[00:00:01]
RIGHT.[I. Call to Order]
EVERYONE.THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THE SEPTEMBER MEETING OF THE CAP METRO BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
I WILL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
TODAY IS MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND, AND THE TIME IS 12:03 PM.
[II. Safety Briefing]
TODAY WILL BE OUR MONTHLY SAFETY BRIEFING.OUR EVP AND CHIEF SAFETY OFFICER, MR. GARDNER BAN IS HERE.
GARDNER, COULD YOU TAKE US THROUGH THAT INFORMATION TODAY? CERTAINLY.
I SERVE AS CAPITAL METRO'S EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF SAFETY OFFICER.
I'M HERE TODAY TO GIVE YOU A SAFETY BRIEFING.
YOU ARE HERE LOCATED AT 29 10 EAST FIFTH STREET.
YOU'RE LOCATED IN, UH, THE ROSA PARKS BOARDROOM.
IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT THAT WE WILL NEED TO EVACUATE EITHER FROM THIS, UH, EXIT HERE OR THE MAIN EXIT, PLEASE WALK ALL THE WAY OVER TO 3,100, WHICH IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR IN THE PARKING LOT, AND WE WILL MEET OVER THERE IF YOU HAVE ANY, UH, MOBILITY CHALLENGES.
AND WE SHOULD NEED TO EXIT FROM THIS DOOR HERE.
PLEASE WAIT ON THE PLATFORM AND WE'LL ASSIST YOU DOWN THE STAIRWAY.
OUR A ED IS LOCATED, UH, RIGHT BY THE ELEVATOR, SO YOU'LL GO OUT THESE DOUBLE DOORS AND MAKE A RIGHT TURN.
AND OUR FIRE EXTINGUISHER, SIR, UH, IS LOCATED RIGHT HERE.
MY COLLEAGUE IS POINTING IT OUT FOR ME RIGHT NOW.
IT'S LOCATED RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROOM.
AND THAT CONCLUDES YOUR SAFETY BRIEFING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. TABBAN.
[III. Public Comment (Part 1 of 2)]
COMMENT.EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES, UNLESS THEY'RE SPEAKING ON TWO AGENDA ITEMS OR REPRESENTING A GROUP WITH MORE THAN ONE PERSON IN THE ROOM, IN WHICH CASE THEY WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED, SIGNED UP TO SPEAK WITH US IN ADVANCE, AND THE FIRST OF THOSE SPEAKERS IS 10.
NEIL ADAMS, MADAM CHAIR, I HAVEN'T SEEN IL ADAMS JOIN US.
IF SHE DOES ENTER THE ROOM, I'LL TRY TO CATCH YOUR ATTENTION.
AND PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK THAT THE MICROPHONE IS ON AND YOU'RE THE FIRST SPEAKER.
UM, MICHELLE MO, TRAVIS COUNTY, UH, TRANSPORTATION, NATURAL RESOURCES, LONG RANGE PLANNING MANAGER.
I'M HERE TODAY TO THANK CUT METRO AND THE BOARD FOR THE CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP AND PROVIDING SERVICE TO THE URBANIZED, UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF TRAVIS COUNTY.
OUR AGENCIES HAVE COORDINATED THESE EFFORTS THROUGH THE SERVICE EXPANSION PROGRAM SINCE 2015.
UM, IN THAT TIME, WE'VE COLLECTIVELY PRODUCED TWO TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND PROVIDED TRANSIT SERVICE THROUGH MULTIPLE INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENTS.
THE COUNTY LOOKS FORWARD TO CONTINUING, CONTINUING OUR WORK WITH JULIE MAZER, YOUR REGIONAL COORDINATION MANAGER, AND BUILDING ON THE PARTNERSHIP.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE LU SLO.
UH, JUST WANT TO REITERATE THE WORDS OF, UH, MICHELLE, UH, THAT SHE SAID UP HERE.
JUST, JUST GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT JULIE'S PUT INTO THESE EFFORTS, UH, TO CONTINUE, UM, THE SERVICES FOR THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SHERRY TAYLOR.
DON'T THINK I'VE SEEN MS. TAYLOR YET.
I HAVE NOT SEEN MS. TAYLOR EITHER THIS MORNING, THIS AFTERNOON.
WE'LL SEE IF SOME OF THESE FOLKS MAKE THEIR WAY HERE SHORTLY.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING AT A BOARD MEETING AND MY FIRST PUBLIC SPEAKING IN QUITE A WHILE.
UM, WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS STEPHANIE AND, UM, I AM HERE TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE AS A DAILY RIDER OF METRO.
UM, I RELY ON THE BUS SYSTEM TO GET TO AND FROM WORK, AS WELL AS BRINGING MY SON TO SCHOOL.
UM, RIGHT NOW TAKING CAP METRO, I FEEL UNSAFE, UNSUPPORTED AND AT RISK OF LOSING MY JOB BECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS OF, THAT'S WITH THE BUSES AS WELL AS, UM,
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I'M GONNA CALM DOWN IN A SECOND.SO LAST WEEK I WAS, UM, HARASSED, UM, BY A MAN, UM, ON ONE OF THE BUSES.
WHILE IT WAS CROWDED, UM, I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE MYSELF FROM THE SITUATION, BUT WHEN I SPOKE TO A BUS DRIVER ABOUT IT THE FOLLOWING DAY, INSTEAD OF BEING GIVEN ANY SAFE REPORTING OPTIONS, I WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD HAVE REPORTED IT RIGHT THEN AND THERE.
AND HE QUESTIONED WHY I DIDN'T DO THAT.
IT LEFT ME FEELING BLAMED INSTEAD OF PROTECTED.
AND LIKE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, LIKE I STILL LIKE, DID NOT GET ANY RESOLUTION AS TO LIKE HOW TO REPORT THAT.
AND WHAT HAD HAPPENED WAS A MAN CAME ON THE BUS WHEN I WAS SITTING ON THE 8 0 1 AND HE CAME IN, HE WAS WEARING YELLOW HOSPITAL SOCKS, SLIPPERS, AND A ROBE.
AND DESPITE THERE BEING OPEN SEATS, HE STOOD OVER, I WOULD SAY VERY CLOSELY TO ME WITH EACH HAND ON THE RAILING SUPPORTING HIMSELF.
UM, I SCANNED THE ROOM AND WAS, I'M ALWAYS WATCHFUL ON THE BUS AND CAUTIOUS OF PEOPLE.
HE WENT UNDER HIS ROBE AND WENT INTO HIS PANTS AND WAS MOVING BACK AND FORTH IN A MANNER THAT WAS CONSISTENT WITH SOME KIND OF LEWD BEHAVIOR, LIKE INDECENT EXPOSURE.
UM, IT MADE ME AN EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE AND I FELT TRAPPED IN THE MOMENT.
UM, AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST LIKE INCIDENT OF LIKE AN ASSAULT THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE.
UM, ANOTHER INCIDENT I WAS WAITING FOR THE BUS AT A BUS STOP AND A WOMAN WHO CLEARLY IS MENTALLY UNWELL, WHO I'VE SEEN BEFORE, JUST SCREAMING AND SCREAMING AND SCREAMING.
I WAS TIRED AND HOT AND I WANTED TO SIT DOWN AFTER WORK.
I SAT DOWN NEXT TO HER AND SHE TOOK MY PHONE FROM MY HAND AND SLAPPED IT ONTO THE GROUND.
I HAD JUST PURCHASED THAT PHONE 'CAUSE MY PHONE HAD BROKE THE WIG PRIOR AND SHE CRACKED MY BRAND NEW PHONE.
SO I, IT'S ANOTHER FRUSTRATION.
UM, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE LIKE THERE'S JUST UNSAFE AND DESTRUCTIVE PASSENGERS THAT ARE ALLOWED TO BOARD WITHOUT PAYING.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA ARGUE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PAYING AND THAT THEY'RE LETTING DO.
SO, UM, I SEE PASSENGERS EVERY DAY THAT ARE OPENLY INTOXICATED CARRYING PARAPHERNALIA OR CAUSING VIOLENT SCENES, WHICH IS SCARY FOR ME.
SOMEBODY WHO HAS, I HAVE PTSD AND I'M TRYING, YOU KNOW, WORKING THROUGH IT WITH DOCTORS AND STUFF, BUT IT'S NOT HELPFUL.
IT'S VERY TRIGGERING AND IT MAKES ME FEEL EVEN MORE IN DANGER.
AND THESE ARE REAL CONCERNS AND REAL THINGS THAT I DO NEED TO BE AFRAID OF.
BUT LIKE, UM, UH, LIKE THERE, THE, THERE'S FECES ON BUS STOPS ON THE CHAIRS RIGHT OVER ON STANE.
AND FIRST THERE'S FECES THAT IS STILL PROBABLY THERE.
I HAD TO STOP MULTIPLE PEOPLE DAYS AFTER FROM SITTING IN THE DRIED UP REMAINS OF IT.
UM, AND A COUPLE TIMES I DIDN'T GET TO DO IT IN TIME.
LIKE IT'S, THERE'S WRITING ON THE BUS STOP OVER HERE ON SOUTH FIRST AND SNE AND THERE SAYS THE WORDS ASS AND T*****S AND IT'S WRITTEN ALL OVER IT.
AND MY SON'S, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THESE THINGS AND LIKE LEARNING, LIKE READING AND STUFF NOW.
AND LIKE, I'M LIKE, IT'S, IT'S JUST, THERE'S NEEDLES THAT ARE LIKE, THERE'S TRASH EVERYWHERE BY THE BUS STOPS.
UM, AND AT THE SAME STOP WITH THE THAT V WRITING, THERE'S WRITING THAT SAYS LOOK UP AND YOU LOOK UP AND THE SECURITY CAMERAS ARE SMASHED OUT.
UM, I THINK I PROB HAVE I GONE OVER FOR MY THREE MINUTES? I FEEL LIKE I HAVE, I I THINK WE'RE AT YOUR TIME.
WE CERTAINLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE HEARD IN THIS SITUATION.
UM, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY BEEN IN TOUCH WITH CAP METRO STAFF, WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT CONTACT SO THAT, THAT WE CAN FULLY VET THIS AND UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE.
I LOST ONE OF MY, I I WORKED TWO JOBS AND I'M PRETTY SURE I LOST ONE THIS WEEK BECAUSE OF THE LATENESS AND TARDINESS.
I MEAN, I ALREADY FEEL LIKE THE AMOUNT OF TIME I GIVE MYSELF SHOULD BE ENOUGH, BUT NOT WHEN THE BUS SYSTEMS AREN'T ON TIME.
I, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND, UNDERSTAND, WE'RE, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A CAP METRO REPRESENTATIVE THAT REACHES OUT TO YOU SO THAT THIS CAN BE LOOKED AT FURTHER.
THANK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO SPEAK TO US.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR HEARING ME.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ENOVIA JOSEPH, I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE SEEN MS. JOSEPH YET IN THE BUILDING.
WHY DON'T WE GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
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THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CARLOS LEON.SO CARLOS LEON, FIRST AND FOREMOST, GRA FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TO YOU FOR FIVE MINUTES TOTAL ON MULTIPLE AGENDA ITEMS PER TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE 4 51 0.001 PART THREE AND 4 51 0.053.
YOU BOARD OUR CAT METRO'S GOVERNING BODY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF CAT METRO AND ITS PROPERTY.
THOUGH DOTTIE WATKINS CAT METRO'S PRESIDENT AND CEO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS, SHE REPORTS TO YOU THEREFORE BECAUSE SHE HAS NOT OFFICIALLY RESCINDED SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, DARYL JAMAL'S FRAUDULENT, UNWARRANTED SIX MONTHS SUSPENSION AND SECURITY BULLETIN AGAINST ME.
YOU DO IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE THAT POWER OVER HER.
I EMAILED YOU MY 173 PAGE PDF BEFORE THIS MEETING, DOCUMENTING AND EXPLAINING THE BREADTH AND DEPTH OF CAT METRO'S, ILLEGAL DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT AND RETALIATION AGAINST ME, WHICH I HAVE REPEATEDLY TESTIFIED TO YOU ABOUT IN PERSON THESE PAST FOUR MONTHS.
I GAVE THAT SAME PDF TO THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP BOARD, TESTIFIED ABOUT IT TO THEM THIS LAST PAST WEEK AND FEATURED IT IN MY OFFICIAL WRITTEN COMPLAINT TO THE INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY STAR COMPLIANCE HOTLINE TO INVESTIGATE AND ADDRESS YOUR ALLEGED VIOLATIONS BECAUSE THEIR STATED GOAL IS TO MAKE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, INCLUDING CAP METRO, A BETTER PLACE FOR US CUSTOMERS, DRIVERS PREVIOUSLY NOT FOLLOWING YOUR GENUINE CODE OF CONDUCT TO WRONGLY DENY ME SERVICE ARE NOW FOLLOWING YOUR FRAUDULENT SECURITY BULLETIN TO WRONGLY DENY ME SERVICE TO STOP ME GETTING TO CHURCH WORK AND HEB TO STARVE ME OUT.
THOUGH INTERSTATE TRAVEL AND WORK ARE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, OTHER DRIVERS ARE TRANSPORTING ME, ALLEGEDLY BECAUSE THEY KNOW I'M RIGHT AND JEMELE'S WRONG.
OTHERS ARE GOING BACK TO THE TWO BAG, ONE SEAT ONLY.
NOTHING ON THE SEAT LIES TOLD TO THEM AT THEIR DRIVER SAFETY MEETINGS, ARGUING WITH AND BLOWING OFF YOUR RADIO OPERATORS THIS UPSIDE DOWN FOSTER CLOCK, COMMAND AND CONTROL CHAOS AND CONFUSION EMANATES FROM WHAT MILES, TURPEN AND DARRELL JAMEL HAVE ALLEGEDLY SAID AND DONE, WHICH DOTIE HAS NOT CORRECTED PUTTING YOU IN ANOTHER CRAZY SITUATION THAT SHOULD NOT EXIST LIKE A SITCOM EPISODE.
HOWEVER, WHAT'S FUNNY ON TV WITH ACTORS IS NOT FUNNY IN REAL LIFE WITH REAL PEOPLE NEGATIVELY AFFECTING DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS, PASSENGER'S LIVES JAMAL'S FRAUDULENT UNWARRANTED SUSPENSION LETTER AND BULLETINS FALSE PRETENSES STATEMENTS AND REPRESENTATIONS FALSELY PROJECTING GUILTY CAT METRO EMPLOYEES ABUSE AND VIOLATIONS ONTO ME, IGNORE THEIR DOCUMENTED WRONG AGAINST ME WRONGLY BLAMING ME AND DISTORTING MY SELF-DEFENSE REACTIONS TO WHAT THEY INITIATED AND ESCALATED HIS ATTEMPT TO GASLIGHT YOU BY KNOWINGLY MAKING, PRESENTING AND USING FALSE OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS TO HARM AND DEFRAUD ME BY THE LOSS OF MY RIGHT TO USE.
CAT METRO SERVICES ARE STATE JAIL FELONIES OF TAMPERING WITH GOVERNMENTAL RECORDS, AS WELL AS CRIMES OF OFFICIAL OPPRESSION AND ABUSING OFFICIAL CAPACITY FOR WHICH HE SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY FIRED AND CRIMINALLY PROSECUTED.
THIS INFORMATION, WAR BETWEEN TRUTH AND LIES IS SPIRITUAL AT ITS CORE, GOOD VERSUS EVIL.
