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[2. Technical Advisory Committee Reports]
WELCOME EVERYONE.THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THE MEETING OF THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
I WILL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER TODAY'S WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23RD.
AS A REMINDER, THE ALLSTON TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP PROVIDES BOTH AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE AND OTHER INTERPRETER SERVICES.
AND WE REQUEST 24 HOUR ADVANCED NOTICE, PLEASE, IN THE FUTURE, IF YOU NEED TO CONTACT OUR BOARD LIAISON, CHLOE MAXWELL, HER CONTACT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE IN EACH AGENDA POSTING.
I UNDERSTAND THAT TODAY WE DON'T HAVE ANY SPEAKERS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, SO WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.
AND SO WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS. OUR FIRST ITEM TODAY IS THE ATP TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT.
AND I'LL BE ABLE TO SHARE THIS TODAY WITH ALL OF YOU.
WE HAD 25 PEOPLE ATTENDING THE MEETING AND OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
WE HAD KAREN BONDI, CATHERINE BROUGHT WATER FROM THE CAC LYNDON HENRY, FRANK KITTREDGE, DAVID BOGEYMAN, AND FRANK VELEZ, OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, GINA FIE, AND DACA AND MYSELF.
THE PRIMARY AGENDA ITEMS. WE COVER THREE, WHICH WERE THE ORANGE AND BLUE LINE, 30% DESIGN DECISION MAKING PROCESS.
THE 2022 SCHEDULE UPCOMING COMMUNITY DESIGN WORKSHOPS.
A BRIEF RECAP ON THE TRI-PARTY WORK SESSION THAT TOOK PLACE ON MARCH THE SECOND.
UM, THE UPDATE ON THE LIGHT RAIL VEHICLE DESIGN DISCUSSIONS AND ADVANCEMENT, AND WE HAD OTHER UPDATES AS FOLLOWS THE METRO RAPID BUS SHELTER, DESIGN EVOLUTION, AND PROCUREMENT BLUELINE BRIDGE, A LADY BIRD LAKE, AND THE FOURTH STREET DESIGN.
OUR COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS.
THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSED THE PROCESS OF HOW WE GET TO THE FULL FUNDING GRANT AGREEMENT FROM THE FDA IN THE SUMMER OF 2024.
THIS REQUIRES THAT THE 30% DESIGN IS FINISHED BY THE FALL OF 2022.
THE EAC COMMITTEE WILL PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARDS, THE CITY COUNCIL COMMISSIONS, AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE ON THE PROS AND CONS OF EACH OF THESE CHOICES WHILE REVIEWING THE PARTS OF THE ALIGNMENT THAT ARE UNDECIDED.
I NACY MEMBER ASKED WHY THE TUNNEL HAS LESS CHOICES.
AND THIS IS BECAUSE THERE ARE KEY DRIVING FACTORS THAT MAY BE OUT OF OUR CONTROL, SUCH AS THE POTENTIAL CONFLICTS WITH THE FLOOD AREAS OR THE CAPITOL VIEW CORRIDOR.
THESE ELEMENTS CONTINUE TO BE STUDIED FURTHER AND WILL IMPACT THE FINAL DESIGN, THE LENGTH, AND ULTIMATELY THE COST OF THE TUNNEL INVESTMENT.
THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSED THE VEHICLES WE WANT TO PROCURE FOR OUR PROJECT.
THESE ARE SERVICE PROVEN, BUT NOT READILY READILY AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND WE NEED TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH BY AMERICA CRITERIA STIPULATED IN THE FEDERAL GRANTS.
IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY THAT ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLES CAN REACH SPEEDS OF 55 MILES PER HOUR, THERE WILL NOT BE GOING TO SPEEDS THIS PARTICULAR SPEED DOWNTOWN OR NOR REAL RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
IN REGARD TO THE METRO RAPID STATIONS, THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSED THE IMPROVED DESIGN TO IMPROVE MORE, TO PROVIDE MORE COVER FROM THE ELEMENTS FROM THE RAIN, THE SUN AND THE WIND, AS WELL AS THE MODULARITY OPPORTUNITY OF THE SHELTERS TO BE SIZED.
ACCORDING TO THE IMMEDIATE CONTEXT, THE SELECTED FROM BY CAPITAL METRO, THEY CHOSE A TEAM THAT HAD IN-HOUSE DESIGNERS THAT COULD REFINE THE DESIGN.
AND THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ON MATERIAL DURABILITY AND EASE OF MAINTENANCE, WHICH IS A GRAFFITI REMOVAL.
THE SHELTER ARCHITECTURE OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INSTALL PUBLIC ART IN SELECT LOCATIONS, THROUGH THE WIND SCREEN PANELS, THE REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION FOR THE FOLLOWING MEETINGS, THE COMMITTEE, AS THEY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT THE CURRENT THINKING FOR THE PLEASANT VALLEY RIVERSIDE INTERSECTION, THE PROS AND CONS OF EACH OPTION WILL BE DEVELOPED FOR THE KEY AREAS PRESENTED THAT WERE PRESENTED AT THE MARCH 2ND TRI-PARTY MEETING AND A MORE DETAILED DISCUSSION ON THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS FOR RAIL VEHICLES WAS REQUESTED.
OUR FUTURE MEETING TOPICS WILL BE THE BLUE LINE BRIDGE AND THE PLEASANT VALLEY AND RIVERSIDE INTERSECTIONS.
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SO NOW LIKE TO MOVE ON TO DR.THE, THIS IS A MEETING SUMMARY OF THE P SEC PLANNING, SUSTAINABILITY EQUITY AND DV COMMITTEE THAT MET ON MARCH 3RD, 2022.
THE TWO PRIMARY AGENDA ITEMS WERE A CONTINUING DISCUSSION ABOUT THE EQUITY GOALS, UPDATES ON THE EQUITY GOALS AND METRICS FOR PROJECT CONNECT AND A DISCUSSION ON THE UPCOMING LET'S TALK PROJECT CONNECT COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS THAT WILL BE OCCURRING ON MARCH 29TH.
AND THE 31ST, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION FOCUSED ON AN OVERVIEW OF EQUITY TOPICS THAT ARE RELATED TO THE PROJECT TO PROJECT CONNECT AND HOW THE PUBLIC VIEWS, THESE TOPICS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MEETING THE PUBLIC.
UM, THE IMPORTANCE OF MEETING AND ENGAGING THE PUBLIC PSX SUGGESTED SHOWING THE TRADE-OFFS THROUGH PROGRAM EQUITY AND A MORE MEANINGFUL WAY.
FOR EXAMPLE, LOSING PARKING SPOTS IN ONE AREA, GAINING SIDEWALKS AND BUS LANES, LOOKING AT IT IN ITS TOTALITY.
THE COMMITTEE ASKED TO INCLUDE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND ATP PROCUREMENT PRACTICES AS AN EQUITY TOPIC.
THE, UM, PIECE OF GOSS'S SUGGESTED THAT WE, AS AN ATP, CONTINUE TO FIND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC.
UM, AS WE APPROACH THE LET'S TALK PROJECT, CONNECT ME COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS, ET CETERA, THEY SUGGESTED, FOR EXAMPLE, CLARIFYING THE LANGUAGE AROUND NEPA.
AND SO THAT WE'RE VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THOSE THINGS MEAN.
THE MEMBERS EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN HELPING THE ATP STAFF DEVELOP METRICS FOR THE PROGRAM EQUITY.
THERE WERE REQUESTS FOR MORE INFORMATION, FOR EXAMPLE, HOW DO WE FIND THE GAPS BETWEEN APPRAISE PROPERTY VALUE AND WHAT THE BUSINESS WILL ACTUALLY NEED IN POTENTIAL RELOCATIONS? UM, WITH NEXT STEPS BEING THE COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE NEPA LANGUAGE IN ADVANCE OF THE LET'S TALK PROJECT CONNECT MEETINGS TO PROVIDE THEIR FEEDBACK.
AND THEN THE FINAL NEXT STEP THAT WAS, UM, CAPTURE WAS ATP CAP METRO AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP EQUITY GOALS AND STAFF WILL RETURN TOGETHER FEEDBACK FROM P SECOND AND ONGOING WAY.
SO OUR THIRD DISCUSSION ITEM, UM, THERE WE GO.
THE FINANCE AND RISK COMMITTEE MEETS QUARTERLY, BUT, UM, BOARD MEMBER ELKINS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE A REPORT? UH, WE HAVE NOT MET WE'RE MEETING I THINK ANOTHER MONTH.
BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY DISCUSSION IDEAS? I HAVE, UH, IF I COULD, MADAME CHAIR, I HAVE A COMMENT AND A REQUEST THAT I'D LIKE TO MAKE IF I COULD.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS UPDATED COST ESTIMATES FOR PROJECT CONNECT SINCE LAST SUMMER MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, MEMBERS OF ATPS FINANCE AND RISK COMMITTEE, AND OTHER CONSTITUENTS HAVE REPEATEDLY ASKED ATP FOR UPDATED COST ESTIMATES TO BE DISCLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.
THE MAYOR PUBLICLY STATED EARLIER THIS MONTH AT THE TRI-PARTY MEETING.
AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH HIM THAT WE NEED TO BE DISCUSSING THE COST OF THIS PROGRAM IN THE CONTEXT OF CHOICES.
HE STATED WE HAVE A VOID ON COST AND WE CAN'T WAIT UNTIL AUGUST, 2022 TO DISCLOSE THE UPDATED COSTS.
I'LL READ A QUOTE FROM ONE OF THE EMAILS I'VE RECEIVED FROM A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF AUSTIN'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
ONE OF THE SELLING POINTS TO VOTERS OF PROJECT CONNECT WAS FULL TRANSPARENCY.
AND IF IN FACT DECISIONS WILL BE MADE ON DESIGN SERVICE, ET CETERA, I WOULD LIKE THE PUBLIC.
AND FOR THAT MATTER BOARD MEMBERS AND ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS, MAKING THE DECISIONS TO HAVE AMPLE TIME TO STUDY AND UNDERSTAND THE UPDATED COST ESTIMATES, ATPS FIRST GUIDING PRINCIPLE IS TRANSPARENCY AND DISCLOSURE FOR DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION.
LET'S TALK WHAT TRANSPARENCY MEANS AND WHERE I BELIEVE WE HAVE FUNDAMENTAL DISCONNECT.
TRANSPARENCY MEANS DISCLOSING TO THE BOARD.
AND IN THIS CASE, THE PUBLIC, WHEN STAFF IS FIRST AWARE OF A MATERIAL OF PROGRAM RISKS, SUCH AS PROGRAM COST, ESCALATION BUSES ON THE BLUE LINE BRIDGE THE TUNNEL ON SOUTH CONGRESS, HAVING TO BE EXTENDED DUE TO THE CAPITOL VIEW CORRIDOR RESTRICTIONS, ORANGE LINE TUNNEL ON TO LADY BIRD, LAKE CAPITAL METRO'S DECISION TO PURCHASE ELECTRIC BUSES THAT I BELIEVE WILL INCREASE ATM'S OWEN O AND M COST SIGNIFICANTLY.
THESE FIVE TOPICS AND OTHERS ARE ONES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN BOUGHT, BROUGHT TO THIS BOARD'S ATTENTION EARLY ON.
TRANSPARENCY MEANS NOT WAITING UNTIL MANY OF THE UNKNOWNS ARE KNOWN AND PRESENTING IT TO THE BOARD.
MANY MONTHS LATER, WHEN A DECISION IS NOW PREDETERMINED, IT IS REQUESTING THE BOARD TO WEIGH IN AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON HOW BEST TO NAVIGATE A PARTICULAR RISK.
TRANSPARENCY IS AN AREA THAT NEEDS SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT, NOT JUST
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FOR WHERE I SAID, BUT IN DIRECT FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO IN THE FORTHCOMING EMAIL REPORT AS LISTED ON PAGE 35, IN THAT SPIRIT, I'M SUBMITTING THE FOLLOWING FORMAL REQUEST TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CLARK I TONY ELKINS, A MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN TRANS REPORT PARTNERSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS REQUEST ATP'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO PRODUCE COST ESTIMATES BY MAJOR PROGRAM COMPONENT THAT WERE DELIVERED TO ATP STAFF FROM HDR ATPS PROGRAM MANAGER IN MID 2021 AT THE 15% DESIGN LEVEL FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES, COST SHALL BE PROVIDED BASED ON THE AUGUST, 2020 PRE VOTE ESTIMATES WITH EXPLANATIONS FOR SIGNIFICANT VARIANCES.IN ADDITION, I REQUEST CURRENT OSS, CURRENT COST ESTIMATES SHOWN BY OPTION TYPE BASE CASE AND ALTERNATIVE FOR EACH OF THE DESIGN TOPICS IN PROGRESS THAT WERE LISTED IN THE MARCH 2ND, 2022 TRI-PARTY PRESENTATION ON PAGE 18, THE ABOVE INFORMATION WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON OR BEFORE APRIL 13TH.
IF THIS REQUESTED IS NOT ACTED UPON, THEN I WILL PROPOSE A FORMAL BOARD RESOLUTION AT THE APRIL 20TH BOARD MEETING.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE FROM THE BOARD? YES, MAY RATHER.
I APPRECIATE, UM, MY COLLEAGUE, UH, UH, CONTINUED LEADERSHIP ON THE QUESTION OF TRANSPARENCY, UH, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S REAL IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE TRANSPARENT IN WHAT WE'RE DOING.
UH, AND I APPRECIATE THE CALL FOR THAT.
UM, MY SENSE IS IS THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT ALL THE BOARDS, ALL THREE BOARDS WORKING TOGETHER WANTED TO REALLY FOCUS ON.
UH, AND, UM, I KNOW THAT YOU WEREN'T HERE FOR THE MEETING WE HAD IN, IN THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH.
I UNDERSTAND YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT AS IT'S AVAILABLE TO THE, TO THE PUBLIC.
UH, AND I, AND I WOULD URGE, UH, FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY TO, TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PUBLIC, UH, UH, INFORMATION MEETINGS WITH RESPECT TO THE, THE REAL POINTS, THE BIG POINTS OF THAT, THAT ARE GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR US TO DECIDE, UH, AND THAT THOSE, UH, PUBLIC MEETINGS ARE GOING TO BE LAID OUT OVER THE COURSE OF APRIL.
I DON'T HAVE MY PRESENTATION, I THINK IT'S APRIL AND MAYBE INTO, INTO MAY.
UH, AND, AND I THINK THAT THE APPROPRIATE NUMBERS TO LAY OUT AT THAT POINT WILL BE THE BEST NUMBERS WE HAVE AT THAT POINT.
UH, WE'RE SO CLOSE TO, I THINK HAVING, UH, AT LEAST SOME, UH, OTHER INDICATIONS OF NUMBERS, I, I, FOR ONE, I'M COMFORTABLE HAVING THOSE NUMBERS COME OUT, UH, TOGETHER WITH ALL THE OTHER P PIECES THAT I THINK ARE NECESSARY FOR TRANSPORTATION.
UH, FIRST TRANSPARENCY RATHER, UH, AND I'M COMFORTABLE WITH IT COMING OUT AT THE, AT THOSE PUBLIC, UH, HEARINGS SO THAT WE CAN SEE IT SO THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN SEE IT.
UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF REALLY DIFFICULT CHOICES WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE.
AND A LOT OF CONSIDERATIONS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, UM, COST, UH, PHYSICAL ABILITY, UM, UM, HOW STATICS, UH, FUNCTIONALITY, UH, OPERATIONS, UH, AND, AND I THINK IT'S JUST REAL IMPORTANT WHEN THE COMMUNITY IS LOOKING AT THESE THINGS IN, IN APRIL AND MAY, UH, THAT, UH, WE'RE GONNA LAY OUT, UH, FOR THEM, THE STAFFS TOGETHER, UH, ALL THE FACTORS THAT ARE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS IN THOSE AREAS AND I'M COMFORTABLE FOR COMING OUT THAT WAY.
I THINK THAT'S, FOR ME, THAT'S THE BEST CONTEXT FOR THAT.
UH, AND SINCE ALL THOSE THINGS IMPACT EACH OTHER, I WANT, I WANT TO SEE THEM ALL.
AND THEN PROBABLY AT THE SAME TIME SO THAT I CAN, CAN, CAN, CAN, CAN ASSESS THEM.
UM, UM, BUT, UH, I'D REALLY DO APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES PUSH FOR TRANSPARENCY AND FOR DISCLOSURES.
AND I THINK THAT'S, UH, ONE OF HIS LEADERSHIP, I THINK IT WAS ONE OF THE PRECIPITATING CAUSES OF THE MEETING THAT WE HAD THE FIRST WEEK IN MARCH.
AND I LEFT THAT AS I THINK MANY PEOPLE DID REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE PROCESS WE HAVE GOING FORWARD.
MA'AM I JUST WANT TO SAY WE ACTUALLY DID NOT POST FOR THIS ITEM, SO TECHNICALLY WE PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT ON THE DYESS, BUT IF WE WANT TO POST IT FOR THE NEXT MEETING, I CAN DO SO.
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UM, I APPRECIATE IT.[3. Executive Director Report]
MOVING ON TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT, MR. RANDY CLARK.UH, I'M GONNA MAKE MY COMMENTS ABOUT, UH, REALLY ABOUT OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS, UH, IN, IN THIS BOARD MEETING.
SO TWO THINGS I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ONE WOULD BE, UM, TWO WEEKENDS AGO, WE WERE AT THE APTA LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE, AND THAT IS THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF APTA WHERE, UH, REALLY TALK ABOUT LEGISLATIVE POLICY AND THINGS RELATED TO, UH, APPROPRIATIONS AND TRYING TO GET THE MOST, UH, FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR, UH, OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS.
AND SO IT WAS A REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION AT THE TOP.
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT ERICA MAZA, WHO IS OUR VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AT CAPITAL METRO.
WHO'S WORKING THROUGH OUR FEDERAL STRATEGY.
SHE ACTUALLY IS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE LEDGE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT COMMITTEE IN THE, UH, APTA IN, IN, IN THE INDUSTRY.
