[Austin City Council and Capital Metro Board of Directors Joint Meeting]
[00:00:27]
HUH? I MAY DO IT THIS WAY.A PRESIDENT, I THINK WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE OUR KITCHEN TOVO WE HAVE A HAND KITCHEN.
WE HAVE, UH, UH, JIMMY FLANAGAN.
SO WE HAVE A QUORUM WE HAVE ON HAND, ALISON ALTER PRESENT.
I HAVE ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT I DIDN'T CALL.
UH, HOW, UM, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHENS VOICE EARLIER.
TURBO KITCHEN FLANAGAN POOL, ALICE AND ALISON.
ON THE CALL MAYOR, ARE WE, UM, WITH THOSE NUMBERS? I JUST EAT MY LUNCH, WHICH I DIDN'T WANT TO DO ON CAMERA.
ARE WE ABLE TO SHUT OFF THE CAMERA OR DO YOU NEED US TO STAY ON SO THAT WE, YOU CAN
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF MY, HAVING MY CAMERA OFF CREATES A PROBLEM, CAUSE I'VE JUST, I'M HERE.
I'M JUST EATING, WHICH I DIDN'T WANT TO DO ON CAMERA.
SO I JUST WANTED TO CHECK IF THAT'S LEGAL TO TURN IT OFF BECAUSE WE WERE HAVING SOME ISSUES YESTERDAY OR THE OTHER DAY WHERE WE NEED TO HAVE SIX ON CAMERA AT ALL TIMES.
WE HAVE A CORE OF VISIBLE THAT ON CAMERA.
JUST STEP OFF, SOMETIMES GO TO THE RESTROOM OR, OKAY.
UM, I'VE BEEN IN BACK TO BACK MEETINGS ALL DAY AS WELL, AND I'M GOING TO NEED TO SWITCH, UM, I'M GOING TO NEED TO SWITCH TO PHONE TO GO GRAB SOME LUNCH.
UM, SO IF I'M NOT ON CAMERA, I'LL MAKE SURE WE HAVE SIX BEFORE I, I D CAMERA BY MYSELF, BUT, UM, JUST WANT TO ASSURE YOU AND, AND THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT I WILL BE PRESENT IN THE MEETING, EVEN IF MY CAMERA'S NOT ON AS WELL.
UM, WAIT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO A VERY GOOD, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS JOINT MEETING OF THE CAPITAL METRO BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
WHO'S JOINING US HERE IN OUR VIRTUAL MEETING ROOM TODAY.
AND ALSO THOSE OF YOU WATCHING US ON OUR LIVE STREAM.
I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE CAP METRO BOARD MEETING.
THE TIME IS 1209 AND THE MAYOR, I THINK YOU'VE ALREADY CONVENED THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, CORRECT.
UH, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, I THINK I'M APPEARING, UH, VIA TELEPHONE, UH, BECAUSE OF THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY.
SO, UH, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, FOLKS WILL NOT GET TO SEE MY VIDEO PICTURE AND I KNOW THERE WILL BE A ROUNDS OF DISAPPOINTMENT AROUND THAT, BUT WE'LL DO THE BEST WE CAN BEFORE WE GET STARTED A COUPLE OF LOGISTICAL ITEMS. UH, I KNOW THAT WE ALL HAVE GOTTEN A LOT BETTER AT ONLINE MEETINGS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS BY THE LIGHT, JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE IN OUR MEETING ROOM TODAY, UH, TO KEEP YOUR MICROPHONE ON MUTE, UNLESS YOU'RE SPEAKING.
AND THEN REMEMBER TO READ YOURSELF AGAIN WHEN YOU'RE FINISHED SPEAKING.
ALSO WHEN OUR VOTING ITEMS COME UP, WE'LL BE ASKING BOTH BOARD MEMBERS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR A VERBAL VOTE OF YAY OR NAY FOR EACH ITEM INDIVIDUALLY.
UM, TODAY MARKS A, UH, ABOUT A MILESTONE AND A, AND A NEW BEGINNING FOR A LOT OF WORK.
IT'S NOT QUITE THE END OF THE PROCESS, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY A DAY WE'VE BEEN AIMING FOR, FOR ALMOST AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN ON THE CAP, METRO BOARD, SIX FOR SIX YEARS.
UH, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO, UM, ALL OF OUR STAFF AT CAP METRO AND THE FRONTLINE WORKERS YOU GUYS ARE DOING.
UH, AND LADIES ARE DOING TREMENDOUS WORK, UH, GETTING FOLKS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE ESSENTIAL WORKERS, UH, PIVOTING, UH, IN THE MIDST OF THIS PANDEMIC TO DELIVER MEALS TO THOSE WHO ARE NEEDY AND ON TOP OF ALL THAT, UH, YOU HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO GET
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US TO THIS POINT ON THIS PROJECT.SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY AT CAP METRO AND LIKEWISE IT, UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR ALL THE GOOD WORK AND VERY HARD WORK OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
SO YOU'VE BEEN DOING TO GET US, UH, TO GET US HERE.
UH, THIS IS OUR SEVENTH JOINT MEETING.
WE'VE HAD HALF A DOZEN BEFORE THE COOPERATION AND COORDINATION BETWEEN OUR TWO ORGANIZATIONS HAS BEEN A NECESSARY AND IT'S REALLY BEEN PHENOMENAL.
SO, UH, I WANT TO APPLAUD, UH, THAT LEVEL OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN OUR TWO ORGANIZATIONS IN PARTICULARLY STAFFS OF THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAD THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROCESS.
WE PROMISED IT WOULD BE THE MOST TRANSPARENT AND COMMUNITY LED EFFORT THE CITY HAS EVER SEEN.
AND I THINK, UH, WE REALLY MADE GOOD ON THAT COMMITMENT LAST MONTH, CAP METRO AND THE CITY PARTICIPATED, UH, IN AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS WITH BOARD MEMBERS AND COUNCIL, ALONG WITH STAFF FROM BOTH THE AGENCY AND THE CITY.
AND AGAIN, I WANT TO APPLAUD OUR RESPECTIVE STAFFS FOR BEING ABLE TO PIVOT AND CONTINUE THE MOMENTUM ON THIS PROJECT.
UH, NOT WITHSTANDING THE PANDEMIC AND ALL THE OTHER ISSUES THAT, UH, THEY'VE BEEN, UH, TRYING TO DEAL WITH IN THESE LAST FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS.
SO KUDOS TO EVERYBODY FOR BEING ABLE TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM AND GETTING US WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
WE'VE HAD A VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE IN THE LAST MONTH, EIGHT COMMUNITY MEETINGS ONLINE MORE THAN 17,000 PEOPLE SHOWED UP, LISTENED IN VOICE, THEIR SUPPORT AND THEIR OPINIONS.
LAST MONTH, MEETINGS PUSHED OUR TOTAL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT NUMBERS TO OVER 60,000 PEOPLE WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROCESS, BOTH IN PERSON AND ONLINE, UH, ALL ACROSS OUR REGION.
AND THAT'S A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT IN AND OF ITSELF, BUT WE'RE JUST GETTING ROLLING AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO EVEN MORE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ON THE, UH, ON THE WAY TO GETTING THIS PROGRAM, UH, APPROVED.
UH, FINALLY I JUST WANT TO SAY, UH, I'VE GOT KIDS AND GRANDKIDS AND I'M COMMITTED TO THE IDEA THAT, UH, WE OUGHT TO BE IN THE PROCESS OF IT CITY AND A STATE AND A COUNTRY THAT WORKS FOR THEM NOW AND WILL WORK FOR THEM, UH, IN THE FUTURE.
UH, BUT TODAY I THINK WILL REPRESENT A HUGE STEP FORWARD FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE GOTTEN TODAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING OUR WORK DONE.
MAYOR, I MIGHT TURN IT OVER TO YOU NOW FOR MY OPENING REMARKS.
I'D SAY, UH, WAIT, I LIKE, I LIKE, UH, BUT I THINK YOU SAID IT, YOU SAID IT VERY WELL RECORD SHOULD REFLECT THAT OLLIE MADISON HAS JOINED US AS WELL.
UH, AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RENTER IS ALSO ALSO WITH US.
UH, THIS IS TRULY AN HISTORIC DAY.
I'VE BEEN IN AUSTIN FOR OVER 40 YEARS.
AND IT SEEMS AS IF THEIR DISCUSSION ABOUT HAVING A PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING GOING BACK ALMOST THAT ENTIRE TIME.
WE NEVER HAD A PLAN OR PROPOSAL THAT HAS REALLY HAD OUR SPORT.
UH, AND, AND I THINK THAT WE DO, AND THAT'S VERY EXCITING.
UH, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT ISLANDERS TO THAT.
SO HAVING A TRUE REGIONAL PLAN, UH, WHAT PROVIDES THAT KIND OF PUBLIC PUBLIC SPACE AND OPPORTUNITY TO EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY AT ALL ARTS.
AND WE CAN SEE AS WE GO THROUGH A CURRENT EXPERIENCE, ONE WE'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW, THE IMPORTANCE OF US HAVING A CITY THAT PROVIDES EQUAL ACCESS, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY, THAT ADDRESSES ASSIGNMENT ISSUES THAT CONFRONT US, THAT PROVIDING BACKBONE, STRENGTHENING ALL THAT'S NECESSARY FOR OUR REGION TO PROCEED.
I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED BEING PART OF THESE JOINT MEETINGS, THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, AND FRANKLY, WE NEED TO BE DOING THAT MORE AND HAVING MORE JOINT COUNCIL AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT THAT'S BEEN REPRESENTING METRO.
I THINK THAT THE PROCESS THAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH HERE GOVERNMENTALLY REALLY DOES BRING OUT STRENGTHS IN THAT REGION.
AND FRANKLY, I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A GREATER EXPECTATION ON OUR CONSTITUENTS
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AND OUR MUTUAL CONSTITUENTS THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK AND ADVANCE.UH, I'M, I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT I WAS ABLE TO THIS PROCESS OF RIGHT NOW, THERE'S SO MUCH GOOD AND REAL IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S TESTAMENT TO THE RESPONSIVENESS OF THAT AGENCY TO NEEDS.
THE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN PART OF THIS, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, UM, THE OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IS REFLECTED IN THE FACT THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PROPOSAL THAT AT SO MANY, SO MUCH SUPPORTS, WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING TODAY.
NOT ONLY ACTION THAT'S REQUIRED FOR CABINET TO APPROVE THE PLAN AND FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO ENDORSE THAT ACTION, IT'S WORKING AT METRO, BUT WE'LL BEGIN TO TOUCH ON TOPICS THAT ARE NOT TO BE DECIDED TODAY, BUT WE KNOW WILL BE COMING TO US IN THE FUTURE, UH, THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN DO WE WANT TO DO IT? HE HAD UP FOR A VOTE LATER THIS YEAR, IF SO, IN WHAT FORM FOR WHAT KIND OF PROJECT, WHAT PIECES ARE ALL THE PROJECT OVER, WHAT PERIOD OF TIME AND HOW TO RUN GOVERNMENT AND WE'LL TOUCH ON THOSE TOPICS.
UH, BUT, BUT NOT, TODAY'S NOT THE DAY TO DECIDE ANY OF THOSE TOPICS.
TODAY IS THE DAY WHEN THE COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER AND SAYING, WHAT IS THE MASS PUBLIC TRANSIT PLAN THAT WE SHOULD BE ASPIRING TO BUILD? AND I'M JUST REALLY PROUD TO BE, BE PART OF THIS MOMENT.
WELL, LAST ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL MEMBER SAR HAS JOINED US.
SO WE ARE ALL PRESENT AND THANKS, MAN.
WAIT, SHOULD WE MOVE IN WITH THE PRESENTATION ABOUT ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY, MAYBE WITH US HERE? I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE SOME OPENING REMARKS FROM RANDY AND GINA AS WELL.
UH, GINA, MAYBE, UH, FOR SOME REMARKS
JEAN, ARE YOU THERE? SHE'S TRYING TO GET DON SHE'S MAYBE RANDY, IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND WE'LL COME BACK TO GINA.
YOU HEAR ME NOW? GINA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME TODAY AND FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN A BUSY WEEK FOR COUNCIL TO GET CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE.
THIS IS HOW CAN YOU GET A LITTLE CLOSER, MAYBE WE SHOULD GO ON TO MIKE'S ON HER HEAD.
UM, RANDY, AND IT IS THE PIECE THAT SHOULD BE NEXT TO YOUR MOUTH IS DOWN IN THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD.
YOU NEED TO BRING THEM FORWARD.
SO, UM, AS I WAS SAYING, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.
UM, AND WHAT HAS BROUGHT US TO THIS POINT TODAY? WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A BUSY WEEK FOR, FOR COUNCIL AND FOR THE CAP METRO BOARD, AND THAT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
UM, FIRST I WANT YOU TO QUICKLY THANK THE MAYOR, OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND YOUR STAFFS FOR ALL OF YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
UM, AND GETTING US TO THIS POINT.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE CAPITAL METRO STAFF AND RANDY AND HIS ENTIRE TEAM WHO HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY WITH US, UM, IN LOCKSTEP.
AND WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT REALLY HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE IN, IN AUSTIN, THAT WE'VE HAD SUCH STRONG PARTNERSHIPS AND, AND THAT WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER JOINTLY TO BRING WHAT WE THINK IS A VERY THOUGHTFUL, UH, ASSISTANT PLAN TO YOU TODAY.
I WANT TO THANK MY DEPARTMENT'S FOR WORKING SO CLOSELY TOGETHER.
OUR FLEET DEPARTMENT, EVEN OUR AVIATION DEPARTMENT HAVE ALL BEEN AT THE TABLE HERE.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE, UH, FINANCE DEPARTMENT WHO HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS TEAM REALLY FROM DAY ONE.
AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM GREG FINALE AND HIS CONSULTANTS, UM, AND YOU KNOW, UH, IMPORTANTLY, UH, OUR CITY MANAGER, SPENCER CON, OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER AND THE ENTIRE CMI TEAM, ALL OF THEIR DEPARTMENTS, UM, REALLY, IT'S BEEN AN ALL HANDS ON DECK EFFORT.
AND OUR MARCHING ORDERS WERE CLEAR FROM THE START THAT WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER, THAT WE NEED TO BE THOUGHTFUL AND THAT WE REALLY NEED TO REIMAGINE WHAT MOBILITY
[00:15:01]
IS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.WE WERE BEFORE THE COVERT PANDEMIC, AND WE WILL BE CERTAINLY EVEN STRONGER AS WE EMERGE FROM THIS.
I'D ALSO BE REMISS NOT TO, TO THANK OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE REALLY BEEN PARTICIPATING WITH US, HAVE HELPED US CRAFT THIS PLAN.
SO AS MUCH AS THIS IS A PLAN THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND CAPITAL METRO HAVE WORKED ON TO BRING YOU, UM, IT'S REALLY THE COMBINATION OF THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE'S PLAN.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO RANDY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION AND HEARING YOUR COMMENTS ON IT.
UM, I'LL KEEP IT RELATIVELY SHORT, BUT, UH, I WANT TO ALSO JUMP ON THE THANK YOU BANDWAGON.
UH, THIS IS A REALLY BIG DAY FOR ALL OF US.
I REALLY WANT TO START OFF AND THANK THE COMMUNITY.
WE'VE HAD ALMOST 60,000 PEOPLE ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS.
UH, I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK OUR CAP, METRO STAFF, UH, LOTS OF WEEKENDS, LOTS OF NIGHTS.
UH, AS GINA MENTIONED, THE CITY STAFF HAS BEEN FANTASTIC ULTIMATE HAND IN GLOVE, UH, PARTNERSHIP.
I REALLY COULDN'T POSSIBLY ASK FOR A BETTER PARTNER THAN WE'VE HAD GINA GREG'S LEADERSHIP AND THE ENTIRE CITY STAFF HAS JUST BEEN FANTASTIC.
SO IT'S WHAT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY EXPECT.
GOVERNMENT ALL WORK TOGETHER TO DO THE RIGHT THING, TO GET THINGS DONE.
UH, BASS CONSULTING TEAMS THAT, UH, BOTH ON THE TECHNICAL, THE TRANSIT SIDE, THE FINANCIAL SIDE GOVERNANCE SIDE, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SIDE.
IT'S JUST BEEN AN ALL OUT EFFORT.
AND I WANT TO, I WANT THEM ALL TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE THE SACRIFICES THEY'VE GIVEN US THEIR TIME OVER THE LAST A YEAR AND A HALF.
I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD AND COUNCIL.
THIS IS YOUR SEVENTH TIME GETTING TOGETHER.
SOME OF YOU HAVE ALSO, UH, WE TOOK TO OTHER CITIES TO DO SOME DUE DILIGENCE AND SOME LESSON LEARNING ON, UH, AND THAT'S BEEN A LOT OF YOUR TIME AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE HOW MUCH OTHER, UH, HOW MANY OTHER ITEMS ARE PRESSING FOR YOUR TIME.
IT'S A, UM, IT'S AMAZING TIME, I GUESS, TO BE ALIVE AND WATCHING SO MUCH HAPPENING IN, IN OUR WORLD, OUR COUNTRY, OUR CITY, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, AND YOU'RE DEALING WITH MANY OF THOSE TOPICS HEAD ON.
SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND COMMITMENT TO TRANSIT TODAY TO ME IS AN INCREDIBLE DAY BECAUSE TODAY IS WHERE WE'VE TRANSITIONED FROM A VISION PLAN.
A LOT OF TALK ABOUT WHAT WE THINK WE WANT TO DO AFTER ALL THIS WORK TO AN ACTUAL ACTION BASED PLAN.
WE NOW HAVE A TRANSIT PLAN AND THIS TRANSIT PLAN IS REALLY DESIGNED FOR AUSTIN'S FUTURE GROWTH FOR US TO GO FROM 2 MILLION TO 4 MILLION PEOPLE IS TO DEAL WITH AIR QUALITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE.
IT'S TO REALLY CREATE A FAIR AND MORE EQUITABLE CITY.
SO PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS AND IT'S GOING TO HELP EASE.
AUSTIN'S NOTORIOUSLY BAD TRAFFIC, WHICH I CAN PROMISE YOU ALL.
WE'LL BE BACK QUICKLY BEFORE WE KNOW IT.
UM, WHEN THE, I HAD THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO COME HERE TO AUSTIN, THE BOARD MAY HAVE VERY CLEAR IN THE HIRING PROCESS THAT THEY WANTED A TRANSIT EXPANSION PLAN TO BE A PRIMARY FOCUS OF MY ROLE.
AND THEY SAID THEY WANTED IT TO BE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED.
THEY WANTED TO BE DATA DRIVEN AND, AND THEY WANT IT TO BE COMPREHENSIVE AND ROBUST IN NATURE.
WELL, I'M PROUD THAT WHAT I THINK WE ARE BRINGING TO YOU TODAY REFLECTS ALL OF THOSE, UH, MANDATES GIVEN BY THE BOARD.
IT IS, UM, I'VE HEARD A LOT OF STORIES HERE BEFORE ABOUT 2014 FOR PREVIOUS, UH, EFFORTS.
I THINK, UM, WE'VE NOW CREATED A, UH, A TRANSIT SYSTEM PLAN THAT THE COMMUNITY TRULY SUPPORTS.
IT'S BEEN INDEPENDENTLY PEER REVIEWED, AND WE'VE DONE TRANSPARENCY TRANSPARENTLY THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS.
AND SO AGAIN, I THINK THIS PLAN THAT WE'RE PRESENTING YOU TODAY MEETS THOSE GOALS, AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THAT EFFORT.
UH, THE LAST THING I WANT TO KIND OF HIT ON IN BOTH THE MAYOR, UM, IN THE CHAIR MENTIONED THESE THEMATICALLY IS I THINK THE PANDEMIC AND BOTH THE CIVIL RIGHTS PROTEST HAVE ONLY FURTHER SHOWN THE VALUE OF PUBLIC TRANSIT IN SO MANY WAYS.
AND I KNOW MAYOR PRO TEM AND OUR, UM, OUR VICE CHAIR GUARDS HAVE MENTIONED THIS AT A MEETING, UH, I THINK ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO AGO, BUT PUBLIC TRANSIT IS THIS AMAZING SYSTEM.
THAT'S WAY BEYOND THE BUSES AND TRAINS.
IT TRULY CREATES ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY.
AND WHILE SOME OF US HAVE HAD THE OPTION OF WORKING FROM HOME OR BEING REMOTE DURING THE PANDEMIC CAP, METRO HAS ACTUALLY SERVED 40,000 PLUS PEOPLE A DAY.
AND THOSE ARE PEOPLE THAT WORK AT GROCERY STORES OR PHARMACIES OR DAYCARES OR NURSE TACKS OR CLEANERS, YOU NAME IT.
THOSE ARE THE ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES THAT KNOW HIM, MOVE THE ECONOMY, BUT ALLOW US TO HAVE A SAFER, UM, YOU KNOW, A CITY AND A SAFER WORLD, UM, DURING THIS PANDEMIC.
AND THEY'VE BEEN CELEBRATED AS HEROES.
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INCUMBENT FOR US TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE YOU AFFORDABLE, ROBUST, COMPREHENSIVE, BETTER TRANSIT IN YOUR FUTURE, UH, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF OUR ECONOMY DURING THIS WHOLE PIECE.WE'VE ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE FOOD BANK AND WE'VE DELIVERED OVER 300,000 MEALS TO THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE TO COVID.
AND, UH, THAT WAS AN INNOVATIVE IDEA WHERE THE FIRST OF THE COUNTRY TO DO THAT.
AND AGAIN, IT GOES TO SHOW THE VALUE OF PUBLIC TRANSIT IS MORE THAN THE VEHICLES ITSELF.
IT'S ACTUALLY A PUBLIC GOOD SERVING OUR COMMUNITY AND SERVING THOSE, ESPECIALLY THAT NEEDED THE MOST.
SO WHEN YOU PUT ALL THAT TOGETHER, I, I REALISTIC PROJECT CONNECT IS THAT NEXT STEPPING STONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO FIND THE DEAL WITH THOSE TOPICS.
IT IS TRANSFORMATIONAL, AND IT'S DESIGNED BY THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN FOR THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN.
AND I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR TIME.
AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A GREAT DISCUSSION TODAY.
SO WITH THAT, UH, CHAIR, I'LL HAND IT BACK TO YOU AND THANK YOU.
UH, OUR FIRST, UH, WELL, LET ME, BEFORE WE GET TO PUBLIC COMMENT, LET ME JUST, UH, AFFIRM THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM OF CAP METRO, UH, BOARD MEMBERS.
I SEE HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN MAYOR PUT HIM CARS, UH, COMMISSIONER TREVELYAN, UH, MAYOR HILL MEMBER, UH, MITCHELL MEMBER STRATTON, AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, RENT A RHEA.
SO WAS THERE ANYBODY I MISSED OR NEGLECTED TO CALL? RIGHT.
WELL THEN LET'S GET GUARANTEE.
I DO THINK, UH, COMMISSIONER TREVELYAN HAS LISTED ON THERE AS WELL.
I THOUGHT I DID, BUT IF I DIDN'T.
OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS TODAY WILL BE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO'VE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND THAT HAVE JOINED, JOINED US ON THE PHONE.
THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE ON THE LINE, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
UM, WELL, NOT BE TAKING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS.
TODAY'S MEETING ONLY COMMENTS ON THE TOPICS THAT ARE POSTED ON OUR AGENDA.
OUR FIRST, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE FROM QUINCY DUNLAP, QUINCY, IF YOU'RE ON.
JUST GO AHEAD AND PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE IF YOU NEED HELP.
CHAIRMAN WADE COMMISSIONER TO DELIA AND THE REST OF THE CHAT METRO BOARD, UH, MAYOR, UH, CHELSEA MUMBLE, HARPER, MADISON COUNCILWOMEN CONSOLIDATE THE REST OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS
IT IS MY BELIEF THAT AUSTIN'S ECONOMY REALLY COVERING WHAT, UH, PREVIOUS PROJECTIONS RELEASED PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC INDICATE THAT ABOUT 2 MILLION ADDITIONAL RESIDENTS WILL MOVE TO A OFTEN BOXED ONLY 40.
SO WE HAVE TO HAVE A, UH, TRANSIT PLAN FOR WHAT'S COME.
WE MUST HAVE A MODERN TRANSISTOR CAPABLE OF PROVIDING MOBILITY FOR AN EXPLODING POPULATION AND A BOOM, UH, MODERN URBAN ENVIRONMENT RELIES ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT TO PROVIDE TO ITS CITIZENS FOR ACCESSING ANY LEVEL OF QUALITY OF LIFE.
UH, ESSENTIAL WORKERS, SHIFT WORKERS, HOURLY WAGE OWNERS, UH, NEW COLLAR, WHITE COLLAR PROFESSIONALS, ALL ON SAFE AND EFFICIENT TRANSIT SYSTEM.
THEY, THE TRAIN OR THE BUS, THEY RIDE BIKES, THEY DRIVE THESE WALKS AND THEY ALSO HAVE OTHER OPTIONS, UH, ON A VERY LARGE SCALE.
UH, AUSTIN IS A VERY LARGE SCALE IN TERMS OF TRAFFIC AND EXTORTION OF POPULATION AS WELL, RIGHT? BUT WE'RE NOT IN TERMS OF BEING READY FOR WHAT MAY COME.
UM, UH, WITH TRANSPORTATION TO TRY TO INFRASTRUCTURE.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO PASS A SYSTEM WIDE TRANSIT.
THAT'S NOT A PATCHWORK OF FIXES AND THAT CUTS CORNERS, WHAT EXCLUDES BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.
AND, UH, AND THAT IS NOT FITTING WELL TOGETHER.
WE NEED TO TASK AND SUPPORT, UH, THE VISION OF CAP METRO UNDER RANDY LEE, UH, HOW WE BETTER SERVE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
UH, HOW ARE WE DRIVING ONE? I WOULD GIVE HIM WHAT DOES, AND A REAL NEW YORK OPTIONS CONCERNED SHIRT TRANSIT FROM WALKING TO BIKING AND LIGHT RAIL AND TRAILER.
UH, I'D LIKE TO, UH, AGAINST THE CITY COUNCIL OR THE CAP, METRO BOARD, ALL THE HOT WORK TODAY, TURN TO CHARLESTON STATION ISSUE, UH, THE OFFICE OF THE AIR OR THE MOON ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT, UM,
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THIS BUSINESS PLAN TO TRULY MAKE AUSTIN AND CENTRAL TEXAS THAT MORE, A MOBILE COMMUNITY FOR EVERYONE.UM, UM, THIS WILL HELP MAKE AUSTIN A MORE INCLUSIVE, HEALTHIER, SAFER GREENER, AND MORE EQUITABLE SURVIVAL FOR BLACK AFRICAN AMERICANS.
UH, WE, WE, WHAT WE DO, WE'RE TRANSPORTATION TO TRANSIT.
WE WILL HAVE ALL THOSE CENTERS.
IF WE DON'T DO IT, WE DROP THE BAR AGAIN AND WE KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP DOING IT.
SO I IMPLORE, UH, THOSE, THE POWER, UH, CAUSE SOME OF, AND THIS IS JUST THE START.
THIS IS BY ALL MEANS, NOT IN THE GAME.
THIS IS THE START FOR THE, AGAIN, I IMPLORE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS PLAN ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICER THAT WE ALREADY NEED.
AND I, AND THIS IS A START AND I'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH RANDY AND SUPPORT RANDY AND BRINGING THIS VISION THAT INCLUDES BLACK AND BROWN MOBILITY, UH, AND THIS EXCLUSIVE PLAYER.
SO ASPHALT ALLOW ME TO GET COMMENTS STUFF.
THANK YOU, MR. DUNLAP, OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
AND I'M LIKELY TO MISPRONOUNCE.
THIS WILL BE AS THESE SEAN MALIQUE.
MY NAME IS ZHI SHAWN MALIK, I IN SOUTH AUSTIN AND DISTRICTS, CAUSE I, UH, ALONG WITH MY WIFE, I'M AN AUSTINITE BORN AND RAISED IN THIS GREAT COMMUNITY.
AND WE'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE OUR YOUNG FAMILY IN AUSTIN.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION, SUPPORTING THE PROJECT CONNECT SYSTEM.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IT'S MY OBLIGATION AS AN AUSTINITE PLANT TO TREAT A DAY THAT WILL PROVIDE SHADE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
SO ACCORDINGLY AS A PROPERTY OWNER AND TAXPAYER, IT'S MY OBLIGATION TO INCREASE MY TAX BURDEN TODAY IN ORDER TO FUND THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT OUR GROWING CITY AND COMMUNITY DEMANDS BY ATTENDING PROPER PROJECT CONNECT EVENTS AND ENGAGING WHAT CONTINUES TO BE A COMMUNITY DRIVEN PROCESS.
IT'S CLEAR THAT WE HAVE A NEW ENERGETIC DYNAMIC AND I'LL SAY POSITIVELY RELENTLESS LEADERSHIP CORE AT CAPITAL METRO.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE NOT SEEN AS AN AUSTINITE AT CAPITAL METRO PRIOR.
SO THE TIMING FOR US IS IT'S CRITICAL WHEN WE HAVE THIS TYPE OF LEADERSHIP SERVING OUR CITY.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CANNOT MISS THE OPPORTUNITY WE MUST GET BEHIND AND SUPPORT THEIR TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE.
I APPRECIATE YOU ALL TAKING UP NOTHING.
THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT CONNECTS US ALL FOR YOUR TIME.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE WILLIE MCGEE.
I BELIEVE THIS OR MCGEE WAS NOT ABLE TO JOIN US VERY WELL.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER THEN WILL BE YVONNE L HUNTER.
CHAIRMAN COOPER I BELIEVE WILL NOW WAS UNABLE TO STAY ON THE LINE.
IF THEY COME BACK, LET ME KNOW NEXT WEEK.
YOU'VE GOT THREE MINUTES, RIGHT? GREAT.
BOARD MEMBERS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M A 21 YEAR OFTEN RESIDENT, A LONG TIME.
THAT'S OUR AREA, TRANSPORTATION ADVOCATE AND EXECUTIVE DRESSER OF THE MIDLINE PARKWAY AND THE SORT OF THE 32 MILE CORRIDOR THAT WILL INCLUDE A WALKING TRAIL AND BICYCLING TRAIL ALONG THE TOP OF THE METRO RED LINE.
AND THE PARKWAY WILL PROVIDE IMPROVED ACCESS TO REDLINE STATION, TO OTHER TRANSIT ROUTES AND COUNTLESS OTHER DEFINITIONS ON THE CORRIDOR AND PROVIDE MORE PARK SPACE AND OTHER AMENITIES.
YEAH, I'M GOING TO SPEAKING BECAUSE I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT MY SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT CONNECT PLAN.
IT'S IT'S AMBITIOUS, REALISTIC AND ESSENTIAL
[00:30:01]
RAIL TRANSIT AND BUS RAPID TRANSIT ARE PROVEN TECHNOLOGY IN SOME WAYS IT'S BORING BECAUSE YOU ALREADY HAVE.NOW THE EVIDENCE THAT THEY'LL WORK, THE AUSTIN NEEDS TRANSPORTATION, BESTIES THAT WORK AND NOT THE POCKETS.
ALL IN UNPROVEN TECHNOLOGIES ARE SOLELY ON ROAD TECHNOLOGY, WHICH WE ALREADY KNOW WON'T WORK TO IMPROVE OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM BEYOND ITS CURRENT STATE AND LONG AGO, THE SIX GEOMETRIC AND FINANCIAL LIMIT WITH THE TRANSIT NETWORK, WE WILL BE CREATING A ROBUST TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM OPTION ALONGSIDE OUR PRIVATE MORE VEHICLE NETWORK TRANSIT COMPONENTS, WHICH SEND THE MOBILITY RATES OF WALKING BY THE BIKE AND WALKING AND BICYCLING.
WE'LL PROVIDE PEOPLE ACCESS TO TRANSIT, WHICH CAN NEAR NEARLY ALL OF AUSTIN AND BEYOND TRANSIT COMBINED WITH WALKING.
BICYCLING IS AN EXCELLENT COMBINATION THAT HAS NUMEROUS LONG SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLES IN EUROPE, EAST ASIA, ALL TO OUR NORTH COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD.
IT'S CRITICAL TO CREATE OVERLAPPING TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS THAT SERVE OUR ENTIRE REGION.
SOME OF OUR TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS ARE NOT CONSISTENTLY AVAILABLE TO ALL AUSTIN AREA RESIDENTS.
EACH OF US HAS DIFFERENT CAPABILITIES AND NEEDS THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES.
IN FACT, ONLY ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF OUR REGION'S RESIDENTS, BOTH HAVE CLOTS HOUSEHOLD ACCESS TO A CAR AND CAN SAFELY DRIVE A CAR.
OUR REGION IS MORE RESILIENT WHEN WE HAVE MORE THAN ONE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK, JUST AS WE HAVE MORE THAN ONE WATER TREATMENT PLAN AND MORE THAN ONE ELECTRIC IT'S APPROVAL TODAY AND FUNDING IT'S COMPLETION.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE TANNER BLAIR.
DO WE HAVE MR. BLAIR, MR. BLAIR, YOU MIGHT BE ON MUTE IF YOU NEED TO UNMUTE YOURSELF, PRESS STAR SIX OR YEAH, GO AHEAD.
I'M TRYING TO WORK AT THE SAME TIME.
SO, UH, UH, HAVING THE INTERNET HAS BEEN A HUGELY DEMOCRATIZING FORCE FOR WHO CAN SPEAK TO THIS STUFF AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS FULL TIME, UH, COMING DOWNTOWN NOON ON WEDNESDAY IS REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT.
SO THIS IS, UM, UH, UH, UH, THIS IS A SUPER EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CITY.
UH, ONE OF THE OTHER SECRETS SAID, I FEEL LIKE I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS LEVEL OF ENERGY AROUND TRANSPORTATION, TRANSPORTATION ADVOCATE FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS NOW.
AND I'VE NEVER SEEN A WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN AND ACCEPT WHAT IS A PATIENT LIKE I'M SAYING TODAY.
IT SERVED THE RIGHT PARTS OF AUSTIN BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE LIVE.
THOSE ARE PEOPLE WHO WORK BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT THEM HANG OUT.
YOU'RE A THIRD PLACE, IF YOU WILL.
UH, AND ANECDOTALLY, I'LL SHARE THAT IN MY LIFETIME, UH, CLOSER TO DOWNTOWN.
AND WE SHARED A CAR BECAUSE MY WIFE WORKS FROM HOME AND SHE WAS ABLE TO NOT FEEL ISOLATED IF SHE COULD TAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT AROUND ON ERRANDS, GO TO LUNCH, WHATEVER ELSE.
AND, UH, AND WE HAD MY SECOND PARTNER AND NOW WE'RE DISTRIBUTED FOR ALL TRAFFIC AND OFTEN TWICE AS MUCH AS WE WERE BEFORE, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE, OR, UH, NOT THAT THAT'S SOME GREAT STUFF.
AND THEN THERE'S ONE MORE CAR ON THE ROAD BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ADDING PUBLIC TRANSIT.
AND THEN I'LL ALSO SHARE THAT I'M A STRONG BELIEVER THAT AS A HOMEOWNER IS BACK THERE, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO SERVE THE GREATER COMMUNITY.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK TO HAVING ONE TARGET OR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT JUST CAN'T AFFORD A CAR.
AND I THINK IN THE SERVICE OF EQUITY, UH, WE OWE IT TO EACH OTHER TO INVEST IN SOMETHING LIKE PUBLIC TRANSIT THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO, UH, IT CAN'T AFFORD A CAR, STILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE, UH, AMENITIES AND, UH, CREATION WALLS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT THE CITY PROVIDES.
SO I'M VERY, VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF AT THIS POINT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ROBIN HOUGH POWER COOPER.
I BELIEVE THAT ROBIN WAS UNABLE TO JOIN VERY WELL.
UM, OUR NEXT SPEAKER THEN WILL BE NANCY CROWDER.
I WANTED TO SAY THE CAPITAL METRO BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE CITY COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING US TO COME BEFORE YOU TODAY.
NOT IN PERSON, UM, BUT TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR TRANSIT HISTORY
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AT OUR TRANSIT FUTURE, JUST FOR THE RECORD, UM, I'M COMMUNITY ADVOCATE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY.I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF TRANSIT CROSS.
AND FOR THE RECORD I AM IN FAVOR OF THE LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE FOR PROJECT CONNECT.
I REPRESENT TRANSIT FOR OFF AND THE COMMUNITY AT PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.
WELL, MARCH 30TH T S ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AND TRIED TO BELIEVE THAT EARLY YEARS HAS BEEN SUCH A CHANGE FOR THE BETTERMENT AND THE INCLUSIVITY OF ALL SOCIETY BY THIS ONE ACTS, AS HE ADAPT SAYING WE ALL TO GO BOLDLY WHERE EVERYBODY ELSE HAS GONE BEFORE IS INTEGRAL AND NATURAL UNITY AND CONTINUITY IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
COMMUNITY THAT TO FANS 30 YEARS IN THE FUTURE, I'LL BE 20 YEARS LATE.
PUBLIC TRANSIT IS THE CONDUIT FOR SAFETY AND ACCESS FOR PEDESTRIANS ACCESS TO BUSINESS AND COMMERCE TO ENVIRONMENTALLY BENEFICIAL.
AND JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION, COVEN BLADE THREE SECTION HAS REVIEWS OR IMPROVED OUR AIR QUALITY, WHICH IS A NICE WAY OF SAYING POLLUTION DOWN TO THE 2006 LEVELS HERE, LA JUST AS THE POINT OF EVERYBODY HAVING THE SAME PLACE THAT IS INCREDIBLE.
THE CONDOMS, THE TRANSIT VAULT, THE CONDUITS FOR SAFETY AND SOCIALLY INCLUSIVE.
IT IS WHAT HELPS MAKE LIFE INCLUSIVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.
AND ESPECIALLY FOR PERSONS WHO HAVE NO OTHER DEPENDENT AND ALSO THEIR THREE MINUTES.
IT ALSO HELPS TO, UM, IF I MAY FINISH AND RYDER, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU.
UM, AND IT ALSO HELPS FOR THE CASUAL LIGHTERS, THE OOPS, MY DIET AND MY CAR DIED.
HOW DO I GET TO WORK? DOWNTOWN PROJECT CONNECT DOES JUST THAT IT BRINGS TOGETHER.
IT BRINGS THE INVESTMENT IN OUR FUTURE, MUCH LIKE THE ADA AND THE SPIRIT OF INCLUSIVENESS ABOLISHING IN INEQUALITY, WHICH HAS HAD A, ON THE DISADVANTAGED POPULATION.
I'M PROUD OF THE COLLABORATION OF THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY CITY COUNCIL, CAPITAL METRO BORDER, AND TRANSIT BORDERS FOR THE PROGRESS TAKEN FROM THE FIELD OF DREAM AND MODIFIED IN THE ADAPTIVE OF THE TEXAS THEATER PROJECT.
CAN THAT, IF YOU BUILD IT, WE WILL.
UH, OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE MIKE ANDREY MINE FOLKS, IF YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING, PERHAPS TO YOUR MICROPHONE, GET A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND NOISE, MR. ANDREY Y'ALL HEAR ME.
AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, CAPITAL METRO BOARD AND ALL AUSTINITES EVERYONE IN THE CAP, THEIR CAPITAL CAPITAL AREA, MIKE DEANDRE, YOUR PROJECT
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CONNECT IS VERY IMPRESSIVE.I'M ESPECIALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE SECTION OF YOUR PROPOSED BLUE LINE THAT RUNS BETWEEN REPUBLIC SQUARE AND THE AUSTIN BURSTS FROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
IF AUSTIN, METRO RAIL HAS AN EXAMPLE OF A PROBABLY SQUARE TO ABI, IT WILL BE EASIER.
YOUR PEOPLE USE METRO ANYWHERE IN OUR ENTIRE WORLD WHEN COMBINED WITH THEIR FLIGHT TO DO THE ENTIRE PLAN WOULD BE EVEN MORE BENEFICIAL.
I'M YOUR METRO RAPID YOUR METRO EXPRESS.
THIS ALL LOOKS VERY IMPRESSIVE.
HE SAID, GO FORWARD WITH YOUR METRO BIKES PLAN AS WELL TO MAKE YOUR SYSTEM EVEN MORE MULTIMODAL.
MY HOME CITY, DENNIS COUNTY OPERATE SOMETHING THAT MORE TO HEAR BACK TO HER RAPID CALLED BEAT, AND IT'S CALLED VIA MARINA.
WHEN I USED TO BE UP THAT CALL MY STRESS RELIEF USING THE METRO IMPROVED MY MENTAL HEALTH.
IN ADDITION TO THE, THE PATIENT BENEFIT, IT ALSO CAUSES ARE VIA PRIMO ALSO OFFERS AN ALTERNATIVE, ESPECIALLY TO OUR 10 WEST XPRESS PLAY AS WELL AS 35 IN DOWNTOWN ESSAY.
ACTUALLY DURING RUSH HOUR, HE'S HERE TO USE THE VIA PRE-MODE THEN TO USE A PERSONAL CAR DURING RUSH HOUR.
MANY TIMES I SUPPORT YOUR PLAN.
THANK YOU, MR. ANDREY SPEAKER WILL BE MATTHEW GONZALES, MR. GONZALEZ.
VICE-CHAIR GAZA MEMBERS OF THE CAPITAL METRO BOARD, MAYOR ADLER AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF PROJECT CONNECT.
I'M THE BUSINESS MANAGER OF LABOR'S INTERNATIONAL UNION, LOCAL 10 95.
WE REPRESENT ABOUT 1100 MEMBERS PERFORMING VARIOUS COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION DUTIES AND CUSTODIAL SERVICES THROUGHOUT CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST TEXAS.
OFTENTIMES THE LOWEST WAGE EARNER ON A SITE, OUR MEMBERS AND THE APPLICANTS THAT COME TO US ARE ALREADY DEALING WITH, UH, LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.
AND THE PROBABILITY OF OWNING A CAR MAY BE UNATTAINABLE.
THE HIGH COST OF LIVING AND WAGE DISPARITIES PREVALENT IN THIS COMMUNITY FURTHER DEMONSTRATING THE NEED FOR A PLAN OF ACTION, A PLAN AND A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE, UH, ARE VERY TRAINED AND CHAOTIC TIMES FOR OUR LOCAL ECONOMY AND OUR LOCAL WORKFORCES.
THE MEMBERS OF LOCAL 10 95 AND THE WORKING MEN AND WOMEN ACROSS AUSTIN ARE CONFIDENT THAT OUR ECONOMY WILL BE BACK ON TRACK.
UH, PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO COME HERE FOR JOBS AND HOURLY WAGE EARNERS AND BUSINESSES WILL SOON FIND THE PROJECTIONS STILL HOLD FROM THAT.