REMINDING ME WHAT STEPHEN MILLER SAID AT CHARLIE KIRK'S MEMORIAL SERVICE YESTERDAY, THE STORM WHISPERS TO THE WARRIOR, YOU CANNOT WITHSTAND MY STRENGTH.
AND THE WARRIOR WHISPERS BACK, I AM THE STORM TULSI GABBARD SAID, CHARLIE'S WORDS WERE HIS WEAPONS SLAYING IGNORANCE, CUTTING THROUGH LIES AND WAKING PEOPLE'S MINDS.
AND THAT QUOTE, OUR CALL TO ACTION IS NOW EVERY ONE OF US NEEDS TO BE A WARRIOR LIKE CHARLIE TO TAKE SHELTER IN GOD TO STRENGTH, TAKE STRENGTH AND FEARLESSNESS
[00:15:01]
FROM THE LORD WHO SITS IN EVERY ONE OF OUR HEARTS TO STAND TOGETHER TO CONTINUE THE MISSION THAT CHARLIE DEDICATED HIS LIFE, SHARPEN OUR WEAPONS OF TRUTH.WHAT SAY YOU BOARD? ARE YOU GONNA STAND WITH ME AND THE LORD IN THE LIGHT TO RIGHT, WRONG, OR SERVE SATAN IN HIS LIES IN THE DARK? THE INTEGRITY OF THE UPRIGHT SHALL GUIDE THEM, BUT THE PERVERSENESS OF TRANSGRESSORS SHALL DESTROY THEM.
PROVERBS 11, THREE, GOD IS WATCHING AND JUDGING US ALL.
STAND THEREFORE HAVING YOUR LOINS GIRD ABOUT WITH TRUTH AND HAVING ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
EPHESIANS CHAPTER SIX, VERSE 14.
ALL RIGHT, SO, UH, WE'VE GOTTEN THROUGH NUMBER FIVE AND NOW NUMBER SIX IS NEXT STEP.
IS MS. JOSEPH HERE? MS. JOSEPH, YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
MEMBERS OPIA, JOSEPH, UH, CAN YOU JUST CHECK WITH MR. EASTON AND SEE IF HE'S ABLE TO PULL UP THE SLIDES? I KNOW HE HAS MEMBERS ONLINE, SO I'M NOT SURE IF HE'S ABLE TO GET THEM.
IF YOU COULD PUT IT ON FULL SCREEN, MR. EASTON, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
HE'S GOT SOMETHING ELSE UP THERE.
JOSEPH, I JUST WANNA SAY I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE WITH ME.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I JUST WANTED TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION MY OPPOSITION TO THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH TRAVIS COUNTY.
SPECIFICALLY, I WANTED YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT ONCE AGAIN YOU ARE CONFLATING RIDERSHIP AND AND COVERAGE.
THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT ACTUALLY SPECIFIES THE COVERAGE, WHICH IS THE MINORITY TRANSIT DEPENDENT RIDERS, THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU ARE GOING TO APPROVE.
HOWEVER, A ONE, OR I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S ONE OR IF IT'S I 2 0 2 5 1 5 3 7, WHICH IS ON THE SCREEN ACTUALLY SPECIFIES BUILDING RIDERSHIP.
AS YOU'LL RECALL, JULY 27TH, 2016, JARED WALKER TOLD THE BOARD THAT RIDERSHIP IS WHEN YOU CHOOSE THE AUDIENCE THAT YOU WANT TO SERVE, YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO SERVE WHITE CHOICE WRITERS AND COVERAGE IS WHEN YOU GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF SERVICE TO EVERYONE LIKE A SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY.
AND YOU HAVE FOCUSED SPECIFICALLY ON SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT AS EVIDENCE IN THE FLYER THAT'S ON THE BUSES NOW FOR SOUTH BY OUR ACL THAT'S COMING UP.
SO I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO RESTORE THE ONE C RISE 3 23 3 92, 2 42 43, AND 2 75.
AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THE LANGUAGE THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS, SPECIFICALLY WITH GEORGETOWN AND OTHERS, I JUST WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT TITLE SIX REQUIRES YOU TO BE EQUITABLE WITH ALL OF THE SERVICES AND AMENITIES THAT YOU PROVIDE.
I HAVE CIRCLED THE NORTH OVER HERE, IT'S RUNDBERG, HEB.
ONCE AGAIN, THERE IS NO SCREEN THERE SO WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS ONLY FLAT BENCHES AT OUR SCHOOLS IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN, WHEREAS THERE ARE SHELTERS LIKE EVEN AT DAWSON, WHICH IS DUE TO BE CLOSED.
SO I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THIS IN EQUITABLE, THE SIDEWALKS ARE AS WELL, AND THE MUNIEZ WHO HAS BEEN HAVING THESE CONTRACTS FOR YEARS, UM, HAS CREATED SOME OF THE METRO RAPID STOPS SO THEY KNOW HOW TO CREATE NICE BUS STOPS WITH SHELTERS.
I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU, THIS IS THE SLIDE YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE THAT THE NETWORK IS SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL.
IT IS NOT IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN.
AND YOU CONTINUE TO TELL THIS FALSEHOOD FRAUD IS TRYING TO GET SOMETHING OF VALUE THROUGH WILLFUL MISREPRESENTATION.
YOU UNDERSTAND? AND YOU KNOW AS WELL AS I, YOU INVESTED ABOUT $9.9 MILLION IN THIS NETWORK AND THIS TRANSIT PLAN, 2035 SIMPLY RESTORES THE SERVICE THAT
[00:20:01]
WE HAD BEFORE.FOR EXAMPLE, 3 25 WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE THE PLACE OF THE 2 75, WHICH WAS UNILATERALLY ELIMINATED IN TWO 40 RUTLAND.
AND IT WOULD ALSO GO OVER TO TECH RIDGE PARK AND RIDE 30 MINUTE HEADWAY WHEN IT USED TO BE 15 MINUTES EAST WEST.
WE DO NOT WANNA GO TO BROAD MAR STATION, WE DON'T GO TO KRAMER STATION, WE WANNA GO TO GREAT HILLS, TO THE SUPER TARGET.
I WOULD JUST REMIND YOU ONCE AGAIN, YOU HAVE ON YOUR AGENDA TO APPROVE THESE SERVICE CHANGES FOR 2026.
AND MR. CHAIR, YOU KNOW I'VE ASKED YOU TO RESIGN MANY TIMES AND TODAY IS NO DIFFERENT.
YES, BUT I AM HONEST ENOUGH TO TELL YOU TO YOUR FACE BECAUSE WHAT YOU ARE DOING, IF YOU SEE ON THIS SLIDE, IS IMPROVING SLAUGHTER IN DELL VALLEY WHILE BLACK PEOPLE WAIT 60 MINUTES FOR THE BUS, 10 TIMES LONGER THAN SOUTHWESTERN CENTRAL AUSTIN WHITES.
AND SO WHAT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT YOU HAVE EXTRA FUNDING OVER $300,000 AND YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THE SERVICE.
AND I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS TRANSIT PLAN 2035, IS NOT LIKE CAPRI MAP.
IT IS JUST A PROMISE IN THE WIN, WHICH IS JUST A SMOKE SCREEN.
WHICH MEANS IF THEY HAVEN'T IMPROVED THE SERVICE TODAY, THEY'RE STILL NOT GONNA DO IT.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT I HAVE A SOLUTION.
THIS IS WHAT TOO MANY BAGS LOOKS LIKE.
THE, THAT USED TO SERVE THE AIRPORT 1 0 1, IT ACTUALLY HAD SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO PUT THEIR BELONGINGS.
AND I WOULD ASK YOU, AND THE DRIVERS HAVE ASKED AS WELL ON 3 83 IN PARTICULAR THAT YOU DO SOME TYPE OF SHUTTLE SERVICE.
AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO GET THOSE OLD REFURBISHED BUSES.
SEATTLE HAS BUSES FOR PEOPLE TO PUT THEIR BELONGINGS AND THAT WAY YOU DON'T HAVE DRIVERS WHO LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE SWALLOWED A LEMON.
WELL, LET ME JUST SAY THERE ARE SOME GOOD DRIVERS OUT THERE.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DRIVERS WHO HAVE ACTUALLY SAID, CAN I HELP YOU? AND THEY LIFTED.
BUT I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE AMOUNT OF SPACE THAT'S TAKEN UP BY THESE BAGS IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE WHEELCHAIRS IS NO DIFFERENT THAN PEOPLE WHO HAVE TWO SCOOTERS.
AND SO YOU ARE DISCRIMINATING AGAINST THE HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PREDOMINANTLY AFRICAN AMERICAN OVER SIX TIMES MORE LIKELY THAN OUR WHITE COUNTERPARTS TO BE HOMELESS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GO GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME AND ALSO OPPOSE THE EXPO IN PLEASANT VALLEY ITEM THAT'S ON YOUR AGENDA.
IS THERE, LET'S SEE, IS THERE ANYONE WHO DIDN'T? OH, I GUESS THERE'S ONE SON.
THERE WERE TWO SPEAKERS THAT I DON'T THINK HAVE JOINED US YET, AND THENSO BAEZ WAS GOING TO READ SOME COMMENTS ON BEHALF OF SOSO, A LOCAL LEADER THAT COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, TRADE CHAIR, BILION, VICE CHAIR ELLIS SECRETARY, ROSS BOARD MEMBERS, AND CEO WATKINS ELBA, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AT CAP METRO AT THE REQUEST OF LAGO VISTA.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO READ HIS REMARKS INTO THE RECORD AS HE WAS NOT ABLE TO JOIN US, UH, TO PROVIDE THEM HIMSELF TODAY.
MY NAME IS KEVIN SULLIVAN AND I'M THE MAYOR OF LAGO VISTA.
I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO SPEAK TO YOU IN PERSON, BUT IN MY PLACE.
I'VE ASKED ALSO BIAS TO READ HIS THESE COMMENTS.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A VARIETY OF CAP METRO STAFF MEMBERS OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS TO DISCUSS AN EXPANSION FOR THE CAP METRO POINT TO POINT SERVICE PROVIDED IN LAGO VISTA, OTHERWISE PICK CAP.
METRO STAFF MEMBERS HAVE INCLUDED SELSO BIAS, STEVEN DARD, ANDY SCHABOWSKI, R JACKSON, AND SEVERAL OTHERS.
I FIRST WANT TO SAY THAT ALL THE CAP METRO STAFF MEMBERS WORKED HARD TO RESPOND TO A CHALLENGE THAT I PUT TO THEM.
THE CHALLENGE WAS TO DETERMINE AN APPROPRIATE EXPANSION TO SERVICE PROVIDED TO LAGO VISTA AND HAVE THAT SERVICE CHANGE HAPPEN IN A RAPID WAY.
I CAN SAY WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE THAT THEY ALL ROSE TO THE CHALLENGE AND DERIVE THE EXPANSION YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU, YOU TODAY IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, BUT IN A THOUGHTFUL WAY THAT HAD FULL ANALYSIS BEHIND IT.
TODAY I'M ASKING YOU TO REWARD THAT HARD WORK BY YOUR STAFFERS AND LAGO VISTA PERSONNEL BY APPROVING THE EXPANDED SERVICE AREA.
SO ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE LAGO VISTA COMMUNITY CAN BENEFIT FROM THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY CAP METRO.
NOT ONLY WOULD IT BE THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR CITIZENS OF LAGO VISTA, BUT IT WOULD ALSO CONFIRM TO CAB METRO STAFF MEMBERS THAT THEY CAN AND SHOULD THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO MEMBER CITY NEEDS.
SINCERELY, MAYOR KEVIN SULLIVAN, CITY OF LAGO VISTA.
ALRIGHT, UH, DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE THAT, THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD BUT HAS NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP? ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? UH, HEARING NO OTHERS.
[IV. Advisory Committee Updates]
INTO OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATES.THINK, UH, PETER BRADEN IS GOING TO MAKE THOSE FOR US AND HE'S GONNA START WITH CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I'VE GOT, UH, OUR ACCESS AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE AT THE START.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR TVE AND VICE CHAIR ELLIS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND CEO WATKINS.
I AM THE STAFF LIAISON FOR OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
SINCE LAST MONTH'S UPDATE, OUR ACCESS, CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEES ALL MET AT THEIR REGULARLY SCHEDULED
[00:25:01]
TIMES.THE ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECEIVED AN UPDATE ABOUT OUR ONGOING ACCESSIBLE WAYFINDING PROJECTS FROM MARTIN HY DIRECTOR OF SYSTEM-WIDE ACCESSIBILITY, AS WELL AS A PRESENTATION ON THE PROPOSED JANUARY, 2026 SERVICE CHANGE FROM SENIOR PLANNER JORDAN MCGEE.
THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECEIVED THE SAME SERVICE CHANGE PRESENTATION FROM MS. MCGEE AS WELL OVER EMAIL.
WE ALSO SHARED THE RECENTLY APPROVED 2025 TOD IMPLEMENTATION POLICY AND THE ASSOCIATED BOARD PRESENTATION WITH BOTH GROUPS AS WELL.
THE PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECEIVED A PRESENTATION ON OUR PROPOSED FFY 2026 BUDGET FROM EMMANUEL TUTIN, DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND FINANCIAL PLANNING, AS WELL AS A PRESENTATION ON OUR JULY 4TH FLOOD RESPONSE OPERATIONS FROM DARRELL JAMMA, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AND ALEX ABBE, THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, UH, PROGRAM MANAGER.
LASTLY, APPLICATIONS FOR THE PROJECT CONNECT COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE ARE NOW OPEN UNTIL OCTOBER 15TH.
IF YOU OR YOUR STAFF KNOW OF SOMEONE INTERESTED, THERE IS AN ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS THAT YOU CAN DIRECT THEM TO LOCATED ON THE PROJECT CONNECT.COM WEBSITE.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THIS MONTH.
AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? UH, FOR, FOR THOSE CALLING IN, HEARING NONE.
[V. Board Committee Updates]
WILL BE OUR REGULAR BOARD COMMITTEE UPDATES.BOARD MEMBER VELA, WHAT ABOUT OPERATIONS PLANNING AND SAFETY? THANK YOU, UH, CHAIR.
UH, THE OPERATIONS PLANNING AND, UH, SAFETY COMMITTEE, UH, APPROVED THE, UH, SERVICE CHANGES THAT WERE BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, UH, AND THEN APPROVED A NUMBER OF ITEMS FOR TODAY'S, UH, CONSENT AGENDA.
IT WAS A RELATIVELY SHORT MEETING.
WE DEFERRED THE, UH, UPDATE A, A STAFF UPDATE ON, UH, OPERATIONS UNTIL, UH, THE NEXT MEETING.
BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY, HEARING, HEARING NONE, UH, CHAIR HARRIS, WHAT ABOUT FINANCE, AUDIT AND ADMINISTRATION? THANK YOU CHAIR.
UH, FINANCE AUDIT ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MET ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH AT 10:00 AM IN ADDITION TO APPROVING THE MINUTES, WE ALSO APPROVED AND RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL TO THE FULL BOARD TO ENTER LOCAL AGREEMENTS WITH THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP AND ALSO A, UH, RESOLUTION, UH, WITH RESPECT TO SOME CHANGES IN THE CAP MITCHELL INVESTMENT POLICY.