AND SHE, UH, IS PROVIDING A LOT OF LEADERSHIP THERE.
SO WE'RE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE HER, UM, IN THAT ROLE.
UM, SHE ALSO HELPED LEAD A BIG WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PANEL OR WITH A LOT OF INDUSTRY LEADERS.
AND WHAT THE HIGHLIGHT THAT AT THAT, AT THAT, UH, VISIT, UH, COVENTRY BOARD CHAIR, JEFF TOURBILLION, AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH A FEW MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND OUR DELEGATION.
SO I WENT TO HIGHLIGHT, WE HAD A GREAT CHANCE TO MEET WITH SENATOR CORNYN, THANKED HIM FOR HIS RECENT SUPPORT OF THE APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
THAT'D BE TWO WEEKS AGO NOW, AND THAT APPROPRIATIONS BILL ALLOWED TO GET FULL FUNDING INTO THE IAA.
I, I J A, UM, THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL TO ALLOW THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT GRANT PROGRAM TO GET THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF FUNDING EVER, UH, THAT IS NOW A NEW BASE.
AND OUR BIG EFFORT NOW WILL BE AS AN INDUSTRY AND US LOCALLY TO EXECUTE AS BEST WE CAN PROGRAM WISE OVER THE NEXT COMING YEARS TO AVOID CLAWBACKS OR RES OR POSSIBLE RESCISSIONS TO THAT PROGRAM, TO KEEP THOSE NUMBERS AT THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE LEVEL.
UH, WE ALSO HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH SOME MEMBERS OF THE, UH, THE USD OT AND JUST WE CAN KEEP THEM UPDATED ON OUR PROGRAM AND TALK ABOUT POTENTIAL FUTURE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
MOST OF THOSE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ARE MULTI-YEAR IN THE MAKING.
AND SO PART OF THIS IS CONTINUALLY JUST TOUCHING BASE WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS, TELLING THEM WHERE WE ARE, UH, JUST THAT TOUCH POINT TO REALLY LAY THE GROUNDWORK THROUGH THIS MULTI-YEAR PROCESS.
AND, UM, UH, JUST WANNA WANT IT TO HIGHLIGHT.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT MORE OF THIS, UH, WORK.
TH THIS IS KIND OF THE FEDERAL STUFF IS LIKE A MARATHON AND, UH, FOR OUR FULL FUNDING GRANT AGREEMENTS TO HAPPEN IN 2024, UH, WE'RE DOING ALL THE LEG WORK NOW TO SUCCESSFULLY DO THAT.
THE NEXT SLIDE I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, WE WERE INCREDIBLY HONORED TO HAVE SECRETARY, UH, PEOPLE TO JUDGE VISIT.
AND I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND THANK THE MAYOR.
THE MAYOR, UH, REALLY, UH, DID AN AMAZING CREATING THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AND, UH, THE SECRETARY, I THINK HAD A FANTASTIC VISIT.
MANY OF YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH, UH, THE SECRETARY.
HE, UH, CAME, RODE THE METRO RAIL, GOT A CHANCE TO MEET A LOT OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, POLICY MAKERS, BUT ALSO A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, BOTH ON THE TRANSPORTATION KINDA, UH, ADVOCACY SIDE, BUT ALSO A LOT OF OUR KEY PARTNERS, WHETHER IT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, THE CHAMBER, THE CHAMBERS IN THE AREA OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE, HE REALLY GOT TO SEE A WHOLE, ALL THE BITS AND PIECES COMING TOGETHER.
UH, THE PART THAT I THOUGHT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT, UH, ON TOP OF THAT WAS HE GOT TO SEE HOW CLOSE WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER.
AND I KNOW MAYOR, WE WERE WITH HIM, HE COMMENTED SPECIFICALLY ON HOW GREAT IT IS TO SEE, AND I THINK GINO'S, WHAT'S THE SAME TIME AS WELL.
HOW CLOSELY THE CITY CAPITOL METRO ATP ARE ALL WORKING WELL TOGETHER.
AND THEN ALSO HOW WELL WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AT TXDOT AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
SO I THINK THAT REALLY BROUGHT HOME TO HIM, HOW COORDINATED WE ALL ARE, HOW COLLEGIAL, HOW MUCH WE'RE ALL KIND OF ROWING IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
UH, WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT AUSTIN HAVING TO DO ALMOST $20 BILLION OF PUBLIC CAPITAL TRANSPORTATION WORK AND A LITTLE OVER A DECADE AND THE NUMEROUS CHALLENGES OF THAT.
UM, BUT I THINK WE REALLY LAID THE GROUNDWORK ON THAT AND ALSO THE IAA.
I, I, I, I'M HAVING A HARD TIME WITH THAT TODAY.
APOLOGIZE TO LAY A LITTLE BIT MORE LAYERS WITH THE SECRETARY ON AUSTIN'S UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL BE COMING UP.
AND WE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT GRANT PROGRAM.
SO, UH, JUST WANT TO THANK AGAIN, EVERYONE THAT WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL THE STAFF EFFORT TO PUT A VISIT LIKE THAT TOGETHER.
THE VISIT GOES QUICK, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU IT'S A, AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF WORK WHEN THE SECRETARY COMES TO TOWN.
SO THOSE ARE MY UPDATES, UH, FOR THIS MONTH.
UH, CHAIR, HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR CLARK, ANY QUESTIONS? YES.
I DO WANT TO THANK RANDY, YOUR STAFF, GINA, UH, YOUR STAFF.
UH, EVERYBODY DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF LAYING THAT OUT FOR THE, UH, FOR THE SECRETARY.
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AND HIS STAFF, WHETHER THEY GOT TIRED OF THESE AND WHETHER THEY ALL BEGAN TO LOOK THE SAME, UH, CAUSE I'VE SEEN HIM NOW IN SIDE NUMEROUS BUSES AND TRAIN CARS.AND I ASKED HIM WHETHER HE COULD ACTUALLY LOOK AT A PICTURE AND DISCERN WHAT CITY HE WAS IN, UH, FROM, FROM, FROM WHERE HE WAS.
AND HE PROBABLY SAYS THIS TO ALL OF THE MAYORS, UH, BUT HE SAID, NO, THIS ONE WAS SPECIAL.
UH, AND I KNOW FROM TALKING TO HIS ADVANCED TEAM, WHICH I THINK IS REALLY THE TRUE TEST THAT, THAT OUR STAFFS TOOK A CONSIDERABLE LOAD OFF OF THE SECRETARY STAFF AND SETTING IT UP.
YOU GUYS JUST DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF LAYING IT OUT.
THERE WERE LARGE PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT WERE THERE TO MEET WITH HIM.
UH, AND I KNOW THAT HE APPRECIATED EVERYBODY COMING OUT IN THEIR TIME.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS? I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I, IT WAS REALLY AN HONOR TO MEET SECRETARY FOOTAGES IN TOWN.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK FROM ALL THE STUFF AND HOW INSPIRING THIS VISIT WAS FOR TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE FEDERAL OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS ARE LOOKING FOR AND HOW WE'RE BUILDING MORE EQUITABLE TRANSIT SYSTEMS AROUND THE UNITED STATES AND HOW WELL WE CAN ALL PARTICIPATE IN, IN THIS TRANSFORMATIONAL AND GENERATIONAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WOULD TRANSFORM OUR CITIES.
SO IT WAS, IT WAS A LOVELY VISIT.
THANK YOU, MR. CLARK AND GINA FOR ORGANIZING AND ALL THE HEAVY LIFTING THAT TOOK PLACE AT THOSE DAYS.
AND ALSO, I LIKE TO STAY OUT OF A LITTLE BIT OUT OF SCRIPT, BUT HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYOR.
I HEARD TODAY'S YOUR BIRTHDAY, SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
UM, SO MOVING ON MADAM CHAIR, SHOULD WE SING? I'M HAPPY TO SING IF Y'ALL ARE HAPPY TO HEAR IT IN SPANISH, I'M HAPPY TO JUST SING IN SPANISH.
ON THE COUNT OF THREE, ONE, TWO, THREE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR MAE, OR HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
I WOULD RATHER BE ON MY BIRTHDAY WITH MY FRIENDS.
[4.1. Community Engagement and Involvement Update]
MOVING ON TO OUR MONTHLY PROGRAM UPDATES.UM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR COMMUNITY DIRECTOR FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, JACKIE, NIERENBERG WELCOME.
THAT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WROTE VERY SPECIFIC.
WE ALSO HAD ROTC OUR ENGINEERING, OUR PLAN, THE SUSTAINABILITY
IF YOU LOOK AT THE GRAPH ON THE SCREEN, YOU CAN SEE A PERFORATED BOX IN PURPLE WHERE, UM, THE LITTLE BLUE DIAMONDS REPRESENT THOSE MEETINGS IN, IN, UH, ON THE CALENDAR.
UM, WE'RE HAVING 12 MEETINGS COMING UP AND I'LL GO THROUGH THOSE NOW.
SO FIRST BEFORE WE DO THAT, MARCH 29TH AND 31ST, WE HAVE OUR ORANGE LINE BLUE LINE DESIGN TOPICS MEETING
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ALSO CALLED LET'S TALK PROJECT CONNECT.UM, THOSE WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE EVENING ON THE 29TH AND MIDDAY ON THE 31ST.
