[I. Call to Order]
[00:00:02]
UH, WITH THE QUORUM BEING PRESENT AT 1206, WE'LL CALL THIS MEETING INTO ORDER.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US AT THE AUGUST MEETING CAP METRO BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
[II. Safety Briefing]
AGENDA ITEM TODAY IS GONNA BE OUR MONTHLY SAFETY, SAFETY BRIEFING.AND IT LOOKS LIKE OUR CHIEF SAFETY OFFICER, UH, OFFICER GARDNER TAVON, WILL TAKE US THROUGH THAT.
UH, MY NAME IS GARDNER TABBAN.
I SERVE AS CAPITAL METRO'S EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF SAFETY OFFICER.
I'M HERE TODAY AS OUR CHAIRMAN HAS, UH, ALREADY SAID.
I'M HERE TODAY WITH YOUR, UH, EMERGENCY BRIEFING AND AS OUR PARTNER, ED.
THAT'S WHAT YOU DO TO ME ON YOUR FINAL DAY.
UH, SO YOU ARE LOCATED HERE AT 29 10 EAST FIFTH STREET, AND YOU ARE IN THE ROSA PARKS, UH, BOARDROOM.
IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, UH, STAFF WILL CALL 9 1 1.
IF BY CHANCE, WE'D NEED TO EVACUATE THIS ROOM.
THERE'S A DOOR TO MY RIGHT AND ONE OBVIOUSLY THAT CAME THROUGH.
WE WOULD ALL NEED TO MEET RIGHT DOWN THE WALKWAY.
THERE'S A SIGN THAT YOU SEE ON THE PRESENTATION, EVACUATION ASSEMBLY POINT, IF WE COULD ALL MAKE OUR WAY THERE.
ALSO, IF YOU LOOK TO YOUR LEFT, LOOK TO YOUR RIGHT, YOU SEE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NEXT TO YOU.
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WE STILL WANT TO SEE AT THE END OF THE WALKWAY.
ALSO, IF BY CHANCE WE NEED TO USE AN A ED, THERE IS ONE RIGHT BY THE ELEVATOR.
ALSO, FINALLY, IF WE SHOULD NEED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, WE HAVE ONE RIGHT THERE.
MY COLLEAGUE IS POINTING IT OUT RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT CONCLUDES THE EMERGENCY BRIEFING.
[III. Oath of Office]
SEE.OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS TODAY IS GOING TO BE TO FORMALLY, UH, CONFIRM OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBER, UH, STEVEN CHANG, UH, BY ASKING HIM TO TAKE HIS OATH OF OFFICE.
HE'S JOINING US AS OUR SMALL CITY'S REPRESENTATIVE AND BOARD MEMBER ROSS, WHO USED TO BE OUR, OUR, UH, SMALL CITY'S REPRESENTATIVE IS NOW GOING TO BE, UH, THE WILLIAM COUNTY APPOINTEE, WILLIAMSON COUNTY APPOINTEE.
SO, UH, STEVEN, IF YOU COULD JOIN ME AROUND THE DAAS.
UH, WE'LL GO TO THE PODIUM AND, UH, AND MAKE THIS OFFICIAL.
WE, WE'LL, WE WILL LET YOU GO ON YOUR GOOD SIDE, WHATEVER THAT IS.
SO IF YOU'LL RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY, THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES.
EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE.
METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION OF CAPITAL.
METROPOLITAN METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, AUTHORITY BOARD MEMBER, BOARD MEMBER OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WILL TO THE, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
PRESERVE, PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT, AND DEFEND.
THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
OF THE UNITED STATES, AND OF THIS STATE, STATE, AND OF THIS STATE.
[IV. Public Comment:]
ALRIGHT.LOOKS LIKE WE MADE IT THROUGH THAT.
AND LET'S GO THEN, UM, TO, UH, LET'S SEE.
AND NOW WE WILL WALK INTO, UH, OUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE, WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE SIGNED UP.
UM, AND, UH, WE WILL START WITH, UH, BRENT MARLER.
THINK, UH, IS HE REMOTE? ALL RIGHT.
MR. MARLER, YOU WITH US? YES, I'M, YES, I AM.
ALRIGHT, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
HEY, GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND MEMBERS
[00:05:01]
OF THE BOARD.I'VE BEEN RIDING CAPITAL METRO TRAINS FOR JUST OVER A YEAR NOW.
IN THAT TIME, I'VE BECOME ONE OF THE MOST, UH, THOSE PEOPLE WHO PLANS THEIR DAY AROUND THE SCHEDULE, WORK APPOINTMENTS, EVENINGS, OUT, BECAUSE MOST DAYS THE TRAIN HAS BEEN A RELIABLE PARTNER.
LATELY, THOUGH, THAT PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN STRAINED, DELAYS HAVE BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND MORE UNPREDICTABLE.
WHETHER THE CAUSE IS MECHANICAL, OPERATIONAL OR SOMETHING ELSE.
THE RESULT IS THE SAME RIDERS LIKE ME STANDING ON PLATFORMS, CHECKING THEIR PHONES AND RECALCULATING THEIR THEIR DAY.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT, IT'S NOT JUST INCONVENIENCE.
IT ERODES THE TRUST AND THAT MAKES, UH, TRANSIT WORK.
I UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY OFFLINE FOR THE NEW RAIL INSTALLATION THROUGH THIS THURSDAY, AUGUST THE 27TH.
THAT DOWNTIME IS NECESSARY AND I RESPECT THE WORK BEING, BEING DONE, BUT IT ALSO REPRESENTS A REAR WINDOW.
WHILE THE TRAINS ARE ALREADY OUT OF SERVICE, THIS IS THE PERFECT MOMENT TO DIG INTO THOSE SYSTEMS THAT HAVE BEEN CAUSED, UH, BEEN CAUSING THOSE, UH, REOCCURRING DE DELAYS AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE RUNNING AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE WHEN THE SERVICE RESUMES.
I'M NOT HERE TO CRITICIZE THE HARD WORK OF OUR TEAMS. I'M HERE AS A DAILY RIDER WHO WANTS CAPITAL METRO TO SUCCEED AND WHO BELIEVES THIS PAUSE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN THE RELIABILITY THAT SO MUCH OF US COUNT ON.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THE SERVICE THAT YOU, YOU PROVIDE.
THANK YOU MR. MAHLER FOR, FOR, UH, PRESENTING TO THE BOARD.
UH, THE NEXT PRESENTER IS ZENOBIA JOSEPH.
UM, IS MS. JOSEPH WITH US, MR. CHAIR? I HAVE NOT SEEN MS. JOSEPH.
I KNOW SHE WAS GONNA TRY TO GET HERE IN PERSON, SO WE MAY SEE HER BEFORE THE MEETING ENDS.
ALRIGHT, WELL THEN WE WILL, UM, ALRIGHT.
WE WILL CALL ON HER IF SHE COMES AND, AND THE NEXT PERSON WILL BE, UH, AYA HEDER.
I HAVE ALSO NOT SEEN MS. HEDER JOIN US.
I WILL GIVE YOU A SIGNAL IF I SEE HER JOIN.
UH, THE NEXT PERSON WOULD BE CARLOS LEON, WHO WOULD BE IN PERSON AND, UH, HAS FIVE MINUTES FOR TWO AGENDA ITEMS. PLEASE PROCEED.
SO, CARLOS LEONE FIRST AND I GOT IT.
SOY CARLOS LEONE, FIRST AND FOREMOST, S FOR LETTING ME EXPOSE AND COMBAT CONTINUING CAP METRO CRIMINALITY.
YOU NEED TO IMMEDIATELY PUNISH AND PERMANENTLY STOP.
MY BACKUP MATERIALS ARE IN FRONT OF YOU NOW IN HARD COPY BOARD.
YESTERDAY, GUILTY ABUSIVE BLACK FEMALE DRIVER OPERATOR 3 2, 2 8 8 0 TARGETED ME BY INTENTIONALLY VIOLATING MULTIPLE CAP METRO POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND STATE LAWS, FIRE AND CRIMINALLY PROSECUTE HER NOW.
FIRST SHE PASSED ME UP WHILE I WAS STANDING AT THE BUS STOP IN PLAIN VIEW ON A BRIGHT SUNNY DAY FACING THE ONCOMING ALMOST EMPTY BUS AND WAVING MY ARM UP AND DOWN TO CLEARLY COMMUNICATE MY INTENT TO BOARD AND RIDE.
SHE THEN STOPPED 75 FEET PAST NEITHER APOLOGIZING NOR SHOWING REMORSE, SAYING QUOTE, I CAN'T STOP ON A DIME TO BLAME THE BUS FOR WHAT SHE DID TO AVOID TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR HER WRONG ACTION.
HER BULL CRAP EXCUSE IS A HALF TRUTH BECAUSE SHE COULD AND SHOULD HAVE STOPPED AT THE STOP, JUST LIKE OTHER DRIVERS DO.
AFTER I TOLD HER TO NOT DISRESPECT ME AND TO EXPECT A COMPLAINT TO BE FILED AGAINST HER, SHE TOLD ME I COULD EXIT THE BUS TRYING TO PUNISH ME TO ILLEGALLY RETALIATE AGAINST ME FOR LAWFULLY AND RIGHTLY HOLDING HER ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE I RIGHTLY STOOD MY GROUND.
SHE WRONGLY REPORTED ME TO SECURITY DISPATCH, TRYING TO PROJECT HER CRIMINALITY ONTO ME.
THEN AT MY REQUESTED DESTINATION.
SHE INTENTIONALLY CLOSED THE FRONT DOORS TO PREVENT ME FROM EXITING, TELLING ME I HAD TO EXIT THROUGH THE REAR DOORS PER JUNE.
HOWEVER, THERE IS NO CAP METRO RULE FORCING ME TO EXIT THROUGH THE REAR DOORS.
IN FACT, CAP METRO'S CODE OF CONDUCT COMMON COURTESY SECTION SAYS BOARD FROM THE FRONT DOOR AND ALLOW ONBOARD PASSENGERS TO EXIT BEFORE BOARDING.
THEREFORE, CAT METRO TACITLY ACKNOWLEDGES AND IN WRITING AND RIGHTLY ALLOWS PASSENGERS TO EXIT THROUGH FRONT DOORS PER OUR LEGAL RIGHT TO EXIT THROUGH WHICHEVER DOORS WE CHOOSE.
SHE ALSO STOPPED A MALE PASSENGER FROM BOARDING THROUGH THE WRONGLY CLOSED FRONT DOORS, WRONGLY FORCING HIM TO BOARD THROUGH THE REAR DOORS.
[00:10:01]
ASKED BACKWARDS AND WRONG.THUS, SHE LIED ABOUT AND TRIED ENFORCING A NON-EXISTENT RULE TO TRY DENYING ME HOW I CHOSE TO EXIT, TO TRY, FORCING ME TO EXIT.
HOW SHE WANTED HER TRYING TO EXERT POWER AND CONTROL OVER ME.
SHE DOES NOT HAVE TO EMASCULATE ME INSTEAD OF RIGHTLY SERVING ME.
SO I CALLED OUT HER CRAP AND LOUDLY TOLD HER TO OPEN THE FRONT DOOR RIGHT NOW SHE REFUSED UNLAWFULLY OBSTRUCTING MY PASSAGEWAY TO VIOLATE TEXAS PENAL CODE 42.03 A ONE UNLAWFULLY RESTRAINING ME TO VIOLATE TEXAS PENAL CODE 20.02 A ONE A BY TRYING TO MOVE ME FROM THE FRONT DOOR TO THE REAR DOOR BY USING FORCE AND DECEPTION AND UNLAWFULLY RETALIATING AGAINST ME TO VIOLATE TEXAS PENAL CODE 36 0 6 A ONE A AND B.
THUS, I RIGHTLY STOOD MY GROUND AT THE CLOSED FRONT DOOR AND TOLD HER TO CALL A SUPERVISOR, WHICH SHE DID WHEN SHE STARTED DESCRIBING ME LIKE A CRIMINAL.
I LOUDLY TALKED OVER HER BECAUSE SHE WAS ACTING CRIMINALLY, WHICH I ALSO TOLD FELLOW PASSENGERS.
WHEN SHE FINALLY OPENED THE FRONT DOOR FOR MY EXITING, SHE TOLD ME I WOULD GET WRONGLY BANNED AGAIN AS IF SHE RUNS CAP METRO, NOT PRESIDENT, CEO WALKINS, WHO'S SITTING RIGHT HERE.
THUS, AS SOON AS I WAS OUTSIDE THE BUS AND SHE WAS SAFELY INSIDE THE BUS, I CUSSED HER OUT.
I GAVE HER THE MIDDLE FINGER, I SPIN ON THE WINDSHIELD AND I TOLD HER TO GET THE F OUTTA HERE BECAUSE IF SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO FOLLOW THE RULES OR LAW, NEITHER DO I NOR ANY OTHER DRIVER OR ANY OTHER PASSENGER ENDANGERING EVERYONE WORKING FOR OR WRITING CAT METRO TO PREVENT THAT SATANIC NEGATIVE OUTCOME FOR WHICH YOU BOARD AND CEO WOULD BE LIABLE FOR.
BECAUSE YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OPERATION AND CONTROL OF CAT METRO AND ITS PROPERTY ASSIDUOUSLY.
APPLY THE 14TH AMENDMENT'S EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE, PROTECTING ALL OF US CONSTITUTIONAL LAW.
THUMBS UP, SURREAL LAW, THUMBS DOWN.
OTHERWISE, YOU ALL NEED TO BE LAWFULLY REPLACED OR YOUR POWER LEGALLY TRANSFERRED ELSEWHERE, WHICH THE LEGISLATURE CAN MAKE HAPPEN.
WHOSE COME, WHOSE MEANING IS COMING UP BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE THE LION'S SHARE OF YOUR FUNDING THROUGH STATE SALES TAX PER YOUR BUDGET.
THEREFORE, TO HIM THAT KNOWETH TO DO GOOD AND DO WITH IT NOT TO HIM IT IS SIN.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING TO THE BOARD.
OKAY, GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD ESTA WELCOME TO EL BARRIO.
YOU'RE IN, UH, BUENA VISTA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND I JUST WANNA COME, UH, SPEAKING TO YOU AS A MEMBER OF RIO MEXICAN AMERICAN LANDOWNERS FROM EAST AUSTIN.
AND FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK, UH, CAP METRO, THE ENGAGEMENT TEAM FOR OUR SPONSORSHIP THIS YEAR FOR MANY EVENTS THAT WE HAVE COMING UP.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, YOU HAVE GREAT AMBASSADORS AND MELISSA ORTIZ AND HER WHOLE TEAM AS THEY GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND ENGAGE WITH US.
HOWEVER, I DO WANNA ALSO RECOMMEND, UH, FROM A BOARD LENS TO INCREASE OUR FUNDING.
WHILE WE DID GET SPONSORED THIS YEAR, OUR FUNDING WAS, UH, SLASHED IN HALF.
SO THAT TELLS ME THAT, UH, THAT DIVISION NEEDS ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR YOU, FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER.
UH, THE OTHER ITEM THAT I HAVE THAT I WANNA BRING TO YOU IS THAT IN 1986, CAP METRO LOCATED HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BARRIO AGAINST OUR OPPOSITION BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC, THE NOISE, THE POLLUTION.
AND SO TODAY WE, UH, MET AND HAD A, A MEETING OF THE, OF OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR LANDOWNERS, AND WE DECIDED TO COMMENCE A CAMPAIGN TO WORK WITH YOU TO MOVE YOUR BUSES AND YOUR GARAGE OUT OF THE RIO UNDER THE LENSES OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
UH, THESE TYPE OF FACILITIES BACK IN THE DAY WERE LOCATED IN ARVA BECAUSE THERE WAS LITTLE POLITICAL POWER OUR NEIGHBORS ENDURE.
THE, THE TURNING ON OF I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY BUSES, THE DIESEL FUEL POLLUTION THAT COMES FROM THOSE BUSES.
[00:15:01]
IS ENOUGH.WE'D LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU TO COMMENCE THIS PROCESS SO THAT MAYBE IN 2030 THIS SPACE WILL BE YOU HAVE MOVED YOUR BUSES TO OUTER, TO THE OUTER PARTS OF THE CITY.
ONCE THIS LAND IS VACATED, WE ALSO RECOMMEND THAT YOU BILL NOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT LOW INCOME HOUSING.
THIS PROPERTY HAS BECOME VERY VALUABLE AS WE GO THROUGH GENTRIFICATION.
MANY PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR LAND OR BEEN FORCED TO MOVE OUT BECAUSE OF THE HIGH INCREASE IN TAXES.
I OWN TWO PROPERTIES THAT I INHERITED THROUGH MY GRANDPARENTS THAT THEY BOUGHT MAYBE FOR A THOUSAND DOLLARS BACK IN THE DAY TO TODAY.
I PAY $15,000 A YEAR JUST IN PROPERTY TAXES THANKS TO THE TEXAS LEGISLATURES.
THEY CONTINUE TO REDUCE TAXES.
I'M SHOWING YOU SLIDES OF THE ENGAGEMENT EVENTS THAT WE HAVE THAT CAP METRO SPONSORS US.
AND LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, IN MY OPINION THIS DIVISION IS VERY CRITICAL TO CAP METRO'S PUBLIC RELATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND CHAIR.
