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[I. Call to Order]
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON.WE'RE GONNA START OUR PUBLIC HEARING.
TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11TH.
WE'RE AT THE ROSA PARKS BOARDROOM, UH, HERE AT 29 10 EAST FIFTH STREET.
[II.1. Proposed June 2026 Service Changes Presentation]
HEARING WILL BE TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED JUNE, 2026 SERVICE CHANGES.MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE'LL HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM, UH, MS. JORDAN MCKEE AND THEN TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT FOLLOWING THAT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR TAVION, MEMBERS OF THE CAT METRO BOARD PRESIDENT AND CCEO, UH, DOTIE WATKINS.
I'M JORDAN MCGEE WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, AND TODAY I'LL BE PRESENTING THE PROPOSED JUNE, 2026 SERVICE CHANGES, WHICH REPRESENT THE FIRST MAJOR SERVICE CHANGE THAT CAT METRO WOULD DELIVER AS PART OF OUR BOARD APPROVED TRANSIT PLAN 2035 AND REPRESENTS MORE OF PROJECT CONNECT PROGRAM OF PROJECTS COMING TO LIFE ON THE GROUND.
THE SERVICE CHANGE WAS DEVELOPED IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, THE COMMUNITY IN OUR PARTNERS, AND HAS TRULY BEEN AN ALL HANDS ON DECK EFFORT ACROSS INTERNAL DEPARTMENTS, FRONTLINE STAFF, AND OUR, UH, PARTNERS TO BRING THIS CONCEPT INTO FRUITION.
EACH DAY, A WIDE VARIETY OF STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING, UH, DILIGENTLY TO PROGRESS THESE LINES FOR CURRENT RIDERS AND ALL OTHER CUSTOMERS DISCOVERING THEM AS PART OF THIS SHARED EFFORT.
SEVERAL OF THE ADJUSTED BUS ROUTES THAT WE'LL WALK THROUGH TODAY, INCLUDING ROUTE 3 18, 2 33, AND 18, WOULD ALL BECOME, UH, TRAVIS COUNTY, UH, PARTNERSHIP ROUTES THAT THE TRA THE COUNTY WOULD, UH, HELP FUND AND THEN FURTHER STRENGTHEN OUR EXPANDED MOBILITY OPTIONS ACROSS THE REGION.
YOU MAKING ME NERVOUS UP HERE,
UH, STARTING WITH A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR SERVICE CHANGE PROCESS, SERVICE CHANGES PROVIDE, UH, CAP METRO AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADJUST ITS SERVICES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND EFFICIENTLY USE OUR RESOURCES.
THIS PROCESS IS GUIDED BY OUR BOARD APPROVED SERVICE STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES WHERE WE IDENTIFY WAYS TO IMPROVE SERVICE, DEVELOP A PROPOSAL, AND ENGAGE WITH THE PUBLIC AND OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS.
THROUGHOUT THESE SERVICE CHANGES OCCUR UP TO THREE TIMES A YEAR, TYPICALLY IN JANUARY, JUNE AND AUGUST TO COINCIDE WITH LOCAL SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY CALENDARS.
AND IN THE INTERIM MONTHS BETWEEN SERVICE CHANGE IMPLEMENTATION CAP METRO CONTINUOUSLY SEEKS AND INVITES YEAR ROUND FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY ON A DAILY BASIS.
WE MONITOR SERVICE TRENDS AND CUSTOMER CARE REPORTS AND COLLABORATE WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND PARTNERS THROUGHOUT.
IN THE PROPOSED JUNE, 2026, SERVICE CHANGE FOCUS FOCUSES ON ENHANCING CONNECTIVITY FOR THE COMMUNITY AND IMPLEMENTING MAJOR COMPONENTS OF TRANSIT PLAN 2035 IN PROJECTS CONNECT BUILDING ON THE FEBRUARY, 2025 LAUNCH OF OUR RAPID 808 37 SERVICE.
UH, THIS CHANGE PROPOSES TO BRING THESE LINES TO THEIR FULL 10 MINUTE PEAK FREQUENCIES UPON COMPLETION OF THE PARK AND RIDES AND UPCOMING TESTING THIS SPRING.