UM, AND AS WE ALWAYS DO, WE, UH, DO A VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE THAT STAYS LIVE FOR A MONTH SO THAT PEOPLE WHO CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN REAL TIME CAN DO SO ON THEIR OWN SCHEDULE AND VIEW THE SAME MATERIALS AND PROVIDE THEIR FEEDBACK.
SO THAT WILL BE LIVE THROUGH, UH, THROUGH APRIL.
UM, APRIL 2ND, WE'RE HAVING A, AN ALIGNMENT TOUR OF THE ORANGE AND BLUE LINES FOR OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS, BOTH THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND, UM, THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AS WELL AS CAP METRO COMMITTEE MEMBERS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN REALLY SEE FOR THEMSELVES ON THE GROUND IN REAL TIME, WHAT THESE ALIGNMENTS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
AND THE HOPE IS THAT WE CAN GET SOME GOOD FEEDBACK FROM OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS AS WE TRAVEL ALONG THOSE, UH, THOSE CORRIDORS, UM, APRIL 6TH, WE'RE HAVING A SOUTH CONGRESS WORKING GROUP, AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS SO CODE.
AND THEN ON APRIL 11TH, UH, WE'LL HAVE A CRESTVIEW STATION AREA WORKSHOP.
THAT'S BEING CO-HOSTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, LESLIE POOL, AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER, JOSE CHEETO VELA.
AND THIS, THIS ONE WILL BE A REALLY INTERESTING MEETING BECAUSE CRESTVIEW IS A VERY COMPLEX AREA WITH A LOT OF PROJECTS HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME.
AND SO WE'RE CONVENING, UM, NOT ONLY CAPITOL METRO AND THE ORANGE LINE FOLKS, BUT ALSO, UM, PRIVATE DEVELOPERS AND, UM, MEMBERS OF AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, ANYONE WHO HAS A BIG PROJECT HAPPENING AND INITIATIVE HAPPENING THERE, THERE ARE INTERDEPENDENCIES THERE.
AND, UH, WE'RE HOPING THAT THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK CAN HELP GUIDE US IN MAKING SOME DESIGN DECISIONS THAT WILL WORK FOR EVERYBODY.
UM, SO THAT'S ON APRIL 11TH, APRIL 12TH, WE'LL HAVE A SOUTH LINE WORKING GROUP MEETING.
THAT'S THE PART THAT EXTENDS BEYOND STASSNEY, UH, THE DOTTED LINE AND THAT'S FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE RAIL.
SO THAT IS BEING CLEARED FOR, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY.
UM, AND SO AS SUCH, WE WILL DO SOME OUTREACH THERE AND, AND HOLD A WORKING GROUP MEETING ON APRIL 12TH AND THEN APRIL 19TH, WE WILL HAVE THE NORTH GUADALUPE AND NORTH LAMAR WORKING GROUP MEETING.
AND THEN MOVING FORWARD, UM, APRIL 26TH, WE'LL HAVE A BLUE LINE BRIDGE MEETING AT THE LADY BIRD LAKE BRIDGE THAT SHOULD GET A LOT OF INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, MAY 3RD NORTHLINE WORKING GROUP MEETING THAT IS THE EXTENSION OF THE ORANGE LINE TO THE NORTH BEYOND NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER.
UM, WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING TO HAVE A RAIL MAINTENANCE FACILITY, COMMUNITY MEETING, OR COMBINED MAINTENANCE FACILITY, UH, MEETING, UM, IN MAY TENTATIVELY IT'S SCHEDULED.
WE STILL HAVEN'T CONFIRMED YET, BUT SHOULD HAVE A DATE FOR THAT SOON.
AND THEN MAY 18TH PLEASANT VALLEY AND EAST RIVERSIDE WORKING GROUP.
WE'RE GOING TO RECONVENE THAT WORKING GROUP.
WE HAD A REALLY ROBUST, UH, WORKING GROUP MEETING WITH, UH, COMMUNITY DESIGN WORKSHOP, UM, WITH THOSE FOLKS.
AND WE'RE GOING TO BE REVISITING ANOTHER VERY COMPLICATED AREA.
UM, MAY 24TH, WE'LL HAVE A, AN ANOTHER DRAG WORKSHOP, UM, WORKING GROUP MEETING FOR THE ORANGE LINE.
AND THEN IN JUNE WE HAVE THREE MEETINGS THAT ARE YET TO BE SCHEDULED, BUT WILL BE SOON.
ONE WILL BE THE TUNNEL TECHNOLOGY AND SUBWAY COMMUNITY MEETING.
UH, THE OTHER WILL BE AUDITORIUM SHORES, REPUBLIC SQUARE, AND GOVERNMENT CENTER STATIONS, WORKING GROUP MEETING, AND FINALLY A VEHICLE AND SYSTEMS COMMUNITY MEETING.
UM, SO THAT ONE ALSO SHOULD BE REALLY EXCITING FOR THE COMMUNITY.
EVERYBODY LOVES VEHICLES AND I'M EXCITED MYSELF TO SEE, UH, WHAT THE TEAM HAS TO PREPARE TO OFFER, UH, AT THAT MEETING.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, MS. NIERENBERG, ANY QUESTIONS? YES, JACKIE, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, THERE ARE JUST SO MANY COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU KEEP THEM ALL STRAIGHT, BUT THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING, UM, WITH ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT MEETINGS ON DIFFERENT TOPICS AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
UM, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND HOW WE'RE GETTING THIS INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC ON THESE MEETINGS? AND IF THERE WILL BE SORT OF A CENTRAL REPOSITORY FOR THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, CITY'S WEBSITE CAN POINTS TO THE ATP WEBSITE WITH LINKS ON HOW TO ACCESS THESE MEETINGS? YEAH, SO WE HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF CROSS-PROMOTION WITH OUR CITY PARTNERS, WHICH HAS BEEN FANTASTIC, UM, ALSO WITH COUNCIL MEMBER OFFICES AND, UM, A NUMBER OF ADVERTISING AND SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTIONS AS WELL, BUT SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ADDED RECENTLY AS WE'VE GOTTEN MORE COMFORTABLE BEING OUT AND ABOUT IN PERSON IS BLOCK WALKING IN THE AREAS WHERE WE'RE HAVING WORKING GROUP MEETINGS.
UM, WE DID THAT FOR THE METRO CENTER GROUP, FOR EXAMPLE, AND I THINK
[00:30:01]
THAT MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.WE SAW FOLKS PARTICIPATING THERE THAT WE HAD NOT SEEN BEFORE, AND IT'S REALLY A SIMPLE TECHNIQUE.
UM, AND SO WE'RE PLANNING TO INCORPORATE THAT INTO ALL OF OUR, UM, PROMOTION FOR ALL OF OUR MEETINGS.
SO, UM, THAT, THAT WILL, WILL BE PART OF THAT.
ALSO WE HAVE, UM, AT STOP OUTREACH PLANT, UM, WHERE APPROPRIATE.
ANY MORE, JUST A VICE-CHAIR BURNETT JACKIE GRAY WORK IS ALWAYS, HAVE YOU GIVEN ANY OTHER THOUGHT TO HAVING SOME CO-SPONSORS CO-HOSTS TO MEETINGS WITH DIFFERENT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS? YES.
WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON THAT.
THAT IS A REALLY, YOU GAVE US THAT GREAT SUGGESTION.
UM, AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS ARE A WAY FOR US TO CONNECT WITH COMMUNITIES WHERE WE NEED SOME TRUST BUILDING, RIGHT? AND SO WE NEED FOLKS WHO ARE ALREADY TRUSTED MEMBERS OF THOSE COMMUNITIES TO, TO SORT OF LIKE YOU MENTIONED, SPONSOR OR HOST US.
AND WE WILL BE, UM, EXPLORING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AS WE MOVE TOWARD 30% AND DURING THIS CADENCE OF MEETINGS.
I KNOW YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP TO YES, THANK YOU.
UM, THE TASK IN FRONT OF YOU IS ABSOLUTELY ENORMOUS.
UH, AND THAT WAS APPARENT TO ALL OF US WHEN WE WERE GATHERED THE FIRST WEEK AND IN MARCH.
SO A LOT OF THESE HEARINGS ARE THE REGULAR MEETINGS, BUT A LOT OF THESE HEARINGS THAT ARE COMING UP ARE REALLY TRYING TO WORK THROUGH WITH THE COMMUNITY, THE REALLY HARD ISSUES.
UH, IT'LL BE AUGUST, I THINK BY THE SCHEDULE AND THE STAFFS ARE GOING TO BE COMING TO THE THREE GROUPS TO SAY, THIS IS KIND OF WHAT THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS FOR THE, FOR THE INITIAL DECISION OR, OR WORK THROUGH OF THESE 12 REALLY ARD ISSUES.