I HOPE WE'RE NOT IGNORED, WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT REMOVING THE BUSES FROM THE BARRIO AND ENDING THIS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
AND I'D LIKE TO LEARN THE PROTOCOL TO FIND OUT HOW THIS COULD BECOME AN AGENDA ITEM FOR DISCUSSION AND EXPLORATION.
UH, LET'S SEE, IS PEYTON ROWANS HERE? PEYTON ROWANS.
ALRIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIR.
I'M A BUS DRIVER HERE ON THE SOUTH YARD AND I WANTED TO SPEAK ON THE PROPOSED FAIR INCREASE NEXT MONTH.
SO PUBLIC FUNDING, LIKE THE FUNDING AND PUBLIC SERVICES IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF LIKE BUDGETING.
IT'S A CHOICE, IT'S POLITICAL CHOICE.
AND SINCE MANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD ALSO SERVE IN THEIR CAPACITY AS ELECTED OFFICIALS OVERSEEING THE COUNTY, OVERSEEING THE CITY, I FELT MAYBE WE COULD GO OVER KIND OF A NON-EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF SOME OF THOSE CHOICES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT PUBLIC FUNDING.
UH, WE'VE DECIDED TO CUT SHADY DEALS WITH DEVELOPERS AND DOG HEAD AGAINST THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE.
WE'VE DECIDED TO CUT MASSIVE INCENTIVES PACKAGES FOR COMPANIES LIKE TESLA WHO COME IN TO THIS AREA SPECIFICALLY TO DODGE REGULATIONS AND TAXES AND ORGANIZE LABOR.
WE'VE DECIDED TO POUR MORE AND MORE FUNDING INTO A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT JUST GUNNED DOWN A CHILD AND CALLED THAT SUICIDE.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT, WE WANNA TELL THE RIDERS TO TURN OUT THEIR POCKETS.
IT'S A AGGRESSIVE TAX ON POOR AND WORKING PEOPLE IN THE CITY.
SO IT'S NOT IN THE INTEREST OF THE RIDER, IT'S NOT IN THE INTEREST OF THE WORKERS.
BECAUSE IF, I GUARANTEE YOU, IF YOU GO INTO THAT BREAK ROOM RIGHT NOW AND ASK EVERY DRIVER, THEY'RE ALL GONNA TELL YOU A MAJORITY OF NEGATIVE INTERACTIONS WE HAVE WITH RIDER IS AS A RESULT OF HAVING TO TRY AND COLLECT THE FAIR.
IT'S NOT IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC TRANSIT, WHICH OUGHT TO BE AIMING TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE IN THIS RAPIDLY POPULATION INFLATED CITY OFF OF THEIR, OUT OF THEIR CARS AND ONTO THE BUSES.
IT'S NOT IN ANYBODY'S INTERESTS.
SO I'M ASKING YOU TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO PAY THE FAIRES AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO COLLECT THE FAIRES WHEN WE TELL YOU THAT YOU NEED TO FIND ANOTHER WAY.
HIKING AFFAIRS IS NOT AN OPTION.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, ED, HAS ANYBODY JOINED US? ALRIGHT, UH, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO, UH, TO SPEAK? YES MA'AM.
PLEASE COME FORWARD AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES LIKE YOUR ATTITUDE TODAY.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, COMMISSIONER AND THE BOARD.
THE WEATHER SAID THAT IT WAS GONNA BE A-B-Y-O-S-T DAY.
AND I HEARD THAT Y'ALL HAD A LITTLE PEST CONTROL PROBLEM DOWN HERE.
SO I BROUGHT MY CAMPAIGN RUNNING FOR SENATOR DISTRICT 14 'CAUSE MY GOOD FRIEND SARAH ECKER IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT COMPTROLLER.
AND SHE DID SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB SINCE 2000 AND I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER 'CAUSE I APPRECIATE HER.
SO, UM, FIRST Y'ALL HEARD ABOUT THE DEMOCRATS AND THE REPUBLICANS, BUT IN 70 THEY SAID THAT PEOPLE WERE LIVING LONGER.
SO WE GOT THE NEW PARTY IS THE FLAMINGO PARTY.
SHE, SHE TRIED TO KEEP A LITTLE NOISE, BUT THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
AND, UM, SO I WANTED TO SPEAK TODAY ABOUT THE ISSUE OF
[00:20:01]
HOW Y'ALL DECIDE WHICH PARK, WHICH, UH, A BUS STOP GETS A SEAT AND A ROOF IN THIS HOT WEATHER.BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF IT WAS RAINING OUT THERE, YOU'D OUT THERE WHERE THERE'S A BUS STOP THAT JUST HAS A STICK.
YOU'D BE DRENCHED BY THE TIME YOU GET WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
AND IF IT'S, IT'S HOT LIKE THIS, UH, YOU'LL BE, UH, EMS. SO I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE, IS THERE A WAY TO, UH, BE EQUITABLE? UH, EAST AUSTIN, WEST AUSTIN, NORTH AUSTIN, UM, NEEDS BUS STOPS THAT HAVE COVER.
JAMES GOT A BIG OLD CHURCH, A BIG OLD BUS STOP RIGHT THERE ON EL FRANKLIN, UM, AT, UH, M-M-M-L-K.
IF I'M TRYING TO GET TO CHURCH, HOW AM I GONNA GET IN THERE AND LOOK LIKE NOTHING IF I HAD TO STAND IN ALL THIS HEAT? SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK, THANK YOU TO ALL THE BUS DRIVERS THAT DO WHAT THEY DO.
UH, UH, THEY NEED TO GIVE ME GIVEN CREDIT FOR A PSYCHOLOGICAL, UH, DEGREE BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOMETIMES, UH, THE LUXURY OF A CUSTOMER, LIKE THE ONE THAT JUST LEFT UP HERE.
AND I JUST WANNA APOLOGIZE FOR HIM BECAUSE I KNOW HE'S CONVICTED TO WHATEVER HE'S, UH, DEDICATED TO AND PROBABLY MOSTLY CONVICTED.
BUT MY POINT IS, UH, HE HAS A RIGHT TO HAVE AN OPINION, BUT THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE SAFETY AT THEIR JOB.
AND SOMEBODY SPITTING SINCE NON, UH, SINCE COVID-19, THAT'S ASSAULT.
SO, UH, WHOEVER TOOK UP FOR THEMSELVES, I, I, I APPRECIATE YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU.
UM, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, SEPTEMBER 11TH IS COMING UP NOW.
THEY SAID WE'LL NEVER FORGET AND THEN THEY FORGET.
SO WE TRYING TO HAVE SOMETHING AT BAR HOLLOW MU PARK FROM SIX TO NINE, WHICH IS A FRIDAY.
I HOPE Y'ALL HAVE GOT COME OUT AND SUPPORT A VETERAN.
IT'S RIGHT THERE AT BAR HOLLA MU PARK, UM, NORTH AUSTIN.
AND, UM, THE OTHER DAY I HAD AN APPOINTMENT IN SA I KNOW SOME PEOPLE SAW THAT SOUTH AUSTIN, BUT I CALL IT SAN ANTONIO FOR ALL THE TRAFFIC.
YOU COULD HAVE BEEN IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT, UM, SAS.
BUT, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE THESE BUSES.
WE NEED TO HAVE THESE BUS COVERED, UM, PLACES WHERE YOU, WHERE YOU GET, GET ON THE BUS AND ANYBODY NEED A HAIRCUT, UM, MAYBE YOU CAN GET A JOB IF YOU GET A HAIRCUT.
AND THAT'S ALL, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
AND UH, I GUESS, I GUESS I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.
I WAS GONNA TELL YOU MY JOKE FOR THE DAY, BUT THERE'S SO MANY MATHEMATICIANS IN HERE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S SEVEN DAYS IN A WEEK.
HOW MANY SECONDS IN A YEAR? I KNOW SOMEBODY KNOWS THAT.
HOW MANY SECONDS IN A YEAR? IT'S 12.
JANUARY 2ND, FEBRUARY 2ND, MARCH 2ND.
SEE Y'ALL JUST MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT THAN IT'S, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
LOOK, UM, MS. JOSEPH, UH, LET'S SEE.
WOULD YOU JOIN US? YOU ARE GOING TO TALK ON TWO ITEMS, WHICH MEANS FIVE MINUTES, SO, ALRIGHT.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MR. CHAIR MEMBERS.
MY COMMENTS AS THEY ALWAYS ARE IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN.
I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN APPROVED THEIR $6.6 BILLION BUDGET.
I WANT TO REMIND YOU OF THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THAT YOU HAVE WITH THEM.
$0 FOR THE AREA THAT I HAVE TALKED ABOUT AD NAUSEUM.
THERE IS NO MONEY ALLOCATED FOR THE AREA THAT YOU SEE AT THE LOWER LEFT HAND OF THE SCREEN BY THE METROPOLITAN PARK.
ACROSS THE STREET IS HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN PROPERTY AND NORTH OF THAT IS NOT YOUR ORDINARY SCHOOL.
AND SO, WHILE THE CITY MANAGER HAS SAID THAT VISION ZERO IS MORE THAN JUST A POLICY OR BRANDING, I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT $0 ILLUSTRATES THAT IT'S NOTHING MORE THAN BRANDING THE LADY IN HER WHEELCHAIR UP AT THE TOP.
I WANNA REMIND DOTTIE WATKINS, AND I'VE ASKED MANY TIMES FOR THERE TO BE A PEDESTRIAN HYBRID BEACON.
THERE THERE'S NO SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO I OPPOSE BECKY ROSS BEING ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE OPERATIONS PLANNING AND SAFETY COMMITTEE BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN SILENT ON THE SAFETY FOR MINORITIES.
I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THERE'S BEEN $64 MILLION ALLOCATED FOR BURNETT ROAD, AND YOU'LL SEE WHERE THEY'RE DIGGING IN THE DIRT UP ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE.
THAT'S THE SAME CITY MANAGER, MIKE ROGERS.
[00:25:01]
IT WAS JULY 19TH, 2021 WHEN CAMPO ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED ITS REGIONALLY SIGNIFICANT CORRIDORS.PARMA LANE, SAMSUNG, THE APPLE WAS LISTED NUMBER ONE FM 9 69 IS ON THERE.
AND I CUT OFF THE REST BECAUSE THE SLIDE WASN'T THAT BIG.
BUT I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE THE CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION GRANT AND THAT CAPITAL METRO ACTUALLY RECEIVED ABOUT $10 MILLION FROM THAT GRANT AND ANOTHER 5 MILLION FOR ROSEWOOD.
BUT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S NO SHARED USE PATH.
AND EVEN THOUGH CHEETO VELA HAS PRAISED THE 10 FOOT WIDE SIDEWALK, I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S NOT SHARED USE AND THERE'S NO MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT THERE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, YOU'LL SEE WHERE THE BRIDGE AT CAMERON IS ACTUALLY LOCATED.
THAT'S THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO I OPPOSE 801,000 OR MILLION RATHER FOR THIS CONSULTANT THOUSAND FOR THE THE CONSULTANT.
I WANNA REMIND YOU THAT THERE'S ABOUT 55 TO 74% MINORITIES IN THIS AREA.
AND SPECIFICALLY YOU HAVE NOT IMPROVED SERVICE FOR MINORITIES.
UH, YOU JUST HEARD MISS SOPHIE MENTION SHELTERS.
THIS GOES UNOCCUPIED ALL DAY LONG BECAUSE THE BUS DOESN'T RUN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY FOR THE COMMUTERS.
BUT YET WHERE YOU SEE THIS GUY ON THE SIDEWALK ON CAMERON ROAD SPECIFICALLY, THERE'S NO SHELTER.
PEOPLE ARE SITTING IN THE SUN.
I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU THAT THE STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN ACTUALLY GET THE OVER THE ROAD COACH BUSES JUST LIKE IT IS THAT THIS PARTICULAR DAY ON A SOCCER GAME DAY AND THERE'S NOTHING IN THE EXECUTED AGREEMENT THAT TALKS ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL COSTS TO RUN THOSE OVER THE ROAD COACH BUSES.
AND WHILE I RECOGNIZE THAT YOU'RE GIVING THEM THIS REDUCTION, $515,000 OUT OF THE $7.2 MILLION CONTRACT, I WOULD ASK THE BOARD TO TABLE THE ITEM AND TO ACTUALLY CHARGE THEM WHAT IT COSTS TO SIT CA CAPITAL METRO ACTUALLY TO RUN THESE OVER THE ROAD COACH BUSES, THEY GET TO GO TO SCHOOL IN A LUXURY VEHICLE LIKE RIDING GREYHOUND.
AND I WILL REMIND YOU THERE, THERE ARE ONLY 2.9% PHD STUDENTS WHO ARE BLACK AND LESS THAN 5% THAT ARE BLACK IN THE UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM.
SO YOU'RE NOT SERVING BLACK PEOPLE.
NEXT SLIDE, I WANNA SHOW YOU THE WAY THAT YOU CATER TO THESE UT STUDENTS.
THIS IS THE GOLF COURSE AND SO THERE'S EXTRA BENCHES, EXTRA SHELTERS, BUT IF YOU GO JUST TO THE HEB RUNDBERG, THERE'S JUST ONE SHELTER.
AND THIS IS WHAT YOU SEE IN SOUTH AUSTIN.
YOU DON'T SEE THAT IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN AND I THINK YOU'RE WELL AWARE OF THAT.
SO WHILE PAIGE ELLIS IS RUNNING AGAIN, I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE DISCRIMINATION THAT'S IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN, SOUTHWEST AUSTIN AND TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU TOO HAVE BEEN SILENT.
I'LL JUST SAY THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS ALSO PROBLEMATIC IS THAT THE MINUTES ONLY HAVE PEOPLE'S NAMES.
AND SO THERE WERE MANY O OPERATORS THAT CAME LAST MEETING.
AND UNLESS YOU READ, UH, THE, THE DOCUMENTS OR YOU ACTUALLY LISTEN TO THE, THE AUDIO, THERE IS NOTHING TO SUGGEST WHY THEY WERE HERE OR ANYBODY ELSE WAS HERE.
SO I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO REVERT BACK TO THE OLD WAY OF HAVING AT LEAST A SUMMARY OF WHAT PEOPLE COME BEFORE YOU TO SAY.
OTHERWISE YOU HAVE TO RELY ON THE VIDEOS.
AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO STOP PAYING THEM INDIRECTLY WITH THESE BUS PASSES BECAUSE IT VIOLATES STATE LAW.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
THE SAME GOES FOR THE ACCESS COMMITTEE.
ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE.
THANK YOU MR. CHAIR, I APPRECIATE IT.
UH, ED, DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE THAT HAS COME IN? IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO, UM, TO ADDRESS THE BOARD AND HAS NOT DONE? SO? ANYONE LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD? ANYONE LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD? UH, HEARING NONE, UH, WE
[V. Advisory Committee Updates]
WILL THANK EVERYONE WHO, UM, WHO MADE A COMMENT AND THEN WE WILL MOVE TO OUR BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATES.MR. BRADEN, UH, IS HERE WITH US.
MR. BRETTON IS HERE WITH, ALRIGHT, GOTTA UNFOLD MY PAPER HERE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR TIAN, VICE CHAIR ELLIS PRESIDENT, AND CEO WATKINS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS PETER BRETON AND 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 TIMES.
THE ACCESS AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ADVISORY COMMITTEES BOTH RECEIVED PRESENTATIONS ON THE PROPOSED 2027 OR PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET PRESENTED
[00:30:01]
BY THE DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND FINANCIAL PLANNING, EMMANUEL TUONG, AS WELL AS ON THE PROPOSED 2027 AND 2029 FAIR INCREASE.PRESENTED BY KEVIN CONLIN, CFO AND MYSELF.
THE PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECEIVED A PRESENTATION ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES FOR MAY AND JUNE OF 2026 FROM RENEWAL, BOWIE CHIEF OF POLICE AND TROY OFFICER DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
ADDITIONALLY, THEY RECEIVED STAFF UPDATES RELATED TO THE PROPOSED FY 27, PROPOSED FISCAL PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET AND THE PROPOSED 2027 AND 2029 FAIR INCREASE.
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? HEARING NONE? UH, THANK YOU MR. BRETTON.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR, UH, COMMENTS EVERY MONTH.
[VI. Board Committee Updates]
GO TO, UM, THE BOARD COMMITTEE UPDATES.NOW, WE DIDN'T HAVE A COUPLE MEETINGS.
WE DIDN'T HAVE OPERATIONS THIS TIME.
WE DIDN'T HAVE FINANCE THIS TIME, BUT WE HAD CAMPO AND WE'VE GOT A BOARD MEMBER HARRIS, TO MAKE THAT PRESENTATION FOR US.
UH, THE CAMPO TRANSPORTATION POLICY BOARD MET ON AUGUST 10TH, UH, 2026.
IN ADDITION TO APPROVING THE MINUTES FOR THE MEETING, UH, WE REAPPOINTED WILLIAMSON COUNTY AS CAMPOS FISCAL AGENT, WHICH WE HAVE TO HAVE UNDER STATE LAW.
IN ADDITION, WE, UH, DISCUSSED AND, AND, UH, APPROVED A RECRUITMENT SERVICES CONTRACT TO HELP US WITH NATIONAL SEARCH FOR A NEW, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN LIGHT OF, UH, MR. ASHBY JOHNSON'S RETIREMENT IN JUNE 30TH.