WE ALSO HEARD A PRESENTATION ON THE 2026 OPERATING BUDGET, BUT GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE MEETING, OUR MEETING OCCURRED BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARING, WE DECIDED NOT TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL BOARD ON THAT MATTER.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE DID HEAR, UH, FROM TERRY FULMER ON SEVERAL, UH, ITEMS RELATED TO, UH, THE FDA TRI-ANNUAL AUDIT, AS WELL AS HIS AUDIT, UH, BY THE ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUDITORS, UH, AND THEN SOME PRESENTATIONS ON INTERNAL AUDIT REVIEWS OF VARIOUS, UH, UH, PROJECTS WITHIN CAP METRO.
ALRIGHT, WELL, SINCE WE, UH, LET'S SEE.
ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? HEARING NONE.
WHAT ABOUT THE CAMPO UPDATE? THANK YOU CHAIR.
UH, THE CAMP, UH, CAMPO, UH, TRANSPORTATION POLICY BOARD MET ON SEPTEMBER THE EIGHTH AT TWO 2:00 PM UH, IN ADDITION TO A REPORT FROM THE TAC CHAIR, UH, WE ALSO APPROVED THE MEETING SCHEDULED FOR 2026 AND, UH, ALSO HOOD AUTHORIZED, UH, THE, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS ON A REGIONAL TRUCK PARKING PLAN, UH, UH, FOR THE AIR, FOR THE, UH, FOR THE REGION.
UH, IN ADDITION TO HEARING, UH, A PRESENTATION ON THE ANNUAL CAMPO FINANCIAL AUDIT, THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE LARGE PORTION OF THE MEETING WAS TAKEN UP WITH AN EXPLANATION OF THE TWENTY TWENTY EIGHT, TWENTY TWENTY THIRTY ONE CALL FOR PROJECTS AND THE PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED THERE ON.
AND THEN WE ALSO HEARD AN UPDATE ON THE 89TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION FROM, UH, MR. TOBY.
AND THE, UH, NEXT COMMITTEE UPDATE WILL BE FOR THE, UH, AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, AND I'LL GIVE THAT ONE.
UH, THE, UH, THE PARTNERSHIP BOARD MET ON SEPTEMBER 17TH.
UH, THE MEETING WAS, UM, BASICALLY STANDARD ITEMS AND REPORTS, BUT THERE WERE FIVE ACTION ITEMS. UH, THE A TP FFY 2026 BUDGET, TWO INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS WITH CAP METRO, ONE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE ADOPTION OF AN UPDATED A TP INVESTMENT POLICY.
OF NOTE ALSO, AND IN LINE WITH THE APPROVED ILA, UH, WITH CAP METRO, THE A TP BUDGET DOES INCLUDE REIMBURSEMENT TO CAP METRO FOR EXPENSES INCURRED
[00:30:01]
IN THE DEVELOP, IN THE DELIVERY OF TWO, UH, RAPID ROUTES, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, GOOD NEWS.I GUESS EVERYBODY'S PRETTY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
I KNOW I AM AND HELPFUL FOR THE CAP METRO BUDGET AND THE OVERALL PROJECT CONNECT DELIVERY, UH, PROGRAM.
THE BOARD ALSO HEARD UPDATES FROM, UH, ATP'S INTERNAL AUDIT TEAM, UH, WHICH INCLUDED HEARING AUDIT REPORTS AND APPROVING THE INTERNAL AUDIT CHARTER AND THE FY 2026 AUDIT PLAN.
UH, THE, UH, NEXT DAY FOR THE A TP, UM, BOARD MEETING IS NOT GOING TO, IT WILL BE FINALIZED IN, IN THE, UH, COMING WEEKS, SO IT HASN'T BEEN FINALIZED YET.
SO ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT A TP? ALRIGHT, LET'S SEE.
[VI. Consent Items]
MOVE TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA AND, UH, LET'S SEE, AFTER OUR, UH, LET'S SAY OUR CONSENT AGENDA IS POSTED FOR ACTION ON 10 ITEMS TODAY.UH, I THINK EVERY BOARD MEMBER HAS HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE CONSENT ITEMS. UH, WOULD ANY BOARD MEMBER LIKE TO REMOVE ANY ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY.
ANYBODY WANNA REMOVE HEARING, HEARING NONE? UH, THEN, UM, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO, UH, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AS DETAILED.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED, UH, THAT WE APPROVE THE, THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA AS PRINTED.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MR. MR. CHAIRMAN? I'M SORRY.
UH, DID, DID WE, WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY CATCH WHO THE, UH, SECOND WAS.
COULD WE JUST NOTE THAT FOR THE RECORD? OKAY.
UH, WAS THE BOARD MEMBER ROSS? YES.
BOARD MEMBER BENGALS FOR THE, UH, FOR THE MOTION BOARD MEMBER ROSS FOR THE SECOND.
UH, IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR? LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
HEARING NONE, THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[VII.1. Approval of a resolution adopting the Fiscal Year 2026 Operating and Capital Budget and Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan.]
INTO, UH, THE ACTION ITEMS FOR THE DAY, UH, STARTING WITH THE ADOPTION OF OUR 2026 BUDGET.THANK MR. CONLAND IS GOING TO BRING THAT TO US THIS MORNING.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR ILION, BOARD MEMBERS PRESIDENT AND CEO WATKINS.
I'M THE CFO FOR CAP METRO AND THIS IS A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 OPERATING IN CAPITAL BUDGET AND FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 IS $625,208,612 FOR OPERATING AND CAPITAL EXPENSES.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD, SENIOR MANAGEMENT, CAP METRO STAFF, AND OUR WONDERFUL BUDGET TEAM FOR THEIR DIRECTION AND HARD WORK IN PUTTING THIS BUDGET TOGETHER.
THIS RESOLUTION CAPTURES THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET THAT THE BOARD AND ITS COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN BRIEFED ON FROM MAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER.
AND IT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE PRIORITIES THAT YOU AS A BOARD HAVE SET FOR THE AGENCY AND MAKES INVESTMENTS BASED ON YOUR GUIDANCE AND STRATEGIC PLAN.
THE BUDGET IS STRUCTURALLY SOUND AND BALANCED AND I'M PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE'RE PROJECTING TO MEET ALL OF OUR RESERVE REQUIREMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026.
COPY OF CAP METRO'S DETAILED BUDGET DOCUMENT IS PLACED ONLINE ON THE CAP METRO WEBSITE AND THE BOARD WAS PROVIDED A LINK TO THAT.
AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT ON THE BUDGET OVER THE LAST FIVE MONTHS AND TAKE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BEFORE APPROVAL FOR THE RESOLUTION IS MADE.
BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING, UH, HEARING NONE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ACTION ITEM NUMBER ONE, SO MOVE.
BOARD MEMBER STRATTON WITH THE MOTION BOARD MEMBER HARRIS, WITH A SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR? LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
NOT QUITE OUT OF THE WOODS YET.
LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE GOT NUMBER TWO, APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE CAP METRO INVESTMENT POLICY.
MR. MR. CHAIR, JUST, JUST TO BE CLEAR, WERE YOU ABLE TO NOTE THAT, UH, MR. VA, UM, MR. BAILITZ ALSO OKAY.
I NOW, OKAY, SO I, I, UH, WAS LISTENING AND DIDN'T HEAR ANYONE OPPOSE, SO I, I, UH, THOUGHT WE MADE IT UNANIMOUS, BUT I DID LOOK BACK THERE, SO
[00:35:01]
JUST TO BE CLEAR, THAT JUST, YOU KNOW, OKAY.I WILL ASK NEXT TIME JUST TO BE SURE.
[VII.2. Approval of a resolution adopting the CapMetro Investment Policy.]
YOU.THIS IS A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE CAP METRO INVESTMENT POLICY ANNUAL REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE POLICY IS REQUIRED.
AND THE LAST POLICY, THE LAST TIME THE POLICY WAS REVIEWED AND APPROVED WAS SEPTEMBER OF 2024.
THE PROPOSED POLICY WAS REVIEWED BY STAFF AND PFM ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC, WHO'S UNDER CONTRACT IS CAP METRO'S INVESTMENT ADVISORY FIRM.
PFM ASSET MANAGEMENT MADE A MINOR RECOMMENDATION THAT THE INVESTMENT TYPE COMMERCIAL PAPER LIMITATION BE UPDATED FROM 30 TO 35% IN THE PORTFOLIO DIVERSIFICATION SECTION OF THE POLICY.
THIS IS THE ONLY CHANGE THAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD, AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE, UH, CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE.
BOARD MEMBER BENGAL IS THE MOTION.
BOARD MEMBER ELLIS IS THE SECOND.
HAS BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? UH, HEARING NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR? LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
[VII.3. Approval of a resolution authorizing the President & CEO, or her designee, to finalize and execute an amendment to the Interlocal Agreement with Austin Transit Partnership for capital reimbursement of the Expo Center and Pleasant Valley MetroRapid Projects for the Project Connect System Plan.]
PULLING UP ACTION ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHICH I'LL READ INTO THE RECORD.I THINK MR. BOWMAN IS GONNA MAKE THE PRESENTATION APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HER DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP FOR CAPITAL REIMBURSEMENT OF THE EXPO CENTER AND PLEASANT VALLEY METRO RAPID PROJECTS FOR THE PROJECT CONNECT SYSTEM.
UH, CHAIR TIAN, BOARD MEMBERS PRESIDENT AND CEO WATKINS.
MY NAME IS BRAD BOWMAN, CHIEF COUNSEL FOR CAP METRO.
UH, THIS, UH, ITEM THAT'S BEFORE YOU IS AN AMENDMENT TO AN EXISTING ILA THAT CAP METRO HAS WITH AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP.
UH, THIS AMENDMENT EXTENDS THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT, WHICH CURRENTLY EXPIRES, UH, AT THE END OF THIS MONTH, ONE YEAR, UH, TO SEPTEMBER OF 2026.
SO IT JUST EXTENDS THAT BY A YEAR.
UH, THIS IS THE, THE, UH, UH, ILA FOR, TO FUND, UH, CAPITAL COSTS FOR THE, UH, EXPO CENTER AND, AND, UH, PLEASANT VALLEY METRO RAPID LINES.
AND SO THIS AMENDMENT WILL JUST ALLOW, UH, CONTINUED WORK AND CONSTRUCTION THAT IS HAPPENING ON THOSE PROJECTS TO, UH, CONTINUE TO BE INVOICED TO A TP AND FOR A TP TO CONTINUE TO REIMBURSE US FOR THOSE COSTS.
UH, THROUGH THE END OF THIS COMING, UH, FISCAL YEAR.
AND AS HAS ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED, THIS ITEM WAS ALREADY APPROVED BY THE, UH, FINANCE AUDIT AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE ON SEPTEMBER 10TH, AND ALSO BY THE A TP BOARD ON THE SEPTEMBER 17TH.
AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? UH, HEARING NONE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE, UH, BOARD MEMBER HARRIS AND BOARD MEMBER STRATTON WITH THE SECOND IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE.
ACTION ITEM NUMBER THREE, UH, AS WRITTEN, IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? UH, HEARING NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR, LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
HEARING NONE, THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
[VII.4. Approval of a resolution authorizing the President & CEO, or her designee, to finalize and execute an Interlocal Agreement with the Austin Transit Partnership to provide reimbursement of capital costs for certain CapMetro Components of Project Connect through Fiscal Year 2031, in a total amount not to exceed $148,600,000.]
NUMBER FOUR INTO THE RECORD.APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HER DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE AND INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP TO PROVIDE REIMBURSE REIMBURSEMENT OF CAPITAL COSTS FOR CERTAIN CAP METRO COMPONENTS OF PROJECT CONNECT THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2031 IN A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $148,600,000.
UM, FIRST I WANT TO THANK, UH, OUR, UH, COLLEAGUES AT THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP FOR THEIR COLLABORATION AND WORKING TOGETHER WITH US AT CAP METRO TO GET THIS AGREEMENT COMPLETED IN A WAY THAT WOULD WORK FOR BOTH, UH, FOR BOTH AGENCIES.
UH, THIS IS A NEW INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT TO FUND WHAT ARE, WHAT WE'RE NOW CALLING THE CAP METRO COMPONENTS OF PROJECT, UH, CONNECT.
THE, THE NON LIGHT RAIL COMPONENTS OF PROJECT CONNECT.
UH, IN PARTICULAR, IT FUNDS THE, UH, CON CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION COST FOR TWO PARK
[00:40:01]
AND RIDES, UH, THE EXPO CENTER AND GOODNIGHT RANCH THAT SERVE THE NEW, UH, UH, METRO RAPID LINES.UH, AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES, UH, END OF LINE CHARGING FOR BATTERY ELECTRIC BUSES AT THOSE, AT THOSE PARK AND RIDE FACILITIES.
UH, IN ADDITION, THERE'S, THERE IS ANOTHER PROJECT FOR THE SOUTH BASED DEMAND RESPONSE FACILITY, WHICH WOULD BE A NEW FACILITY, UH, AT, UH, PROPERTY THAT CAP METRO HAS ALREADY PURCHASED OFF OF BEN WHITE BOULEVARD.
THAT WOULD SERVE OUR DEMAND RESPONSE, UH, UH, NEEDS, UH, THAT HAVE EXPANDED AS A RESULT OF, OF PROJECT CONNECT.
UH, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THIS AGREEMENT IS FOR $148.6 MILLION FOR, UH, BOTH OF THOSE PROJECTS THROUGH, UH, 2031.
THIS AGREEMENT, ALS, UH, PART INCLUDED IN THOSE AMOUNTS ARE REIMBURSEMENT FOR AMOUNTS THAT CAP METRO HAS ALREADY EXPENDED, UH, PRIOR TO EN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT, AS WELL AS, UH, REIMBURSEMENT FOR ONGOING, UH, EXPENSES RELATED TO THOSE PROJECTS.
UH, IN ADDITION, THE UH, AGREEMENT PROVIDES, UH, AT AS HAS BEEN PROVIDED THROUGH A PRIOR AGREEMENT WITH AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP THAT, UH, THE CAP METRO CONTRIBUTION FOR PROJECT CONNECT, WHICH ARE FUNDS THAT THE CAP METRO BOARD HAS COMMITTED TO PROJECT CONNECT, UH, WILL BE, CAN BE SPENT DIRECTLY BY CAP METRO ON, UH, UH, ON THOSE CAP METRO COMPONENT, UH, PROJECTS.
UM, IN ADDITION, THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES THAT THE PARTIES WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER IN GOOD FAITH TO EXTEND THIS AGREEMENT AS NEEDED OR TO ENTER INTO ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS AS NEEDED TO CONTINUE THE, UH, DELIVERY AND FUNDING OF THE CAP METRO COMPONENTS GOING FORWARD.
UH, AS HAS ALREADY BEEN NOTED, THIS AGREEMENT WAS APPROVED BY THE FAA COMMITTEE AND HAS ALREADY, AND WAS ALSO APPROVED BY THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP BOARD ON SEPTEMBER 17TH.
UH, AND I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I'M CURIOUS ABOUT OTHER COMPONENTS LIKE PARK AND RIDES.
UM, IF, IF MORE OF THOSE WERE TO BE IDENTIFIED THAT ARE PART OF THE, THE PART CONNECT ORIGINAL PLAN, UM, WOULD THERE JUST BE SUBSEQUENT AGREEMENTS OR WOULD IT BE AN AMENDMENT TO THIS AGREEMENT? I THINK THE EXACT MECHANISM FOR THAT OR VEHICLE FOR THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DECIDED AT THAT TIME.
I THINK IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT, BUT WE'VE KIND OF PROVIDED, UH, SOME LANGUAGE IN THIS AGREEMENT THAT ALLOWS FOR BOTH OF THOSE OPTIONS.