BY 2040, WE WILL HAVE AN APPROXIMATE 4 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING HERE WITH MOST OF THEM COMING HERE IN SEARCH OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THE MAJORITY OF THIS FUTURE WORKFORCE WILL RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSIT TO GET THEM TO TURN ADVANCE HAS PUSHED EVERYONE TO, UH, AND IS CERTAINLY ONE VISION OF THE FUTURE.
BUT BY NO MEANS, IS THAT THE ONLY VISION NOR IS THAT FEASIBLE FOR EVERY CLASS SOCIETY, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS AND IN THE FUTURE, MILLIONS OF EMPLOYEES MUST HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE, RELIABLE AND EFFICIENT PUBLIC TRANSIT WORKS EFFICIENTLY AND HELPS TO REDUCE THE GRIDLOCK AND CONGESTION AROUND THE CITY.
AN OPTION THAT HELPS REDUCE COMMUTE TIMES FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS, LABORERS, SERVICE WORKERS, AND ANYONE WHO RIDES
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THE MOST VALUABLE TIME WE SPEND DURING ANY GIVEN DAY.THE TIME WE SPEND WITH OUR FAMILY AND REDUCING TIME IN TRAFFIC WILL END BADLY, NEED THEM MOST TO EVEN THE YOUNGEST AUSTINITE.
BUT THIS INVESTMENT IN LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE WILL CREATE GOOD PAYING JOBS FOR THE WORKERS INSTALLING UNDERGROUND UTILITY, LAYING CONCRETE AND PAVEMENT WHILE OPENING WINDOWS FOR TRAINING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
THESE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES WILL HAVE LASTING IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
OUR ECONOMY IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE AUSTIN'S LIFEBLOOD.
AND JUST AS IT IS WITH MOST MAJOR CITIES, ONE OF THE MOST CRUCIAL COMPONENTS IS A MODERN, EFFICIENT, SAFE, AND EQUITABLE WAY TO GET TO AND FROM WORK FOR THESE REASONS, WE, THE LABORERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA, ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORT THIS PROJECT AND WHAT IT MEANS TO THE FUTURE OF OUR GREAT COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON PROJECT MEG.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE MARRIED, CHISM.
IF YOU'RE MUTED, YOU MIGHT CHAIR COOPER.
I BELIEVE YOU CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER THEN WILL BE LINDEN.
CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES, SIR.
I LAUNCHED THE CONCEPT OF LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT FOR AUSTIN WITH A FEASIBILITY STUDY BACK IN 1973.
OVER THE PAST 47 YEARS, I'VE WORKED TO MAKE THIS CRUCIAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM.
A REALITY AS I'VE LONG POINTED OUT LIGHT RAIL HAS UNIQUE POTENTIAL AS A MORE AFFORDABLE HIGH CAPACITY URBAN RAIL MODE TO ATTRACT RIDERSHIP PROVIDE MORE COST EFFECTIVE OPERATION STIMULATE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.
GALVANIZED THE ENTIRE TRANSIT SYSTEM CREATE A MORE LIVABLE URBAN ENVIRONMENT AND MOBILIZE COMMUNITY SUPPORT AT LAST DECADES OF EFFORT BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND CAPITAL METRO PARTICULARLY KEPT PROJECT CONNECT.
IT BROUGHT US TO TODAY'S MONUMENTAL PLAN CENTERED ON LIGHT WITH A CENTRAL SPINE ALONG THE KEY NORTH LAMAR GUADALUPE, SOUTH CONGRESS, ORANGE LINE CORRIDOR AS ITS ANCHOR.
THIS MASSIVE PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE JOBS AND HELP REBUILD AUSTIN'S ECONOMY.
WHEN WE FINALLY EMERGED FROM THE PANDEMIC NIGHTMARE, LIGHT RAIL WILL OPEN EXCITING POSSIBILITIES FOR CATALYZING DEVELOPMENT IN THE CORE AREAS, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE MASSIVE PROPOSED SUBWAY INFRASTRUCTURE, AS WELL AS ELSEWHERE ALONG OTHER CORRIDORS.
THIS WILL PROVIDE CRUCIAL ECONOMIC STIMULUS TO CREATE MORE JOBS AS WELL AS EXPAND CRITICAL TAX BASE AND FUND FURTHER SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS WELL INTO THE FUTURE HAS BEEN A HALLMARK OF PROJECT CONNECTS, AMBITIOUS PLANNING, PREPARING FOR FUTURE URBAN GROWTH AND TRANSIT CAPACITY NEEDS IS CRITICAL.
FORESIGHT MUST BE CONTINUED WITH A VIEW TO EVENTUAL CONVERSION OF THE RED LINE TO LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT CORRIDOR PARALLELING U S ONE 83, DEFINITELY RANKS AMONG THE HEAVIEST TRAVEL CORRIDORS IN OUR METRO AREA.
CONVERTING THE RED LINE MORE EFFICIENT ELECTRIC LIGHT RAIL WOULD PROVIDE HUGE SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS, IMPROVE COST EFFECTIVENESS AND STIMULATE MUCH HIGHER RIDERSHIP, ESPECIALLY BY OFFERING SEAMLESS TRANSFER FREE TRAVEL FROM NORTHWESTERN COMMUNITIES INTO AUSTIN'S CORE.
THIS WOULD ALSO EXTEND ELECTRIC LIGHT RAIL SURFACE TO BENEFIT EAST AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS FUTURE IMPROVE THAT NEEDS TO BE PREPARED FOR NOW BY DESIGNING APPROPRIATE INFRASTRUCTURE FEATURES INTO THE PLAN TO CREST YOU INTERSECTION GREAT SEPARATION.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE DIVERSE TEAM INVOLVED WITH PROJECT CONNECT FOR LISTENING TO SO MANY OF US IN THE COMMUNITY AND DEVELOPING THIS PLAN, CERTAINLY HEARTENING AND REFRESHING TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THIS LONG SAGA OF PLANNING AND TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT SUCH AN AMBITIOUS AND EXCITING PROJECT.
I ARGUED TO DESIGNATE THIS PLAN AS AUSTIN'S LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE LAURA MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND SHAREWAY THEN METRO CAP, METRO BOARD MEMBERS.
I AM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE AUSTIN CHAMBER.
UH, AND I FIRST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE DEVOTED TO THIS
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VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE AND VERY IMPORTANT PLANNING PROCESS ON BEHALF OF OUR REGION.UH, YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, THE CHAMBER BOARD APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY A RESOLUTION, WHICH SUPPORT PROJECT CONNECT.
AND I, I WON'T READ THROUGH THAT BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF YOU THIS AFTERNOON, BUT THERE ARE A FEW THINGS ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION THAT I, UH, I WANT, I WANT TO PULL OUT IN PARTICULAR FOR YOU.
UM, ONE IS A RECOGNITION THAT THE INCREASED GROWTH IN THE REGION, COUPLED WITH THE LACK OF SIGNIFICANT REGIONAL TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE HAS RESULTED IN MOBILITY AND CONGESTION CHALLENGES.
BUT I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT, UM, ANOTHER POINT IN THE RESOLUTION IS THAT BOTH THE CHAMBER AND OPPORTUNITY AUSTIN IS INCREASINGLY HEARING FROM EXISTING EMPLOYERS AS WELL AS PROSPECTIVE JOB CREATORS THAT THEIR WORKFORCE, THE PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THESE COMPANIES WOULD LIKE ADDITIONAL MOBILITY OPTIONS.
UM, WE RECOGNIZE IN THE RESOLUTION THAT A WELL-PLANNED HIGH CAPACITY MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM CAN HELP ADDRESS MOBILITY AND CONGESTION CHALLENGES AS WELL AS RESPOND TO THE DESIRES OF THE REGION'S GROWING WORKFORCE AND PROVIDE IMPROVED ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UH, I WANT TO IN PARTICULAR, RECOGNIZE THAT BOTH CITY STAFF AND CAPITAL METRO STAFF HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY WITH THE CHAMBER AND, AND OTHER GROUPS MAKING SURE THAT THE QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED, THAT THERE WAS, UH, AN UNDERSTANDING INITIALLY ALONG THE WAY OF WHAT THIS VISION ENTAILS.
AND, UH, THEY SHOWED UP EVERY SINGLE TIME AND ASKED EVERY QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED.
AND SO, UH, THANK YOU TO BOTH CAP METRO INTO THE CITY FOR MAKING SURE THAT, UH, THE TEAMS WERE SO RESPONSIVE AND SO AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
I ALSO JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE, AND WE HAVE THIS IN OUR RESOLUTION THAT CAP METRO HAS HAD A PEER REVIEWED PROCESS DRIVEN BY DATA TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES, ALONG WITH EXTENSIVE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT TO DEVELOP A VISION MAP AND THE RECOMMENDED 2020 PROJECT CONNECT SYSTEM PLAN.
UM, THE LANGUAGE READS THAT THE CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS FORMALLY ENDORSES THE 2020 PROJECT CONNECT SYSTEM PLAN AS AN ESSENTIAL PLAN FOR AUSTIN AND AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF A REGIONAL MOBILITY SYSTEM.
UH, THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I CONVEY IS THAT WE COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR, UH, OBSERVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP, UH, HOW, WHAT GOVERNANCE HAS PUT IN PLACE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS VERY AMBITIOUS PLAN IMPLEMENT AS BEST POSSIBLE AND THE METHOD OF FINANCE, INCLUDING THE, AND THE TIMING OF AN ELECTION ARE WE RECOGNIZE THAT THOSE TWO THINGS ARE STILL VERY MUCH IN MOTION AND UNDER DISCUSSION.
AND PLEASE KNOW THAT THESE ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO THE CHAMBER.
UH, WE WANT TO BE A PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND BEYOND PROJECT CONNECT AS THE RIGHT PLAN AT THE RIGHT TIME, MAKING SURE THAT GOVERNANCE IS RIGHT AND THAT THE FINANCING PIECE, UH, MAKES THE MOST SENSE FOR WHERE WE ARE IN TIME IS.
AND IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT THE CHAIN, SO WITH THAT, THIS IS, THIS IS FUN TO WATCH SUCH A HISTORIC MEETING AND TWO REALLY IMPORTANT, UH, ENTITIES WORKING TOGETHER ON, UH, ON MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE WELL POSITIONED TO HANDLE THE FUTURE AND MAKING INVESTMENT PROTECTION.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK AT THE CHAMBER, GETTING READY TO, OR LOOKING AT OUR PLAN AND BEING ABLE TO RESPOND TODAY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE KEVIN MILLER.
YOU CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER THEN WILL BE JESSE PENDEGRASS YES.
NOT SPEAKING IF YOU'RE A, YOU MUTE YOUR MICROPHONE.
WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND NOISE.
UH, I WANT TO ECHO AN EARLIER SPEAKER.
HAVING THESE MEETINGS ONLINE HAS MADE THEM A LOT MORE ACCESSIBLE.
CERTAINLY FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME, PLEASE CONTINUE TO HOST THESE MEETINGS ON AN ONLINE AND ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENT THIS WAY.
UM, HELLO MEMBERS OF THE CAP, METRO
[00:55:01]
BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL.I'VE LIVED IN THE AUSTIN AREA FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS, AND I'M A RESIDENCE.
I'M A RESIDENT IN DISTRICT SEVEN.
I'M CALLING IN TODAY TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION THAT SUPPORTS PROJECT CONNECT SYSTEM PLAN.
UM, I SUPPORT THIS PLAN IN LARGE PART BECAUSE I'VE HAD A VERY POSITIVE EXPERIENCE WITH AN EXPENSIVE PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM.
WHEN I LIVED IN SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA FROM 2009 TO 2011, WHILE I WAS THERE, I WAS MAKING THE EQUIVALENT OF ABOUT 20,000 US DOLLARS A YEAR, WHICH IS AN APPARENT BY ALL APPEARANCES.
IT'S A FAIRLY MEAGER INCOME, BUT I MADE A VERY COMFORTABLE LIVING ON THAT MEAGER INCOME AND NO SMALL PART TO MY ABILITY TO GET AROUND WITHOUT NEEDING A CAR.
WHEN I LIVED IN SOUTH KOREA, I DID NOT OWN THE CAR AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO OWN A CAR.
I WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL TO ANY PLACE IN THE CITY USING THE SUBWAY SYSTEM AND A BICYCLE.
UM, THE SUBWAY SYSTEM, THERE WAS FAST.
IT WAS VERY FREQUENT, UH, ARRIVING AT A STATION.
YOU COULD GET ON A TRAIN ABOUT ONCE EVERY FIVE OR 10 MINUTES OR SO, AND IT WAS EXTREMELY RELIABLE.
THIS MADE IT VERY CONVENIENT FOR SPUR OF THE MOMENT TRAVEL AND IT TOOK CARE OF ABOUT 99.9, 9% OF MY TRANSPORTATION NEEDS.
NOW FLIPPING IT IN YOUR HEAD RIGHT NOW.
IT'S PRETTY MUCH MANDATORY FOR THE MOST PART.
I OWN A CAR NOW, BUT HONESTLY I WOULD PREFER TO DO AWAY WITH IT.
IF I COULD, LIKE WHAT GOING WITHOUT A CAR WOULD MEAN FOR ME IS GETTING MORE EXERCISE WHEN I TRAVEL WALKING AND BIKING AND SUCH.
AND I ALSO FIND IT IMPORTANT ON A PERSONAL AND GLOBAL LEVEL TO CONTRIBUTE FEWER EMISSIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND LOWER MY CARBON FOOTPRINT.
BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT CARS ARE AN EXPENSIVE ENTRY BARRIER TO ENGAGING WITH SOCIETY.
FOR ANYONE YOU CAN LIST MANY, MANY COSTS, POINTS INVOLVEMENT IN OWNING A MOTOR VEHICLE, CAR LOAN, PAYMENTS, INSURANCE PAYMENTS, FUEL COSTS, PARKING COSTS, MAINTENANCE COSTS, REPAIR COSTS, REGISTRATION COSTS, ALL THESE COSTS ADD UP AND CAN TAKE UP HUNDREDS OF MONTHLY DOLLARS IN ANY BUDGET.
AND THIS HONESTLY MAKES IT HARDER FOR ANYONE TO MAKE A COMFORTABLE MIDDLE-CLASS LIVING IN THE CITY.
SOME PEOPLE CAN AFFORD THESE COSTS, BUT I BET THAT MANY PEOPLE WOULD PREFER TO DO WITHOUT THEM, ESPECIALLY OUR LOWER INCOME CITIZENS.
IT'S WORTH MENTIONING ALSO THAT CARS ARE DANGEROUS.
THEY'RE DANGEROUS FOR CYCLISTS.
THEY'RE DANGEROUS FOR PEDESTRIANS AND ARE DANGEROUS.
YOU CAN THROW THE MOTORISTS THERE, BOTH THINGS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO CLIMATE CHANGE, AND THEY REALLY ARE AN INEFFICIENT WAY TO MOVE MASSES.
THEY CERTAINLY HAVE THEIR PLACE, BUT THEY SHOULDN'T BE MANDATORY AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE THE PRIMARY MODE OF TRANSIT IN THE CITY OR ANY CITY.
IF I JUST RUN OUT OF TIME, IF YOU COULD WRAP UP, ALRIGHT, LET'S WRAP IT UP.
I'M VERY HAPPY WITH THE SYSTEM PLAN THAT PROJECT CONNECTS PUT AS PUT OUT.
I'M HAPPY THAT IT FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON LIGHT RAIL.
I THINK IT'S, IT'S NECESSARY TO SEE IT AS A STARTING POINT.
WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO EXPAND LIGHT RAIL IN THE YEARS AFTER THIS WAS IMPLEMENTED, ESPECIALLY IN EAST AUSTIN, WE NEED TO REDUCE CAR DEPENDENCY, MAKE CAR OWNERSHIP, OPTIONAL, PLEASE SUPPORT THIS PLAN.
UH, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE ELIZABETH JANE BRADBURY.
UM, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YEAH, GO AHEAD.
JANE BRADBURY AND, UM, I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN WHILE WITH A SHORT BREAK FOR SOME EDUCATION, UM, ALMOST ALL MY LIFE AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10.
UM, AND I'M COMING HERE TODAY IN, IN MOST, MOSTLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROPOSAL.
UM, I FIRMLY SUPPORT LIGHT RAIL FOR THE CITY OF THIS CITY OF THIS SIZE, REALLY.
UM, AND, AND I REALLY LOVE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WAS TRYING TO LOOK FOR, UM, STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE LOCALLY, WHICH IS REALLY CRITICAL.
AND, UM, AND I LOVE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT EQUITY.
UM, ALL RIGHT, IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO JUST HAVE EQUITY AS A BUZZWORD.
UM, AND WHEN I WAS LOOKING FOR WAYS THAT THIS PROPOSAL WAS ACTIVELY RACIST, I COULDN'T FIND VERY MANY.
UM, AND WHAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE
[01:00:01]
IS A COMMITMENT, UM, TO IMPLEMENTING THIS POLICY, MAYBE PUT THIS PROPOSAL, UM, UM, OBSERVED THAT PRIORITIZES RACIAL AND ECONOMIC EQUITY AND LAND ACQUISITION FOR TRANSIT LINE.UM, YOU KNOW, PRICKLY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE LOST MORE PROPERTY, UM, TO CITY SERVICES AND PUBLIC SERVICES, A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT.
SO I WOULD LIKE US TO BE AWARE OF THIS IS A GOAL THAT WE AVOID THAT FORM, THAT WE CREATE EQUITY THERE.
UM, AS AN ACTIONABLE ITEM, NOT JUST AS A BUZZ WORD.
UM, I ALSO WANT THERE TO BE A PRIORITY IN TRANSIT FLOW, TIMING AND VOLUME TO BE PRIORITIZE FOR ROLE INCOME AREAS OF THE CITY.
SO I LOVE THAT WE SAY THIS PLAN WILL HELP LOWER INCOME INDIVIDUALS.
IT'S NOT GUARANTEED THAT PUBLIC TRANSIT BENEFIT, LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS.
IT MATTERS HOW IT'S IMPLEMENTED TINY VOLUME AND SLOW MATTERS, WHERE THERE ACTIONABLE ITEMS FOR EQUITY AND, UM, OVERALL EXPANDED LOW-INCOME ACCESS.
SO ONE OF THE ISSUES IS THAT LOW INCOME MEANS ARE GETTING PUSH, UM, TO DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CITY VERY RAPIDLY.
AND SO, UM, WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THAT, THAT WE ARE MAPPING AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO THOSE AREAS, UM, BECAUSE WE CAN'T SIMULTANEOUSLY DISPLACED PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR LAND AND THEN NOT GET AN ACCESS TO THEIR JOBS IN THE SERVICES THAT WE REMOVED THEM FOR.
SO, UM, I REALLY THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON, UM, IN ALL AREAS BEING ACTIVELY ANTI-RACIST AS OPPOSED TO JUST PASSING THE PROGRESSIVE.
I'M SO EXCITED THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT MODERNIZING AUSTIN
UM, BUT I WANT US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE COMMITTED ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS IT'S SHARE.
COULD I MAKE A QUICK COMMENT TO DR.
BRADBURY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE COMMENTS, UM, PARTICULARLY FOR, YOU KNOW, POINTING OUT HOW IMPORTANT IMPLEMENTATION IS.
UM, I WANTED TO, TO, UM, TO SAY TO YOU THAT, UM, THE CITY AND CAP METRO HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT, UH, PARTICULARLY AROUND ADDRESSING DISPLACEMENT ISSUES.
UH, THIS HAS MENTIONED IN THE RESOLUTION AND WHERE WE SITE, UM, IN FRONT OF US TODAY, WHERE WE CITE, UM, WHAT WAS PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL TO, TO, TO LOOK AT DISPLACEMENT PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT.
SO WE HERE, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TALKING WITH US ABOUT THIS AND, UM, YOU HAVE OUR COMMITMENT TO, UM, TO, UH, TO BE, TO TAKE ACTION, TO ADDRESS WHAT YOU'VE RAISED AND CHEROKEE.
I ALSO WANTED TO OFFER A COMMENT TO, UM, THE SPEAKER.
UM, YOU'LL LOOK AT THE MAP AND YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE ARE PARTS, UM, EAST WEST IN AUSTIN THAT, UH, DON'T HAVE AS AS MANY LINES GOING TO THEM.
THAT IS AN ACTIVE CONVERSATION.
UH, THAT IS AN ACTIVE CONSTANT CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE BEEN HAVING IN THESE JOINT MEETINGS WITH CAPITAL METRO, WITH THE CAP METRO BOARD AND AMONG OURSELVES.
IT IS VERY CLEAR TO US THAT THE PATTERNS, THE TRANSPORTATION PATTERNS IN THE CITY HAVE BEEN MORE NORTH TO SOUTH THAN I EVER HAVE BEEN EAST TO WEST.
AND, UM, MAYBE THAT'S BECAUSE OF TOPOGRAPHY IN THE FIRST PLACE.
UM, BUT WE ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT YOU ARE POINTING OUT AND, UH, THAT, UH, ENSURING SERVICE TO ALL PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR ALL OF US.
SO THANKS FOR BRINGING THOSE COMMENTS AND PLEASE BE ASSURED THAT, UM, WE ARE AWARE WE'RE NOT DONE.
UH, IT WILL TAKE, UM, EXTRA EFFORTS ON OUR PART TO MAKE SURE THAT BUS LINES, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE EXTENDED IN ORDER TO GET TO COMMUNITIES WHERE RAIL MAY NOT.
UH, BUT THAT IS AN ACTIVE CONVERSATION THAT IS ONGOING.
MAY I COMMENT ON THAT? I VENT THAT IT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO WORK TOGETHER.
NOT ONLY AS WE TALK ABOUT TRANSIT POLICY, BUT AS WE TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND AS WE, AND AS WE BUILD PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS WELL, I THINK THAT IT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT HISTORICALLY WE'VE HAD THE SOUTH BROWN'S
[01:05:01]
BOOK, BUT THAT ALSO, UM, SOME OF THE AREAS OF THE CITY HAVE NOT HAD ACCESS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOLLARS, AND MANY OF THOSE PLACES ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION, UH, BY COMPANIES MOVING INTO THE AREA.AND NOW, AS WE, AS WE LOOK AT, UH, NEW PARTS OF THE, UH, OF THE COMMUNITY, LIKE ONE, I BET BETTER BE DEVELOPED ON, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE LOOK AT BANKS LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT TO THOSE AREAS ALSO THAT WE BUILD THE PARTNERSHIPS.
SO WE USE OUR CHAPTER 380 AND CHAPTER THREE 81 FUNDS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THAT IS NECESSARY, UH, TO, UH, TO MAKE TRANSIT POSSIBLE IN THOSE AREAS THAT WE MAKE THAT A PRIORITY AS WE HAVE WITH, WITH, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING OVER THE LAST GENERATION.
IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE USE ALL OF OUR POLICIES THAT WE BUILD OUR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS IN OUR TITLE, ONE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE TRENDS THAT IN MIND AS WELL, SO THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS BECOME A PARTNERSHIP.
AND WE MOVE INTO AREAS JUST AS CAP.
METRO HAS MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS IN THE MAINER AREA.
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT BETWEEN MAINER AND WHAT, 83, THAT WE ARE MARSHALING ALL OF OUR ECONOMIC RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GENUINELY, UM, PROVIDE ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSIT OVER TIME.
SO IT IS THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE NOT LOOK AT ONE SET OF INVESTMENT DOLLARS, BUT THAT WE LOOK AT MULTIPLE SETS OF INVESTMENT DOLLARS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS THAT OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE.
DAVID KING, MR. KING, ARE YOU WITH US CHAIRMAN COOPER, MAYOR.
MR. KING, MAKE SURE TO PRESS STAR SIX.
IF YOU ARE UNMUTED JEREMY, YOU CAN'T SEE ME IN THE TOUCHDOWN FOR MADISON HERE.
AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE.
YEAH, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO JUST SPEAK UP BECAUSE I, I CAN'T SEE THE RAISED HAND FEATURE.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ECHO SOME OF THE COMMENTARY COLLEAGUES, BOTH FROM THE COUNTY AND FROM THE COUNCIL.
UM, I REALLY APPRECIATED THE LAST SPEAKERS COMMENTARY AND I WANT US TO, YOU KNOW, RAISE THAT FLAG.
UM, I BELIEVE WHAT THEY SAID WAS ACTIVE ANTI-RACISM AND NOT PASSIVE PROGRESSIVISM.
I THINK, UH, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT WE'RE WANTING TO MOVE TOWARDS AND, AND HAVE IT BE ONE OF OUR GOALS, STRATEGIC OUTCOME GOALS.
MR. KING, IF THIS IS, IF THE TEAM YES.
MY NAME IS AND YOU HEAR ME? YES.
UH, MY NAME IS DAVID KING AND I LIVE IN BASIC FIVE.
AND I'M CALLING TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE FULFILL COUNCIL MEMBER ANTIGENS REGULATION TO ENSURE THAT TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS UNDER PROJECT CONNECT, DON'T LEAD THE GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT, THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL RECENTLY UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION.
AND I HOPE THIS JOINT BODY WILL UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.
I BELIEVE THAT EACH OF YOU UNDERSTAND THAT MAJOR TRANSIT PROJECTS LIKE PRIVATE TEANECK, UNINTENTIONALLY FACILITATE INVOLUNTARY DISPLACEMENT OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES LOCATED ON OR ADJACENT TO TRANSIT CORRIDOR.
MOST LOW INCOME FAMILIES, MEANING THE TELLER AND SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES THIS WAY FOR MAJOR TYPE OF PROJECTS AND TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT, NEVER RETURN.
THEY ARE INSTEAD TYPICALLY REPLACED WITH HIGHER INCOME FAMILY AND HIGH END BUSINESSES THAT ARE INACCESSIBLE TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES.
PLEASE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING KEY STATEMENT FROM AN ARTICLE IN THE PENNSYLVANIA GENERAL LAW, HE BROUGHT HIM MAKER CENTERED PROJECTS AND DISPLACEMENT.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS ACTING AS A MECHANISM BY WHICH POOR PEOPLE ARE DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES.
SO THOSE WHO WOULD BENEFIT, MOST OF THEM ARE SET OUT FROM ENJOYING HIM ONCE OR EVEN BEFORE THE DEVELOPMENT'S REACHED HIM.
PLEASE CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP PREVENT INVOLUNTARY DISPLACEMENT
[01:10:01]
ASSOCIATED WITH TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT AND MAJOR TRANSIT PROJECTS LIKE PROJECT CONNECT THESE ABOUT THE POLICY THAT AT LEAST 25% OF ALL BOND FUNDS ARE STRICTLY DEDICATED TO DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE DIRECT SUPPORT TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AND SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES LOCATED ON OR ADJACENT TO TRANSIT QUARTERS IN PROJECT CONNECT, PLEASE ADOPT A DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT DISPLACEMENT POLICY FOR ALL TRANSIT AND LAND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND REQUIRE COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENTS FOR ALL TRANSIT AND LAND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ENSURE THAT ALL TRENDS AND LAND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS INCLUDE LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, AND SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES TO OVERSEE AND FACILITATE DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION PROGRAM AND ENCOURAGE PEP CAMPO CAPITOL AREA, METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION TO ENACT POLICIES AND PLUGINS TO PREVENT AND STOP DISPLACEMENT AND INCLUDE LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES, ALL SENSITIVE PROJECTS, LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAS BEEN MARGINALIZED FOR GENERATIONS, INEQUITABLE DEVELOPMENT, AND AUSTIN HAS GENTRIFIED AND DISPLACED THEM.NOW THEY ARE LITERALLY FALLING FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES.
SISSIFIED THE TOBER TENDON WILL PROJECT TO NEXT WITH SOME OVER THERE, OR WILL IT HELP ME SAY THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING MY COLLEGE AND FOR YOUR SERVICE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE, UH, CHANDLER CANDY.
JIM, ARE YOU WITH US? HELLO EVERYBODY.
I KEEP MUTING AND UNMUTING ME.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR UNDER GRANT WONDERFUL LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
I WORKED THREE JOBS, TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND.
I WASN'T SOMEBODY IN A WHEELCHAIR.
AND I ALSO WORK ON THE EAST SIDE, UM, AS SOMEBODY, A PART OF THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.
I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PROPOSAL.
UH, MY VERY FIRST PROTEST WAS 20 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL FOR THIS LIGHT RAIL.
SO IT'S ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL FOR ME TO SEE IT ACTUALLY COME TO LIFE.
UM, AND JUST KEEP EXPANDING IT.
I KNOW THIS IS THE BEGINNING AND NEED MUCH MORE.
UM, SO THANK YOU ALL ALSO, UM, MY FRIEND SUGGESTED, AND I THINK IT'S A WISE IDEA ON OUR CURRENT AROUND SYSTEM.
IT DOES ENTER THE HIGHWAY AND I 35, RIGHT NEAR AN ATB.
I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY WISE TO HAVE A STOP THERE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY BETTER.
I KNOW IT'S INTENDED TO BE A COMMUTER RAIL, BUT IT IS UNDER SERVING THE COMMUNITY AS A COMMUTER RAIL.
IF WE ADDED SOMETHING ELSE ON THERE THAT WOULD GET PEOPLE ON THE TRAIN, I THINK PEOPLE WOULD JUMP ON.
UM, FINALLY TOMORROW Y'ALL WILL BE TALKING ABOUT DEFENDING THE POLICE.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY I 100% SUPPORT THAT IDEA AND MONEY FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT GOING TOWARDS THINGS LIKE THIS THAT SERVES THE PUBLIC GOOD AND MAYBE MAKE PEOPLE FEEL AT HOME AND WELCOME IN THEIR OWN CITIES.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY, CHAIR, IF I MIGHT COMMENT ON THAT.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY, UM, TO THE RED LINE SPECIFICALLY.
UM, IT IS A COMMUTER SERVICE, AS YOU SAID, IT SERVES A LOT OF FOLKS IN MY DISTRICT IN FAR NORTH WEST AUSTIN.
THOSE TRAINS ARE FULL, UM, IN THE MORNING, THERE'LL BE FULL AGAIN WHEN THE PANDEMIC IS OVER AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT INFILL STATIONS ON THAT LINE AND THE OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WHAT THAT WOULD REQUIRE.
SO THOSE CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE.
AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CARLOS LEON.
YEAH, QUE SOY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, JUNE 10, 20, 21ST AND FOREMOST, BUT ALSO SOMETHING ELSE FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TO TODAY'S RESOLUTION AT A PREVIOUS PROJECT CONNECT Q AND A AT CITY HALL WITH MAYOR ADLER CAT, METRO CEO, CLARK SAID DRIVER ACCOUNTABILITY STOPS WITH HIM YET.
SOME BUS DRIVERS CONTINUE HARASSING ME AND OR NOT BOARDING OR TRANSPORTING ME DESPITE EXPLICIT WRITTEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT THEIR ASS BACKWARDS, ALIEN ANTI-HUMAN BEHAVIOR, VIOLATING CAP, METRO POLICY AND PROCEDURE AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION CODE 13
[01:15:01]
ALLEGEDLY GOING STRAIGHT TO TAMMY QUINN DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, THEREFORE BECAUSE DRIVERS IMPLEMENT CAT METRO'S PLANS ON THE ROAD, PROJECT CONNECT WILL FAIL IN PRACTICE UNLESS, AND UNTIL THESE WORK DRIVERS ARE REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH RULE FOLLOWING LAW, ABIDING DRIVERS, BECAUSE I AM NOT THE ONLY REGULAR RIDER BEING REPEATEDLY TARGETED BY THEM BECAUSE PUBLIC CAP, METRO SUBCONTRACTS DRIVERS FROM PRIVATE ENTITIES LIKE MV CAP, METRO DOES NOT HAVE DIRECT CONTROL OVER ITS DRIVERS THOUGH.THEY ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS PROTECT THIS LAW WHEN DRIVING FOR CAP METRO, BECAUSE THIS COLD WAR BETWEEN THOSE ATTACKING DRIVERS AND US TARGETED PASSENGERS HAS BEEN FOUGHT FOR YEARS.
CAT METRO APPEARS TO BE UNABLE AND OR UNWILLING TO SOLVE THIS FATAL FLAW IN ITS SERVICE DELIVERY.
THEREFORE THIS SYSTEMIC INSTITUTIONALIZED LONGTERM ACCOUNTABILITY, FAILURE POINTS TO OVERDO POLICY, PRACTICE FUNDING AND ORGANIZATION CHANGES TAILORED TO CAP METRO, BUT SIMILAR IN SERIOUSNESS AND SCOPE TO THOSE FOR APD BEFORE CITY COUNCIL, TOMORROW, YOU NEED TO IMPLEMENT PRONTO FOR PROJECT CONNECT TO SUCCEED.
OTHERWISE THE VOTERS SHOULD REJECT THE BILLION DOLLAR BOND YOU WANT PASSED IN NOVEMBER BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTED ONGOING ABUSES OF POWER BY GUILTY MILITARIZED DRIVERS MUST BE SEVERELY PUNISHED AND PERMANENTLY STOPPED.
NOW LIKE THOSE COMMITTED BY GUILTY MILITARIZED COPS.
SO ALL PASSENGERS CAN PEACEFULLY RIDE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
SO ALL PROTESTERS CAN PEACEFULLY ASSEMBLE BECAUSE ALL LIVES MATTER AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS FOR ALL DRIVERS TOPS AND YOU GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE PUBLIC SERVANTS, MEANING YOU SERVE US WITH THE POWER.
WE, THE PEOPLE IN TRUST IN YOU, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS IN JESUS' NAME.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CONSTITUTIONAL LAW ON TRUTH AND ABOVE ALL GOD'S WORD.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE BOB HENDRIX, MR. HENDRICKS, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL CAP, METRO BOARD.
I'M BOB HENDRICKS MEMBER OF THE SIERRA CLUB, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND CHAIR OF OUR CLIMATE CHANGE COMMITTEE.
THE SIERRA CLUB NOTES THAT TRANSPORTATION IS NOW THE LARGEST COMPONENT OF THE AUSTIN AREA, CARBON FOOTPRINT, AND WILL SOON ACCOUNT FOR OVER HALF OF ALL OUR DIRECT CARBON EMISSIONS.
IT'S YOUR CLUB ALSO NOTES THAT LOW INCOME RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY PERSONS OF COLOR DEPEND ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR WORK AND ESSENTIAL TRIPS, AND THAT WE SHOULD ENSURE OUR PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM WORKS WITH THEM SINCE AN EFFECTIVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IS CRITICAL TO REDUCING TRAFFIC AND CONGESTION IN THE AUSTIN AREA, WHICH IN TURN INCREASE GREENHOUSE GAS, EMISSIONS AND AIR POLLUTANTS, THE AUSTIN SIERRA CLUB, STRONGLY URGENCY TO ADOPT PROJECT CONNECT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BAY SKOGEN BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS BASS SCOTT, AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP, OR JUST TEXTBOOK FOR SHORT WHERE PUBLIC INTEREST AND CONSUMER ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION.
WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR 50 YEARS OF PROTECTING THE INTERESTS OF EVERYDAY TEXANS LIKE YOU AND ME.
AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE SUPPORTING THE PROJECT CONNECT SYSTEM PLAN.
FEW THINGS ARE A BETTER EMBODIMENT OF PUBLIC GOOD THAN PUBLIC TRANSIT FROM ITS BENEFIT TO OUR HEALTH, TO THE AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS.
WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE THAT PUBLIC TRANSIT WILL BENEFIT EVERYONE.
TRANSPORTATION IS INDEED THE LEADING CAUSE OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTRY.
AND IF WE'RE GOING TO COMBAT THE WORST OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS, WE CAN NO LONGER RELY ON A SYSTEM OF CULTURE SYSTEM OR CULTURE IN WHICH CAR OWNERSHIP IS THE END ALL BE ALL OF WAYS TO GET AROUND.
WE ABSOLUTELY MUST GET PEOPLE MORE OPTIONS TO GET TO WORK AND TO GET TO THE GREAT MUSIC AND FOOD THAT AUSTIN HAS TO OFFER.
AUSTIN SCHOOL OF 50 50 MODE SHARE IS A GREAT TARGET TEAM FOR, AND THE CITY SHOULD BE LAUDED FOR IT.
THIS TRANSIT PLAN IS THE BEST STEP WE COULD TAKE TOWARD ACHIEVING THAT GOAL.
AND FURTHER THE PROCESS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON THIS PLAN WAS, WAS COMPREHENSIVE AND IMPRESSIVE.
AND KAT METRO DESERVES EXTENSIVE CREDIT FOR THEIR AMAZING WORK.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR BRAVERY AND TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTING AS CENTRAL WORKERS DURING THE PANDEMIC.
WHAT HAS COME OF ALL THESE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, INPUT, GATHERING, AND COMMUNICATION WITH ADVOCATES LIKE
[01:20:01]
ME IS A GENERATIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THE WAY WE GET AROUND TOWN.WE ABSOLUTELY MUST TAKE OPPORTUNITY IN TEXTBOOKS REPORT HIGHWAY BOONDOGGLES.
WE NOTE THAT THE ONLY WAY TO REDUCE CONGESTION AND MOBILE SOURCE EMISSIONS IS THROUGH DEMAND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES.
FURTHER THAT BUILDING MORE ROAD CAPACITY WILL ONLY EXACERBATE OUR RELIANCE ON SINGLE OCCUPANCY CARS, WHICH CONGEST OUR STREETS AND POLLUTE OUR AIR.
THIS PHENOMENON OF INDUCED DEMAND IS SO WELL ESTABLISHED NOW BEING CALLED THE FUNDAMENTAL LAW ROAD CONGESTION.
SO WE KNOW THE ONLY WAY TO ADDRESS CONGESTION AND POLLUTION IS WITH MORE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS.
TEXT BERG WAS VERY HAPPY TO FOUND STUDENTS FOR TRANSIT, A COALITION OF UT STUDENTS DEVOTED TO PROMOTING PUBLIC TRANSIT AND SUPPORTING THE PROJECT CONNECT PLAN.
AND JUST UNDER SIX MONTHS OF ORGANIZING, MORE THAN 2,600 STUDENTS SIGNED ON IN SUPPORT OF THE VISION MAP, HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS ATTENDED OUR MEETINGS AND IN ALL OF OUR CONVERSATIONS, STUDENTS KNOW WHAT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS TO ALL OF US THAT A ROBUST TRANSFORMATIONAL PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM PROMOTES EQUITY REDUCES OUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION AND MAKES OUR STREETS SAFER TODAY.
BERG, ALONG WITH OUR SISTER GROUP ENVIRONMENT, TEXAS, OUR STUDENT GROUPS, STUDENTS FOR TRANSIT, AND ALL OF OUR MEMBERS ARE STANDING UP AND SUPPORTING PUBLIC TRANSIT.
AND THE PROJECT CONNECT PLAN SPECIFICALLY AFTER ALL TRANSIT IS MUCH LIKE TREES.
IT'S GREAT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT THE BEST TIME TO HAVE PLANTED ONE WAS 20 YEARS AGO.
NOW THE SECOND BEST TIME IS TO DO IT RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME AND I HOPE YOU WILL VOTE TO PROOF.
AGAIN, OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS ANDREW CLEMETT.
MR. COLEMAN, ARE YOU WITH MR. MR. COORDINANCE? I DON'T BELIEVE WAS ABLE TO JOIN VERY WELL.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE? UH, THAT CONCLUDES MY LIST.
I BELIEVE WE'RE DONE VERY WELL.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.
WE'LL NOW GO INTO OUR FIRST OF OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS AND UPDATE ON PROJECT CONNECT A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UH, AND THEN RECOMMENDED PROJECT CONNECT SYSTEM PLAN, AND THEN LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVES FOR THE PLAN.
AFTER THE PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION WITH BOARD AND COUNCIL CAP, METRO BOARD WILL CONSIDER AN ACTION ON ADOPTING THE SYSTEM PLAN AND LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVES.
AND THEN THE CITY WILL CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER AN ACTION ITEM.
UM, THIS NIERENBERG WOULD YOU LIKE TO START US OFF? OH, THERE WE GO.
YEAH, I CAN'T TAKE YOUR MUSIC.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS, BOARD MEMBERS, PRESIDENT CLARK AND MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
MY NAME IS JACKIE NIERENBERG AND I AM COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER FOR CAPITAL METRO.
TO SAY THAT WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE REACHED THIS CRITICAL MILESTONE IN THE PROJECT CONNECT PROCESS WOULD BE THE UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE DECADE.
IT HAS BEEN A LONG AND CHALLENGING JOURNEY.
CAN WE ADVANCE? THANK YOU COUPLE MORE TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO BE, UH, TALKING ABOUT OUR ENGAGEMENT, HOW WE GOT HERE, WHY WE NEED TO BUILD, WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT TODAY'S ACTION AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BREAK.
THEN WE'LL BE OVERSEEING THE PROGRAM, TALKING ABOUT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND FINALLY WHAT OUR NEXT STEPS ARE.
I THINK WE CAN ADVANCE TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR JOURNEY WITH ENGAGEMENT.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN EMBARKED ON THIS JOURNEY WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, REALLY THIS DISCUSSION HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER 20 YEARS, THIS COMMUNITY.
AND IF ACTUALLY MR. HENRY'S COMMENTS REMINDED ME THAT IT'S BEEN A LOT LONGER THAN 20 YEARS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BACK TO THE SEVENTIES.
UM, CAPITAL METRO BEGAN THE LATEST
[01:25:01]
ITERATION OF THIS CONVERSATION NEARLY FOUR YEARS AGO FOR TWO OF THE SLEEP.THE CITY OF AUSTIN WAS EMBARKING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF IS AN HISTORIC MOBILITY PLAN, THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN, MAKING THE TIMING RIGHT TO RELAUNCH THE EFFORT TO BRING BETTER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION CHOICES TO OUR COMMUNITY CAP.
METRO JOINED THE ASN P EFFORT AND TOGETHER WE EMBARKED ON THE LARGEST AND MOST CLOSELY COORDINATED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORT.
WE LAUNCHED A JOINT ADVISORY COMMITTEE TOGETHER AND BEGAN TO DEVELOP A VISION FOR WHAT COULD BE IN DECEMBER OF 2018.
WE REACHED THE FIRST BIG MILESTONE FOR PROJECT CONNECT.
WHEN THE CAP METRO BOARD APPROVED THE PROJECT CONNECT CONDITION PLAN, THE ASM P TEAM WAS BUSY GATHERING INPUT FROM OUR COMMUNITY ON THEIR MOBILITY PRIORITIES, THE TOP COMMUNITY RESPONSE, A DESIRE FOR MORE TRANSIT.
THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED THE ASM P IN APRIL OF 2019 SETTING THE STAGE FOR A POLICY THAT WOULD PAVE THE WAY FOR PROJECT CONNECT TO MOVE FORWARD AND LAUNCHING A NEW PHASE IN OUR PLANNING PROCESS TOGETHER, CAT METRO AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAVE HELD SIX JOINT WORK SESSIONS TO REVIEW TECHNICAL PLANS, EXPLORE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND GOVERNANCE, AND BEGIN TO IMAGINE HOW THIS PLAN COULD BE BROUGHT TO LIFE.
AT THE LAST OF THOSE WORK SESSIONS ON MARCH 9TH CAP, METRO STAFF MADE OUR RECOMMENDATION BASED ON YEARS OF ANALYSIS, PLANNING AND COMMUNITY INPUT FOR THE PROJECT CONNECT SYSTEM PLAN, A SERIES OF PUBLIC MEETINGS WERE PLANNED FOR APRIL, BUT OF COURSE, THOSE HAD TO BE CANCELED WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, BUT WE WERE NOT DETERRED.
AND IN MAY, WE REINVENTED THOSE MEETINGS AS VIRTUAL GATHERINGS, SILVER LINING, GREATER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THOSE MEETINGS THAN WE HAD EVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE.
AND THAT BRINGS US TO TODAY'S HISTORIC JOINT SESSION.
THERE WILL BE TWO MORE OF THESE SESSIONS THIS SUMMER TO DISCUSS ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LOCALLY, LOCALLY LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION, EXCUSE ME, AND FUNDING, AND TO DISCUSS A POSSIBLE REFERENT OF ACTION.
THE THREAD THAT'S RUN THROUGH ALL OF THESE MILESTONES HAS BEEN A DELIBERATE AND PAINSTAKING EFFORT TO MEANINGFULLY ENGAGE WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR PARTNERS.
PUBLIC INPUT HAS BEEN A CRITICAL CATALYST FOR PUSHING THE PROCESS FORWARD.
IT HAS BEEN OUR GOAL TO ENSURE COMMUNITY VOICES HAVE INFORMED THIS PROCESS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, THIS COUPLED WITH THE LOCKSTEP COORDINATION BETWEEN CAP METRO, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND OTHER OTHER PARTNER AGENCIES HAS BEEN THE KEY TO MAKING PROJECT CONNECT THE COMMUNITY'S PLAN.
HERE'S A SNAPSHOT OF OUR ENGAGEMENT.
WE HAVE ACTUALLY NOW ENGAGED CLOSER TO 60,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE LAST FEW DAYS.
WE'VE ADDED SOME FROM DIFFERENT ENGAGEMENTS WE'VE DONE IN MAY, AND THIS IS A PHENOMENAL OUTCOME FOR US.
WE'RE SO EXCITED THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO INCLUDE SO MANY VOICES IN OUR ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
AND WE'VE DONE THIS IN A NUMBER OF WAYS FROM STREET TEAM OUTREACH, TO LIVE MEETINGS, TO VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE MEETINGS, TO TAKING A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BUS OUT TO THE STREETS AND PARKING IT AT GROCERY STORES AND FOOD PANTRIES TO ENGAGE FOLKS THAT NORMALLY WON'T ENGAGE WITH US.
WE'VE ALSO ENGAGED TWO STAKEHOLDER GROUPS.
OUR TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF STAFF MEMBERS OF OUR PARTNER AGENCIES THAT MEETS MONTHLY AND I PROJECT CONNECT NETWORK, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE PEKIN, WHICH INCLUDES 150, UH, ORGANIZATIONS AND STAKEHOLDERS REPRESENTING A VARIETY OF VIEWS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN CLOSELY COORDINATING WITH THE CORRIDORS PROGRAM OFFICE AND OF COURSE THE ASM P WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF JOINT MEETINGS AS WE'VE, AS I STATED EARLIER, WITH THE LAST TWO SET FOR JULY AND AUGUST, JULY 20TH AND AUGUST 7TH.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR PROJECT CONNECT AMBASSADOR NETWORK.
AND THESE ARE FOLKS THAT DON'T HAVE TO SPEND THEIR TIME WITH US, AND YET THEY DO.
THEY'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT TRANSIT.
THEY'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT GIVING US THEIR OPINIONS AND THEY'VE SERVED AS A SOUNDING BOARD FOR PROJECT CONNECT, PLANNING, PROJECT CONNECTING ENGAGEMENT, AND GIVING SHINING A LIGHT ON THE COMMUNITY VOICES THAT ARE OFTEN
[01:30:01]
UNHEARD.THERE ARE THREE SUBCOMMITTEES FOR OUR PECAN GROUP.
ONE IS THE TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE.
ANOTHER IS THE COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT SUBCOMMITTEE.
AND THE THIRD IS THE PLACEMAKING COMMITTEE.
ALL OF THESE SUBCOMMITTEES HAVE INFORMED THE WAY WE DO THINGS FROM THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS TO THE WAY WE COMMUNICATE WITH OUR PUBLIC.
I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION OUR TWO ADVISORY COMMITTEES, OUR BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEES AT CAPITAL METRO, THE ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, BOTH WHO HAVE BOTH OF WHICH HAVE BEEN BRIEFED ON A REGULAR BASIS ON PROJECT CONNECT, GIVEN US FEEDBACK, AND FINALLY HAVE CULMINATED IN RESOLUTIONS TO SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDED SYSTEM PLAN.
OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH HAS BEEN A MOVING TARGET IN THE SENSE THAT WE ARE CONSTANTLY REINVENTING THE WAY WE REACH OUT TO PEOPLE.
WE'VE DONE THINGS LIKE EMPLOYER BASED ENGAGEMENT, RECOGNIZING THAT SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OR THE LUXURY TO COME TO ONE OF OUR PUBLIC MEETINGS OR EVEN THINK ABOUT REACHING OUT TO US, SETTING UP TABLES AND IN THE BREAK ROOMS AND LUNCH ROOMS OF EMPLOYERS HAS ALLOWED US TO ENGAGE WITH PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.
WE OF COURSE HELD THREE TRAFFIC JAM EVENTS.
WE BEGAN THOSE TO TRY TO GET THE COMMUNITY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE WERE THINKING ABOUT DOING AND THE LEGACY WE WANTED TO LEAVE.
UM, AND WE CONVENED THESE TRAFFICKING, UH, JAM EVENTS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY AND HAD RECORD ATTENDANCE AT THOSE.
UM, WE ALSO HAD COMMUNITY AND PARTNER EVENTS TO FOCUS OUR TARGET AUDIENCE ON THOSE THAT WERE NOT LIKELY TO COME ACROSS OUR MATERIALS IN OTHER WAYS.
AND WE BUILT, BUILT AND MAINTAINED SOME LASTING PARTNERSHIPS WITH GROUPS LIKE ONE VOICE OF CENTRAL TEXAS LULAC, THE AUSTIN URBAN LEAGUE, JUMP ON IT AND OTHERS THAT REPRESENT VOICES.
WE DON'T NORMALLY HEAR FROM, TO GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH THOSE COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO MAKE AN EDUCATED DECISION ABOUT WHAT THEIR TRANSIT SYSTEM SHOULD LOOK LIKE.
NOW I MENTIONED WE HAD TO PIVOT TO VIRTUAL LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
UM, BUT OUR VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE, WHICH LAUNCHED IN MAY, UH, MAY 7TH WAS ACTUALLY, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE HAD BEEN DOING ALL ALONG AS AN ACCOMPANIMENT TO OUR PUBLIC MEETINGS OR FOLKS THAT COULDN'T, OR DIDN'T WANT TO SHOW UP IN PERSON.
WE ALWAYS HAD AN ACCOMPANYING OPEN HOUSE ONLINE WHERE PEOPLE COULD VIEW THE SAME MATERIALS THAT PEOPLE WERE VIEWING IN THE PUBLIC OPEN HOUSES AND GIVE US THE FEEDBACK THAT WE WERE ASKING AT THOSE MEETINGS AS WELL.
SO WE LAUNCHED THE, THE VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE ON THE RECOMMENDED SYSTEM PLAN MAY 7TH.
WE HAD A TOTAL OF 3,500 UNIQUE VIEWS OF THE VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE WITH OVER 1300 SURVEY SUBMISSIONS.
NOW JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THAT WITHIN THREE WEEKS, THAT THAT IS QUITE A BIT OF ENGAGEMENT.
UM, WE WERE VERY PLEASED WITH THAT LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT AND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE COMMENTS WE HEARD VIA THE VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE AT 34% OF PEOPLE WHO PROVIDED COMMENTS SAID THEY SUPPORTED THE PROJECT.
UM, 41% OF PEOPLE WHO PROVIDED COMMENTS STATED THE NEED FOR BETTER CONNECTIVITY IN OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM.
SOME OF THE COMMENTS WE HEARD WERE LIKE THE ONE ON TOP HERE, IT'S PAST TIME FOR US TO DO THIS.
WE'RE A LARGE INTERNATIONAL CITY AND HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS.
THIS PROPOSAL IS TRANSFORMATIVE AND ENDURING.
IT'LL BE OUR LEGACY TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW MORE OF THESE, YOU CAN ALSO DO THAT, UH, AT OUR PROJECT CONNECT, UH, ENGAGEMENT DASHBOARD, WHICH IS ON THE PROJECT CONNECT WEBSITE.
AND I'LL POINT TO THAT AGAIN, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
NOW OUR VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE ASKS PEOPLE TO GIVE US THEIR LEVEL OF AGREEMENT ON A NUMBER OF STATEMENTS THAT DESCRIBE THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THE PROJECT CONNECT SYSTEM PLAN AND THE SYSTEM PLAN AS A WHOLE, THE POSITIVE OR THE AGREEMENT NUMBERS WERE ASTOUNDING.
UM, JUST ONE, FOR EXAMPLE, 90% AGREED THAT THE RECOMMENDED SYSTEM PLAN CREATES A MORE ACCESSIBLE TRANSIT SERVICE.
AND THERE WAS AGREEMENT ON THE BLUE LINE AND GOLD LINE THAT BOTH OF THOSE SHOULD BE BUILT.
90%, A HIGH 80% AGREEMENT ON THE SEVEN NEW REP METRO RAPID ROUTES, 92% AGREEMENT ON THE ORANGE LINE.
[01:35:01]
WAS 88% AGREEMENT ON METRO EXPRESS HIGH AGREEMENT AGAIN ON CONSTRUCTING THE DOWNTOWN TRANSIT TUNNEL.THAT WAS 90%, 92% AGREEMENT ON EXPANDING LOCAL CONNECTIONS AND 84% AGREEMENT ON THE RED LINE, THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RED LINE AND ON BUILDING THE GREEN LINE.
SO ALL OF THIS IS A RESOUNDING YES, FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW I MENTIONED THAT THESE VIRTUAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS REPLACED SOME MEETINGS THAT WE HAD SCHEDULED FOR APRIL.
THESE WERE OUR MEETINGS THAT WE'RE FEATURING YOU ARE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS IN YOUR DISTRICT.
UM, WE TRIED TO RECREATE AS BEST WE COULD THAT SAME METHODOLOGY FOR OUR VIRTUAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE LIST OF THOSE MEETINGS THAT HAPPENED IN MAY, UM, ON THE LEFT, THE PIE CHART SHOWS SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE COLLECTED QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS THAT WERE COLLECTED.
SOME OF THOSE THEMES INCLUDED EQUITY ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY, THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT, UH, THE RECOMMENDED SYSTEM PLAN DETAILS OPPORTUNITIES.
AND HOW WOULD, HOW WOULD THE TIMELINE AND PHASING WORK? WHAT WOULD GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE LOOK LIKE? HOW DOES THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IMPACT THE PROJECT SUPPORT FOR PROJECT CONNECT AND A LITTLE BIT OF UNFAVORABILITY FOR PROJECT CONNECT AS WELL? OVERALL, WE, WE HAD A HUGE PARTICIPATION OVER 13,500 UNIQUE VIEWS.
THESE INCLUDED VIA ZOOM WHERE THE MEETINGS WERE, THE PLATFORM, THE MEETINGS WERE HELD ON FACEBOOK LIVE BECAUSE WE DID A SIMULTANEOUS LIVE FEED ON FACEBOOK AND ON YOUTUBE.
IN ADDITION TO THESE, WE ALSO RECOGNIZED, YOU KNOW, WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT FOLKS THAT COULD NOT CONNECT DIGITALLY OR DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE CONNECTING DIGITALLY.
SO WE DID DO A RADIO BROADCAST ON K ACI RADIO.
WE ALSO HAD ONE OF OUR MEETINGS, THE MAY 26 MEETING FEATURING THE MAYOR WAS BROADCAST ON ATX ED.
AND FINALLY TO REACH OUR SPANISH SPEAKING COMMUNITY, WE WORKED WITH ODBC ON TO DO A LIVE TOWN HALL ON FACEBOOK LIVE, WHERE PEOPLE COULD CALL IN WITH THEIR QUESTIONS AND THAT LIVE TOWN HALL WAS VIEWED BY 10,500 SPANISH SPEAKING COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
SO THAT WAS A REAL THRILL FOR US AT A NEW HIGH FOR US AS WELL.
NOW I MENTIONED, WE DO HAVE A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DASHBOARD.
SOME OF YOU HAVE SEEN THIS IN THE PAST, BUT I DID WANT TO POINT YOU TO THIS TOOL BECAUSE IT'LL ALLOW YOU TO SEE WHERE OUR ENGAGEMENTS HAD HAD HAVE HAPPENED AND HOW MUCH ENGAGEMENT HAS COME FROM THE AREAS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, YOU CAN ALSO LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF EVENTS AND THE DIFFERENT EVENTS WE'VE DONE AS WELL AS THE RAW COMMENTS THAT HAVE COME IN AND THEMES OF COMMENTS THAT HAVE COME IN.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO VISIT, TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE HEARD.
YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR WHAT YOUR QUESTION WAS ALREADY ANSWERED IN THERE OR ALREADY ASKED.
UM, AND IT'S JUST BEEN A WONDERFUL TOOL TO DEMONSTRATE OUR TRANSPARENCY AND OUR WILLINGNESS TO KEEP DOING BETTER WITH OUR ENGAGEMENT EVERY DAY.
SO BEFORE I MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT SPEAKER, I DO WANT TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, UM, REGARDING OUR ENGAGEMENT, UM, CHEER.
I WAS HAVING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.
SOMEONE JUST DISCOVERED MY HAND HAD APPARENTLY BEEN UP THE ENTIRE MEETING.
NO WONDER I'VE BEEN SO HOT AND TIRED, I GUESS.
UH, JUST, UH, A QUICK QUESTION AS PART OF THE BREAKDOWN ON THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UM, DO YOU HAVE SOME STATISTICS AS TO, UH, HOW MUCH OPPORTUNITY WE'VE HAD TO GET SPECIFICALLY FEEDBACK, UH, FROM MINORITY, FROM THE MINORITY COMMUNITY, UM, FROM, UH, INDIVIDUALS IN THE HISPANIC AND THE BLACK COMMUNITIES, UH, FROM NEIGHBORHOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS FROM CHURCHES.
WE HAD MEETINGS IN PLACES LIKE THAT TO SPECIFICALLY TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK AND THOUGHTS ON THIS AND ON ADDRESSING ISSUES OF EQUITY AND THAT KIND OF THING.
WE DO HAVE INFORMATION ON THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DASHBOARD OF EACH OF THE MEETINGS AND EACH OF THE PLACES WE'VE BEEN, WE ALWAYS ASK PEOPLE AT OUR VIRTUAL ENGAGEMENT AND WHENEVER THEY FILL OUT SURVEYS TO PROVIDE US WITH THEIR ZIP CODE, AND THAT ALLOWS US TO SEE WHERE IN THE COMMUNITY OUR COMMENTS ARE COMING FROM.
IT'S ALSO A PRETTY GOOD INDICATOR DEMOGRAPHICALLY
[01:40:02]
OF WHERE WE'RE GETTING FEEDBACK.UM, AND THOSE ARE THE, THOSE ARE THE STATISTICS I WOULD POINT TO, IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE DASHBOARD TO TAKE, JUST TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE WE'VE BEEN AT, WHO WHO'S BEEN THOUGHT, OKAY, BUT WE HAVE, OR CAN YOU ADDRESS, HAVE WE HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO DO SOME OF THESE, UH, OUTREACH MEETINGS, UH, SPECIFICALLY IN SOME OF THE ZIP CODES THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN OH, YES, YES, YES.
IN FACT, I MEAN, THAT, THAT HAS BEEN PROBABLY THE MOST EFFORT HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO HOW DO WE REACH PEOPLE WHO NEED TO GIVE US THEIR INPUT? THE MOST, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO NEED, NEED THE SERVICE THE MOST.
UM, AND SO EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, WHEN I SAY THAT OUR ENGAGEMENT HAS BEEN A MOVING TARGET, THAT'S A BIG PART OF WHY IS THAT WE'RE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO INNOVATE WAYS OR, AND SOMETIMES IT'S NOTHING FANCY.
IT'S JUST ABOUT BEING IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME, TALKING TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
UM, OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THEM GROUPS LIKE ONE VOICE OF CENTRAL TEXAS WITH LULAC, THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF PARTNERSHIPS THAT HAVE ALLOWED US TO, TO FIGURE OUT WHERE AND HOW TO BEST ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES, REFUGEE COMMUNITIES, ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE NEED TO HEAR FROM THE MOST.
UM, AND SO THAT'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS HELP FOR US IN GETTING THE WORD OUT AND CONNECTING.
UM, SO YES, THE ANSWER IS A RESOUNDING YES, WE'VE MADE A HUGE EFFORT IN THAT, IN THAT VEIN.
THAT WAS A LOT OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK JACKIE.
UM, I, UM, I APPRECIATE ALL THE OUTREACH THAT HAS BEEN DONE AND WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO UNDERS I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT WILL CONTINUE IN TERMS OF OUTREACH, UM, AND PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN, IN MECHANISMS TO ACTUALLY REACH DEEPER INTO THE COMMUNITY AND BE INTERESTED, UH, IN HOUSE PARTIES, FOR EXAMPLE, AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO ACTUALLY, UM, MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.
UM, YES, THE, THE EFFORT WILL CONTINUE.
UM, WE JUST, JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO DID A CONVERSATION WITH INTERFAITH ACTION ON ONE OF THEIR COMMUNITY DIALOGUES, WHICH THEY DID VIRTUALLY, UM, VENTURE TO SAY THAT A LOT OF THE FOLKS THAT WERE ONLINE WATCHING AND ASKING US QUESTIONS, WE'RE LEARNING A LOT ABOUT THE PROJECT THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT.
SO WE KNOW THERE'S STILL FOLKS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY WHO DON'T KNOW ABOUT PROJECT CONNECT AND IT'S OUR AIM TO CONTINUE TO EDUCATE AND KEEP PUSHING THE ENVELOPE ON GETTING TO THOSE COMMUNITIES WHO NEED TO BE HEARD AND GETTING TO THOSE COMMUNITIES WHO NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING AND HOW IT WILL IMPACT THEIR LIVES.
I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER HANDS RAISED NOR WITH THE PRESENT TENSE.
AND NOW AS MUCH AS WE LIKE TO TALK ABOUT OUR ENGAGEMENT AND THE FEEDBACK WE'VE GOTTEN, WE ALSO FELT LIKE IT WAS IMPORTANT TO DO A SORT OF A TEMPERATURE CHECK.
AM I OKAY TO MOVE FORWARD? YES.
UM, SO IF WE COULD JUST ADVANCE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
UM, OUR NEXT SPEAKER JOSE BURRITO IS WITH SHERRY MATTHEW'S GROUP AND WE ENGAGED SHERRY MATTHEW'S GROUP TO DO SORT OF A TEMPERATURE CHECK OF THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE AS MUCH AS WE'VE GOTTEN INPUT AND ENGAGED A WHOLE LOT OF FOLKS, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S STILL FOLKS OUT THERE THAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM.
AND SO JOSE IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT A SURVEY THAT THEY CONDUCTED, UM, JUST RECENTLY FOR OUR COMMUNITY ASKING SOME OF THE THINGS, SAME THINGS THAT WE ASKED IN OUR ENGAGEMENT.
I DON'T KNOW IF MY CAMERA'S ACTIVATED OR IF I'M JUST FORCED AT THIS FORCE.
AS JACKIE SAYING, WE WERE, WE WERE ASKED TO DO A SURVEY SO THAT WE COULD DO A TEMPERATURE CHECK, UH, AND FIGURE OUT IF WHERE OUR RESIDENTS WERE, WHERE OUR AUDIENCE WAS AS WE EMERGED FROM KOBE.
AND WE WANTED TO DO A CHECK TO VERIFY THAT ALL THE PLACES AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WERE SAYING PRE COVID, WE'RE STILL RELEVANT,
[01:45:01]
UH, AS WE EMERGE, OR AS WE, AS WE WADE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, OUR METHODOLOGY FOR THE SURVEY, WE ADD AN ONLINE SURVEY USING SURVEY MONKEY.THE PLATFORM WAS A LUCID SAMPLE.
THE PROVIDER AND LUCID IS A WELL-RESPECTED INDUSTRY LEADER IN SAMPLING.
THEY'VE GOT TENS OF MILLIONS OF RESPONDENTS AVAILABLE FROM 200 AND 200 PLUS 250 PLUS SAMPLES SOURCES, OF COURSE THAT'S WORLDWIDE.
BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU AN INDICATION THAT, UH, WE USED A SAMPLING COMPANY OF, UH, A WELL KNOWN SAMPLING COMPANY, THE FIELDING PERIOD WAS FROM MAY 8TH THROUGH THE 27TH, AND WE CLOSED THE SURVEY ON THE 27TH.
WE HAVE A TOTAL SAMPLE OF 407 RESPONDENTS, IF WE COULD.
I NEEDED TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? HI, HERE WE GO.
WELL, THIS IS WHAT I JUST WENT THROUGH.
SO LET ME CATCH UP TO MY ZOOM MOMENT.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS WE ASKED IS HOW SATISFIED ARE YOU QUALITY OF AUSTIN'S PUBLIC TRANSIT CHOICES? UM, OUR SATISFACTION WITH TRANSIT IS GOOD, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE BETWEEN SOMEWHAT SATISFIED, NOT SATISFIED AND NOT VERY SATISFIED, IT COULD BE BETTER.
SOME OF THIS REFLECTS AS YOU'LL SEE A LITTLE BIT LATER ON, UM, PUBLIC PERCEPTION IS IT'S BEEN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF OUR SURVEYS AND FOCUS GROUPS WITH OUR RESIDENTS, INDICATING THAT FOLKS ARE VERY MOTIVATED BY TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND SOLVING THE, UH, ACCESSIBILITY AROUND TOWN CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
SO IMPROVING OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM, HOW IMPORTANT IS AN IMPROVED PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM TO AUSTIN? IT SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE TO YOU, BUT, UH, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO SOMEONE IMPORTANT TO 92% OF THE POPULATION.
I CAN TELL YOU FROM, YOU KNOW, SURVEYS, TELL YOU WHAT PEOPLE THINK.
AND WHEN WE TALK TO PEOPLE IN PERSON INTERVIEWS, FOCUS GROUPS, THEY WOULD FIND OUT WHY THEY THINK IT AGAIN, DRIVEN BY SOME OF THE CONGESTION ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING, UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE, UH, WE'RE FACING A INTENSE GROWTH IN THE FUTURE.
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE TRANSIT AND HAVING A TRANSIT SYSTEM IS A HIGH PRIORITY.
UH, ONE LAST THING THERE SEEMS TO BE WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT FOLKS AND EVERY TIME WE TALK TO FOLKS, THERE SEEMS TO BE THIS DOUBLING OF THE POPULATION BY 2040 AND AN EXPECTATION THAT WE WILL NEED TO DO SOMETHING ALSO FEEDS INTO, UM, THE FACT THAT THE TRANSIT SYSTEM IS PERCEIVED IMPROVING THE SYSTEM IS PERCEIVED.
SO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE ASKED FOLKS AGAIN, INSPIRED BY HOW PEOPLE SPOKE ABOUT TRANSIT AND SOME OF OUR FOCUS, WHICH WENT OUT AND ASKED A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS BACK TO BACK.
AUSTIN IS THE 11TH LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY.
HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR AUSTIN TO HAVE A PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM SIMILAR TO OTHER LARGE CITIES? WHY DID WE ASK THAT? UM, A LOT OF FOLKS THAT WE SPOKE TO WERE NOT AWARE OF THE SIZE OF AUSTIN, BUT ONCE THEY WERE, UH, THEY WERE MADE AWARE OF WHERE WE RANKED GENERALLY IN POPULATION, NOT ONLY THAT AND HOW MUCH WE WERE GOING TO GROW IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS, THE NEED TO BE, UM, A CITY THAT IS COMPARABLE TO ITS SIZE FROM A TRANSIT STANDPOINT, THE NEED FOR TRANSIT CAME TO THE FOREFRONT OF THE CONVERSATIONS AND YOU SEE IT HERE 98% THINK IT IS IMPORTANT.
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE PUBLIC TRANSIT SIMILAR TO OTHER LARGE CITIES.
I CAN TELL YOU FROM CONVERSATIONS AS WELL, THE REFERENCE POINTS TO OTHER LARGE CITIES ARE ALWAYS SEATTLE AND SAN FRANCISCO AND NEW YORK AND BOSTON PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF WHAT OTHER MAJOR CITIES HAVE IN SO FAR AS TRANSIT.
AND THE SECOND QUESTION IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT TO LIVE UP TO OUR POTENTIAL.
AUSTIN SHOULD HAVE A PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM LIKE OTHER MAJOR CITIES.
IT MAY SEEM AT FIRST GLANCE THAT IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF THE SAME QUESTION.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE TALKED TO FOLKS AT WORK POTENTIAL, UM, IS VERY INTERESTING.
WHEN WE TALK TO FOLKS INDIVIDUALLY, THEY HAVE AN EXPECTATION OF WHAT AUSTIN WOULD BE OF WHAT IT WANTS TO BE, AND IT DOES TIE INTO THE SIZE, BUT IT ALSO TIES INTO A YEARNING FOR IT TO LIVE UP TO WHAT IT CAN BE.
THAT'S POTENTIAL IN THIS SENSE.
AND HERE WE SAY, 97% AGREE WITH THAT GENERAL SENSE.
LET'S GO ON TO THE NEXT ONE, PLEASE.
WHAT IS YOUR IMPRESSION OF CAPITAL METRO? VERY
[01:50:01]
POSITIVE 19 PLUS 20%, SOMEWHAT POSITIVE, 61%, SOMEWHAT NEGATIVE 18, 2%, VERY NEGATIVE.WE'VE SEEN THESE NUMBERS, UH, THE IMPRESSION BETWEEN VERY POSITIVE AND SOMEWHAT POSITIVE, UH, GROW OVER TIME.
AND, UH, THIS IS, THIS IS A VERY GOOD READ OF WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
FOLKS WANT MORE TRANSIT AND THEY HAVE A HIGH EXPECTATION OF WHERE WE CAN GO.
CAPITAL METRO IS IN A PLACE AT LEAST FROM PUBLIC PERCEPTION WHERE THERE IS, UH, THERE'S A POSITIVE, UH, PERCEPTION FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO START WITH THE NEXT ONE.
SO, AS I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING, ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANTED TO DO WAS HOW DID KOBE, HOW DID THE PANDEMIC, DID THE PANDEMIC CHANGE ANY OF THE VALUES, THE MINDSET, THE PRIORITIES OF THE PUBLIC.
AND SO WE ASKED THE QUESTION GENERAL QUESTION, WHICH ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ARE IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR QUALITY OF LIFE IN AUSTIN AND SELECT ALL THAT APPLY.
ADDRESSING TRAFFIC CONGESTION WAS SELECTED BY THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE, BUT THIS WAS AN OPEN-ENDED, THIS WAS AN OUT, BUT THEY COULD CHOOSE AS MANY OF THESE STATEMENTS AS THEY WANTED, UH, PROTECTING OUR HEALTH POST COVID-19 WAS CLOSED BEHIND AS SELECTED BY THE NOTES.
MOST RESPONDENTS ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS, INCREASING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FINDING A HEAD FOR AUSTIN'S GROWTH, PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND STIMULATING THE LOCAL ECONOMY, ALL VERY STRONG INDICATORS OF 50% WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING THESE SPECIFIC STATES.
NOW YOU HAVE TO THINK WE, SO WE WANTED TO CHECK OURSELVES AS WELL AND GO WELL.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT OVERALL TRAFFIC IS STILL VERY IMPORTANT.
LET'S JUST HEAD STRAIGHT ON INTO THE, INTO THE ISSUES WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW.
IF WE COULD CHECK THE NEXT SLIDE, LET'S RANK THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE AT THE MOMENT AS OF THE END OF THE SURVEY, PROTECTING OUR HEALTH POST COVID-19 RANKED THE VERY FIRST, UM, WE BELIEVE THIS IS TO BE EXPECTED.
IT'S THE OCEAN WE'RE SWIMMING IN.
IT IS, IT IS, UH, ONE OF THE ISSUES OF THE MOMENT, CERTAINLY A VERY IMPORTANT ONE.
AND THE ONE THAT WAS, UH, UH, MOST RELEVANT AT THE TIME OF THE END OF THE SURVEY.
YOU'LL SEE THOUGH, THAT ADDRESSING TRAFFIC CONGESTION, 14% INCREASING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, 12 STIMULATING LOCAL ECONOMY, 10 FINDING AHEAD FOR AND GROWTH AND PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT SEVEN.
YOU'LL SEE THAT PRACTICALLY THOSE FIRST FIVE OF THOSE FIRST FIVE INDICATORS, ALL TYING INTO A LOT OF THE BENEFITS OF, OF, OF TRANSIT ITSELF.
SO, UM, WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU THAT CHECK ON COVET.
WE'RE VERY ENCOURAGED BY THE NUMBERS AND BY THE IMPORTANCE THAT FOLKS, UH, THAT FOLKS ARE GIVING OTHER ISSUES.
WE, I CAN ALSO SAY FROM CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME FOCUS GROUPS THAT PEOPLE ARE, UM, PEOPLE CAN WALK AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME.
THEY UNDERSTAND THEIR ISSUES OF THE MOMENT AND THEIR UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO QUOTE UNQUOTE TAKE CARE OF.
UM, AND THESE FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY.
SO IN THE SURVEY, WE, WE REVEALED BIT BY BIT.
UM, WE REVEALED WHAT, WHAT THE DETAILS OF PROJECT CONNECT FOR NOW.
WE HAVE A, UH, MY SCREEN WENT A LITTLE FUNDING.
WE HAVE A VERY POSITIVE 50, 52% OF PROJECT CONNECT, SOMEWHAT POSITIVE, 43%.
THAT'S A 90 PLUS PERCENT APPROVAL RATE OF PROJECT ITSELF.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THAT MEANS THAT WHEN WE SHOW PEOPLE WHAT THE FEATURES ARE FOR RAIL, I KNOW MORE METRO RAPID, UH, CIRCULATORS, ALL OF THE FEATURES OF PROJECT CONNECT.
IT IS A CLEAN READ ON, WE HAVE A GREAT PRODUCT, SO TO SPEAK.
UM, I THINK IT'S ALSO A TESTAMENT TO THE PLAN THAT'S BEEN PUT TOGETHER AND DAVE COUCH AND HIS TEAM THAT, UM, TYING INTO WHAT JACKIE WAS SAYING THAT THE PLAN HAS BEEN DEVELOPED FROM A COMMUNITY COMMUNITY STANDPOINT, A COMMUNITY INPUT STANDPOINT.
I THINK WE FEEL THAT THIS PORTION OF THE SURVEY REALLY REFLECTS THE FACT THAT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN LISTENING.
SO WE HAD NOT HAD OVER THE YEAR PLUS YEAR AND A HALF, THAT WE'VE BEEN TESTING PROJECT CONNECT WITHOUT THE DETAILS OF THE PLAN PROJECT CONNECT WITH SOME OF THE DETAILS OF THE PLAN, ONLY A BUS VEHICLES, PROJECT CONNECT, AND THEN FINALLY PROJECT CONNECT WITH ALL OF THE FEATURES IT HAS TODAY.
[01:55:01]
AFTER WE, WE ASKED THIS QUESTION, PROJECT CONNECT WILL BE FUNDED BY AN ANNUAL INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES AVERAGING 200 A YEAR PLUS PLUS, EXCUSE ME, $200 A YEAR PLUS STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS.HOW DOES THIS IMPACT YOUR SUPPORT FOR PROJECT CONNECT? UM, THE $200 WE WERE TIPPING OUR, WE WEREN'T TIPPING OUR TOES IN THE WATER, SO TO SPEAK.
WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE COST WOULD BE, BUT WE WANTED TO GET SOME IDEA HOW PEOPLE WOULD REACT TO A COST BEING A FIXED TO THE PLAN.
AND A 23% ACTUALLY INCREASED THEIR SUPPORT.
23% SOMEWHAT INCREASED THEIR SUPPORT.
AND 26% DID NOT AFFECT THEIR SUPPORT.
THAT'S 71% 71% INCREASE YOUR NET CHANGES, SUPPORT 29%, SOMEWHAT DECREASED OR NO LONGER WOULD SUPPORT GIVEN THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE USE THE WORD TAX.
UM, WE WERE VERY ENCOURAGED, ACTUALLY KIND OF SURPRISED BY THIS OUTCOME.
UM, ESPECIALLY IN A DRY SURVEY SETTING.
I THINK IT, I THINK IT UNDERSCORES, UM, BOTH THE BENEFITS OF THE PLAN, THE FEATURES OF THE PLAN AND THE DEMAND TO ADDRESS TRANSIT AND GROWTH.
AND, UM, THAT'S KIND OF A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE SURVEY WE TOOK.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE DOING QUESTIONS OR NOW, OR A LITTLE BIT LATER.
UM, ARE THERE QUESTIONS FOR JOSE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
WE'VE GOT TIME HERE IN THE PROGRAM.
IF FOLKS HAVE QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW.
AND IF I COULD ASK A QUESTION, UH, THE PERSON WHO ASSISTED ME IN THE IMPLEMENTATION AND ACTUALLY DID THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE SURVEY IS ONLINE.
IF YOU COULD ACTIVATE HER MICROPHONE SO THAT SHE COULD HELP ME ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS, IF NEEDED PLEASE.
WHO'S GOING TO CALL WHO DO I CALL ON PEOPLE? VERY GOOD.
UM, I APPRECIATE THESE, UM, SURVEY RESULTS.
UM, I NOT SURPRISED TO SEE THAT PROTECTING OUR HEALTH AND COVID IS, UM, TOP OF MIND.
UM, AND I HAVE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE, UM, TO MR. CLARK AND THE STAFF THAT ARE WORKING ON THIS.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE HEAD ON IF WE'RE GONNA BE APPROACHING, UM, A INITIATIVE, UM, WITH THE VOTERS.
UM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME, BUT AT SOME POINT TODAY, I WOULD, UM, DEFINITELY WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT HOW CAP METRO AND PROJECT CONNECT.
UM, GRANTED IT'S NOT BEING BUILT FOR A FEW YEARS, UM, BUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO ASSURE SAFETY ON PUBLIC TRANSIT.
CLEARLY WE HAVE THE EVIDENCE THAT THERE ARE MANY FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE NO CHOICE, BUT TO RELY ON TRANSIT, BUT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO ARE CHOICE USERS, UM, WHICH ALSO IMPACTS THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM.
UM, AND SO I WOULD, I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS HEAD ON.
UM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF NOW'S THE TIME WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE ADDRESSING THEM LATER.
I CAN MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON THAT IF YOU'D LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND I KNOW YOU'RE THAT I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF DISCUSSIONS ON THAT.
SO OBVIOUSLY WITH COBIT, UH, IT'S AN EVOLVING, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S AN EVOLVING PANDEMIC, BUT ALSO A RESEARCH PROJECT IN SO MANY WAYS.
CAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD ARE STUDYING THIS.
UH, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF INFORMATION FROM AND EUROPE THAT IS SHOWING THAT THERE'S VERY LITTLE TO NO, UH, CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT NEAR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
A GOOD EXAMPLE MIGHT BE HONG KONG, HONG KONG MOVES ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE A DAY ON A VERY EXTENSIVE RAIL SYSTEM, PROBABLY MAYBE THE MOST DENSE COMMUNITY IN THE WORLD, UH, SOUTH KOREA, THE SAME TAIPEI, ET CETERA.
AND I THINK HONG KONG MAY HAVE JUST HAD THEIR FIFTH COVID DEATHS.
UM, SO THERE'S, SO THERE'S A LOT OF EVIDENCE AROUND THE WORLD THAT, UH, SUGGESTING, UH, TRANSIT IS VERY SAFE.
UH, RIDERSHIP IN MOST COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD IS STARTING TO INCREASE AGAIN, UH, NEW ZEALAND.
UH, I SAW A REPORT SAY, BUT NEW ZEALAND GOING BACK UP, AUSTRALIA GOING BACK UP, UH, WE ARE EVEN SEEING, UM, SMALLER GROWTH, UH, GOING BACK UP, UH, EUROPE, BUT DEFINITELY, UH, DURING THIS PANDEMIC, UH, MOST PEOPLE, I THINK THE REAL KEY IS WEARING FACE COVERINGS.
MOST OF THE RESEARCH SHOWS, UH, PEOPLE ARE ON AND OFF VEHICLES RELATIVELY QUICKLY.
THEY'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, NO ONE'S ON A BUS OR TRAIN FOR HOURS AT A TIME.
AND SO IT'S DURATION PLUS A DISTANCE TO PEOPLE AND MOST ASIAN COUNTRIES, THEY DON'T DO SIX FOOT, UH, DIFFERENTIAL ON OUR SPACE AND THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO THREE, THREE FEET WAS RECOMMENDED MASK.
MOST ALL TRENDS IN THE UNITED STATES IS ACTUALLY GOING FACE COVERINGS, EITHER REQUIRED
[02:00:01]
OR RECOMMENDED.I WOULD IMAGINE THAT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, THERE'S ALSO SIGNIFICANT, UH, RESEARCH GOING ON ON SOME ADVANCED CLEANING METHODOLOGY, UH, NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT, PROBABLY THE LEAD IN THE COUNTRY, WORKING WITH A LOT OF NATIONAL LABS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, WHETHER IT'S ULTRA VIOLET, UH, LIGHTING, WHETHER IT'S ALSO, UM, THEY HAVE SOME, YOU KNOW, MUCH ABOVE MY PAY GRADE, BUT NOT KILLER, UM, UM, SPRAYS AND OTHER DISINFECTANTS THAT SOME SUMMER ESTIMATED TO ACTUALLY HAVE NO GERM, UH, DEVELOPMENT FOR UP TO 90 DAYS.
SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A SIGNIFICANT ADVANCEMENT IN OUR, IN A WORLD OF A CLEANING TECHNOLOGY, BOTH FOR TRANSIT, UH, PROBABLY SCHOOLS MAY MAYBE EVENTUALLY BARS, RESTAURANTS, UH, SPORTS SPORTING, OR CALC CONCERT ARENAS, THAT TYPE OF THING.
UM, BUT, BUT I THINK THE MORE RESEARCH THAT COMES OUT IT'S SHOWING THAT, UH, THE, THE COVID IMPACT ON TRANSIT IS, IS NOT A SIGNIFICANT CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT.
IF ANYTHING, IT'S THE SOCIETIES THAT SEEM TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE A PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AROUND FACE COVERINGS AND KNOWING, YOU KNOW, MAYBE HAVE A MORE ROBUST PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS AND TRACING SYSTEMS. UM, SO I'D SAY IT'S A MORE HOLISTIC THING THAN JUST TRANSIT.
I'M NOT SURE IF THAT GETS TO WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AT, BUT, UM, THAT'S HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT TRENDS AND WE'RE, WE'RE MORE STUDYING EVERYTHING AROUND THE WORLD, OBVIOUSLY ON THAT.
AND WE HAD COVERED MOST OF THAT IN OUR PRIVATE MEETINGS, BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT I'M HEARING RAISED IS, IS ABOUT THAT QUESTION OF HOW DO YOU OPERATE TRANSIT IN THIS NEW COVID WORLD.
AND SO I THINK, UM, AS THAT RESEARCH BECOMES CLEARER AND WE HAVE MORE EXAMPLES, UM, I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT AVOIDING THAT MESSAGE BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO, UM, ARE CONCERNED AND CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
AND AS WITH EVERYTHING IN COVID, WE HAVE, UM, INFORMATION THAT'S EVOLVING AND ALL WE CAN DO IS OPERATE ON THE BEST INFORMATION WE HAVE.
UM, AND THE REALITY IS THAT THIS WON'T BE BUILT FOR A FEW YEARS.
SO WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY BUILT, WE NEED TO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF MORE UP TO DATE AND MORE WELL-RESEARCHED, UM, INFORMATION.
BUT I THINK THOSE KINDS OF STATEMENTS AND THAT INFORMATION IS JUST REALLY CRITICAL FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT'S TUNING IN, UM, IN THIS TIME PERIOD.
AND I KNOW THE NATIONAL TRANSIT INDUSTRY IS WORKING ON A THEY'VE HIRED INDUSTRIAL HYGIENISTS TO DO A NATIONAL STUDY THAT WILL BE COMING OUT AT SOME POINT.
AND AT CAP METRO WE'RE ACTUALLY UPGRADING ALL OF OUR SEATING FABRIC TO BE MORE HYGIENIC.
AND ONE THING THAT WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THAT WE HAVE NOW, BUT AS A BIG PART OF PROJECT CONNECT IS ADVANCED CUSTOMER TECHNOLOGY.
YOU'LL SEE IN OUR, IN OUR WHOLE PROGRAM.
AND THAT'S ALL ABOUT HOW WE CAN DO EVERYTHING CONTACTLESS ANYWAY.
SO THAT WAS ONE OF OUR BIG GAMES, WHICH IS ACCOUNT BASED SYSTEM.
YOU KIND OF JUST TOUCH YOUR, SCAN, YOUR PHONE AS YOU GO BY NEAR-FIELD TECHNOLOGY.
SO YOU'RE REALLY STARTING TO ELIMINATE TOUCH POINTS AND MAKE TRANSIT A MUCH, A MUCH MORE HYGIENIC, CLEANER, EASIER PROCESS THAN YOU WOULD EVEN WITHOUT THE COVID.
SO, BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION OR COMMENT.
THANK YOU, PRESIDENT CLARK AND OTHER QUESTIONS FOR JOSE.
REMEMBER STRATTON MAYBE HAD ONE.
UH, THIS WAS, UH, ABOUT THE, THE SURVEY ITSELF AND, UH, JUST DRILLING DOWN A LITTLE BIT ON THE METHODOLOGY.
UM, JUST WAS CURIOUS, CAUSE THIS WAS, YOU INDICATED AN ONLINE SURVEY AND ONLINE SURVEYS ARE, UM, RELATIVELY, I GUESS, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, RELATIVELY NEW, UH, IN THE SURVEY AND IN THE WORLD OF, OF SURVEYING AND QUESTIONNAIRES.