UM, SO THESE MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE IN APRIL AND MAY ARE GOING TO BE CRITICAL FOR US, BEING ABLE TO GET TO AUGUST BY HOPE, IS THAT WHEN WE'RE THERE IN AUGUST, NO, ONE'S HEARING ABOUT ANYTHING FOR THE FIRST TIME, UH, THAT EVERYTHING THAT THEY HEAR WILL BE MORE HOW THINGS WERE RESOLVED, BUT THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE RESOLVED, I'M HOPING TO GET DAYLIGHT IT IN THESE MEETINGS IN, IN APRIL AND MAY AND JUNE, SO THAT THERE ARE JUST NO SURPRISES.
I SAY THAT BECAUSE IF THERE ARE SURPRISES IS AT THAT POINT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REDO ALL OF THESE MEETINGS, THEN ARMED WITH THE NEW INFORMATION, THEN THAT WASN'T AVAILABLE BACK THEN.
UH, AND I THINK THAT INCLUDES THE DIFFICULT, YOU KNOW, ALL THE DIFFICULTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THESE CHOICES.
SOMETIMES WHEN WE HAVE PUBLIC MEETINGS, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO TELL US WHAT THEY'RE THINKING.
AND THAT'S OUR CRITICAL COMPONENT.
SOMETIMES IT'S FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH THE PUBLIC.
AND I, AND I THINK THAT THESE MEETINGS IN APRIL AND MAY ARE EQUAL PART BOTH.
THIS IS OUR TIME TO EDUCATE AND PEOPLE WILL WALK INTO THOSE MEETINGS, THINKING THEY KNOW WHAT THE RESOLUTION IS OR WHAT THEIR ISSUES ARE.
AND I'M HOPING THAT THEY WALK OUT OF IT WITH AS COMPLETE A PICTURE AS WE CAN GIVE THEM, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S GOING TO INCLUDE COSTS AND WE KNOW COSTS HAVE GONE UP.
WE KNOW REAL ESTATE COSTS HAVE GONE UP.
WE KNOW MATERIAL COSTS HAVE GONE UP.
WE SEE THAT IN THE NEWSPAPER EVERY DAY.
AND WE HEAR IT WITH BUILDINGS THAT ARE BEING BUILT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE IMMUNE FROM, FROM ANY OF THAT.
UH, BUT ULTIMATELY THIS COMMUNITY AND THIS BOARD AND THE COUNCIL AND THE CAP, METRO GONNA HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES, UH, WITH RESPECT TO THAT ELEMENT, WITH RESPECT TO PHYSICALITY, WITH RESPECT TO AESTHETICS, WITH RESPECT TO FUNCTIONALITY, WITH RESPECT TO OPERATION, WITH RESPECT TO ALL THOSE THINGS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE CHOICES AND CHOICES IN ONE AREA GOING TO IMPACT CHOICES IN OTHER AREAS.
AND THE, THESE MEETINGS THAT YOU HAVE IN, IN APRIL AND MAY ARE GOING TO BE CRITICAL FOR THE COMMUNITY, HAVING TRUST, AS YOU INDICATED EARLIER IN, IN WHERE WE ARE IN AUGUST.
UH, AND, AND HOW WELL WE DO IN AUGUST IS GOING TO BE DEPENDENT ON HOW WELL WE DO IN, IN APRIL AT BANK.
SO I URGE YOU IN KEEPING WITH MY COLLEAGUES, INITIAL STATEMENT ABOUT TRANSPARENT, LET'S GET EVERYTHING OUT, UH, SO THAT THE COMMUNITY FEELS LIKE IT HAS A HANDLE ON ALL THE DIFFERENT VARIABLES SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS OR IDENTIFY ISSUES FOR US TO DISCUSS.
UH, AND SO THAT WE AVOID ANY MEASURE OF SURPRISES IN AUGUST.
THANK YOU ANY MORE OR MEMBER ELKINS.
UM, JACKIE, THANKS ALL FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK YOU'VE BEEN DOING.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GET ALL THIS DONE SO MANY MEETINGS OR WHATEVER.
IT'S, IT'S EXTRAORDINARY, GREAT TEAM.
[00:35:02]
ABSOLUTELY.UM, I, I DON'T WANT TO STEAL HIS THUNDER, BUT THERE IS A QUOTE IN THEIR REPORT THAT I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT AND GET YOUR REACTION.
AND THEN I HAD A FOLLOW-UP, SO IT'S ON PAGE 34, AND IT SAYS HERE, BOTH STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE CONCERNED THAT MAJOR PROGRAM AND DESIGN DECISIONS ARE PREDETERMINED AND THAT PUBLIC CONSULTATION IS EITHER BEING DONE TOO LATE IN THE PROCESS OR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IS BEING DONE SIMPLY TO CHECK THE BOX.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE, BUT PERCEPTION IS 90%.
MY QUESTION IS, AND MAYBE WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF GETTING THIS OUT WHEN WE LISTENED TO THE COMMUNITY AND WE MAKE DESIGN CHANGES BASED ON FEEDBACK, HOW DO WE MESSAGE THEM THAT, SO THAT THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T FEEL THIS IS A CHECK THE BOX, BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT, BUT, BUT CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME FACTORIES AND HOW DO WE GET THAT WORD OUT? YES.
AND ADMITTEDLY, WE CAN ALWAYS DO A BETTER JOB OF COMMUNICATING THAT.
I DON'T THINK WE'VE BEEN AS GOOD AS WE COULD BE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE BETTER AT IT.
I, AND I THINK AT YOUR URGING AND THE URGING OF OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, UM, TO HELP US ENUNCIATE THAT FEEDBACK LOOP AND DEMONSTRATE TO PEOPLE HOW FEEDBACK IS BEING USED.
UM, SO WE'RE GOING TO BE, UH, WORKING ON THAT, NOT ONLY ON THE PROJECT WEBSITE, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIBRARY, BUT EVERY TIME WE HAVE A MEETING, WE BRING UP WHAT WE HEARD.
AND THAT'S HOW WE LET PEOPLE KNOW.
WE HEARD YOU HERE IS HOW THAT HAS MOVED US FORWARD.
UM, AND SO THAT'S PART OF THE NARRATIVE WHEN WE, WHEN WE GOT TO MEET WITH THE COMMUNITY, UM, BUT WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER.
AND WE ARE ALWAYS OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS ON HOW BETTER TO COMMUNICATE THAT IT IS A DIFFICULT THING TO GET OUT THERE AS, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU PUT SOMETHING OUT OR MAKE IT AVAILABLE, THERE ARE STILL LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO NEVER SEE IT.
AND I CAN ATTEST TO THAT JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT PROJECT CONNECT, WHICH IS REALLY AMAZING.
WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT EARLIER.
UM, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON MAKING THAT MORE PUBLIC AND MORE, UM, ACCESSIBLE.
SO PEOPLE REALLY SEE THAT IT IS NOT A CHECK THE BOX ACTIVITY.
WE REALLY DO LISTEN TO PEOPLE.
AND I'LL JUST ADD THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE MEETINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THERE, THERE'S SOME VERY TECHNICAL DESIGN CHALLENGES.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO BE AN EXPERT ON DESIGN? NO.
UH, WE HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE IN AUSTIN, LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO KNOW A LOT AND, UM, HAVE REALLY SPECIFIC IDEAS OF HOW WE CAN SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. BUT FOR US, IT'S, IT'S MORE ABOUT ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS AND THAT PEOPLE CAN TELL US WHAT THEIR ASPIRATIONS ARE FOR THESE AREAS.
AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEIR DAILY LIFE IN THESE AREAS.
AND FROM THAT, WE EXTRAPOLATE HOW TO MAKE THE DECISIONS MOVING FORWARD.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HOPING WILL HAPPEN, UM, IN THIS SERIES OF MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE IN THE SPRING, BUT CONNECTING THE DOTS IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR, YEAH, I KNOW IT'S NOT AN EASY TASK.
IT'S A HARD JOB, BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS.
IF THERE'S 100 COMMENTS IN THE COURSE OF A MONTH, AND THERE'S ONE COMMENT ON SOME ISOLATED LITTLE THING, YOU KNOW, LET'S, LET'S TUNNEL THE WHOLE PROJECT.
WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE, BUT IF WE'RE GETTING A THEME, RIGHT, MULTIPLE PEOPLE ASKING FOR THE SAME THINGS, THEN I THINK WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO NOT NECESSARILY GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT.
TALK TO OUR DESIGN FOLKS, TALK TO OUR PEOPLE, SIT DOWN WITH THEM, EXPLAIN WHY, WHAT THEY WANT IS NOT TECHNICALLY DOABLE OR IT'S TECHNICALLY DOABLE, BUT IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE.
OR, OR MAYBE THERE'S A WAY WHERE THEY CAN GET PART OF WHAT THEY WANT.
SO THOSE, IF, IF YOU KNOW, WE'RE NEVER GONNA MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY.
AND IT'S IMPOSSIBLE, REALLY FOR US TO SIT DOWN WITH EVERYBODY WHO SUBMITS A COMMENT OR A SUGGESTION.
BUT, UM, AS YOU MENTIONED, WE DO HAVE THEMES THAT COME UP AND ACTUALLY OUR MEETING ON THE 31ST, THE 29TH AND THE 31ST RATHER, UM, IS ABOUT THOSE THEMES THAT HAVE COME UP CONSISTENTLY OVER THE LAST YEAR OR TWO, UM, THAT WE FELT PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO DO A DEEPER DIVE ON THESE TOPICS.