EITHER TO EXTEND THE CURRENT AGREEMENT OR TO ENTRY INTO A FUTURE AGREEMENT.
'CAUSE I KNOW THERE'S ONE, UM, IN THE PROJECT CONNECT PLAN THAT HAS ONE IN SOUTHWEST AUSTIN, BUT THAT LOCATION'S NOT DETERMINED, SO OBVIOUSLY TRYING TO INCLUDE ANY OF THAT LANGUAGE WOULD NOT BE HELPFUL AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
BUT WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THE STEPS THAT IF A LOCATION WERE DETERMINED, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE ON CAP METRO'S SIDE TO BE ABLE TO UPDATE AGREEMENTS OR CREATE NEW ONES? UNDERSTOOD.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? ANY GO AHEAD.
UM, I JUST WANNA ECHO WHAT YOU SAID, BRAD.
I ALSO WANT TO CALL YOU OUT AND THANK YOU AND, AND THE LEGAL TEAM FOR WHAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE.
I KNOW WHEN, WHEN WE'RE GETTING DOWN TO BRASS TACKS, IT, IT CAN BE, UH, DIFFICULT AT TIMES TO JUST WORK OUT ALL THE DETAILS FOR SO MANY MOVING PARTS.
BUT THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM, UH, THANK, JUST PUBLICLY FROM THE DIOCESE, WANTED TO SAY THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS AT A TP, UM, FOR THAT MATTER.
THANK YOU CHAIR TAVIAN AND, UH, AND, AND MS. WATKINS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, SERVING CONCURRENTLY ON THE A TP BOARD AND, UH, THANKS TO, UH, TO THE MEMBERS OF THE, UH, THE A TP BOARD AS WELL, HAVING SERVED ON THE A TP BOARD.
I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A, UH, A A THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS, UM, COMMITTED TO ALL, ALL PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE ARE EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND, AND THIS IS ANOTHER BIG STEP FORWARD.
WE HAVE SOME VERY BIG WINS ALREADY WITH THESE PARKING RIDES AND ALSO WITH, UH, THESE, UM, WITH, WITH THESE, UH, THE ROUTES WITH, UM, UH, WITH THE, THE METRO RAPID ROUTES COMING IN FROM, FROM, UH, UH, THE EXPO CENTER AND FROM PLEASANT VALLEY.
UM, THIS IS HUGE, BUT IT'S, IT'S JUST THE SMALL PART OF THE BIGGER PICTURE.
UH, BUT THIS IS, THIS IS A BIG DEAL AND I JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK ALL THE WORK FROM OUR TEAM HERE AT CAP METRO AND ALSO A TP AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED WINS THAT ARE COMING DOWN THE PIKE FOR, FOR EVERYBODY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR, FOR, UH, FOR THE CITY, FOR THE REGION, FOR, FOR TRANSIT DOWN, DOWN THE ROAD.
I JUST, AND, UH, IT WAS, UH, A TEAM EFFORT.
A LOT OF FOLKS AT CAP METRO AS, AS WELL AS A TP WORKED ON THIS.
ALRIGHT, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? UH, SEEING NONE, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ACTION ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
UH, BOARD MEMBER STRATTON WITH A MOTION.
BOARD MEMBER ELLIS WITH THE SECOND, OUR TWO QUESTIONERS.
[00:45:01]
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR? LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
HEARING NONE, UH, THE BOARD CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
[VII.5. Approval of a resolution authorizing the President & CEO, or her designee, to implement the January 2026 Service Changes.]
ITEM NUMBER FIVE, APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HER DESIGNEE TO IMPLEMENT THE JANUARY, 2026 SERVICE CHANGES.UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR ILION, MEMBERS OF THE CAP METRO BOARD AND PRESIDENT AND CEO DOTIE WATKINS.
I AM JORDAN MCGEE WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
TODAY I'LL BE COVERING THE PROPOSED JANUARY, 2026 SERVICE CHANGES.
I'M 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 SERVICE STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES WHERE WE IDENTIFY WAYS TO IMPROVE SERVICE, DEVELOP A PROPOSAL, AND ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AND OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS THROUGHOUT EACH STEP OF THE PROCESS.
THESE SERVICE CHANGES OCCUR UP TO THREE TIMES A YEAR, TYPICALLY IN JANUARY, JUNE AND AUGUST TO COINCIDE WITH LOCAL SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY CALENDARS.
TODAY WE'LL BE COVERING THE PROPOSED JANUARY SERVICE CHANGES, AND IN THE MONTHS IN BETWEEN SERVICE CHANGES ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.
WE MONITOR SERVICE, RESPOND TO CUSTOMER CARE REPORTS, UM, AND COLLABORATE WITH OUR PARTNERS TO GUIDE FUTURE SERVICE CHANGE RECOMMENDATIONS.
IN THE PROPOSED CHANGES FOR JANUARY, 2026, THEY'RE FOCUSED ON MINOR NEAR TERM IMPROVEMENTS TO BETTER MATCH RESOURCES WITH DEMAND AND RESPOND TO COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND TRENDS.
THE SERVICE CHANGE FEATURES THE REALIGNMENT OF ROUTE 4 85, NIGHT AL CAMERON AND ROUTE 9 35 TECH RIDGE EXPRESS, AS WELL AS PROPOSED BOUNDARY EXPANSIONS AND PICKUP MANNAR AND PICKUP LOGO VISTA UNDER CAP METRO'S POLICY, WHICH ALIGNS WITH THE FDA CIRCULAR, THESE CHANGES ARE NOT A MAJOR SERVICE CHANGE AND THUS DO NOT REQUIRE A TITLE VI ANALYSIS.
HOWEVER, CAP METRO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THEIR REALIGNMENT OF ROUTE 4 85 9 L CAMERON AND ROUTE NINE, UH, ROUTE 9 39, SORRY, 9 35 TECH RIDGE EXPRESS INVOLVED A SHIFT FROM ONE CORRIDOR TO ANOTHER AND EQUITY WAS AND IS CONSISTENTLY CONSIDERED THROUGHOUT EACH STEP OF THE PROCESS.
IN THIS PRESENTATION, I'LL WALK THROUGH EACH OF THESE CHANGES IN MORE DETAIL AND IF APPROVED, THE CHANGES WOULD, UH, BE IMPLEMENTED STARTING ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 11TH WITH THE NIGHT OWL CHANGES IMPLEMENTED ON MONDAY, JANUARY 12TH, AND DUE TO THE OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY OF, UH, PICKUP AND THOSE CHANGES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN A TIMELY MANNER.
AND KENT METROS PROPOSING THE REALIGNMENT OF ROUTE 4 85 NIGHT OWL CAMERON TO ENABLE LATE NIGHT CONNECTIONS TO THE DENSE ACTIVE NIGHTLIFE ON E SIX TRANSFERS TO GREYHOUND BUS SERVICE AT EASTSIDE BUS PLAZA.
IT IMPROVES CONNECTIVITY WITHIN MUELLER.
THIS ROUTE IS AMONG OUR NIGHT OWL SYSTEM, WHICH OFFERS A SAFE AND INEXPENSIVE OPTION FOR TRAVELING LATE AT NIGHT, YEAR ROUND FROM MIDNIGHT TO 3:00 AM ON MONDAYS THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHTS.
AS PART OF OUR SERVICE CHANGE PROCESS, WE REVIEW LATE NIGHT RIDERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM BETWEEN 11:00 PM AND MIDNIGHT AS AN INDICATOR POTENTIAL NIGHT OWL RIDERSHIP IN AREAS THAT IT CURRENTLY DOES NOT SERVE, UM, TO LOOK FOR POTENTIAL GAPS OR AREAS OF NEED.
THE MAP DISPLAYS AVERAGE WEEKDAY RIDERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM DURING THIS HOUR, DEMONSTRATING HIGH USAGE AND NEED ALONG EAST SIX, EAST CAESAR CHAVEZ, AND GO VALLEY NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH ARE CURRENTLY NOT COVERED BY NIGHT OWL SERVICES.
THE EXISTING ROUTE NINE OR 4 85, UM, NIGHT OWL CAMERON ALIGNMENT REFLECTED MINIMAL LATE NIGHT USAGE WITHIN THE CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN AND ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOODS WITH MANY STOPS SHOWING ZERO TO ONE AVERAGE DAILY RIDERS.
AND CURRENTLY THERE ARE NO FIXED ROUTE BUS OPTIONS TO CONNECT TO OR FROM THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT ALONG EAST SEVENTH, OR IT'S A GREYHOUND BUS SERVICE AT EASTSIDE BUS PLAZA.
BETWEEN ABOUT MIDNIGHT AND 5:00 AM COMMUNITY FEEDBACK HAS DEMONSTRATED STRONG INTEREST IN PROVIDING LATE NIGHT BUS CONNECTIONS TO THESE AREAS.
ON THIS SLIDE ARE SOME COMMUNITY, UH, COMMENTS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED, SUCH AS WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE SERVICES ON EAST SEVENTH OR PLAZA ALT, ESPECIALLY ON WEEKENDS, LATE NIGHTS AND DURING SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST.
UM, THIS REALIGNMENT PROVIDES A NEAR TERM OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE THE GAP, SUPPORT THE CITY'S ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, UM, AND IMPROVE REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY.
[00:50:01]
THE PROPOSED ALIGNMENT SHOWN ON THE SCREEN REALIGNS ROUTE 4 85 FROM ROSEWOOD AVENUE TO EAST SEVENTH, PROVIDING PROXIMITY TO THE PLAZA SALTILLO DISTRICT AND OTHER DESTINATIONS.THE ROUTE WOULD CONTINUE TO TRAVEL ALONG SEVENTH STREET, REACHING THE EAST SIDE BUS PLAZA WHERE CUSTOMERS CAN TRANSFER TO GREYHOUND BUS SERVICES, STARTING TO DEPART AT 3:00 AM A MINOR REALIGNMENT IS SUPPOSED THROUGH THE MUELLER AREA, UH, TO, TO REACH MORE DESTINATIONS AND KEY LOCATIONS FOR TRANSIT USAGE.
THE REALIGNED ROUTE WOULD, UH, CONTINUE OPERATING WITH THE CURRENT SPAN AS IT DOES TODAY, UM, CONNECTING CUSTOMERS FROM MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHTS AT MIDNIGHT TO 3:00 AM AND CAP MITCHELL IS ALSO PROPOSING TO REALIGN RALPH 9 35 TECH RIDGE EXPRESS TO PROACTIVELY ADDRESS EXPECTED TRAFFIC AND CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS WITH THE I 35 PROJECTS WITH CENTRAL TEXAS, ENTERING A MULTI-YEAR PHASE, A MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, UM, WE HAVE BEEN MANAGING DAILY OPERATIONS WITH AGILITY AND STRATEGIC MONITORING WHILE CLOSELY COORDINATING WITH OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS TO ALIGN TIMELINES AND REDUCE DISRUPTIONS.
THIS REALIGNMENT WAS IDENTIFIED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND KEY STAKEHOLDERS TO ASSIST WITH TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT AND REDUCED CON UH, CONGESTION ASSOCIATED WITH THE I 35 PROJECT.
THE PROPOSED CHANGE WOULD SHIFT NONSTOP SERVICE FROM I 35 TO MOPAC USING THE MOPAC EXPRESS LANES TO BYPASS TRAFFIC.
THE SHIFT FROM I 35 TO MOPAC WOULD BE TEMPORARY IN LINE WITH THE I 35 CONSTRUCTION AND LONGER TERM, OUR INTENT IS TO RETURN THIS SERVICE TO THE I 35 CORRIDOR TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE UPCOMING HOV MANAGED LANES.
AND THE ADJUSTMENT WOULD ALSO REMOVE AN UNPRODUCTIVE SEGMENT ALONG RIVERSIDE DRIVE, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED, UH, TO CONNECT THE TECH RIDGE PARK AND RIDE WITH A TXDOT RIVERSIDE CAMPUS, UM, WHICH HAS SINCE CLOSED AND NOW HAS ZERO TO ONE AVERAGE DAILY RIDERS.
AND IN COORDINATION WITH REGIONAL MEMBER CITIES, CAP METRO STAFF PROPOSE A BOUNDARY EXPANSION, UH, IN THE LAGO VISTA AND MAINOR PICKUP ZONES TO INCREASE ACCESS AND IMPROVE, UH, CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE WITHOUT IMPACTING RESOURCES.
MORE SPECIFICALLY, AFTER ENGAGING, UH, THE CITY OF LAA VISTA LEADERSHIP ABOUT POTENTIAL FUTURE ADJUSTMENTS TO SERVICE CAT METRO STAFF RECOMMENDS A THIRD OF A SQUARE MILE ZONE BOUNDARY EXPANSION AND THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE EXISTING PICKUP LOG VISTA ZONE.
AS SHOWN TO THE LEFT, THE PROPOSED EXPANSION WOULD PROVIDE, UM, PICKUP, UH, SERVICE TO A SECTION OF THE CITY WITH HIGHER RESIDENTIAL, UH, DENSITY THAT'S WELL SUITED FOR SUSTAINABLE PICKUP EXPANSION.
IN ADDITION, STAFF PROPOSED A BOUNDARY EXPANSION TO PICK UP MANOR, UM, SHOWN ON THE RIGHT TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO MULTIPLE INDIVIDUALS, UM, WITH MOBILITY NEEDS AT THE DERBY APARTMENTS AND THE EXPEND EXPANDED PORTION OF BOTH, UM, PROPOSED, UM, ZONE ADJUSTMENTS ARE WITHIN THE CAT MITCHELL SERVICE AREA AND WOULD BE COST NEUTRAL TO IMPLEMENT.
AND LASTLY, TO IMPROVE ON-TIME PERFORMANCE RELIABILITY AND BETTER SERVE CUSTOMERS, SELECT ROUTES MAY RECEIVE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO THEIR SCHEDULES OR BUS STOP LOCATIONS.
WE ARE CURRENTLY EVALUATING A VARIETY OF ROUTES SHOWN ON THE SLIDE TO SEE IF THE SCHEDULED TIME MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED DUE TO EVOLVING TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND TR UH, CONSTRUCTION THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
WE'RE ALSO RECOMMENDING ADDITIONAL EVENING TRIPS FOR ROUTE 2 71 IN COORDINATION WITH TRAVIS COUNTY.
ADDITIONAL TRIPS IN THE AFTERNOON FOR RAPID EIGHT.
ONE TO ASSIST WITH PASSENGER LOADS AND HAVE ONGOING DISCUSSIONS WITH DELL VALLEY ISC REGARDING, UM, THE DELL VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL BUS STOPS AND ONCE DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, ARE COMPLETE, UH, KENT MITCHELL PROMOTE, UH, THESE DETAILS, UM, THROUGH COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING MATERIALS.
OUR SERVICE CHANGE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PLAN AIMS TO KEEP CUSTOMERS INFORMED ON POTENTIAL CHANGES AND GATHER INPUT TO GUIDE THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT KICKED OFF ON AUGUST 10TH AND COINCIDED, UH, WITH ENGAGEMENT FOR THE TRANSIT PLAN 2035 DRAFT DRAFT NETWORK TRANSIT PLAN 2035 IS A SEPARATE ITEM THAT WILL ALSO BE DISCUSSED TODAY, ALTHOUGH IT'S SIMILARLY PROVIDED THE COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE ROUTE PROPOSALS.
AND OVER THE LAST MONTH, WE SPOKE WITH ABOUT 750 CUSTOMERS, OPERATORS, AND RESIDENTS DURING AT STOP AND ONBOARD OUTREACH.