WE ALSO, UH, ANNOUNCED A STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP, WHICH WILL BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 18TH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS THOMPSON CONFERENCE CENTER AND ALSO TALKED ABOUT, UH, HAD A PRESENTATION FROM, UH, OUR CAMPO MODELING MANAGER, MR. GREG LANCASTER AND, UH, THE TEXAS A AND M TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE REGARDING, UH, TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MODELING, WHICH IS CRITICAL FOR US IN TERMS OF EVALUATING, UH, AND FORECASTING, UH, TRAFFIC VOLUME OVER THE NEXT 20, 25 YEARS.
UH, AND AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THAT WAS THE FINAL, FINAL ACTION.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE.
I THOUGHT SOMEBODY WAS GONNA ASK HOW WE HAD A AND M DOING MATH.
I DON'T KNOW, BUT, UH, YEAH, WE GOT A FEW AGGIE FRIENDS IN HERE.
ALRIGHT, LOOKS LIKE THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP UPDATE IS UP NEXT AND I WILL MAKE, UH, THAT PRESENTATION.
THE, UH, A TP MET ON WEDNESDAY THE 19TH.
UH, THERE WERE NO FORMAL ACTIONS, UH, OR NO, NO ACTIONS ACTED UPON DURING THE MEETING.
THE BOARD HEARD AND PARTICIPATED IN THREE DISCUSSION ITEMS, A PRESENTATION OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR, UH, FOR FY 2027, A DISCUSSION ABOUT OFFICE SPACE AND AN UPDATE ON A RECENT A TP AUDIT.
UH, THE BOARD ALSO DISCUSSED OFFICE SPACE DURING ITS EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UH, THE NEXT BOARD MEETING OF A TP WILL BE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2026.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT, UH, THE, UM, BOARD MEETING? ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE, UH, WE WILL CLOSE THAT DOWN AND THEN, UM,
[VII.1. Approval of minutes from the July 27,2026 board meeting.]
MOVE OVER TO OUR, UH, OUR ACTION ITEMS. WE'RE POSTED FOR ACTION ON NINE ITEMS TODAY.UM, THE FIRST OF WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM OUR JULY 27TH BOARD MEETING, UH, CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE, UM, MINUTES FROM THE JULY 27TH, 2026 BOARD MEETING.
OKAY, UM, BOARD MEMBER ELLIS MAKES THE MOTION.
BOARD MEMBER BENGAL MAKES THE SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE ACTION ITEM NUMBER ONE.
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.
[VII.2.Approval of a resolution appointing Board Member Stephen Chang to the Finance, Audit and Administration Committee and Board Member Becki Ross to the Operations, Planning and Safety Committee for the remainder of Calendar Year 2026.]
NUMBER TWO, AND I'LL READ THIS INTO, UH, INTO THE RECORD, APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION APPOINTING BOARD MEMBER STEPHEN CHANG TO THE FINANCE AUDIT AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE AND BOARD MEMBER BECKY ROSS TO OPERATIONS PLANNING AND SAFETY COMMITTEE FOR THE REMAINDER OF CALENDAR YEAR 2026.AND MS. CONER WILL MAKE THAT PRESENTATION
[00:35:01]
FOR US.GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD CHAIR IAN, BOARD MEMBERS AND, UH, PRESIDENT AND CEO WATKINS.
THE ITEM IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY IS TO APPOINT MEMBERS TO OUR BOARD COMMITTEES WITH BOARD MEMBER STRATTON'S DEPARTURE.
LAST MONTH WE HAVE A VACANCY ON THE OPERATIONS PLANNING AND SAFETY COMMITTEE.
BOARD MEMBER ROSS HAS GRACIOUSLY OFFERED TO MOVE OVER TO OPS FROM FAA WHERE SHE SERVED FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW AND THEREFORE LEAVING A VACANCY ON OUR FINANCE AUDIT AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE.
UM, THIS ITEM WOULD APPOINT BOARD MEMBER ROSS TO OPS AND BOARD MEMBER CHANG TO FAA FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2026.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? UH, HEARING NONE, UH, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ACTION.
ITEM NUMBER TWO, BOARD MEMBER HARRIS MAKES THE MOTION.
BOARD MEMBER ALICE MAKES A SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? FURTHER DISCUSSION.
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 a contract with Stadler Rail Service US (Stadler) for Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) Maintenance including technical support services, for CapMetro’s DMU fleet, with a five (5) year base period and two (2) one-year option periods, for $7,602,902, plus a 10 percent contingency, for a total not to exceed amount of $8,363,192.]
UH, ACTION ITEM NUMBER THREE.LET ME READ IT INTO THE RECORD.
AND I THINK, UH, KENNY DAY IS GOING TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE P UH, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HER DESIGNEE, UH, TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH SADLER RAIL SERVICE US SADLER, UM, FOR DIESEL, MULTIPLE UNIT MAINTENANCE, UH, INCLUDING TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR CAP METRO'S DMU FLEET, UH, WITH A FIVE YEAR BASE PERIOD AND TWO ONE YEAR OPTION PERIODS FOR, UH, $7,602,902 PLUS A 10% CONTINGENCY FOR A TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $8,363,192.
GOOD AFTERNOON TO BOARD MEMBERS AND CHAIR ILION PRESENT, CEO WATKINS.
I SERVE AS A NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF RAIL OPERATIONS GOING ON MY THIRD WEEK, SO THANK YOU AND WELCOME.
UM, THANKS FOR WELCOMING ME HERE.
UH, THE ITEM THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT WITH STALER, UH, THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER OF 10 DUS, UH, DIESEL MULTIPLE UNITS, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE, RAIL CARS AND, UH, TECHNICAL SUPPORT, UH, SPARE PART ADVISORY SERVICE.
AND THIS CONTRACT'S PART OF A ACTION, UH, PLAN, UH, AS WE BRING MAIL, UH, OR BRING RAIL MAINTENANCE, UH, MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE IN-HOUSE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, UH, 2027, WHICH IS PART OF OUR PLAN.
UH, THE PACKAGE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD MEMBERS, UM, DOES A VERY GOOD JOB, HIGH LEVEL EXPLANATION.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW JUST TO POINT OUT SOME KEY FACTS.
UH, SO YOU'LL RECALL AS PART OF THE RAIL TRANSITION PLAN WE PRESENTED EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE IDENTIFIED THE NEED OF CONTINUOUS OEM SUPPORT AND DURING THE CRITICAL FIRST YEARS OF IN-HOUSE OPERATIONS, THIS CONTRACT, UH, IS THE EXECUTION OF THAT COMMITMENT.
UM, JUST REAL QUICK, WHY DO WE NEED THE CONTRACT? THE 10 STALER, UH, RAIL CARS, UH, WHAT WE CALL THE GTU, UH, VEHICLES ON THE RED LINE ARE VERY COMPLEX.
THEY'RE INTEGRATED SYSTEMS AND WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG, IT REALLY GOES WRONG.
UH, VEHICLE CONTROLS PROPULSION, PNEUMATIC SYSTEMS AS WELL.
SO WE NEED THE DIRECT ACCESS, UH, TO THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY DESIGNED AND BUILT THE TRAINS.
SO WITHOUT STALER SUPPORT, WE FACED THREE REAL, UH, RISK.
ONE IS EXTENDED VEHICLE DOWNTIME, UM, WHICH WAS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT WAS LISTED HERE TODAY.
WHILE COMPLEX, UH, FAILURES OF DIAGNOSED, UH, THROUGH INDIRECT CHANNELS.
AND THEN TWO IS INABILITY OF PROPER PLAN FOR THE PARTS OBSOLESCENCE ON THE 2009 AND 2018 FLEET.
AND THIRD IS THE POTENTIAL DELAY OF COMPROMISE OF OUR GO LIVE DATE.
TO BRING EVERYTHING IN HOUSE ON JANUARY THE FIRST, 2027.
THIS CONTRACT PLACES STYLISH PERSONNEL ON SITE AS AN EXTENSION OF OUR RAIL FLEET SERVICE TEAM.
UNDER CAPITAL METRO SUPERVISION, WE RETAIN OF COURSE THE FULL OWNERSHIP AND MAINTENANCE EXECUTION INVENTORY AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE.
SECOND THING IS CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND RELIABILITY GOALS.
OUR, OUR CORE GOALS OF THE CONTRACT IS, UH, IMPROVE RELIABILITY AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE ON THE RED LINE.
BY HAVING OEM TECHNICIANS AVAILABLE FOR RAPID UH, TROUBLESHOOTING AND GETTING AHEAD OF PARTS TO OBSOLESCENCE, WE REDUCE THE RISK
[00:40:01]
OF THE TRAINS BEING HELD OUTTA SERVICE.FEWER OUTTA SERVICE VEHICLES MEANS MORE CONSISTENT, UH, SERVICE FOR OUR, UH, RIDERS.
NOW I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE CONTRACT, UH, COVERS AND WHAT IT DOES NOT COVER.
SO TWO BIG PILLARS, THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND THEN THE SPARE PARTS, SOURCING AND SUPPLY STRATEGY.
SO FOR THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT, TROUBLESHOOTING, ENGINEERING, ESCALATION, KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER, AND QUALITY ASSURANCE.
AS FAR AS THE SPARE PART, SOURCING AND SUPPLY STRATEGY, UM, THE SOURCING ADVICE, ESPECIALLY OBSOLESCENCE MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW.
THE STOCK RECOMMENDATIONS AND FORM FIT REVIEW CAP METRO WILL PERFORM THE FOLLOWING MAJOR TASK.
UM, WE'RE BASICALLY GONNA HANDLE THE VEHICLE OVERHAULS, TRUCK OVERHAULS, HELE HEAVY MAINTENANCE, AND MIDLIFE, UH, REFURBISHMENT.
SO AS FAR AS THE LAST POINT IS THE PRICING AND COMMERCIAL OUTCOME.
SO FIRM FIT, FIT, YOU EXPLAINED THAT EARLIER.
UH, $7,602,901, UH, OVER A FIVE YEAR BASE TERM PLUS TWO ONE YEAR OPTIONS.
THIS IS APPROXIMATELY 5.5% UNDER OUR INDEPENDENT COST ESTIMATE OF, UH, EIGHT 8.05 MILLION.
UM, THERE'S NO CONTINGENCY PRICE IS FIXED MONTHLY RATE, UH, WITH THE CPI, UH, AUSTIN INDEXING, UH, BEGINNING JANUARY, 2028.
WITH THAT, I'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IN MY BOARD MEMBERS.
ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBER ROSS, I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE MOVING INTO MORE OF A PROACTIVE STATE WITH OUR RAIL SYSTEM BECAUSE IT IS SO IMPORTANT AND I HATE GETTING THOSE NOTIFICATIONS OF THE DELAYS.
UM, SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT WE'RE HOPEFULLY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO START BEING ABLE TO MINIMIZE THAT.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE.
AND WE HAVE THE GENTLEMAN RIGHT HERE FROM STELLAR AS WELL, SO I'M GLAD THAT THEY WERE HERE.
ANYTHING ELSE? BOARD MEMBERS, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ANYMORE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
SO HEARING NO QUESTIONS, UH, CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ACTION ITEM NUMBER THREE.
UH, BOARD MEMBER BENGAL, MOTION BOARD MEMBER ROSS.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR? LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
SO WHENEVER THERE, WHENEVER SOMETHING STOPS.
SO WE'LL BE CALLING YOUTUBE FOR, UH, BOARD MEMBER ROSS.
UH, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GONNA TAKE A MOMENT AND, UH, AND TAKE A, A PICTURE.
TAKE A PHOTO WITH THE, UH, STADLER TEAM.
[VII.4.Approval of a resolution authorizing the President & CEO, or her designee, to finalize and execute a contract with Selectron Systems AG for the purchase of spare components utilized in the Train Control and Monitoring System (TCMS) for the Stadler Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs), with a contract term of one year and a total contract amount not to exceed $323,740.]
CALL US BACK ANN AND MOVE TO ACTION ITEM NUMBER FOUR.AND I'LL READ THAT ANN APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HER DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH ELECTRON SYSTEMS AG FOR THE PURCHASE OF SPARE COMPONENTS UTILIZED IN THE TRAIN CONTROL AND MONITORING SYSTEM, UH, FOR THE, UH, STALER DIESEL MULTIPLE UNITS, UH, DM WITH A CONTRACT TERM OF ONE YEAR AND A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 323,700 AND, UH, $40.
[00:45:01]
RAUL NAER.I'M MEMBERS OF THE BOARD PRESIDENT O WATKINS.
MY NAME IS RAHUL N AND I SERVE AS THE VP OF ROLLING STOCK AND SUPPORT A HUMAN HERE AT CAP METRO.
AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS ACTION, ACTION ITEM IS TO FINALIZE AN EXECUTE CONTRACT WITH SELECT.
I WAS TRYING TO BE CONTINENTAL WITH N
UM, THESE COMPONENTS ESSENTIALLY SERVE AS A LINK BETWEEN OUR MAJOR SYSTEMS AND SUBSYSTEMS, INCLUDING HVACS BRAKE PROPULSION.
SO THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY LAST TIME BUYS THAT WE NEED TO GET SINCE THESE PARTS ARE NO LONGER BEING, UM, PRODUCED.
SO THIS WILL BE ONE LAST TIME BY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR DIESEL MULTIPLE UNITS SERVE THEIR OPERATIONAL LIFECYCLE.
AND I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS BOARD MEMBERS.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ACTION.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR, BOARD MEMBER HARRIS MAKES THE MOTION.
AND OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBER, UH, MAKES A SECOND.
UM, HERE, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED.
DID WE APPROVE ACTION ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR? LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
HEARING NONE, UH, THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
[VII.5.Approval of a resolution authorizing the President & CEO, or her designee, to finalize and execute an amendment to an Interlocal Agreement with the University of Texas at Austin for shuttle service and rides on CapMetro services to reflect adjusted service levels on UT Shuttle Routes 661 Far West and 670 North Riverside during Year Three of the Agreement, resulting in a corresponding reduction in revenue of $515,572 and a revised total not to exceed amount of $7,284,428.]
UH, LET'S SEE.UH, WE'LL CALL UP ACTION ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HER DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN FOR SHUTTLE SERVICE AND RIDES ON CAP METRO SERVICES TO REFLECT ADJUSTED SERVICE LEVELS ON UT SHUTTLE ROUTES.
6 6 1 FAR WEST AND SIX SEVEN OH NORTH RIVERSIDE.
UH, DURING, UH, LET'S SEE, DURING YEAR THREE OF THE AGREEMENT RESULTING IN A CORRESPONDING REDUCTION IN REVENUE OF $515,572 AND A REVISED TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF 7 MILLION, UH, $284,428.
MR. DEREK, UH, HENO WILL BE, UH, THE PRESENTER.
I'M A PROGRAM MANAGER PARTNERSHIPS IN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FOR THE AGENCY.
UH, THIS IS THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS FOR THE UT SHUTTLE SERVICE AND FOR ALLOWING STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF TO RIDE OUR SERVICES, UH, WITH THEIR UT ID THE AGREEMENT IS ENTERING, UH, YEAR THREE, THE FINAL YEAR AND THIS AGREEMENT ONLY IMPACTS, UH, THE FINAL YEAR BECAUSE THE AGREEMENT IS BASED ON COST RECOVERY FOR THE SERVICES PROVIDED.
THE ADJUSTED SERVICE LEVELS RESULT IN A REVISED TOTAL AGREEMENT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 7,284,428 AS A PART OF OUR RECENT AUGUST SERVICE CHANGE.
WEEKDAY SERVICE ON UT SHUTTLE ROUTE 6 61 FAR WEST AND SIX 70 NORTH RIVERSIDE.
NOW WE'RE ON EVERY 15 TO 20 MINUTES INSTEAD OF EVERY EIGHT TO 10 MINUTES.
RIDERSHIP AND STUDENT HOUSING POWDER PATTERNS IN THESE AREAS HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME AND THIS UPDATE HELPS MATCH SERVICE TO CURRENT DEMAND WHILE IMPROVING RELIABILITY.
THE FREQUENCY ADJUSTMENT ALSO AIMS TO REDUCE INSTANCES OF MISSED OR LOST SERVICE AND IMPROVE ON TIME PERFORMANCE AND OVERALL DEPENDABILITY OF THE UT SHUTTLE SERVICE WHILE PRESERVING MULTIPLE TRANSIT ALTERNATIVES FOR STUDENTS IN THESE CORRIDORS.
WE'LL ALSO BEGIN WORKING WITH THE UNIVERSITY ON A NEW SHUTTLE AGREEMENT, UH, WHICH WE WILL BRING TO THE BOARD NEXT YEAR.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND I HAVE JORDAN MCGEE FROM OUR, UH, SERVICE PLANNING TEAM TO HELP ANSWER QUESTIONS AS WELL.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE, UH, CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ACTION ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
UH, BOARD MEMBER ELLIS MAKES THE MOTION.
ALRIGHT, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
UH, ALL IN FAVOR, LET IT KNOW, BUT, UM, BY SAYING AYE.
HEARING NONE, THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
[VII.6.Approval of a resolution authorizing the President & CEO, or her designee, to finalize and execute a contract with Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc. (JLL) for Transit-Oriented Development Consultant Services, with a base term of three (3) years and two (2) option years, in a total amount not to exceed $801,770.]
ACTION ITEM NUMBER SIX.I'LL READ IT IN APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HER DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH JONES LANG LASALLE AMERICA'S INC.