ADDITIONALLY, SEVERAL UH, NEARBY FIXED ROUTE BUS SERVICES ARE PROPOSED TO BE REALIGNED TO BEST UTILIZE AND SUPPORT THESE NEW FACILITIES IN THE FULL RAPID SERVICE THROUGH THE ROUTE EXTENSIONS INTO THE PARK AND R THE CAT MITCHELL ACCESS BOUNDARY WILL ALSO EXPAND INTO THOSE RESPECTIVE AREAS.
AND AS SUCH, UH, THERE WILL BE NO REDUCED CAP ACCESS SERVICE.
TODAY I'LL WALK THROUGH THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO TITLE SIX ANALYSIS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS AND MORE.
AND WITH THE OPENING OF THE GOODNIGHT RANCH PARK AND R JUST TO THE WEST OF SLAUGHTER LANE AND VERTEX BOULEVARD, KEPT METRO PROPOSES TO REALIGN NEARBY ROUTES TO ESTABLISH THE FACILITY AS A KEY TRANSIT HUB IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN.
THE PARK AND RIDES WILL SERVE AS A NEW TERMINUS FOR, UH, RAPID 800 PLEASANT VALLEY LOCAL ROUTE THREE 18 WESTGATE SLAUGHTER AND FREQUENT ROUTE 3 33 WILLIAM CANNON.
AND AS A RESULT, ROUTE THREE 18 AND 3 33 WILL NO LONGER OPERATE ALONG PORTIONS OF BAXTON ROAD, LUM ROCK DRIVE AND PANERO DRIVE.
CUSTOMERS ALONG THIS SEGMENT CAN CONNECT TO SERVICES THROUGH NEARBY STOPS ON SALT SPRINGS DRIVE OR VERTEX BOULEVARD, WHICH IS A SHORT DISTANCE TO THE WEST.
THESE CHANGES WILL IMPROVE TRANSFER OPPORTUNITIES, ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE FOR CUSTOMERS AND OPERATORS, AND BETTER ALIGN SERVICE WITH, UH, COMMUNITY FEEDBACK IN THE UPCOMING EXPO, CENTER, PARK AND RIDE WILL SERVE AS A MAJOR CONNECTION POINT FOR NORTHEAST AUSTIN NEAR LOYOLA AND DECKER, BRINGING SEVERAL ROUTES AND ON-DEMAND PICKUP SERVICE TOGETHER.
SPECIFICALLY RAPID 8 37 EXPO CENTER, FREQUENT ROUTE 3 37 CANAAN COLONY PARK LOCAL ROUTE THREE
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18 MLK AND LOCAL ROUTE 2 33 DECKER DIN WILL EXTEND INTO AND TERMINATE AT THE PARK AND RIDE KENT METRO'S PROPOSING TO REALIGN NEARBY FIXED ROUTE BUS SERVICE.SO THE FACILITY FUNCTIONS AS BOTH A TRANSIT HUB AND A KEY LINK FOR RIDERS TRAVELING, UH, THROUGHOUT THE REGION WHILE MAINTAINING, UH, ROUTE COVERAGE IN SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.
SERVICE LEVELS IN THE AREA ARE BEING INCREASED, UM, OR MAINTAINED, AND THE CHANGES HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY REVIEWED TO ENSURE CONTINUED ACCESS AND FREQUENCY FOR RIDERS ROUTE.
UH, 18 MLK WILL EXTEND, UH, FROM MLK AND SPRINGDALE TO COMMUNITIES ALONG JOHNNY MORRIS LOYOLA COMMUNITY FIRST AND INTO THE PARK AND RIDE, WHICH WILL REPLACE ROUTE 2 37 NORTHEAST FEEDER AS WELL AS THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF ROUTE 3 39 TUSCANY WITH MORE FREQUENT COVERAGE ALONG ALL EXISTING ROADS.
THIS CHANGE WAS PROPOSED AFTER WE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE NEED FOR MORE DIRECT AND FREQUENT SERVICE.
UH, THE NEW EXTENDED ROUTE THREE 18 TO COMMUNITY FIRST WILL PROVIDE CUSTOMERS, UM, WITH, UH, 30 MINUTES SERVICE DIRECT FROM DOWNTOWN, WHEREAS THEY PREVIOUSLY HAD HOURLY SERVICE.