AND THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK HAS BEEN VERY POSITIVE.
REFLECTING EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE IMPROVED CONNECTIVITY IN COLLABORATING WITH REGIONAL PARTNERS AND MEMBER CITIES IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF OUR SERVICE CHANGE PROCESS AND FOR OVERALL
[00:55:01]
ACHIEVING THE AGENCY'S VISION.TOGETHER WE ADDRESS MOBILITY GAPS, ASSESS SERVICE ACCESS, AND ENSURE THAT THE SERVICE REFLECTS REGIONAL FEEDBACK AND CONDITIONS.
THE CAP METRO GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND REGIONAL PLANNING TEAM IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT STAFF PROACTIVELY FACILITATE ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND HAVE ONGOING COMMUNICATION WITH ALL JURISDICTIONS WITHIN THE SERVICE AREA.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH EACH JURISDICTION, UH, TO UNDERSTAND THEIR FEEDBACK, EVALUATE EXISTING SCENARIOS AND LOOK AT FUTURE POSSIBILITIES.
WITH THAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY AND I'D LOVE TO ANSWER ANY POTENTIAL QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.
UM, OVER THE LAST, UM, LITTLE BIT, IT'S BEEN VERY CLEAR, UM, HOW WILLING YOUR TEAM LAWRENCE ROSE BACK THERE HAVE BEEN WILLING TO WORK, UM, ESPECIALLY WITH THE, THE SMALL COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WE ARE SO, UM, THE DOLLAR JUST MEANS A LITTLE BIT MORE AND HITS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY AND SO IT'S, IT'S BEEN REALLY IMPRESSIVE TO SEE Y'ALL WORK WITH US AND TRY TO FIND COST NEUTRAL SOLUTIONS THAT WORK FOR THE ORGANIZATION, BUT ALSO WORK FOR OUR COMMUNITIES TOO.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
UM, THE MOTION IS MADE BY BOARD MEMBER ROSS.
IS THERE A SECOND? BOARD MEMBER BENGALS.
UH, SO IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE ACTION ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? LET'S SEE.
WELL, WHAT DO I, I'LL CALL IT OUT THERE.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS.
BOARD MEMBER, ANY COMMENTS? OKAY.
ALL IN FAVOR OF ACTION ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
PLEASE LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
HEARING NONE, THE UH, CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
ALRIGHT, UM, NOW WE HAVE ONE MORE DISCUSSION
[VIII.1. CapMetro Transit Plan 2035 Staff Recommendation]
ITEM, UH, WHICH IS A DISCUSSION OF THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR OUR TRANSIT PLAN FOR 2035.UH, MR. DIETER, WILL YOU KICK US OFF? WE SURE WILL.
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON CHURCH REBELLION.
CHAIR REBELLION, MEMBERS OF THE CAP METRO BOARD AND PRESIDENT CEO DOTTIE WATKINS.
I AM LAWRENCE DIETER WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
I'M HERE TODAY WITH ROSE LISKA, A PRINCIPAL PLANNER WHO WILL ALSO BE PRESENTING CAP METRO HAS ACCOMPLISHED A LOT IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
WE SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATED A PANDEMIC AND OUR RIDERSHIP IS RECOVERING FASTER THAN OTHER AGENCIES.
WE ARE OFF TO A STRONG START IMPLEMENTING THE PROJECT CONNECT PROGRAM OF PROJECTS, INCLUDING FIVE NEW PICKUP ZONES, TWO NEW RAPID LINES AND THE MCCULLOUGH STATION.
RECENTLY THE BOARD ADOPTED A STRATEGIC PLAN AND A KEY ELEMENT IN THAT PLAN IS TRANSIT PLAN 2035.
AND WE ARE EXCITED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN UPDATE ON TRANSIT PLAN THIS AFTERNOON.
TODAY WE'D LIKE TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE TRANSIT PLAN IS AND HOW WE EXPECT IT TO SHAPE CAP METRO'S WORK OVER THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS.
AND THEN FOR THE BULK OF TODAY'S TIME, WE'LL DISCUSS HOW WE CAME UP WITH THE CHANGES AND OR HOW WE CAME UP WITH THE CHANGES WE'RE RECOMMENDING FOR THE FUTURE AND WHAT THOSE CHANGES ARE.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE NOT DERIVED JUST FROM EXTENSIVE DATA ANALYSIS, BUT A ROBUST PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT EFFORT THAT REACHED MORE THAN 10,000 PEOPLE.
AFTER THE SECOND ROUND OF PUBLIC COMMENT, WE UPDATED 40% OF THE PROPOSED ROUTES BASED ON COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.
WE'LL GO OVER SOME OF THE EXAMPLES OF HOW WE WERE ABLE TO INCORPORATE THE FEEDBACK OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS INTO OUR FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS LATER IN THE PRESENTATION.
UM, SO LET'S START AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT WHAT TRANSIT PLAN 2035 IS.
IT IS DATA-DRIVEN AND IT IS OUR ROAD ROADMAP, ROADMAP AND VISION FOR CAP METRO'S TRANSIT SERVICE OVER THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE PLAN ITSELF IS NOT A SERVICE CHANGE.
INSTEAD, IT PROVIDES GUIDANCE THAT WE ANTICIPATE WILL RESULT IN SERVICE CHANGES PHASE IN GRADUALLY OVER SEVERAL YEARS.
THESE CHANGES WON'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
THEY'LL BE IMPLEMENTED IN STAGES AND OFTEN ALIGNED WITH MILESTONES WITH ONGOING WORK LIKE THE OPENING OF THE NEW RAPID PARK AND RIDES GOODNIGHT RANCH AND EXPO
[01:00:01]
CENTER, OR THE NEW BROADMOOR STATION COMING IN 2027.THIS PHASE ROLLOUT GIVES US BOTH THE DIRECTION AND FLEXIBILITY, UM, AND EACH RECOMMENDATION WILL STILL GO THROUGH OUR REGULAR SERVICE CHANGE PROCESS.
THIS MEANS ANOTHER ROUND OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND ANOTHER ROUND OF BOARD APPROVAL.
THE PLAN SERVES AS OUR NORTH STAR, BUT WE CAN CONTINUE TO ADAPT BASED ON NEW TRAVEL PATTERNS AND EVOLVING COMMUNITY NEEDS.
THE TRANSIT PLAN 2035 WILL ALSO FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON CORE ELEMENTS SUCH AS WHERE BUS ROUTES OR PICKUPS ZONES OPERATE, WHEN THE SERVICE RUNS, HOW, OR HOW OFTEN IT'S PROVIDED.
HOWEVER, THIS EFFORT DOES NOT COVER IMPORTANT WORK THAT CAP METRO IS DOING.
LIKE OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND OUR EFFORTS TO ENHANCE SAFETY AND SECURITY.
WE'RE ALSO IMPROVING OUR BUS UP AMENITIES AND OUR PLANS FOR FUTURE CONSTRUCTION DETOURS.
WHILE THOSE ITEMS ARE OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THIS PLAN, THEY'RE CRITICAL TO ITS SUCCESS.
AND WHILE WE DIDN'T INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THOSE AREAS, WE WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT ALL THE FEEDBACK RECEIVED DURING OUTREACH WAS DOCUMENTED AND SHARED WITH THE APPROPRIATE CAP METRO STAFF TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL CUSTOMER SERVICE.
NOW THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED THE SCOPE OF TRANSIT PLAN 2035, LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW WE GOT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO BUILD THIS PLAN.
UM, FOR EXAMPLE, WE LOOKED AT POPULATION AND EMPLOYMENT DENSITY THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
WE EVALUATED WHERE WE EXPECT GROWTH TO OCCUR AND IDENTIFIED POPULATIONS THAT WOULD BE MORE LIKELY TO RIDE TRANSIT, SUCH AS GROUPS WHO DON'T HAVE A CAR, HOUSEHOLDS WITH LOWER INCOMES OR AREAS WITH LOTS OF STUDENTS OR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
WHILE WE'RE ABLE TO ANALYZE HOW TRAVEL PATTERNS HAVE SHIFTED SINCE THE PANDEMIC, WE ARE ABLE TO USE LOCATION-BASED DATA TO SEE WHERE AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE ARE TRAVELING.
AND IF YOU WANNA TAKE A DEEPER DIVE INTO ALL THIS DATA, WE HAVE IT AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE, UM, FOR TRANSPLANT 2030 FIVE.COM.
EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT, WE LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
AS I MENTIONED, THE FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED HELP US SHAPE AND REFINE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, AND I'LL GO OVER THAT IN DETAIL LATER.
UM, FINALLY, WE REALLY HAD TO BALANCE ALL OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AGAINST OUR FINANCIAL REALITIES.
'CAUSE SALES TAX IS OUR PRIMARY SOURCE OF FUNDING, UM, AND IT ISN'T GROWING AS FAST.
IT WAS CRITICAL THAT WE STAY RESPONSIBLE WITH OUR AS STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS YOU'LL SEE TODAY ARE DESIGNED TO BE FLEXIBLE, FORWARD LOOKING AND COMMUNITY DRIVEN.
SO AT THE HEART OF A GREAT TRANSIT PLAN IS THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES.
AND FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, WE SET OUT TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE OF CENTRAL TEXAS, THE RIDERS, NON RIDERS FAMILIES.
UM, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ARE LONGTIME TRANSIT ADVOCATES AND THE NEIGHBORS WHO DEPEND ON US FOR ACCESS TO JOBS, SCHOOLS, AND DAILY DESTINATIONS.
WE USED A MULTIFACETED STRATEGY TO REACH PEOPLE WHO ARE OFTEN LEFT OUT OF THE PLANNING CONVERSATION.
WE STARTED WITH THE COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT SO WE COULD BETTER UNDERSTAND WHICH NEIGHBORS FACED THE MOST CHALLENGES AND HOW TRANSIT COULD P PLAY A ROLE IN MEETING THOSE NEEDS.
WE COLLABORATED WITH 15 PAID COMMUNITY CONNECTORS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS WHO KNOW THEIR COMMUNITIES THE BEST.
AND WE EVEN DESIGNED A BOARD GAME, TRANSIT LAND TO SHOW HOW ROUTE PLANNING WORKS.
AND IT BECAME A FUN WAY TO SPARK CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT MATTERS MOST IN PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY.
ALONGSIDE ALL OF THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH, WE ALSO TURN INWARD AND LEARN FROM THE CAP METRO EMPLOYEES AT EVERY LEVEL.
THERE WAS AN EMPHASIS ON GATHERING INPUT FROM OUR FRONTLINE FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES FROM KEOLIS, MTM AND HERZOG.
OUR FRONTLINE STAFF REALLY ARE OUR EYES AND EARS ON THE ROAD AND THEIR INPUT DIRECTLY SHAPED THIS PLAN.
FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE ROUTES WE DESIGNED IN CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN IS A RESULT OF A DIRECT INPUT WE RECEIVED FROM AN OPERATOR.
WE ALSO WORK WITH OUR REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS AND ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
AND WE OWE A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE MANY OF MEETINGS THAT WERE ATTENDED BY STAFF AND LOCAL OFFICIALS.
WE SPOKE TO ALL OF OUR MEMBER CITIES TO TDOT, DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE, UT UM, AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
AND THIS REALLY HELPED US GROUND OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AS WE REFINED OUR PLAN.
SO THE, THESE EFFORTS LED TO MORE THAN 9,000 PEOPLE SHARING THEIR HOPES AND DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE OF TRANSIT IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
AND TOGETHER WE SHAPED A PLAN THAT PUT THOSE VOICES AT THE CENTER WHILE STAYING REALISTIC AND FINANCIALLY ACHIEVABLE.
WE BROUGHT THE DRAFT PAN PLAN BACK TO THE COMMUNITY TO SEE IF WHAT WE DEVELOPED, ALIGNED WITH WHAT WE HAD HEARD.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES THIS PLAN SO MEANINGFUL IS THAT WE GOT REALLY ACTIONABLE FEEDBACK THROUGH MORE THAN 30 FOCUS GROUPS.
WE MADE, MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS
[01:05:01]
IM OS, TEXAS OFFICE FOR REFUGEES ADAPT, CHRIS COLE, INDO AMERICAN SENIORS, ONE VOICE PODER FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES, ONE POINT REENTRY AND COMMUNITY FIRST, JUST TO NAME A FEW.AND THIS REALLY RESULTED IN INCREDIBLY RICH FEEDBACK.
AND THIS FEEDBACK LED TO REAL CHANGE.
BASED ON THE RESPONSE TO OUR DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS, WE UPDATED 26 OF THE 60 PROPOSED ROUTE ROUTES, WHICH IS OVER 40% OF OUR ORIGINAL PROPOSAL.
SOME OF THE CHANGES WERE MINOR TWEAKS, SOME WERE REVISIONS THROUGH THE ORIGINAL ROUTE, BUT THE HIGH QUALITY FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVED ALLOWED US TO BE RESPONSIVE AND SPECIFIC IN OUR UPDATE TO THE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT, UM, THAT THIS PLAN HAS OVERALL BEEN VERY WELL RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLIC, AND WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PUBLIC THAT THEY'VE SEEN REALLY EXCITED ABOUT AND AGREED WITH US ON.
AND YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT THAT IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS.
AS A RESULT, OR THE RESULT OF ANALYZING ALL OF THIS INPUT IS OUR ROADMAP FOR THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS, AND EVEN SOME PLANS BEYOND THAT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE BUS RAIL AND OUR PICKUP SERVICES.
THE CHANGES BEING RECOMMENDED WILL INVOLVE ALIGNING OUR, ALIGNING OUR CURRENT SERVICE WITH TRAVEL PATTERNS, PREPARING FOR HIGH CAPACITY TRANSIT AND PROJECT CONNECT AND EXPLORING REGIONAL EXPANSION.
AND AT THIS TIME, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO LAWRENCE TEETER TO TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE.
WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS BEFORE AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL LAUNCHES, WE'RE FOCUSED ON GROWING RIDERSHIP, HELPING PE MORE PEOPLE GET TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.
AND SPECIFICALLY THIS PHASE WILL INCLUDE CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH BRINGING THE NEW RAPID LINES 808 37 TO THEIR FULL FREQUENCY IN ALIGNMENT WITH PROJECT CONNECT.
THAT INCLUDES THE OPENING OF TWO NEW PARKING RIDES BY BUDGETING RESPONSIBLY.
THIS PHASE ALLOWS THE AGENCY, UH, TO FOCUS ON CORE ASPECTS SUCH AS PROVIDING RELIABLE AND SECURE SERVICE.
AND IT IS, THIS IS IMPORTANT SINCE WITHOUT THESE, THE TRANSIT PLAN WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL.
THERE ARE NO MAJOR CHANGES TO PICK UP WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS.
AND FOR THE RED LINE, WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE BROADMOOR STATION OPENING AND INCREASING THE HOURS OF OPERATION.
THE NEXT PHASE EXPECTED TO HAPPEN FIVE PLUS YEARS FROM NOW INCLUDES PLANS FOR FUTURE GROWTH AND INCLUDES CHANGES TO OUR BUS NETWORK THAT WILL MAKE IT WORK BETTER WITH AUSTIN.
WITH THE NEW LIGHT RAIL SERVICE, AS THE OPERATOR OF ALL OF CA AUSTIN'S MODES OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, INCLUDING AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL CAP METRO IS COMMITTED TO CREATING A HIGHLY CONNECTED NETWORK THAT MAXIMIZES TRANSIT USAGE WHILE ALLOWING AUSTIN TO MEET THE AMBITIOUS MODES SPLIT GOALS AND SET IN THE A SMP.
