* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:02] GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. ARE WE GOOD TO GO? FANTASTIC. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M VICE [I. Call to Order] CHAIR PAIGE ELLI FILLING IN FOR CHAIR JEFFREY T TAVION TODAY. AND WE WILL NOW START OUR PUBLIC HEARING ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH. WE ARE IN THE ROSA PARKS BOARDROOM AT 29 10 EAST FIFTH STREET. THE TIME IS NOW 12:11 PM TODAY'S HEARING WILL BE TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON OUR PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2026 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET, AS WELL AS THE PROPOSED JANUARY, 2026 SERVICE CHANGES. BOTH ITEMS WILL BE ON THE AGENDA FOR A BOARD VOTE AT THE SEPTEMBER FULL BOARD MEETING ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND. WE WILL START WITH A PRESENTATION [II.1. Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Public Hearing Presentation] FROM STAFF ON THE BUDGET AND THEN WE WILL TAKE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THAT ITEM THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A PRESENTATION ON THE SERVICE CHANGES AND THEN COMMENTS ON THAT PARTICULAR ITEM. SO LET'S START WITH THE PRESENTATION. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR ELLIS, BOARD MEMBERS PRESIDENT AND CEO WATKINS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS KEVIN CONLIN, CFO FOR CAP METRO AND I'M HERE TODAY TO PRESENT HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET FOR OUR PUBLIC HEARING. I LET THE FAA COMMITTEE KNOW EARLIER TODAY THAT WE HAVE A VERY EXCITING YEAR COMING UP AND WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS REFLECTED WITHIN OUR BUDGET. I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT CAP METRO STAFF, AND OUR WONDERFUL BUDGET TEAM FOR THEIR DIRECTION AND HARD WORK IN PUTTING THIS BUDGET TOGETHER. THE PROPOSED BUDGET TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE PRIORITIES THAT YOU AS A BOARD HAVE SET FOR THE AGENCY AND MAKES INVESTMENTS BASED ON YOUR GUIDANCE AND OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. WE'VE COMPLETED OUR PUBLIC OUTREACH FOR THE, FOR THE BUDGET AND IN ADDITION, WE'VE POSTED A VIRTUAL WEBINAR ONLINE THAT'S BOTH IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH, AND WE DO HAVE A COPY OF OUR BUDGET DOCUMENT ONLINE ON OUR CAP METRO WEBSITE AS WELL. THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE AGENCY'S BUDGET. IN THE MIDDLE COLUMN, IT SHOWS OUR AGENCY'S TOTAL OPERATING AND CAPITAL EXPENSES OF $625.2 MILLION TO PROVIDE TRANSIT SERVICE WHILE ALSO ADDING NEW CUSTOMER SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS, BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE AND PLANNING FOR THE REGION'S GROWTH. THE BUDGET IS STRUCTURALLY SOUND AND BALANCED AND FUNDED THROUGH VARIOUS REVENUE SOURCES. REPRESENTED ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE SLIDE. ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE SLIDE IS THE PROJECTION OF OUR CAPITALS AND STATUTORY OPERATING STATUTORY COMMITMENTS AND OBLIGATIONS, WHICH TOTAL $308.2 MILLION AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2026. I'M PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE'RE PROJECTING ALL TO MEET ALL OF OUR RESERVE REQUIREMENTS WITH NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. AS I BRIEF THE BOARD AND BOARD COMMITTEES OVER THE LAST FOUR MONTHS, WE'RE IN GOOD FINANCIAL POSITION, BUT WE'RE OPTIMISTIC AND OPTIMISTIC FOR NEXT YEAR, BUT REMAIN GUARDED WITH THE DOWNTURN IN SALES TAX RECEIPTS, CURRENT FINANCIAL UNCERTAINTY, FACILITY NEEDS, AND OTHER PROJECTS ON THE HORIZON. WE'RE EXCITED TO CONTINUE WITH INITIATIVES THAT TAKE CARE OF OUR CUSTOMERS. OUR FIRST ONE THAT WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING IS A $22.8 MILLION COMMITMENT OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS FOR BUS STOP IMPROVEMENTS AND INFRASTRUCTURE. IT STOPS THROUGHOUT OUR OUR SYSTEM. THE SECOND IS OUR PICKUP SYSTEM. WE'VE DEDICATED $15.9 MILLION IN OUR 2026 BUDGET FOR OUR 12 NEIGHBORHOOD ON DEMAND TRANSIT SERVICE ZONES. MOVING ON TO PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE. WE HAVE TWO EXCITING PROJECTS TO HIGHLIGHT. THE FIRST IS OUR NORTH BURNETT, OUR NEW NORTH BURNETT UPTOWN RAIL STATION. WE HAVE $34.4 MILLION OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS WITHIN OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR THE BUILDING OF THAT NEW RAIL STATION. SECONDLY, OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WE'VE HAVE A COMMITMENT OF JUST OVER $131 MILLION