UM, SO I WAS, I WAS JUST CURIOUS HOW YOU WENT ABOUT GETTING THIS OUT, HOW YOU FOUND AND SELECTED YOUR SAMPLE SIZE OF 407, AND IT'S, MAY YOU, MAYBE YOU BE ABLE TO BREAK DOWN TO US? UM, I, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT THAT SURVEY SAMPLE LOOKED LIKE AS IT RELATED TO, UM, THE, OUR COMMUNITY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AS A WHOLE DEMOGRAPHICS, RIGHT? UH, THE SURVEY ACTUALLY, BECAUSE IT WAS A QUICK TEMPERATURE CHECK.
WE WERE NOT ABLE TO CONTROL FOR IT TO BE A HUNDRED PERCENT REPRESENTATIVE OF, UH, THE COMMUNITY.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, REPRESENTATION, WE HAVE SOME MEASUREMENTS OF, UM, FOLKS WHO TOOK THE SURVEY WHO RODE, UH, CAPITAL METRO ONCE A WEEK OR MORE.
WE HAVE AN AGE BREAKDOWN, UH, BETWEEN, AND WE CAN GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION 25 TO 34 35 TO 44, 45, 54, 55
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TO 64.WE HAVE SOME INFORMATION ON, UH, RACE AND ETHNICITY.
UM, BUT IT IS NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT REFLECTIVE.
IT'S NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT REFLECTIVE BECAUSE IT IS A QUICK TEMPERATURE CHECK.
WE DO REFER TO IT AS A DIRECTIONAL, UH, AS A STRONG DIRECTIONAL APPROACH, BUT WE FEEL THAT WITH A 407 SAMPLE THAT WE CAN AT LEAST REFLECT BACK TO THE ELEMENTS THAT I, THAT I JUST MENTIONED TO YOU PLUS HOUSEHOLD INCOME.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, I CAN TELL YOU, WE HAVE A, I THINK 45% OR FOLKS UNDER 50,000 IN INCOME, A 44%, EXCUSE ME.
UH, AND WE CAN, UH, SHARE SOME OF THAT METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION, UH, YEAH.
WHEN WE'VE COMPLETED ALL OF THE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF CRUNCHED ALL THE NUMBERS, BUT THAT'S OUR, THAT'S OUR QUICK READ ON IT.
SO BASICALLY THIS WAS A, IT WAS A, WELL, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, IT WAS A TEMPERATURE CHECK.
IT WAS JUST A QUICK TOUCH POINT TO JUST KIND OF SEE FOR, FOR, TO GET WHERE WE WERE BASICALLY KIND OF USING THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO REACH OUT IN WAYS AND CHECK PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAVE ATTENDED, UM, THE, THE, THE, THE VIRTUAL COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND OTHER THINGS.
IT WAS, UM, UH, JUST, JUST ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO KIND OF TEST, TEST THE WATERS AND CHECK WHAT PEOPLE'S FEELINGS WERE SINCE THEY WERE, UH, WELL, PRETTY MUCH STUCK AT HOME AND ON COMPUTERS.
ANYWAY, IT WAS KIND OF THE VIEW OF IT IS, IS THAT KIND OF A THING? I THINK THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD REPRESENTATION.
I ALSO THINK THAT IT CONFIRMS THAT THE MAIN DRIVERS AFFECTING THE PROJECT HAVE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY THE MAIN DRIVERS, AS FAR AS CONCERN MATCH UP TO OUR PAST EXPERIENCE, OUR PAST SURVEYS AND THE SUBJECTS WE'VE DONE.
SO WE FEEL THAT DIRECTIONALLY, THIS IS STRONG INFORMATION THAT WE FEEL CONFIDENT SHARING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK ON THAT.
OH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I THINK THAT'S, UM, THAT'S VERY POSITIVE, UM, DIRECTIONAL INFORMATION.
UM, WE WILL, OF COURSE, I'LL BE DOING, UM, MUCH MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY AS WE MOVE FORWARD PAST THIS POINT.
UH, BUT I FEEL THAT WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS REALLY GOOD, STRONG INFORMATION, UM, AND, UH, FROM A DIRECTIONAL STANDPOINT AND I FIND IT VERY, UM, UH, VERY POSITIVE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR JOSE? YEAH.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHERS OR SEE ANY OTHERS? NONE.
A QUICK COMMERCIAL FOR THE IT PROFICIENCY OF THE, UH, CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF, WE DID A FLYING VENUE CHANGE, A COMPUTER CHANGE, AND, UH, CHEYENNE KRAUSS WAS, UH, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.
SO, UH, I DIDN'T WANT TO DEPRIVE YOU OF VIDEO ANY LONGER AND SHE WAS ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE, SO THANK YOU.
UH, WE'LL HAVE, UH, DAVE COUCH BACK TO, UH, TALK ABOUT HOW WE GOT HERE AND WHERE WE NEED TO GO FROM HERE.
DAVE, ARE YOU READY? YOU'RE MUTED.
MARY, CAN YOU TAP DANCE FOR US? YOU'RE MUTED, DAVE.
CAN WE HEAR YOU AND HEAR YOU? DOES IT HAVE A SUGGESTED FIX? HERE IS YOU NEED TO CALL IN EASIEST FIX FOR, FOR DAVE, DAVE.
UM, SINCE, UH, CHEYENNE WAS AUDIBLE, SHOULD I HELP BE AN AUDIBLE TO HELP YOU TRANSITION? I WANNA MAKE SURE WE RESPECT EVERYONE'S TIME, RANDY.
I WAS JUST GOING TO THROW YOU UNDER THE PROVERBIAL BUS AND SAY, I'VE HEARD YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SINGING VOICE.
YOU SHOULD KEEP US ENTERTAINED WHILE WE WAIT IS WHAT I VOTE FOR COUNCIL.
WE DON'T THROW PEOPLE UNDER THE BUS AT CAP METRO THAT'S RIGHT.
WE DON'T USE THE BUS AND TRAIN WITH ALLERGIES.
AND I CAN'T SAY, WHAT DO I THINK A SECOND IS DAVE GETS ORGANIZED HERE.
THE FIRST WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT, THE FIRST SLIDE, WHICH IS SLIDE 25, THE TEAM AND DAVE, YOU JUST GIVE A THUMBS UP WHEN YOU ARE GOOD.
THAT'S ELSE READY TO NOT BE DOING VIRTUAL MEETINGS ANYMORE.
WE'LL JUST ADVANCE THE SLIDE 25 POLICE.
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AND DAVE IS THE LEAD OF THE TEAM ON THE CAP METRO SIDE.HE'S THE PROJECT CONNECT PROGRAM.
MANY PEOPLE GET TO KNOW DAVE PRETTY WELL THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.
UH, WE WANT THEM RECOGNIZE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS TEAM CAB, METRO STAFF, A LOT OF PEOPLE, UH, DAVE, JACKIE, AND OTHERS WHO MENTIONED THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THAT'S, UH, UH, GINA AND ALL THE ATV AND PUBLIC WORKS AND, UH, AIRPORT AND OTHER STAFF, AND ACTUALLY GREG CANALY AND THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING SPENCER AND ST MANAGER'S OFFICE.
WE'VE JUST REALLY BEEN, UH, COULDN'T HAVE TWO YEARS AGO TO HAVE A BETTER PARTNERSHIP THAN THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS REALLY GREAT.
OUR MAIN CONSULTANT LEADS ON THIS ARE HDR.
THEY'RE OUR PROGRAM MANAGER THAT WE BROUGHT ON BOARD, AND THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB LED BY BRIAN BUCHANAN, A COMM AND H NTB, BIG, UH, NATIONAL FIRMS, ACTUALLY INTERNATIONAL FIRMS. ALL THREE OF THOSE FIRMS HAVE DONE JUST AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF LARGE TRANSIT PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ACROSS NORTH AMERICA CROSS THE WORLD.
AND SO WE HAVE JUST HUNDREDS OF YEARS, EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES TO PULL IN, AND THEY'VE ALL PUT ALL THE TECHNICAL PIECES TOGETHER.
WE HAD ATG ALLIANCE AND DYE GUARD, LIFELINE, PFM, FINANCIAL AND BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP KNOWN AS BCG, ALL PART OF A PROGRAM TEAM HERE, ALL WORKING ON THINGS, WHETHER IT'S FINANCIAL, WHETHER IT'S GOVERNANCE, TECHNICAL, UH, TRANSIT RELATED MATTERS, UH, THAT IS YOUR PROGRAM TEAM.
AND THERE'S JUST DOZENS OF PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES THAT SOME OF YOU WILL NEVER ACTUALLY EVEN SEE.
AND THEY'VE JUST BEEN WORKING NONSTOP TO PUT ALL THIS TOGETHER AND THEY'VE GOT IT.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? THERE YOU GO.
UH, IT'S I HONOR TODAY TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT WE WENT OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, UH, TO GET TO A POINT THAT WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION TODAY THAT WILL GIVE US SOMETHING THAT TURNS PROJECT CONNECT INTO A REALITY, A TRUE REGIONAL SYSTEM.
ON THE FIRST SLIDE ON THE LEFT, YOU CAN SEE WHAT WAS PRESENTED.
I'M NOT OVER THE 30TH BY MR. CLARK.
IT WAS THE INITIAL VISION PLAN THAT WAS PUT OUT UPON WHICH WE HAD A SERIES OF MEETINGS, A SERIES OF CONVERSATIONS THAT ULTIMATELY WOUND UP WITH THE ADOPTION OF AN OVERALL VISION PLAN IN DECEMBER OF 2017.
WITH THAT PLAN IN 2017 WERE TWO DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR DOWNTOWN.
BOTH OF THEM ARE RELATED TO HOW THE GOAL LINE WOULD OPERATE.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'LL GO INTO DETAIL A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE PRESENTATION ON MARCH THE NINTH, WE CAME FORWARD WITH A RECOMMENDED SYSTEM PLAN, AND THAT'S THE PICTORIAL THAT IS SHOWN HERE ON THE RIGHT.
AND THERE'VE BEEN SOME CHANGES TO THAT SINCE WE MET ON THE 9TH OF MARCH.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND GO THROUGH NEXT, NEXT SLIDE.
WHAT WE HEARD AND WENT THROUGH AFTER THE NIGHT OF MARCH WAS TO LOOK AT SPECIFICALLY CHANGES THAT WERE POTENTIAL FOR THE GOAL LINE.
THE GOLD LINE IN MARCH OF 2020 WAS A BRT LINE THAT WOULD GO FROM ACC HIGHLAND TO REPUBLIC SQUARE IN LOOKING AT THAT, AND THEN LOOKING AT THE 2045 CAMPO DATA THAT AT THAT POINT IN TIME WAS STILL IN DRAFT PRELIMINARY FORM.
WE DID AN ANALYSIS OF THE GOLD LINE AND THE RESULTS OF THAT ANALYSIS WAS THAT IT SHOULD REALLY BE AN LRT LINE INSTEAD OF BRT.
IT WAS COMPLETELY SUPPORTED BY WE HAD, IN TERMS OF THE PROJECTED RIDERSHIP, AS WE ALSO LOOKED AT OTHER LINES, WE LOOKED AT THE RED LINE.
WE LOOKED AT WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE A PHASE TWO AND AS WE'D GONE AHEAD AND GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS, WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS THAT BY DOING THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE SCHEDULED FOR ADDITIONAL SIDINGS AND PASSING TRACKS AND THE ADDITION OF A COUPLE OF STATIONS AND THE ABILITY THAT IS THERE, ONCE THE ORANGE LINE IS BUILT FOR TRANSFERS DIRECTLY TO THE ORANGE LINE, WHICH WOULD GET US SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD HAVE THAT ACCESS DIRECTLY DOWNTOWN TO THE REPUBLIC SQUARE AREA, ALL THOSE ITEMS COUPLED WITH A 15 MINUTE FREQUENCY INSTEAD OF 20 IN THOSE TRANSFERS, MAKE IT POSSIBLE THAT WE WILL HAVE THE CAPACITY ON THE RED LINE WITH THE PHASE ONE IMPROVEMENTS AND NOT HAVE TO GO TO THE PHASE.
TWO SECTION THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY HAD LOOKED AT NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, WHAT THIS ALL TRANSLATES TO IS PROJECT CONNECT IS REALLY A SERIES OF PROJECTS, AND IT'S HOW THEY INTERCONNECT WITH EACH OTHER THAT ALLOW IT TO BE USED AS A COMPLETE SYSTEM.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE RECOMMENDED SYSTEM PLAN PROVIDES.
IT'S A WAY TO USE MORE TRANSIT, MORE EFFICIENCY.
IT ALSO RESULTS IN AS A RESULT OF THE IMPROVEMENTS AND THE ADDITIONAL SERVICE.
IT PROVIDES A TRIPLING OF WHAT THE CURRENT RIDERSHIP IS ON THE INITIAL BUS
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SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR UNDERLYING BUS SYSTEM.AND IT GIVES US THAT ABILITY TO GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE FUTURE AND PROVIDE THAT TRIPLING GOING TOWARDS THE ABILITY, UH, TO MEET THE GOALS THAT ARE IN THE ASM P NEXT SLIDE, THE INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS THAT ARE IN THAT RECOMMENDED SYSTEM, UH, THREE SECTIONS FOR LIGHT RAMP.
THE FIRST, THE ORANGE LINE, UH, FROM TECH RIDGE AT THE NORTH END, THE SLAUGHTER AT THE SOUTH, THE BLUE LINE IN, FROM THE AIRPORT AND THE GOLD LINE IN, FROM TECH RIDGE.
IT COMPRISES 36 MILES AND SOME 40 STATIONS AND WOULD INCLUDE THE DOWNTOWN TUNNEL.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE METRO RAPID CHANGES, THAT WOULD BE THERE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE FOR CURRENT SERVICE ON THE EIGHT OH ONE AND THE EIGHT OH THREE WOULD BE SEVEN NEW ROUTES AND APPROXIMATELY 74 MILES AND A LITTLE UNDER 200 ADDITIONAL STATIONS PROVIDING THAT BETTER SERVICE, THAT MORE FREQUENT SERVICE THAT HAS BEEN VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL ON THE EIGHT OH ONE AND THE EIGHT OH THREE, UH, THE METRO RAIL SIDE, UH, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RED LINE ON THE GREEN LINE, UH, A NEW SERVICE THAT WOULD GO FROM DOWNTOWN INITIALLY TO COLONY PARK, UH, WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR EXTENSIONS IN THE FUTURE TO GO TO MAINER AND ELGIN, NOT LEAVING OTHER THINGS BEHIND BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH OUR METRO EXPRESS, THE ADDITION OF NEW EXPRESS LINES, EIGHT OF THEM WITH FIVE OF THOSE EXPANDING OUTSIDE OF THE SERVICE AREA AND THE ATTENDANT REQUIRED PARK AND RIDES THAT WOULD GO WITH THAT.
SO THAT GIVES US THAT ABILITY TO GET OUT INTO THE FAR REACHES INTO THE REGION, UH, TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE PEOPLE THAT SERVICE INTO THE CORE METRO BUS, UH, BEING ABLE TO HAVE EXPANSION OF THE SERVICE, BETTER SERVICE, ALL OF IT GOES FORWARD AS PART OF THE OVERALL PROGRAM, METRO ACCESS, CONTINUING WITH ENHANCEMENTS AS IT CURRENTLY HAS BEEN, UH, SO THAT WE PROVIDE THAT ACCESS TO THE COMMUNITY THAT'S NECESSARY WITH ALL OF IT COMES.
OTHER ITEMS THAT HAVE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM.
THE FIRST ONE IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE A MAINTENANCE FACILITY WITH THE UTILIZATION OF LIGHT RAIL AS THE CHOICE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE A SPECIFIC LOCATION FOR A LIGHT RAIL FACILITY.
UH, ALSO WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE HIGH FREQUENCY ROUTES FOR METRO RAPID, UH, AND THE OTHER BUS SERVICE WE WOULD WIND UP WITH BEING REQUIRED TO PUT IN A NEW BUS FACILITY.
UH, ACTUALLY OUR TWO THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW ARE AT CAPACITY, NEW CIRCULATORS.
UH, WE'VE GOT SIX THAT ARE OUT RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL.
UH, AND WITH EACH ONE OF THOSE, WE'RE LOOKING TO EXPAND THAT PROBABLY TO A DOZEN, DOZEN AND A HALF.
SO THAT PROVIDES BETTER SERVICE THAT REALLY GETS YOU FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS OUT TO THE HIGHER CAPACITY, UH, IMPROVED CUSTOMER TECHNOLOGY, UH, CONTACT, MISS NICK TECHNOLOGY FOR FAIR, FAIR CAPPING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND I'LL GET INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER.
UH, AND ONE OF THE KEY BENEFITS FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDPOINT IS AN ALL ELECTRIC SYSTEM THAT LETS US GET TO ZERO EMISSIONS.
BUT WHY DO WE NEED TO BUILD IT? UH, THERE ARE A WHOLE SERIES OF BENEFITS THAT ARE THERE TO BE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND PUT A SYSTEM LIKE THIS TOGETHER.
UH, IT'S A SYSTEM THAT IS VERY SIMILAR IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT A TRANSIT MAP AND OTHER PLACES AROUND THE WORLD, UH, WHERE THE CORE AND EXTENSIONS OUT OF HUB AND SPOKE, IF YOU WILL, UH, IT'S SIMILAR TO WHAT'S THERE.
THAT'S WHAT THIS WOULD BE IN THAT IT PROVIDES AN ENTIRE NETWORK THAT LETS YOU GO AHEAD AND INCREASE WHAT YOU'VE GOT FOR CAPACITY.
IT LETS YOU RUN AT A HIGHER FREQUENCY WITH THE UTILIZATION OF THE ELECTRIC FLEET.
IT IMPROVES THE AIR QUALITY BECAUSE THE DIESELS WOULD BE RETIRED AS THEY REACHED THE END OF THEIR LIFE.
IT EXPANDS ACCESS TO JOB AND HEALTHCARE.
UH, AS MR. CLARK MENTIONED EARLIER, WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AND THE SERVICES THAT CAP METRO HAS PROVIDED DURING THE PANDEMIC SHOW THAT NEED AND THAT ABILITY AND REQUIREMENT REALLY TO BE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE TO THEIR DESTINATION, TO GET THEM EVEN IN A PANDEMIC, TO BE ABLE TO GET TO JOBS AND TO HEALTHCARE, RELIABILITY INCREASES AS WE GO AHEAD AND GET THE NEWER EQUIPMENT, THE MORE ADVANCED EQUIPMENT, AND ALSO THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRANSIT, WHETHER IT'S LIGHT RAIL, WHETHER IT EXPRESS BUS, WHETHER IT'S COMMUTER RAIL, ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS ARE PART OF THE SYSTEM.
SO, AND IT ALSO SUPPORTS THE REGIONAL PLAN, THE DIFFERENT PARK AND RIDES AND EXPRESS ROUTES THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE CORE AREA, PROVIDES THAT TRANSPORTATION AND PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND GET INTO TOWN INTO WORKPLACES.
IT ALSO GIVES PLACES FOR INVESTMENTS BEING ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND DO THINGS WITH THE INCLUSION OF THE UNDERGROUND TUNNEL THAT REALLY WOULD HAVE OPPORTUNITIES
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FOR PLACEMAKING NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.AND WITH THE CITY'S PROJECTED GROWTH, WE NEED MORE OPTIONS.
PROJECT CONNECT CREATES AN EXPANDED REGIONAL TRANSIT NETWORK TO BENEFIT US ALL.
AND IT'S BUILT WITH THE FUTURE IN MIND, WE'RE EXPANDING CURRENT TRANSIT SERVICES AND MAKING THEM MORE CONVENIENT AND EASIER TO USE.
THAT MEANS MORE SERVICE FOR US ALL WITH IMPROVEMENTS TO LOCAL BUS SERVICE, MORE INVESTMENTS IN ACCESSIBILITY, SEVEN NEW METRO RAPID ROUTES AND 24 REGIONAL PARK AND RIDES TO CONNECT CUSTOMERS INTO THE SYSTEM.
NEIGHBORHOOD CIRCULATORS LIKE PICKUP PROVIDE QUICK TRIPS, CONNECT TO ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS AND IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY.
MULTIPLE THE LIGHT RAIL LINES WILL ALLOW THE SYSTEM TO MOVE MORE PEOPLE WITH GREATER SPEED AND RELIABILITY AND USING TRANSIT WILL BE EVEN SIMPLER WITH YOUR SMARTPHONES OR SMART FARE CARDS.
YOU CAN PLAN TRIPS AND PAY FOR FARES PLUS FUTURE INTEGRATIONS TO PAY FOR AND RESERVE PARKING, BIKE RENTALS AND OTHER SMART CITY OPTIONS.
CAPITAL METRO IS COMMITTED TO HELPING CENTRAL TEXAS BECOME A CLEANER, HEALTHIER PLACE BY MOVING TOWARD AN ALL ELECTRIC ZERO EMISSIONS FLEET.
IT'S TIME TO CREATE MORE OPTIONS FOR MOVING THROUGH OUR GROWING CITY CAPITOL METROS PROJECT CONNECT.
YEAH, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO ONE OF THE THREE HIGH-CAPACITY LINES, THE LIGHT RAIL LINE, THE ORANGE LINE, UH, THAT BASICALLY WOULD BE THE SPINE OF THE OVERALL SYSTEM.
UH, YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PICTORIAL THAT THERE WOULD BE 21 MILES OF THE ORANGE LINE AND 22 STATIONS.
THERE WERE A SERIES OF TRAVEL TIMES THAT ARE SHOWN ON THIS SLIDE THAT REALLY INDICATE WHAT THOSE CHANGES WOULD BE, WHAT THE TIME SAVINGS WOULD BE.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, LOOKING AT RIDGE INTO REPUBLIC SQUARE 33 MINUTES VERSUS ONE HOUR, A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN WHAT THAT TIMING WOULD BE RIDERSHIP PROJECTIONS BETWEEN 54,070 4,000, A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF ZERO CAR HOUSEHOLDS, INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE WITHIN THE POVERTY LEVEL AT STATIONS AND MINORITY PERCENTAGES ARE ALSO A RESULT OF THE ANALYSIS THAT WE HAVE DONE EMPLOYMENT IN 2045 WHEN A HALF MILE, UH, EACH ONE OF THE LINES WOULD BE SOME 260,000.
SO IT IS A SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYMENT AREA THAT IS THEIR LONG EACH ONE.
AND AS I SAID BEFORE, THERE ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS BY GOING TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
ALSO THE DECREASE IN THE, IN THE VEHICLE MILES, UH, FOR BEING ABLE TO HAVE LESS PEOPLE IN SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLES.
UH, THE BLUE LINE, UH, AS THAT GOES AHEAD AND STARTS AT THE AIRPORT, UH, AND INTO TOWN WITH 8.2 MILES AND SOME 11 STATIONS ALSO WITH AN INTERLINING SECTION THAT WOULD OPERATE, UH, BASICALLY FROM PUBLIC SQUARE UP TO CREST UP TO NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE AN INTERLINING WITH BOTH THE ORANGE AND THE BLUE LINE AND PROVIDE A GREATER FREQUENCY OF TRAVEL IN THOSE SECTIONS IN THIS AREA.
ALSO, IF YOU LOOK AT THE SECTION, THAT WOULD BE THE SAVINGS AND TRAVEL TIME FROM THE AIRPORT INTO REPUBLIC SQUARE, BUT BASICALLY IS ALMOST A SAVINGS OF IT'S 50% OF WHAT IT WOULD BE OTHERWISE.
A RIDERSHIP ON THE LINE A IS PROJECTED TO HAVE A TOP END OF 19,000.
AND AGAIN, IT SHOWS WHAT WE'VE GOT FOR THE DEMOGRAPHICS OR THE ZERO HOUSEHOLD CARS OF SOME 10% AND DOWN THROUGH A 59% FOR MINORITIES IN STATION AREAS, EMPLOYMENT ON THIS ONE IS SLIGHTLY LESS THAN WHAT'S THERE FOR THE ORANGE LINE, BUT IT IS STILL VERY, VERY HIGH.
AS WE'VE LOOKED AT THE GOAL LINE AFTER THE MEETING ON MARCH THE NINTH, IT IS ALSO THE WAY THAT WE HAVE TAKEN IN FROM WHAT WAS A BRT LINE INTO LRT AS A RESULT OF THE ANALYSIS TO GO FROM ACC HIGHLAND DOWN TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, UH, AND OVER TO REPUBLIC SQUARE WITH THAT, UH, BEYOND IT GOES DOWN TO THE ABILITY TO GO TO THE SOUTH CONGRESS TRANSIT CENTER.
SO IN ESSENCE, WHAT YOU'VE GOT
[02:25:01]
IS BY HAVING THE BLUE LINE INTERLINE ON THE NORTH END TO THE NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER DOWN TO REPUBLIC SQUARE, AND THEN THE GOAL LINE FROM A PUBLIC SQUARE DOWN TO SOUTH CONGRESS TRANSIT CENTER.IN THAT CORE OF THE SYSTEM ON THE SPINE OF THE SYSTEM, YOU HAVE A FIVE MINUTE FREQUENCY COMBINED BETWEEN THE TWO DIFFERENT LINES OF VERY LARGE INCREASE IN CAPACITY.
AND IN SERVICE, THE AREA ALSO HAS GOT A SIGNIFICANT RIDERSHIP.
A LOT OF THAT ATTRIBUTED TO LOOKING AT THE 2045, UH, CAMPO DATA, UH, WHICH REALLY BRINGS US TO WHY WE WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN AND WHY WE LOOK AT IT NOW AS A LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM, AS OPPOSED TO A BRT, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, THE DOWNTOWN TUNNEL REALLY PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, THAT SYSTEMS AROUND THE WORLD WOULD LOVE TO HAVE, UH, IT GIVES YOU THAT COMPLETE SEPARATION FROM THE SURFACE, EVERYTHING THAT IS THERE THAT PROVIDES A TRAVEL TIME SAVINGS, BECAUSE YOU'RE COMPLETELY FREE OF EVERYTHING THAT ARE THE INTERFERENCES AND THE CONFLICTS THAT ARE AT THE SURFACE, WHETHER IT IS BUSES, WHETHER IT IS TRUCKS, WHETHER IT IS SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLES, PEDESTRIANS AT INTERSECTIONS, IT TAKES ALL OF THAT AND IT SEPARATES IT COMPLETELY.
IT GIVES THE CONFLICTS THAT ARE THERE SPECIFICALLY ON TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
IT REDUCES BY 20%, THE CONFLICTS THAT COULD BE THERE FOR THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
IT ALSO CREATES THE POSSIBILITY TO HAVE A GREAT SPACE UNDERGROUND.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE IMAGE AT THE RIGHT SHOWS YOU, THIS WOULD BE BASICALLY THE TRAIN LEVEL OF REPUBLIC SQUARE STATION, UH, WHERE YOU COULD SEE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, IT HAS GOT THE AREA WITH THE GLASS DOORS TO BE ABLE TO GO IN AND OUT OF THE TRAIN, SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU COULD SEE AT ANY OF THE AIRPORTS AROUND THE COUNTRY FOR THE LINES THAT GO BETWEEN TERMINALS.
UH, SO IT'S AN AREA THAT WOULD BE COMPLETELY AIR CONDITIONED.
IT WOULD BE OPEN AND VIBRANT FOR THE PUBLIC.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE UPPER AREAS IN A STATION LIKE THIS, IT GIVES MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO HAVE COMMERCIAL SPACE, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE PUBLIC AREAS, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AREAS WHERE THERE COULD BE RESTAURANTS.
SO IT GIVES A BIG ADVANTAGE TO BE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE THAT DOWNTOWN TUNNEL.
AND AS I SAID, THERE ARE OTHER SYSTEMS AROUND THE WORLD RIGHT NOW THAT WISH THAT THEY HAD A TUNNEL.
THERE ARE SEVERAL OF THEM THAT ARE PROCESS OF PUTTING A TUNNEL IN.
SO A TUNNEL AT THIS POINT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT OVER THE LONG TERM WILL BE A GREAT VALUE TO AUSTIN.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE RUN THE VIDEO.
ALONG WITH THE, ALONG WITH THE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM, ONE OF THE OTHER HIGH CAPACITIES AND NOT TO BE, UH, LEFT OFF TO THE SIDE IS INCREASE IN METRO RAPID SERVICE.
UH, WE CURRENTLY HAVE TWO DIFFERENT LINES THAT ARE RUNNING.
UH, ONE WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN THE EIGHT OH THREE, UH, AND THE SECOND LINE THAT BASICALLY IS
[02:30:01]
THE SPINE OF THE SYSTEM THAT WOULD BE CUT OVER AND CONVERTED TO LIGHT RAIL, UH, IS THE EIGHT OH ONE LINE.ALONG WITH THAT, WE WOULD HAVE SEVEN ADDITIONAL LINES, UH, THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 74 MILES AT 193 STATIONS.
YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN TRAVEL TIME.
THAT'S HERE PORTRAYED FOR EACH ONE OF THE TRIPS.
UH, IT STILL GIVES YOU A SIGNIFICANT CHANGING AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT TAKES FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE JOURNEYS.
UH, IT, IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY, VERY PREVALENT WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR CURRENT RIDERSHIP, UH, THAT IS VERY, VERY HIGH FOR BOTH THE EIGHT OH ONE AND THE EIGHT OH THREE AND CONTINUES TO GROW THE PROJECTED RIDERSHIP THAT IS HERE SHOWS FOR ALL OF THE LINES.
UH, AND AGAIN, EVERYTHING WOULD BE WITH A TOTALLY ELECTRIC FLEET AS WE TRANSITION AND GO TO THE FUTURE.
IT ALSO SERVES AREAS THAT HAVE GOT THE, THE ZERO CAR HOUSEHOLDS, THE AREAS WHERE THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE AT THE POVERTY LEVEL AND ALSO MINORITIES IN STATION AREAS.
SO IT GIVES YOU THAT SERVICE THAT GOES SURROUNDING THE AREA AND OUT REALLY IS A FEEDER SYSTEM THAT COME INTO EACH ONE OF THE HIGHER CAPACITY LINES.
THE TWO COMMUTER AIRLINES, THE EXISTING RED LINE THAT GOES UP TO THE NORTHWEST FROM DOWNTOWN.
UH, THERE WILL BE TWO NEW STATIONS THAT WOULD BE BUILT ON THAT LINE, UH, GIVING YOU A TOTAL OF 10 STATIONS ALONG THE 32 MILE ROUTE WITH MAKING THE CHANGES TO THE TRACK AND ADDITIONAL CITING.
IT WILL ALLOW BRINGING THE FREQUENCY, UH, DOWN TO A 15 MINUTE FREQUENCY THAT WILL PROVIDE A MUCH GREATER LEVEL OF SERVICE.
AND AS I SAID EARLIER, THERE IS THAT TRANSFER AT CRESTVIEW THAT WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO GET ON THE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM AND GO INTO THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN, AS OPPOSED TO CONTINUING THE RED LINE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE CONVENTION CENTER, THE GREEN LINE, A TOTALLY NEW COMMUTER RAIL, UH, SOMETHING IT WOULD START OUT FROM DOWNTOWN IN AN EXISTING RIGHT AWAY, UH, THAT IS OWNED BY CAP METRO THAT CURRENTLY RUNS FREIGHT.
UH, THE FIRST SECTION OF THAT WOULD SERVE FIVE NEW STATIONS ALONG AN EIGHT MILE SECTION UP TO COLONY PARK WITH THE POTENTIAL IN THE FUTURE TO GO AHEAD AND DO AN EXTENSION FAR BEYOND THAT OUT TO ELGIN ALSO IN WORK IN WORKING THROUGH THIS, AND THEN LOOKING AT THIS, UH, THERE HAS BEEN A TRANSIT ORDER DEVELOPMENT STUDY THAT WAS DONE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, AND WHAT IS THERE AND WHAT THE PLANS COULD BE REALLY COMPLEMENTS WHAT THE COLONY PARK MASTER PLAN IS, UH, GOING AHEAD AND LOOKING TO HOW THEY WANT TO BUILD OUT IN THE FUTURE.
UH, IT PROVIDES BECAUSE OF THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL GO ON REALLY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY, UH, FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE, THE TRANSPORTATION FROM THAT AREA, AGAIN, INTO JOBS AND INTO HEALTHCARE.
NEXT ONE, PAIRED WITH THAT, UH, COMING IN AND HAVING THE METRO EXPRESS, UH, AGAIN FROM THE SERVERS SUBURBS WITH PARKING RIGHT AREAS.
UH, THE SUCCESS THAT WE HAVE HAD, UH, WITH THE LINE THAT COMES IN ALONG MOPAC HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS.
SO THIS WOULD BE BUILDING CENTERS THAT WOULD SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE PICTORIAL ON THE RIGHT, THIS IS AN AREA WHERE IT WILL BE A JOINT LOCATION FOR THE LIGHT RAIL COMING IN ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PICTURE, UH, IN THE CENTER OF THE CANOPY AREA FOR THE BUSES, UH, AND THEN ADDITIONAL BUS FACILITIES OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE, UH, WITH THAT COMES THE ABILITY TO HAVE AMENITIES ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, IN THAT IMAGE, IT SHOWS YOU THE ABILITY TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING, UH, BIKE AVAILABILITY, AND IN THE BACKGROUND, THE ABILITY TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE RESTROOMS, UH, SALES FOR A FAIR, UH, AND ANY OTHER AMENITIES THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND WORK WITHIN THAT SECTION.
SO IT REALLY IS THAT TRUE CENTRIC AREA, UH, FOR PEOPLE TO GO AHEAD AND COME IN IN DIFFERENT MODES AND GET TO THEIR ULTIMATE DESTINATION.
NEXT SLIDE, A METRO BUS, THE CORE OF THE SYSTEM, THE UNDERLYING NETWORK THAT IS THERE THAT HAS BEEN OPERATING ON A DAILY BASIS, UH, WITH 400 VEHICLES ON THE STREET AND OPERATING VERY, VERY SUCCESSFULLY TO SERVE THE PUBLIC DURING THE PANDEMIC, UH, INCREASE IN, IN THE CAPACITY.
THEY'RE GOING TO ZERO EMISSION WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES, LOOKING AT MORE LOCATIONS TO PUT IN BUS SHELTERS, BENCHES, AND AMENITIES FOR THE STOPS, AND THEN FUTURE CONNECTIONS TO DIFFERENT POINTS ALONG THE ORANGE, THE GOLD AND THE BLUE LINE, AS WELL AS THE RED AND THE GREEN LINE, ALL OF THOSE SECTIONS TYING TOGETHER, UH,
[02:35:01]
ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, UH, ALSO LOOKING AT THE ABILITY TO GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE TO HAVE AN IMPROVED METRO ACCESS SERVICES TO THAT AREA OF OUR PUBLIC AND OUR COMMUNITY.THE LAST MILE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT IS A CHALLENGE TO GO AHEAD AND FULFILL.
UH, IN OUR CASE, WE HAVE STARTED, UH, THE VERY SUCCESSFUL PICKUP SERVICE.
UH, WE HAVE THAT IN SIX DIFFERENT AREAS RIGHT NOW, LOOKING TO EXPAND THAT AS THE PROGRESS GOES FORWARD, UH, IT'S BEEN A VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM AND SOMETHING THAT WILL BE EXPANDED, UH, AS THE NEED BECOMES EVELYN IN EACH ONE OF THE AREAS, THE RIGHT SIDE ALSO GIVES YOU THAT LAST MILE, UH, THE METRO BIKE PROGRAM, SOMETHING IN PARTNERSHIP, UH, WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THEN THE B CYCLE PROGRAM.
IT GIVES YOU THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BIKES AND THE TRANSIT, WHERE WE COULD PUT IN MORE BIKE STATIONS AT LOCATIONS, WHETHER IT'S ALONG THE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM, UH, OR AT ANY LOCATIONS THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT FIRST AND LAST MILE ACCESS X Y TECHNOLOGY IS ANOTHER AREA THAT WE CAN GO AHEAD AND DO IMPROVEMENT WITH SOMETHING TO PROVIDE BASICALLY A SMART SYSTEM.
SOMETHING THAT COULD BE CARD OR COULD BE APPLICATION BASED, A CONTACT WITH SYSTEM, SOMETHING THAT KEEPS EVERYTHING SO THAT WE COULD GO IN A DIRECTION THAT IS A PAY AS YOU GO PROGRAM SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FARE CAPPING CARDS THAT WOULD BE RELOADED, SOMETHING THAT COULD BE UTILIZED ACROSS ALL OF THE DIFFERENT MODES ACROSS THE AREA, NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE THERE FOR CAP METRO NEXT LINE, WHICH TAKES US TO TODAY'S ACTION AND THE RECOMMENDATION THAT I'M PLEASED TO PRESENT, UH, FOR THE CAPITAL METRO BOARD APPROVAL TO THE FOLLOWING, UH, THE OVERALL SYSTEM PLAN, THE ORANGE LINE, THE LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE, THE BLUE LINE LOCALLY PREFERRED THAT GOAL LINE LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE THAT GREENLINE LOCALLY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE A SERIES OF METRO RAPID ROUTES, UH, SEVEN IN TOTAL, ALONG WITH IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RED LINE, A NEW CUSTOMER TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM, LOCAL BUS AND METRO ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS AND MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT FACILITIES.
EACH ONE OF THOSE AS I'VE OUTLINED, AS I'VE GONE THROUGH THE PROGRAM, UH, ARE A KEY TO BEING ABLE TO HAVE A TRUE SYSTEM WITH ALL THE COMPONENTS THAT WORK TOGETHER AS A SYSTEM.
THAT SECOND ACTION AND RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THE CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT, UH, THE SYSTEM PLAN, THE LPAS AND SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN, OR HAD BEEN APPROVED BY THE CAP METRO BOARD, UH, AND TAKE AN ACTION WITH THE CITY MANAGER, MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT COMPLETES MY PRESENTATION.
DAVE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT REALLY ROBUST PRESENTATION.
I APPRECIATE THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, UH, CAP METRO BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR CROSS EXAMINATION FOR DAVE OR RANDY AT THIS POINT COMMENTS? I SURE DO APPRECIATE THE COMPLETENESS OF IT AS A HISTORICAL MEETING.
IF ANYBODY EVER WANTS TO COME BACK, THIS WAS A MARK IN TIME TO REALLY COMPLETELY DO IT.
UH, I WOULD, I WOULD THINK WE'D BE CLOSE TO BEING ABLE TO DELIBERATE MARY, COULD I SAY ONE THING OR CHAIR COUNCIL MEMBER PITCHING GLASS.
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT TOO THAT, UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THIS WAS A VERY HELPFUL AND INFORMATIVE GOING THROUGH ALL THESE SLIDES.
UH, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THIS? THIS IS RECORDED, I ASSUME.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN GO BACK TO IF THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO LISTEN TO, IS THAT CORRECT? OR SHOULD I ASK ABOUT THAT? THAT WAS CORRECT.
WHERE DID THEY GO TO LOOK? UH, IT'D BE THE N NETWORK AND IT'D BE POSTED TO PROJECT CONNECT.COM ONCE THE FILE WAS UPLOADED.
AND THEN, AND THEN THE BINDER PROVIDED TO ALL OF YOU.
I GUESS WE COULD SHOW EVERYONE AT HOME INSIDE OF THE BINDER IS ALL AVAILABLE, LOTS ON PROJECT CONNECT.COM.
EVERY PIECE OF INFORMATION EVERYONE HAS IS, IS POSTED ON THERE.
JUST LIKE WE HELP SET THE WHOLE PROCESS THAT WAS POSTED A COUPLE OF HOURS AGO AT THE START OF THIS MEETING COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.
UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL THOUGH, TO HAVE THIS SECTION, UM,
[02:40:02]
TAKE IT OUT.CAUSE I THINK IT REALLY PRESENTS THE FULL PACKAGE IN A WAY THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN IT PRESENTED, UM, AND REALLY GETS YOU A BETTER SENSE OF THE FULL DEPTH AND THE DIFFERENT STEPS NOW THAT WE HAVE MADE A FEW CHANGES.
UM, SO I THINK REALLY, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT SORT OF SEGMENT.
UM, AND IT'D BE REALLY HELPFUL IF YOU GUYS GET THAT FOR US.
MAYBE YOU CAN SEGMENT THE WHOLE PRESENTATION CAUSE IT'S A LONG WINDED.
GOOD OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SURE.
CAN YOU SAY ME IT'S LESLIE WEIGHED OR CAN YOU JUST BE SEEN? I CAN, UH, UH, I CAN SAY SOME OF THE PEOPLE, BUT NOT ALL AT ONE TIME.
UM, I WANTED TO, UM, COMPLIMENT THE STAFF KEPT METRO HAS DONE A BRILLIANT JOB OF PULLING ALL THE HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS TOGETHER FOR THE DELIBERATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE NINE 2018 AS SOMEBODY WHO, UM, VOTED FOR TRANSIT IN 2000 AND WAS SORELY DISAPPOINTED WHEN IT FAILED.
UM, AND AS SOMEBODY WHO BROUGHT IT TO SUPPORT IT AND IN 2014, AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE THE PLANNING DIDN'T WAS NOT ROBUST ENOUGH.
IT'S OBVIOUS TO ME THAT, UM, WE ARE LEARNING FROM THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST.
THIS REALLY, UM, HAS BEEN A VERY DELIBERATIVE, CAREFUL, THOUGHTFUL, INCLUSIVE, AND ENGAGED PROCESSING, MY OPINION.
AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE STAFF WERE GETTING US TO THIS POINT.
UM, I'LL, I'LL HAVE SOME, SOME MORE FORMAL COMMENTS MAYBE WHEN WE GET TO THE END OF THIS MEETING, BUT AT THIS JUNCTURE, I DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS BECAUSE ALL OF THE SMALLER, DETAILED KIND OF QUESTIONS THAT I MIGHT'VE HAD WERE EITHER ALREADY ASKED, OR YOU COVERED THEM IN THIS REALLY INCREDIBLY COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENT.
SO I THINK RANDY HELD IT UP AND JUST ONE MORE TIME FOR EVERYBODY TO SEE IT.
AND I, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT HISTORY MATTERS AND THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY IN HERE AS WELL AS THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S ATTEMPT.
I THINK I'VE TOLD FOR RANDY ATTEMPTS IN THE PAST TO PASS RAIL, I THINK I MENTIONED TO RANDY WHO ISN'T REALLY A NEWCOMER ANYMORE, BUT RELATIVELY NEWER THAN, THAN SOME OF US, IT SEEMS LIKE ON THESE BIG INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS, LIKE MOVING THE AIRPORT AND THIS RAIL PASSAGE OF RAIL, THE CITY OF AUSTIN VOTERS HAVE TO GO AFTER THOSE VOTES A COUPLE, THREE, FOUR TIMES AND AN INTERIM PROCESS AND ITERATIVE PROCESS BEFORE WE ACTUALLY GET TO PASSING THEM.