AND AS A RESULT, ROUTE 3 39 WILL SHORTEN TO TERMINATE AT THE SPRINGDALE SHOPPING CENTER AND COMBINE WITH EXISTING ROUTE 3 23 ANDERSON TO CREATE AN IMPROVED CROSSTOWN CONNECTION IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN OPERATING EVERY 30 MINUTES, WHICH WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT FOR, UH, CURRENT 3 39 CUSTOMERS WHO CURRENTLY HAVE HOURLY COVERAGE AND WITH PICKUP DECKER AND RAPID 8 37 PROVIDING SIMILAR COVERAGE.
ROUTE 2 33 WILL BE MODIFIED TO OPERATE ONLY USE OF JOHNNY MORRIS ROAD, CREATING A NEIGHBORHOOD CLOCKWISE CIRCULATOR WITH INCREASED FREQUENCY.
UH, WE'RE EXPLORING IF THIS RESOURCE NEUTRAL FREQUENCY CHANGE WILL HELP STRENGTHEN RIDERSHIP ALONG THE ROUTE, UH, WHICH HAS DECLINED SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF PICKUP DECKER AND WILL CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR RIDERSHIP AND ADJUST SERVICE OVER TIME IF NEEDED, ALONGSIDE, UH, ONGOING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
AND LASTLY, UH, ROUTE FIVE WILL TURN AROUND THROUGH TECHNO CENTER INSTEAD OF TRANSITIONING INTO A DIFFERENT ROUTE.
UM, OVERALL ALL UH, IMPACTED ROUTES WILL HAVE IMPROVED CONNECTIONS, TRANSFERS AND MAINTAINED OR INCREASED SERVICE LEVELS.
AND WITH RAPID 8 37 ACHIEVING FULL 10 MINUTE FREQUENCY, ROUTE 20 MAINOR ROAD, RIVERSIDE WILL BE SPLIT INTO TWO SEPARATE ROUTES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
THE SOUTHERN PORTION ALONG RIVERSIDE DRIVE TO THE AIRPORT WILL REMAIN A HIGH FREQUENCY ROUTE, AND THE NORTHERN PORTION ALONG MAINOR ROAD TO COLONY PARK WILL BECOME ROUTE THREE 20, AN UNDERLYING LOCAL ROUTE, PROVIDING COVERAGE WITH MORE STOPS WHILE RAPID 8 37 UH, FOCUSES ON SPEED, UH, WITH FEWER STOPS.
SO THIS PROVIDES CUSTOMERS A CHOICE BETWEEN COVERAGE OR SPEED, DEPENDING ON THEIR NEEDS.
AND LASTLY, TO IMPROVE ON TIME PERFORMANCE, RELIABILITY AND BETTER SERVE CUSTOMERS, A SELECT ROUTES MAY RECEIVE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO THEIR SCHEDULES OR BUS STOP LOCATIONS.
THIS INCLUDES TYPICAL SUMMER TRANSITION ON UT SHUTTLE ROUTES AND SCHOOL TRIP SERVICES, AS WELL AS TIMING UPDATES ON ROUTES, UM, AFFECTED BY EVOLVING TRAFFIC CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
AND THESE RECOMMENDATION, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS FORM A MAJOR SERVICE CHANGE AS IT INCREASES, UH, MORE THAN 25% OF THE MILES AND HOURS ON RAPID 808 37, AS WELL AS PROPOSES REALIGNMENT, UM, AND FREQUENCY CHANGES TO SOME OF THE ADJACENT ROUTES.
ACCOUNT METRO STAFF, UH, CONDUCTED A TITLE VI SERVICE INE EQUITY EQUITY ANALYSIS USING CENSUS DATA TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MINORITY AND LOW INCOME POPULATIONS ARE RECEIVING THEIR SHARE OF THE BENEFITS OF THIS LARGE INCREASE IN SERVICE.
AND THE ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT THERE ARE NO DISPARATE IMPACTS OR DISPROPORTIONATE FINDINGS, MEANING THIS CHANGE DOES NOT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT MINORITY OR LOW INCOME POPULATIONS.