FOR A MUCH NEEDED NORTH DEMAND RESPONSE FACILITY AND OUR ADMINISTRATION BUILDING BUILD OUT AT 3,100, WHICH IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR. IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE AND CONTINUE GROWTH FOR THE REGION. PROJECT CONNECT IS THE COMPREHENSIVE TRANSIT PLAN THAT WILL EXPAND OUR TRANSIT CAPACITY FOR THE REGION. CAP METRO HAS AN ONGOING COMMITMENT TO PROJECT CONNECT WITH CONTINUING SERVICE OF OUR TWO, UM, CAP METRO RAPID EXPO CENTER IN PLEASANT VALLEY LINES, ALONG WITH THEIR ASSOCIATED PARKING RIDES. AND AS WELL WITHIN THE BUDGET WE DO HAVE A $21.9 MILLION CONTRIBUTION WITHIN FISCAL YEAR 2026 FOR THE PROJECT CONNECT PROGRAM SEQUENCE PLAN. AND THAT'LL CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION TODAY. BUT I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THIS BUDGET CYCLE AND OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AND ALSO FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU [III. Public Comment] MR. CONLIN FOR THE PRESENTATION. WE WILL NOW TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAD ONE SPEAKER SIGN UP WITH US IN ADVANCE. WHO WAS DARREN SMITH? UM, I ALSO HAVE XENOBI [00:05:01] JOSEPH AND CARLOS LEON. ON THE LIST IS DARREN SMITH. I'M HERE WITH US. OKAY. OH, THAT WAS QUICK. I KNOW. YOU READY? I AM. GREAT. COME ON UP. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. UM, IT'S MY FIRST VISIT HERE. WELCOME AND UH, I'M GLAD I'M HERE. UM, WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE TOO. I PROVIDED YOU ALL WITH THIS. TOOK THE TIME TO DO IT AND UM, THIS IS NOT A VERY, UM, PLEASANT, UH, VISIT FOR ME. I'M WANTING TO DO THIS FOR A NUMBER OF COUPLE YEARS NOW. UM, I'VE BEEN HERE SIX YEARS, ACTUALLY SIX YEARS HERE, SEPTEMBER, 2019. SO I'VE BEEN RIDING THE BUS FOR SIX YEARS AND FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS I'VE BEEN WANTING TO VISIT YOU AND, UM, I DON'T HAVE A EVERYTHING PLANNED OUT. I HAVE SOME, SOME NOTES HERE, BUT THE REASON I'M HERE TODAY IS TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS PAYING THE FAIR TO GET ON THE BUS, PAYING THE FAIR AND FROM MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN AS, AND I DON'T WANT TO IF I HAVE TO WALK YOU THROUGH THIS, BUT FIVE PAGES I PROVIDED FOR YOU. THIS IS GUADALUPE AND FORTH. THIS HAPPENED LAST SUMMER AND SECONDS AFTER I TOOK THIS PICTURE, MY LIFE WAS THREATENED BY ANOTHER MAN DOWN GUADALUPE AND FORTH. I WAS ON MY WAY TO A JOB INTERVIEW FOR A SECOND JOB. I'M IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY. I WAS SHATTERED BY THE WAY. I HAD TO GO TO THAT INTERVIEW AFTER WHAT I EXPERIENCED. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THERE WERE FOUR MORE PAGES. I DON'T WANNA WALK YOU THROUGH 'EM, BUT I PROVIDED THIS TO YOU TODAY FOR YOU TO TAKE BACK AND PUT ON YOUR DESK AND JUST TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST EVERY DAY, EVERY SINGLE DAY TRY TO GO TO WORK, GET TO THE GROCERY STORE, GO TO THE DOCTOR. THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT PERSON GETS ON THE BUS THAT DOESN'T PAY THEIR FARE, THEY'RE PUTTING US IN DANGER. I BELIEVE THAT RIDING THE BUS IS NOT A RIGHT, IT'S A PRIVILEGE. NOT EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO BE ON THE BUS. IT'S A PRIVILEGE. THE FIRST STEP IN OBTAINING THAT PRIVILEGE IS TO PAY THE FAIR. I'VE HAD DOZENS OF BUS DRIVERS OVER THE YEARS. TELL ME, WE ARE TOLD IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, LET 'EM ON ANYWAY. DOZENS OF BUS DRIVERS HAVE TOLD ME THIS OVER THE YEARS. RIDING THE BUS IS NOT A RIGHT. THE FIRST ACCESS TO THAT PRIVILEGE IS PAYING THE FAIR. THE SECOND IS TO BE COURTEOUS AND RESPECTFUL TO THE BUS DRIVER AND TO THE FELLOW PASSENGERS. PERIOD. UPON TURNING I'M 66 YEARS OLD, UPON TURNING 65, I I REALIZED THAT, OH, I'M, I'M, I'M ABLE TO HAVE A HALF FAIR AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT. SO WHAT, THERE WAS A BUS DRIVER LADY WHO DRIVES THE 3 35. SHE GOES, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE A SENIOR, YOU'RE ENTITLED TO HAVE FAIR FOR A YEAR. THAT'S FINE. IT TAKES MONEY TO, TO RUN A BUS SYSTEM. I UNDERSTAND THAT. SO YOU YOU, YOU HAVE MY MONEY. THIS IS FINE. I'M, I I MAKE SURE THAT I GET CASH. I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE, THE NEW CARD THAT I HAVE TO GET. SO I WENT DOWN TO YOUR NEW OFFICE 17TH IN GUADALUPE AND I WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE SENIOR CARD. I BELIEVE FOLLOWING THE RULES IS PARAMOUNT TO THE SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DID YOU WANNA WRAP UP YOUR THOUGHTS FOR THIS PUBLIC COMMENT? UM, I JUST, I JUST WANT, I'D LIKE TO SAY THIS, I FEEL THAT THESE BUS, AS YOU LOOK THROUGH THESE PHOTOGRAPHS, I BELIEVE THESE BUS STOPS SHOULD BE PATROLLED TO KEEP OUR SAFETY. I ALSO THINK THAT SHE SHOULD, [00:10:01] AND IT, AND IT JUST COMES TO MIND, I THINK THAT THESE BUS DRIVERS SHOULD BE GIVEN THE AUTHORITY TO SAY, AND I JUST SAW IT THE OTHER DAY IN SIX YEARS. I SAW ONE BUS DRIVER THE OTHER DAY SAY, LOOK, IF YOU DON'T PAY THE FARE, YOU NEED TO GET OFF THE BUS. ONE. IN SIX YEARS I'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN AND I GOT HER NUMBER. I DON'T KNOW HER NAME, I GOT HER NUMBER, ID NUMBER AND I CALLED AND I GAVE HER PROPS FOR STANDING UP FOR THE RULES. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING TO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY TODAY AND I HOPE YOU'LL KEEP THESE. AND AS A POINT OF REFERENCE MOVING FORWARD, WHAT CAN WE DO TO KEEP US SAFE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS? THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU SIR. APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. THE NEXT SPEAKER I BELIEVE IS OPIA JOSEPH. MS. JASON CAN PULL UP THIS SLIDE, UM, RECORD. SURE, I'LL SPEAK. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH AS IT RELATES TO THE BUDGET SPECIFICALLY AND TO THE COMMENTS PREVIOUSLY HEARD, I JUST WANNA ASK YOU TO INVEST IN SAFETY AND I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO THIS AT LEAST A MINUTE OF THIS CLIP. GO AHEAD, MR. EASTON OR THE LADY THREATENED TO KILL ME. I'M GONNA RECORD IT. TAKE IT TO STATE LAW. ANY F*****G THING BECAUSE YOU AND MY HOUSE STATE LAW OFF THE POLICE. ALL Y'ALL KISS MY ASS. YOU STEP FOOT IN MY B***H IN MY HOUSE. B***H, I WILL KILL YOUR F*****G ASS ON THIS BUS. YOU BETTER GET YOUR ASS OFF THIS BUS. YEAH, I WILL KILL YOU. B***H. UHUH. SHE CAN LISTEN TO ME ANYWAY. B***H, LEMME GET YOUR PICTURE. UHUH, DON'T HIDE YOUR FACE. HOLD. I GOT YOU. I GOT YOU. I GOT YOU THE FIRST TIME. UHHUH. UHHUH. JUST TRYING TO HIDE HER FACE. HIDE YOUR FACE, B***H. I GOT YOU. I GOT ALL Y'ALL COMING THROUGH MY F*****G DOOR, B***H. YEAH, I APOLOGIZE MAN. THAT'S ALL I GOTTA SAY. OKAY, THANK YOU MR. EASTON. THIS IS, UH, ABOUT SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING ON THE SECOND OF UH, SEPTEMBER, AS YOU MAY BE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED IN NORTH CAROLINA WHERE IT WAS UNPROVOKED AND THE LADY WAS STABBED. I WENT TO THE DRIVER AT THE END OF 3 25 LINE AND I ASKED HER WHAT COULD SHE DO? AND SHE SAID SHE COULD TELL HER SUPERVISOR, BUT THAT WAS ABOUT IT. SO TO THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER, YOUR SYSTEM IS NOT SAFE. THIS LADY WORKS AT THRIFT LAND IN SOUTH AUSTIN. I DO NOT KNOW HER. SHE GOT ON THE BUS UNPROVOKED AND TARGETED ME AND THEN SAID I WAS STEALING IN THE STORE. I WENT TO THE STORE SO THAT THEY, THEY IDENTIFIED THAT THAT'S AN EMPLOYEE, BUT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN THE STORE. SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I CALLED 9 1 1. IT WASN'T AN EMERGENCY HAPPENING AT THE TIME, SO THEY COULD DO NOTHING. 3 1 1. YOU CAN FILL OUT THE FORM AND THEY MAY CALL YOU BACK. YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING BEFORE ONE OF US GETS KILLED AGAIN. SO I AM DOING THE LEGAL RESEARCH TO GET A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST THIS LADY. UM, THERE'S A VA CLINIC ON MONDAY AND I'LL GET THE LAWYERS TO HELP ME FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO. BUT THIS IS SERIOUS. YOU'VE HAD THE STABBING, THE FATAL STABBING. THE GENTLEMAN WAS KILLED. I DO NOT WANT TO BE THE NEXT FATALITY ON THE SYSTEM. THIS LADY LIVES AT 1934. RUTLAND SPARROW RUTLAND, WHICH IS THE 171 UNITS IN DISTRICT FOUR. THAT IS WHERE SHE LIVES. SHE GOT ON THE BUS AND SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT 1934. SO I AM EMOTIONAL BECAUSE I JUST SAW THIS STORY. YOU ARE WELL AWARE THAT THE 30-YEAR-OLD WHO WAS KILLED, WHO LOOKED LIKE THE UNCLE OF THE PERSON WHO WAS DECEASED, THE FAMILY FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE DRIVER. YOUR SYSTEM IS NOT SAFE, BUT YET YOU KEEP PROMOTING IT AS THOUGH IT IS AND THE CITY IS SPENDING $20 MILLION ON MARKETING. STOP WITH THE PROPAGANDA AND FIX THE SYSTEM. MAKE IT SAFE. SO PEOPLE WANNA RIDE. YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO PUT THIS WOMAN OFF THE BUS. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE EVIDENCE YOU NEED. SHE WANTS TO KILL ME THAT NIGHT SHE WAS ON THE BUS AGAIN AND START IT AGAIN. NOW WHEN I SEE HER, I JUST DON'T BOARD THE BUS. IT'S NOT RIGHT. PLEASE INVEST IN SAFETY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANKS. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CARLOS LEON. THIS SAFETY [00:15:01] SEEMS TO BE THE BIG THING THAT HAS TO BE DEALT. I NEED WHAT'S GOING ON. I'VE GOT THE EVIDENCE HERE. SO A CARLOS LEON, FIRST AND FOREMOST S FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER TO IDENTIFY AND RECTIFY SERIOUS CAP, METRO INJUSTICE AND CRIMINALITY DOCUMENTED IN THIS 20 PAGE BACKUP MATERIAL HANDOUT IN FRONT OF YOU NOW BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T FIX THIS FIRST AND YOU CAN'T PROTECT OUR SAFETY, YOU CANNOT BE TRUSTED WITH A BUDGET. SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2025, DARYL JAMEL, YOUR SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HERE AT CAP METRO EMAILED ME AN UNWARRANTED NOTICE OF SUSPENSION FROM CAP METRO TRANSIT SERVICES BASED ON FALSE PRETENSES, FALSE STATEMENTS, FALSE REPRESENTATIONS FALSELY PROJECTING GUILTY CAT METRO EMPLOYEE MISBEHAVIOR UNTO ME. THIS UNWARRANTED SIX MONTHS SUSPENSION ALLEGEDLY AS RETALIATION AGAINST ME FOR WHISTLE BLOWING, SERIOUS ONGOING CAT METRO PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT AND CRIMINALITY TO YOU BOARD. START WITH THE BACK PAGE. LOOK AT IT. LOOK HOW JAMEL TRIES CRIMINALIZING ME AS IF I'M A PUBLIC SAFETY THREAT, LIKE A WANTED POSTER. HE FALSELY ACCUSES ME OF OPERATOR ABUSE, MULTIPLE CODE OF CONDUCT VIOLATIONS AND REPEATEDLY DISRUPTING SERVICE. THE TRUTH IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE. IT'S THE GUILTY CAP METRO DRIVERS, SUPERVISORS, AND PUBLIC AMBASSADORS WHO ARE PUBLIC SAFETY THREATS, WHO HAVE REPEATEDLY ATTEMPTED TO ABUSE ME ON THE BUS, WHO ARE GUILTY OF MULTIPLE CODE OF CONDUCT VIOLATIONS AND HAVE REPEATEDLY DENIED, DELAYED AND DENIED ME SERVICE, WHICH I HAVE DOCUMENTED FOR YOU BOARD IN WRITING AT THE JULY AND AUGUST MEETINGS. REMEMBER I GAVE YOU THOSE HANDOUTS ON RECORD. THOSE GUILTY CAB METRO EMPLOYEES INITIATE AND ESCALATE THOSE VIOLATIONS AND CONFRONTATIONS AGAINST ME. I'M NOT THE ONE DOING THIS. IT'S FROM THEM. THEY'RE TARGETING ME WITH RULE FOLLOWING LAW ABIDING DRIVERS LIKE THIS GENTLEMAN SPOKE. THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS BECAUSE WITH THEM I SIMPLY BOARD THE BUS. I PAY MY FARE BOARD WITH MY GEAR, I SIT DOWN PEACEFULLY, I RIDE THE BUS, I EXIT AT MY DESTINATION. STOP. THERE ARE NO INCIDENTS, THERE'S NO CONFRONTATIONS, THERE'S NO PROBLEMS. THAT'S HOW IT SHOULD BE ALL THE TIME, BUT IT'S NOT. AND YOU ALL NEED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU LOOK AT THIS PACKET ON PAGES 17 THROUGH 19 ARE JAMAL'S THREE PAGE SUSPENSION LETTER, WHICH IS FILLED WITH UPSIDE DOWN MISREPRESENTATIONS TRYING TO DISTORT AND REWRITE TRUE REALITY. I'M NOT ALLOWING THAT HE HAS TRIED CHERRY PICKING INCIDENTS AND THEN TRYING TO DISTORT AND AMPLIFY AND YOU DON'T SEE THE WHOLE PICTURE, WHICH I'VE GIVEN YOU HERE. I KNOW IT'S MY THREE MINUTES. I'LL SPEAK MORE AT THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'LL CONTINUE THIS. THIS IS NOT DONE. AMEN. THANK YOU. GOOD FOR YOU SIR, FOR YOUR COMMENTS. DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM THAT DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK TODAY? AND SINCE I'M FILLING IN FOR CHAIR ILIAN, I'LL CALL A SECOND TIME. HAS ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND A THIRD TIME? ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM TODAY? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR COMMENTS. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON [IV.1. Proposed January 2026 Service Change Presentation] TO OUR PRESENTATION ON THE PROPOSED JANUARY SERVICE CHANGES FROM JORDAN MCGEE. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR ELLIS, MEMBERS OF THE CAP METRO BOARD AND PRESIDENT AND CEO DOTTIE WATKINS. I AM JORDAN GEE WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. TODAY I'LL BE COVERING THE PROPOSED JANUARY, 2026 SERVICE CHANGES. STARTING WITH A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR SERVICE CHANGE PROCESS. SERVICE CHANGES PROVIDE CAP METRO AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADJUST ITS SERVICES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND EFFICIENTLY USE OUR RESOURCES. THIS PROCESS IS GOVERNED BY OUR BOARD APPROVED SERVICE STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES WHERE WE IDENTIFY WAYS TO IMPROVE SERVICE, [00:20:01] DEVELOP A PROPOSAL, AND ENGAGE OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT EACH STEP. THESE SERVICE CHANGES OCCUR UP TO THREE TIMES A YEAR, TYPICALLY IN JANUARY, JUNE AND AUGUST TO COINCIDE WITH LOCAL SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY CALENDARS. IN THE INTERIM MONTHS BETWEEN SERVICE CHANGE, IMPLEMENTATION