FOR TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT SERVICES WITH A BASE TERM OF THREE YEARS WITH TWO OPTION YEARS
[00:50:01]
IN A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $801,770.THANK ANNA LAND IS GONNA MAKE THAT, UH, PRESENTATION FOR US.
GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS, CHAIR ILIAN PRESIDENT C OIE WATKINS AND WELCOME BOARD MEMBER CHANG.
I'M THE TE OD MANAGER HERE AT CAP METRO.
I'M PRESENTING TWO TOPICS TODAY REGARDING CAP METRO'S TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
THE FIRST IS TO SEEK BOARD APPROVAL AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT CO TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH JONES LANG LASAL AMERICA OR JLL FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FOR TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT SERVICES.
THE SECOND IS TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF CAP METRO'S TO OD PROGRAM.
I WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT ALL OF THE TO OD WORK FROM LAND USE POLICY REFORM TO TECHNICAL DUE DILIGENCE AND FUNDING TO HIRE THE BEST QUALIFIED CONSULTANTS HAVE BEEN FUNDED BY FEDERAL GRANTS TO GET OUR SITES DEVELOPMENT READY.
THE JL CONTRACT WOULD HELP CAT METRO SEEK A DEVELOPMENT PARTNER ON AN AGENCY OWNED PROPERTY THROUGH A TWO-STEP SOLICITATION PROCESS.
THE FIRST IS THE STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS OR SOQ TO SHORTLIST.
INTERESTED AND ELIGIBLE DEVELOPERS.
IF CAT METRO ELECTS TO PROCEED, JOL WILL MANAGE THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS OR RFP AND SUPPORT CAP METRO.
IN THE SELECTION OF A DEVELOPMENT PARTNER, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO WILL APPROVE THE SITE SELECTION AND THE GO NO-GO DECISION FOR RFP.
THE CAP METRO BOARD WILL APPROVE THE CONTRACT OF THE SELECTED DEVELOPMENT PARTNER.
GRANT FUNDING FROM THE BUILD AMERICA BUREAU'S INNOVATIVE FINANCE AND ASSET CONCESSIONS GRANT PROGRAM WILL PAY FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THIS CONTRACT WITH NO LOCAL MATCH REQUIRED.
JLL WAS SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PUBLIC SOLICITATION PROCESS.
IF APPROVED, THEY WILL HELP PREPARE FOR A SPRING 2027 SOLICITATION FOR ONE CAP METRO SITE AND A VICE CAP METRO ON THE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY AND FINANCIAL SERVICES.
WE HAVE REVIEWED SEVERAL POTENTIAL CANDIDATE SITES AND NARROWED DOWN TO LEANDER STATION, TECH RIDGE PARK AND RIDE AND THE LOYOLA LANE.
JOHNNY MORRIS PROPERTIES ALL OUR UNDERUTILIZED SITES WITH SIZABLE DEVELOPMENT FOOTPRINT AND DEVELOPER INTERESTS.
THIS CONCLUDES THE BOARD ACTION PORTION.
NOW I WILL PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR 2D PROGRAM AND RECENT PROJECTS.
TOD IS AN ACTION ITEM IN THE 2030 STRATEGIC PLAN.
UNDER THIS ITEM, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR DELIVERING LASTING TRANSIT, HOUSING, AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS, WHILE ALSO SAFEGUARDING OUR PUBLIC INVESTMENT.
TOD IS A LONG-TERM REVENUE GENERATING STRATEGY THAT PUTS UNDERUTILIZED LAND TO WORK AND CREATES AN ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR CAP METRO.
WE HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE IN WINNING FEDERAL GRANTS FROM THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION AND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO SUPPORT OUR WORK, INCLUDING A TOTAL OF 6.65 MILLION IN RECENT YEARS.
MOST REQUIRING NO LOCAL FUNDING MATCH.
THIS ALLOWS US TO DO THE UPFRONT WORK, REDUCE RISK FOR POTENTIAL DEVELOPERS, AND HAVE OUR SIDES READY TO MOVE WHEN THE MARKET IS RIGHT.
WE HAVE RECENTLY RECEIVED OUR SECOND $1 MILLION AWARD FROM THE BUREAU AMERICA BUREAU AND I WANNA SAY WE ARE THE ONLY TRANSIT AGENCY OUT OF 107 APPLICANTS TO RECEIVE A SECOND ROUND OF FUNDING.
WE'RE PROUD OF THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WE BUILT WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE RECOGNIZED EARLY ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING A STRATEGIC SHARED FRAMEWORK AND THAT PARTNERSHIP TOOK US THROUGH THE EQUITABLE TOD STUDY AND THE COUNCIL ACCEPTED ETOD POLICY PLAN.
THAT WORK HAS SINCE HELPED FORM THE BASIS FOR ZONING AND LAND USE CHANGES ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL TO ENCOURAGE TOD AROUND TRANSIT CORRIDORS.
THIS ALL HAPPENED WITHIN THREE YEARS AND ADVANCED CRITICAL RESULTS HAVE HELPED THE LIGHT RAIL PROJECT TO ACHIEVE A MEDIUM HIGH CIG RATING, CREATING A STRONGER FOUNDATION FOR SECURING FEDERAL FUNDING.
AS PART OF OUR PREPARATION TO SEEK A DEVELOPMENT PARTNER, WE RECENTLY PUBLISHED A TOD GUIDEBOOK ON THE CAP METRO WEBSITE.
THIS DOCUMENT IS A PRACTICAL ROADMAP FOR TURNING CAT METRO OWNED LAND INTO SUCCESSFUL AND FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THAT SUPPORTS RIDERSHIP AND COMMUNITY GOALS.
IT ALSO SUPPORTS REGIONAL TRANSIT ADVOCACY.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON THE TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES, WHICH IS TARGETED TOWARDS THIRD PARTY OWNED SITES NEAR CAT MITCHELL TRANSIT STATIONS.
THIS DOCUMENT IS A HIGH LEVEL GUIDE THAT SUMMARIZES IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR DEVELOPER LOOKING TO INTEGRATE TRANSIT INTO THEIR DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING DIMENSIONS, COST ESTIMATES AND ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
THE TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES ACCOUNTS FOR ALL MEMBER CITIES DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCESSES.
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WE HAVE MET WITH A VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDERS SUCH AS A REAL ESTATE COUNCIL OF AUSTIN, COUNCIL OFFICES, MEMBER CITIES AND CITY OF AUSTIN DEPARTMENTS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW TO MAKE THIS DOCUMENT AS USEFUL AS POSSIBLE.WE ARE NOW CURRENTLY INCORPORATING THEIR FEEDBACK AND LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING THIS DOCUMENT ONCE IT IS COMPLETE.
THIS IS THE FINAL SLIDE THAT SHOWS A HYPOTHETICAL SCENARIO IF WE INCORPORATE AND COLLABORATE DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSIT INTEGRATION EARLY ON IN THE PROCESS.
SO INSTEAD OF A DEVELOPMENT HAPPENING INDEPENDENTLY FROM A NEARBY STATION SHOWN ON THE LEFT, WE CAN WORK WITH THE OWNER TO SHIFT STOPS OR ADD TRANS AMENITIES THAT BETTER COMPLEMENT THE BUILDING ORIENTATION AND ACTIVITY CENTER.
THE NEW DEVELOPMENT AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD BENEFIT FROM IMPROVED TRANSIT ACCESS.
WHILE THE OWNER CAN REDUCE PARKING REQUIREMENTS AND THE SITE GAINS STRONGER WAYFINDING AND MORE COHESIVE PUBLIC REALM, WE WANT THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY TO HAVE THIS INFORMATION BEFORE THEY START THE SITE PLAN REVIEW PROCESS BECAUSE IT CAN SAVE THEM BOTH TIME AND MONEY.
ULTIMATELY, TOD IS NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF OUR OWN PROPERTY.
IT'S ABOUT BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS, COORDINATING ACROSS AGENCIES AND JURISDICTIONS AND ESTABLISHING CAP METRO AS A DESIRABLE PARTNER.
ALRIGHT, BOARD MEMBERS, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? OH, GOT A QUESTION.
I JUST WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS.
I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS OF WORK, UM, TO GET TO THIS POINT.
I APPRECIATE, UH, YOU TAKING IN FEEDBACK TO GET THOSE TOD GUIDELINES CORRECT AND FINISHED.
UM, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'VE DONE WITH THE FEDERAL GRANTS AND THE FACT THAT THIS ENTIRE CONTRACT WILL BE PAID FOR WITH THAT FEDERAL FUNDING.
SO DO APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL AND JUST EXCITED TO SEE NEXT STEPS.
ANY GOOD BOARD MEMBER ROSS? I'VE, UM, ALICE, I'VE GOT A QUICK QUESTION AND I SEE THAT MAYOR PRO TE VELA HAS RAISED HIS HAND TOO UP THERE JUST 'CAUSE I KNOW HE'S OVER THERE ON THAT SCREEN.
UM, Y'ALL HAVE DONE FANTASTIC WORK WITH DOING TO OD PLANNING OVER THE YEARS AND SO WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE THAT YOU'RE GETTING A SECOND ROUND OF FEDERAL FUNDING TO CONTINUE AND ENHANCE THAT WORK.
UM, I DID HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE ON OUR NEXT CITY COUNCIL AGENDA, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT TOD FOR THE LAKELINE AREA.
SO IS THIS THE TYPE OF CONTRACT THAT COULD BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO ADD IN ANY OTHER AREAS ALONG THE WAY? IF UM, COUNCIL APPROVES THAT AND WANTS TO ADD THAT INTO THE QUEUE FOR TOD PLANNING? THE SITE, UH, THE SITE SELECTION THAT WE HAVE NARROWED DOWN ARE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND AGREEMENTS OF THE PREVIOUS GRANT.
SO WE CANNOT REALLY CHANGE FUNDING UTILIZED UNDER THAT.
I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT LAKELINE STATION HAS BEEN CONSIDERED FOR TOD AS RECENTLY AS 2017.
IN FACT, THERE WAS A STUDY IN RFP OUT IN 2016 AND THE BOARD, UM, VOTED TO NOT PURSUE THE RFP BECAUSE IT OFFERED LIMITED RETURNS ON INVESTMENT.
SO OVER TIME OUR PARKING SITUATION HAS CHANGED AND GIVEN THE CONSTRAINT OF OUR SITE RIGHT NOW AND THE NEED TO POTENTIALLY BUILD, UM, PARKING GARAGE IS NOT A FEASIBLE PROJECT.
WELL LET'S KEEP THAT LINE OF COMMUNICATION OPENING.
UH, GLAD TO HEAR THAT BACK IN 2017 IT WAS CONSIDERED, UM, I KNOW THAT I CAN'T SPEAK FOR COUNCIL MEMBER LANE 'CAUSE SHE'S NOT HERE, BUT I KNOW SHE CARES A LOT ABOUT REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY IN HER DISTRICT AND SO SHE'S TRYING TO DO A LOT OF WORK TO HELP SPUR THAT, START THAT CONVERSATION AND SO WOULD LOVE TO JUST PUT IN A PLUG TO MAKE SURE SHE'S, YOU KNOW, BEING CONSULTED ON ON THESE THAT AFFECT HER DISTRICT.
YEAH, AND I'LL ADD THAT WE'VE BEEN IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH COUNCIL MEMBER LANE.
IN FACT, I'M WORKING WITH HER ON THE, THE KIND OF FRAMEWORK THAT SHE PUT TOGETHER AND PUT FORTH, UM, TO THE COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
UM, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HER, UM, CONTINUING TO PROVIDE, UH, LEADERSHIP TO GET ALL OF THE PARTNERS IN THAT AREA UP IN THAT AREA, UM, TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW WE CAN GET SOME BETTER TRANSPORTATION AND, AND LAND USE PLANNING UP THERE.
SO, UM, WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH HER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE BEST NEXT STEP.
I'M GLAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE HAPPENING AND I KNOW SOME OF THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN OUTSIDE OF CAT METRO'S PURVIEW, BUT SHE'S DEFINITELY TRYING TO LINK, YOU KNOW, THAT REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY AND ROAD SAFETY IN HER DISTRICT SUCH AS I HAVE DONE IN MINE.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY WE ARE NOT PRECLUDING LAKE LANE STATION FROM FUTURE TE OD CONSIDERATIONS.
BUT WAS IT, UM, THE LANGUAGE YOU HAD USED ABOUT THE FIRST APPLICATION HAD SPECIFIC GUARDRAILS TO IT AND SO THE SECOND ROUND OF FUNDING HAD TO FIT WITHIN THAT SAME APPLICATION LANGUAGE AS THE FIRST ROUND YES.
THAT WE HAVE TO SELECT FROM OUR, UH, NARROWED DOWN LIST OF CANDIDATE SITES.
ALRIGHT, BOARD MEMBER VELA, I HAD THE EXACT SAME QUESTION AND COMMENTS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS DID AND SO IT'S BEEN ANSWERED, BUT THANK YOU CHAIR.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? OKAY.
ALRIGHT, UH, HEARING NONE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ACTION ITEM NUMBER SIX,
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UM, BOARD, UM, BOARD MEMBER BENGAL AND UH, BOARD MEMBER ROSS.ALRIGHT, UH, LET'S SEE AS WE MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE ACTION ITEM NUMBER SIX.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER BOARD DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER BOARD DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER BOARD DISCUSSION? UH, HEARING NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR, LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
HEARING NONE, THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
[VII.7.Approval of a resolution authorizing the President & CEO, or her designee to finalize and execute a renewal of the Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with the State of Texas through its government entity, Texas State Library and Archives Commission for digital document scanning and document storage services for a four-year term beginning September 1, 2026, and ending August 31, 2030, in an amount not to exceed $44,000.]
ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE TO ACTION.ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HER DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE A RENEWAL OF THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
UH, THE ILA WITH STATE OF TEXAS THROUGH ITS GOVERNMENT ENTITY.
UH, THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COMMISSION FOR DIGITAL DOCUMENT SCANNING AND DOCUMENT STORAGE SERVICES FOR A FOUR YEAR TERM, BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2026 AND ENDING AUGUST 20, UH, AUGUST 31ST, 2030 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $44,000.
AND THE PRESENTER WILL BE KEN CARTWRIGHT.
CHAIR ILIAN, UH, BOARD MEMBERS PRESIDENT, CEO WATKINS.
I'M KEN CARTWRIGHT, VICE PRESIDENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND FACILITIES, AND WE CURRENTLY, AS YOU MENTIONED, HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COMMISSION FOR DOCUMENT SCANNING AND STORAGE.
WE HAVE INITIATED A PROCESS WITH OUR REAL ESTATE DEPARTMENT FOR SCANNING AND STORING OUR DOCUMENTS AT THE UH, T SLACK FACILITY, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE THAT, UH, PROCESS.
SOME OF OUR, UH, REAL ESTATE DOCUMENTS DATE BACK TO THE 18 HUNDREDS.
SO WE, UH, DEFINITELY WANT TO GET THOSE SCANNED AND STORED SECURELY AND T SLACK HAS A GREAT PROGRAM AND A GREAT FACILITY FOR US TO DO THAT AT VERY COST EFFECTIVE, UM, ME MANNER.
I WILL, UH, NOTE THAT, UH, THIS DOLLAR AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED DOLLAR AMOUNT IS BELOW THE NORMAL FORD THRESHOLD, BUT BECAUSE IT IS AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH ANOTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY, UH, WE ARE REQUIRED TO GET BOARD APPROVAL FOR THIS.
BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MEMBERS MAY HAVE REGARDING THIS AGREEMENT.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? SEE, I DON'T SEE BOARD MEMBER VELA, BUT, UM, LET'S SEE IF HE'S GOT QUESTION.
UH, HEARING NONE, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ACTION.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, UH, BOARD MEMBER.
ALRIGHT, I, I WON'T SAY ROSS THIS TIME.
BOARD MEMBER ELLIS IS, IS THERE A SECOND? OKAY.
WELL, WE'LL GO WITH OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBER AGAIN.
UM, OKAY, SO IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE ACTION ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
SO, 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.8.Approval of a resolution authorizing the President & CEO, or her authorized designee, to finalize and execute a contract modification with Elk Electric, Inc. for electrical services, increasing the contract not-to-exceed amount by $1,000,000 for a revised total contract amount of $2,955,675.]
ALRIGHT, MOVING TO ACTION ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.NUMBER EIGHT, APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HER, UH, AUTHORIZED DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT MODIFICATION WITH ELK ELECTRIC INC.
FOR ELECTRIC SERVICES, INCREASING THE CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT BY $1 MILLION TO A REVISED TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $2,955,675.
AND THE PRESENTATION WILL BE MADE BY JEFF HILL.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN BOARD.
I BEAT SUNDAY, SO I'M DOING PRETTY GOOD TODAY.
A COUPLE OF REASONS WE NEED TO INCREASE THIS CONTRACT.
UH, THIS REQUEST, IT INCREASED TO PROVIDE CAPACITY, UH, NEEDED TO COMPLETE SOME O AND M PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY ELECTRICAL PROJECTS, ADDRESS WORK ORDERS, UH, SUPPORT THE DAY-TO-DAY ELECTRICAL NEEDS ACROSS THE CAPITAL METRO PORTFOLIO.
ALSO, WE'VE ADDED FACILITIES TO THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT.
WE HAVE, UH, 59 53, WE HAVE, UH, 3,100, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE ADDED TO THIS CONTRACT.
AND WE'VE TAKEN ON RAIL, UH, THIS FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE REPLACEMENT OF AGING EQUIPMENT, ESPECIALLY SOME ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT.