UH, WHEN THESE SERVICES COME ONLINE, THE INVESTMENT WILL PRIMARILY BENEFIT, UH, CUSTOMERS AND THOSE WHO FREQUENT THE EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY IN THE PROPOSED CHANGES, UH, BUILD ON EXTENSIVE OUTREACH AND FEEDBACK GATHERED DURING THE VOTER APPROVED PROJECTS CONNECT SYSTEM PLAN, UH, AND PROJECT, UH, AND PROJECT CONNECT, UM, AND SORRY, BOARD APPROVED TRANSIT PLAN 2035 DURING ENGAGEMENT FOR TRANSIT PLAN 2035 COMMUNITY MEMBERS REVIEWED AND COMMENTED ON THE DRAFT NETWORK, WHICH INCLUDED MANY OF THE PROPOSED SERVICE ADJUSTMENTS.
UH, BASED ON ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK, THE PROPOSALS WERE REFINED IN THE CURRENT
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ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS AIMED TO KEEP CUSTOMERS INFORMED AND GATHER INPUT TO GUIDE THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS.A S UM, SERVICE SPECIFIC ENGAGEMENT HAS INCLUDED IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETINGS BLOCK, WALKING AT STEP OUTREACH AMONG OTHERS, UH, LISTED ON THE SLIDE.
AND OVERALL, UH, COMMUNITY SENTIMENT HAS BEEN POSITIVE WITH EXCITEMENT EXPRESSED ABOUT INCREASED FREQUENCY CONNECTIVITY AND IMPROVED TRANSFER OPPORTUNITIES AND PUBLIC INPUT WILL CONTINUE TO BE CONSIDERED THROUGHOUT THE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, LEADING UP TO BOARD APPROVAL.
UM, AND THROUGH THE, THE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS AS WELL AND IF APPROVED, THE FINALIZED CHANGES WILL BE COMMUNICATED TO THE PUBLIC, UH, THROUGH THROUGH PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS THIS SPRING.
AND LASTLY, UH, CAP METRO'S STRATEGIC PLAN 2030 IDENTIFIES REGIONAL SIGNIFICANT INCREASING RIDERSHIP AS CRITICAL RESI RESULTS TO GUIDE, UM, CAP METRO FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND BEYOND.
THIS SERVICE CHANGE WILL BE THE FIRST IMPLEMENTATION STEP OF TRANSIT PLAN 2035, AND THE CHANGES WOULD BEGIN TO TRANSLATE THAT VISION INTO NEAR TERM IMPROVEMENTS ON THE GROUND.
THE CHANGE WOULD ENHANCE REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY AND INCREASE RIDERSHIP AS THE OPENING OF THE PARK AND RISE IN THE PROPOSED CORRESPONDING ROUTE ADJUSTMENTS, CREATE NEW TRANSIT HUBS AT THE PERIPHERY OF OUR SERVICE AREA AND ENABLE A MAJOR OPPORTUNITY FOR SAVE SERVICE AVAILABILITY.
THESE ARE THE FIRST OF SEVERAL REGIONAL ADJUSTMENTS WE'LL SEE OVER THE COMING YEARS AS WE CONTINUE TO ROLL OUT TRANSIT PLAN 2035.
UM, WITH THAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR YOUR TIME TODAY AND I'D LOVE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, UH, BOARD MEMBERS BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'LL ENTERTAIN THEM NOW.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? ONE QUESTION HERE.
WHEN THE 8 37, WHEN THE NEW, UM, FREQUENCY, WHEN WILL THAT START? UH, IT'LL BE A PACKAGE IN, IN THIS JUNE, 2026 SERVICE CHANGE.
SO THIS SUMMER, JUNE, UH, IT SHOULD BE THE, THE NEW, UH, FREQUENCIES ON THAT.
IF THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, I WILL THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
[III. Public Comment]
UH, WE WILL NOW GO INTO PUBLIC COMMENT.WE HAD, UH, ONE SPEAKER SIGN UP, UH, IN ADVANCE TO SPEAK REMOTELY, BUT I SAY SHE'S HERE.
MS. MS. JOSEPH, UM, YOU'LL BE OUR FIRST SPEAKER AND WE'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
UH, MS. EAST IS JUST TRYING TO PULL UP MY SLIDES.