AND IT FEELS TO ME LIKE WE ARE AT THAT JUNCTURE AT THIS POINT, HAVING HAD A COUPLE OF PREVIOUS VOTES, UM, AND LEARNING FROM THOSE VOTES AND WHAT WAS MISSING.
I THINK, I THINK WE'VE GOT A COMPLETE PACKAGE HERE.
WERE YOU TRYING TO SPEAK? I WAS GOING TO ASK IF WE ARE AT THE DISCUSSION POINT AT THE FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE.
IF THE FIRST VOTE IS THE BOARD VOTE, I'M HAPPY TO MOVE THE MOTION OF PASSING THE SYSTEM.
DO YOU HAVE THE RESOLUTION IN FRONT OF YOU? I DO NOT.
DO I NEED TO READ THE RESOLUTION? I CAN.
I CAN LOOK AT MY GIANT BINDER.
WHAT WERE YOU TRYING TO GET IN? IF IT'S HELPFUL, WE'RE NOT GOING TO READ HER RESOLUTION.
JUST SMACK THE MOTION TO PASSIVE.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THE MOTION, THAT'S FINE.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE COMMENT THAT COULD BE POST MOTION.
ALRIGHT, LET'S HOLD YOUR COMMENTS AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET TO THE MOTION.
IF I'M LOOKING AT IT CORRECTLY, I, I MOVE THAT.
WE ADOPT THE PROJECT CONNECT SYSTEM PLAN AND LOCALLY IT PREFERRED ALTERNATIVES.
MR. MR. CHAIRMAN, I DID ACTUALLY HAVE A COUPLE OF CLARIFYING QUESTIONS FOR MR. COLLINS, WHICH I BELIEVE THAT WAS THE INITIAL PURPOSE BEFORE WE WENT IN WITH THAT AND JUMPED AHEAD.
THE DISCUSSION, THE DISCUSSION ALWAYS CAN HAPPEN AFTER THE MOTIONS.
WHY DON'T WE GET A SECOND? I'LL MAKE THIS.
REMEMBER STRATTON WITH THE SECOND, UH, VICE CHAIR CARS OR WITH THE MOTION.
UM, NOW DISCUSSION OR COMMENTS ON THE MOTION AND QUESTIONS FOR MR. COUCH WOULD BE APPROPRIATE AS WELL.
REMEMBER TREVOR COMMISSIONER TREVELYAN OKAY.
[02:45:01]
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, BUT I BELIEVE THAT FOR A CITY TO BE TRULY GREAT, IT NEEDS AN EFFECTIVE PUBLIC TRANSIT PROGRAM.AND, AND I THINK, UM, MOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF EFFECTIVE, UH, PUBLIC TRANSIT IS CRITICAL.
I JUST WANT TO SAY WE ARE AT A VERY IMPORTANT MOMENT AS A CITY AND AS A COUNTRY, AS WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE ADDRESS EQUITY AND WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT EQUITY HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR US.
AND WHILE I DO SUPPORT PUBLIC TRANSIT, IT IS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO ASK MY CONSTITUENTS TO SPEND 90% OF THEIR DOLLARS WEST OF, OF, OF, UH, 35.
AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT WE'RE SPENDING 90%, BUT THE POINT IS WE HAVE TO MAKE EQUITY A PRIORITY.
WE HAVE TO MAKE THOSE PLACES THAT HAVE NOT HAD THE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAVEN'T HAD A TRANSPORTATION SPINE.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE CONNECTED AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE CONNECTED IN PHASE ONE, PHASE TWO AND PHASE THREE.
I UNFORTUNATELY, UH, SAID THE SAME THINGS IN 2000 AND WAS IGNORED.
AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND AS WE WORK TOGETHER, ALL OF US, JUST NOT THE MINORITY COMMUNITY SHOULD DAN FORWARD AND SAY, WE'VE GOT TO INCLUDE PEOPLE.
WE'VE GOT TO DEVELOP ALL OF OUR REGION SO THAT WE DON'T CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC, UH, SEGMENTATION ISSUES, THE SIGNIFICANT, UH, ECONOMIC INEQUITY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE AS A COMMUNITY NOW.
AND IT LAYS ON OUR PLATE AS LEADERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE THINGS, THAT THEY STAY ON THE FOREFRONT.
AND WE THINK ABOUT HOW WE INCLUDE EVERYBODY.
SO GOT, UM, I'M PLANNING TO SUPPORT THESE ITEMS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
BUT I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO KNOW, UH, FORMATIVELY FROM ALL OF US THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES OF EVEN THE RECENT PAST.
COMMISSIONER COUNCIL, MEMBER KITCHEN.
UM, UM, YOU CAN, UM, I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH YOU AND, AND MY COMMITMENT TO, UH, TO WORK WITH CAP METRO BOARD AND THE COUNCIL TO ENSURE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND, UM, AS WE MOVE INTO IMPLEMENTATION AT SOME POINT INTO THE FUTURE THAT, UM, THAT WE ARE PROACTIVE ADDRESSING, UM, EQUITY, UM, AND THAT WE THINK ABOUT IT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
I ALSO WANT TO POINT TO, UH, TO THE, THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH, WHEREAS IN THE RESOLUTION THAT'S IN FRONT OF US, WHICH SPECIFICALLY SPEAKS TO EQUITY, THE SEVEN SLEEVE SPEAKS TO THE, UM, RESOLUTION THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN PASSED, UH, THAT SPOKE TO ENSURING THAT WE HAVE DATA DRIVEN POLICIES AND FUNDING THAT PREVENT TRANSPORTATION, BUT SPENT RELATED DISPLACEMENT AND ENSURE PEOPLE AT DIFFERENT INCOMES CAN BENEFIT FROM TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE METRO'S LONG STANDING, UH, TOD POLICY, UM, IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT EQUITABLE GROWTH.
SO I JUST POINT TO THE FACT THAT WE DO HAVE LANGUAGE IN OUR RESOLUTION THAT RECOGNIZED THAT, UH, BUT, UH, BUT AS YOU WERE SAYING, WE GO BEYOND LANGUAGE AND WE ENSURE THAT ALL ABOUT US ARE COMMITTED TO PROACTIVELY, UM, PROACTIVELY PROCEEDING, UH, WITH, WITH CHANGE.
I CAN NEVER CATCH A MEMBER STRATTON.
UH, THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN COOPER.
UM, I JUST, I JUST WANT TO SAY I'VE BEEN BEEN, UH, ALMOST LIFELONG AUSTINITE AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I WENT TO PRODUCT NORTHWEST HILLS, WENT TO DOSS ELEMENTARY AND GRADUATED ANDERSON HIGH SCHOOL, BUT, UH, ALSO WENT TO, UM, TO KEELAN JUNIOR HIGH TO THE MAGNET SCHOOL PROGRAM OUT THERE.
AND, UM, AND HE STILL AUSTIN AND, UH, HISTORICALLY, UM, OVER THE COURSE OF MY LIFE, IT'S BEEN MADE VERY CLEAR TO ME, UM, BEING A PRODUCT OF AUSTIN,
[02:50:01]
UM, WHAT AUSTIN HAS BEEN THROUGH AND WHAT WE ARE GOOD, BAD, AND JUST, AND UNJUST I MIGHT ADD.UM, WE ARE FACING WHAT I SEE ARE TWO VERY MAJOR ISSUES THAT WE ARE BEHIND HIM.
UM, AND BOTH OF THEM, WE HAVE A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY TO, TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN, I THINK RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.
UM, THE, I I'M A MEMBER OF THE CAP METRO BOARD.
I'M VERY HUMBLED AND PROUD THAT I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THIS, THAT WILLIAMSON COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS PLACED THE FAITH IN ME TO SERVE THEM IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, THIS, UH, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY THE LAST FEW WEEKS WE'VE SEEN.
UM, WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF TURMOIL AND A LOT OF, I WOULD SUBMIT AWAKENING IN, IN COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, UH, OVER THE ISSUES OF RACE AND EQUITY.
AND AUSTIN HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS FOR, UM, FOR, FOR, I WOULD SUBMIT FOR WELL OVER A HUNDRED YEARS FROM THE RED LINING, THE 1920S TO YES, EVEN THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF
AND THIS, I BELIEVE PROJECT CONNECT OFFERS A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP FORWARD AND ADVANCE CONCEPTS OF EQUITY IN OUR TRANSPORTATION TRANSIT SYSTEM TO CONNECT ALL PARTS OF AUSTIN FROM SOUTHEAST AUSTIN TO NORTHWEST AUSTIN AND ALL PARTS IN BETWEEN TO PROVIDE TRUE CONNECTIONS.
AND WHILE IT'S NOT THE BE ALL END ALL SOLUTION.
IT'S ONE, ONE PIECE THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT THAT I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF AND SUPPORT.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE ISSUE OF TRANSPORTATION AS A WHOLE, I WOULD SAY WE ARE AT LEAST 50 YEARS BEHIND IN WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING FOR AUSTIN.
UM, BUILDING ROADS IS NOT ENOUGH.
I 35 PAST TO BE EXPANDED AND BUILT OUT AND IN MANY PARTS IN PLACES OUTRIGHT REBUILT.
AND THAT ALSO HELPS ADDRESS OF THE EQUITY ISSUES THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE, BUT THAT'S NOT THE BE ALL END ALL.
WE NEED A CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL ABILITY AUTHORITY TO INVEST THEIR EFFORTS AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING CROSS TOWN FROM ONE 83 AND A ONE 83 TO TWO 90.
SO ONE 83 OUT BY THE AIRPORT, EVERYTHING THEY'RE DOING, BUT WE ARE PROBABLY 25.
I WOULD BY MY GUESSTIMATES SAY WE'RE 54, 15 TO $20 BILLION BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL AND WHAT MUSIC COMMUNITY.
AND I AM PROUD TO BE A PART OF WHAT WE CAN DO HERE TO HELP MAKE AN INVESTMENT FOR THE FUTURE, FOR COMMUNITY OPTIONS, FOR OPTIONS THAT WILL HELP BE A PART OF MAKING THE DIFFERENCE FOR MY CHILDREN THAT I THINK WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT 30, 40, EVEN 50 YEARS FOR THIS COMMUNITY, FOR THIS CITY.
I OPPOSE MULTIPLE DIFFERENT OPTIONS IN THE PAST.
I FLAT OUT HAVE SAID IT BEFORE, AND I WILL SAY IT AGAIN.
I HAVE PROPOSED A DIFFERENT PROPOSALS THAT HAVE COME FORWARD FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND FROM CAP METRO, BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK THAT THEY WERE THOUGHTFUL.
I DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE ORGANIZED.
I THOUGHT THEY WERE KIND OF PUT TOGETHER A RATHER PIECEMEAL AS ONE OF OUR, UH, ONE OF THE PUBLIC MEMBERS PROVIDING PUBLIC TESTIMONY IN COMMON SAID EARLIER, IT WAS PIECEMEAL.
AND I DIDN'T THINK IT DID ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY WORK THROUGH IT, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AS A GRASSROOTS LEVEL EFFORT.
AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE THIS.
I THINK THIS IS THE BEST INVESTMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND, AND I THINK AT THIS POINT, IT'S GO TIME.
SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED TO VOTE YET.
AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEPS GOING FORWARD.
UM, UH, I KNOW SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE NOT ON CAP METRO BOARD ARE TRYING TO GET IN.
I'M ADVISED BY OUR LAWYER THAT, UH, WHILE WE'RE WRITING OUR MOTION, IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE FOR ANYBODY OTHER THAN OUR, UM, OUR, UM, UM, BOARD MEMBERS TO, UH, TO CERTAINLY, UH, WE'LL PASS THE, UH, THE, UH, UH, DYESS OVER TO THE MAYOR AND, UH, LET, Y'ALL HAVE A DELIBERATION AND WE CAN COME BACK WITH, UH, MR. COUCH, IF THERE'S QUESTIONS FOR HIM.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM CAP METRO BOARD MEMBERS MEMBER KITCHEN.
REMEMBER MITCHELL DIDN'T NUMBER KITCHEN.
I WANT HIM TO BE, JUST LOOK AT THIS STEP THAT WE'RE TAKING FROM A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.
MY BUSINESS HAS BEEN A BUSINESSMAN TRYING TO SERVE OUR CITY AS SUCH, AND, UH, WE HAD BECOME A CITY OF SUCH SIZE THAT IT'S NO LONGER POSSIBLE TRANSPORTATION BY THE WHITENING EXPANSIONS CAMPO JUST PASSED A
[02:55:01]
42 AND A HALF HOUR HOUR PLAN.THAT ESSENTIALLY SAYS WHAT WE NEED OVER THE NEXT 25 YEARS IS 42 AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS TO BE A ROAD OVER A FIVE COUNTY AREA.
UH, THE CHALLENGE WITH THAT PLAN IS HOW DO YOU FIND A SUCH AN ENORMOUS UNDERTAKING, UH, COMPARE THAT AND CONTRAST THAT WITH PROJECT CONNECT, WHICH IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECTLY, THE DAY CASH, YOU CAN CORRECT ME, BUT AT BILL THAT WOULD CARRY CLOSE TO 300,000 PASSENGERS OR RIGHT OFF THE BAT, THE MOVING PEOPLE, IT'S AN INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE USE OF MONEY TO NEW PEOPLE AROUND OUR CITY.
I PERSONALLY SEE THAT AS THE ONLY FUTURE ONLY SOLUTION TO OUR FUTURE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES IS THAT WE TAKE THIS SYSTEM.
WE BUILD A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM, WHICH IS WHAT THIS IS, AND IT ALLOWS OUR CITY HAVE THE ABILITY TO GROW.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY ALLOWS ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS FROM EVERY RACE, CREED, COLOR, AND LOCATION IN OUR CITY TO BE ABLE TO MOVE AROUND OUR CITY HAVE TO BE, IT'S NOT JUST A DECISION, IT'S AN OBLIGATION.
WE HAVE TO TAKE A STEP, WE HAVE TO TAKE TO SERVE OUR, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
REMEMBER, MITCHELL MEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I AM, UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO, TO VOTE TODAY ON THE SYSTEM PLAN.
UM, IT IS A, IT IS A SYSTEM PLAN.
IT IS BRASS RAIL PARK AND RIDE NEIGHBORHOOD CIRCULATORS, OTHER PROJECTS THAT MAKE UP A COMPREHENSIVE TRANSIT SYSTEM.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE ENVISIONED A FUTURE THAT OFFERS OPTIONS FOR EVERYONE IN THE CITY.
AND I AM EXCITED TO SUPPORT THAT.
UM, IT IS, IT IS TIME FOR THIS KIND OF TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE FOR THE FUTURE.
UM, I THINK ONE OF OUR EARLIER SPEAKERS SPOKE ABOUT PLANTING A TREE NOW FOR THE FUTURE.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT.
UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS IS, THIS IS DYNAMIC.
UH, WE HAVE A PROVISION IN THE RESOLUTION ON THE THREE THAT SPEAKS TO POTENTIAL CHANGES IN THE FUTURE.
UM, AND THIS SPEAKS TO THE FACT THAT THE CHANGES TO THE SYSTEM PLAN MAY BE CONSIDERED AN ADOPTED OVER THE COURSE OF TIME.
THIS IS A LONG, LONG RANGE PLAN, UM, TO ADD PROJECTS AS ADDITIONAL TRANSIT STUDIES ARE PERFORMED AND COMPLETED ON, IT SPEAKS TO CONSIDERATION OF CURRENT STUDIES THAT ARE BEING CONDUCTED RIGHT NOW, FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE BURGS FROM SPUR.
SO I SPEAK TO THAT JUST TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IN THE FUTURE.
THERE MAY BE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE MAY END UP ADDING TO THIS SYSTEM, UM, AS WE, UH, COMPLETE STUDIES.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, ANY OTHER CAP, METRO BOARD MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER INTO RHEA? IT CAN TAKE YOU AWAY.
UM, YEAH, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
UH, I WORKED, UH, ON THE RED LINE, UH, WHEN THEY WERE FIRST VOTERS.
UM, AND THE REASON I DID SUPPORT THAT RED LINE WAS THAT I HAD GONE AND SEEN OTHER METRO SYSTEMS. UH, SO SHE PUT HER SYSTEMS AND SAW WHAT, WHAT HAD BEEN BUILT NEXT TO HIM.
AND SO WHEN I WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT AND I COULD SEE WHAT, WHAT HAS BEEN DONE ON THE EAST SIDE, WE'VE GOT THE AIRMAIL K STATION.
IF YOU LOOK ALL THE WAY AROUND THAT PATIENT THERE, YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THEIR COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IS THERE.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE, AT THE SOUTH D OR DEVELOPMENT THERE, WE GOT OVER 800 UNITS, 180 OF THOSE UNITS ARE FOR AFFORDABLE OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND THEN WHAT WAS BUILT AROUND THERE, YOU KNOW, HABITAT IS BUILDING 57 CONDOS FOR WORKING CLASS.
THAT'S GOING TO BE FREE FOR SALE FOR 120,000 AND LESS.
HE WAS TALKING ABOUT TWO, THREE OR FOUR BEDROOMS, AND ONE BEDROOM APARTMENTS MAKE CONDOMS THERE.
AND I'M RIGHT THERE ACROSS THE STREET.
WE GOT THE CHALMERS COURT WHERE THEY WERE BUILDING.
WE RECAP IT, ALL THOSE OLD BUILDINGS ARE DEMOLISHING IT AND BUILDING 400, YOU LOW, LOW INCOME HOUSING THERE.
IT'S VERY, ALL THIS DEVELOPMENT ALONG WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HAPPEN WAS THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE UP THERE WHERE HE CAN CATCH ALL THE BUS TO ANYWHERE IN AUSTIN, INCLUDING SAN MARCOS,
[03:00:01]
AS TEXAS STATE UNIVERSE.AND IT'S JUST AN OPPORTUNITY AND INCLUDING ALL THE, NOT ONLY AFFORDABLE UNITS THERE, BUT ALL THE, UH, YOU KNOW, GONNA HAVE A WHOLE FOOD, WE'VE GOT TARGET THERE.
UH, WE GOT, UH, ALL KINDS OF CLUBS AND, UH, UH, AND JUICE DRINKS ALL ON THAT SIDE WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO GET IN OUR CAR AND DRIVE OFF TO A LOCATION.
WE CAN JUST EITHER WALK OR GET ON OUR BICYCLES AND GO AND VISIT THESE KINDS OF SITES.
SO THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR AUTHOR AND I REALLY SUPPORT IT.
AND I'M JUST REALLY HONORED TO HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT, THAT ARE REALLY SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT.
AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE METRO STAFF AND OUR CITY STAFF FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE.
I SEEN THEM OUT THERE AND IT'S, IT'S A LOT OF HARD WORK.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR HILL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE HEARD? YES.
UH, ROY RIGHT WHEN I WAS, WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING SO GREAT, THEN MY, UH, WHOLE THING WENT DEAD.
SO HERE I AM, AGAIN, YOU DON'T GET TO SEE ME.
I DON'T THINK THOUGH, BUT LOOK, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, AS THE NEWEST BOARD MEMBER SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE TO GET CAPITAL METRO IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND IN THE SURROUNDING AREA TO DISPLACE.
I, UM, YOU KNOW, LEANDER WAS JUST RECOGNIZED AS THE FASTEST GROWING CITY IN THE COUNTRY, OVER 50,000 PEOPLE.
UM, WHEN YOU COMBINE LEANDER CEDAR PARK GEORGETOWN AND START ADDING UP THE TOTALS OF WHAT THE GROWTH IS.
I MEAN, WE'RE LOOKING AT ANOTHER MILLION PEOPLE JUST NORTH OF AUSTIN.
SO THE IDEA THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, CRAMMING INTO CARS AND COMING IN, IN THE MORNING AND LEAVING IN THE AFTERNOON JUST DOESN'T WORK.
SO, UM, I, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS FOR THE WHOLE AREA.
UM, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE FANTASTIC AND, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY THAT'S TRAVELED THE WHOLE WORLD OVER, I MEAN, IT'S GREAT NOT TO HAVE TO GET IN A RENTAL CAR AND GO AROUND THE CITY.
YOU CAN JUST HOP ON TRANSIT AND GET WHAT YOU GET, WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.
UM, SO, UH, IT'S A, IT'S A VERY EXCITING DAY AND I'M HAPPY TO BE A PART OF IT.
AS I SAID, IN THE BEGINNING, I AM THINKING ABOUT THIS, UH, WITH A VIEW TOWARDS DO I WANT TO STAND FOR CROSS EXAMINATION FROM MY KIDS IN 20 YEARS ABOUT WHETHER WE DID THE RIGHT THING.
AND I BELIEVE THAT, UH, WE'VE WORKED AS HARD AS WE CAN POSSIBLY WORK TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE A SYSTEM HERE THAT REALLY IS TRANSFORMATION.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT BEING ABLE TO STEP OFF AN AIRPLANE AT THE AIRPORT AND BIT REPUBLIC PARK AND ABOUT 20 MINUTES, OR TO STEP ONTO A TRAIN, A TECH RIDGE AND BE DOWNTOWN AND 30 MINUTES, OR AT SLAUGHTER, AND BE AT UT AND 25 OR 30 MINUTES, THAT REALLY OPENS UP THE WHOLE CITY TO ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS ALONG THAT HAVE BEEN MEASURED AROUND EACH OF THESE PROJECTS, I THINK UP AND DOWN THE INCOME SCALE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE'RE OPENING DOORS TO TRENT, TO EDUCATION, TO JOBS, TO HEALTHCARE, IT'S A CULTURAL, UH, OPPORTUNITIES IN A WAY THAT IS SIMPLY NOT POSSIBLE.
AND SO I'M A, UH, VERY ENTHUSIASTIC, VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE HARD PART THAT HAS DONE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE WORK, UH, THAT WILL FOLLOW US.
THERE'S A LOT OF HARD WORK AHEAD OF US, BUT WE REALLY HAVE A SUPER A ROADMAP.
AND SO IF THERE'S A, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM CAP METRO BOARD MEMBERS, THEN, UH, WE'LL, UH, TAKE A VOTE AND I WILL, UH, CALL ROLL AND ASK EACH OF YOU TO, UH, RESPOND, UM, VICE CHAIR AND MAYOR PRO TEM GARZA.
YOUR, YOU DID ONE MORE TIME, PLEASE.
YOU HEAR ME NOW? WE CAN DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING.
[03:05:01]
MITZVAH? YES.COUNCIL MEMBER, RICHARD MARIA.
AND PUT A COOPER DOWN AS A YES AS WELL.
UH, IT FEELS LIKE WE REALLY, UH, CROSSED A BRIDGE THAT REALLY WILL CHANGE OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHY IS IT? WE CAN'T EVEN ANTICIPATE.
SO THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS, UH, MAYOR, UH, I'LL TURN THE MEETING OVER TO YOU NOW BECAUSE I KNOW THE COUNCIL ALSO, UH, WOULD LIKE TO TAKE UP SOME ACTION RELEVANT TO THIS.
THAT WAS AN EXCITING THING TO WATCH.
UH, NOW THE BALLS OVER INTO OUR COURT HERE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, IS THERE SOMEONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A, UH, MAKE A MOTION, A COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, OR LIKE PROMOTION? ALRIGHT.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE APPROVAL OF THIS RESOLUTION FOR A ADOPTION OF THE PROJECT CONNECT SYSTEM PLAN PREFER AN ALTERNATIVE SECOND TO THE MOTION.
UH, SECOND DISCUSSION IN FRONT OF US COUNCIL
AND SO LET ME JUST SPEAK TO SOMETHING I DIDN'T MENTION BEFORE THE UNPRECEDENTED COORDINATION BETWEEN CAP METRO AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I THINK THAT THAT COMBINED, YOU KNOW, THAT IS REALLY INDICATIVE OF AN IS REFLECTED IN THE FACT, THE SYSTEM PLAN FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.
UM, AND, UM, AND GOING FORWARD WILL HELP US BE EFFECTIVE.
IT IS SOMETHING FOR THE FIRST TIME WE'RE ABLE TO DO.
AND, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE, RIGHT? NUMBER KITCHEN MAKES THE MOTION TO INITIATE THE PROCESS TO AMEND THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC MOBILITY PLAN SO THAT IT REFLECTS THE, UH, PROJECT CONNECT, A SYSTEM PLAN AND GIVING SUPPORT TO THAT PLAN HAS BEEN SECONDED, FURTHER DISCUSSION COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN.
UM, AND I THINK JUST FOR THE RECORD, I CERTAINLY SAW COUNCILOR BARBARA MADISON'S HAND UP RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING, EVEN THOUGH ALL OF US ARE EAGER TO MOVE THIS AND SECOND THIS ITEM, I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT, THAT NOTED THAT I SAW THAT AT LEAST, UM, THIS IS A, THIS IS PRETTY EXCITING AND I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF, UH, WRITTEN REMARKS CAUSE WE'VE BEEN IN THIS CALL WAY TOO LONG TO, TO GET THIS MOVING ALONG LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY.
THIS IS, THIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
AS MANY HAVE SAID, UH, COVERS ALL PARTS OF THE CITY COVERS ALL KINDS OF MODES.
UM, AS, AS BOARD MEMBER STRATTON POINTED OUT, UH, I TOO HAVE OPPOSED PRIOR MEASURES AND ATTEMPTS TO BUILD TRANSPORTATION OF THIS SCALE IN THIS TOWN.
ALTHOUGH TO BE CLEAR TO THE MEDIA WHO ARE WRITING DOWN THE QUOTES, THERE HASN'T BEEN A PLAN OF THE SCALE IN THIS TOWN BEFORE.
SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS A FOREGONE CONCLUSION FOR REALLY ANY OF US ON EITHER OF THESE TWO BOARDS.
WE HAVE ALL DONE SOME VERY HARD WORK AND THE STAFF HAS DONE SOME VERY HARD WORK WITH THE PUBLIC AND ENGAGING AS MANY FOLKS AS THEY CAN ACROSS ALL PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND HERE WE ARE, WHEN I, AND I'VE TOLD THIS ANECDOTE BEFORE, BUT I HAD AN INTERVIEW, THIS IS A MONTH AGO WITH, UH, WITH A REPORTER WHO ASKED THE QUESTION OF ME THAT SAID, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, EVERYBODY AGREES WITH THE PLAN, BUT HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR IT? I SAID, HOLD UP, YOU DON'T GET TO YADA YADA, YADA, THE PLAN.
I CAN'T PUT A BIGGER POINT TO THIS.
THIS CITY HAS NEVER HAD A PLAN LIKE THIS, WHERE THE COMMUNITY IS LOOKING AT IT AND SAID THAT IF WE CAN DO THAT, DO THAT.
THAT'S THE PLAN TO HAVE EVERYONE ON THIS CALL, AS I EXPECT TO HAVE, BY THE TIME THE COUNCIL TAKES THIS VOTE ON ALL PARTS OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM TO BE JOINED BY MY, MY FRIEND AND CONSTITUENT IN DISTRICT SIX, UH, MR. STRATTON TO BE JOINED BY THE MAYOR OF LEANDER.
[03:10:01]
IN ADDITION TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO, UH, WHO MIGHT FIND THEMSELVES IN DISAGREEMENT ON A WHOLE OTHER HOST OF ISSUES, THIS IS A BIG MOMENT AND IT SHOULDN'T BE LOST ON THE PUBLIC OR THE MEDIA, THE SCALE OF THIS MOMENT.AND I WANT TO SPEAK JUST TO CLOSE TO, UH, COMMISSIONER TRAVEONS POINT.
THE EQUITY WORK WE HAVE TO DO AS A COMMUNITY IS SO BIG AND SO IMPORTANT AND NOT ONE SINGLE DECISION OR VOTE IS GOING TO CHECK THAT BOX.
I CHANGED THE BACKGROUND ON MY, ON MY CALL, RIGHT? AND I I'M AN OLD TECH GUY.
AND SO I'VE GOT THE FANCY SOFTWARES AND ALL THE THINGS TO PUT UP A BACKGROUND.
AND I CHANGED THE PHOTO SPECIFICALLY TO REMIND MYSELF THAT THERE IS AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY SPEAKING ABOUT JUSTICE.
AND I DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANY DECISION WITHOUT THAT VOICE IN MY HEAD.
THIS WON'T BE THE LAST CONVERSATION ABOUT EQUITY.
IT CAN NOT BE THE LAST CONVERSATION ABOUT EQUITY.
AND I KNOW THAT EVERYONE IN THIS GROUP AGREES THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THOSE ISSUES.
THIS PLAN REALLY HELPS THOUGH IT REALLY MOVES IT ALONG AND I'M EXCITED.
AND I'M EXCITED TO GET TO WHAT IS ARGUABLY A HARDER CONVERSATION IN AUGUST WHEN WE DECIDE WHEN THE COUNCIL DECIDES WHAT TO PUT ON THE BALLOT, BUT I'M READY TO GET TO WORK ON IT.
MAY I HAVE MY HAND UP? RIGHT? WELL, MY COUNTS NUMBER HALF OF MATTERS, UH, THIS TIME I'M LIKE THE LAST TIME I WAS ACTUALLY BEHIND COUNCILMEMBER ELLIS.
AND SO I'M HAPPY TO WAIT MY TURN.
IT'S HARD FOR ME TO KNOW WHO'S UP FIRST WHEN PEOPLE RAISE THEIR HAND, I DON'T KNOW WHO DOES IT THAT WAY, BUT I'M FINE.
IT CERTAINLY WAS NOT A POINT OF CRITICISM.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE ARE RESPECTING ONE ANOTHER'S OPPORTUNITY TO JUST SPEAK OUR PEACE COUNCIL MEMBER.
I WROTE DOWN JUST A FEW BRIEF NOTES.
CAUSE I THINK LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER PLAN AGAIN, THIS IS A REALLY MOMENTOUS OCCASION.
UM, THIS IS A REALLY GREAT PLAN.
THAT'S BEEN VETTED BY TRANSPORTATION EXPERTS, FINANCIAL POLICY ANALYSTS.
UM, OUR TRANSPORTATION ADVOCATES IN THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN LOOKING AT THIS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, HAND IN HAND WITH, WITH ALL THE OTHER GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT.
AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY GOOD PLAN TO HELP AUSTIN, NOT ONLY BE RESILIENT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, AND, UM, WE'LL ALSO HELP CREATE JOBS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO I THINK IT'S A REALLY CREATIVE NEXUS OF, OF HOW DO WE SOLVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS IN AUSTIN.
UM, WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE ALL OF THEM, BUT, UH, THIS ONE IS RELATED TO TRANSIT AND EQUITY IN PARTICULAR.
AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A REALLY GOOD PATHWAY FORWARD THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON REALLY FOR DECADES AND TO FEEL LIKE WE'RE GETTING IT RIGHT IN THIS PARTICULAR PLAN THAT EVERY SINGLE HAS BEEN LOOKED AT, EVERY QUESTION HAS BEEN HEARD.
AND I'M GLAD THAT IT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN RESPONSIVE TO PUBLIC FEEDBACK ALONG THE WAY.
SO I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GREAT MOMENT AND I'M HAPPY TO BE A PART OF IT.
THAT WAS A MEMBER OF HARPER MADISON.
UM, AT ECHO THE CINEMA, ALL MY COLLEAGUES SO FAR, UH, THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION, WHICH AGAIN, NOT A POINT OF CRITICISM ON ANYBODY, BUT I, I ENTHUSIASTICALLY RAISED MY HAND TO BE THE SECOND BECAUSE I JUST BELIEVE IN THIS SO MUCH.
I THINK HAVING THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT MOBILITY JUSTICE IS JUST SO IMPORTANT.
AND YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY POINTED IT OUT AND SAID THINGS THAT REALLY JUST LIFTED MY SPIRITS.
CAUSE I, I THINK WE ALL SEE THE IMPORTANCE.
UH, SO FOR THE PAST 70 OR SO YEARS, AUSTIN HAS PUT ALL OF ITS EGGS IN ONE BASKET AND PLANTED FAMOUS GROWTH, EXCLUSIVELY AROUND CARS.
IT'S GIVEN US POLLUTION, CONGESTION, AND FRANKLY, COUNTLESS DEATHS AND SEVERE INJURIES.
UM, AN EFFECTIVE MANDATE THAT IF YOU WANT TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN OUR ECONOMY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE AND YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD A CAR NOTE.
AND IN MY MIND'S EYE, THIS PROJECT CONNECT VISION, IT OFFERS A STRONG ALTERNATIVE TO THAT.
IT WILL PROVIDE TRUE MASS TRANSIT OPTIONS FOR ALL OF AUSTIN THAT WILL ATTRACT WRITERS WHO COULD OTHERWISE CHOOSE TO DRIVE.
[03:15:01]
IMPORTANTLY THOUGH, IT WILL ALSO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON TRANSIT.THAT MEANS DIGNITY FOR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS WHO ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY BLACK AND BROWN SENIORS, YOUNG PEOPLE, OUR DIFFERENTLY ABLED NEIGHBORS AND ANYONE ELSE WHO DOESN'T DRIVE.
UNLIKE PREVIOUS PLANS IN MY MIND'S EYE, THIS ONE IS COMPREHENSIVE.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS ALREADY POINTED THAT OUT, UH, IN TERMS OF PREVIOUS APPREHENSION.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT I'M AWARE THAT PROPOSES TRUE MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENTS TO EAST AUSTIN, INCLUDING THE FAR EASTERN CRESCENT AND BEYOND BETTER, MORE FREQUENT BUSES THAT CONNECT TO MAJOR DOWNTOWN TRANSIT HUBS WILL PROVIDE INCREASED ACCESS TO THE JOBS, THE SCHOOLS, THE HOSPITALS, AND THE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN SHORT SUPPLY EAST OF GOOD OLD I 35, WE CAN'T, OR WE CAN RATHER TALK ABOUT THE MANY WAYS THAT THIS PLAN CAN MAKE OUR CITY BETTER.
BUT GIVEN THE PRESENT MOMENT, I WANT US AS A MUNICIPALITY TO CONSIDER AN OVERLOOKED ASPECT OF TRANSIT INVESTMENTS AND HOW THEY CAN SERVE TO ENHANCE SOCIAL AND RACIAL JUSTICE.
IN 2016 CAP, METRO DID A SURVEY OF ITS WRITERS AND REPORTED THAT JUST 36% OF ITS BUS PASSENGERS WERE WHITE.
BLACK WRITERS ACCOUNTED FOR ONE IN FIVE PASSENGERS DESPITE MAKING THAT LESS THAN ONE IN 10 AUSTINITES.
THAT'S WHY I SAY IT'S IMPORTANT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EXISTING SERVICE WHERE AN HOUR LONG BUS TRIP COULD ONLY TAKE 10 MINUTES BY CAR.
IF WE PROVIDE BETTER MOBILITY ALTERNATIVES, WE GIVE MORE OF OUR BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORS AND ALTERNATIVE TO RACIALLY PROFILE TRAFFIC STOPS, WHICH AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT AS A PLATE STUDIES SHOW THAT BLACK AND BROWN DRIVERS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY STOPPED.
TICKETED, ARRESTED, CHARGED, AND CONVICTED FOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS FEEDING ONCE AGAIN, THE CYCLE OF POVERTY.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT SOME OF THOSE TRAFFIC STOPS CAN TAKE A TURN FOR THE WORST.
WHEN OFFICERS KILL INNOCENT MEN LIKE PHILANDO CASTIEL OR CLOSER TO HOME, JAVIER AMBLER PROJECT CONNECT, WON'T BE THE SLAM DUNK SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS, BUT IT'S ONE MORE BIG, IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS RESOLVING OUR SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES.
IT CAN ALSO HELP US ADDRESS OUR AFFORDABILITY ISSUES.
AAA TELLS US THAT THE AVERAGE ANNUAL COST OF CAR OWNERSHIP IS NORTH OF $9,000.
IMAGINE THE IMPACT OF GIVEN A STRUGGLING FAMILY, THE OPTION TO DITCH AT LEAST ONE CAR.
THIS IS A GENERATIONAL TRANSFORMATIVE INVESTMENT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME.
SO WE'RE AT 35 AND MOPAC BOTH OF THOSE LEFT LASTING TRAUMAS ON OUR CITY.
ONE PHYSICALLY DIVIDED OUR CITY ALONG COLOR LINES AND THE OTHER BUILT ON DOZENS OF HOMES AND A THRIVING FORMER FREEDMEN'S TOWN.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SERIOUS COMMITMENTS RIGHT NOW TO UNDERSTAND WHY CERTAIN COMMUNITIES MISTRUST THE PROMISE OF THESE KINDS OF GENERATIONAL INVESTMENTS.
AND WE HAVE TO COMMIT TO WORKING SERIOUSLY AND INTENTIONALLY TO OVERCOME THE MISTRUST.
THAT ALSO MEANS COMMITTING TO PROVIDING OUR RESOURCES AND ADJUSTING OUR POLICIES AS A MUNICIPALITY TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT.
COUNCIL HAS ALREADY STARTED WORKING ON THAT WITH ACTION.
WE TOOK IN APRIL TO INITIATE PLANS TO PREVENT TRANSPORTATION, INVESTMENT RELATED DISPLACEMENT.
WE ALSO PLANTED THE SEEDS FOR A POT OF MONEY DEDICATED TO PROVIDING FINANCIAL MUSCLE TO THOSE PLANS, BUT WE CAN'T STOP THERE.
AND I FEEL LIKE DURING THE COURSE OF THIS CALL, I'VE BEEN AFFIRMED OR THAT BELIEF, BUT ALSO HAVE TO WORK WITH OUR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERS TO MAXIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALONG THESE CORRIDORS.
THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE THOSE TRANSIT FRIENDLY WALKABLE, MIXED INCOME, COMPLETE COMMUNITIES, THAT EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE AT THE SAME TIME, WE'LL ALSO HAVE TO CONSIDER COSTS AS SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE POINTED OUT.
[03:20:01]
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE DISCUSSIONS LATER THIS SUMMER, BUT THE FACT IS WE NEED LOTS OF BIG OVERDUE CHANGES IN AUSTIN.WE HAVE AN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
WE HAVE DIRTY AIR CLIMATE CHANGE IS BEARING DOWN.
WE HAVE RACIAL DISPARITIES AND DEEP ACCESSIBILITY AND EQUITY ISSUES.
IF WE WERE PLAYING HOW TO IMPROVE LIFE IN AUSTIN, BINGO, I WOULD DEFINITELY WANT THE PROJECT CONNECT CARD.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M VERY HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS PLAN AND SEE IT MOVE TO THE NEXT PHASE.
UM, I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT SEEING YOUR HAND.
I WANT THE CLERK TO RECORD IN THE MINUTES THAT THIS MOTION WAS MADE BY BOTH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, HARPER, MADISON, AND COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
AND I WANT THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT IF I SAY THAT THAT WOULDN'T ENTIRELY BE ACCURATE, COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN VERY CLEARLY MADE THE MOTION, BUT I, I SHOT MY HAND UP AS QUICKLY AS I COULD TO SECOND THAT MOTION.
AND I'M A BLOCK AND I'M ALLOWED AS CHAIR TO CALL THAT HOUSE.
AND, AND I THINK THAT YOU MADE SUCH A PASSIONATE SPEECH THAT YOU SHOULD BE, THAT YOU SHOULD BE ON THE MOTION.
UM, THERE'S, THERE'S NOT MUCH MORE I CAN ADD.
I FEEL LIKE EVERYBODY HAS MADE SOME GREAT COMMENTS FROM A VARIETY OF PERSPECTIVES ON WHY THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
I GUESS THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD, UM, EXACTLY WHAT, YOU KNOW, COUNSELOR HARPER IT WAS TOUCHING ON IS IN THINKING ABOUT JUST REALLY HER WORDS.
YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE IN LIFE WE ARE SO SILOED.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR, I HAVE MY MOM FRIENDS AND I HAVE MY POLITICAL FRIENDS AND I HAVE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE MY RUNNING GROUP.
AND THERE'S SO FEW THINGS IN LIFE WHERE YOU CAN GET INTO SOMETHING AND YOU WERE SITTING NEXT TO, AND YOU SEE THIS IN OTHER CITIES, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU USE PUBLIC TRANSIT, YOU ARE SITTING NEXT TO A 16 YEAR OLD GETTING TO SCHOOL AND YOU WERE SITTING NEXT TO SOMEONE WHO COULD BE A CEO OF A COMPANY.
UM, YOU WERE SITTING NEXT TO A MOM TAKING HER CHILD TO, TO, TO HER DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT OR TO SCHOOL, AND THEN GETTING HERSELF TO WORK.
LIKE THERE'S SO MANY, SO FEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE OF SO MANY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND SO MANY DIFFERENT, UM, YOU KNOW, RACES AND ETHNICITIES WHEN YOU'RE THERE TOGETHER.
AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU COUNSELOR HARPER, MADISON FOR REALLY POINTING THAT OUT SO WELL IN, IN THIS MOMENT, UM, WHY THIS IS SO SYMBOLIC IN SO MANY WAYS IS THAT WE NEED, SO WE NEED OUR CITY TO COME TOGETHER LIKE THAT, TO SIT NEXT TO EACH OTHER, TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS, TO TALK TO EACH OTHER, TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER, TO LEARN EACH OTHER'S SITUATION.
UM, AND THEN IT ALSO, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S JUST, THIS IS JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S A REALLY GREAT THING FOR OUR CITY.
AND, UM, I HOPE IT REALLY DOES DO THE THINGS THAT IT CAN DO, WHICH IS BRING US ALL A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TOGETHER, OR THE DISCUSSION ON THE COUNCIL DICE ALSO MEMBER THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SUPPORT THIS WHENEVER I'VE TOLD THE CONSTITUENTS AND GOTTEN QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PLAN AND JUST SAY THAT THIS WOULD HELP US MOVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ALL ACROSS OUR CITY AND PEOPLE CAN GET ON IT DURING RUSH HOUR AND NOT TO BE IN TRAFFIC, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS, THE SOCIAL BENEFITS, THE MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF ALL OF THAT ARE JUST UNMISTAKABLE THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND CREATE AN AFFORDABLE WAY FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO GET ALL AROUND OUR CITY AND, AND TO, AND EVEN IF IT'S RUSH HOUR.
AND THE BENEFITS TO THAT, I JUST THINK ARE SO CLEAR AND BEEN ARTICULATED SO WELL, THANKS TO EVERYBODY FOLLOWING YOUR WORK, GETTING US TO THIS COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY IN MY LIFE TO LIVE IN MANY CITIES OTHER THAN AUSTIN, UM, THAT HAVE HAD WONDERFUL TRANSIT SYSTEMS. AND I KNOW THAT AUSTIN AS A CITY THAT NEEDS A BETTER TRANSIT SYSTEM.
UM, IT'S ALSO AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED A GREAT, UM, BENEFITS FOR THE CLIMATE AND FOR EQUITY.