THIS PHASE IS FINANCIALLY RESTRAINED, MEANING WE HAVE PRIORITIZED ELEMENTS TO FOCUS ON WHAT IS MOST NEEDED, HOWEVER MANY ARE OUTSIDE OF CURRENT FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS.
AND SOME OF THE PROPOSALS WILL REQUIRE COORDINATION WITH OUR PARTNERS, SUCH AS THE CITY, A TP, UT, AND TRAVIS COUNTY TO NAME A FEW.
AND FINALLY, OUR DRAFT PLAN INCLUDES CONCEPTS FOR WHAT HAPPENS AFTER AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL IS LAUNCHED.
THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE 10 PLUS YEARS IN THE FUTURE WILL ADDRESS TRANSIT SYSTEM GROWTH THROUGHOUT THE REGION AND ANY CONCEPTS FOR PROJECT CONNECT NOT INCLUDED IN THE PREVIOUS PHASES.
THE CONCEPTS ON THIS LIST ARE IDEAS WHERE WE SEE GROWTH HAPPENING, BUT IMPLEMENTATION WOULD REQUIRE MORE MARKET READINESS, ADDITIONAL PARTNERSHIPS AND OR INVESTMENTS TO MAKE THEM A REALITY.
IN ADDITION, CAP METRO ALSO UPDATES THEIR TRANSIT PLAN EVERY FIVE YEARS.
AND SO THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS CATEGORY WILL BE FURTHER REFINED AROUND 2030.
AS WE TRANSITION INTO RECOMMENDATIONS BY REGION, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I AM PROVIDING A HIGH LEVEL SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES.
MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE WHERE WE HAVE A DESCRIPTION MATRIX, AN ONLINE MAP, AND A PDF BOOK WITH INDIVIDUAL ROUTE MAPS.
IN THE NORTHWEST AREA, THE COMMUNITY EXPRESSED DESIRE FOR BETTER CROSS TOWN CONNECTIONS.
SO WE ARE PROPOSING REALIGNING ROUTES TO PROVIDE EAST, WEST, AND NORTH SOUTH CONNECTIONS THAT ALIGN WITH CURRENT TRANSIT NEED.
WE ALSO LOOKED AT IMPROVING OUR CONNECTIONS AT THE CURRENT AND FUTURE STATIONS INC.
[01:10:01]
INCLUDING OUR UPCOMING BROADMOOR STATION.IN THE FIVE TO 10 YEAR PHASE, WE PROPOSED TWO NEW PICKUP ZONES IN THIS AREA, ONE ALONG 180 3 AND ONE IN THE GEORGIAN ACRES NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ALSO HAVE A NEW ROUTE ALONG THE SAUL THAT STARTS BUILDING TOWARDS A PROJECT CONNECT RAPID LINE.
THE COMMUNITY REALLY LIKED THESE CHANGES AND ASK FOR THEM TO BE IMPLEMENTED SOONER.
WELL, WE WISH WE COULD BRING THE CHANGES SOONER.
OUR LIMITED RESOURCES WILL NOT ALLOW US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MAJOR CHANGES IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
WE HEARD, WE ALSO HEARD CONCERNS ABOUT THE FREQUENCY REDUCTIONS AS WE RESTRUCTURED OUR CROSSTOWN ROUTES.
HOWEVER, WE BELIEVE THAT WE ARE MATCHING FREQUENCY TO THE DEMAND AND THERE WAS A LOT OF INTEREST IN THAT THIS ALL ROUTE.
AND WE ARE ALSO PROPOSING TO EXTEND IT, UH, FURTHER SOUTH INTO THE ST.
JOHN'S AND A CC HIGHLAND AREA, UH, BASED ON ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED.
AND FINALLY, WE'LL BE MAKING SOME MINOR ADJUSTMENTS, UH, IN THE DOMAIN AND JJ PICK AREA IN THE NORTHEAST AREA.
WE RECOMMENDED ADJUSTMENTS TO SUPPORT THE FULL VISION OF THE RAPID 8 37, WHICH WILL SOON HAVE 10 MINUTE FREQUENCY.
ROSS THAT CURRENTLY HAVE AN END OF LINE IN THE DECKER AREA ARE EXTENDED TO END AT THE NEW EXPO CENTER, PARK, PARK AND RIDE.
WE ARE ALSO RECOMMENDING TRANSITIONING RIDERS WHO CURRENTLY USE INFREQUENT FIXED ROUTES TO PICK UP SERVICE.
WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR MORE FREQUENT SERVICE ALONG AIRPORT BOULEVARD AND ALSO IN THE TUSCANY AREA IN TERMS OF PUBLIC FEEDBACK.
OUR CUSTOMERS AT COMMUNITY FIRST WERE EXCITED ABOUT THE DIRECT AND MORE FREQUENT CONNECTION TO DOWNTOWN THROUGHOUT THE ENGAGEMENT PERIOD.
ONE OF THE CONCEPTS THAT WE RECEIVED THE MOST POSITIVE FEEDBACK ON WAS ADDITIONAL FREQUENCY ALONG AIRPORT BOULEVARD.
ADDITIONALLY, OUR WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR THAT THERE WERE CONCERNS OF FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT REMOVING SERVICE ON THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF JOHNNY MOORE'S ROAD.
TO ADDRESS THIS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESTRUCTURE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO RETAIN TRANSIT SERVICE ALONG THIS SEGMENT.
IN THE SOUTHEAST AREA, WE HEARD REQUESTS FOR BETTER ACCESS TO THE AIRPORT.
IN THE FIVE TO 10 YEAR PHASE, WE ARE PROPOSING TO EXTEND THE AIRPORT BOULEVARD SERVICE TO THE AIRPORT TO PROVIDE IMPROVED ACCESS FROM THE EAST SIDE.
WE ARE ALSO LOOKING TO PROVIDE MORE CONNECTIVITY FOR THEMIS AND DELL VALLEY NEIGHBORHOODS AS WE EXTEND SERVICES FROM, UM, MONTAO TO THE EAST SIDE BUS PLAZA AND FURTHER INTO WEST AUSTIN.
AND THEN WE WILL CONNECT THE LL VALLEY, UH, RESIDENTS WITH SERVICES SUCH AS AN HEB.
THERE WAS STRONG SUPPORT FOR THESE CONNECTIONS.
FINALLY, WE ARE PROPOSING TO ADJUST SERVICES IN THIS AREA TO ALIGN WITH AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL.
WE HEARD APPRECIATION FOR EASIER ACCESS TO THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN.
THE MONTAO COMMUNITY REQUESTED TO BRING SERVICE ONTO VARGAS EARLIER THAN FIVE YEARS, AND WE ARE LOOKING TO IMPLEMENT THAT SERVICE SOONER THAN ORIGINALLY PLANNED.
WE HAVE ALSO ADJUSTED A ROUTE TO SERVE PLAN FOUNDATION'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, UH, ON B BOSTON ROAD IN THE SOUTHWEST AREA.
WE ARE PROPOSING TO CONNECT EAST AUSTIN TO EMPLOYMENT CENTER SUCH AS BARTON CREEK MALL.
THIS SERVICE WOULD THEN EVENTUALLY, UH, BECOME FREQUENT.
OVERALL, THERE WAS STRONG SUPPORT FOR THESE CHANGES.
WE ALSO, WE ARE ALSO PROPOSING CONNECTING TWO ROUTES AND RAPID 800 AT THE NEW GOODNIGHT RANCH PARK AND RIDE.
WE HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR A NEW RAPID LINE THAT WILL CONNECT OAK HILL TO SOUTH AUSTIN.
WE DID HEAR CONCERNS THAT THIS RAPID LINE IS NOT THE SAME AS EXTENDING RAPID 8 0 3 TO OAK HILL AND ALSO LONG MIN CHAKA.
HOWEVER, THE PROPOSED RAPID LINE WOULD ALLOW SERVICE TO OPERATE MORE RELIABLY.
AND THEN WHEN THERE'S MORE FREQUENCY, UH, AND THEN WITH MORE FREQUENCY AS RIDERSHIP AND LAND USE PATTERNS CHANGE.
AND ULTIMATELY WE BELIEVE THIS WILL PROVIDE A BETTER CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.
OUR COMMUNITY EXPRESSED CONCERNS REGARDING THE REMOVAL OF SERVICE FROM WESTGATE BOULEVARD BETWEEN DAVIS LANE AND STASSNEY.
SO WE ARE PROPOSING TO CONTINUE OPERATING ALONG THAT SEGMENT.
WE ALSO HEARD CONCERNS ABOUT REMOVING SERVICE FROM THE MOPAC FRONTAGE ROAD.
AND WE HAVE LOOKED AT A WAY TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SOME SERVICE ALONG MOPAC WHILE STILL ALLOWING PEOPLE TO TRAVEL QUICKLY.
UH, FROM THE EAST, FROM EAST AUSTIN TO THE MALL AREA
[01:15:01]
IN THE CENTRAL AND DOWNTOWN AREA.WE ARE EXCITED TO PROPOSE A NEW BIDIRECTIONAL CIRCULATOR IN EAST AUSTIN THAT WAS WELL RECEIVED.
WE ARE ALSO PROPOSING TO REMOVE A ROUTE THAT OPERATES ALONG 45TH STREET THAT WAS INTRODUCED DURING CAP REMAP.
SINCE THIS RIDERSHIP HAS REMAINED LOW, WE WILL INSTEAD REROUTE A ROUTE ALONG 35TH AND 38TH STREET TO SERVE HANCOCK CENTER.
WE ARE ALSO LOOKING TO COMBINE OUR SENIOR ROUTES THAT OPERATE ALONG CESAR CHAVEZ INTO ONE ROUTE.
AND THIS WOULD OPERATE, UM, MORE OFTEN THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.
AND WE ARE LOOKING TO ADJUST OUR DOWNTOWN ROUTINGS TO INTEGRATE WITH AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL AND IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY TO THE LIGHT RAIL, WHILE ALSO MEETING THE CHANGES CREATED BY UM, I 35 AND THE AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
THIS PLAN MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE DOWNTOWN ROUTINGS WILL BE FINALIZED IN THE NEXT FA NEXT PLAN.
THE COMMUNITY, UH, REALLY LIKED HEARING ABOUT OPTIONS FOR 8 0 1 AND 8 0 3 AFTER AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL BEGIN SERVICE.
AS THIS HAS BEEN A FREQUENT COMMUNITY QUESTION, WE WILL USE THEIR INPUT AS WE CONTINUE TO COORDINATE WITH A TP AND AS WE PROCEED TOWARDS THE NEXT TRANSIT PLAN.
AT THIS POINT, WE WILL CONTINUE WITH, UH, TWO OPTIONS.
WE ADJUSTED ONE ROUTE TO OPERATE FURTHER SOUTH INTO DOWNTOWN BASED ON STAKEHOLDER AND USER FEEDBACK.
AND WE ALSO HEARD A REQUEST TO CONTINUE TO SERVE LOCATIONS THAN MILLER.
SO WE MODIFIED A ROUTE, UH, TO RETAIN ITS ROUTING THROUGH MILLER.
THE MOST NOTABLE UT COMMUNITY OR THE MOST NOTABLE PROPOSAL FOR THE UT COMMUNITY IS TRANSITIONING MOST OF THE UT SHUTTLES TO MAINLINE ROUTES THAT OPERATE FREQUENT SERVICE YEAR ROUND AND WITH WEEKEND AND LATE LATE NIGHT SERVICE WITH GREATER CONNECTIONS TO THE BROADER CAP METRO NETWORK AND DESTINATIONS.
WE HEARD FROM THE UT COMMUNITY THAT WHEN THE UT SHUTTLE FREQUENCIES AND SPAN VARY THROUGH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, IT'S CONFUSING, DIFFICULT, AND CHALLENGING TO TRAVEL AROUND.
WE ALSO HEARD A GROWING NEED TO TRAVEL TO CAMPUS ON SATURDAYS WHEN T UT SHUTTLES TYPICALLY DO NOT OPERATE AND INTEREST IN UT SHUTTLES REACHING MORE DESTINATIONS.
ONLY TWO ON CAMPUS CIRCULATORS WOULD BE THE REMAINING UT SHUTTLES.
THESE PROPOSALS WERE WELL RECEIVED BY THE UT COMMUNITY AND UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY THE UT SHUTTLE BUS COMMITTEE ALREADY.
WE HAVE MANY EXCITING INVESTMENTS IN IMPROVEMENTS OCCURRING ON THE RED LINE, INCLUDING THE UPCOMING BROADMOOR STATION, THE PLAZA SALTILLO DOUBLE TRACKING, UH, WITH MULTIMODAL CONNECTIVITY, ONGOING EFFORTS ON THE RED LINE TRAIL AND IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE RELIABILITY AND SAFETY OF SERVICE WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
WE ARE PROPOSING LATER WEEKDAY SERVICE AND EARLIER SATURDAY SERVICE.
PEOPLE ARE REALLY RECEPTIVE TOWARDS THESE ADDITIONAL HOURS OF SERVICE AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS ON THE RED LINE TRANSIT 20 TRANSIT PLAN.
2035 IS AN EXCITING STEP FORWARD FOR CAP METRO AND OUR REGION.
IT'S NOT JUST A PLAN, IT'S OUR ROADMAP FOR HOW WE'LL EXPAND OPPORTUNITY GROW RIDERSHIP AND MAKE TRANSIT A BIGGER PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
WHAT MAKES THIS PLAN SO POWERFUL? IT'S THAT IT'S BUILT ON BOTH SOLID DATA AND THE VOICES OF MORE THAN 10,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THIS ISN'T A PLAN CREATED IN A VACUUM.
IT REFLECTS WHAT OUR WRITERS AND OUR REGION TOLD US THEY NEED.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE BOLD BUT REALISTIC.
THEY RESPOND TO TODAY'S TRAVEL PATTERNS WHILE ALSO PREPARING US FOR THE FUTURE FROM PROJECT CONNECT'S LIGHT RAIL TO THE REGIONAL GROWTH WE KNOW IS COMING.
AND JUST AS IMPORTANT, THIS IS A PHASED COST EFFECTIVE STRATEGY.
WE'RE MAKING SMART NEAR TERM CHANGES THAT STRETCH OUR RESOURCES WHILE LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS DOWN THE ROAD.
NEXT, WE'LL BE PRESENTING THIS PLAN TO COMMITTEES AS PART OF THE ADOPTION PROCESS.
WE'LL RETURN TO THE BOARD FOR A VOTE ON OCTOBER 20TH, AND THE IMPLEMENTATION WILL BE BEGIN THROUGH THE SERVICE CHANGE PROCESS STARTING IN 2026.
AND I SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT TODAY WE'LL KICK OFF A, UM, ENGAGEMENT PERIOD OF THROUGH THAT APPROVABLE ON OCTOBER 20TH.
THIS PLAN WILL DELIVER REAL RESULTS WITH ONGOING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY IT POSITIONS CAP METRO TO BE A LEADER IN SHAPING CENTRAL TEXAS MOBILITY FOR THE NEXT DECADE
[01:20:01]
AND BEYOND.AND WITH THAT, I'LL, I'D LIKE TO HAND IT OVER TO OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO FOR SOME FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS BRAND.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE ENTIRE CAT METRO TEAM.
THIS HAS BEEN, UM, QUITE THE EFFORT TO GET US TO THIS POINT.