UH, PROJECTS WE'RE DEALING WITH UPGRADE, ESPECIALLY LIKE OUR LED LIGHTING PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE.
ALSO, IT'LL HELP US BE MAINTAINING, UH, ELECTRICAL CODE, UH, COMPLIANCE, WORKPLACE SAFETY.
AND IN ADDITION, THIS IS NOT JUST A SINGLE CONTRACT FOR A MILLION DOLLARS.
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TO SUPPORT THE CONTRACT ON OUR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION ACROSS THE BOARD.AND IT'S FOR ELECTRICAL WORK THAT'S AUTHORIZED, PERFORMED, AND IS VERIFIED.
ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY, ANY, ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NONE, UH, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ACTION.
BOARD MEMBER HARRIS ON THAT ONE AND THE SECOND WILL BOARD MEMBER BANGAL.
ALRIGHT, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
UH, ALL IN FAVOR, LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
SAME SIGN FOR, UH, FOR OPPOSITION.
[VII.9.Approval of a resolution authorizing the President & CEO, or their designee, to finalize and execute a contract with ATX VIP Towing for bus and non-revenue vehicle towing services for a base period of approximately thirteen (13) months, with two (2) six-month option periods, in a total amount not to exceed $959,286.]
YOU.UM, WE'RE MOVING TO ACTION ITEM NUMBER NINE.
I'LL READ IT IN APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR THEIR DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH A-T-X-V-I-P TOWING FOR BUS AND NON-REVENUE VEHICLE TOWING SERVICES FOR A BASE PERIOD OF APPROXIMATELY 13 MONTHS WITH TWO SIX MONTH OPTION PERIODS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $959,286.
UH, MI, MR. DAVIS, I, I, I SEE THEY HARASSED YOU A LITTLE BIT FOR BEING LAST, BUT WE'LL SAY LAST BUT NOT LEAST.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR TAVION BOARD MEMBERS, PRESIDENT WATKINS.
I'M SUNNY DAVIS, THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF VEHICLE MAINTENANCE FOR CAP METRO.
AND I'M HERE TO PRESENT THIS ITEM, WHICH IS FOR APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HER DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH A-T-X-V-I-P TOWING FOR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE.
THIS IS A BUDGETED ITEM FOR A BASE TERM OF 13 MONTHS WITH TWO SIX MONTH OPTION PERIODS AND A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $959,286.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE ORGANIZATION CAN REMOVE DAMAGED OR DISABLED VEHICLES FROM THE ROADWAYS AND RETURN THEM TO MAINTENANCE FACILITIES.
ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT ENSURES THAT CAP METRO IS RECEIVING RELIABLE TOWING SERVICES AND PROVIDE STABILITY OF PRICE, PRICING, AND STANDARD OF SERVICE.
BY APPROVING THIS CONTRACT WITH A-T-X-V-I-P TOWING, WE ARE SUPPORTING BUS AND NON-REVENUE OPERATIONS BY ENSURING DAMAGED AND DISABLED VEHICLES ARE QUICKLY AND SAFELY REMOVED FROM THE ROADWAY AND RETURN TO A CAT METRO MAINTENANCE FACILITY.
THIS CONTRACT ESTABLISHES A PRICE FOR TOWING OVER THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT AND ENSURES PROVIDER ADHERES TO CAT METRO POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND RESPONSE TIME REQUIREMENTS.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBER VELA, ANY QUESTIONS BACK THERE? ALRIGHT.
UH, HEARING NONE, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO, UM, TO, UH, APPROVE ACTION ITEM NUMBER NINE.
UH, SEE, BOARD MEMBER CHANG WILL BE THE MOTION, UH, BOARD MEMBER ELLIS WILL BE THE SECOND HAS BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE ACTION ITEM NUMBER NINE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DIS DISCUSSION? FURTHER DISCUSSION.
ALL IN FAVOR? LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
HEARING NONE, THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
[VIII.1.FY2026 Q3 Key Performance Indicator Update (Ridership Focus). Memo: Q3 FY2026 KPI Performance - August 17, 2026]
APPRECIATE YOU.AND, UH, NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO OUR, UH, DISCUSSION ITEM, WHICH WILL BE OUR THIRD QUARTER KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR UPDATE.
AND, UH, IT LOOKS LIKE, UH, JAMILA MU MUJI WILL BE MAKING THAT FOR US.
DISCUSSION ITEM NUMBER ONE, PLEASE PROCEED.
GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, CHAIR ILIAN, BOARD MEMBERS, CEO WATKINS AND WELCOME BOARD MEMBER CHANG.
UM, UH, YOU, YOU LIKE THIS PRESENTATION? IT'S A LOT FOR THE FIRST DAY.
UM, SO IT'S, UH, I'M, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE WORK ON AND TALK ABOUT DAILY.
I, UM, JOINED CAP METRO SIX YEARS AGO, AND I TELL YOU THAT OUR PLANNING AND OPERATIONS FOLKS ARE LIKE VERY PEOPLE-CENTRIC.
WE KEEP RIDERSHIP AS A CORE OF WHAT WE DO.
WE TRY TO ANTICIPATE WHAT'S COMING, GENERALLY UNDERSTAND WHERE IT'S HEADING.
SOMETIMES WE TWEAK AS WE GO ALONG AND ANALYZE CONTINUOUSLY.
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YOU WILL SEE THAT THREAD ENTIRELY THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.IT'D BE NICE IF I COULD MOVE MY SLIDES.
UM, SO THE PRESENTATION IS ORGANIZED IN FIVE MAJOR CHUNKS.
THE RIDERSHIP TRENDS, IT'S ESSENTIALLY KIND OF GIVING YOU A HIGH LEVEL SNAPSHOT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING NATIONALLY, SPECIFICALLY IN THE LAST YEAR.
CUSTOMER PERSPECTIVE IS WHERE WE ARE TYING IN OUR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY THAT'S RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETED.
IT'S OUR ANNUAL CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY.
I'M NOT GONNA STEAL, UM, SAM BAEZ, OUR CHIEF EXPERIENCE AND ENGAGEMENT OFFICER AND HER TEAM THAT WORK REALLY HARD ON GETTING THIS IN FRONT OF US AND ALL OF OUR TEAMS SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND HOW OUR CUSTOMERS PERCEIVING OUR SERVICE, HOW THEY'RE EXPERIENCING IT, AND ANY FEEDBACK THAT COMES FROM IT THROUGH OPEN-ENDED COMMENTS.
AND OTHERWISE, HOW WE USE THAT IN OUR, IN OUR WORK RIDERSHIP IMPACTS IS ACTUALLY DIFFERENT FACTORS THAT WE ARE IDENTIFYING OURSELVES.
SOME OF THEM ARE WITHIN OUR CONTROL, SOME OF THOSE ARE NOT.
AND HOW THAT'S IMPACTS OUR SERVICE RIDERSHIP DATA IS WHAT I'M ACTUALLY GONNA TALK ABOUT.
AND AGAIN, I WANTED TO SET THE STAGE AND I WANTED TO BREAK THIS NEWS EARLY THAT OUR RIDERSHIP IS DECLINING SOME, BUT NOT ALL DECLINES ARE BAD.
AND SOME ARE JUST A POINT IN TIME, A SNAPSHOT AT THE MOMENT THAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS IMPROVING.
THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS THAT ARE IN THE MIX THAT ARE ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE GROUND.
AND THEN AGAIN, WE WOULD BREAK AS WE BREAK DOWN THE RIDERSHIP DATA.
WE'LL ALSO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING TO IMPROVE OUR RIDERSHIP.
RIDERSHIP IS CORE TO WHAT WE DO.
IT'S OUR CRITICAL RESULTS, NUMBER ONE IN OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITY 2030.
WE TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO IMPROVE OUR RIDERSHIP, BUT UNDERSTANDING AND ACKNOWLEDGING WHAT'S AHEAD OF US.
WE WANTED TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A PRESENTATION OF THE FULL PICTURE TODAY.
AND THE LAST, BUT NOT THE LEAST, IS THE NEXT STEPS AND KEY TAKEAWAYS I HAVE TO START BY SAYING THAT, UM, IT'S A LENGTHY PRESENTATION WARNING I SHOULD GIVE PERHAPS.
UM, AND I'M, UM, DOWN THE ROAD WOULD BE ABLE TO ADJUST, UH, THE PACE A LITTLE BIT TOO BASED ON HOW ENGAGED YOU ARE.
UM, SO NATIONAL TREND, UH, WE ARE SEEING IN THE LAST YEAR, UH, AND THAT IS ESSENTIALLY SPRING OF 2025 TO 2026, WE SEE A LEVEL OF MODERATE FLATTENING HAPPENING.
UM, I WOULDN'T WANT TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON THIS SPECIFIC ARTICLES.
THEY'RE NOT THERE FOR, UH, FOR US TO DIG DEEP INTO IT, BUT MORE TO SEE THE OTHER COMMUNITIES OF DIFFERENT SIZES.
UM, AND COMPOSITIONS ARE LOOKING AT THE SAME METRIC AS WE ARE MONITORING CLOSELY.
THESE ARTICLES ARE A POINT IN TIME SNAPSHOT OF THEIR RIDERSHIP JOURNEY.
OURS ARE UNIQUE AND I WILL TALK ABOUT THAT NOW.
SO HERE'S ANOTHER SOURCE, APTA, AMERICAN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION DASHBOARD.
UM, IT'S USING TRANSIT APP DATA AND IT'S SHOWING THE, THE FLATTENING THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF RIDERSHIP.
FLATTENING IN MID-SIZE COMMUNITIES ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ACUTE THAN OTHERS.
I MEAN, OUR TRANSITS RIDERSHIP IS, EACH COMMUNITY STORY IS DIFFERENT AND IT'S KIND OF A SET OF FACTORS BASED ON FUNDING, DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES, TIMING OF NETWORK DESIGN, WHOLE HOST OF, WHEN NEW BRTS ARE INTRODUCED, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT FACTORS COME INTO PLAY TO KIND OF CREATE A RIDERSHIP SNAPSHOT FOR THAT COMMUNITY IN POINT IN TIME.
AND OURS IS UNIQUE AND SIMILAR IN MANY WAYS.
SO OUR RIDERSHIP CHANGES AND THE DECLINE THAT I, WE MENTIONED, IT'S EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH FY 2027.
SO HERE'S A TIMELINE THAT WE ARE SHOWING LIKE FROM OCTOBER, 2023 TO JULY OF 2027.
FROM JULY 26 TO 27 FOR THE NEXT YEAR, WE ARE PROJECTING SOME DECLINE.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH REST OF THE PRESENTATION.
IT'S ORGANIZED IN DIFFERENT CHUNKS, SO YOU WILL SEE SOME OVERLAPPING FACTORS COMING IN AND OUT.
BUT BASICALLY THE DARK BLUE SECTION IS OCTOBER 23 TO APRIL 26.
THE HIGHEST RIDERSHIP POINT THAT YOU SEE IS SPRING.
AND YOU'LL SEE AS I GO THROUGH DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE PRESENTATION,
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HOW THAT RIDERSHIP PEAK CONTRIBUTED BY DIFFERENT EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL FACTORS.SO WE ARE EX, THE DECLINE THAT WE TALK ABOUT, THE FORECAST IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.
WE EXPECT THAT OUR FAIR CHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT, WOULD HAVE A TEMPORARY DECLINE ON OUR RIDERSHIP.
WE ARE WORKING ON A NUMBER OF OTHER MEASURES THROUGH OPERATIONAL AND PLANNING CHANGES.
AND I'LL TALK ABOUT TRANSIT PLAN 2035 THAT REALLY LOOKS AT THE LANE USE AND TRANSPORTATION CONNECTIONS AND MAKE BETTER RECOMMENDATION TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE OTHER PHYSICAL CHANGES THAT WE COULD MAKE TO IMPROVE OUR RIDERSHIP PICTURE.
BUSES MAKE UP ABOUT 90% OF OUR RIDERSHIP.
SO TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS LARGELY FOCUSED ON OUR BUS.
WHEN I TALK ABOUT BUS, I MEAN OUR LOCAL BUS, METRO BUS, OUR METRO RAPID, OUR RAIL COMMUTER EXPRESS AND PICKUP.
THEY'RE TELLING A DIFFERENT STORY AND WE ARE NOT GONNA FOCUS A LOT ON THAT, BUT I'LL TOUCH UPON THAT IN THE RIDERSHIP DATA SECTION AS WELL.
BUT BEFORE I GO THERE, CUSTOMER PERSPECTIVE AND WHAT ARE CUSTOMERS SAYING? AND WE CAPTURE THAT IN TWO SLIDES ESSENTIALLY.
SO THESE ARE THE TOP, I'M NOT GONNA GO ONE BY ONE, BUT THESE ARE THE TOP ISSUES THAT OUR CUSTOMER, UH, CAP METRO CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE ACTION PLAN ARE INCLUDING.
AND THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY COMING OUT OF THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THIS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY THAT JUST WAS COMPLETED.
WITH THAT, I WOULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
HERE WE HAVE OUR OPEN-ENDED RESPONSES FROM OUR CUSTOMERS THAT SHOWS THE KEY THEMES OR THE TOPICS OUR CUSTOMERS FELT ARE MOST IMPORTANT THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR JOURNEY.
THE TOP THREE, YOU WILL SEE THEM SHOWING UP IN SOME OF THE STAFF AND CAT METRO LEADERSHIP, OUR IDENTIFIED IMPACT FACTORS THEY KIND OF LINE UP WELL.
SO YOU'LL SEE MORE OF THAT AS I GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.
AND THIS IS A STATISTICALLY VALID SURVEY AND THESE ARE THE OPEN-ENDED RESPONSES THAT ARE AGGREGATED FOR IN KEY THEMES.
SO RIDERSHIP IMPACTS, THESE ARE THE FACTORS THAT WE ARE ESSENTIALLY LOOKING INTO TO OUR CURRENT FACTORS AND, AND THE ONES THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON.
THE RELIABILITY, FEAR, POLICY, SECURITY, WEATHER, AND SOME EXTERNAL.
SO RELIABILITY IS VERY IMPORTANT OF, OF COURSE, I MEAN THAT, UH, IT GOES WITHOUT IT LIKE GOING TOO MUCH INTO IT.
AND YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE LAST SLIDES I TALK ABOUT HOW RELI, WHAT ARE THE MEASURES WE ARE TAKING TO IMPROVE RELIABILITY.
WE ARE IN SEPTEMBER BOARD, YOU'LL HAVE OUR FAIR CHANGE, UM, COMING FOR YOUR APPROVAL AND I WANTED TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THAT AT THE AT THE NEXT SLIDE AS WELL.
SECURITY PLAYED A ROLE, UH, CUSTOMER PERCEPTION OF OUR SAFETY AND SECURITY ON OUR SYSTEM, WE BELIEVE HAD AN IMPACT ON OUR RIDERSHIP AS WELL.
WEATHER ACTUALLY PLAYS A BIG ROLE.
I MEAN, WE WOULDN'T QUITE FEEL THAT.
I MEAN, IT'S EXTREME WEATHER TO SOME AS WHAT'S HAPPENING OUTSIDE.
IT'S 108 DEGREES, BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RAIN AND SNOW EVENTS.
AND LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST IS LIKE EXTERNAL FACTORS.
WE ALL KNOW THAT CUST CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS AND FAIR CHANGES, THOSE TWO ARE HAPPENING AND THEY'RE UNIQUE TO AUSTIN HAPPENING TO US AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
AND THEY WOULD HAVE, THEY WOULD HAVE SOME IMPACT AND WILL CONTRIBUTE TO OUR, UH, PROJECTED DECLINE, UH, THAT WE SEE.
SO THIS IS A SLIDE THAT GIVES YOU A LOT OF INFORMATION.
SO I'LL TRY TO WALK THROUGH THIS SLOWLY YEAR OVER YEAR CHANGE AND MAJOR EVENTS.
SO RELIABILITY IS WHAT YOU SEE HERE.
AND YOU WOULD SEE OCTOBER, 2023 THROUGH APRIL 26, THIS ENTIRE PERIOD.
WE HAD DIFFERENT SETS OF CHALLENGES WITH OUR RELIABILITY, BUT WE MADE ONGOING MEASURES TO ADDRESS THEM AS WE IDENTIFY THEM.
OKAY, SO WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN HERE IS THAT FAIR POLICY EVENTS WERE SUPPOSED TO COME IN AND TURN, IT'S LIKE PART OF ANIMATION, SO YOU GET TO ISOLATE IN VI VISUALLY, BUT I'M JUST GONNA MENTION HERE, THERE ARE THREE DISTINCT FAIR POLICY EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE BETWEEN, UH, WHEN BITE MARK AND YU O TRANSITION HAPPEN.
THE IMPACTS OF THAT ON OUR RIDERSHIP.
AND THEN THE SECURITY EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE IN MAY, 2025 HAD A BEARING ON OUR CUSTOMER PERCEPTION AND ON OUR RIDERSHIP AS WELL.
UM, HERE YOU WOULD SEE THE GREEN LINE IS OUR TRANSIT EMPOWERMENT
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FUND AND THAT THAT PROGRAMS RIDERSHIP IMPACTS.SO WHEN HMIS PILOT PROGRAM CAME INTO EFFECT IN JULY OF 2023, WE DIDN'T REALLY SEE THE FULL IMPACT OF THAT UNTIL ANOTHER YEAR FROM NOW.