AND SO WE WANTED TO GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A REALLY ROBUST DIALOGUE ABOUT THAT.
AND WE SHOULD BE GETTING SOME REALLY GOOD FEEDBACK FROM THAT TOO, BUT ALSO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS AND COMMENTS THAT HAVE COME IN OVER TIME AND HOW THEY HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED OR NOT INTO THE PLANNING PROCESS.
I JUST WANT TO, UM, TIE SOMETHING TOGETHER TO THE TWO PAGES THAT, UM, MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS QUOTING 34 AND 35 INTERTWINED IN THAT IS STILL TRUST.
AND I REALLY WANT TO REEMPHASIZE THAT WE NEED TO BUILD, HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY TO LIFT THAT INTO EVEN THE MEETINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING NOW THAT ARE PLAYING YOU CAN, WE CAN STILL DO SOME INTENTIONAL ENGAGEMENT OF GRASSROOTS, UM, INITIATIVES.
I IT'S ABOUT TRUST AND IT'S ABOUT PERCEPTION BECAUSE A LOT OF IT IS UNINTENTIONAL, BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER.
DOES THE IMPACT RIGHT? IS THAT IT LOOKS AS THOUGH
[00:40:01]
THERE THERE'S NOT.UM, WHEN WE SAY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, THESE WORDS ARE BIG WORDS AND IT'S STILL A TRUST FACTOR.
SO I REALLY WANT TO RE-EMPHASIZE THAT WE HAVE TO ENGAGE THOSE GROUPS THAT ARE SUPER INVOLVED TO CO-SPONSOR SO THAT WE CAN ALL LEARN TOGETHER.
BURNETT FOR YOUR GREAT FEEDBACK.
THIS IS A MARATHON AND I APPRECIATE IT.
[4.2. Administrative Update ]
NEXT WE'RE GOING TO COMPLETE OUR MONTHLY UPDATES.WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE FROM KCB, IRAQ, OUR ATP GENERAL COUNSEL AND CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER.
AND SHE WILL GIVE US AN UPDATE REGARDING THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENTS WITH OUR PARTNERS.
THESE HAVE UPCOMING THANK YOU, BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME THIS MORNING.
UM, YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AS PART OF OUR ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE, UM, THAT IF, IF YOU ALL RECALL THE JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT THAT WE ENTERED INTO WITH THE CITY AND CAPITAL METRO LATE LAST YEAR CONTEMPLATED, AND I MEAN, IT WAS, IT WAS A GREAT FEAT AND, UM, AN IMPRESSIVE DOCUMENT, BUT REALLY HAD KIND OF AT A HIGH LEVEL, THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS PROGRAM AND THE, UM, THREE PARTNERS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN IT.
AND SO, UM, IT ALSO CONTEMPLATED THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE TO ENTER INTO SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.
UM, SOME OF THEM BEING TRI-PARTY, SOME OF THEM JUST BEING ATP AND CAPITAL METRO OR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND SO WE HAVE A SENSE NOW OF, OF THE SCHEDULE OF SOME OF THOSE AGREEMENTS, THOSE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENTS THAT WILL BE ENTERING INTO.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE ONES THAT ARE COMING UP AND THE TIMING FOR THOSE.
UM, AND, AND ALSO KNOW AS STATED IN THE SLIDE THAT THERE'S AN EXHIBIT, THE JPA THAT INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE THESE IN OUR LOCAL AGREEMENTS.
AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO UPDATE THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE JPA AND KEEP ALL THE PARTIES HAVE BREASTS.
IT CAN BE A LOT, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL STAY ORGANIZED AND EVERYONE INVOLVED.
UM, SO ON THE NEXT SLIDE, IF YOU DON'T, IF YOU COULD GO, THANK YOU.
UM, SO UPCOMING IN THE SPRING, WE WILL BE, UM, KIND OF UPDATING THE JANUARY, 2021, UM, ILA BETWEEN CAPITAL METRO AND ATP FOR CAPITAL METRO SUPPORT SERVICES.
UM, IF YOU RECALL, THAT WAS ADOPTED ON OUR FIRST, AT OUR FIRST BOARD MEETING MY SECOND DAY ON THE JOB.
AND, UM, WE'VE LEARNED A LOT SINCE THAT TIME, UM, AND A LOT ABOUT WHAT THESE AGREEMENTS NEED TO CONTAIN IN ORDER TO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING ANY FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS OR REQUIREMENTS OF POTENTIAL FUTURE BOND HOLDERS, ET CETERA.
SO WE'LL ENTER INTO THAT AGREEMENT PROBABLY, UM, THIS SPRING, UM, FOR THE SERVICES THAT CAPITAL METRO PROVIDES.
AND, UM, AND THEN WE'LL ALSO BE ENTERING INTO ANOTHER, UM, SIMILAR KIND OF UPDATE TO THE FEBRUARY 20, 21 AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO HELP SUPPORT THE CITY'S PROJECT CONNECT OFFICE, WHICH IN TURN SUPPORTS, UM, PROJECT CONNECT AND ATPS WORK.
UM, AND THEN, UM, IN, IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER, WE'LL HAVE SEPARATE ILS SPECIFIC TO THE METRO RAPID CAPITAL COSTS AND THE, AND THE FUNDING FROM ATP THAT'LL BE PROVIDED TO CAPITAL METRO TO FUND THOSE COSTS.
AND THEN ALSO SIMILARLY FOR THE RED LINE WORK, NEXT SLIDE.
AND JUST AS A REMINDER, WE HAVE THE PROP, A FUNDING IS, UM, REALLY A UNIQUE FUNDING SOURCE FOR TRANSIT, AND THEN IT ALSO COVERS ONM COSTS FOR THE PROJECT CONNECT PROGRAMS. AND SO THE PROGRAM ELEMENTS.
AND SO WE WILL ALSO THIS SUMMER BE ENTERING INTO ANOTHER ILA SPECIFIC TO THE ONM COSTS AROUND METRO RAPID WITH CAPITAL METRO, AS THEY IMPLEMENT THE METRO RAPID PROGRAM OR PROJECTS IN THE, IN THE PROGRAM.
AND THEN, UM, ALSO A SEPARATE ONE JUST RELATED TO THE PROPERTY ACQUISITION PROCESS, PRIMARILY BECAUSE ALTHOUGH ATP IS, UM, RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT ACQUISITION PROCESS, ATP DOES NOT HAVE ITS OWN EMINENT DOMAIN AUTHORITY.
SO WE KIND OF HAVE TO WORK THROUGH WITH THE CITY AND CAPITAL METRO AS APPROPRIATE HOW WE WILL PARTNER ON SOME OF THE ACQUISITION WORK AND THEN FINALLY, UTILITY UTILITY, BETTERMENTS AND COORDINATION IN THE FALL.
NEXT SLIDE, UM, KIND OF INTO 20, 23 AND BEYOND, UM, WE WILL START TO ENTER INTO INTER LOCAL AGREEMENTS WITH CAPITAL METRO SPECIFIC TO THE LIGHT RAIL PORTIONS OF THE PROGRAM.
UM, ANY SORT OF CAPITAL COSTS, FUNDING, OR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE FUNDING FOR THOSE, FOR THOSE PROJECTS.
AND IN ADDITION, FINALLY, FOR THE FACILITIES ELEMENTS.
SO WE'RE NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THESE AGREEMENTS WILL INCLUDE, BUT WE WANT TO SEPARATE EACH OF THESE AREAS INTO, UM, DIFFERENT AGREEMENTS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT PROVISIONS WILL CHANGE.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MS. BARRACK
[00:45:02]
BOARD MEMBER, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, NO, AND I KNOW THESE CAN BE SOMEWHAT MUNDANE AND LEGALISTIC, BUT I HAVE A SENSE OF HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE.SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'RE DOING WITH COUNCIL AND WORKING ON THIS.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALSO THAT WE'RE GIVING THE COMMUNITY A LOOK AHEAD.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY WERE VERY SPECIFICALLY REQUESTING OF US TO, TO BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE AN UPDATE OF WHAT'S WHAT'S COMING UP AND WHAT'S IN THE PIPELINE.
AND JUST AS A REMINDER, WE WILL BE BRIEFING THE BOARD BEFORE WE ADOPT THE FOLLOWING MONTHS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES, THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND THE MORE BROADLY THE COMMUNITY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE ILS BEFORE THEY'RE ADOPTED.
[5.1. Approval of minutes from each of the January 19, 2022 and February 16, 2022 Meetings of the Board of Directors]
HAVE NOW MOVING ON TO OUR ACTION ITEMS. WE ONLY HAVE ONE TODAY AND THAT'S THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE JANUARY 19TH, 2022 AND THE FEBRUARY 16TH, 2022 AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP BOARD MEETINGS.IF EVERYONE HAS HAD A TIME TO READ THE MINUTES, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THIS ACTION ITEM.
SO WE'LL HAVE A MOTION, A MOVEMENT OF CHAIR.
BURNETT SECOND BY MEMBER ELKINS.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY, AYE.