UM, IT'S BEEN WELL OVER A YEAR THAT WE'VE BEEN STUDYING.
WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO NEXT? AND WHAT IS THE, I CALL IT SHUFFLING THE DOMINOES THAT WE NEED TO DO, UH, TO REALLOCATE OUR SERVICES POST PANDEMIC.
AND I THINK, UM, WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TODAY IS AN AMAZING OUTCOME OF THAT.
YOU KNOW, WE OFTEN HEAR FEEDBACK ABOUT, WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST ANOTHER PLAN.
PLANS DON'T MEAN MUCH, IT'S JUST ANOTHER PLAN.
UM, BUT I, I LIKE TO REMIND FOLKS OF THE MANY THINGS THAT WE'RE PART OF ONE OF THESE TRANSIT PLANS.
THE RED LINE STARTED AS PART OF A TRANSIT PLAN PLAN.
OUR METRO RAPID ROUTES, ALL FOUR OF THEM STARTING WITH THE EIGHT HUNDRED AND EIGHT OH THREE, AND THEN NOW THE TWO NEWEST ALL CAME AS PART OF OUR FIVE YEAR TRANSIT PLANNING CYCLE.
SO THESE PROPOSALS AREN'T JUST GOOD IDEAS.
THEY'RE THE FIRST STEP AND AS ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING NEW TRANSIT SERVICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO THANK AND COMMEND THE TEAM FOR THE AMAZING AMOUNT OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT THAT WENT INTO CREATING THIS PLAN.
AS YOU HEARD TODAY, NOT ONLY DID WE HEAR FROM OVER 10,000 VOICES IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THAT FEEDBACK ACTUALLY SHAPED THE RESULTS.
UM, AS RECENTLY AS THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST, WE HAD A DRAFT PLAN THAT WE THOUGHT WAS FANTASTIC AND WE HEARD SOME FEEDBACK TO, WE WENT, OKAY, YEAH, ACTUALLY THERE'S SOME, THERE'S SOME GOOD THOUGHT THERE.
AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADJUST, UM, BASED ON THE PUBLIC FEEDBACK.
'CAUSE I KNOW THAT IS A HEAVY LIFT TO GET ALL OF, TO NOT ONLY SPEND THE TIME TO REACH OUT AND HEAR FROM ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE, BUT TO DIGEST THAT INFORMATION AND TURN IT INTO GOOD TRANSIT PROPOSALS.
UM, THE FUNDAMENTALLY, AND, AND THE TEAM LED WITH THIS, BUT I KIND OF WANTED TO TO TO BRING IT BACK AROUND.
YOU'LL RECALL, UM, THAT JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO WE HAD THIS BOARD, UM, APPROVE OUR UPDATED STRATEGIC PLAN THAT REALLY FOCUSES, FOCUSES US ON FOUR CRITICAL RESULTS.
AND THIS TRANSIT PLAN REALLY HELPS US MOVE THE NEEDLE ON ALL OF THOSE CRITICAL RESULTS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE RELIABLE AND SECURE SERVICE AND REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHERE OUR SERVICES CAN BEST PROVIDE THAT RELIABILITY HAS BEEN A KEY COMPONENT, COMPONENT OF THIS PLAN.
ALL OF THAT IS FOR INCREASING OUR RIDERSHIP OVERALL.
WE'RE HERE TO MOVE PEOPLE AND WE WANT TO DO THAT.
UM, THIS PLAN HELPED US REALLY LOOK AT THE REGION AND, AND WHERE DO WE SEE A LOT OF DEMAND.
AND I THINK WE'VE LEARNED, WE'VE PUT A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION IN THIS PLAN, BUT ESPECIALLY IN THAT KIND OF 10 YEAR VISION LIST OF SOME, WE SAW SOME GREAT DATA SUPPORTED SERVICES THAT ARE CURRENTLY OUTSIDE OF OUR SERVICE AREA.
BUT THOSE ARE THE SORTS OF THINGS THAT WE'LL BE WORKING ON AS WE, WE AIM TO INCREASE OUR REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE.
AND OBVIOUSLY ALL OF THIS HAS TO BE DONE WITHIN FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
YOU KNOW, TRANSIT PLANS ARE A LOT EASIER TO DO WHEN SALES TAXES AREN'T FLAT BECAUSE WHEN THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF WIGGLE TO SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE COULD PUT A LITTLE BIT MORE SERVICE OUT, WHAT WOULD WE DO WITH THAT? IT'S A LOT SIMPLER.
UM, BUT THIS TEAM HAD THE VERY DIFFICULT TASK OF FIGURING OUT OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO INCREASE RIDERSHIP WITHOUT THE EXPECTATION OF INCREASED RESOURCES.
AND, UM, I THINK THEY'VE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB.
SO, UM, WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO PRESENT THIS TO Y'ALL TODAY.
UM, AND WE'LL, WE'LL SPEND, UM, THE COURSE OF THE NEXT MONTH, UM, GETTING THE LAST BITS OF FEEDBACK BEFORE WE ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL IN OCTOBER.
ALRIGHT, BOARD MEMBERS, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UM, BOARD MEMBER ALICE, A COUPLE OF SHORT QUESTIONS.
I REALLY APPRECIATED SEEING THIS MAP THAT HAS ALL OF THE COMMENTS THAT CAME IN.
UM, IT IS ALWAYS AMAZING TO SEE FOLKS FROM OUTSIDE THE SERVICE AREA PROACTIVELY REACHING OUT AND SAYING, I'M ASSUMING WE WOULD LIKE SOME SERVICE.
UM, OTHERWISE THEY WOULDN'T BE CHIMING IN ON THIS.
IS THERE ONE CONSOLIDATED PLACE WHERE WE CAN SIFT THROUGH THE COMMENTS OR SHOULD WE JUST ASK IF WE'RE INTERESTED IN A PARTICULAR REGION TO GET MORE INFORMATION FROM YOU AND YOUR TEAM? YEAH, WE CAN PROVIDE THE INFORMATION.
WE DON'T HAVE A CENTRALIZED, UH, LOCATION FOR ALL THAT YET.
WE DO HAVE A, UM, A SUMMARY REPORT OF THE FIRST ROUND OF ENGAGEMENT ON OUR WEBSITE.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T HAVE EVERY SINGLE COMMENT, BUT IT REALLY, THE, THE TEAM WORKED REALLY HARD TO TRY AND PUT 'EM INTO CATEGORIES AND GET THE BIG BROAD THEMES THERE.
SO THAT DOES EXIST, BUT IF THERE'S SPECIFICS WE CAN, UH, TRY AND FORWARD THOSE ALONG TO YOU.
I KNOW THERE'S A FEW FOLKS THAT HAVE REACHED OUT THAT JUST HAVE SOME VERY SPECIFIC, YOU KNOW, HEY, CAN THIS BUS ROUTE PICK UP JUST A LITTLE BIT FURTHER? OR THEY'RE ASKING FOR THINGS LIKE BENCHES AND AWNINGS, THINGS THAT JUST HELP ENHANCE SERVICE, MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO UTILIZE.
AND SO I'M CURIOUS TO SEE, ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTHWEST REGION, WHAT THOSE EXACT ASKS WERE.
UM, VERY MUCH APPRECIATE ALL OF THE COORDINATION AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT THAT WENT INTO CONSOLIDATING A PLAN LIKE THIS.
UM, SO CAN YOU TELL ME, ARE THERE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES NOW THAT THERE'S A REALLY, REALLY GOOD BASE PLAN? ARE
[01:25:01]
FOLKS GONNA BE ABLE TO COMMENT AGAIN? SHOULD THEY SEND THEIR INFORMATION TO THE BOARD OR THE FEEDBACK TEAM? WHAT'S THE BEST WAY, IF WE HAVE ANY LAST TWEAKS TO COMMUNICATE? WE'RE GONNA BE PUTTING, PUTTING INFORMATION UP ON THE BOARD PROBABLY ANY MINUTE NOW.I, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN OUR, UP ON OUR WEBSITE, UM, THERE WILL BE A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE WEBSITE, BUT THEN ON OCTOBER 6TH IN THIS BOARDROOM WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC MEETING.
UM, SO I DON'T REMEMBER QUITE THE TIME OF THAT, UH, RIGHT AT THE MOMENT, BUT WE, WE DO HAVE MULTIPLE TOUCH POINTS AND WE'LL BE SURE ALL THOSE ARE ALSO ON THE WEBSITE.
THAT'S, UM, RIGHT UP CAP METRO.ORG TRANSPLANT 2035.
I, I KNOW, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WITH SOME OF THE TWEAKS THAT ARE HAPPENING SOUTHWEST, UM, LIKE THE 30 ROUTE, WHICH IS THE ONE THAT I ARRIVED, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HAVING THAT EXCHANGE BETWEEN GETTING ON THE THREE 10 TO GET DOWN TO WESTGATE AND TRYING TO NAVIGATE THAT, I MOSTLY WANNA MAKE SURE I'M HEARING FROM FOLKS THAT ARE GONNA UTILIZE THAT ROUTE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S GOING TO WORK FOR THEM, OR IF IT'S NOT, WHAT, WHAT OTHER FEEDBACK NEEDS TO, TO BE ACCOMMODATED, BUT REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK GOING INTO THIS AND THE CREATIVITY AROUND, UM, RE-STRATEGIZING.
YOU KNOW, IS IT NORTH SOUTH? IS IT EAST WEST? HOW DO WE KIND OF COMBINE AND CHANGE HOW SOME OF THESE BUS ROUTES ARE GOING TO WORK? UM, SO I THINK IT'S A REALLY GREAT PLAN AND APPRECIATE THE CREATIVITY.
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO, IF I MAY REAL QUICKLY, THANK OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM.
THEY HAVE PUT IN HOURS AND A LOT OF WORK, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE 10, WE REACHED THOSE 10,000, UH, VOICES.
JUST SINCE I HAVE THE BENEFIT OF HAVING THE INTERNET IN FRONT OF ME.
THAT OPEN HOUSE IS CURRENTLY POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE.
IF YOU GO TO THE TRANSIT PLAN 2035 SITE, IT WILL BE ON OCTOBER 6TH AT 6:00 PM HERE IN THE BOARDROOM.
FREE PIZZA WILL BE PROVIDED, SO WE ENCOURAGE, RIGHT.
CAN WE CALL MS. TAYLOR IN, UH, LET'S SEE.
ANY, ANY, UH, BOARD MEMBER RADDEN? YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I JUST, YES.
AGAIN, THANK YOU LAWRENCE, YOU AND YOUR TEAM, THIS IS, UH, PHENOMENAL.
APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT Y'ALL HAVE PUT INTO IT.
UM, IF YOU CAN JUST, UH, MAYBE FOCUS IN ON A CLARIFY A LITTLE BIT.
I KNOW, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S NOTED HERE, BOTH NORTHWEST AND NORTHEAST, UM, YOU HAVE HERE ON THE POWERPOINT, UH, IN, UH, INCREASED CROSSTOWN CONNECTIONS, ALIGNING WITH TRANSIT DEMAND AND NEED, UH, AND, AND IMPROVED CROSSTOWN SERVICE WITH ADDITIONAL FREQUENCY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE HEARD, UM, PRETTY MUCH SINCE MY TIME ON THE BOARD, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE ONLY MORE SENIOR BOARD MEMBER THAN ME ON THIS BOARD IS CHAIR TAVION
UM, WHAT CAN YOU KIND OF HIGHLIGHT WHAT KIND OF FEEDBACK THROUGH THIS PROCESS Y'ALL RECEIVED ABOUT THAT? AND AS YOU WERE, AGAIN, WE HAVE TO BALANCE THAT WITH BOTH THE, THE, THE FEEDBACK WITH, AS YOU'VE SAID, BUT THE VERY BEGINNING, THE FEEDBACK WITH THE DATA, WITH THE FISCAL REALITY.
CAN YOU MAYBE KIND OF WALK US THROUGH THAT AND, AND THEN IT KIND OF MAYBE CONNECT THOSE DOTS? 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE GOT THESE IN TWO DIFFERENT SLIDES, BUT KIND OF WALK, WALK US THROUGH A LITTLE BIT HOW THAT CONNECTS TOGETHER, THE NORTHEAST AND THE NORTHWEST CROSS TOWN CONNECTED TOGETHER.
UM, SO FIRST STEPPING OUT A LITTLE BIT, WE WERE ABLE TO BUY AND USE, UH, LOCATION BASED DATA SERVICES, WHICH, YOU KNOW, IS CELL PHONE, BLUETOOTH TYPE TYPE DATA.
AND WHAT IT REALLY SHOWED US IS THAT THERE IS A LOT MORE PEOPLE TRAVELING EAST WEST IN AUSTIN, UM, INSTEAD OF COMING DOWNTOWN.
SO THAT WAS KIND OF A TREND WE SAW ALL OVER.
AND THERE REALLY IS, IF I HAD MORE TIME TO GO INTO DETAIL, THERE ARE A LOT MORE EASTWEST ROUTES, UH, COMING OUT.
AUSTIN'S A BIT OF A CHALLENGE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT A GRID.
SO TO FIND A A A A STREET THAT GOES DIRECTLY EAST OR WEST, IT, IT, IT CAN BE A CHALLENGE.
UM, SO, SO, BUT SPECIFICALLY IN THE NORTH AREA, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WENT OUT TO DO ENGAGEMENT IN THE FIRST ROUND, WE REALLY HEARD, UH, MEMBERS OF THE RUNDBERG AREA, UH, USERS OF THE RUNDBERG SERVICE SAY, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO GET FURTHER, FURTHER WEST.
UM, AND THE DATA BACKED US UP.
SO WHAT WE HAVE PROPOSED IS FOR A FREQUENT ROUTE ON RUNDBERG THAT WILL OPERATE, UM, WEST OF 180 3, UM, FROM, FROM THE CURRENT, UH, NORWOOD TRANSIT CENTER, WHICH IS BASICALLY I 35, SO, SO AN EAST WEST SERVICE FROM I 35 TO 180 3 AREA.
THEN, UH, ANOTHER ROUTE WE LOOKED AT WAS TAKING, UM, IN THE NORTHEAST AREA, TWO ROUTES THAT CONNECTED AT THAT NORWOOD TRANSIT CENTER AND JUST TURNING THEM INTO ONE ROUTE, UH, INCREASING THE FREQUENCY, UH, FOR A GOOD
[01:30:01]
SEGMENT OF THAT ROUTE.AND, UM, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO BRING MORE SERVICE.
YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO HIGHLIGHT IT, BUT THERE IS ALSO, IN 10 YEARS, HOPEFULLY, WHERE EVERYTHING WORKS OUT, WE WILL MOSTLY BE OPERATING FREQUENT ROUTES AT CAP METRO WITH VERY FEW, THERE WILL BE STILL SOME, BUT WE, WE WILL HAVE, UM, HAVE A LOT OF FREQUENCY OUT ON, OUT, OUT ON OUR ROADS.
THAT, THAT IS, THAT IS AWESOME.
SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME SLOWLY.
'CAUSE I THINK THAT IS CRITICAL FOR THE COMMUNITY HERE.
THAT IS, THAT IS WHAT WE'RE, WE'RE AIMING TOWARDS.
IF THINGS WORK OUT, UM, WE, AS, AS WE PLANNED IT, WE WOULD, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A LOT MORE FREQUENCY OUT ON THE STREETS WITH MORE EAST WEST FREQUENT ROUTES, UM, IN PARTICULAR.