SO IN, UH, IN OCTOBER, 2024, WE SAW THE FULL IMPACT OF HMIS RIDERSHIP, WHICH IS A POSITIVE AND A NEGATIVE THING ON OUR RIDERSHIP.
AND WE SEE THAT ON, ON, ON ON THIS SLIDE.
THE UMO TRANSITION HAS AN IM IMPACT HMIS FEAR BOX, PAST DEACTIVATION.
YOU SEE THAT SHOWS UP IN, IN THE VALLEY OF, UH, THE CHART AS WELL.
AND HOW DIFFERENT DISTINCT EXTERNAL FEAR POLICY DECISIONS AND EVENTS HAVE ALSO MADE IMPACT ON OUR RIDERSHIP.
I ALSO WANTED TO MAKE A POINT HERE THAT OUR RIDERSHIP IS ENTIRELY FEAR AGNOSTIC.
SO WHEN WE COLLECT INFORMATION ON OUR RIDERSHIP, IT'S COLLECTED THROUGH AUTOMATED PASSENGER COUNT SYSTEM OR A PC.
SO A RIDER GETS, A CUSTOMER GETS ON THE BUS AS I GET ON THE BUS AND I GET COUNTED AT A PASSENGER.
AND BOARDING AND A LIGHTING ARE ENTIRELY FAIR AGNOSTIC.
SO WE AGGREGATED THE SPHERE INFORMATION AGAINST THE RIDERSHIP TO PROVIDE YOU A SNAPSHOT THAT'S MORE MEANINGFUL.
SO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW THAT'S IMPACTING.
WE DO NOT COLLECT INFORMATION ON OUR RIDERSHIP BASED ON ANY FAIR, UH, ASSOCIATIONS.
HERE'S OUR FAIR CAPTURE TREND.
AND UH, AS YOU SEE THAT IN SOME CASES, AND THIS IS THE POINT WHERE I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS, THAT SOME OF THE CHANGES WE MADE WERE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL AND THE CHANGES THAT ARE COMING ARE NECESSARY FOR OUR SURVIVAL.
UM, CAP METRO LAST INCREASED FARE IN 2013 AND 2014 AND 2015, IT'S 11 YEARS AGO DURING THE SAME TIME.
OUR COST OF LIVING HAS GONE UP BY 38 TO 40% AND THAT HAS IMPACT ON OUR OPERATORS, ON US, ON OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, SAM BIAS IS GONNA TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FEAR POLICY AND THE MITIGATIONS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
HERE'S OUR FEAR CAPTURE TREND.
I THINK IT TELLS THE STORY JUST BY BEING THERE.
OUR RAIN, AS I MENTIONED, HAS AN IMPACT ON OUR RIDERSHIP.
SO DOES ICE DAYS AND USUALLY END OF JANUARY, EARLY FEBRUARY, WE SEE A DIP.
WANTED TO MENTION THAT WEATHER HAD AN IMPACT ON OUR RIDERSHIP AND IT DOES SEASONALLY THROUGHOUT.
UH, UM, SO THIS IS NOTHING NEW TO THIS YEAR, BUT IT HAS AN IMPACT WITHIN THIS LAST YEAR AS WELL.
AND I, THIS IS WHERE I'M GONNA BRING IN STANDBYS OUR, UM, CHIEF CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCE AND ENGAGEMENT OFFICER TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS.
AND SHE'LL ALSO AGAIN COME BACK.
UM, YOU'RE GONNA BE TIRED OF MY MONOTONE, SO I WILL HAVE YOU HOVER BACK TO, UH, TO TALK ABOUT THE FEAR POLICY MITIGATION AS WELL.
SO SHARMILA IS SHARING THIS SLIDE HERE, AND YOU'LL SEE THIS PRESENTATION FROM KEVIN COMING BACK IN SEPTEMBER.
SO I WON'T BELABOR THE POINT, BUT THAT WE DO KNOW THAT WHENEVER WE MAKE A CHANGE TO THE FAIR OR THE MECHANISM BY WHICH A CUSTOMER PAYS THEIR FAIR, SO THAT COULD BE AN APP CHANGE, AN APP IMPROVEMENT, THAT THERE IS A MOMENTARY TEMPORARY CHANGE IN OUR RIDERSHIP, UM, THAT WE OFTEN SEE COME BACK.
SO WHENEVER WE MOVE TO THE UMO APP, WE SAW THAT HAPPEN, WE FULLY ANTICIPATE THAT WILL HAPPEN WITH OUR PROPOSED FAIR INCREASE.
UM, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE THINK IS DEFINITELY WORTH DOING AND SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ABSORB WITHIN OUR RIDERSHIP TRENDS AND MY NARRATIVE WHEN BEFORE THIS SLIDE.
SO I WANTED TO MENTION THAT THIS IS WHERE I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE, IN 2014 AND 15, THE LAST FAIR CHANGES TOOK PLACE.
THE, AND IN THE SAME TWO PHASE FORMULA AS WE ARE, UM, ENTERING INTO NOW.
AND IT'S COMING BEFORE, UH, YOU FOR APPROVAL.
UH, THE LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST IS OUR RIDERSHIP ALREADY HAD BEEN IMPACTED AND IT'S GOING TO BE IMPACTED, UH, FOR A WHILE NOW FOR A NUMBER OF, UM, CONSTRUCTION RELATED IMPACTS.
AND OTHER THAN SCHEDULE DETOURS AND ADDITIONAL RUNTIME ON OUR, ON OUR SYSTEM CONSTRUCT.
LARGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS LIKE THIS USUALLY HAVE LONG, I MEAN, UH, SOME SOLID IMPACTS ON, UM, BOTH TRAVEL TIMES AS WELL AS HOW WE PLAN FOR THAT.
AND IT REQUIRES CONTINUOUS COORDINATION TO GET TO, UM, A, A LEVEL OF RELIABILITY THROUGH THIS UNCERTAIN TIMES.
[01:25:01]
AS I MENTIONED, WE, I WILL, UM, SPEAK ABOUT THE BUS RIDERSHIP TODAY, UH, PRIMARILY AND YOU WOULD SEE TWO CHARTS.THE TOP ONE IS AVERAGE WEEKDAY RIDERSHIP.
YOU SEE THE TREND THAT I SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER, YEAR TWO YEAR CHANGE WHERE YOU CAN MAKE COMPARISON BETWEEN PREVIOUS YEARS TO TO CURRENT TIMES.
YOU WILL SEE THAT IN AVERAGE WEEKDAY RIDERSHIP AS WELL.
SO THE DECLINE THAT I'M SPEAKING OF, IT'S SLIGHT DECLINE, BUT IT BEGAN IN SPRING OF 2025.
SOME RIDER MOVED TO RAPID EXPO AND PV, WE UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE FACTORS THAT I, I MENTIONED EARLIER HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THE RIDERSHIP PICTURE THAT YOU'RE, YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.
RAPID RIDERSHIP HAS A DIFFERENT STORY.
MARCH, 2025 WAS THE FIRST FULL MONTH OF, UM, EXPO NPV, BOTH, UM, SMALL START FUNDED THE BRT PROJECT, THE BUS RAPID TRANSIT PROJECT, WHICH IS METRO RAPID.
THEY WERE IN INITIAL SERVICE IN MARCH OF 2025.
IN JUNE, 2026, OUR FULL REVENUE SERVICE WAS IMPLEMENTED ON EIGHT HUNDRED AND EIGHT THIRTY SEVEN.
MANY OF YOU WERE THERE AT THE OPENING AND RIDERSHIP INCREASED WITH NEW SERVICE.
AND SO THIS IS A DEFINITELY A GOOD STORY WHERE WE SEE OUR NEW SERVICE IS NOT ONLY BEING APPRECIATED, BUT THE RIDERSHIP IS REFLECTING THAT PICTURE AS WELL.
OUR COMMUTER EXPRESS IS A MIXED STORY.
WE SAW GENERAL INCREASE IN LAST YEAR, UM, FROM FALL TO EARLY 2026.
WE HAD SOME SERVICE RELIABILITY CHALLENGES IN OUR COMMUTER EXPRESS IN EARLY, EARLIER THIS YEAR, UH, EARLY IN THE SPRING AND THAT HAD AN IMPACT.
AND OUR COMMUTER SERVICE ONLY COMPRISED OF LIKE 1% OF OUR WHOLE RIDERSHIP, WHERE 90% IS OUR METRO BUS RIDERSHIP.
BUT THAT'S SORT OF THE MIX STORY HERE ON THE COMMUTER EXPRESS RAIL.
WE SEE, WE HAVE SEEN OVERALL INCREASE IN RIDERSHIP BECAUSE WE HAVE ONE LINE AND IT'S, THERE'S A LOT OF SENSITIVITY BASED ON WHAT HAPPENS ON THE LINE WHEN UT HAS FULL SERVICE DAYS OR THERE, HOW MANY EVENTS TAKE PLACE IN Q2 AND WEATHER DAYS AND CLOSURES.
ALL OF THOSE HAVE VERY TANGIBLE IMPACT ON RAIL RIDERSHIP AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT.
SO 2025 WE HAD FIVE Q2 EVENTS THEY SHARE.
SO FAR WE HAD TWO AND WE SEE THE, THE HOW THEY PLAYED OUT IN THE RIDERSHIP IN THE NUMBERS.
SO HERE'S, WE ARE CALLING IT MITIGATIONS, BUT THESE ARE NOT ONE-TIME MITIGATION.
MANY OF THESE, UM, ASPECTS THAT I'M GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT ARE PART OF OUR CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT.
AS I MENTIONED, THE, THIS IS STRATEGIC PLAN 2030 CRITICAL RESULT IS TO ENHANCE OUR SERVICE QUALITY THROUGH GREATER RELIABILITY AND SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS.
AND YOU SEE OUR LOST REVENUE HOUR ON THE TOP AND OUR ON TIME PERFORMANCE ON BUS RAPID AND EXPRESS BETWEEN OCTOBER OF 2023 AND JUNE, JUNE OF 2026.
AND RELIABILITY AND UNCERTAINTY, LIKE WHEN ON ON TIME PERFORMANCE IS SHAKY ON, ON A ROUTE, IT IMPACTS RIDERSHIP.
I MEAN IT CREATES A LEVEL OF UNPREDICTABILITY THAT OUR CUSTOMERS THEN USE FOR FUTURE TRAVEL DECISIONS.
VEHICLE AVAILABILITY HAS BEEN AN ISSUE AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE UNDERSTOOD AND CREATED A SOLID PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, BUT IT TAKES TIME TO IMPLEMENT THEM.
AND I WILL GO THROUGH IN DETAIL THE MITIGATION FACTORS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON THROUGH, UM, OUR PLANNING PROCESS PLANNING AND, AND THIS IS NOT PLANNING AS IN OPERATIONS PLANNING, PLANNING AS IN HOW WE GO ABOUT, UM, COMPLETING OUR WORK TO IMPROVE RELIABILITY, SCHEDULE, DEPENDABILITY AND CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS, HOW WE IMPLEMENT NEW SCHEDULES TO BETTER ALIGN SERVICE LEVELS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PLANNING AND OPERATIONS WORK HAND IN HAND.
WE IMPLEMENT SERVICE CHANGES THREE TIMES A YEAR AND WE WORK WEEKLY WITH OPERATIONS FOLKS TO COMPARE NOTES ON HOW OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE WILL RELATE TO PLANNING WORK.
UH, THERE'S A CUS CONTINUOUS CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.
WHAT'S WHAT IS C-C-E-I-T, CONTINUAL CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND ENHANCEMENT TEAM IMPROVEMENT TEAM.
SO C-C-E-I-T IS A COMBINED TEAM THAT MADE OF, UH, PLANNING OPERATIONS FROM ALL DIFFERENT MODES.
THEY ALL COME TOGETHER AND WORK ON VERY SPECIFIC TARGETED OPERATIONAL FIXES THAT WE MAKE WITHIN BETWEEN SERVICE CHANGES, UH, FLEET CONDITION AND VEHICLE AVAILABILITY, HOW WE HAVE, HOW TO ADVANCE A FLEET PLAN, INVESTING IN NEW VEHICLES, FOCUS ON STATE OF GOOD REPAIR.
[01:30:01]
ARE BEING WORKED ON EACH WITH THEIR OWN, UM, VERY SPECIFIC WORK PLAN AND TARGETS, OPERATOR, STAFFING, HIRING AND RETENTION.IT'S, UH, OUR, IT'S SOMETHING, IT'S A CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE ON A REGULAR BASIS AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S FRONT AND CENTER OF OUR NOT ONLY PEOPLE AND CULTURE AND OPERATIONS TEAM AND OUR, UM, SERVICE PARTNERS.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WORK ALONGSIDE.
OUR ENTIRE LEADERSHIP TEAM IS FOCUSED ON THAT AS WELL.
ROADWAY CONDITIONS AND BUS OPERATING SPEED.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IT'S A LITTLE, IT HAS A LOT OF PARTNERSHIP INVOLVED IN THAT.
WE WORK WITH CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRANSIT, UH, SPEED AND RELIABILITY TEAM WITHIN PLANNING WORK WITH CITY OF AUSTIN TO WORK ON SOME OF THESE, UH, FACTORS.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE ALSO KNOW SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION RELATED DETOURS AND SPEED CHALLENGES ARE NOT GOING TO BE ADDRESSED THROUGH THAT.
AND THAT HAS ITS OWN, UM, INDEPENDENT MITIGATION PROCESS THAT WE ARE WORKING ALONGSIDE CITI, TXDOT AND OTHER PARTNERS.
CLEANLINESS, SAFETY AND STOP AND STATION CONDITIONS.
WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN THAT SPACE.
AND OUR, UM, VP OF, UM, FACILITY MAINTENANCE IS, HAS A ROBUST PLAN IN HOW TO MAINTAIN OUR TRANSIT STOPS IN FACILITY, HAVE A PLAN THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY DELIVER ON.
AND SOMETIMES IN CUSTOMER COMMENTS YOU WOULD HEAR THAT THERE ARE REMOVALS IN CERTAIN PLACES, BUT THERE ARE TIMES WE MAINTAIN SPACES THAT ARE ALSO USED AND MANAGED BY OTHERS.
SO THIS ALSO HAS A LEVEL OF PARTNERSHIP COORDINATION, UH, INVOLVED THAT REQUIRES A MULTI-LAYERED APPROACH.
AND I THINK WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDE IN THAT TRANSIT POLICE PRESENCE, CODE OF CONDUCT ENFORCEMENT, LOT OF THESE DIFFERENT INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS THAT COME BEFORE YOU.
THEY ARE VERY SPECIFIC TO OUR, UM, DESIRE AND OUR GOAL TO IMPROVE THE CRITICAL RESULT ONE.
AND THAT IS TO IMPROVE OUR RELIABILITY, WHICH IS ENTIRELY CORE MISSION OF OUR AGENCY FOR OUR POLICY.
I'M GOING TO BRING SAMBAS BACK AGAIN TO SPEAK ON.
SHE HAS DONE A LOT OF GOOD WORK ON THIS AND IN COMMUNICATING THIS AND SHE'LL TALK ABOUT IT.
SO IT TRULY CAN'T BE OVERSTATED WHAT THE CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TEAM AT CAP METRO HAS ACCOMPLISHED IN THE PAST YEAR, TWO YEARS AS IT RELATES TO OUR AFFAIRS.
UM, I WILL BE RETURNING TO THE BOARD THIS FALL WITH THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION DATA, MORE OF AN INSIGHT INTO WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS ARE TELLING US AND HOW WE'RE REACTING.
UM, BUT SOMETHING I'M HAPPY TO SHARE IMMEDIATELY IS THAT ONLY A YEAR AGO FARES HOW TO PAY THE CONFUSION AROUND FARES AND THE CAP METRO APP WAS TOP OF THE LIST OF CUSTOMER CONCERNS.
UM, IT, I THINK I'M SAFE IN SAYING IT DIDN'T EVEN SHOW UP ON THE BOARD THIS YEAR, UM, BECAUSE WE HAVE ADDRESSED IT VERY THOROUGHLY.
SO JUST AS A QUICK RECAP, THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM REMOVING THE OLD APP, MOVING OVER TO THE UMO AND TRANSIT, UH, SYSTEMS. UH, WE ARE DOING THE BUS FAIRBOX REPLACEMENT AND PAPER PASS RETIREMENT THAT HAPPENED THIS SUMMER.
UM, WE MADE A CHANGE IN HOW OUR CUSTOMERS BOARD THE VEHICLES.
THIS WAS ACTUALLY IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO OUR FRONTLINE OBSERVATIONS AND ALSO WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS WERE TELLING US.
UM, AND OF COURSE WE HAVE THE PROPOSED FAIR INCREASE FOR 2027 AND 2029.
SO LET'S DIG INTO SOME OF THESE MITIGATIONS DEEPER.
UM, SPECIFICALLY, UH, FAIR STRUCTURE AND CUSTOMER AFFORDABILITY.
UM, FRANKLY WE HAD A LOT OF WAYS TO PAY A LOT OF CARDS YOU COULD PICK FROM AND IT WAS JUST CONFUSING.
SPRINKLER'S CONFUSING FOR US SOMETIMES TOO.
SO WE HAVE REALLY MITIGATED THAT WE'VE BROUGHT DOWN THE NUMBER OF WAYS TO PAY.