JOSEPH, I JUST WANTED TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT ONCE AGAIN YOU HAVE NEGLECTED THE AREA NORTHEAST OF US 180 3.
THE SERVICE AREA DOES NOT STOP ON LOYOLA LANE AND DECKER LANE.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE SAFETY NEEDS AND RESPECTFULLY TO REMEMBER THAT PEOPLE DIE ON NORTH LAMAR.
THERE'S IMAM ISLAM MOSSAD FROM JULY 25TH, 2025.
YOU CAN SEE THE LADY IN HER WHEELCHAIR AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE.
BUT THERE IS NO PEDESTRIAN HYBRID DEACON BECAUSE DOTTIE WATKINS REFUSES TO CLOSE THAT MID-BLOCK STOP.
I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT THERE'S NO CONNECTIVITY
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NORTHEAST AND WEST NORTH OF US, 180 3 AND WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO RESTORE THE SERVICE IN THAT AREA, SPECIFICALLY 3 92.IT IS UNCOUPLED ON SUNDAY ONLY, AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO UNCOUPLE IT COMPLETELY AND RESTORE THE SERVICE.
THE ONE SEAT RIDE BACK TO THE ARBORETUM.
LIKE ROBERTO GONZALEZ SAID, MAY, 2013.
I WANNA REMIND YOU THAT NORTH LAMAR WAS NUMBER ONE WHEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN GOT $720 MILLION MOBILITY BOND NOVEMBER 8TH, 2016.
BUT YET YOU'LL SEE IT IS NOT A DA COMPLIANT AND YOU HAVE TO STAND IN THE DITCH TO PUSH THE BUTTON ACROSS THE STREET AT YEAGER AND NORTH LAMAR.
THIS IS THE AREA WHERE NOW YOUR ORDINARY SCHOOL IS AND THEY HAVE $47.5 MILLION FOR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL.
THE HACKER PROPERTY IS TO THE LEFT OF THE BUS.
I WANNA REMIND YOU THAT FRAUD IS TRYING TO GET SOMETHING OF VALUE THROUGH WILLFUL MISREPRESENTATION SERVICE PLAN 2020 HAD ROUTE 3 39, ROBERTO GONZALEZ NEEDS TO RETIRE.
HE REBRANDED IT AS 3 39 NEW AND MADE THE SERVICE WORSE FOR BLACK PEOPLE.
I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT THE 8 37 IS NOTHING MORE THAN A RESTORED 37.
IT IS ALSO IN SERVICE PLAN 2020.
I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT SAFETY IS NOT YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
THERE'S VOMIT ON THE BUS AND THE DRIVER IS STILL OPERATING.
THEY TOLD HIM TO PROCEED ON ROUTE.
PLEASE PUT THAT SER THAT BUS OUTTA SERVICE.
I JUST WANNA TELL YOU THAT THE REGIONAL PLAN ACTUALLY SHOWS THAT PARMA LANE 180 3 IS WHERE THE GROWTH IS.
AND YOU'VE HAD THIS INFORMATION FROM THE PROJECT CONNECT LOCALLY PREFERRED NORTH CORRIDOR STUDY IN 2014 AS WELL.
I WANT YOU TO SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE ON NORTH LAMAR DRUG OVERDOSE.
YOU SEE THE DRAINAGE ISSUES AND THIS IS THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, MIKE ROGERS, WHO DID A RECON WITH ME, BUT STILL YOU WILL SEE THE TERRACOTTA SIDEWALKS SHARED USE PATHS, AIRPORT BOULEVARD AND BURNETT ROAD.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GOLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME AND THANK YOU FOR BEING PATIENT WITH ME TO GET THE SLIDES UP.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO THE BOARD? ANYONE ELSE COME TO PRESENT TO THE BOARD? JUST MAKING SURE, LOOKING AROUND THE ROOM, MAKING SURE WE DON'T LOOK OVER ANYBODY, ANYBODY ELSE NEED TO, UH, PRESENT TO THE BOARD? OKAY.
UH, HEARING THAT THERE IS OR SEEING THAT THERE IS, UH, NO ONE ELSE.
I WOULD, UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT TO OUR, TO, UH, TO TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING.
WE WILL STAND ADJOURNED AT 1217.