EVERYONE HAS I, UH, THE MINUTES HAVE BEEN APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
[6.1. Systemwide Accessibility Presentation]
GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR ONE DISCUSSION ITEMS THAT WHISPER SPAWN FROM OUR PREVIOUS MEETING.AND I REALLY LIKE TO THANK THE TEAM FOR BEING PATIENT AS THIS.
THEY WERE PREPARED LAST TIME TO GIVE US THIS UPDATE ON OUR SYSTEM WIDE ACCESSIBILITY.
AND WE HAVE MARTIN
ATP'S CHIEF OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN.
UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, RANDY CLARK.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF SYSTEM WIDE ACCESSIBILITY FOR CAPITAL METRO.
UM, I'LL LET MY COLLEAGUE INTRODUCE HIMSELF BEFORE WE GET GOING.
I'M THE CHIEF OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN FOR ATP.
THIS APP FOR HAVING US THIS AFTERNOON.
UM, BEFORE I GET GOING WITH THIS PRESENTATION, THAT'S TITLED SYSTEM WIDE ACCESSIBILITY AND URBAN DESIGN.
I JUST WANT TO KIND OF LAY OUT, UM, HIGH LEVEL FOR THE BOARD THAT, UM, THIS, THIS, THE INTENT OF THIS PRESENTATION AND, UM, ARE HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU GUYS TODAY IS TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE THAT ACCESSIBILITY, UM, PLAYS IN THIS ENTIRE PROCESS AND THROUGHOUT ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE PART OF THIS, UH, ALL THE PROJECTS THAT ARE PART OF THESE PROGRAMS. UM, ACCESSIBILITY IS REALLY A HIGH, UH, LEVEL PRINCIPLE.
THE FIRST PRINCIPLE THAT WE ARE BRINGING TO ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING TOGETHER, UM, AS PARTNERS, BOTH ON THE CAPITAL METRO AND THE PROJECT CONNECT SIDE.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO RELATION WITH THAT, UM, WITH SAN, IF WE'LL MOVE TO THE SECOND SLIDE, PLEASE.
STARTING OFF JUST A LITTLE BIT, UM, ABOUT THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, IT IS CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION PASSED IN THE 1990S THAT IT'S AN IT'S, IT'S AN EXTENSION OF PREVIOUS CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION, EXCEPT IN THIS CASE, IT, UH, UH, IT, IT, IT'S SPECIFIC TO NON-DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
IT GUARANTEES EQUAL ACCESS AND EQUAL RIGHTS TO TRANSPORTATION, TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
AND YOU'LL SEE UP HERE, THE THREE LETTERS PWD IS ON, YOU'LL SEE THAT THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION, IT'S JUST A WAY TO ABBREVIATE.
UM, THAT PHRASE, IT CREATES A FRAMEWORK, UM, AND REGULATIONS TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES HAVE ACCESS TO TRANSIT SERVICES AND THOSE FACILITIES SLIDE.
UM, SO WHAT IS ACCESSIBILITY WHEN WE USE THE WORD ACCESSIBILITY, WE MEAN THE DEGREE TO WHICH PROGRAMS, PRACTICES, SERVICES, TECHNOLOGIES, UM, ARE AVAILABLE AND THAT PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES HAVE ACCESS TO THEM, UM, FOR SOMETHING TO BE ACCESSIBLE IN REGARDS TO A FACILITY, IT IS SOMETHING, UM, THAT IT'S, IT'S IN RELATION TO THE DEGREE TO WHICH A FACILITY IS READILY USABLE, UM, TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, UH, BE THAT, UM, FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS OR, UH, JUST GENERAL USE OF THE PUBLIC.
UM, IT'S AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS, A PROGRAM OR A PRACTICE.
UM, THE DEGREE TO WHICH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAN PRACTICE IN FULL AND, UM, CAN HAVE ALL THE BENEFITS AND RIGHTS, UH, ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGY.
[00:50:01]
TO THE TECHNOLOGY, THE DEGREE TO WHICH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAN USE THAT TECHNOLOGY WITH, OR WITHOUT THE USE OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY, WHICH WOULD BE HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE, UM, THAT PROVIDES, UH, A LEVEL OF ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SYSTEM WIDE ACCESSIBILITY, UH, IT'S, IT'S REALLY A WAY OF LOOKING AT A HOLISTIC AND COORDINATED, COORDINATED APPROACH TO ACCESSIBILITY AND IMPROVING ACCESSIBILITY, UH, THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE TRANSIT SYSTEM.
SO IT'S ALL THE PIECES, UM, TAKEN TOGETHER AS, AS A WHOLE.
UM, AND THAT CAN, AND THAT INCLUDES A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PIECES.
SO AMONG THOSE, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT IS OUR FACILITIES.
THAT WOULD BE OUR TRANSIT STOPS, UM, STATIONS, UH, AS WELL AS OUR VEHICLES BE THEY, OUR METRO BUS VEHICLES, OUR MENTAL RAPID, OR OUR FUTURE LIGHT RAILS, UM, VEHICLES, TECHNOLOGY, THAT WOULD BE OUR CUSTOMER INFORMATION SYSTEMS, MOBILE APPS, AND ANY INTERNAL SYSTEMS THAT WE USE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE TIME HERE AND TALK ABOUT, UH, FACILITIES.
CAUSE I THINK THIS IS A REALLY BIG, IMPORTANT PIECE HERE.
AND WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FACILITIES IN THIS REGARD, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND THAT'S WHERE THE PEDESTRIAN MEETS THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, TRANSIT ACCESS BEGINS AND ENDS WITH THE SIDEWALK AND ALL THE PIECES IN BETWEEN.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT, UM, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS INCORPORATING ACCESSIBILITY AT THE INITIAL STAGES AND NOT THE DESIGN CONCEPT.
SO WE'RE STARTING WITH ACCESSIBILITY AS A FOUNDATIONAL PIECE AS WE, AS WE BUILD, UM, AS WE BUILD OUT.
AND WE'LL, WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT AS WE GO ALONG.
UM, THIS OBVIOUSLY INCLUDES PEDESTRIAN FEATURES SUCH AS SIDEWALKS, UM, WHICH ARE CERTAINLY IMPORTANT, MAKE SURE THEY'RE ADA COMPLIANT, UM, SUFFICIENT WITS, ET CETERA, UM, SHARED USE PATHS, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, PROVIDES FOR MULTIMODAL ACCESS FOR BOTH, UM, PEDESTRIANS, BE THEY INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES OR AMBULATORY PEDESTRIANS, AS WELL AS, UM, INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE USING BIKES OR SCOOTERS.
UM, WE CAN ALL SHARE THAT SPACE AND THAT ALLOWS THESE, UH, FACILITIES TO BE MULTIMODAL AS WE ARE TRYING TO INCORPORATE ALL THE MODES, UM, TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND CROSSINGS, UM, ALSO AN IMPORTANT PIECE BECAUSE, UM, FOLKS HAVE TO CROSS THE STREET AND CAPITOL METRO OWNED, UM, FACILITIES, WHICH ARE OF COURSE READILY ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, UM, FOR MEETINGS AND APPOINTMENTS NEXT LINE, ALL RIGHT, FACILITIES, AS I SAID EARLIER, ACCESS TO TRANSIT BEGINS AND ENDS WITH THE SIDEWALK.
UM, CURB CUTS ARE IMPORTANT PIECE.
UH, THEY OF COURSE PROVIDE ACCESSIBILITY MICROPHONE DRIFTED ON ME HAVE Y'ALL BEEN ABLE TO HEAR ME ALL THE TIME.
I JUST REALIZED THIS THING WAS AT MY CHEEK LEVEL.
UM, IT'S A NECESSARY PEDESTRIAN FEATURE PROVIDES ACCESSIBILITY, NOT JUST TO INDIVIDUALS USING WHEELED MOBILITY DEVICES, BUT OTHER PEDESTRIANS LIKE PARENTS, UM, PUSHING STROLLERS ACCESS, UH, ET CETERA, UM, DETECTABLE TRIPS.
THOSE ARE THE LITTLE BUMPS THAT YOU FEEL UNDERNEATH YOUR FEET WHEN YOU'RE AT A CORNER.
UM, THAT'S INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE WHO USE CANES, ET CETERA, TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THERE IS, UH, THAT THEY'RE ENTERING INTO A DIFFERENT SPACE IN FRONT OF THEM.
AS I MENTIONED, SHARED USE PATHS THAT, UM, OF COURSE ARE MULTIMODAL AND, UM, ARE SHARED AMONGST INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, PEDESTRIANS, PEOPLE USING, UM, BICYCLES, ET CETERA.
UM, AND OF COURSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THE SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF RIGHT AWAY, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE SPACES ARE SAFE, UM, AND CAN MINIMIZE CONFLICTS BETWEEN ANY OF THOSE TYPES OF MODES, TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
ONCE AGAIN, UM, ARE IMPORTANT.
AND IN PARTICULAR, THERE ARE CERTAIN FEATURES THAT, UM, ARE, ARE IMPORTANT TO ACCESSIBILITY AMONGST THOSE ARE AUDIBLE PEDESTRIAN, SIG SIGNALS.