UM, I WANT TO, SO THANK OUR STAFF FOR REALLY TAKING THE TIME, OUR STAFF AND CAP METRO STAFF FOR REALLY TAKING THE TIME TO
[03:25:01]
LISTEN, TO CONCERNS, TO ARTICULATE, UM, REASONS AND TO PUT TOGETHER A PLAN THAT IS BOTH COMPREHENSIVE AND VISIONARY, AND PARTICULARLY THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, UM, WITH THE CHANGES TO THE BLUE LINE AND THE CHANGES WITH THE GOLD LINE, THAT TOGETHER WITH THE OTHER, UM, CONNECTIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING WITH THE METRO RAPID BUSES AND THE ORANGE LINE, AND THE CIRCULATORS REALLY DOES FEEL LIKE A SYSTEM IN A WAY SIX MONTHS AGO.UM, AND I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE, THE FEEDBACK AND THE CONTINUAL ITERATION IS REALLY IMPORTANT, UM, FOR GETTING US TO A POINT WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE UNANIMOUSLY.
UM, WE WILL, UM, VOTE TO SUPPORT THIS AS PART OF THE ASM AND AS THE VISION THAT WE, UM, ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT BEING SAID, I DO WANT TO SIGNAL THAT I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING THE FINANCING OF THE PROJECT CONNECT.
UM, AND I HAVE LONG BEEN PUSHING FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ITS GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE.
AND I THINK WE HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE THAT MY HOPE IS WE'LL GET US TO THAT.
UM, BUT MY, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T WANT TO GET AHEAD OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
UM, BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE TRANSPARENT AND CLEAR AND COMMUNICATIVE WITH THE PUBLIC AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE NEXT STEPS.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE ON THIS DIOCESE WANTS.
UM, BUT I THINK WHEN WE'RE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY, IT IS SAYING, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE PLAN THAT WE THINK WE WANT MOVING FORWARD TO TRANSFORM, UM, TRANSIT, TRANSFORM MOBILITY AND IMPROVE OUR ENVIRONMENT AND EQUITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, BUT THERE ARE THESE OTHER STEPS AND WE HAVE TO GET THOSE AS RIGHT AS WE GOT THIS ONE.
SO THANK YOU ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO YEAH, SUPER.
I WANT TO ADD MY THANKS TO CAPITAL METRO AND TO OUR STAFF ARE WORKING SO, SO VERY HARD, UM, AND NOT LETTING YOU KNOW ALL OF THE OTHER, UM, PRESSING AND NEW CHALLENGES KEEP YOU FROM MOVING ON WITH WHAT WILL BE TRANSFORMATIVE FOR OUR CITY.
UM, I REPRESENT CENTRAL AUSTIN AND SEVERAL OF THE PLANS, ALL OF THE PLANS REALLY THAT HAVE COME FORWARD IN THE PAST HAVE CERTAINLY BENEFITED AND SERVED CENTRAL AUSTIN.
WHAT, AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID, SO VERY DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS APPROACH AND THIS PLAN IS THAT IT REALLY BENEFITS ALL OF AUSTIN FROM NORTH TO SOUTH AND EAST TO WEST.
UM, IT REALLY IS A MOBILITY PLAN, A SYSTEM PLAN FOR ALL OF AUSTIN AND BEYOND.
AND SO THANK YOU TO NOT JUST OUR STAFF, UM, AT BOTH AGENCIES FOR LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY AND FOR WELCOMING THEM IN AND EMBRACING THEIR COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK AND MAKING CHANGES, BUT ALSO TO THE MANY, MANY THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE HELPED SHAPE AND GUIDE AND GUIDE THIS, UM, PLAN TO FRUITION THROUGH, THROUGH ALL OF THE YEARS OF CONVERSATIONS AROUND IT.
I SEE THIS AS A, AS A COMMUNITY PLAN.
UM, AND SO THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN, IN CREATING IT.
IT WILL BE, UM, EXCITING FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND, AND SO VERY NECESSARY.
I JUST TO, UH, CAP THE COMMENTS THAT I MADE EARLIER IN SUPPORT, UM, WE'RE ALL WEATHERING SOME REALLY HEAVY ECONOMIC AND EMOTIONAL UPHEAVAL RIGHT NOW.
EVEN AMIDST ALL OF THAT UPHEAVAL, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT CONNECT PROPOSAL.
CONNECTS CONCEPTS IS NECESSARY PLANNING.
THEY'LL POSITION US, UM, THEY'LL POSITION MASTIN PROPERLY FOR THE FUTURE.
THE GROUNDING FOR THOSE CONCEPTS HASN'T SHIFTED, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT, UH, PEOPLES, WE WILL GET TO THE OTHER SIDE, THE VIRUS, THE OTHER HEAVY, UH, THE OTHER HEAVY ISSUES THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING.
AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE TIME OR FOCUS.
I WOULD HOPE WE DON'T LOSE TIME OR FOCUSED ON OUR TRANSPORTATION PLANS AND THAT WE STAY THE COURSE.
I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE WITH THIS BOOK TODAY, MOVING FORWARD AND STAYING, OF COURSE, WITH THE SYSTEM PLAN, IT'S A GOOD COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE FINANCING THAT IS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT CONVERSATION THAT WE'LL BE HAVING SOON.
SO THANKS EVERYBODY FOR ALL THE EFFORTS.
[03:30:01]
THANK YOU.ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? THAT'S OVER A KITCHEN JUST, JUST BRIEFLY.
UM, I CERTAINLY ECHO EVERYTHING EVERYONE HAS SAID, BUT I WANTED TO CALL OUT ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE ABOUT THIS PLAN IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN TRANSIT AND WALKING AND BIKING.
AND I SPECIFICALLY WANTED TO CALL OUT AS AN EXAMPLE, OUR, OUR OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE RED LINE PARKWAY IN THE FUTURE AND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THAT AND THE RED LINE, UH, THAT AND OTHER PROJECTS THAT THE CITY AND METRO ARE PURSUING WILL HELP REALLY MAKE THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN FIRST AND LAST MILE AND MAKE THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN ALL THE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, WITH TRENDS.
ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? I WOULD CONCLUDE WITH SAYING THAT, THAT I BELIEVE THIS SYSTEM PLAN WILL TIE TOGETHER THIS COMMUNITY IN MORE WAYS.
AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW WITH THAT SAID I'M ON A CALL FOR A VOTE.
UH, I'LL READ THROUGH THE NAMES.
IF YOU WOULD THEN SAY HOW YOU VOTE, PLEASE.
UH, ONCE A MEMBER HARPER, MADISON MAYOR PRO TEM.
THAT'S A MEMBER OF KITCHEN FLAT AGAIN.
I AS WELL TO UNANIMOUS VOTE AFTER THE REST OF THEM.
CAN I JUST SAY THAT RANDY AND GINA Y'ALL CAN NOW TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND RELAX AND THANK YOU ALL, BOTH.
SO VERY MUCH FOR GETTING US TO THIS FOR HELPING US GET TO THIS POINT AND THANK YOU ALL.
BUT WE HAVE ANOTHER SECTION TO TALK ABOUT.
SO AS SOON AS WE GET BACK FROM MCCALL BREAK, WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AT IT, BUT THANK YOU.
IT'S THREE 38 RIGHT NOW, THREE 40.
UH, HOW LONG A BREAK DO WE WANT BEFORE WE COME BACK? THE NEXT TWO ITEMS ARE NOT FOR ACTION.
THEY'RE JUST FOR BRIEFING ON, UH, ON, UH, GOVERNMENT GOVERNANCE AND FINANCING.
UH, WE WANT TO TAKE 10 MINUTES.
LET'S COME BACK AT, UH, UH, 10 TIL WE HAVE A QUORUM AS WELL.
SO, UM, WAY THE, THE CITY COUNCIL COMING BACK HERE AT THREE 54 HAS A QUORUM ON THE DIOCESE.
UH, LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY AND, UH, CALL US UP BACK TO ORDER.
UH, IT WAS LIKE, WE SHOULD HAVE HAD MORE TIME TO CELEBRATE THAT.
WE NOW GO FROM, UH, THE WHAT QUESTION TO THE HOW QUESTIONS.
AND SO, UH, HAVING CELEBRATED, UH, PERHAPS FOR FIVE MINUTES, UH, WE ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND BEGIN THE NEXT CHAPTER ON THIS EXERCISE.
SO I GUESS WE TOLD GINA AND RANDY, THEY COULD, UH, REST AND CELEBRATE AND THAT'S OVER FOR THEM TOO.
BARELY TIME TO SPIKE A FOOTBALL, BUT IT'S TIME TO GET BACK TO WORK.
UM, SO NOW WE'LL, UH, TAKE UP THE SECOND PART OF OUR DISCUSSION, WHICH IS, UH, LOOKING FORWARD A PROPOSED PROJECT CONNECT GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK AND FUNDING AND INVESTMENT STRATEGY.
AND SO, UH, CARRIE BUTCHER, I BELIEVE YOU, UH, YOU KNOW, LEAD US OFF.
WELL, WELCOME BACK BOARD MEMBERS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM CARRIE BUTCHER, CAPITAL METRO'S CHIEF OF STAFF AND CHIEF COUNSEL.
LET ME BE THE FIRST TO SAY TO YOU FROM STAFF, THANK YOU FOR THE BOLD ACTIONS THAT YOU GUYS TOOK TODAY.
IT MEANS A LOT TO US BECAUSE WE'VE PUT A LOT OF OUR HEART AND SOUL INTO IT, BUT WITH THESE TRULY MOMENTOUS BOATS THAT YOU'VE JUST TAKEN, YOU CAN NOW LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE AND HOW TO PUT THIS TRANSFORMATIONAL PLAN INTO ACTION.
AS YOU LOOK FORWARD, THE CAPITAL METRO BOARD AND THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE CONSIDERING AND MAKING DECISIONS LATER THIS SUMMER ABOUT THE GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK FOR PROJECT CONNECT AND ABOUT A LOCAL FUNDING STRATEGY AND AN OVERALL ASSESSMENT STRATEGY.
SO THIS AFTERNOON, WE ARE BRINGING YOU SOME RESOURCES THAT WE HOPE YOU WILL FIND USEFUL IN BEGINNING THIS CONVERSATION, AS YOU GO FORWARD, WE'RE GOING TO DIVE RIGHT IN TO THE GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK CONVERSATION WITH BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP, BETTER KNOWN AS BCG, BUT DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE NAME BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP.
THEY ARE A GLOBAL MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT
[03:35:01]
FIRM WITH MORE THAN 16,000 EMPLOYEES IN 50 COUNTRIES.UH, WE HAVE ENGAGED THEM FOR THEIR EXPERTISE IN PUBLIC SECTOR PLANNING.
THEY HELP GOVERNMENTS LIKE OURS, LOOK AT BIG CHALLENGES AND COME UP WITH BIG SOLUTIONS.
SO THEY HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF PUBLIC SECTOR EXPERIENCE, PARTICULARLY IN THE TRANSIT INDUSTRY.
AND WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE THEM CAPITAL METRO AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN SOUGHT THE EXPERTISE OF BCG TO HELP US DEVELOP A GOVERNANCE MODEL TO PRESENT TO YOU FOR DISCUSSION ONE THAT WILL BEST ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF PROJECT CONNECT AND ALSO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, BCG HAS SPOKEN WITH MOST, IF NOT ALL OF YOU, UH, ABOUT YOUR FEEDBACK ON A GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK, THEY'VE ALSO BEEN SPEAKING WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO GET THEIR INPUT ON WHAT AUSTIN MIGHT NEED AND I'VE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE FOR PROJECT CONNECT.
UM, AND THEY COMBINE YOUR FEEDBACK AND THAT STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK WITH THEIR OWN RESEARCH AND EXPERTISE AND ANALYSIS OF BEST PRACTICES IN THE TRANSIT INDUSTRY, UM, TO GUIDE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU'LL SEE HERE TODAY, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED, THIS IS AN INITIAL RECOMMENDATION.
WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR YOUR FEEDBACK AND ONGOING DISCUSSION OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER TO FINALIZE THE FRAMEWORK LATER IN THE SUMMER WITH THAT, I WILL INTRODUCE NATALIE BUTLER TO YOU.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE WITH US FROM BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP, MONDAY, JANE AND RICH DAVEY, MANY OF YOU KNOW, NATALIE, SHE SPOKE WITH MANY OF YOU WHO ASKED TO INTERVIEW AND GET YOUR FEEDBACK OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
NATALIE'S A BRAND NEW AUSTINITES.
UM, AND SHE IS A PROJECT LEAD FOR BCG IN AUSTIN.
NOW, MONIQUE AND RICH, BOTH HAS MANY YEARS OF PUBLIC SECTOR EXPERTISE THAT WE'VE CALLED ON FOR THIS PROJECT AS WELL.
UM, I'LL ADD ONE CORRECTION TO YOUR COMMENT.
I'M A FORMER AND AGAIN, A BRAND NEW AUSTINITE, SO REALLY EXCITED TO MOVE BACK.
UM, IF YOU COULD MOVE THE SLIDES TO AHEAD, PLEASE.
UM, AND WE WILL GO AHEAD AND DIVE IN.
I'LL HAND IT OVER, I THINK ONE MORE, MAYBE.
UM, AND THEN ONE MORE BEYOND THAT AND IT WILL BE THERE.
UM, I WILL HAND IT OVER TO MONICA WHO WAS REALLY THE INITIAL LEADER OF THIS PROJECT TO GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW AND THEN OUT OF RESPECT FOR ALL OF YOUR TIME, I WILL MOVE THROUGH THIS QUITE QUICKLY.
UM, AND THEN TAKE SOME QUESTIONS AT THE END.
SO MONICA, I'LL KICK IT OVER TO YOU TO SAY SOMETHING REAL QUICK AND THEN I'LL GET INTO THE DETAILS.
AND IF HE, IF, IF NO ONE ELSE CAN HEAR HIM, I WILL JUST GO AHEAD AND DIVE IN.
UM, SO WE WERE BROUGHT IN TO LOOK AT THIS QUESTION OF HOW WE CAN GOVERN PROJECT CONNECT, UM, AND THE WAY THAT WE APPROACHED THIS QUESTION WAS WHAT CAN AUSTIN LEARN FROM OTHER TRANSIT PROJECTS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD? AND WHAT DO AUSTIN STAKEHOLDERS WANT FROM THE, FROM THIS PROJECT FROM PROJECT CONNECT IN TERMS OF ITS GOVERNANCE AND REALLY, HOW CAN WE SET IT UP FOR LONGTERM SUCCESS? IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO THE FIRST WAY WE WENT ABOUT LOOKING AT THIS QUESTION OF HOW TO SET UP THE GOVERNANCE WITH PROJECT CONNECT IS THROUGH CASE STUDIES.
SO WE PERFORMED A NUMBER OF INTERVIEWS WITH DIFFERENT TRANSIT PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES HAVE SET UP LARGE CAPITAL PROGRAMS IN TRANSIT FOR SUCCESS.
UM, NOW EVERY AGENCY IS DIFFERENT, BUT WE DID LEARN A FEW THINGS FROM ALL OF THESE INTERVIEWS THAT ARE INFORMING THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE'RE MAKING IN TERMS OF GOVERNANCE HERE.
UM, I'LL WALK THROUGH A FEW OF THOSE QUICKLY.
SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS ONE IS THAT TRANSPARENCY TO BOTH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE PUBLIC IS CRITICAL.
UM, HAVE MALL AND EMPOWERED, AS YOU ALL KNOW, YOU ARE THE POLICYMAKERS HERE, BUT THIS BODY WOULD BE THE IMPLEMENTERS.
THEY'RE REALLY THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION FOR IT.
THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THIS PROJECT HAPPEN IN THE DAY TO DAY.
UM, AND WE REALLY WANT TO LEVERAGE INDUSTRY EXPERTISE WITHIN THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
IN ORDER TO PUSH THIS FORWARD, YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO ON TOP OF LOOKING AT CASE STUDIES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD, WE ALSO SPOKE TO MANY OF YOU.
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SPEAKING WITH, I BELIEVE EVERYONE ON THIS CALL AND THE CAP METRO BOARD, AS WELL AS THE CITY COUNCIL, AS WELL AS OTHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AROUND AUSTIN, WITH DIFFERENT INTEREST IN PROJECT CONNECT IN ITS FUTURE ITS FUTURE.
UM, FROM THOSE CONVERSATIONS WE HEARD FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF VIEWS ON HOW BEST TO SET THIS UP FOR SUCCESS, BUT AGAIN, A NUMBER OF THINGS ROSE TO THE SURFACE.
SO AGAIN, THIS ISSUE OF TRANSPARENCY WAS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
WE WANT A BODY THAT CAN SERVE AS A TRUE FIDUCIARY TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND ACT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL OF AUSTIN AND THE GREATER AUSTIN COMMUNITY TO BE AFFECTED BY THE PROJECT.
WE ALSO WANT TO REQUIRE DIVERSITY IN THE GOVERNING BODY MEMBERSHIP AND REALLY ENABLE A BODY HERE TO PLAN FOR THE LONGTERM.
[03:40:01]
IS WE WENT THROUGH THIS AS WE WANT TO BUILD A GOVERNING BODY THAT'S AROUND PRINCIPLES AND NOT NECESSARILY AROUND INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE AS THIS BODY WILL ESSENTIALLY OUTLAST ANY MANY INDIVIDUALS.YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT MIGHT LAST LIKE MY TENURE LIVING IN AUSTIN.
IT MIGHT OUTLAST MANY PEOPLE'S TENURE AND STAFF POSITIONS, ET CETERA.
SO WE WANT TO PLAN THIS AROUND THE GUIDANCE PRINCIPALS TO SET THIS UP FOR SUCCESS, IF YOU CAN GET TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO IN TAKING ALL OF THE FEEDBACK WE HEARD FROM ALL OF YOU, AS WELL AS THE CASE STUDIES, THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE INFORMING THE MORE DETAILED RECOMMENDATION HERE THAT WE ARE PUTTING FORWARD.
AND AS CARRIE SAID, I'LL JUST REITERATE, THIS IS A PRELIMINARY RECOMMENDATION BASED ON OUR RESEARCH.
THIS WILL CONTINUE TO BE WORKED ON REFINED WITH ALL OF YOU OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER, BEFORE ANY ACTION IS TAKEN, BUT WANTED TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU NOW TO REALLY CONTINUE TO START THAT CONVERSATION IN EARNEST.
UM, SO IF YOU, THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ROSE, UH, AS WE WENT THROUGH THIS RESEARCH PROCESS, PROJECT PROCESS, EXCUSE ME, IS THAT WE WANT A GOVERNING BODY TO CONSERVE AS A TRUE FIDUCIARY TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, REALLY FOCUSED ON IMPLEMENTATION, NOT A POLICYMAKING.
IF WE SET UP A GOVERNING BODY TO GOVERN PROJECT CONNECT, WE ALSO WANT IT TO BE RELATIVELY SMALL.
WE'RE WE NARROWED IN ON FIVE TO SEVEN MEMBERS.
WE THINK THAT'S A BODY THAT'S LARGE ENOUGH TO GATHER A GREAT DEAL OF EXPERTISE AND INFORMATION ONTO THE BOARD, BUT STILL BE ABLE TO ACT NIMBLY IN AN INEFFECTIVE WAY.
THE THIRD POINT HERE IS ON MEMBERSHIP.
WE THINK THAT THE BEST WAY TO SET THIS BODY UP FOR SUCCESS IS A COMBINATION OF BOTH AGENCY REPRESENTATION.
SO IN THIS CASE, REPRESENTATION FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AS WELL AS FROM CAPITAL METRO, AS WELL AS INDEPENDENT EXPERTS FROM THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY THAT CAN BRING TECHNICAL EXPERTISE TO THIS BODY, IS IT DESIGNED TO IMPLEMENT PROJECT CONNECT ON THE TERM LIMIT? WE THINK THAT HAVING FOLKS THAT CAN SIT ON THIS BODY FOR A LONG ENOUGH PERIOD OF TIME TOGETHER, SOME EXPERTISE, BUT ALSO HAVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF TURNOVER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GOVERNING BODY IS MEETING THE NEEDS OF PROJECT CONNECT, AS IT MOVES THROUGH THE DECADE PLUS LONG PROCESSES, IMPLEMENTATION IS IMPORTANT.
SO THEREFORE WE'RE RECOMMENDING TWO TO FOUR YEARS WITH NO TERM LIMITS.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY, ON AN APPOINTMENT PROCESS FOR THE NUMBERS OF THIS BOARD, WE THINK THAT IT'S DIFFERENT FOR EACH OF THE SEATS AND THEY'LL SPEAK TO THE EXACT SEATS WE'RE RECOMMENDING IN A MOMENT, BUT REALLY THE IN FOR ALL OF THE SEATS THAT IT INVOLVES BOTH THE CAPITAL METRO BOARD, THE CITY COUNCIL, OR JOINTLY APPROVING THE MEMBERS ON THE BODY.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, I'LL, I'LL MOVE PAST IT QUICKLY, BUT A LOT OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INFORMED BY SOME OF THE BEST PRACTICES, AS WELL AS SOME STUMBLING BLOCKS THAT WE SAW AS WE DID OUR RESEARCH AROUND THE COUNTRY.
YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SO OUR INITIAL RECOMMENDATION, AND LIKE I SAID, TO BE CONTINUED TO BE WORKED IN REFINED, BUT THE WAY WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS NOW, AND I BELIEVE I SPOKE TO THIS IN DETAIL WITH ALL OF YOU EARLIER IN THE, IN THE SPRING WAS A FIVE MEMBER BOARD.
UM, ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, WHO WE ARE RECOMMENDING HERE WOULD BE EITHER THE MAYOR OR A DESIGNATED MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CAPITAL METRO BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WHICH IS EITHER THE CHAIR OR A MEMBER OF THE BOARD DESIGNATED A DESIGNATED MEMBER, THE CAP METRO BOARD.
AND THEN WE WOULD AUGMENT THOSE WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND EXPERTS.
SO THOSE FIRST TWO SEATS ARE ONES THAT ARE REPRESENTING THESE AGENCIES THAT ARE REALLY SPONSORING PROJECT CONNECT, BUT BRINGING EXPERTISE TO THE BOARD AS WELL.
WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT A LOT OF THIS IS DONE WITH SUFFICIENT KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHAT THE POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS ARE.
SO AT OUR INITIAL RECOMMENDATION HERE FOR THE TYPE OF EXPERTISE REQUIRED ON THIS BOARD WOULD BE REC EXPERTISE IN FINANCE EXPERTISE, IN ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION, AS WELL AS EXPERTISE IN SUSTAINABILITY AND PLANNING.
WE THINK BETWEEN THOSE THREE CATEGORIES, THEY ARE BOTH A COMBINATION OF BROAD AND NARROW ENOUGH TO GET TO EFFICIENT EXPERTISE, BUT ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THESE SEATS CAN MOVE AND CHANGE OVER TIME TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PROJECT AS IT MOVES THROUGH THIS LONG IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS.
A FEW OTHER THINGS THAT WE THINK ARE IMPORTANT TO CALL OUT HERE IS THAT THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD WE BELIEVE SHOULD BE SELECTED FROM AMONG THESE FIVE BOARD MEMBERS, BUT SHOULD NOT BE THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CITY OR FROM CAP METRO.
IT SHOULD BE CHOSEN FROM AMONG THOSE THREE EXPERTS.
UM, UH, REITERATE AGAIN, TWO TO FOUR YEAR TERMS WITH NO LIMITS, SO PEOPLE CAN BE REAPPOINTED.
AND WE BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE HERE THAT, UH, A CONSIDERATION FOR DIVERSITY AMONG THE WHOLE BOARD IS ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT.
I KNOW THAT'S BEEN A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION THROUGHOUT THE MEETING TODAY TO MAKE SURE THAT EQUITY IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF ANY CONVERSATION HERE.
AND THEN FINALLY WE BELIEVE THAT ALL MEMBERS SHOULD BE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
Y'ALL CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, IN TERMS OF SELECTING THOSE EXPERTS, WE DID PUT SOME THINKING BASED ON OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH ALL OF YOU AROUND HOW THOSE EXPERTS WOULD BE CHOSEN.
UM, WE BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE AN OPEN APPLICATION PROCESS THAT ANYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY ONLINE.
UM, AND ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED IN MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR SERVING THESE SHEETS SEATS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
INITIALLY THESE APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE VETTED FOR SOME OF THE REALLY CORE REQUIREMENTS HERE.
DOES THE APPLICANT HAVE THE EXPERTISE THAT WE HAVE DECIDED IS IMPORTANT TO SIT ON THE BOARD? DO THEY MEET THOSE CRITERIA AS WELL AS DO THEY MEET THEIR AUSTIN RESIDENT CRITERIA? UM, ALL OF THOSE APPLICANTS
[03:45:01]
WHO THAT VETTING CRITERIA WOULD BE SCREENED BY A NOMINATING COMMITTEE AND A NOMINATING COMMITTEE WOULD BE MADE UP OF CAP METRO AND CITY OF AUSTIN BOARD AND COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT NOMINATING COMMITTEE WOULD EVALUATE APPLICANTS AND NARROW DOWN IF NECESSARY AND RECOMMEND A SLATE OF NOMINEES THAT WOULD THEN IDEALLY BE JOINTLY APPROVED BY BOTH THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CAP METRO BOARD OF DIRECTORS.IF YOU CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AND THEN FINALLY, UM, WE THINK THAT ANOTHER KEY THING TO HIGHLIGHT HERE IS THAT THERE SHOULD BE ABSOLUTELY SET IN STONE FEEDBACK MECHANISMS BETWEEN THIS BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT WOULD BE OVERSEEING PROJECT CONNECT AS WELL AS THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND KENT METRO IS WITH ALL OF YOU.
SO, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AT CAP METRO OR THE POLICYMAKING BODIES HERE, UM, AND YOU WOULD FORM THIS TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, YOU'D FORM THIS PROJECT KIND OF GOVERNING BODY, AND THEN ANNUALLY ALLOCATE THE FUNDING TO THE GOVERNING BODY TO ACTUALLY MOVE FORWARD AND IMPLEMENT PROJECT CONNECT.
BUT WE ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THIS IS A TWO WAY STREET THAT THIS BOARD OF DIRECTORS CERT ALSO REPORTS BACK TO YOU ON A QUITE REGULAR BASIS.
SO WE THINK THAT THIS BOARD OF DIRECTORS SHOULD PRODUCE AT MINIMUM, A QUARTERLY REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND CAP METRO COMMITTEES.
UH, THEY'RE RELEVANT HERE AS WELL AS AN ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE REPORT AND PARTICIPATION IN AN ANNUAL JOINT MEETING.
LIKE THIS ONE, WE ALSO WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HIRE AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOR THAT WOULD REPORT SEPARATELY TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CAP METRO BOARD, AS WELL AS TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, AND JUST TO HIGHLIGHT AGAIN, THAT THIS BOARD OF DIRECTORS WOULD BE MANAGING THE DAY TO DAY PROJECT CONNECT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND DESIGN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE POLICY SET BY ALL OF YOU.
UM, I WANTED TO MOVE THROUGH THAT QUICKLY OUT OF RESPECT FOR YOUR TIME, BUT HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT Y'ALL MAY HAVE BEFORE WE MOVE ON.
AND I WILL SAY AS SOMEONE WHO'S EXCITED TO MOVE BACK TO AUSTIN, I AM PERSONALLY INCREDIBLY EXCITED ABOUT THE, UH, THE VOTE THAT Y'ALL TOOK TODAY.
AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY WONDERFUL FOR THE CITY.
SO THAT'S MY LITTLE PERSONAL PLUG.
AND CARRIE QUESTIONS FOR EITHER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, HARPER, MADISON.
I PERSONALLY HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO JUST FIGURE OUT FROM A PROCESS PERSPECTIVE, HOW MANY MORE OPPORTUNITIES WE'LL HAVE WITH THE, YOU KNOW, SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS ON THE LINE TO REALLY TALK THROUGH THE IMPLICATIONS OF HOW MANY OR LACK THEREOF FRANKLY, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS.
UM, IF YOU COULD JUST KIND OF WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE WE'LL THEN FORWARD.
RANDY, YOU MAY BE THE BEST TO ANSWER THAT.
I THINK THE CONTEMPLATION IS THAT WE WOULD HAVE AT LEAST ONE AND MAYBE A COUPLE OF WORKS, UH, THE 20 NOW AND YOUR AUGUST MEETING, UH, TO WORK THROUGH BOTH GOVERNANCE AND FINDINGS A LITTLE BIT MORE, HEY RANDY, BEFORE YOU GO IN, UM, WHICH, BY THE WAY, I NOTICED YOU GOT A HAIRCUT, I WAS CAREFUL AND WEAR A MASK, UM, OH, YOU KNOW, YOURSELF.
SO THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD SAY IN TERMS OF CONCERNS AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR ME, UM, I CAN'T HELP, BUT REFLECT ON OUR, AT LARGE CANCEL SYSTEM, UM, DURING THE COURSE OF THIS CONVERSATION AND THE IMPORTANCE AND THE RELEVANCE OF MAKING CERTAIN TO BE REAL CLEAR AND REAL CAREFUL ABOUT REPRESENTATION, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT MATTERS.
AND SO THOSE WHERE MY QUESTIONS ARE COMING FROM, IF THAT HELPS TO INFLUENCE, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU RESPOND.
SO WHAT WE WERE THINKING IS, AGAIN, UH, EARLY AUGUST, THERE'LL BE ANOTHER JOINT MEETING WHERE WE WOULD BRING FORTH, UH, SOME TYPE OF ILA FORMING THIS, UH, AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BOTH BODIES.
AND THEN IDEALLY YOU ALL HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DECISION ON THE CITY SIDE, THEY'RE CALLING A TRENDS OF REFERENDUM AND ON THE KIND OF METRO SIDE, OBLIGATING CAPITAL EXPANSION FUNDS AND OPERATING MONEY.
SO AGAIN, PROBABLY SOMETIME IN THE EARLY AUGUST TIMEFRAME, WE ALSO ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO FIND A DATE OR A LATE JULY, UH, WORK SESSION.
SO NOT AN ACTION, BUT ANOTHER WORK SESSION.
AND THEN AFTER TODAY, WE WANT TO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AT THE CAP METRO BOARD OR MOBILITY CANADIA AT DIFFERENT POINTS, UH, TO DO UPDATES OR OUR CONVERSATIONS.
AND THEN OF COURSE, WE WANT TO HAVE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS WITH ALL OF YOU AS WELL, UH, THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
SO TODAY WAS REALLY, AGAIN, A BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP DID A LOT OF RESEARCH FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY AROUND THE WORLD TO SAY, YOU KNOW, QUITE FRANKLY, EVERY BOARD IS DIFFERENT IN TRANSIT.
SOME BOARDS HAVE DONE THINGS REALLY WELL, AND THEN OTHER THINGS REALLY POORLY, UH, NO BOARD HAS BEEN PERFECT BY ANY MEANS.
AND THESE ARE COMPLICATED TOPICS, UH, IN MOST TRANSIT AROUND THE COUNTRY.
UH, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A BOARD LIKE THIS.
UH, THE TRANSIT AGENCY JUST GOES AND, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE A CAMP, A COUPLE OF EXPANSION DIVISION, AND THEY JUST BUILT THE, WE ARE DOING THIS BECAUSE CAP METRO DOESN'T HAVE ALL THE FUNDING ON ITS OWN.
WE'LL BRING THE FEDERAL FUNDING IN.
WE HAVE SOME CAPITAL FUNDING AND
[03:50:01]
WE HAVE SOME ONGOING O AND M, BUT CLEARLY THE PARTNERSHIP HAS TO HAPPEN TO EFFECTUATE THE PLAN THAT YOU ALL JUST APPROVED.SO WE HAVE TO JOIN THAT THE MONEY'S TOGETHER, UH, THE INVESTMENT, UH, FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TOGETHER THAT CREATES A DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION BOARD.
SO I THINK WHAT BCG IS REALLY PRESENTING IS WHAT THEY'VE HEARD A DONE THE RESEARCH AND WHAT THEY'VE HEARD FROM ALL OF YOU.
AND I WILL SAY THAT THERE'S PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.
I THINK FUNDAMENTALLY, MOST PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THERE'S THIS, UH, THE STRUCTURE MAKES SENSE HOW IT ALL COMES TOGETHER, TRANSPARENCY, FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY, BUT THERE'S OBVIOUSLY NEW WATSON AND SOME OF THOSE DETAILS.
AND THEN THEY INTERVIEWED A BUNCH OF STAKEHOLDERS AS WELL, THAT THEY LISTED IN THE PACKAGE HERE, EVERYTHING FROM COMMUNITY GROUPS TO SOME BUSINESS LEADERSHIP GROUPS, ET CETERA.
AND SO THEY'RE TRYING TO MORPH ALL OF THAT FEEDBACK, UNIQUE AUSTIN FEEDBACK WITH BEST PRACTICES OF HOW TO MAKE THIS BOARD, AS NATALIE SAID, LAST 10, 20, 30, 30 YEARS TO GET ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS DONE.
SO THIS IS REALLY ABOUT GETTING YOUR FEEDBACK AND THOUGHTS RIGHT NOW.
I GET PROBABLY INITIAL, INITIAL THOUGHTS ON THE INITIAL RECOMMENDATIONS, AND WE HAVE TONS OF TIME TO WORK WITH YOU ON THE SIDE AND IN FUTURE MEETINGS TO REFINE THAT TOWARDS A SUMMER DECISION.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
UM, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY, UH, NOT TO MAKE LIGHT OF THE SITUATION, BUT I CAN'T HELP, BUT NOTICE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER ALICE IS UNDER ATTACK BY KITTY CAT.
SHE JUST, HONESTLY, ME A SMILE THAT I NEEDED FOR TODAY.
UM, I WILL SAY THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO MOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF RECOGNIZING THAT WE ALL DO.
I APPRECIATE THAT YOU SAID THE WORD NUANCE, IT'S NUANCED.
I, I LOOK FORWARD TO RECOGNIZING THAT WE ALL WILL PROBABLY HAVE SOMETHING WE'D LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DIALOGUE ABOUT WHAT IT SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T LOOK LIKE.
UM, IF FOR NO OTHER REASON WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BOARD, THE BODY.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, MAYOR PRO TIM GARZA.
UM, YEAH, I'LL JUST EXPRESS THE SAME CONCERNS.
I EXPRESS WITH OUR ONE ON ONE.
AND THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING US ALL THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THOSE ONE-ON-ONES.
UM, YOU SEE, YOU KNOW, I KIND OF SIMILAR TO THE CONSTABLE HARVARD MADISON JUST SAID, UM, I WAS PART OF THE GRASSROOTS EFFORT TO GET TEN ONE AND, UM, IT HAS BROUGHT MANY NEEDED VOICES.
AND I MEAN, I HAVE TO BE HONEST, THIS IDEA THAT THIS ISN'T POLICY, THIS IS IMPLEMENTATION IS, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF GRAY AND OVERLAP IN POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION.
UM, MUCH OF WHAT WE DO, YOU KNOW, IT STRICTLY IS SUPPOSED TO BE POLICY IS IMPLEMENTATION AND IS, AND IS IN THE ACTUAL ACTION OF OUR POLICY.
SO, UM, JUST QUICKLY, AND I KNOW WE'LL HAVE MORE TIME TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY TOO MUCH TIME FROM EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT I HAVE BIG CONCERNS ABOUT THERE NOT BEING MORE ELECTED OFFICIALS ON, AND THEN SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITS, UM, ANY OF THE CAP METRO BOARD, UM, MANY OF THE CAP METRO BOARD MEMBERS RIGHT NOW.
I THINK THAT EVERYONE BRINGS IMPORTANT VOICES, BUT MANY OF US NOW ARE THERE BECAUSE OF OUR ELECTED POSITION.
AND I WOULD, I WOULD BE VERY CONCERNED TO NOT HAVE, UM, IMPORTANT VOICES LIKE, UH, COMMISSIONER TREVELYAN AND, AND COUNCILMEMBER HARBOR, MADISON, AND
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR, UM, ACCOUNTABILITY.
I HAVE SEEN IN SEVERAL INSTANCES AND I WON'T GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE OF THEIR ELECTED POSITION, HOW IT'S JUST EASIER TO IGNORE THAT EMAIL OR IGNORE THAT CONCERN, OR JUST, YOU KNOW, AND BELIEVE ME, I UNDERSTAND THE BALANCE OF, OF THE NECESSITY TO GET THINGS GOING AND TO GET, KEEP THINGS ON TRACK AND TO BE, YOU KNOW, DATABASED AND ALL THAT STUFF TOO.
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO TRUST THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS CAN THINK ABOUT THOSE KINDS OF THINGS TOO, AND WEIGH THEM AND UNDERSTAND THOSE, THOSE BIG, BIG, SMART THINGS TOO.
I HAD MEMBER STRATTON AND COMMISSIONER TREVELYAN AND COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN NUMBER STRATTON.
UM, FIRST THANK YOU, NATALIE AND BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP.
I DID APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU TOOK AND ONE ON ONE WITH ME AND, AND, UH, JUST THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FEEDBACK.
UM, THE, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT JUMPED OUT AT ME, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE IN THE WEEDS WITH THIS, BUT KIND OF A PROCEDURAL, UH, SIDE OF THINGS WAS, UM, UH, THAT I THINK SHOULD BE UNDER CONSIDERATION.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A BODY THAT LASTS FOR, YOU KNOW, PRESUMABLY 20, 30, 40 YEARS MAYBE DEPENDS ON THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT.
[03:55:01]
THIS, THIS MAY BE LONGER THAN JUST THE MAP ITSELF AND THE BUILD OUT OF THE PROJECT WHERE WE WERE STILL THAT TIES BACK INTO THE FUNDING.UM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERNED ME IS IF WE'RE ELECTING, IF, IF THE, IF THIS IS BEING PROPOSED AS A SLATE THAT THEN, UH, CAP METRO AND CITY OF AUSTIN EACH HAVE TO JOINTLY SIGN OFF ON, UM, THERE, THERE ARE SOME PROCEDURAL ISSUES THERE WHEREBY IF, IF, IF YOU KNOW THE CITY OF AUSTIN OR CAP METRO, YOU KNOW, IF FOR SOME REASON DOWN THE LINE, DON'T BOTH SIGN OFF ON IT, THEN YOU'VE GOTTA KEEP GOING BACK TO THE WELL.
AND SO THEN YOU'VE GOT PROBLEMS THERE, SECONDARILY TO THAT.
UM, AND THAT MAY BE A GOOD THING BECAUSE THAT MAY FORCE, AND AGAIN, NOT THIS COUNCIL, I MEAN, CLEARLY WE'VE SEEN THIS COUNCIL AND THIS CAP, METRO BOARD MORE UNITED THAN I THINK WE EVER HAVE BEEN IN, IN THE HISTORY OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS, RESPECTIVELY, AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, BUT, UM, UH, THAT IS SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
BUT, UH, ADDITIONALLY, THE ONE THING TO CONSIDER THAT I WOULD SUBMIT IS, UM, WHAT TO DO ABOUT INDIVIDUAL SLOTS, AS IN WHAT HAPPENS IF, YOU KNOW, ONE YEAR INTO A TWO YEAR TERM OR TWO YEARS INTO A FOUR YEAR TERM, UM, YOUR SUPPOSEDLY THE ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION PERSON HAS TO STEP DOWN.
SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT CAUSES ONE OF THOSE THREE COMMUNITY EXPERT MEMBERS TO HAVE TO STEP DOWN.
UH, THERE NEEDS TO BE A PROCEDURE LAID OUT AND IN PLACE SUCH THAT AN INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATIVE CAN BE REPLACED, THAT DOES NOT CAUSE A PROBLEM WITH THE COHESIVENESS OF THE BOARD.
UM, I WOULD ALSO, UH, I THINK I, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE YET HOW I FEEL ABOUT, UM, WHAT, UH, A BOARD MEMBER, UH, AND VICE CHAIR, UH, GARZA AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, HARPER MADISON'S RAISED.
I THINK THEY RAISED A GOOD POINT THOUGH.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE A BOAT ON TWO POINTS THAT, YOU KNOW, GO LIMITATION OF NOT ALLOWING EITHER A MEMBER OF CAP METRO OR THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO BE ELECTED CHAIR.
I THINK IF YOU'RE GOING TO EMPOWER THAT BODY TO SELECT ITS OWN OFFICERS, IT SHOULD JUST AS A CASE IN POINT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DELI GARZA IS THE VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE, UH, THE CAP METRO BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
WHY, BECAUSE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF CAPITAL METRO GOT TOGETHER, TOOK A VOTE AND DECIDED THAT THAT WOULD BE IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO DO SO.
UM, SO THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE TO CONSIDER AGAIN, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GETTING THERE AND AS RANDY HAS SAID, UH, THIS IS GOING TO BE, I THINK, NUANCED, I THINK THIS WAS A GOOD STARTING POINT, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU PUT INTO IT.
I THINK THAT, UH, THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE SOMETHING YOU HAD TO TAKE EVERYTHING UP AGAINST THE WALL, YOU KNOW, THROW IT UP AGAINST THE WALL AND SEE WHAT STICKS IS A STARTING POINT.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO FURTHER FUTURE CONVERSATIONS AMONG THE COMMUNITY AND AMONG THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO KIND OF FLESH THIS OUT AND TEASE IT OUT OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER.
BUT THAT'S JUST SOME OF MY INITIAL THOUGHTS.
AND JUST TO LOG THAT AS, AS YOU WOULD, AS YOU CONSIDER THIS AND WE GO FORWARD, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MEMBER STRATTON, I'VE GOT COMMISSIONER TREVELYAN NEXT? IS IT JUST ME? OR DOES THIS CONFIGURATION LOOK LIKE THE BRADY BUNCH? JUST NOT, I PUT THAT OUT THERE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AS WE, AS WE LOOK AT THE BODY OF THAT IS GOING TO HAVE COMMENTS ON A C AND A SYSTEM THAT SHOULD SERVE THE REGION.
UH, THEN IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A GOOD DEAL OF REPRESENTATION FROM THE CITY ITSELF, BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOME PERSPECTIVE FROM PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY, UH, BECAUSE, UH, YOU KNOW, W WHEN YOU LOOK BEYOND A ONE 83, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE WAY PALMER GOES FROM TWO 90 ALL THE WAY OVER, UH, TO HIGHWAY 45, UH, THERE ARE A LOT OF AREAS THAT AREN'T JUST THE CITY THAT IS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED BY PUBLIC TRANSIT IN THE AREA.