CAP METRO MONITORS SERVICE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS AND RESPONDS AND LISTENS TO UH, COMMUNITY FEEDBACK TO GUIDE FUTURE SERVICE CHANGE RECOMMENDATIONS. THE PROPOSED CHANGES FOR JANUARY, 2026 ARE FOCUSED ON MINOR NEAR TERM IMPROVEMENTS TO BETTER MATCH RESOURCES WITH DEMAND AND RESPOND TO COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND TRENDS. THIS SERVICE CHANGE FEATURES A REALIGNMENT OF ROUTE 4 85, KNIGHT AL CAMERON AND ROUTE 9 35 TECH RIDGE EXPRESS, AS WELL AS PROPOSED BOUNDARY EXPANSIONS IN THE PICKUP LOGO VISTA AND PICKUP MAINOR ZONES UNDER CAP METRO'S POLICY, WHICH ALIGNS WITH THE FTA CIRCULAR. THESE CHANGES ARE NOT A MAJOR SERVICE CHANGE AND THUS DO NOT REQUIRE A TITLE SIX UM, ANALYSIS. HOWEVER, WE ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, THAT THE REALIGNMENTS OF ROUTE 9 35 AND ROUTE 4 85 VOL INVOLVE A SHIFT FROM ONE CORRIDOR TO ANOTHER. UM, EQUITY WAS AND IS CONSISTENTLY CONSIDERED, UM, THROUGHOUT THE SERVICE CHANGE PROCESS AND IN THIS PRESENTATION, I'LL WALK THROUGH EACH OF THESE CHANGES IN MORE DETAIL IF APPROVED. THESE CHANGES WOULD UM, BE IMPLEMENTED STARTING ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 11TH WITH NIGHTOWL CHANGES STARTING ON MONDAY, JANUARY 12TH. AND DUE TO THE OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY OF PICKUP, UM, THOSE CHANGES WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED IN A TIMELY MANNER STARTING IN OCTOBER, 2025. AND CAP METRO IS PROPOSING THE REALIGNMENT OF ROUTE 4 85 NIGHT AL CAMERON TO ENABLE LATE NIGHT CONNECTIONS TO THE ACTIVE NIGHTLIFE ON E SIX TRANSFERS TO THE GREYHOUND BUS SERVICE AT EASTSIDE BUS PLAZA AND IMPROVES CONNECTIVITY WITHIN MUELLER. THIS ROUTE IS AMONG OUR NIGHT OWL SYSTEM, WHICH OFFERS A SAFE AND INEXPENSIVE, UM, OPTION FOR CUSTOMERS, UH, TRAVELING LATE AT NIGHT, YEAR ROUND FROM MIDNIGHT TO 3:00 AM ON MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHTS. AS PART OF THE SERVICE CHANGE PROCESS, WE REVIEWED LATE NIGHT RIDERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM BETWEEN 11:00 PM AND MIDNIGHT AS AN INDICATOR OF POTENTIAL NIGHT OWL USAGE IN AREAS THAT IT CURRENTLY DOES NOT SERVE TO ADDRESS, UM, MOBILITY GAPS AND NEEDS. THE MAP DISPLAYS AVERAGE WEEKDAY RIDERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM DURING THIS HOUR DEMONSTRATING HIGH USAGE AND NEED, UM, ALONG EAST SIX EAST CAESAR CHAVEZ, INGO VALLEY NEIGHBORHOODS AND AREAS THAT THE NIGHT OWL CURRENTLY DOES NOT SERVE. THE EXISTING ROUTE 9 85 UM, ALIGNMENT REFLECTED MINIMAL LATE NIGHT USAGE THROUGHOUT THE CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN AND ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOODS. UM, WITH MANY OF THE STOPS SHOWING ZERO TO ONE AVERAGE DAILY RIDERS. AND CURRENTLY THERE ARE NO FIXED ROUTE, UM, BUS OPTIONS TO CONNECT TO OR FROM THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT ALONG EAST SEVENTH OR AT THE GREYHOUND, UM, BUS SERVICE AT EASTSIDE BUS PLAZA FROM ABOUT MIDNIGHT TO 5:00 AM. COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AS SHOWN ON THE SLIDE, HAS DEMONSTRATED STRONG INTEREST IN PROVIDING LATE NIGHT BUS CONNECTIONS TO THESE AREAS THROUGH REALIGNMENT. PROVIDES A NEAR TERM OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE THAT GAP, SUPPORT THE CITY'S ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS AND IMPROVE UM, REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY IN THE PROPOSED ALIGNMENT. SHOWN ON THE SCREEN REAL LINES ROUTE 4 85 FROM ROSEWOOD AVENUE TO EAST SEVENTH, PROVIDING THAT PROXIMITY TO THE PLAZA ALT DISTRICT AND MANY OTHER KEY DESTINATIONS. AND THEN AS IT CONTINUES TO TRAVEL ALONG, EAST SEVENTH CONNECTS TO THE EAST SIDE BUS PLAZA, ALLOWING CUSTOMERS TO TRANSFER TO THE GREYHOUND BUS SERVICES WITH TRIPS, UM, FOR THE GREYHOUND STARTING AT THREE IN THE MORNING. AND AS YOU TRAVEL FURTHER NORTH, A MINOR REALIGNMENT THROUGH THE MUELLER AREA IS PROPOSED TO REACH MORE DESTINATIONS AND LOCATIONS OF KEY TRANSIT USAGE AND THE REALIGN ROUTE WOULD CONTINUE OPERATING WITH THE SAME SPAN THAT IT DOES TODAY, PROVIDING LATE NIGHT CONNECTIONS ON MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY FROM MIDNIGHT TO 3:00 AM AND CAP METRO IS ALSO PROPOSING, UH, TO REALIGN ROUTE 9 35 TECH RIDGE EXPRESS TO PROACTIVELY ADDRESS EXPECTED TRAFFIC AND CON, UM, CONGESTION IMPACTS FROM THE I 35 PROJECT, UM, WITH CENTRAL TEXAS, UM, ENTERING A MULTI-YEAR PHASE OF MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, CAP METRO HAS BEEN MANAGING DAILY OPERATIONS, UM, WITH STRATEGIC MONITORING, UM, AND NIMBLENESS WHILE CLOSELY COORDINATING WITH OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS, UH, TO ALIGN [00:25:01] TIMELINES AND REDUCE UM, DISRUPTIONS. THIS REALIGNMENT, UM, WAS IDENTIFIED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS TO ASSIST WITH TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT, UM, AND REDUCE CON UM, CONGESTION ASSOCIATED WITH THE I 35 PROJECT. UM, SO ACCORDINGLY, UM, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS REALIGNMENT IS INCLUDED AS AN IMPLEMENTATION ITEM IN THE CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION GRANT. AND THIS PROPOSED CHANGE WOULD SHIFT NONSTOP SERVICE FROM I 35 TO MOPAC USING THE MOPAC MANAGE LANES TO BYPASS TRAFFIC. THE SHIFT FROM I 35 TO MOPAC WOULD BE TEMPORARY IN LINE, UM, WITH THE I 35 CONSTRUCTION AND LONGER, UM, LONGER TERM OUR INTENT IS TO RETURN THE SERVICE TO I 35 UM, CORRIDOR ONCE CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE I 35 HOV MANAGED LANES. UM, THE ADJUSTMENT WOULD ALSO REMOVE AN UNPRODUCTIVE SEGMENT ALONG RIVERSIDE DRIVE, UM, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED UH, TO CONNECT THE TECH RIDGE PARK AND RIDE WITH THE TEXT RIVERSIDE CAMPUSES, WHICH HAVE SINCE CLOSED NOW SHOWING, UM, AVERAGE WEEKDAY RIDERSHIP OF ZERO TO ONE AVERAGE DAILY CUSTOMERS AND IN COORDINATION WITH REGIONAL MEMBER CITIES. UH, STAFF PROPOSE, UM, BOUNDARY EXPANSIONS IN LONGO VISTA MAINOR PICKUP ZONES TO INCREASE ACCESS IN CUSTOMER UM, EXPERIENCE WITHOUT IMPACTING RESOURCES. MORE SPECIFICALLY AFTER ENGAGING UM, WITH CITY OF LAGO VISTA LEADERSHIP ABOUT POTENTIAL FUTURE SERVICE OPTIONS, UM, STAFF RECOMMEND A THIRD OF A SQUARE MILE UM, BOUNDARY EXPANSION IN THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE EXISTING PICKUP ZONE AS SHOWN IN THE RED ON THE BOTTOM. UM, THE PROPOSED EXPANSION WOULD PROVIDE PICKUP SERVICE TO A SECTION OF THE CITY WITH HIGHER RESIDENTIAL DENSITY THAT'S WELL SUITED FOR SUSTAINABLE PICKUP EXPANSION. AND AS SHOWN ON THE RIGHT, UM, STAFF PROPOSED A ZONE EXPANSION, THE PICKUP MAINOR ZONE, UH, TO PROVIDE SERVICE UM, TO THE DERBY APARTMENTS WHERE THERE ARE MULTIPLE INDIVIDUALS WITH MOBILITY NEEDS IN THE EXPANDED PORTIONS OF BOTH ZONES OR FULLY WITHIN THE CAT METRO SERVICE AREA AND ARE RESOURCE NEUTRAL. AND LASTLY, TO IMPROVE ON-TIME PERFORMANCE AND BETTER SERVE CUSTOMERS, SELECT ROUTES MAY RECEIVE A MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO THEIR SCHEDULES OR BUS STOP LOCATIONS. WE ARE CURRENTLY EVALUATING A VARIETY OF ROUTES SHOWN, UM, ON THE SLIDE WITHIN THE FIRST COLUMN TO SEE IF THE SCHEDULE TIME MIGHT NEED TO BE ADJUSTED, UH, DUE TO EVOLVING TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION WITHIN THE REGION. THIS MAKE SURE THE SCHEDULE IS AS ACCURATE AND RELIABLE AS POSSIBLE FOR CUSTOMERS. WE'RE ALSO RECOMMENDING ADDITIONAL EVENING TRIPS FOR ROUTE 2 71 DELL VALLEY FEEDER IN COORDINATION WITH TRAVIS COUNTY. ADDITIONAL TRIPS IN THE AFTERNOON FOR RAPID 8 0 1 TO ASSIST WITH PASSENGER LOADS. WE ARE HAVING ONGOING DISCUSSIONS WITH DELL VALLEY ISD REGARDING ROUTE 2 71 DELL VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL BUS STOPS AND ONCE THE DRAFT SCHEDULES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AVAILABLE, CAT MITCHELL WILL PROMOTE THESE DETAILS, UM, WITH THE COMMUNITY WITH COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING MATERIALS IN OUR SERVICE CHANGE. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PLAN AIMS TO KEEP CUSTOMERS INFORMED ON THE POTENTIAL CHANGES AND GATHER INPUT TO GUIDE THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT KICKED OFF ON AUGUST 10TH AND COINCIDED WITH THE ENGAGEMENT FOR THE TRANSIT PLAN 2035. UM, DRAFT NETWORK, A TRANSIT PLAN 2035 DRAFT NETWORK IS A SEPARATE ITEM ALTHOUGH IT'S SIMILARLY PROVIDED, UM, OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON THE, ON THESE PROPOSED CHANGES AS WELL. AND OVER THE LAST MONTH, UM, WE HAVE SPOKE WITH ABOUT 750 CUSTOMERS, RES RESIDENTS AND OPERATORS, UM, DURING AT STOP AND ONBOARD OUTREACH ABOUT THE PROPOSED JANUARY, 2026 SERVICE CHANGE. UM, PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE WEB, UM, PROVIDE COMMENT AT THE SCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARING, UM, TODAY AND ENGAGED THROUGH OTHER CHANNELS LISTED ON THE SLIDE. UM, FEEDBACK UM, ON THE SERVICE CHANGE HAS BEEN VERY POSITIVE WITH EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE PROPOSED UM, CONNECTIVITY OPTIONS IN COLLABORATING WITH REGIONAL UM, MEMBERS AND PARTNERS IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF OUR SERVICE CHANGE PROCESS AND FOR OVERALL ACHIEVING THE AGENCY'S VISION. TOGETHER WE ADDRESS MOBILITY GAPS, ASSESS SERVICE ACCESS AND