UM, EITHER THE BEEPING ONES ARE THE ONES THAT TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, WALK.
UM, AND THIS IS A FORM OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE BLIND OR LOW VISION.
UM, BECAUSE IT, IT INFORMS ME, UM, ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF INFORMATION AS IF THE LIGHT WERE TO TURN GREEN.
THEN, UM, MY COLLEAGUE HERE, PETER AND I WOULD BOTH KNOW, UM, THAT IT IS SAFER TO CROSS, UM, ANOTHER TYPE OF PEDESTRIAN, ANOTHER TYPE OF TRAFFIC SIGNAL THAT IS, UH, THAT'S OUT THERE THAT, UM, IT GETS INCORPORATED IS THE RECTANGULAR, RAPID FLASHING BEACON.
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UH, SORT OF YIELD SIGN TO, UH, TO DRIVERS YIELD SIGNAL TO DRIVERS, UM, TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR PEDESTRIANS.AND THEN WE HAVE OUR PEDESTRIAN HYBRID BEACONS OR PHBS, WHICH ARE, UM, VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY ARE PUSH BUTTON ACCESS, UM, REALLY TAILOR MADE TO SPECIFIC LOCATIONS.
UM, PERHAPS THOSE THAT, UH, ARE, ARE TRAVELED AND POPULATED BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, UM, TO A HIGH DEGREE.
AND IT STOPS TRAFFIC IN ALL DIRECTIONS, UM, AND ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO CROSS SAFELY.
SO LOOKING AT OUR VEHICLES, UM, WITH OUR LIGHT RAIL OR OUR METRO RAPID, OR OUR METRO BUS, UH, VEHICLES, WE INCORPORATE OUR ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES.
UM, CAPITAL METRO WAS, UM, AMONGST ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY TO, UM, GO A HUNDRED PERCENT ACCESSIBLE, UM, ON OUR, ON OUR FIXED ROUTE FLEET.
AND, UM, I THINK WE'RE THE FIRST ONE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
SO, UH, ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN A PART OF WHAT WE DO FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
UM, AND WE INCORPORATE ALL THE NECESSARY FEATURES, UH, BE THEY RAMPS LIFTS OR AUDIBLE ENUNCIATOR SYSTEMS, UM, AS WELL AS SECUREMENT SYSTEMS AND LEVEL BOARDING PLATFORMS FOR OUR RAILS BRAILLE PLATFORMS. IT'S IMPORTANT HERE FOR US TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT THE DESIGN AS WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, OUR FUTURE VEHICLES.
AND, UM, IT'S, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH, UH, THE FOLKS IN THE VEHICLE SIDE, UM, ON, ON WHAT THIS MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
AND AS JACKIE MENTIONED, IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO SEEK, UM, INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY AMONGST THOSE, UH, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
AND THAT WAY WE CAN TAKE THAT FEEDBACK IN AND DESIGN A RESPONSIVE SCOPE THAT IS, UM, THAT RECOGNIZES ALL THOSE FEATURES.
WE WANT TO SEE IN WHAT WE HEAR, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, TECHNOLOGY.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY OUT THERE.
UM, SOME THAT WE INCORPORATE NOW, I PROVIDES CUSTOMER INFORMATION TO HELP IMPROVE THE JOURNEY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, AND THAT CAN BE OUR MOBILE APPS, UM, OR OTHER OR OTHER TECHNOLOGIES THAT PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.
LET YOU KNOW IF, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE STREET CROSSINGS AND SIDEWALKS, THINGS THAT CAN, UM, GIVE INFORMATION TO THE PASSENGER BEFORE THEY EMBARK ON THEIR JOURNEY.
UM, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR WAYFINDING AND NAVIGATION, AS WELL AS PROVIDING, UH, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, A SENSE OF EASE AND CONFIDENCE IN USING THE FIXED ROUTE SYSTEM, WHICH I THINK IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN DO IT SAFELY WITH CONFIDENCE AND WITH EASE.
UM, THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, BUT REGARDLESS OF ALL, THE REALLY IMPORTANT PIECES THAT GO INTO MAKING, UM, THE ENTIRE TRANSIT SYSTEM, UM, FULLY ACCESSIBLE, UM, AND DOING ALL THAT WORK, THERE'S STILL GOING TO BE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE, UH, W BECAUSE THEY HAVE DISABILITIES AND BASED ON THEIR FUNCTIONAL ABILITIES, THAT IS WHAT, HOW THEY FUNCTION WITH THOSE DISABILITIES ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE, UM, OR GOING TO BE HEAVILY CHALLENGED TO USING THOSE FIXED ROUTES SYSTEMS. AND SO METRO ACCESS WILL ALWAYS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
IT SERVES AS A SAFETY NET SERVICE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS, AND IT WILL, UH, REMAIN AS A CRITICAL SERVICE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WHO DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO USE OUR FIXED MODES, UM, TO HAVE THAT OPTION TO THEMSELVES FOR, UH, TRANSPORTATION.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENTS ARE ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT PIECE.
UM, WHETHER IT'S OUR TECHNICAL PARTNERS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, UM, CITY OF AUSTIN DEPARTMENTS, UM, INCLUDING THE TRANSPORTATION ATD, UM, OUR VISION ZERO FI PARTNERS, UM, ALL THE, THE OTHER PARTNERS WON'T NECESSARILY GO THROUGH EACH ONE OF THEM THERE, BUT, UM, ALL OF OUR TECHNICAL PARTNERS HAVE, UH, REALLY BEEN HELPFUL TO HELPING US WITH THIS PROGRAM.
AND THEN OF COURSE OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, UM, BEGINNING WITH OUR ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH IS OUR CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT WE REALLY TAKE THINGS TO, AND THEY GIVE US A LOT OF INFORMATION AND FEEDBACK, BUT WE ALSO MEET WITH, UH, GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY SUCH AS ADAPT, UM, WHICH IS A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION OF INDIVIDUALS, PRIMARILY WHO USE WHEELCHAIRS.
WE MEET QUARTERLY WITH THEM AND HAVE BEEN FOR A LONG TIME, AND WE GET A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION THERE.
UM, THE CHRIS CALLS CENTER FOR THE BLIND, WHO WILL BE MEETING WITH, WITH ABOUT TWO WEEKS, UM, AND OTHERS SUCH AS A COALITION OF TEXANS WITH DISABILITIES, ALL IMPORTANT, UM, FOR US TO MAINTAIN A FEEDBACK LOOP SO THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM WHAT WE'RE DOING AND INCORPORATE FEEDBACK.
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UM, THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO THE FUTURE, WHAT COULD ASSIST IN LINE, UM, ACCESSIBLE CHIN'S TRANSIT SYSTEM LOOK LIKE FULL ACCESSIBLE PATHS OF TRAVEL ACROSS THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, UM, WITH ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN FEATURES, VEHICLES THAT ARE DESIGNED FOR THE FUTURE AND FOR ALL FUNCTIONAL ABILITIES OPERATING WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, A DEGREE OF POSITION TECHNOLOGY, CUSTOMER INFORMATION, AND TECHNOLOGIES, UH, AND APPS THAT, UH, CAN PROVIDE UNIVERSAL ACCESSIBILITY AT EACH STEP OF THE JOURNEY.UM, AT THAT POINT, AT THIS POINT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE, PETER HERE, AND HE'S GOING TO KIND OF GO THROUGH A COUPLE OTHER PIECES.
UM, AND BEFORE JUST LINGER ON THIS SLIDE FOR A SECOND, UM, BEFORE I GO FORWARD, I JUST WANT TO SAY, UH, IT'S SUCH A PRIVILEGE AND GIFT TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH MARTIN DAY IN, DAY OUT, UM, AS PART OF THE DESIGN PROCESS.
I MEAN, WE'RE REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE HIM AS A, AS A RESOURCE.
UM, AND, AND I THINK YOU JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT HE TALKED ABOUT AS ACCESSIBILITY AS A FIRST PRINCIPLE, RIGHT.
UM, YOU KNOW, IN ARCHITECTURE, OBVIOUSLY YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO THINK ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY AND IT'S A COMPONENT OF DESIGN HERE.
ACCESSIBILITY IS OUR JOB, RIGHT.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND SO IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT A, IT'S NOT A NICE TO HAVE IT IS THE JOB.
AND, UM, SO WE REALLY TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY.
AND I THINK, UM, IT'S BEEN, IT'S, IT GUIDES EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
AND I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE, WHEN WE DESIGNED FOR EVERYBODY OR WE DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, WE DESIGNED FOR EVERYBODY.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE TALK ABOUT WITH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHEN WE GO OUT AND TALK ABOUT ANY DESIGN OPTIONS.
SO, UM, WE'LL LIKE, THIS IS A SLIDE THAT YOU SEE OR YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE.
AND USUALLY WE USE IT TO TALK ABOUT, UM, THE HOLISTIC APPROACH TOWARDS DESIGNING THE PUBLIC REALM, RIGHT.
THAT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE TRAINS, IT'S ABOUT HOW THE TRAINS INTERACT WITH THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND, UM, BIKE LANES AND SIDEWALKS AND STREET TREES, UM, NEW DEVELOPMENT, ET CETERA.