SO I THINK THAT, THAT THOSE VOICES NEED TO BE, I NEED TO BE HEARD.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK ALSO THAT, UM, IT IS, IT IS NOT ONLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ADDRESS, UH, DIVERSITY FROM THE STANDPOINT OF ETHNICITY, BUT WE ALSO ADDRESS IT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF PERSPECTIVE AND WORK EXPERIENCE ON, YOU KNOW, UH, I, SOMETIMES I AM CONCERNED, BUT AS WE GO THROUGH THE SELECTION PROCESS, UH, SOMETIMES WE RELY TOO MUCH ON OUR CONTACT NETWORK, AS OPPOSED TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH VARYING EXPERIENCES FROM VARYING PLACES WHO NEED TO BE AT THE TABLE.
SO I WANT TO BE SURE, UH, THAT WE ARE NOT ONLY FISHING AND I MAY BE POND, BUT THAT WE ARE OPENING UP, UH, THE PLACES THAT WE'RE LOOKING, UH, OTHER PLACES WITH OTHER EXPERIENCES AND, AND, AND PROFESSIONALS WHO WILL BRING A PERSPECTIVE
[04:00:01]
THAT'S NECESSARY TO GIVE US, UH, SOME LONGTERM INSIGHTS.I'VE GOT COUNCIL MEMBER, FLANAGAN, COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN, AND THEN THE MAYOR.
UM, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
I THINK THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.
THIS IS THE TYPE OF DETAIL IN THIS EFFORT THAT IS THE LEAST SEXY, BUT POSSIBLY THE MOST CRITICAL FOR THE SUCCESS.
SO I'M SUPER EXCITED THAT WE'RE DIGGING INTO IT AT THIS LEVEL.
I'VE HAD MY EYE ON THIS SINCE, UH, WE PASSED THE RESOLUTION AT THE CITY COUNCIL WAY BACK LAST AUGUST, UH, AT MANY OF MY, UH, UH, WITH THAT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY WHERE THIS WAS PART OF THE FOCUS, UM, ME GETTING MORE CLARITY BECAUSE WHEN I'M MAKING THIS DECISION TODAY, SO IT'S IMPORTANT JUST TO KIND OF NOTE THAT FOR OURSELVES, RIGHT? GETTING A LITTLE MORE CLARITY ON THE ROLES.
WE EXPECT, THE THREE PARTICIPATING, VOTING BODIES, COUNCIL, KEN METRO BOARD, AND THE JOINT VENTURE, UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEIR ROLES ARE, WHAT DECISIONS ARE THEY GOING TO BE PRESENTED WITH IN YEAR ONE IN HERE, FIVE IN YEAR 10, AND THEN OFTEN TO THE FUTURE, BECAUSE I THINK I'M LACKING THE CONTEXT FOR THAT, TO KNOW WHAT THAT IS BECAUSE, UM, IT'S, IT'S PRETTY EASY TO LOOK AT THIS CONVERSATION AND ASSUME THAT THIS BOARD IS GOING TO DO ALL THE SAME STUFF THAT THE CAP CAP METRO BOARD DOES NOW.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE INTENT.
SO THAT CLARITY, I THINK, WILL BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR US MOVING FORWARD.
UM, UH, TO COMMISSIONER TREVELYAN POINT, UM, THAT THAT'S, THAT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF A STICKING POINT FOR ME, AT LEAST IN TERMS OF CITY OR NOT CITY.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS, IS THE LOCAL FUNDING PARTNER.
AND SO GETTING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE FINANCIAL COMMITMENT OF THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY TO THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO BE ESSENTIAL FOR ME TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE POINT YOU'RE MAKING.
SO STAFF CAN HELP FRAME THAT, UM, CAUSE WITHOUT A BETTER UNDERSTANDING, THAT'S A NONSTARTER FOR ME.
UH, AND THEN FINALLY THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS.
WHAT I STRUGGLE WITH WITH WHAT YOU'VE LAID OUT IS I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT PROCESS ACHIEVES DIVERSITY.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GET DIVERSITY.
WHAT'S THE CHECKPOINT OF DIVERSITY AND THE COUNCIL AT LEAST HAS STRUGGLED.
WE STRUGGLE WITH THIS A LOT BECAUSE WE DO ALL THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS APPOINTMENTS AND THEN WE ALL INDIVIDUALLY GO OUT AND PICK SOMEBODY AND LET ME COME BACK AND GO, OH, WHOOPS, WE PUT TOO MANY OR WE MISSED ENOUGH OR THAT ONE MISSED THE MARK.
UM, SO THAT'S A CHALLENGE AND I AM LESS CONCERNED ABOUT IT BEING ELECTED OFFICIALS.
I THINK WE CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND OTHER DAY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT FOLKS LIKE US WHO HAVE VERY SPECIFIC ROLES ARE NECESSARY, GIVEN THE DECISIONS THAT THIS BOARD IS GOING TO MAKE.
UM, I WOULD PROBABLY SUPPORT NO ELECTED OFFICIALS, WHETHER OR NOT IT IS A FORMAL LIMITATION OR JUST A PRACTICE.
ALSO A GOOD QUESTION TO MAKE, UM, SOMETHING ELSE TO, TO CONFIRM.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF MAYBE GINA, YOU CAN HELP ANSWER THIS DEPENDING ON THE FUNDING MECHANISM WE USE, IF WE USE THE TAX RATE ELECTION AS A FUNDING MECHANISM, WHICH SEEMS VERY LIKELY THEN EVERY YEAR DURING THE CITY BUDGET PROCESS, THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO AUTHORIZE THE FUNDING.
IT'LL BASICALLY HAVE TO COLLECT THE PROPERTY TAXES LIKE IT DOES NOW AND THEN APPROVE THE TRANSFER OVER TO THE ENTITY.
THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING COUNCIL MEMBER.
THERE IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT OVERSIGHT.
CHECK-IN FOR THE COUNCIL ANNUALLY.
NOW WE ALL KNOW, BUT IF YOU GO OUT AND ISSUE A BUNCH OF DEBT, YOU CAN'T REALLY NOT GIVE THEM THE MONEY.
CAUSE WE'VE HAD THAT CONVERSATION.
WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT CONVENTION CENTER.
WE DON'T KNOW THAT PART, BUT STILL NONETHELESS, IT DOES PUT THE MARKER DOWN ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AND AN IMPORTANT MOMENT.
SO THAT'S GOOD, WHICH MAKES ME FEEL BETTER.
AND THE LAST THING I'LL SAY TO MAYOR PRETENSE POINT ABOUT TEN ONE.
WHEN I, WHEN I DID MY ONE-ON-ONE, THE BRAINSTORM THAT I HAD FOR THIS.
AND I THINK HOPEFULLY WE ALL DID THAT.
WE JUST KIND OF BRAIN DUMPED INTO THE CONSULTANT TO INTERPRET THE BRAIN DUMP THAT I HAD WAS WHY DON'T WE MIRROR THE PROCESS TEN ONE SET UP HAVING AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY LIKE THE CITY AUDITOR OR SOMEONE RECEIVE THE APPLICATIONS THROUGH A SET
[04:05:01]
OF REQUIREMENTS AND THEN RECOMMEND A SLATE SO THAT WE COULD ACCOMPLISH WHAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE COMPETING, GOALS OF EXPERTISE, COMMUNITY AND DIVERSITY.AND THAT WAS THE PITCH THAT I HAD MADE.
AND IT MIGHT A BOARD MEMBER STRATTON ADDRESSED SOME OF MY SHARED CONCERNS ABOUT PROCESS, ABOUT ANY PART OF THIS THAT HAS TO BE APPROVED BY BOTH.
IF WE BOTH KIND OF AGREED ON HOW THAT SLATE IS PUT TOGETHER, IT MIGHT CREATE MORE WEIGHT FOR THE JOINT AGREEMENT LATER.
THAT'S ALL JUST BRAINSTORMING, BUT I'M JUST LAYING THAT OUT NOW, SINCE WE'RE NOT MAKING THE FINAL DECISION TODAY, I JUST WANTED EVERYONE TO KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING.
I'VE GOT A COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
THIS IS GOING TO BE, UM, I AGREE.
THIS IS LIKE THE, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT, IF NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION THAT WE MAKE.
SO A COUPLE OF THINGS FIRST OFF, I AGREE WITH COUNSEL MY REPLY, UH, PLAN AGAIN, THAT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET MUCH MORE SPECIFIC IN TERMS OF THE DECISIONS THAT THIS BODY MAKES, BECAUSE THAT WILL HELP INFORM US.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE WE MAY ALL BE THINKING OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO WE NEED TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE WITH REGARD TO THAT.
UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WOULD SAY.
I ALSO THINK THAT A SELECTION PROCESS THAT, THAT HELPS BOTH BODIES LOOK AT A SUBSET OF PEOPLE COULD BE USEFUL.
UM, I WOULDN'T WANT THAT PROCESS TO MAKE THE DECISIONS.
OBVIOUSLY WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF, OF, UM, YOU KNOW, DECIDING THE POOL.
AND THEN I WOULD SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I THINK THAT, UM, I THINK THAT THERE IS NO REASON, UH, NOR DO I THINK IT'S HELPFUL TO LIMIT ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM BEING THE, UM, THE CHAIR.
UH, I THINK ERIC, UH, EXPLAIN THAT PRETTY WELL, IF THAT THE BOARD'S DECIDING, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S A SELF SELECTED CHAIR OF THE BOARD, THERE'S NO REASON TO SAY THAT AT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, I COULDN'T BE THE CHAIR.
SO, UM, THAT JUST MAKES NO SENSE.
CAUSE WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS YOU'RE WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS YOU, YOU YOU'RE YOUR MOST, YOU'RE YOUR BEST QUALIFIED PERSON COULD, COULD BE THAT PARTICULAR PERSON.
AND YET YOU WERE SAYING THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE TAKING SOMEBODY OUT OF THE MIX.
IT DOESN'T, IT JUST DOESN'T WORK.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS, AND ALSO IT MAKES NO SENSE TO SAY THAT THE CAT METRO, UH, THE CAT METRO REPRESENTATIVE COULDN'T BE AN ELECTED PERSON FOR THE SAME REASON.
YOU'RE SIMPLY UNNECESSARILY NARROWING THE, THE, THE, UH, GROUP OF PEOPLE AND THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE BEST PERSON.
SO, UM, I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT I THINK A BOARD OF FIVE PEOPLE IS TOO SMALL.
AND, YOU KNOW, IN CREATING THESE BOARDS, YOU ALWAYS GO BACK AND FORTH, BUT WHAT'S, YOU KNOW, IS IT FIVE? IS IT SEVEN? OR IS IT NINE? IS WHAT PEOPLE USUALLY SAY? MOST PEOPLE SAY 11 IS YOU CAN DO IT WITH 11, BUT FIVE IS REALLY SMALL.
I MEAN, THAT'S OF YOUR RANGE, FIVE, SEVEN, NINE, YOU'RE TAKING THE SMALLEST.
AND THE VALUE OF SEVEN IS THAT IT GIVES YOU THE ABILITY FOR ADDITIONAL EXPERTISE AND ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATION.
AND I THINK THAT THAT IS THAT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
UM, I ALSO THINK THAT, UM, I, I'M WHAT, I'M, WHAT I'M NOT SEEING IN THE, YOU KNOW, THE THREE BUCKETS OF EXPERTISE IS I'M SEEING, UM, I'M NOT SEEING AN EXPERTISE THAT IS, THAT RECOGNIZES, UM, THE RECOGNIZES, UM, EQUITY OR, OR, OR, UM, BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE THINKING OF PLANNING FOR TRANSPORTATION AND I SEE COMMUNITY PLANNING ON THERE, BUT COMMUNITY PLANNING IS THIS BIG IN TERMS OF EXPERTISE.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK, LOOK AT EXPERTISE ABOUT THE IMPACT OF TRANSPORTATION ON, UM, YOU KNOW, ON DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, THAT'S A SMALLER AREA OF EXPERTISE.
AND I DON'T SEE THAT REFLECTED IN WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE EXPERTISE.
SO, UH, AND I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY, THERE'S, UM, THERE'S A LOT TO BE SAID, AS WE HEARD FROM SPEAKERS EARLIER ABOUT HOW YOU IMPLEMENT AND ARE PROACTIVE IN IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAM.
AND SO IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EXPERTISE, WE NEED TO ALLOW FOR THAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE.
[04:10:01]
I WOULD JUST, LASTLY, I WOULD SAY, I AGREE WITH MAYOR PRO TEM THAT, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE ON THIS BOARD.I DON'T THINK THAT YOU CAN DRAW A LINE LIKE THIS BETWEEN POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION.
AND I THINK AS WE GET TO, I THINK THAT'LL BECOME MORE APPARENT AS WE GET DOWN TO THE SPECIFICS OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF DECISION MAKING.
SO, UM, SO I THINK THAT THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL WHO HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE WITH APPOINTING PEOPLE TO BOARDS AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THE WAYS THAT DIFFERENT BOARDS ARE STRUCTURED AND, AND ACCOUNTABILITY BACK TO, UM, THE COUNCIL AND CAP METRO IS IMPORTANT, BUT IT'S STILL, IT'S STILL A STEP, A STEP DISTANCE.
SO, UM, BETWEEN, BETWEEN THE ELECTED OF POTTY AND THE BOARD.
SO I DON'T THINK YOU CAN ADDRESS, UM, WHAT YOU GAIN BY ALLOWING AND HAVING ELECTED OFFICIALS ON A BODY BY AN ACCOUNTABILITY PROCESS IS JUST NOT THE SAME.
SO, UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I, YOU KNOW, NO, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU DO, YOU HAVE TO SLOT ELECTED OFFICIALS.
IT JUST MEANS YOU DON'T PROHIBIT ELECTED.
SO, UM, SO, UH, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I MAY HAVE OTHER, UM, SUGGESTIONS TOO, BUT THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO SPEAK TO IMMEDIATELY COUNCIL MEMBER, MAYOR ADLER.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THIS IS, THIS IS A NEAR IMPOSSIBLE CONVERSATION FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN FOR THE REASONS THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SUGGESTED.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS GROUP GOTS.
I MEAN, TO THE DEGREE THAT THIS GROUP HAS DISCRETION AND THEN IT'S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT GROUP.
AND ALL IT'S DOING IS MAKING SURE THAT THE BRIDGE GOT BUILT THE WAY THE PLAN SAID RICH BILL.
AND THEN THE CHECK HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED.
THE PERSON IS BUILDING A BRIDGE.
IF THERE ARE DISCRETIONARY COMMUNITY PLANNING QUESTIONS THAT THIS GROUP GETS TO ME, THAT'S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT THING.
UH, SO BEFORE I HOPE I SIT DOWN AND ENGAGE IN THE CONVERSATION ON THIS, UH, UNDERSTANDING WHAT KIND OF GROUP IT IS, IS MOST IMPORTANT.
UH, MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THIS WAS A BOARD THAT HAD VIRTUALLY NO DISCRETION AND WAS MAKING SURE THAT THE BRIDGE WAS BUILT CORRECTLY.
AND IF IT'S MAKING SURE THAT THE BRIDGE WAS BUILT CORRECTLY, I'M NOT SURE THAT YOU'D WANT TO HAVE FIVE PEOPLE ON, UH, YOU'D WANT IT TO BE A NIMBLE GROUP THAT WAS MAKING SURE THAT IT GOT BUILT CORRECTLY.
UH, IF IT'S MORE THAN THAT, THEN, THEN I DON'T THINK THERE'S ENOUGH REPRESENTATION OR ENOUGH PEOPLE.
UH, IF IT'S A GROUP THAT IDENTIFIES ISSUES WHERE DISCRETION HAS TO BE APPLIED OVER THE COURSE OF BUILDING THE BRIDGE AND IT RECOGNIZES THAT ITS FUNCTION IS NOT TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, BUT TO REPORT BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND TO THE CAP METRO BOARD, THAT THERE'S AN ISSUE WHERE DISCRETION HAS TO BE USED.
AND I THINK THESE DECISIONS ARE APPROPRIATELY MADE AT THE, AT THE COUNCIL AND THE, AND THE CAPITAL METRO BOARD LEVEL.
UH, SO BEFORE I COULD, AND I HOPE BEFORE I ENGAGE IN THE CONVERSATION ON ANY OF THE TOPICS, WHO'S, THERE ARE THE NUMBER THERE OR WHATEVER, I WOULD NEED TO UNDERSTAND A LOT BETTER, WHAT IT IS THAT THIS BOARD IS EXPECTED AND EMPOWERED.
MAYBE I'LL TAKE TWO SECONDS AND GIVE SOME CLARITY FROM WHAT WE WERE DROPPING TOWARDS RANDY.
BEFORE YOU DO THAT, I WOULD JUST ADD A QUESTION ONTO WHAT THE ASKED YOU TO, AND THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THE EXTENT THAT THIS, THIS BOARD IS CONSIDERED TO MAKE, TO NOT MAKE ANY DECISIONS, AND THEN WHO DOES MAKE THE DISCRETIONARY DECISIONS.
SO IF YOU COULD SPEAK ALL THAT BEFORE YOU START, THE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR WANTED TO GET IN AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ELLIS, WHY DON'T WE SEE WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY, AND MAYBE YOU CAN COVER ALL THESE IN ONE FELL SWOOP, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.
I'LL BE VERY BRIEF BECAUSE I THINK THAT COUNCIL MEMBER FLANNIGAN AND MAYOR ADLER REALLY ARTICULATED WELL.
UM, MY QUESTIONS, UM, THERE WAS A, I THINK IN THE FUTURE, THERE WAS A CHART THAT NATALIE SHOWED ME TOWARDS THE END OF OUR DISCUSSION THAT REALLY CLARIFIED, UM, THE CONTINUING IMPORTANT ROLE THAT THE COUNCIL AND THE CAP METRO BOARD PLAYED, UM, ON POLICY AND THE DISCRETIONARY.
AND I WAS MORE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WHAT THIS BOARD WAS DOING WERE
[04:15:01]
THE THINGS LIKE, UM, THEY HAVE, THERE WAS SUGGESTING AND IN WHICH CASE, THE NO OFFENSE TO MAYOR AD, BUT I DON'T THINK, YOU KNOW HOW TO DETERMINE WHETHER A BRIDGE IS BUILT CORRECTLY.SO I WAS QUESTIONING WHETHER WE SHOULD HAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS, UM, ON THE BOARD AT ALL, AND WAS CONCERNED.
AND I'M CONCERNED THAT CITY STAFF LIKE OUR ACM OVER MOBILITY ARE NOT THE ONES THERE.
AND SO I THINK THERE'S, UM, WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE THAT GRAPHIC AND THAT ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING ABOVE THIS, ON THE POLICY DISCRETIONARY LEVEL, AND WHAT'S HAPPENING BELOW IT ON THE TECHNICAL LEVEL.
AND WHAT IS THIS ROLE FOR THE BODY? THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS WAS NEXT.
THESE ARE ALL REALLY GREAT POINTS THAT I AGREE WITH AND ARE GOOD CONVERSATIONS TO HAVE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I KEEP THINKING ABOUT IS WHAT SORT OF FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY IS BEING REPORTED.
I THINK AT THE BEGINNING, YOU KNOW, IF THIS IS APPROVED BY VOTERS, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EXACT TIMELINE WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO SEE THINGS IN THEIR PART OF THE CITY.
AND TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN THINGS GET STARTED, THERE'S GOING TO BE THINGS LIKE RIGHT AWAY, ACQUISITION AND ENVIRONMENTAL, UM, STUDIES THAT ARE COMPLETED, THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY GOING TO BE VISIBLE CONSTRUCTION.
AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS THIS GROUP'S RESPONSIBILITY IDENTIFIED THAT WE HAVE SOME SORT OF MECHANISM FOR QUARTERLY REPORTING OR, YOU KNOW, A LANDING PAGE WHERE PEOPLE CAN REALLY SEE WHERE THEIR TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING TO GO AND WHAT TO, UM, NOT ONLY WITH FINANCES, BUT WITH TIMELINE.
I THINK IF WE CAN BRING THAT SORT OF TRANSPARENCY TO, TO THIS PROCESS, THEN PEOPLE WILL HAVE A BETTER GRASP OF WHERE ARE WE, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO SEE THINGS? AND WHEN ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE IT? THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER.
I THINK RANDY, BEFORE YOU START OUT WITH JUST ECHO, PERHAPS WHAT THE MAYOR SAID, WHICH IS IN MY MIND, THE NEXT STEP FOR US IS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS BOARD ARE.
AND THEN WE CAN FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT GOVERNANCE FOR THE BOARD.
ONCE WE UNDERSTAND MORE CLEARLY WHAT THE BREAKS ARE IN TERMS OF WHAT'S DELEGATED FROM THE CITY AND CAP METRO TO THE BOARD.
I THINK IT'S HARD OTHERWISE TO FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT GOVERNANCE.
MAYBE NOW, LIKE, CAN YOU BRING BACK UP SLIDE 56? I THINK, I THINK THAT'S WHERE MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE A STRUCTURE, THE CONVERSATION.
MAYBE IF EVERYONE CAN GO TO SLIDE 56.
SO AGAIN, YOU MAKE, REMEMBER, UM, THE INTRO COMMENTS WERE THE PURPOSE OF THE BOARD.
ONE OF THE FOUNDING, UH, PHARMACISTS OF THE BOARD IS THAT WE ARE TAKING FUNDING FROM TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES.
THEY HAVE TO GET MERGED TO BUILD THIS PROGRAM OF PROJECTS.
SO CAP METRO WOULD NORMALLY JUST BUILD TRANSIT PROJECTS.
DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING ON ITS OWN.
THE CITY, UH, COULD HAVE, COULD ALLOCATE FUNDING.
I CAN'T ACCESS FEDERAL MONEY AND IT'S NOT A TRANS TRANSIT, UH, ORGANIZATION.
SO YOU PUT IT TOGETHER TO EFFECTUATE THIS PROGRAM AND THE PROGRAM THAT YOU ALL JUST THE PLAN HAS NOW BEEN APPROVED A PLAN OF WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
SO NOW YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, A NEW BOARD IS FORMED AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP.
THE FUNDING GETS ALLOCATED ANNUALLY.
AND I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER FLANAGAN MENTIONED ON THE STATE COUNCIL.
IT GETS PUSHED OVER THE ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS CAP.
METRO WILL GET THE FEDERAL MONEY FROM THE FTA, PUSH THAT INTO THIS, UH, LIMITED GOVERNMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION PARTNERSHIP AS WELL.
SO NOW THIS, THIS ORGANIZATION, AND YOU'LL SEE ON, AND THEN THE IDEA IS NATALIE LAID OUT QUARTERLY REPORTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND CAP METRO ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE REPORT.
AND THE IDEA OF HAVING AN ANNUAL MEETING BETWEEN ALL THREE PARTIES.
SO THIS BOARD COUNCIL AND CAP METRO, AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOR THAT REPORTS TO THE BOARD BECAUSE IT CAN'T BE THE CITY ODDER.
KP CAP METRO'S ORDER IS THAT CAPITAL IS MONEY.
SO THE IDEA IT'S AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOR, THEN THE FOURTH BULLET IS PROBABLY THE MOST KEY MANAGES DAY TO DAY, PROJECT CONNECT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND EXECUTION OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.
SO THAT'S CLEARLY GOING TO BE WORKING VERY, VERY CLOSELY WITH THE CITY CAUSE THAT'LL INVOLVE RIGHT AWAY.
IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE WORKING INCREDIBLY CLOSE TO CAP METRO BECAUSE WE GOT TO DO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WORK WITH OUR UNION COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS CASUALLY SHAKE TAKE UP FROM A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT OR VEHICLE ACQUISITION PROJECT AND IMPLEMENT IT INTO THE TRANSIT SYSTEM.
CAUSE THE IDEA WAS CAP METRO THEN OPERATES A MAINTAIN EVERY NEW PIECE THAT COMES ONLINE AS PART OF AN INTEGRATED TRANSIT SYSTEM THAT YOU WOULD SEE.
SO THE REAL PIECE I THINK WE SHOULD TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IS BULLET FOR MANAGE DAY TO DAY, PROJECT CONNECT, IMPLEMENTATION, AND EXECUTION OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.
SO FROM STAFF'S POINT OF VIEW, WE, AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN WALKING THROUGH THIS PRETTY METHODICALLY OVER TIME.
THAT MEANS TO A COUNCIL MEMBER ANALYSIS POINT OF VIEW.
[04:20:01]
HAVE ALL THAT GOING ON.SO CAT METRIC COMPLETE META, BUT FDA, WE WOULD START FILING FOR PROJECTS.
UH, POST-NOVEMBER ASSUMING, ASSUMING YOU CALL FOR A REFERENDUM AND CAP METRO ALLOCATES, THAT'S FUNNY.
THEN, THEN WE GO INTO THE FEDERAL PROJECTS.
THERE'S THE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND PROJECT ENGINEERING PHASES THAT WE'LL BE DOING DESIGN.
SO THIS, THIS BOARD WHERE THE AUTHORIZING FOR CHAIRMAN CONTRACTS FOR, AND THESE ARE FAIRLY LARGE CONTRACTS TO GO DO THE DESIGN.
WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH A DETAILED RISK ASSESSMENT THAT DO WHAT WE DO IN DESIGN PLUS BUILD OR DESIGN BUILD COMBINATION.
AND WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE LIKE A BCG THAT REALLY HELPS US GO THROUGH A FULL, COMPREHENSIVE RISK ASSESSMENT TO DO THAT.
BUT THIS BOARD WOULD THEN BE RESPONSIBLE FOR, YOU KNOW, GETTING THE TECHNICAL STAFF ON BOARD, DOING THE DESIGN OPTIMALLY, THEN BUILDING THE PROGRAM FOR PROJECTS, TURNING THOSE PROJECTS OVER THROUGH AN ILA TO CAP METRO, TO OPERATE.
SO IT IS REALLY A DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION BOARD FROM A POLICY POINT OF VIEW THAT IS SET COUNCIL SETS POLICY ON HOLISTIC, A BUNCH OF ITEMS CAN METRO BOARDS, THAT'S POLICY ON TRANSIT OPERATIONS, WHICH ARE FEDERALLY LEGALLY REQUIRED TO DO SO THERE'S NOT SO MUCH POLICY MATTERS IS THIS TRULY IS A DESIGN.
HOW IS THIS GOING TO GO DOWN, MAKE IT EASY? HOW IS THE RIGHT ROUTE GOING DOWN THE MIDDLE OF SOUTH CONGRESS? HOW ARE WE MANAGING UTILITY AGREEMENTS SO THAT IT HAS TO BE A TRI-PARTY AGREEMENT THAT WE WOULD IMAGINE.
AND SOMETIME IN EARLY, THE FIRST HALF OF 2021, BETWEEN THE CITY BETWEEN CAP METRO AND THIS NEW BOARD, AND YOU CAN'T DO THAT UNTIL THE NEW BOARD HAS PEOPLE APPOINTED BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HAVE AN AGREEMENT UNTIL THEY APPROVE IT.
AND THEN THAT WOULD TALK ABOUT UTILITY, EASEMENTS, RELOCATION, ALL OF THAT KIND OF STUFF, TRANSFERRING A FUNDS.
SO IT'S A CRAWL WALK, RUN STAGE OF SETTING UP AN ILA, ALLOWING THAT TO HAPPEN THROUGH THE FALL, YOU KNOW, ARTICLES, COLLABORATIONS LETTING THE FALL HAPPEN.
SO PEOPLE COULD GO THROUGH A NOMINATION OR APPOINTMENT PROCESS POST, UH, MAYBE SUCCESSFUL REFERENDUM.
THEN AT THAT POINT, YOU KNOW, YOU GET TO THIS TRI-PARTY AGREEMENT.
SO AGAIN, IT'S REALLY ABOUT MANAGING THE TECHNICAL ELEMENTS OF PROJECT DELIVERY BECAUSE THE PLAN HAS NOW BEEN APPROVED BY YOU ALL, YOU ALL HAVE SAID THE ORANGE LINE IS GOING IN THIS CORRIDOR, THE BLUE IS DOING THAT.
SOME OF THEM ARE MORE COMPLICATED THAN OTHERS.
OBVIOUSLY THE GREEN LINE IS ON OUR RIGHT OF WAY.
THAT'S GOING TO BE MUCH MORE STRAIGHT FORWARD.
CAUSE THE, BY THE WAY IS THE RIGHT OF WAY, BUT IT'S STILL A LARGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
SOME BUS PROJECTS ARE MOBILE VEHICLE ACQUISITION AND BUS STOP IMPROVEMENTS, BUT OTHER THINGS ARE PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE, LIKE A TUNNEL AND THE ORANGE AND BLUE LINES.
SO HOPEFULLY THAT GIVES A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARITY, AT LEAST FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW OF HOW THIS, UH, THE MECHANISM WOULD WORK.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR RANDY? UM, MEMBER KITCHEN? YEAH, I THINK I APPRECIATE THAT, RANDY.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA DRILL DOWN AND DO SOME GREATER LEVEL OF DETAIL.
WE DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO ALL OF THAT RIGHT NOW.
I'LL GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES OF THE KIND OF QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE IN TERMS OF ROLES.
I REALLY THINK THAT THE WAY THE MAYOR TALKED ABOUT IT IS, IS, UM, HELPFUL.
IT'S IT'S WHEREVER THERE'S DISCRETION IS WHERE YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT, ARE WE TALKING POLICY AND IS IT THE KIND OF IS, YOU KNOW, UM, BECAUSE IF THERE'S DISCRETION, THEN IT'S NOT PURE.
SO LET ME JUST GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES AND WE DON'T HAVE TO DECIDE IT NOW, BUT IT'S THE KIND OF THING YOU JUST NEED TO UNDERSTAND WITH THIS LEVEL OF DETAIL.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, WHO DECIDES WHICH, WHICH PROJECTS GO FIRST, IF THERE IS SOME KIND OF CHANGE IN THE TIMELINE WHO DECIDES THAT WHO SETS, UM, WHO'S RESPONSIBLE WITH THE PUBLIC COMPLAINTS, BUT THAT THE EMPLOYEE IMPLEMENTATION IS NOT, YOU KNOW, IS, IS NOT BEING DONE APPROPRIATELY OR IS NOT BEING DONE IN A WAY THAT'S SENSITIVE TO THE COMMUNITY WHO ACTUALLY SIGNS THE LARGE CONTRACTS RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE THE GOVERNING BODIES SIGN CONTRACTS.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO AT THE COUNCIL AND IT'S KEPT METRIC.
SO, YOU KNOW, DOES THAT WHO SELECTS THE VENDORS AND MAKES SURE THAT THE, YOU KNOW, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERSIGHT, THAT THE VENDORS THAT ARE SELECTED, MEET ALL THE POLICY AND OF, UM, UH, THINGS THAT ARE SET, YOU KNOW, WITH REGARD TO, UH, YOU KNOW, DIVERSITY WITH REGARD TO, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, PAY LEVELS AND BENEFITS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO THOSE ARE JUST A FEW OF THEM.
UM, I'LL GIVE SOME THOUGHT TO MORE AND, AND, BUT THAT'S THE LEVEL, THAT'S THE LEVEL I WANT TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION IS TO COME THROUGH WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE THOSE DECISIONS THAT THIS ONE OF THOSE SPECIFIC DECISIONS THAT THIS BOARD WILL MAKE THAT ARE DISCRETIONARY DECISIONS.
SO, AND IF IT, AND IF THE BOARD IS, SO IF THE BOARD IS TRULY MAKING IMPLEMENTATION DECISIONS ONLY THEN WHO MAKES THE OTHER DECISIONS AND HOW IS THAT DONE? SO FOR EXAMPLE,
[04:25:01]
YOU KNOW, IT DOES EACH BODY SET THE TIMELINE.NOW I KNOW WE'VE GOT A BROADER TIMELINE, BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF NUANCES TO THAT.
SO, UM, AND LOTS OF NUANCES TO HELP MONEY IS, IS USED FOR PARTICULAR PROJECTS.
THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE GREAT POINTS.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S, WHAT'S REALLY GOOD ABOUT THIS.
WE'RE TAKING ALL YOUR FEEDBACK.
WE STILL GOT A WAYS TO GO OFF TO SLEEP.
UM, I THINK I'LL JUST, JUST QUICKLY HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS TO GET MORE CLARITY FROM OUR THINKING, AND THAT HELPS YOU THINK THROUGH THIS AND OVER THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO, WE GET TO REALLY FIGURE OUT THE FINAL DETAILS.
BUT SEQUENCING SEQUENCING IS REALLY, BASICALLY, YOU MAY, YOU MAY RECALL IN MARCH, WE DID, UH, IN, GREG'S GOING TO PROBABLY TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT IN THE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY SECTION COMING UP, BUT THERE WAS AN ENTIRE INTEGRATED FINANCIAL MODEL AND IT SHOWED THE CONTRACTS, UH, HOW THE LINES WOULD BE SEQUENCED.
SO THERE WILL HAVE TO BE SOME TYPE OF SEQUENCE PLAN THAT WE GIVE YOU ALL WITH THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION IN A SORRY, FONT CONVINCING THE A'S IN AUGUST.
SO THAT WOULD BE AGAIN, WHAT THE BOARD WOULD IMPLEMENT TO YOUR POINT, THAT IT HAS TO BE A FEEDBACK MECHANISM TO SAY IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THAT.
UM, SO I THINK BACK WHEN, UH, OUR THINKING AGAIN, THIS BOARD WOULD DEFINITELY, UH, ISSUE AND SIGN THE CONTRACTS BECAUSE THAT'S THE EMPOWERMENT OF THE BOARD.
THEY, YOU CAN'T DESIGN AN IMPLEMENT IF YOU DON'T ACTUALLY CONTROL THE CONTRACTS, UM, THINGS LIKE, UH, UH, DISADVANTAGED BUSINESSES AND OTHER THINGS WE JUST GOTTA BE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO A BRIEFING AND MAYBE WE DO A LITTLE BIT OF THIS IN JULY.
NOW THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED THAT POINT, BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE HAVING TO FOLLOW A 100% FEDERAL LAW.
ONCE YOU ENTER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROCESS, IF YOU WILL, $1 OF FEDERAL MONEY, YOU FOLLOW THE FEDERAL LAW A HUNDRED PERCENT OR YOU DON'T GET THE FEDERAL MONEY.
SO THEY HAVE A VERY DETAILED, DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM.
DOESN'T MATTER WHAT LOCALLY CAP METRO OR THE CITY OR THE STATE.
WHAT IF YOU, IF YOU WANT THE FEDERAL FUNDS, YOU HAVE TO PLAY BY THE FEDERAL RULES.
SO WE CAN, WE CAN REVIEW THAT VERY HOLISTICALLY IN JULY BECAUSE THEY REALLY HAVE IT SET UP IN A WAY WE CAN HAVE CA I THINK WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED ALMOST EVERYONE'S POLICY GOALS, BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE IN THE FRAMEWORK OF A FEDERAL LAW.
UM, SO WHY DON'T WE PUT SOME OF THAT STUFF TOGETHER FOR JULY, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S THE WAY WE'VE BEEN.
WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT ABOUT THE CONTRACT MECHANISM ANYWAY, REMEMBER STRATEGY, MR. PRESIDENT, IF I COULD JUST ADD TO THAT TOO, ALSO THINKING ABOUT, UM, UH, UH, PRESIDENT CLARK ON THE BACK END.
UH, MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT WHEN A PROJECT WAS COMPLETED AND PUT ONLINE, THAT IT WOULD, THAT THE INTENT WAS IS THAT THEN THIS, UH, AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP WOULD QUOTE UNQUOTE, HAND IT BACK OVER TO CAP METRO TO, TO OPERATE AND UNDER THAT ILA.
WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT I THINK I'D LIKE A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARITY ON AS WELL IS IF THIS POOL OF MONEY IS SUPPOSED TO ALSO INCLUDE IN THE LONG RUN, SOME OF THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, I BELIEVE THAT W W MONEY AS WELL IS, IS HOW DOES THAT WORK.
AND AGAIN, KIND OF GETTING BACK INTO, AND SORT OF TEASING OUT WHERE, WHERE THAT NOT ONLY ON THE FRONT END AND KIND OF WHAT TO WHAT BOARD MEMBER KITCHEN WAS GETTING OUT AND SAYING, GETTING INTO, EVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROJECTS THERE WITH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE, IF YOU HAVE TO, IF SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE WHAT THE TIMELINE OR OOPSIE, IT TURNS OUT THAT WE RAN INTO A UTILITY ISSUE, OR THERE, THERE WAS A, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DIGGING UNDER THE CITY AND WE ENDED UP, UH, THERE'S AN ENDANGERED SALAMANDER.
WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL SIDE OR ANYTHING THAT COMES UP.
I'M THINKING ABOUT ALSO THE BACKEND THAT WOULD DIRECTLY IMPACT CAP METRO'S ROLE ITSELF IN THAT FUNDING MECHANISM.
AGAIN, WHAT IS DISCRETIONARY BETWEEN THAT AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP BOARD VERSUS THEN WHAT BECOMES THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY AGAIN, OF THE CAP METRO BOARD DIRECTORS.
SO JUST PUT THAT IN YOUR, IN YOUR LITTLE BUCKET TO BE THINKING ABOUT AS PART OF THESE KIND OF CONS OF COMP PART OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I THINK WE'D ALL LIKE TO HAVE SOME ANSWERS OR BETTER CLEAR CLARITY ON MAYOR PRO TEM GARZA, HEY, I APPRECIATE ALL THE DISCUSSION.
THAT'S, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND, UM, I STILL STAY EVEN WITH THAT EXPLANATION.
I MEAN, EVERYTHING ON THAT SLIDE AND WHAT WAS EXPLAINED TO STUFF THAT WE DO EVERY DAY AS A COUNCIL, WE APPROVE CONTRACTS.
WE, UH, WHEN WE DECIDED THE MOBILITY BOND, WE, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS AN IMPLEMENTATION AND WHERE, WHICH ROAD WAS GOING TO GET.
WHAT, AND, UM, I JUST, I GUESS, I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS PUSH BACK, WHAT FEELS LIKE PUSHBACK AGAINST HAVING ELECTEDS ON THERE.
AND THAT THERE JUST SEEMS AS VERY LIKE, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
AND EVEN IF IT IS, AND I DON'T WANT TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD, BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE SOMEBODY THAT DOES, AND I WANT THEM TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
UM, IF, AND I DON'T WANT THEM TO BE PROHIBITED, I DON'T WANT THE CAP METRO BOARD TO THINK THIS PERSON WOULD BE GREAT AND THEY WANT TO DO IT, BUT WE CAN'T APPOINT THAT PERSON BECAUSE THEY'RE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
WELL, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS.
WHAT FEELS LIKE THE STRONG PROHIBITION, UM, YOU KNOW, TO, TO HAVING, UM, ELECTED OFFICIALS ON THERE.
I'M JUST, I'M STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
[04:30:01]
WHY THAT IS.YEAH, I WOULD, I WOULD JUST GIVE A COMMENT ON THAT.
MAYBE NATALIE COULD TALK ABOUT THE ELECTIVE PIECE, CAUSE I'VE GOT SOME RESEARCH.
THAT'S NOT, I THINK THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT ISSUES AGAIN, FROM AWARDING THE CONTRACT.
I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO BE CLEAR FROM A THEMATIC POINT OF VIEW, WE CAN DO THIS ONE OF THREE WAYS, BECAUSE AGAIN, IF CAB METRO HAD ALL THE FUNDING, WE WOULDN'T NEED A BOARD BECAUSE WE WOULD NEED TO TAKE OUT SO CALLED REFERENDUM.
IF, IF CITY COUNCIL WAS A TRANSIT ORGANIZATION, WERE THEY ABLE TO GET THE FEDERAL MONEY? WOULDN'T BE A CAP METRO.
SO WE HAVE BOTH PARTIES HAVE TO COME TOGETHER TO DO THIS PROGRAM.
SO ONE OF THREE THINGS COULD HAPPEN.
CAP METRO BOARD COULD GIVE UP ALL ITS A ALL OF ITS FUNDING PLUS ITS AUTHORITY FOR FEDERAL MONEY AND ASKED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO MAKE THE CITY A GRANTEE, A GRANTEE, WHICH PROBABLY WOULD NOT WORK WELL WITH THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION.
THE FIRST OF MADE TO THE CITY AND THE SEA BECOMES A TRANSIT AND CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY AND POTENTIALLY OPERATES.
BUT CITY COUNCIL CALLS A REFERENDUM, A REFEREE GETS APPROVED ALL THAT FUNDING AND MANUALIZED BASIS BECAUSE OF COURSE THE CAB METRO TO DO THE BUILDING DESIGN AND OPERATE, OR WE DO IT AS A DESIGN CONSTRUCTION BOARD AND PUT IT TOGETHER.
SO ONE OF THOSE THREE BODIES, ONE OF THOSE THREE SCENARIOS HAS TO APPROVE A CONTRACT BECAUSE WE CAN'T OBVIOUSLY HAVE TWO DIFFERENT BODIES APPROVING A CONTRACT.
NOW SOME MEMBER OF FLANAGAN, I FEEL THERE'S, THERE'S GOING TO BE A TIME FOR VOTES LATER.
AND I HAPPEN TO FEEL PRETTY STRONGLY THAT THERE SHOULDN'T BE ELECTED OFFICIALS ON THIS BOARD.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT IT HAS TO BE WRITTEN INTO THE BYLAWS.
I THINK IT CAN BE LEFT AS AN OPEN DEBATE EVERY TIME THERE'S A VACANCY.
THERE ARE, THERE ARE PERCEPTIONS OF DECISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ON, ON, ON SOME BOARDS, IN SOME ISSUES IN SOME WAYS WHERE A, UH, DISTRICT OR PRECINCTS PART OF THAT BOARD WAS TREATED WITH PREFERENCE OVER THE WHOLE DECISION PRESENTED TO THE BODY.
I'M INTENTIONALLY BEING VAGUE BECAUSE I AM NOT TRYING TO CALL ANYBODY OUT.
UM, SO THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THAT POTENTIAL.
UM, BUT I THINK THE REAL CONVERSATION IS, HAS GOT TO WHEN WE COME WITH THE CLARITY OVER THESE DECISIONS THAT ARE, THAT ARE PRESENTED AND I'M ALREADY SAYING THAT I SUPPORT NOT IT BEING A WRITTEN REQUIREMENT, BUT IF I'M IN A POSITION TO BE DECIDING WHO'S ON IT, I WON'T BE SUPPORTING ELECTED OFFICIALS TO SERVE THERE.
AT SOME POINT WE GOT TO REALIZE WE'VE GOT TOO MUCH TO DO.
WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PUT FOLKS IN POSITIONS.
I'M MINDFUL OF THE TIME IF OTHERS WANT TO JUMP IN, WE CAN.
BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT, UH, RANDY AND, AND OUR FRIENDS AT BCG NEED TO DO A LOT OF HOMEWORK FOR OUR NEXT ROUND, WHICH HAS GIVEN US MORE AN OUTLINE OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS AND MAYBE EVEN AN OUTLINE OF THE ILA SO THAT WE CAN SEE HOW BUILD TEAMS AND ROLES ARE PLAYED OUT.