EFFECTIVENESS AND ENSURE THAT THE SERVICE REFLECTS REGIONAL FEEDBACK AND CONDITIONS. THE CAT METRO GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM ALONG WITH THE REGIONAL PLANNING TEAM AND CLOSE COORDINATION WITH [00:30:01] PLANNING STAFF CONTINUES TO PROACTIVELY FACILITATE ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, UM, AND ONGOING COMMUNICATION WITH ALL JURISDICTIONS WITHIN OUR SERVICE AREA. WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH EACH JURISDICTION TO UNDERSTAND THEIR FEEDBACK, EVALUATE EXISTING AND FUTURE SERVICES MODEL ANY POTENTIAL, UM, SCENARIOS AND ADDRESS ISSUES AS PART OF THE SERVICE CHANGE IN TRANSIT PLAN PROCESS. AND WITH THAT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY AND I'D LOVE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION MS. MCGEE. I BELIEVE WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE [V. Public Comment] SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. FIRST, LET'S CALL CARLOS LEON, SORRY CARLOS LEON FIRST AND FOREMOST LETTING ME CONTINUE CALLING OUT MAJOR CHANGES YOU NEED TO MAKE ASAP TO SERVE AND PROTECT US PASSENGERS. PAGES 17 THROUGH 19 ARE JAMAL'S THREE PAGE SUSPENSION LETTER FILLED WITH UPSIDE DOWN MISREPRESENTATIONS TRYING TO DISTORT AND REWRITE TRUE REALITY TO GASLIGHT YOU KAT METRO'S SUPERVISORS AND THE POLICE. THEREFORE, IN PAGES ONE THROUGH 16 OF MY PACKET, I DEBUNKED JAMAL'S BULL CRAP WITH THE TRUTH POINT BY POINT REBUKING JAMAL'S ATTEMPT TO PROJECT CAT METRO'S OFFENSES AND VIOLATIONS UNDER ME. HIS BLAME THE TARGET TACTICS TO PUNISH ME, THE WHISTLEBLOWER FOR WHAT HE AND HIS FELLOW CAT METRO GOOD EMPLOYEES WHO ARE GUILTY FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. THIS BULL CRAP SUSPENSION ALSO VIOLATES MY RIGHT TO WORK BECAUSE I DAILY USE CAT METRO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, MASS TRANSIT TO GO TO WORK AND GETTING TO WORK IS PART OF THE RIGHT TO WORK VIOLATING TEXAS LABOR CODE 1 0 1 0.003 NOT TO MENTION USING IT TO GO TO HEB FOR FOOD AND WATER TO SURVIVE LIKE ANYBODY ELSE. THEREFORE, JAMAL IS TRYING TO STOP ME, A PAYING CUSTOMER FROM WORKING TO SUPPORT MYSELF, TO STARVE ME OUT AND PREVENT ME FROM TESTIFYING BEFORE YOU THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOU ARE PAID TO DO. YEAH, YOU'RE LETTING PEOPLE WHO DON'T EVEN PAY BOARD THE BUS AND YOU'RE GONNA SUSPEND ME. ARE YOU OUTTA YOUR MINDS? THAT'S TOTALLY UPSIDE DOWN THOUGH. THE LETTER SAYS I HAVE FIVE BUSINESS DAYS TO REQUEST A HEARING TO SIT THERE AND OVERTURN THIS. ASK YOURSELVES BOARD IF JAMELE STOLE YOUR WALLET FROM YOU AND THEN TOLD YOU YOU HAD FIVE BUSINESS DAYS TO REQUEST A HEARING WITH HIM TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO GIVE BACK TO YOU YOUR WALLET THAT HE STOLE, WOULD YOU REQUEST THE HEARING? OF COURSE NOT. YOU'D GO TO THE AUTHORITIES TO GET IT BACK, WHICH I'M DOING RIGHT NOW, TESTIFYING BEFORE YOU 'CAUSE YOU HAVE THE POWER TO FIX THIS ASAP. YOU'D ALSO USE THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION TO MAKE HIM PAY SUCH AS CALLING HIM AND KEPT METRO OUT AT TOMORROW CITY COUNCIL MEETING. AND WHAT DO YOU THINK THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS GONNA THINK WHEN THEY HEAR ABOUT THIS FROM ME? THEY'RE JUST LOOKING FOR REASONS TO CLAW BACK MORE FEDERAL FUNDING FROM YOU JUST LIKE THEY'VE ALREADY DONE WITH THE ELECTRIC VEHICLES BOARD. I AM TELLING YOU PUBLICLY IN FRONT OF EVERYONE, YOU HAVE THE POWER TO RIGHT THIS WRONG BY OFFICIALLY RESTORING MY FULL ACCESS TO CAT METRO SERVICES AND PROPERTIES NOW, AMEN. FIRE DARYL JAMELE. NOW JUST LIKE MILES TURPEN FOR TRYING TO STARVE ME OUT, YOU NEED TO ROOT OUT THE EVIL HERE. DO YOU KNOW MANY TIMES I'VE GOTTEN PASSED UP HOW MANY TIMES I'M JUST TRYING TO GET TO WORK AND DRIVERS DON'T WANT TO STOP FOR ME. THAT'S WHY A COUPLE TIMES I HAVE STOOD IN FRONT OF A BUS TO SIT THERE AND SAY, NO, YOU NEED TO BOARD ME. I HAVE TO GO TO WORK. YOU ARE NOT VIOLATING MY CIVIL RIGHTS. YOU ARE NOT PASSING ME UP. THIS IS WAR. WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? I AM PEACEFUL AND JUST COPACETIC NORMALLY AS LONG AS THE RULES ARE PEACEFULLY FOLLOWED. BUT YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT I STAND UP FOR MYSELF AND MY CIVIL RIGHTS WHEN YOUR DRIVERS INTENTIONALLY DO NOT FOLLOW THE CODE OF CONDUCT AND THEY INTENTIONALLY BREAK A LAW. AND DARRYL JAMELL NEEDS TO BE REPRIMANDED IF NOT FIRED, JUST LIKE MILES TURPEN. THIS IS WAR THAT YOU'RE BRINGING TO ME. I'M NOT BRINGING IT TO YOU, BUT I'M GONNA DEFEND MYSELF LAWFULLY GOOD FOR YOU. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. IT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NOIA JOSEPH. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR MEMBERS. I'M Z NOVIA JOSEPH. MY COMMENTS ARE IN THE CONTEXT OF [00:35:01] TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, AS THEY ALWAYS ARE, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR AND NATIONAL ORIGIN. I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHERE IT SPECIFIES THAT YOU WANT TO IMPROVE 2 71 DEL VALLEY, THAT IS ACTUALLY BIAS, WHICH IS IN VIOLATION OF TITLE SIX. I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT TRAVIS COUNTY ALSO FUNDS THE 2 37, WHICH IS AT COMMUNITY FIRST VILLAGE WHERE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE WAITING TWO HOURS IN THEIR WHEELCHAIRS. THEY ALSO FUND COLONY PARK WHERE BLACK PEOPLE WAIT 60 MINUTES FOR THE BUS, 10 TIMES LONGER THAN SOUTHWEST CENTRAL AUSTIN. I'LL JUST REMIND YOU THAT WHEN UH, THE PREVIOUS BOARD MEMBER WAS THERE FOR 2 71, UH, DELIA GARZA ACTUALLY SAID THAT THEY PROMISED HER THAT THEY WOULDN'T CHANGE THIS ROUTE. SO THEY KEEP IMPROVING 2 71 NEGLECTING NORTHEAST AUSTIN. IT IS DEEPLY DISTURBING AND I WOULD ASK YOU SPECIFICALLY WITH THESE ROUTE CHANGES AND TO MS. MCGEE, UH, IT'S REALLY JUST LIP SERVICE RESPECTFULLY. YOU DO NOT LISTEN. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE ASKED FOR REPEATEDLY IS FOR YOU TO RESTORE NORTHEAST WEST CONNECTIVITY, SPECIFICALLY THE 3 92. NEXT SLIDE. I JUST WANT YOU TO SEE THE NETWORK ONCE AGAIN. YOU WILL SEE ON THE LEFT SIDE THE GRAVE SLIDE THAT IS NORTH OF US 180 3. IT IS INFREQUENT, UNRELIABLE, DISCONNECTED SERVICE. ON THE RIGHT SIDE, YOU'LL SEE THE SOUTHWEST CENTRAL NETWORK AND SPECIFICALLY THE WAY THAT YOU GAME THE SYSTEM. AND CAITLIN DALTON SAID IT, SOME OF OUR CUSTOMERS WOULD HAVE TO TRANSFER AND THIS IS A RECIPE FOR RIDERSHIP INCREASES. BASICALLY YOU ARE DOUBLE AND TRIPLE COUNTING MINORITIES AND THEN YOU IMPROVE THE SYSTEM SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL. SO INFLATING THE RIDERSHIP IS BASICALLY DEFRAUDING TAXPAYERS FRAUD IS TRYING TO GET SOMETHING OF VALUE THROUGH WILLFUL MIS REPRESENTATION, WHICH IS YOUR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE 2017 DEFINITION. THIS IS A SLIDE FROM APTA CHARLIE JACKSON WHERE YOU'RE BOASTING OF INCREASED RIDERSHIP. AND WHAT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT THAT RIDERSHIP COMES AT THE EXPENSE OF BLACK PEOPLE WAITING 60 MINUTES AND THIS BOARD, NONE OF YOU HAVE EVER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO TWEAK THE SYSTEM, THEN YOU NEED TO TWEAK THE SYSTEM SO WE ALL BENEFIT FROM IT. AND THE OTHER THING I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE IS JUST TODAY I GOT THIS LITTLE CARD, YOU CAN WIN $50 IN A GIFT CARD IF YOU TAKE THE SURVEY, BUT GUESS WHAT? YOU NEVER SURVEY THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ANY SERVICE. HARRIS BRANCH PIONEER CROSSING DESKS, ALL THERE ARE OVER 2000 APARTMENT UNITS WITHIN TWO MILES OF SAMSUNG AND NO TRANSPORTATION IN 2021 CAMP, ACTUALLY DESIGNATED FM 9 69 AND FM 7 34 PARMER LANE AS REGIONALLY SIGNIFICANT AND STILL TO THIS DAY, YOU HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION. YOU ELIMINATED IT JULY 27TH, 2020 BETWEEN SAMSUNG AND APPLE. AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT REGIONALLY SIGNIFICANT WOULD BE FROM MAINOR TO LEANDER BECAUSE THE WHITE PEOPLE IN LEANDER, ESPECIALLY THIS BLIND MAN WANT TRANSPORTATION ON PARMA LANE. TWO. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME. AND LASTLY, I WOULD JUST SAY 3 0 2 0 8 OH. THAT DRIVER NEEDS SOME CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING BECAUSE HE SAYS YOU HAVE TOO MANY BAGS. AND I WOULD LIKE YOU TO REMEMBER, BLACK PEOPLE ARE OVER SIX TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE HOMELESS IN AUSTIN THAN OUR WHITE COUNTERPARTS. I'M NOT SURE WHERE CAPITAL METRO WANTS PEOPLE TO PUT THEIR BAGS, BUT THESE DRIVERS NEED TO BE MORE SENSITIVE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GO OUT AND ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE SO EXTENSIVE. MADAM CHAIR, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE MATTER CALLING A SECOND TIME ANY MORE SPEAKERS? AND A THIRD TIME LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE NO MORE SPEAKERS THAT WANNA SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. THAT MEANS TODAY WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND STAND ADJOURNED. UM, AS WE SAID EARLIER, THERE WILL BE A FUTURE TIMES WHERE THE BOARD WILL TAKE UP THESE ITEMS SO THERE WILL BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMENT. UM, THE TIME IS NOW 12:50 PM ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.