WE'VE SIMPLIFIED THE SYSTEM, UM, AND WE'VE MADE IT CLEARER WHAT THE REDUCED FARE PROGRAMS ARE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS SO THAT THAT BARRIER TO ENTRY IS, IS REMOVED.
IF YOU HAVE BOARDED A BUS IN THE PAST YEAR OR SO, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT WHENEVER YOU GO TO SCAN, WHENEVER YOU GO TO USE YOUR, MAYBE YOU'RE TAP TO PAY, THAT THINGS ARE WORKING SEAMLESSLY.
AND SO THAT CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE HAS GREATLY IMPROVED.
UM, THE, THE MOVE TO, TO ASK OUR CUSTOMERS TO ONLY BOARD THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE BUS, IT ACTUALLY ADDRESSES THESE NEXT TWO ITEMS, WHICH WAS FAIR EVASION AND ALSO BOARDING SPEED AND OPERATIONAL, UM, EFFICIENCY.
SO THE FRONT DOOR BOARDING, IT WAS HELPED TO, IT'S NOT ONLY TO HELP WITH THE FAIR COMPLIANCE, BUT WE HEARD FROM CUSTOMERS THAT IF THEY WERE ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY SAW FOLKS BOARDING THE VEHICLES THAT MAYBE WERE PAYING, NOT THAT THEY HAD QUESTIONS, THEY WANTED TO KNOW, THEY WANTED TO SEE CONSISTENCY IN THE FAIR PAYMENTS.
AND SO BY MOVING EVERYBODY TO THE FRONT, WE'RE ABLE TO HAVE THAT CONSISTENT EXPERIENCE.
AND IT ALSO REMOVES A BARRIER FOR OPERATORS TO HAVE WHEN THEY'RE ENGAGING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS.
UM, IT ALSO STREAMLINED WITH A CONSISTENT BOARDING PROCESS.
SO NOW ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE THE EXPECTATION OF WHERE YOU GO IN AND HOW YOU CAN GET OFF AS WELL.
UM, CUSTOMER TRUST AND CLARITY AROUND THE FAIR RULES.
THIS IS REALLY ENCOMPASSED IN OUR CODE OF CONDUCT FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
UM, AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM OUR CUSTOMERS IS WE REALLY WANT TO BE, TO MAINTAIN THAT FIDELITY TO THE CODE OF CONDUCT.
[01:35:01]
AND SO AS IT RELATES TO FARES, IT'S IN THE CODE OF CONDUCT RULES AND THESE MANEUVERS HAS HELPED, HAVE HELPED US AND OUR TEAMS WHO ARE THERE ON THE FRONTLINE REALLY IMPLEMENT THOSE RULES.UM, HERE'S TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY APPROACH.
WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK, UM, ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND IT'S A THREE-PRONGED APPROACH.
SO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AMBASSADORS ARE OUR FIRST, UM, TIER.
UH, THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY KIND OF A EYES, EYES AND EARS ON ON THE SYSTEM.
THEY HELP, UH, CUSTOMERS WITH, UM, FROM DIRECTIONS TO GUIDANCE TO ANY OTHER ASSISTANCE AND THEN SORT OF ESCALATE ANY ISSUES THAT NEEDED.
COMMUNITY INTERVENTION SPECIALIST, WHICH I I THEY SERVE AMAZINGLY WELL IN SORT OF TYING THE SOCIAL SERVICE NEED THAT EXIST, UH, IN OUR, IN OUR CUSTOMERS AND TYING THEM WITH CONNECTING THEM WITH VERY SPECIFIC, UH, PARTS OF THE ORGANIZATION AND OR OTHER PARTNER.
UM, SO COMMUNITY INNOVATIONS INTERVENTION SPECIALISTS HAVE DONE AN EXEMPLARY JOB, UM, IN THE, IN THE LAST YEAR.
THEN LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST ARE ARE MORE FOR MORE SEVERE, UM, UH, ISSUES ON OUR SYSTEM.
WE HAVE OUR TRANSIT POLICE OFFICERS AND, YOU KNOW, GARNER BAN'S HERE.
I'M NOT BRINGING HIM UP HERE, UH, QUITE YET, BUT, UH, HE'S HERE TO AVAILABLE QUESTION, UH, TO HE'S HERE AND AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
SO SECURITY FACTORS AND MITIGATION.
I MEAN, THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY PERCEIVED AND ACTUAL SAFETY AND SECURITY IMPLICATIONS BOTH AT, UH, ALL, ALL ON OUR VEHICLES AT STOPS IN OUR FACILITIES.
SO JUST BY INCREASING SECURITY THROUGH HIGHER TRANSIT POLICE PRESENCE, ESPECIALLY AT OUR MAJOR INTERMODAL CENTER AND OUR TRANSFER POINTS, IT, IT HAS A BENEFIT.
AND THEN CLEARER ENFORCEMENT OF RULES AND REGULATIONS AND JUST HAVING A CODE OF CONDUCT THAT WE CAN ABIDE BY.
IT'S BEEN HELPFUL, UM, IN SORT OF CREATING THAT A MORE, THE ENVIRONMENT THAT OUR CUSTOMER FEELS MORE COMFORTABLE IN.
WHETHER THAT'S COMES TO WHETHER, WHETHER THAT IS TO FAIR OR SAFETY AND SECURITY AND BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS.
AND THEN STOP STATION AND VEHICLE CONDITIONS, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
THIS IS A COMBINATION OF THE WORK THAT FACILITIES MAINTENANCE TEAM IS DOING AS WELL AS SAFETY AND SECURITY.
AND THEN VISIBILITY, ACCESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN.
THIS IS A WHOLE HOST OF DIFFERENT INITIATIVES AND PROJECT THAT ARE IN ON STOP PLACEMENT ACCESS PLACEMAKING CONSIDERATIONS.
AND THAT IS ALSO A STRATEGIC PRIORITY IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
2030, OUR CUSTOMER TRUST AND WILLINGNESS TO RETURN IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US THAT CREATES REPEAT CUSTOMERS WHO CAN RELY ON US FOR THEIR NEXT TRIP.
AND THAT'S WHY COMBINING ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS THAT I TALKED ABOUT, HAVING A PRESENCE CODE OF CONDUCT ENFORCEMENT, CREATING GREATER PREDICTABILITY IN OUR TRANSIT ENVIRONMENT, IT GOES A LONG WAY.
SO WHAT ARE OUR NEXT STEPS? WE ARE FOCUSING ON DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS.
WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE THAT WELL, BUT NOW WE HAVE MORE TARGETED RIDERSHIP, RELIABILITY, SAFETY COMPLAINTS AND OPERATIONAL INFORMATION THAT WE ARE OVERLAPPING AND COMPARING TOGETHER TO CREATE BETTER RESULTS.
AND IT'S ALL UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF STRATEGIC PLAN 2030.
WE ARE PRIORITIZING OUR KEY CORRIDORS.
THIS IS WHERE I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT TRANSIT PLAN 2035.
IT'S YOU APPROVED THAT YOU HAVE BEEN PART OF THE PROCESS, BUT THIS IS WHERE WE ARE FOCUSING ON OUR HIGH DEMAND ROUTES.
WE ARE FOCUSING ON TRANSFERS WHERE WE CAN MAKE THEM STREAMLINED, OUR EVENING AND WEEKEND RIDERSHIP.
HOW WE INCORPORATE THAT IN POST COVID ENVIRONMENT AND IMPROVE OUR ROUTE CONFIGURATION TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
STABILIZING SERVICE THAT IS, THAT REMAINS, UH, IT REQUIRES CONTINUAL FOCUS.
HOW TO IMPROVE OUR STAFFING, OUR SCHEDULES, VEHICLE AVAILABILITY AND RELIABILITY.
AND OUR OPERATIONS TEAM ESSENTIALLY SEAMLESSLY WORKS WITH OUR, OUR PLANNING TEAM SEAMLESSLY, WORKS WITH OUR OPERATIONS TEAM TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
IMPROVE RIDER EXPERIENCE, THAT'S EVERYBODY'S JOB.
WE ALL DO DIFFERENT PARTS OF IT, INCLUDING, UM, PLANNING FOR IT, OPERATIONS FOLKS ARE IMPLEMENTING IT.
AND THEN OUR FACILITY MAINTENANCE TEAM AND OUR TECHNOLOGY TEAM IN COMBINATION WITH LIKE THE NEW, NEW, UM, LOT OF THE NEW TECHNOLOGY IMPLEMENTATION THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE RECENTLY.
WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN THAT AND THERE'S A LOT OF MORE, MORE WORK TO DO THERE AS WELL.
FAIR REFINEMENT AND HAVING A FAIR POLICY.
I THINK THIS IS CREATES VERY HIGH.
[01:40:02]
IT HOLDS VERY HIGH PROMISE FOR ME.I FEEL THAT, UH, HAVING A CONSISTENT AND PREDICTABLE FAIR POLICY AND HOW IT HELPS WITH THE FIDELITY IN MAINTAINING THE CODE OF CONDUCT, IT'S REALLY GOING TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE OUR CUSTOMERS WILL FEEL MORE SUPPORTED AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE, UH, WE WILL START TO SEE RESULTS IN THAT WORKING IN COORDINATION WITH OUR PARTNERS, HOW WE, UH, IMPROVE OUR TRANSIT PRIORITY TREATMENT, TRANSIT SIGNAL, PRIORITY WORK, ADVANCE THAT WITH CITY OF AUSTIN.
CAR ACCESS CONSTRUCTION COORDINATION WITH TEXT DOT AND CITY OF AUSTIN AND AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP IN FUTURE.
ALL OF THOSE WILL PLAY A ROLE AS WELL.
AND THEN IN, IN THE END, LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST, WE HAVE TO STAY ON IT.
WE HAVE TO MEASURE OUR, MEASURE OUR RESULTS, ADJUST OUR RESOURCES, ALIGN OUR SERVICE WITH DEMAND.
WE DO THAT THREE TIMES A YEAR THROUGH SERVICE CHANGES.
AND WE DO, UH, EVERY FIVE YEAR WE DO THIS TRANSIT PLAN 20, I MEAN TRANSIT PLAN 2035 IS THE LAST ONE WHERE WE REALLY GET TO TAKE AN OVERARCHING VIEW, INCLUDING DEMOGRAPHIC, INCLUDING OUR, OUR ENTIRE NETWORK MAKING CHANGES THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT, FOCUSING ON KEY CORRIDORS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE THEN IMPLEMENTED THROUGH OTHER SERVICE CHANGES.
AND ALL OF THOSE ARE SUBJECT TO FUNDING, WHICH ARE CONSTRAINED.
SO ALL OF THE DIFFERENT MEASURES THAT WE TALK ABOUT, THEY ALL INVOLVE TRADE OFFS THAT WE ARE MAKING AS WE GO ALONG, MAKING IMPROVEMENTS ALONGSIDE.
SO WITH THAT, I WOULD GO TO THE KEY TAKEAWAYS.
OUR RIDERSHIP PATTERNS CONTINUE TO EVOLVE.
WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS.
WE HAVE A STORY HERE TO SHARE WITH THE, WITH YOU.
AND ESSENTIALLY WE ARE SAYING THAT THE POST COVID RETURNS THAT WE HAVE SEEN THAT AT 80% AND ABOVE THAT IN THE LAST YEAR STAGNATED.
AND WE ARE SEEING SOME SLIGHT DECLINE.
WE ANTICIPATE WITH THE FAIR POLICY CHANGES AND THE CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THAT THAT DECLINE WOULD CONTINUE THROUGH FY 27.
WE DON'T EXPECT THAT TO BE SIGNIFICANT, BUT WE EXPECT THAT THERE'LL BE SOME DECLINE THAT WOULD CONTINUE.
MITIGATION STRATEGIES REMAIN ONGOING.
WE WILL PUT ALL OF OUR RESOURCES, PLANNING, OPERATIONAL FINANCE, SAFETY, SECURITY, ALL ALONGSIDE WORKING ON THE MITIGATION STRATEGIES UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF STRATEGIC PLAN 2035.
AND WE'LL, WE WILL BE ADJUSTING THOSE AS OUR CONDITIONS CHANGE AND WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU AND TELL A STORY IF THAT REQUIRES TWEAKING.
AND LAST, BUT NOT THE LEAST, CAT METRO CONTINUES TO MAXIMIZE ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES.
KEEP IN MIND, I, WHEN I MENTIONED ALL OF OUR TRANSIT STORIES A LITTLE UNIQUE, THE MOST UNIQUE PART IS FUNDING COMPOSITION, OUR OPERATING RESOURCES AT WHAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
SO WE CONTINUE TO MAXIMIZE OUR AVAILABLE RESOURCES WHILE OPERATING WITHIN THE FUNDING CONSTRAINTS.
SO THAT'S SORT OF ARE THE THREE MAIN TAKEAWAYS.
AND I THINK I'LL PAUSE HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? YES.
UH, BOARD MEMBER HARRIS, I THINK THE STAFF KNOWS THAT THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF MY KEY ELEMENTS.
IN FACT, I THINK IT IS THE KEY ELEMENT FOR EVERYTHING.
AND SOMETIMES I FEEL, AND THIS IS PERSONAL, SOMETIMES I FEEL WE'RE GUILTY OF SURVIVORSHIP BIAS AND THAT BY MEAN, IT'S AN OLD STORY FROM WORLD WAR II, THAT, THAT WHEN THE ARMY AIR CORPS WAS TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW TO BETTER PROTECT THE B 52 BOMBERS THAT WERE RETURNING FROM, UH, FROM GERMANY, THEY WOULD START, THEY WOULD GO AND LOOK AT THE PLANES THAT LANDED AND SAY, OKAY, WELL WE'VE GOTTA FIGURE OUT, WE'VE GOTTA PUT ARMOR PLATING HERE OR HERE OR HERE.
AND IT WAS ONLY AN ENGINEER, UH, WHO REALIZED THAT REALLY THAT WASN'T THE PLANES WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT BECAUSE THOSE WERE THE ONES THAT MADE IT BACK.
THE ONES WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT WERE THE ONES THAT WERE SHOT DOWN AND THEY MANAGED TO GO BACK INTO FRANCE AND WOULD GO AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE ONES THAT SHOT DOWN.
AND IT TOTALLY CHANGED THE ARMOR PLATING THAT THEY PUT ON THE SUBSEQUENT, THE AIR, THE AIRCRAFT THAT THEY SUBSEQUENTLY PUT BACK UP IN THE AIR.
AND IN SOME WAYS I THINK WE'RE GUILTY OF THAT BECAUSE ALL WE DO IS TALK TO OUR CURRENT SET OF CUSTOMERS.
AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART BECAUSE I THINK OUR CUST OUR CURRENT SET OF CUSTOMERS IS A, IS A CORE ELEMENT OF THIS.
BUT SOMETIMES I WONDER, DO WE EVER WANT TO GO OUT AND TALK TO THE PEOPLE WHO POTENTIALLY COULD RIDE THE BUS BUT DON'T FOR WHATEVER REASON? AND TO ME, THIS, THIS COHORT THAT WE HAVE IN THIS CITY IS REALLY UNIQUE IN A COUPLE RESPECTS.
ONE IS WE'RE A HUGE UNIVERSITY TOWN, UM, WITH A FACULTY AND STAFF THAT I THINK IS LIKE 12,000, SOMETHING ALONG THAT LINE.
[01:45:01]
HAVE A STATE GOVERNMENT THAT AT LEAST FOR THE MOST PART, TENDS TO COME DOWN HERE ON A REGULAR BASIS.I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEIR WORK FROM HOME POLICIES CURRENTLY ARE, BUT TO ME, TO MOVE THESE NUMBERS BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE, WE'VE GOTTA START TALKING TO THAT GROUP.
JUST KEEP TALKING TO OUR CURRENT CUSTOMERS.
IT'S GOTTA GO FIND OUT WHY, WHY PEOPLE DON'T WANNA RIDE THE BUS.
AND I, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER TO THAT IS, I WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO DO THE STUDY, BUT I, YOU KNOW, I GUESS I'M JUST LOOKING AT IT FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT WE, WE, I THINK WE ARE GUILTY OF SURVIVORSHIP BIAS IN A CERTAIN RESPECT.
SO I'LL, I'LL LET Y'ALL ADDRESS THAT.
SO WE DO A MULTITUDE OF SURVEYS AT KEPT METRO, BUT ONE OF THEM SPECIFICALLY IS TO REACH FOLKS WHO ARE NOT CURRENTLY PART OF OUR RIDERSHIP.
SO WE DO A COMMUNITY PERCEPTION SURVEY AND WHAT THAT TELLS US IS WHAT THE GENERAL PERCEPTION IS, BUT ALSO WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL BARRIERS TO WRITING? WHY ARE PEOPLE MAKING DIFFERENT CHOICES OTHER THAN TRANSIT? AND SO WHAT WE DO IS WE REALLY TRY TO TAKE THE DATA FROM THE COMMUNITY PERCEPTION SURVEY AND FROM OUR RIDERSHIP TO FIGURE OUT, EVEN IF WE DO GET THESE NEW CUSTOMERS IN THE DOOR, 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, GETTING A NEW CUSTOMER IN THE DOOR, YOU REALLY HAVE THAT MOMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR EXPERIENCE IS SEAMLESS.
THAT IT'S, THAT IT'S STRAIGHTFORWARD, WHAT THEY'RE EXPECTED TO DO, HOW MUCH THEIR FAIR IS.