SO, UM, WITH ONLY A FEW, UM, 30 MINUTE AND THERE IS STILL ONE 60 MINUTE ROUTE IN SOUTH EAST AUSTIN, UH, IN THERAN.
THAT, THAT IS, THAT'S AWESOME TO, TO, TO THINK ABOUT AND WORK TOWARDS.
UM, I WAS CURIOUS THEN, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT, AND IT'S BEEN VERY, UM, UH, ASPIRATIONAL, BUT THE, UM, THE, THE, THE, THE RANCH ROAD 7 34 CORRIDOR, PALMER, PALMER LANE, UM, KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, UP NORTH IN, IN THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY SIDE ON, WHICH WOULD BE THE, THE NORTH, THE NORTHWEST SIDE, YOU'VE GOT, UH, APPLE AND UH, AND AREAS UP THERE.
AND THEN DOWN ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE YOU'VE GOT, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT SAMSUNG AND OTHER, AND IT'S KIND OF BECOMING A TECHNOLOGY CORRIDOR THERE.
UM, WHAT DID YOU FIND IN, IN Y'ALL'S DATA OR RESEARCH, DO, DO WE SEE THAT, THAT THERE MAY BE A NEED TO BUILD SOMETHING THERE? OR IS, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT? THAT MAY BE WHEN WE SIT DOWN IN 2030, IT'S GONNA BE, WE'RE LOOKING AT MAYBE FOR 20 35, 20 40 THAT WE'RE JUST NOT THERE YET.
SO WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE DEFINITELY LOOKED AT IT, WE EXAMINED SOME OPTIONS.
UM, IT'S ONE OF THOSE, THE ITEMS THAT WE BELIEVE WILL COME MUCH MORE IN THE, IN THE 2030 PLAN.
WE DO HAVE ONE ROUTE THAT WE'VE RESTRUCTURED IN NORTHWEST AUSTIN THAT OPERATES A LITTLE BIT MORE ON PALMER.
SO, YOU KNOW, BABY STEPS KIND OF RIGHT.
KIND OF MOVING TOWARDS THAT PARER SERVICE.
BUT, BUT THAT'S HOW WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD.
AGAIN, I I THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THAT.
AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THAT THIS HAS BEEN QUITE A HEAVY LIFT AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME, TREASURE AND TALENT AND THE WORKLOAD THAT Y'ALL PUT INTO THIS IS, AND, AND THE COMMUNITY KEY CRITICAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
BECAUSE WHAT GOOD DOES IT DO IF YOU TAKE ALL THAT DATA AND YOU'RE RUN IT OFF THE, YOU'RE RUN IT ACROSS THE MONEY, BUT WE DON'T COMMUNICATE THIS AND WE DON'T GET THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.
WE COULD HAVE THIS AMAZING PLAN AND THEN IF NOBODY USES IT,
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, UH, WELL THANK YOU.
SHOULD WE CALL MS. TAYLOR UP AND THEN THE NEXT THING ON OUR AGENDA, IT'S OUR MONTHLY UPDATE.
[III. Public Comment (Part 2 of 2)]
WELL WE, WERE WAITING ON YOU AND YOU AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.I WAS USING Y'ALL'S BUS SYSTEM.
I TRIED TO GET OVER HERE SINCE A QUARTER TO NOON.
TAKE THREE BUSES, BUT THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
I'M NOT GONNA SING GOD BLESS AMERICA THIS TIME.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW, I I I DIDN'T GET PAID LAST TIME, SO I'M JUST GONNA SPEAK ABOUT WHAT I CAN'T SAY ABOUT
UH, I LIVE IN MUELLER AND IT'S WONDERFUL THAT WE HAVE, UH, THREE BUSES COMING DOWN BERKMAN, THEY'RE THE ONLY BUSES THAT SERVE MUELLER PROPER.
UH, COME DOWN BERKMAN, WE GOT THE 800 EXPRESS,
[01:35:01]
WHICH IS FABULOUS 'CAUSE IT TAKES ME TO THE, UH, RIVERSIDE A TB AND OUT TO THE VA AND WE GOT THE 8 37 EXPRESS.IT'S FABULOUS AND IT TAKES YOU WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.
AND WE GOT THE 3 35, BUT THE 3 35 IS THE ONE I'M SPEAKING ABOUT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT WITH THE 800 AND THE 8 37 SERVICING PEOPLE FROM 51ST STREET TO MAIN ROAD, YOU DON'T NEED THE 3 35 TO DO THE SAME THING.
SO I'VE BEEN TRYING SINCE ABOUT EIGHT YEARS TO GET CONCERNED ABOUT, UH, GIVING OPPORTUNITY FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MUELLER THAT DON'T LIVE ON BERKMAN TO USE THAT BUS.
NOW, DURING THE TIME THAT Y'ALL WERE CONSTRUCTING THE BUS, UH, PLACES FOR US TO GET ON THE BUS, THERE WAS A DETOUR FROM MAINOR EAST TO TILLY NORTH TO, UM, SOMEWHERE Y'ALL TURN DOWN THERE.
BUT I'M SUGGESTING NOW THAT WE HAVE A MIDDLE SCHOOL THERE, IMAGINE THE RELIEF OF TRAFFIC.
IF THE STAFF THERE AND THE STUDENTS WHO CAN RIDE THE BUS AT MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THEIR PARENTS WHO DON'T HAVE A CAR COULD GET TO THAT MIDDLE SCHOOL, THERE'S NO BUS SERVICE TO THAT MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT'S SEVEN BLOCKS ALL THE WAY TO BERKMAN.
THEY BE DRENCHED OR COLD OR BURNT UP BY THE TIME THEY TAKE THE BUS RIGHT NOW, GET OFF AT BERKMAN AND THEN WALK SEVEN BLOCKS.
SO I'M SUGGESTING, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE TAKE THE ROUTE Y'ALL USED TO HAVE DURING THE DETOUR AND IT WOULD BE GOING EASTBOUND MAY ROAD TURN NORTHBOUND ON TILLY AND GO DOWN TO ROBERT BROWNING.
ROBERT BROWNING IS RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL.
THEN IT CAN GO WEST ON ROBERT BROWNING AND GO ACROSS MUELLER AND GO OVER TO THE DELL, UM, CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, WHICH MEANS THE STAFF DON'T HAVE TO PAY PARKING ANYMORE.
WHICH MEANS PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO COME VISIT THEIR RELATIVES OVER THERE DON'T HAVE TO PAY PARKING.
AND THERE'S NOT SO MANY CARS IN THE PARKING BECAUSE THEY'RE RIDING A BUS.
THEN WE WOULD TURN LEFT ON LANCASTER AND GO DOWN TO 51ST STREET AND THEN COME BACK AROUND TO HEB.
BUT RIGHT NOW THAT BUS SITS FOR 22 MINUTES OF THE HOUR.
IT, IT JUST COMES STRAIGHT DOWN.
BROOKLYN GOES ON BARBARA JORDAN AROUND BY THE PACK AND SITS FOR 22 MINUTES UNTIL IT'S TIME TO START THE MERRY-GO-ROUND AGAIN.
SO I BELIEVE THAT 22 MINUTES WOULD BE BEST SERVED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE AREA, ESPECIALLY THE APARTMENT DWELLERS.
IT USED TO BE JUST A, A BIG OLD GRASS LOT EAST OF BROOKLYN, BUT THERE'S THE PARKING, THE APARTMENTS AND APARTMENTS.
AND I, I, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SAY Y'ALL RECONSIDER THAT EVEN IF YOU JUST PUT TEMPORARY SIGNS UP AND HE DIDN'T BUILD THE BIG OLD UH, THINGS.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT AND, AND ADDRESSING THE BOARD.
I GUESS THERE'S NO ATTORNEYS HERE I DIDN'T WANNA OFFEND BECAUSE YOU KNOW, AN ATTORNEY'S FAVORITE HOLIDAY DRINK IS A SUBPOENA.
ALRIGHT, HAVE YOU TRIED ONE OF THOSE? ALRIGHT, I THINK YOU NEED TO GIVE, GIVE BRAD THE RECIPE.
[IX.1. President and CEO Monthly Update - September 2025]
THE AGENDA TODAY IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO'S, UH, MONTHLY UPDATE.MS. WATKINS, WOULD YOU TAKE US AWAY? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
JUST A FEW THINGS WE'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON IN THE LAST MONTH.
UM, FIRST OFF CAP METRO IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, WE RECENTLY CELEBRATED THE OFFICIAL RIBBON CUTTING OF OUR 51ST AND MAINOR ROAD, UH, METRO RAPID STATIONS.
UM, AND WHILE NOT EVERY STATION GETS A RIBBON CUTTING, THIS WAS ACTUALLY A LOCATION THAT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO SOLVE FOR.
UM, 51ST AND MAINOR IS A MAJOR INTERSECTION IN EAST AUSTIN AND QUITE FRANKLY, NEEDED TO COMPLETELY BE REBUILT, UH, TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
AND SO MANY THANKS TO OUR WONDERFUL PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UM, WHO HELPED COORDINATE AND ALSO FUND THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THIS, UM, IMPROVEMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
UM, MUCH THANKS FOR THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
UM, AND YOU SEE HERE, WE, WE HAD, UM, OUR LOVELY, UM, DEPUTY CEO KERRY BUTCHER OUT WITH OUR, UM, FRIENDS FROM TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS, UM, TO DO A RIBBON CUTTING.
SO THE SORT OF THING THAT NOT EVERYONE GETS EXCITED ABOUT CUTTING THE RIBBON, UM, ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS LIKE THIS, BUT THIS IS THE SORT OF BEHIND THE SCENES COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION BETWEEN THE PARTNER AGENCIES THAT IS ABSOLUTELY VITAL, UM, TO US BEING ABLE TO DELIVER A GREAT CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.
SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HIGHLIGHTED IT HERE TODAY.
UM, NEXT UP WE ARE VERY PROUD AND PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT CAP METRO WAS RECENTLY AWARDED NOT ONE BUT TWO APTA ADD WHEEL AWARD.
SO APTA, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION LOOKS EVERY YEAR AT THE MARKETING CAMPAIGNS, UM, BEING USED IN THE INDUSTRY AND HIGHLIGHTS THE, THE BEST OF THE BEST WITH THEIR GOLD AWARD.
[01:40:01]
UM, SO FIRST UP THE CAP METRO RECRUITING CAMPAIGN.UM, ONE FOR THE BEST MARKETING, UM, AND COMMUNICATIONS ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, UM, FOR LARGE SYSTEMS. AND YOU'LL SEE THERE, UM, SOME OF THE VISUALS FROM THE PLACES YOU'LL GO.
UM, THAT IS BOTH A PLAY ON, OBVIOUSLY WE HELP PEOPLE GET WHERE THEY NEED TO GO, BUT ALSO THE AMAZING STORIES OF, UM, MANY OF OUR OWN STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE HAD, UM, LONG CAREERS, UM, IN PUBLIC TRANSIT, MAYBE EVEN CAREERS THAT THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THEY WERE GETTING INTO WHEN IT FIRST STARTED.
UM, AND SO WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PRESENT, UM, A VERY HUMAN FOCUSED RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN WHERE THAT'S CONCERN.
AND ALSO WE WON FOR THE BEST MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS EDUCATIONAL, UM, INITIATIVE FOR THE MCAL STATION LAUNCH.
UM, AND SO, UM, MANY OF YOU WILL RECALL THAT WHEN WE OPENED, UM, THE MCAL STATION THERE AT Q2 STADIUM, UM, WE HAD A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE BENEFIT, UM, AND HAVE A FANTASTIC PARTY ALONG THE WAY.
SO WE WERE, UM, QUITE PLEASED, UM, NOT ONLY TO HAVE SUCH AMAZING MARKETING TALENT ON OUR STAFF, UM, BUT TO HAVE THEM RECOGNIZED AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
SO MANY CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR MARKETING TEAM, UM, FOR ALWAYS FRANKLY KNOCKING IT OUTTA THE PARK.
BUT THANKS SO MUCH FOR, UM, HELPING US GET THIS RECOGNITION.
UM, NEXT UP JUST A QUICK CHECK-IN ON OUR CUSTOMER CARE TEAM.
AUGUST CONTINUES TO HAVE VERY STRONG CONTACT, UM, VOLUME.
WE HIT OUR THIRD HIGHEST EVER.
UM, REPLACING JUST THIS PAST MAY IS OUR THIRD HIGHEST, OUR CALL VOLUME WAS UM, OVER 15,000.
UM, JUST SHY OF 16,000 ACTUAL CALLS.
JUST TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE.
THAT'S ABOUT 3000 CALLS OVER THE COURSE OF A MONTH, MORE THAN WE SAW JUST THIS LAST YEAR.
UM, SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO GET MORE AND MORE ENGAGEMENT FROM OUR CUSTOMERS.
UM, AND OUR TEAM CONTINUES TO DO A GREAT JOB OF RE OF RECEIVING AND HELPING US SORT THROUGH AND RESPOND TO THAT, THOSE CONTACTS.
UM, NEXT UP JUST A QUICK, WHERE HAVE I BEEN? UM, I WAS VERY PROUD TO SHARE CAP METRO'S VISION, UM, THROUGH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND OUR ONGOING WORK OF THE TRANSIT PLAN WITH THE L-G-B-T-Q CHAMBER AT THEIR MONTHLY LUNCHEON.
UM, A BIG THANK YOU TO THEIR OUTGOING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TINA KAREN, FOR INVITING US TO COME SHARE UM, ALL OF THE GREAT WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH ALL OF THE CHAMBERS IN TOWN 'CAUSE IT HELPS US REACH, UM, AN AUDIENCE OF BUSINESS LEADERS THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY EVER HEAR ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON, UM, IN THEIR TRANSIT SYSTEM.
AND SO WE WERE, UM, THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO SHARE, UM, SOME UPDATES ABOUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO AND THEN LAST, BUT ABSOLUTELY, CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, UM, AS THE BOARD ALREADY KNOWS.
UM, BUT I AM THRILLED TO SHARE PUBLICLY AS MANY TIMES AS I'M ALLOWED TO DO SO, UM, THAT KEVIN CONLIN HAS ACCEPTED OUR, UM, POSITION AS EVP AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.
THIS IS KEVIN'S LEAST FAVORITE MOMENT OF THE WEEK.
I CAN GUARANTEE YOU HE'S OVER THERE GOING, MAN, I WISH THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THIS.
SO KEVIN IS OBVIOUSLY NOT A NEW FACE TO CAP METRO.
HE'S BEEN AT CAP METRO SINCE 2017, STARTING AS OUR, UM, DIRECTOR OF, UM, BUDGET FINANCIAL PLANNING AND GRANTS MANAGEMENT.
UM, AND HAS EVER SINCE HE'S BEEN HERE, JUST BEEN THAT VOICE OF REASON AND SOUND FINANCIAL PLANNING.
UM, HE HAS A JOY TO WORK WITH.
HE CHALLENGES US IN A RESPECTFUL WAY TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE DO.
UM, BEFORE COMING TO CAP METRO, HE BROUGHT, HE BRINGS TO CAP METRO 25 YEARS OF PRIVATE SECTOR ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE.
UM, AND, AND IS JUST AN AMAZING RESOURCE FOR US.
SO WE ARE THRILLED TO HAVE HIM SERVE, UM, AS OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.
AND WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESIDENT'S REPORT.
UH, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS BECAUSE THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUSINESS FOR, UH, TODAY.
OTHERWISE, UH, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE AND FOR THE PRESENTATIONS THAT WERE MADE.
IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, WE WILL STAND ADJOURNED AT 1 47.