Rapid Bus is different from the local bus service because it is limited stop service and a little faster than the limited #101 service because it will look to integrate traffic signal technology with improved bus stop and improved vehicles.
Groups from Manor and Elgin attended some of the Open House Sessions and talked the growth development in their area. They wanted to know what could be done and how could the plan be adapted to look at people in Manor, Dripping Springs, Lakeway and other north areas. The plan was revised to look at future possibilities that will connect Manor and provide a lateral move between the suburbs. There is a plan to include Express Buses in the Purple Line to enhance what is already there.
Subcommittee Reports -
- Rapid Transit Subcommittee - Carl Tepper - No Report
- Amenities Subcommittee - David Patterson - David stated that he stands partially corrected when looking at 23rd and San Jacinto. What he noticed is that on Parker Lane there are four shelters in a row. Burton Drive(BD) and Parker Lane(PL) are completely without shelters. Dr. Harkins stated that UT is working with Capital Metro tin terms of where they want to put shelters. They are trying to make sure that when they ask Capital Metro to put in shelters, they will be in places that the shelters will remain. There is no guarantee that the buses will remain in service.
- Technology Subcommittee - Richard Greenwalt - No Report
- Fixed Routes Subcommittee - Jerry Balaka- No Report
- By-law changes - Tepper/Barrera - No Report
- CSAC Membership - Rene' Barrera - No Report
Action Items:
Handouts that provide a detailed layout of Park & Rides - Maps of where they are and sequential line drawing and terms of when they are going to be phased (Roberto Gonzalez)
Future Agenda Items:
- Carts Presentation
- Amenities Standard Update - Rob Smith
- Membership
- Park and Ride - New vision and upgrades - Rob Smith
- Transit Education
- Web Site
Meeting adjourned at 7:02 PM.
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
2910 East 5th Street | Austin, Texas 78702 | (512) 389-7400
Specific Route Information | (512) 474-1200 | (800) 474-1201