SO OUR CURRENT CUSTOMERS HELP INFORM US ABOUT HOW TO IMPROVE THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE SO THAT SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE WE'RE OUT THERE TRYING TO ATTRACT NEW CUSTOMERS, WE ENSURE THAT ONCE THEY SET FOOT ON BOARD, THAT IT'S SEAMLESS SO THAT WE HAVE A CHANCE OF THEM COMING BACK AGAIN.
UM, OFTENTIMES WE USE, YOU KNOW, SHEILA WAS SHOWING SOME OF THE DATES OF DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT HAPPEN ALONG DIFFERENT ROUTES OR WITH THE TRAIN, WE REALLY USE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO TRY TO RECRUIT NEW CUSTOMERS.
UM, SOMETIMES THAT'S A GREAT FIRST WAY FOR SOMEBODY TO TRY CAP METRO AND FIGURE OUT, OH, THIS IS PRETTY CONVENIENT, MAYBE I'LL TRY IT AGAIN AND EVENTUALLY THAT CAN TRANSFORM INTO, MAYBE I'LL TRY IT ON A COMMUTE ON MY WAY TO WORK.
UM, BUT WE DO DO BOTH SIMULTANEOUSLY AND I'LL BE SURE TO INCLUDE THAT DATA WHEN I COME BACK IN OCTOBER, UM, ABOUT HOW WE USE THEM TOGETHER.
YEAH, I THINK THE OTHER ONE, AND THIS ONE KIND OF STRUCK ME TOO, WAS IN THE EARLY PART OF THE PRESENTATION WAS THE, THE CONCEPT OF THE SAFETY THING THAT, YOU KNOW, A QUARTER OF OUR QUARTER OF OUR RIDERSHIP HAD A SAFE, YOU KNOW, SAFETY CONCERN.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX THAT ONE EITHER OTHER THAN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SUGGESTED HERE.
BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT Y'ALL ARE FIGHT, YOU FIGHT THE, WHAT I CALL THE PERCEPTION IS THE REALITY.
REALITY IS THE PERCEPTION OF THE MAJORITY.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, ONE BAD EVENT CAN RIPPLE THROUGH THE SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
BUT I, I, I'VE REALLY, I, AND MY ONLY COMMENT, AND AGAIN, IT'S PURELY ANECDOTAL, BUT WHEN JUNE AND I WERE IN LONDON, UH, COUPLE MONTHS OR LAST MONTH, I WAS REALLY AMAZED WE TOOK THE TUBE FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THE TUBE IN LONDON IS VERY SOPHISTICATED SYSTEM, BUT THEY ALL, THEY HAVE NOW MOVED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY TO TAP TO PAY.
SO BASICALLY YOU JUST HAVE A CREDIT CARD, YOU SHOW UP, YOU BANG IT, AND THEN IF YOU BANG IT ON YOUR WAY OUT AND IT CALCULATES THE FARE AND YOU, IT HITS YOUR CREDIT CARD GOING THAT WAY.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY HANDLE, YOU KNOW, THE DAILY RIDER IN TERMS OF THAT, BUT TO ME THAT, THAT HIT ME IN TWO WAYS.
ONE WAS SEAMLESS, TALK ABOUT SEAMLESS.
I MEAN, IT WAS ABOUT AS EASY AS YOU COULD GET, OKAY.
EVEN FOR AN IDIOT AMERICAN LIKE ME.
BUT THE OTHER THING WAS THE OTHER, IT IT, IT BASICALLY CREATED A SECURITY PRESENCE THAT IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT, DIFFICULT TO DUPLICATE ON A BUS SYSTEM.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WAY, AND I MENTIONED THIS TO DOTTIE ONE TIME, IS TO SAY, WOULDN'T IT BE NICE TO HAVE TAP TO PAY TO WHERE BEFORE YOU COULD EVEN GET ON THE BUS, YOU HAD TO PAY THE FARE.
AND I DON'T, YOU KNOW, IT WAS LIKE MOUNTING SOMETHING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUS OR MAYBE SOMEHOW MAKING IT TO WHERE YOU CAN'T GET, YOU KNOW, YOU GO IN THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR, BUT YOU CAN'T GO ANY FURTHER UNTIL YOU DO TAP TO PAY.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT THEN CREATES THAT SECURITY ENVELOPE THAT THE REST OF THE, THE, THE CURRENT CUSTOMERS ARE GONNA FEEL CO COMFORTABLE ABOUT.
I GUESS TO BRIEFLY RESPOND, I THINK OPERATIONALLY WITHIN OUR VEHICLES, WE DO HAVE CERTAIN BARRIERS THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT THAN THE TUBE EXPERIENCE.
BUT I THINK AT A HIGHER LEVEL TO WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING IS THIS COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR AMONGST EVERYBODY WHO'S ON THE SYSTEM AND COLLECTIVE EXPECTATIONS THAT WHEN SOMEBODY BOARDS, THERE'S ALMOST A, A GROUP PRESSURE ELEMENT OF THIS IS HOW WE ARE ALL GOING TO DO THIS, THIS IS HOW WE OPERATE, THIS IS HOW WE PAY THE FAIR.
AND PART OF THAT IS WHAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS IS KIND OF THE CULTURE OF RIDERSHIP WITHIN CAP METRO TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES, UM, MYSELF AS A CAP METRO REPRESENTATIVE, I MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST PERSON TO COME UP TO YOU OUT OF NOWHERE AND SAY, HEY, I NOTICED THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING, HERE'S HOW WE DO IT.
SOMETIMES HAVING THAT COLLECTIVE ONBOARD THE VEHICLE, MAYBE ANOTHER RIDER YOU SEE EVERY WEEK CHIMES IN, UM, WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO BUILD THAT CULTURE OF RIDERSHIP.
UM, BUT I THINK TO GET TO AN END STATE SO THAT FOLKS HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO.
[01:50:01]
THANK YOU.I JUST WANTED TO PUT THOSE TWO COMMENTS OUT.
ANY ADDITIONAL, UH, COMMENTS? BOARD MEMBERS, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? OKAY.
ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME'S.
SO LENGTHY PRESENTATION WITH ALL THESE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS.
UM, BUT THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND TIME.
[IX.1.President and CEO Monthly Update - August 2026]
ALRIGHT, WELL WE'VE GOT ONE FINAL ITEM AND THAT'S GONNA BE, UH, THE PRESIDENT CEO'S, UM, MONTHLY UPDATE.UM, AS ED BRINGS UP THE REPORT, WE'LL JUST, UM, TALK ABOUT, UM, MOSTLY IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST.
UM, THE, IT GETS A LITTLE QUIET.
UM, WE, UM, BUT WE STILL HAD A LOT OF FUN.
UM, SO FIRST UP, UM, OUR FIRST LIGHT HERE, UM, THIS MONTH WE CELEBRATED OUR QUARTERLY, UM, FALL FRONTLINE GRADUATION CEREMONY, WELCOMING A NEW CLASS OF FRONTLINE TEAM MEMBERS, UM, FROM OUR NEWEST RAIL ENGINEERS TO OUR DEMAND RESPONSE OPERATORS AND DISPATCHERS, UM, TO THE BUS OPERATORS, MECHANICS, AND DISPATCHERS OF OUR, UM, OF KEOLIS, OUR SERVICE PARTNER, AS WELL AS OUR NEWEST PUBLIC SAFETY AMBASSADOR.
UM, WE WERE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF THEM, UM, WITH A CEREMONY AND A LUNCH, UM, TO WELCOME THEM TO THE CAT METRO FAMILY, MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT A GREAT PLACE THIS IS TO WORK AND HOW, UM, THEIR SERVICE AS A FRONTLINE TEAM MEMBER AT CAT METRO, UM, IS MORE THAN A JOB AND IS AVAILABLE TO BE A CAREER, UM, SHOULD THEY SO CHOOSE.
AND SO, UM, WE WERE REALLY THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE EACH OF THOSE NEW TEAM MEMBERS.
UM, ALSO JUST THIS PAST WEEKEND CAP METRO, ONCE AGAIN HAD THE HONOR OF PARTICIPATING IN THE AUSTIN PRIDE PARADE.
UM, AS WE'VE DONE IN PAST YEARS, WE JOINED THE PARADE WITH OUR FLOAT, OUR VERSION OF A FLOAT, WHICH IS A SPECIALLY WRAPPED CAP METRO BUS.
UM, OUR TEAM ALSO HELPS TO COORDINATE SERVICE DETOURS ALONG THE ROUTE.
UM, ANY EVENT LIKE THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT OUR SERVICE TO KEEP OUR RIDERS MOVING SAFELY THROUGHOUT THE EVENT, UM, CONSISTENT WITH HOW WE SUPPORT OTHER EVENTS.
UM, OUR PARTICIPATION IN EVENTS LIKE THIS ARE PART OF HOW WE STAY CONNECTED TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES WE SERVE ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS.
AND ALTHOUGH IT'S AUGUST AND IT'S HOT EVERY YEAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS, IT IS A LOT OF FUN.
AND WE HAD A REALLY GREAT TIME, UM, OUT THERE WELCOMING OUR COMMUNITY AND GIVING THEM SOME CAT METRO GOODIES.
UM, NEXT UP A BIT OF AN UPDATE ON BIKE SHARE.
AS WE REPORTED TO THIS BOARD LAST MONTH, UM, WE, IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST AND MID AUGUST, WE WERE ABLE TO BRING OUR BIKE SHARE SYSTEM BACK ONLINE.
UM, IN, UH, THE FIRST WEEK OF SERVICE WE HAD OVER 1600, UM, TRIPS IN, IN WEEK ONE.
AND SO WE WERE REALLY EXCITED AND THAT WAS BEFORE, UM, MOST OF THE KIDS HAD EVEN MOVED BACK IN ON CAMPUS.
AND SO, UM, WE KNOW THAT THIS IS, UH, A CON, UH, THIS IS A CONTINUED FOCUS.
UM, WE ARE PUSHING MORE AND MORE BIKES AS WE ARE ABLE TO, UM, GET MORE OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, UP AND RUNNING.
WE ARE PUTTING MORE BIKES OUT THERE AS WE CAN HANDLE THEM.
UM, SINCE MAY OUR TEAMS HAVE ACTUALLY ADDED ELECTRIFIED STATIONS.
SO, AS YOU MAY RECALL, ONE OF THE THINGS, BECAUSE OUR, UM, OUR SHOP INFRASTRUCTURE IS STILL IN A DEGRADED STATE, WE ARE RELYING ON OUR STATIONS, WHICH ARE GRID CONNECTED TO BE ABLE TO CHARGE THE BIKES.
SO INSTEAD OF, UH, SHUFFLING BATTERIES OUT IN THE FIELD, WE'RE ACTUALLY SHUFFLING BIKES AROUND.
UM, BUT THE ADDITION OF THOSE, WE ADDED NINE ELECTRIFIED STATIONS AND THREE SOLAR STATIONS THAT DON'T CHARGE THE BIKE.
UM, BUT THAT ALLOWS US TO HAVE MORE OF THAT, UM, FLEXIBILITY.
UM, AND WE'RE, WE WILL CONTINUE KIND OF TWEAKING THAT AS WE'RE ABLE TO.
UM, AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE DO HAVE PASS HOLDER REFUNDS AVAILABLE.
SO ANNUAL PASS HOLDERS WITH AN ACTIVE PASS DURING THE DISRUPTION HAVE THE OPTION, UM, TO REQUEST A REFUND.
AND DAILY AND MONTH MONTHLY PASS HOLDERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN AUTOMATICALLY REFUNDED.
UM, BUT IF ANY OF OUR BIKE SHARE REGULAR USERS, UM, THAT HOLD A PASS, UM, HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CALL OUR GO LINE SO THAT WE CAN, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THAT FOR YOU.
SO WHAT WERE RIDER CONTACTING US ABOUT IN JULY, UM, IN THE MONTH OF JULY, WE ACTUALLY, UM, HAD OUR CALL VOLUME WAS SLIGHTLY DOWN FOR JUNE, BUT STILL UP ABOUT, UH, 1% OVER THE PRIOR YEAR.
UM, MAKING JUNE OUR, EXCUSE ME, JULY, OUR FOURTH HIGHEST CALL VOL VOLUME MONTH ON RECORD.
SO WE DIDN'T SET THE, WE HAVE BEEN SETTING EVERY MONTH.
IT'S A NEW RECORD EVERY MONTH.
WE ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE CALLS EVERY MONTH.
UM, THE MAIN DRIVERS CONTINUE TO BE THE JUNE SERVICE CHANGE, WHICH INCLUDED THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW ROUTE EIGHT HUNDRED AND EIGHT THIRTY SEVEN AT THE HIGHER FREQUENCIES.
UM, PLUS A FEW ONE-OFF EVENTS.
UM, WE HAD A, A GAME CHANGE TIME TO AN AUSTIN FC GAME.
UM, AS SHEILA MENTIONED ON OUR RAIL SYSTEM, UM, WE SEE A LOT OF, UM, UM, PERIODIC RIDERS THAT USE THAT SYSTEM FOR, UM, AUSTIN FC GAMES.
SO A GAME CHANGE TIME, UM, WAS A BIG THING.
[01:55:01]
GENERATED A LOT OF CALLS, UM, THE 4TH OF JULY, FIREWORKS AND DETOURS, UM, HAVE SURROUNDED THAT ALSO, UM, GENERATED A LOT OF CALLS.SO OVERALL A BUSY BUT MANAGEABLE MONTH, UM, FROM OUR CUSTOMER CARE TEAM.
UM, AND THEN LASTLY, A COUPLE OF TEAM UPDATES.
UM, EARLIER IN THE MEETING YOU GOT THE CHANCE TO MEET KENNY DAY.
HE'S OUR NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUTER RAIL AND FREIGHT OPERATIONS AND COMES TO US WITH 25 YEARS OF RAILROAD OPERATIONS EXPERIENCE, UM, WHICH HE GAINED FOLLOWING, UM, UH, 21 YEARS IN THE AIR INTERNATIONAL GUARD AND AIR FORCE RESERVES AS AN AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE SPECIALIST.
SO, UM, HIS TIME IN THE RAILROAD INDUSTRY INCLUDED, UM, FREIGHT RAIL, UM, EXPERIENCE WITH THE SANTA FE RAILROAD AS WELL AS, UH, SOUTHERN PACIFIC UNION PACIFIC.
UM, AND HE'S ALSO WORKED IN PASSENGER RAILROADS, INCLUDING OUR FRIENDS UP THE ROAD IN DALLAS AT DART.
AND MOST RECENTLY HE WAS AT DENVER TRANSIT OPERATORS.
UM, THE ENTITY THAT IS OPERATING, UM, THE RAIL LINE THAT THEY BUILT OUT TO THE DENVER AIRPORT.
UM, SO KENNY COMES TO US WITH A, A DEPTH OF EXPERIENCE AND BOTH COMMUTER AND FREIGHT OPERATIONS, WHICH IS PERFECT SINCE WE HAVE BOTH COMMUTER AND FREIGHT OPERATION NEEDS.
UM, SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO WELCOME KENNY AND WHAT HAS SEEMINGLY BECOME A NEW TRADITION.
WE MADE HIM PRESENT A BOARD ITEM ON HIS VERY FIRST BOARD MEETING.
UM, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, AND THEN LAST UP ON MY THANK YOU SLIDE.
UM, WE, WE PROMISED HIM WE WOULDN'T PUT A PICTURE UP THERE, BUT AS WE WRAP UP THIS MEETING, I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO CONGRATULATE OUR VERY OWN ED EASTON ON HIS RETIREMENT.
UM, FOR, FOR CUSTOMERS THAT WATCH THE VIDEOS, UM, THE QUIET VOICE FROM THE CORNER THAT SAYS YES, CHAIR, THEY'RE ON THE LINE OR NO CHAIR, THEY'RE NOT ON THE LINE IS TON.
UM, AND AFTER A COUPLE OF DECADES, NEARLY 20 OF THEM AFTER 19 YEARS AT CAP METRO, MOST OF WHICH HE SERVED, UM, IN THE BOARD SUPPORT FUNCTION, UM, ED IS MOVING ON AND MOVING TO IRELAND.
SO, UM, WE WILL MISS HIM DEARLY AND THANK HIM, UM, FOR HIS SERVICE.
UM, AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY EMBARRASS HIM AND ASK HIM TO COME UP BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A BIT OF A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FOR HIM.
WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO ABOUT YOU A BUT WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT WORK.
AND WE ARE ALL READY FOR THE INVITATION TO IRELAND.
IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE TO SERVE WITH NOT ONLY THE BOARD, BUT ALL MY FRIENDS AND THE STAFF, OUR PARTNERS AT THE CITY OF BOSTON.
I COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER CAREER.
UH, LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GONE THROUGH OUR ENTIRE BUSINESS AGENDA.
[XI. Items for Future Discussion:]
FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION WE WANNA PUT, UH, WE WANNA PUT ON OUR NEXT I AGENDA? IF NOT, I'M SURE WE'LL, WE'LL COME UP WITH SOMETHING IN THE MEANTIME, BUT, UM, JUST WANT TO, UM, SAY THANK YOU, UH, TO THE STAFF FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE.UH, ED, WE ARE REALLY GOING TO MISS YOU.
WE'RE GOING TO WORK TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOUR IRISH BROGUE IS GONNA SOUND LIKE TOO
UH, BUT IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE.
AND WE WILL STAND ADJOURNED AT 2 0 5.