BEFORE WE PICK OUT THE GOVERNANCE OF THE INDEPENDENT BOARDS SET UP, UH, CHAIR COOPER.
THIS IS COUNCIL MEMBER, KATHY TOVO.
UM, RAY, I JUST WANT TO SAY I HAVE, UM, UH, WASN'T ABLE TO, TO, UM, SPEAK UP EARLIER AND ASK SOME OF MY QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE SOME OF MY FEEDBACK.
I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO WITH THE CONSULTANTS AND THE STAFF.
I AM ALSO ONE WHO FELT THAT, UH, IT, IT SHOULD NOT BE ELECT AN ELECTED POSITION THAT SERVES FOR MANY OF THE REASONS THAT MY COLLEAGUE COUNCIL MEMBER AGAIN SHARED.
BUT, UM, MOSTLY I JUST WANTED TO SAY, NOW THAT WE ARE UP AGAINST FIVE, I SERVE ON THE SOBERING CENTER AND NEED NOW TO GO TO THAT MEETING.
I'M REALLY HAPPY AND EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK WE'VE DONE, BUT SOME OF US HAVE BEEN IN A COUPLE HOURS OF INTERVIEWING MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE AND THEN HAD A MEETING SCHEDULED IN BETWEEN AND THEN JOINED THIS AT NOONAN.
SO I UNFORTUNATELY NOW NEEDED TO GO TO THE SOBERING CENTER AND NEED JUST A MINUTE OR TWO BETWEEN THE TWO MEETINGS.
SO I DO HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT I WOULD BE GLAD TO CONTINUE TO HAVE WITH OUR CONSULTANTS AND HAVE SOME OTHER FEEDBACK, BUT I'M GOING TO NEED TO LEAVE TO GO TO MY NEXT COUNCIL ASSIGNMENT RIGHT NOW.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION.
I'M SORRY TO MISS THE REST OF IT.
I WILL CERTAINLY CATCH UP WITH IT WITH THE TAPE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER AT COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER, MADISON.
I'LL ADD TO MY COLLEAGUES' SENTIMENT.
AND UM, I THINK WHETHER OR NOT IT'S AS IMPORTANT AS HER RESPONSIBILITY OVER AT THE SOBERING CENTER.
UH, BUT MY KIDS ARE HUNGRY AND I GOT TO GO.
[04:35:01]
BUT I DO HAVE TO LEAVE.SO THANK YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S CONTRIBUTION, BUT I GOTTA RUN.
AND I'LL JUST, IF I CAN JUST SAY QUICKLY TO CLOSE, UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S A LOT OF OPINIONS, YOU KNOW, WHAT TO DIFFERENT OPINIONS AND LOTS OF NUANCE TO FIGURE OUT ON THIS TOPIC.
UM, SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME THAT YOU SPENT IN ONE-ON-ONES.
UM, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, ABOUT GOING FORWARD AND FIGURING OUT A LOT OF DETAIL HERE.
I THINK IT'S ABOUT BALANCE A BALANCE BETWEEN WHAT DECISIONS IS BOARD GOING TO BE MADE, GOING TO MAKE.
UM, WHERE DO WE WANT TO OVER INDEX ON EXPERTISE? UM, AND WHERE DO WE WANT TO EMPOWER DECISION MAKING BRICKS, RETAINING THE POLICY DECISION MAKING WITH THE BODIES THAT YOU ALL SERVE ON THE RECORD? IT'S PARTICULARLY I'LL ADDRESS JUST QUICKLY ON THE ELECTED OFFICIAL PIECE.
THAT RECOMMENDATION WAS INFORMED BY CASE STUDIES.
UM, NOT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT, THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT BOARDS WHO CHOOSE TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS IS I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT IN A LOT OF OUR ONE-ON-ONES AT THE SAME TIME, Y'ALL ARE THE ONES IN POWER TO CHOOSE WHAT'S BEST FOR AUSTIN.
SO, UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME AND THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY INTERESTING CONVERSATION.
IT'S BEEN EXCITING TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU ON THESE TOPICS AND YOUR ENGAGEMENT HERE.
SO, UM, LIKE I SAID, MORE DETAILED TO COME, UM, AND CONTINUED WORK TO HAPPEN ON THIS TOPIC, BUT THANK YOU ALL.
UM, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, LET ME KNOW, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S QUITE AN APPETITE TO MOVE ON.
THAT CAN NATALIE, UH, NEXT AND, UH, HOPEFULLY FOLKS CAN HANG ON JUST A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND I'LL ASK GREG CANALY TO INTRODUCE OUR SPEAKER.
UM, MAYOR ADLER, KENT, METRO BOARD AND CITY COUNCIL.
I'M GREG CANALY CITY, BOSTON FINANCE.
UM, WE'RE HERE TODAY TO KIND OF, TO THE PART TWO OF THE AFTERNOON, YOUR VOTE TO APPROVE THE SYSTEM.
AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL THE WORK THAT'S GONE ON TO GET TO THIS MOMENTOUS STATE FOR AUSTIN.
UM, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT GOVERNANCE AND WE'VE TALKED TO, I THINK SINCE JANUARY, UM, WHEN WE FIRST TALKED ABOUT GOVERNANCE AND FINANCING, HOW THEY HOPE TOGETHER.
AND SO THE SECOND PART OF THAT TODAY IS TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND HOW WE CAN BRING THESE TWO TOGETHER.
AND IN FACT, IN FACT, I THINK AS WE GO THROUGH SOME OF THE SIDES TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS, NOT ALL THE QUESTIONS YOU HAD ABOUT THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AND SOME OF THE PRIMARY REASONS WHY THAT EXISTED IN TERMS OF HAVING THE FUNDING FLOWING, UM, AS CONTEXT.
I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE, NOW YOU HAVE, UH, AN APPROVED TRANSIT PLAN FOR AUSTIN.
UM, TALKING ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS FROM A DOLLAR PERSPECTIVE, WE HAVE, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A SLIDE I THINK YOU SHOULD ALL BE FAMILIAR WITH AND ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE VIRTUAL TOWN HALL MEETINGS THAT WE HAD OVER THE MONTH OF MAY, WHICH WERE FANTASTIC, I'M WALKING THROUGH THE COST OF THE SYSTEM AND REALLY WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO SOLVE FOR? UM, AND HOW DO WE TAKE THE, THE PLAN OFF OF THE MAP AND HOW DO WE GET IT DONE? HOW DO WE INVEST IN IT AND HOW TO GOVERN IT? SO ON THIS LIST, IT GOES THROUGH THE DIFFERENT INVESTMENT, UM, UM, PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE, THE HIGH CAPACITY, THE ORANGE, BLUE, AND GOLD DOWNTOWN TUNNEL, UM, INVESTMENTS IN METRO RAPID INVESTMENTS IN THE NEW GREEN LINE, METRO RAIL, THE RED LINE, AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL BUS, UH, US INVESTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY.
THIS IS, I THINK IS REALLY KEY TO POINT TO IS THE, IS THE IDEA THAT WHY THE OVERALL COST IS 9.8 BILLION.
WE HAVE A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE FEDERAL FUNDING.
UH, WE BELIEVE THAT CAN NOW BE NEAR 45% AND WE'RE GOING TO WALK THROUGH WHY WE BELIEVE THAT IS THE CASE AND LOOKING AT OUR LOCAL COMMITMENT.
SO WHAT WE'RE DONE HERE, I'M GOING TO, I AM NOW GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR, OUR, OUR, OUR, ONE OF OUR GREAT CONSULTANTS, PUBLIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.
THEY ARE THE CITY'S FINANCIAL ADVISOR, INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISOR, AS WELL AS CAPITAL METRO, IF YOU'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH DENNIS WHALEY IN TOWN, BUT HE'S ONE OF THE MANAGING PARTNERS, UH, UH, GROUP IN FOR PFM NATIONAL, ABLE TO TAP THIS NATURAL NATIONAL RESOURCE ALONG WITH THEIR COLLEAGUES.
SCOTT CARLSON HAD BEEN WORKING REALLY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT IN THE MARCH ON BUILDING AN INTEGRATED FINANCIAL PLAN MODEL AND HOW WE CAN BRING THIS ALL TOGETHER AGAIN AND LIFT IT OFF THE MAP, UH, AND FUND IT AND FINANCE IT AND OPERATE IT FOR THE LONGTERM.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO JILL JAWORSKI WITH PUBLIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, TO WALK US THROUGH THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR INITIAL RESULTS OF THE INTEGRATED FINANCIAL MODEL, GREG, UH, CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME? I THINK SO, SORRY.
JUST A LITTLE CONFUSED BY THE MUTE AND UNMUTE AND THE HOST'S ABILITY TO APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
UM, I WANT TO TALK FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT, UM, JUST BRIEFLY ABOUT THE FIRM AND WHO
[04:40:01]
WE ARE, JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND OUR ROLE IN THAT PROCESS.UM, GFM IS, UM, YOU KNOW, A LARGE, UH, INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISORY FIRM.
WE ARE THE TOP RING FOR OVER THE COUNTRY.
UM, WE, UH, DIFFERENT ADVISORY FIRMS SOLELY TO PUBLIC SECTOR CLIENTS.
WE ENGAGE IN A WHOLE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES, BUT THE MAIN ONES ARE FINANCIAL ADVISORY MANAGEMENT, BUDGET CONSULTING AND MONEY MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC SECTOR FUNDS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF IS OUR EXPERTISE IN TRANSPORTATION.
IT'S WHERE THE TOP RANKED FIRM IN BOTH TRANSPORTATION GENERALLY AND MASS TRANSIT SPECIFICALLY, I WORK WITH A CORE GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS HERE AT THE FIRM THAT'S FOCUSED SOLELY ON TRANSIT.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE OFTEN GET ASKED TO DO BY OUR TRANSIT CLIENTS IS TO BUILD FINANCIAL PLAN MODELS THAT THEY USE BOTH FOR PLANNING PURPOSES AND ALSO AS PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR FULL FUNDING GRANT AGREEMENTS.
SO WE'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION HAS FOR THE BOTTLES THAT ARE USED IN THE APPLICATIONS.
AND WE BUILD ALL OF THEM TO BE COMPLIANT WITH THAT.
UH, OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE WORKED ON PROJECTS TOTALLY OVER $5 MILLION THAT, UM, UH, THAT HAVE EITHER RECEIVED A FULL FUNDING GRANT AGREEMENT OR IN THE ENGINEERING FEES PHASE, WHICH IS THE FINAL PHASE, UH, IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO RECEIVING OUR FULL FUNDING GRANT AGREEMENT.
I'M JUST GOING TO HAVE IT, THE, IT CAN MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
I GUESS I REALIZED THAT ON THE SLIDE I WAS DISCUSSING WAS AUTUMN.
WE'VE PRETTY MUCH GONE OVER THIS SLIDE THOUGH.
SO LET'S ACTUALLY MOVE TO THE NEXT ONE.
UM, I'M GOING TO TRY TO BE CONSCIOUS OF TIME, CAUSE I KNOW IT'S LATE AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN, UH, PARTICIPATING FOR QUITE A NUMBER OF HOURS NOW.
UM, SO OUR ROLE IN THIS TRANSACTION WAS TO BUILD, IT WAS TO BUILD AN INTEGRATED FINANCIAL MODEL.
WE'VE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE CITY WITH CAPITAL METRO AND WITH HDR AND BUILDING THIS MODEL TO REALLY ENSURE THAT ALL THE ASSUMPTIONS IN IT ARE APPROPRIATE.
AND ALSO THAT THE MODEL HAS THE FLEXIBILITY FOR THE TEAM TO ANALYZE MULTIPLE SCENARIOS.
AND OTHER KEY GOALS I MENTIONED JUST BEFORE, IS MAKING SURE THAT THE MODEL IS COMPLIANT WITH FDA'S REQUIREMENTS.
WHEN YOU APPLY FOR FULL FUNDING GRAVY GRANT AGREEMENT, YOU DO HAVE TO PROVIDE A FULLY FUNCTIONAL EXCEL BASED MODEL THAT YOU'VE USED THAT MATCHES WITH EVERYTHING IN THE APPLICATION AND THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO THEN TURN AROUND AND MANIPULATE AND STRESS TESTS IF THEY SO CHOOSE.
UM, THE MODEL THAT WE BUILT CONTAINS ALL OF THE CASH FLOWS FOR THE PROJECT.
SO THAT INCLUDES ALL THE REVENUES, BOTH LOCAL AND FEDERAL REVENUES COMING IN.
IT ALSO INCLUDES ALL THE EXPENDITURES.
SO THAT INCLUDES A CONSTRUCTION CLASS, UM, ONGOING STATE OF GOOD REPAIR, WHICH IS PRIMARILY VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS.
IT INCLUDES OPERATION MAINTENANCE AND INCLUDES DEBT SERVICE ON BONDS AND LOANS THAT WILL BE ISSUED FOR THE PROJECT.
THE OPERATIONS WILL BEGIN IN 2023 AND SCALE UP AS PROJECTS ARE COMPLETED.
SO WE'LL START SEEING FAIR REVENUES ARE COMING IN DURING THAT TIME AS WELL.
LET'S TURN TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UH, TO TALK ABOUT FEDERAL FUNDING, FEDERAL FUNDING IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF ALL MAJOR TRANSIT PROJECTS.
WHEN YOU VOTED, YOU'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THE PROJECT YOU'VE, YOU'VE SEEN THE BUDGET.
UM, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT THE SCALE OF THESE YOU'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOME FEDERAL FUNDING, UH, TO MATCH THE LOCAL COMMITMENT THAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTERS THESE, THESE GRANT FUNDS THROUGH A COMPETITIVE GRANT PROCESS AS PART OF THEIR IT'S PART OF THEIR CAPITAL INVESTMENT GRANT PROGRAM.
A NEW STARTS GRANT IS A FIXED GUIDEWAY EXPANSION PROJECT GRANT, A FIXED GUIDEWAY, UH, GENERALLY FIRST TO RAIL, UH, THE WAY IT CAN ALSO INCLUDE BUS RAPID TRANSIT WITH A PHYSICALLY SEPARATE RIGHT AWAY.
IN ADDITION TO THE NEW STARTS GRANTS THAT WE'LL BE PURSUING FOR THIS PROJECT.
THERE ARE ALSO SMALL STORES GRANTS, WHICH ARE LESS COMPETITIVE, UH, BUT ALSO GREAT WE'LL BRING IN SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF FEDERAL FUNDING.
THE PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR AND RECEIVING A NEW STARTS GRANTS IS A MULTIYEAR ENDEAVOR.
UH, THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION WILL PERFORM A RISK ASSESSMENT THAT EVALUATES BOTH THE TECHNICAL CAPACITY TO BUILD AND OPERATE THE PROJECT AS WELL AS THE FINANCIAL CAPACITY TO FUND THE PROJECT AND TO MANAGE ANY COST DIFFERENTIALS FROM THE ORIGINAL PROJECT ESTIMATES.
UH, THERE'S A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER ITEMS THAT THEY'LL BE LOOKING AT SUCH AS, UM, GETTING PERMITS, HAVING AGREEMENTS WITH UTILITIES THAT ARE AFFECTED, HAVING A, UH, RIGHT AWAY THAT'S NEEDED FOR THE PROJECT.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE ON TRACK FOR THE PROJECT TO PROCEED.
THE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT PLAN MUST BE VERY COMPREHENSIVE.
SO AS YOU CAN REALLY IMAGINE, UH, AND TALKING ABOUT ALL COMPONENTS, UM, THESE PROJECTS REALLY REQUIRE A HIGH DEGREE OF COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION TO MOVE FORWARD AND RECEIVE A FEDERAL GRANT.
LET'S MOVE TO THE NEXT PAGE AND
[04:45:01]
TALK A LITTLE ABOUT ASSUMPTIONS.SO IN BUILDING THE MODEL, WE HAD TO CONSIDER THE AMOUNT OF FEDERAL FUNDING AND THE TIMING OF WHEN IT WILL BE RECEIVED TO INFORM THESE ASSUMPTIONS.
WE'VE ANALYZED ALL THE PROJECTS.
IT CURRENTLY HAVE A FULL FUNDING GRANT AGREEMENT, AS WELL AS THE PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN ENGINEERING, WHICH MEANS, AGAIN, THE ENGINEERING IS THE FINAL PHASE BEFORE RECEIVING THE GRANT AWARD.
SO THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT ARE SUCCESSFULLY MOVING THROUGH THE GRANT APPLICATION SYSTEM AND ARE EXPECTED TO RECEIVE AN AWARD.
WHEN WE LOOKED AT THEM, WE WERE LOOKING AT TWO KEY FACTORS.
ONE IS WHAT'S THE PERCENTAGE OF THE PROJECT THAT IS BEING FUNDED THROUGH THE GRANT.
AND WHAT'S THE ANNUAL AMOUNT OF FUNDING FROM THE GRANT THAT'S BEING RECEIVED, UH, EACH YEAR.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE CHART, UM, OR THE TABLE ON THIS SLIDE, THERE'S A RANGE OF FEDERAL SHARE FOR EACH PROJECT.
WE ARE ASSUMING THAT FOR EACH PROJECT THAT IS NEW STARTS ELIGIBLE, 45% OF THE PROJECT, UH, ELEMENTS WILL BE FUNDED WITH THE NEW START GRANT.
WE ARE ALSO ESTIMATING THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL GRANT WILL BE FUNDED ANY ANNUAL AMOUNT OF A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
SO GIVEN THE SIZE OF THESE, THESE GRANTS THAT WE'RE EXPECTING TO, UH, BE ELIGIBLE FOR, YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT THE GRANTS WILL BE RECEIVED FOR MANY YEARS PAST THE PROJECT COMPLETION, WHICH IS ALSO GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT REALLY DRIVES THE FINANCIAL PLAN OVERALL.
A COUPLE OTHER POINTS ON A FEDERAL FUNDING, THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION WILL ASSESS AND SCORE EACH PROJECT ON OR MULTIPLE CATEGORIES.
UM, THE GRAPHIC OR THE PRIOR PAGE.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO GO BACK TO IT, BUT IT ADDRESSES 50% OF THE SCORING IS ON THE LOCAL FINANCIAL COMMITMENT.
SO A DEDICATED, ONGOING REVENUE STREAM IS A KEY ELEMENT TO ADDRESSING THAT THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION IS CRITERIA FOR THE GRANT.
THE SCORING WILL ALSO INCLUDE A STRESS TEST, I CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATING COSTS.
SO THE FINANCIAL PLAN HAS TO BE ABLE TO SHOW THAT THE, UH, THAT, THAT YOU CAN MANAGE ANY INCREASE IN CONSTRUCTION COSTS OF 15% AND AN INCREASE IN OPERATING COSTS OF 12%.
AND THAT CONSTRUCTION COST INCREASE INCLUDES 15% ABOVE, INCLUDING ALL OF THE CONTINGENCIES.
SO A DEDICATED REVENUE STREAM IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF THAT TASK BECAUSE IT ALLOWS YOU TO DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU CAN MANAGE THOSE COSTS INCREASED, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH ADDITIONAL BORROWING, THROUGH ADDITIONAL BONDS AND LOANS, OR THROUGH RESTRUCTURING YOUR BORROWING PROGRAM TO CREATE MORE CASHFLOW IN EARLY YEARS.
SO I'M JUST GOING TO HAVE IT JUST GO INTO THE NEXT SLIDE AS WELL.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, THE KEY IS REALLY MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE THAT DEDICATED FUNDING STREAM AVAILABLE TO MANAGE THOSE STRESS TESTS.
UM, EVEN THOUGH WE MAY NOT EXPECT ANY OF THOSE EVENTS TO OCCUR, UH, THE FDA WILL NOT PROVIDE THE GRANT UNLESS YOU COULD SHOW THAT YOU CAN HANDLE THAT.
SO MOVING TO THE, UH, LOCAL SHARE OF THE COSTS, UM, AS YOU SAID, WE'RE LOOKING FOR THIS, A DEDICATED AMOUNT OF IS DEDICATED FEDERAL FUNDS, DEDICATED LOCAL FUNDING.
AND WHAT WE REALLY WANT IT TO BE ABLE TO DO IS LEVERAGE AND MAXIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF FEDERAL FUNDING THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR THE PROJECT.
SO WHAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED HERE IS A STRONG, STABLE, LOCAL FUNDING MECHANISM THAT WE THINK FITS THAT DESCRIPTION.
THE LOCAL FUNDING IS GOING TO COME FROM TWO PLACES.
IT'S GOING TO COME FROM BOTH THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR CAPITAL METRO, WITH CAPITAL METRO, WE'LL BE CONTRIBUTING SOME CAPITAL FUNDS FOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WILL COME INTO YEARS 2020 THROUGH 2023.
UH, IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEIR SALES TAXES WILL BEGIN, UH, MOVING TO THE PROJECT IN 2023.
AND WE EXPECT THOSE WILL BE RAMPING UP, UH, EVERY YEAR AND, UH, FAIR REVENUE AND OTHER OPERATING PROPERTIES WILL BE DEDICATED TO THE PROJECT AS WELL.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN CONTRIBUTION WILL BE THE DEDICATED PROPERTY TAX REVENUE FROM THE TAX RATE ELECTION.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FULL PROJECT WILL NEED IT REQUIRE AN 11TH SENTENCE.
TRE THE FUNDING STREAM DEVELOPED AS THE FUNDING STREAM IDENTIFIED HERE IS REALLY EXPECTED TO SCORE WELL UNDER THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION, LOCAL FINANCIAL COMMITMENT.
IT'S BOTH OF THE, UH, THE STABILITY PROPERTY TAX REVENUES ARE A VERY STABLE SOURCE OF REVENUE AND SIZE THAT WILL BE NEEDED FOR THE PROJECT.
AND AGAIN, AS WE NOTED EARLIER, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE THE SCORE THAT'S ME THAT IS NEEDED TO QUALIFY TO RECEIVE THE FULL FUNDING GRANT AGREEMENT.
SO LET'S MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE JUST TO TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT IMPLEMENTATION.
SO AS DISCUSSED EARLIER, UM, THE, THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PRO PARTNERSHIP WILL BE A KEY ELEMENT OF MAKING THIS PLAN WORK.
SO THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP WILL DO SEVERAL THINGS.
SO IT WILL BE RECEIVING A REVENUES FROM THE CITY, FROM CAB METRO AND FROM THE, FROM THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION GRANTS.
IT WILL ALSO PAY CONSTRUCTION COSTS AT A PAY AS YOU GO BASIS, UH, WITH BOTH LOCAL FUNDS AND
[04:50:01]
WITH FEDERAL GRANTS.AND IT WILL HAVE TO ISSUE BONDS AND LOANS TO FUND CONSTRUCTION COSTS THAT EXCEED THE CURRENT REVENUES DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD, AS THE BOND ISSUER AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP WILL ISSUE REVENUE, BONDS.
THESE WILL NOT BE CITY OF AUSTIN GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS.
RATHER THEY WILL BE A PROPERTY TAX BASED PROPERTY TAX BASED REVENUE BOND.
WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
UH, THIS SIDE IS REALLY OUR CONCLUDING SLIDE, UM, AND IT ILLUSTRATES THE, UH, THE INITIAL RESULTS FROM THE INTEGRATED FINANCIAL MODEL.
UM, THIS AGAIN IS ALL A RESULT OF THE COLLABORATION THAT WE'VE HAD WITH THE CITY WITH CAPITAL INVEST RETRO AND WITH ACR TO CREATE A FINANCIAL PLAN MODEL.
UM, ONE OF THE KEY THINGS WE'VE DONE WITH THIS MODEL IS WE'VE WORKED THROUGH MULTIPLE ITERATIONS, IS TO OPTIMIZE THE REVENUE STREAM AND REDUCE THE TAX IMPACT.
THE TRE THE CAPITAL METRO CAPITAL FUNDS AND THE FULL FUNDING GRANT IS RECEIVES.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO FUND A VERY LARGE PORTION OF THE PROJECT CONSTRUCTION COSTS ON IT, PAYS YOU GO BASIS.
THIS WILL REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF BONDS AND LOANS THAT WILL BE NEEDED TO BE ISSUED.
AND THAT REDUCES THE INTEREST OF THE DEBTOR'S COST OVER TIME.
THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS, WHICH, UH, WHICH EXCEED REVENUE WILL NEED TO BE FOR THE ANSWER.
AND THIS IS ILLUSTRATED ON THE CHART WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE BARS THAT RISE ABOVE THE LINE.
SO THOSE BARS REPRESENT THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS THAT WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE TO FINANCE AS THEY EXCEED REVENUES THAT ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.
THOSE WERE DONE THROUGH REVENUE BONDS ISSUED BY THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, AS WELL AS THROUGH A TIPPY LOANS.
AND IT TYPICALLY ALONE IS A FEDERAL LOAN PROGRAM THROUGH THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND OFFERS VERY LOW COST FINANCING WITH VERY FLEXIBLE TERMS. AND THEY'RE, UH, YOU KNOW, HEAVILY UTILIZED IN LARGE TRANSIT AND TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS GENERALLY BECAUSE OF THE, UH, VERY, UH, VERY FAVORABLE TERMS THAT THEY OFFER AFTER THE INITIAL OUTLAY OF CONSTRUCTION FUND, THE PROJECT WILL REACH A SORT OF A STEADY STATE WITH REVENUES THAT ARE SUFFICIENT TO COVER OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT, ONGOING INVESTMENTS IN STATE OF GOOD REPAIR, UM, AS WELL AS DEBT SERVICE ON THE PROJECT BONDS.
AND I WANT TO DO WANT TO KNOW THESE ARE THE ADDITIONAL RESULTS OF THE MODEL.
UM, IN OUR ANALYSIS, WE ARE FINALIZING A WHITE PAPER THAT WILL, UH, GIVE A VERY DETAILED ACCOUNTING OF THE ANALYSIS, DONE THE ASSUMPTIONS AND THE RESULTS, AND WE'LL HAVE THAT TO YOU PRIOR TO YOUR NEXT MEETING.
UM, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE FULL TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VITAL IS, UH, HAS ALL THE CURRENT ASSUMPTIONS IN IT AND REFLECTS, UH, THE LATEST, UH, ANY, ANY, UH, CHANGES OR MORE INFORMATION THAT ARE OFTEN ON NATURE OF THE PROJECT.
AND FROM THERE, I WILL TURN IT BACK TO GREG.
CAN WE GO ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE? THANKS AGAIN, JOE, FOR WALKING THROUGH ALL THAT, THE INTRICATE FINANCING ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE REVENUES COMING IN AND HOW THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP COULD, UH, BEGIN FUNDING THE SYSTEM.
SO THERE'S ONE ELEMENT JUST WANTED TO DIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON IT, AND THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT COME UP AS WE'VE NOW BEEN TALKING MORE ABOUT, UH, THE OVERALL BOTH GOVERNANCE AND FUNDING AND FINANCING MECHANISMS AROUND THE USE OF THE TAX RATE ELECTION.
AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS SINCE WE'RE IN JANUARY WITH, UH, THE JOINT WORK SESSION AND AGAIN, IN MARCH AND MORE DETAIL.
SO THIS IS JUST KIND OF GOING DOWN YET ANOTHER LAYER TO SHOW YOU KIND OF THE STEPS THAT WOULD BE INVOLVED, UM, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT PROJECT CONNECT AGAIN, NOW THAT YOU HAVE A, IS A GREAT HIGHLIGHT FOR THE DAY.
I THINK THE NEXT QUESTION THAT FROM A WE LOOK AT IS THE INVESTMENT THAT WOULD OCCUR IN THAT, UM, IN A DECISION TO INVEST IN THAT, UM, WE HAVE SEVERAL STEPS THAT WE BELIEVE IN A WAY TO KIND OF CURATE THE DISCUSSION BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER.
I THINK THE FIRST, THE FIRST BIG STEP QUESTION IS DETERMINING HOW MUCH INVESTMENT SIZE.
I THINK IF YOU RECALL BACK IN MARCH, WE DID TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT, UM, DIFFERENT RANGES OF THE TAX RATE AND WHAT YOU GOT FOR THAT AND THE SEQUENCING OF IT, HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE.
I THINK SOME QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME UP IN THERE.
SO THAT'S REALLY THE FIRST BIG STEP ONCE THAT, UM, DECISION AND DETERMINATION FROM BOTH THE CITY COUNCIL CAP METRO BOARD IS MADE, WE WOULD THEN GET BACK AND WORK WITH JILL, UH, PFM, HDR, AND DAVE, TO LOOK AT A FINAL PROJECT SEQUENCING.
AGAIN, WE BELIEVE THAT IS IMPORTANT.
UH, NOT ONLY TO DETERMINE THE TAX RATE, WHICH WE WOULD ALSO HAVE TO CALCULATE WHAT ALSO WOULD BECOME PART OF A, WHAT WOULD BE PART OF VOTERS.
SO THE VOTERS WOULD KNOW WHAT IS BEING SEQUENCED AND WHEN THE TIMING OF THAT SEQUENCING AFTER WE GO THROUGH THAT WORK, UM, THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD BE BOTH APPROVING A TAX RATE THAT WOULD INCLUDE, UH, THE NECESSARY ADDITIONAL, UH, REVENUE AND THE CENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT REVENUE BASED ON THE INVESTMENT THEY HAVE DECIDED UPON.
[04:55:01]
AND AT THE SAME TIME CAP, METRO CAPITAL METRO WOULD BE FORMALLY ADVOCATING ITS LONGTERM, UH, REVENUE, UH, FUNDING AS RANDY WALKTHROUGH.THIS WOULD BE ALSO BE THE TIME IN AUGUST WHEN THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP WOULD BE FORMALLY CREATED, UH, KNOWING THAT I THINK WE HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL STEPS AND INFORMATION TO GET TO YOU, UM, AS THOSE DECISIONS, UH, COME, COME, COME FORWARD.
I MEAN, AFTER THAT STEP, IT IS ENHANCING THE VOTERS, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SINCE JANUARY LETTING THEM AUSTIN VOTERS.
NOW LOOK AT THIS PLAN AND THE INVESTMENT IN THAT PLAN VIA THE, A REFERENDUM THAT WOULD OCCUR ON NOVEMBER 3RD.
IF WE CONTINUE WORKING DOWN THE PATH THAT WE'RE ON.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO RANDY AND PERHAPS MAYBE WE SHOULD STOP.
AND IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS HERE, JILL, MYSELF AND THE TEAM ARE READY QUESTIONS FOR GREG OR CHILL.
UH, THIS IS, THIS IS, UH, THIS IS, UH, UH, THE RIGHT STRUCTURE, I THINK.
AND WHAT EXCITES ME ABOUT THIS AS WE CONTEMPLATE THIS AS IS, IT REALLY SEEMS TO HELP AVOID SOME OF THE RESEARCH THAT I'VE DONE IN OTHER CITIES, WHERE IF I'M THEMSELVES, UH, FUNDING IN WAYS WHERE THEY CAN'T DO THEIR CONTINUED CAPITAL MAINTENANCE, OR THEY BUILD A BIG PROJECT, BUT THEN THEY CAN'T FUND GOOD OPERATIONS.
AND WE KNOW, UH, CERTAINLY ON THE COUNCIL AND, AND MY, MY TALENTED COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE TO DOUBLE DUTY ON THE CAP, METRO, THAT, UH, IF YOU, IF YOU RUN THE OPERATIONS POORLY, KINDA NONE OF IT WILL MATTER.
SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE THIS AS THE MECHANISM.
I THINK IT'S REALLY, REALLY EXCITING, A LOT OF DETAILS FOR THE COUNCIL TO WORK OUT THE QUESTION.
I HAVE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE 11 CENTS AND HOW THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE TAKE TO DO THIS PROJECT CAN, IS A, IS A VARIABLE IN THE TAX RATE.
CERTAINLY THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER FLYING AGAIN.
UM, WHAT, WHAT JILL AND THE TEAM WENT THROUGH, UH, IS THE, IS THE INVESTMENT IN THE ENTIRE SYSTEM THAT YOU JUST ADOPTED? MMM, THERE ARE MOST OF THE MAJORITY OF THAT SEQUENCING, AS WE TALKED ABOUT IN MARCH, WHERE OCCUR WITHIN A 12 TO 14 YEAR TIME PERIOD, REALLY EVERYTHING KIND OF GETTING, GOING EARLY AND GETTING DONE AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN, OR CERTAIN ELEMENTS AROUND THE, UH, HIGH CAPACITY ORANGE LINE, WHICH WOULD BE LATER OUT ABOUT 10 TO 15 YEARS LATER BEYOND THAT.
SO THAT IS WHAT THAT 11TH SENSE IS BASED ON ON.
NOW, AS WE LOOK FORWARD, WE DO KNOW THAT THERE'S DIFFERENT, AGAIN, SEQUENCING HOW LONG THINGS TAKE MIGHT REQUIRE LESS, LESS FUNDING UP ON THE FRONT END.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY FOR WE INVESTMENT IS NOT GETTING EVERYTHING THAT YOU JUST, UM, ACCRUE OF GETTING THAT ALL DONE.
THAT WOULD ALSO CHANGE THE AMOUNT OF SENSE THAT WE WOULD NEED.
AGAIN, THAT'S DISCUSSIONS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO KEEP GOING THROUGH AND THEN RERUNNING THE MODEL THAT JILL AND HER TEAM HAVE, HAVE PUT TOGETHER.
AND I'LL JUST ADD ONE QUICK COMMENT AND, UM, I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT HAVING MY VIDEO ON EARLIER.
I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT EITHER, BUT, UM, THE, WE HAVE BUILT INTO THE BOTTLE, UH, CONSTRUCTION COST INFLATOR A THREE AND A HALF PERCENT.
AND SO AS, UM, AS PROJECTS GET MOVED LATER, A TIME THE COSTS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT IS NOT, THAT IS, UH, VERY CLOSE TO ALSO THE ASSUMED THE INCREASE IN THE, UM, TACTICAL ACTIONS, UM, ANNUALLY.
SO IF IT'S JUST A MATTER OF SORT OF MOVING PROJECTS, UH, OVER A DIFFERENT PERIOD OF TIME OR RE SEQUENCE RE SEQUENCING, THAT PROBABLY WON'T HAVE A VERY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.
I THINK IT WOULD BE MARGINAL WITHOUT RUNNING THE NUMBERS, BUT JUST KNOWING THE ASSUMPTIONS, I THINK IT WOULD HAVE A VERY MARGINAL IMPACT ON THE, UH, ON THE 11 CENTS.
I MEAN, ON SOME LEVEL, IF IT'S WELL BITE THE BULLET AND GET THE WHOLE THING THAT THAT'S ONE WAY TO GO, UM, LA A LOT FOR US TO THINK ABOUT AND JUST TO PUT A, TO PUT A MARK ON IT, I THINK IT'S REALLY EXCITING THAT WE WOULD BE CONTEMPLATING A FUNDING MODEL THAT YOU COULD VERY SPECIFICALLY ARGUE AS FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE.
THIS IS NOT ISSUE A BUNCH OF DEBT AND TELL YOU WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT LATER.
SOME, SOME MYTHICAL, LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY NOW AND, AND KIND OF HIDE THE FUTURE COST.
WE'RE GOING TO BE REALLY UPFRONT.
THIS, THIS ALLOWS US TO BE VERY UPFRONT WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THIS IS GOING TO COST AND KIND OF IN THE SAME WAY, AS IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME ONCE, UM, HOW YOU MIGHT, UH, SAVE MONEY FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS TO BUILD UP THAT DOWN PAYMENT.
AND THEN YOU GET YOUR MORTGAGE
[05:00:02]
THAT'S THAT'S TO ME, VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT THIS IS, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SPEND A FEW YEARS BUILDING UP THE DOWN PAYMENT.AND ULTIMATELY AS ANYONE WHO'S EVER BOUGHT A HOUSE KNOWS THAT MEANS YOUR PAYMENTS WERE LOWER OVER TIME.
AND SO THAT'S A, THAT'S AN EXCITING THING, AND THERE'S JUST THE END.
UH, AND OUR ABILITY TO TWEAK A COUPLE OF THESE DIALS AS THE COUNCIL GETS INTO THIS DECISION AND AUGUST IS IT'S GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING.
I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN WAS NEXT.
NO, I, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER FINE AGAIN, WAS ASKING THE, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR GREGOR? TORSKY NEVER WORN YOU OUT YET? IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE GREG.
WELL, I'LL JUST SAY ONE THING, UH, RIGHT.
I JUST WANT TO REITERATE WHAT, WHAT, UM, COUNCILMEMBER FLANAGAN SAID.
I THINK IT'S, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE, THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE WHOLE PICTURE AND WHAT IT TAKES TO ACTUALLY GET THIS DONE.
AND THE OPERATIONS IS A KEY PART OF THAT.
SO SOLVING FOR, FOR PAIN FOR OPERATIONS IS CRITICAL TO WHAT WE'RE DOING.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, A KITCHEN.
IT'S IT'S RANDY, CAN YOU SEE ME? YES, GO AHEAD.
I, UH, IF I, IF I CAN JUST MAKE ONE COMMENT ON THAT AND I'LL JUST USE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
SO I HAD THE PLEASURE OF, UH, WORKING AT SENIOR MANAGEMENT AT THE, UH, OLDEST TRANSIT SYSTEM IN NORTH AMERICA WHEN THEY WILL LISTEN TO THE WORLD.
AND WHILE IT'S AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING SYSTEM, IT NEEDS A LOT OF THE POLICY GOALS THAT WE'VE JUST SPENT HOURS DISCUSSING.
UH, IT'S IT'S REGIONAL IT'S, UH, CONNECTS NEIGHBORHOODS TO A MAYOR PRO TEM GARNERS.
THIS POINT, IT REALLY IS THE IT'S THE CIRCULATING BLOOD AT THE HEART OF BOSTON.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, I LEARNED MANY, A LESSON THAT IF YOU DON'T FUND YOUR SYSTEM CORRECTLY, YOU HAVE PROBLEMS THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE.
AND, UH, GINA WAS ACTUALLY IN BOSTON.
THEY BOTH WENT TO THE, UH, THE WINTER OF 2015.
UM, WELL, WE DON'T GET SNOW DOWN HERE, BUT WHEN YOU GET A HUNDRED PLUS INCHES OF SNOW IN ONE YEAR, UH, EVEN, EVEN SPENCER, I DON'T KNOW, SAW THAT IN MINNEAPOLIS.
UM, BUT, BUT IT LITERALLY SHUT DOWN THE REGION AND IT SHUT DOWN THE ECONOMY.
AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF LITERALLY DECADES OF NEGLECT ON STATE OF GOOD REPAIR AND, AND, AND, AND RUNNING THE FINANCIAL MODEL THE CORRECT WAY.
AND SO, BASED ON THAT, WHAT HAPPENED IN WASHINGTON DC BASED ON WHAT HAPPENED IN NEW YORK CITY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REALLY CHANGED THE REGULATIONS QUITE HEAVILY WITH ASSET MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS. AND JILL DID A GREAT JOB EXPLAINING IT.
THEY ARE GOING TO STRESS TESTOSTERONE, A RISK ASSESSMENT, CAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY CONSIDER THIS AN INVESTMENT.
I'M LIKE HIGHWAYS WHERE YOU KIND OF ASK FOR MONEY AND THEY JUST GIVE IT TO YOU.
AND YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE LONGTERM STATE OF GOOD REPAIR, THE SAME WAY, WHICH WE HAVE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES AND UNFUNDED A STATE OF GOOD REPAIR AND TRANSIT.
YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TWO ACCOUNTS.
ONE REPLAY IS POINT HAVE A CONSERVATIVE MODEL THAT ACTUALLY LOOKS AFTER YOUR KIND OF YOUR LONGTERM RESPONSIBILITIES.
AND SO, UM, I GUESS OUR POINT STAFF AND I ARE, WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT WE GIVE YOU THE RIGHT INFORMATION THAT NOT A FOX OR A LOT OF LONG FUTURE COUNCILS, FUTURE BOARDS OR FUTURE SENIOR TEAM ARE EVER IN A POSITION IN 10 YEARS, 20 OR 30 OR 40 YEARS THAT WE, THAT WE SAW SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE NORTHEAST GET INTO BECAUSE OF PLANNING THAT IT WASN'T DONE THAT SAME WAY.
YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT NEXT STEPS? HAPPY TO, I KNOW, I KNOW THE NEXT STEP MOST PEOPLE LIKE TO DO IS END THIS CALL AND GET ON WITH THEIR DAY.
UH, NEXT STEPS ARE, UH, ARE, UM, REALLY TRYING TO, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME AGAIN WITH SOME OF YOUR FEEDBACK, ESPECIALLY ON SOME GOVERNANCE.
I THINK ON BEHALF OF THE TEAM, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK.
UM, AS THE MAYOR AND A FEW OTHERS INDICATED THERE, IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT CHALLENGE, BUT I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE NOT THAT FAR OFF.
AND I THINK WE GOTTA PUT SOME MORE WORK TOGETHER TO HELP MOVE THAT FORWARD.
UH, WE ARE TRYING TO FINALIZE A DATE FOR LATE JULY TO HAVE ANOTHER WORK SESSION, TO BRING BACK SOME MORE DETAIL ON, ON THE GOVERNANCE PROCESS.
TRY TO SEE IF WE COULD STITCH SOME OF THOSE COMMENTS TOGETHER, UH, TO GET MORE OF A, MORE OF A CONSENSUS AROUND THAT MODEL.
WE HAVE SOME MORE FINANCIAL WORK TO DO AS WELL.
A FEW OF YOU INDICATED, WHAT WOULD IT MAYBE LOOK LIKE IF, YOU KNOW, WE'VE KIND OF PRESENTED THE MODEL AND AGAIN, JOEL JILL'S AND THE PFM TEAM HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB FOR THE BEST IN THE INDUSTRY DOING THIS ON THE FULL SYSTEM THAT YOU JUST HAVE DONE.
WE'RE GOING TO START ALSO LOOKING AT, UH, MAYBE ANOTHER POTENTIAL SCENARIO THAT IS NOT THE WHOLE SYSTEM AS WELL, AND BRING THAT BACK.
SO AGAIN, YOU COULD SEE THAT A LOT OF YOU HAVE ASKED, LIKE HOW TO PULL THE TRIGGER BETWEEN TIME
[05:05:01]
AND PROJECTS AND DELIVERY.AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAT COULD BETTER INFORM THAT DECISION PROCESS.
AND THEN I THINK THE TEAM IS TRYING TO GET TOWARDS LOCKING IN A DATE OF AUGUST 7TH, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE EXACT, BUT I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE AIMING FOR TO HAVE A FINAL, UM, SESSION, A JOINT SESSION WHERE IDEALLY WE COULD FORM SOME TYPE OF ILA TO FORM THIS, UM, AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP AND PUT BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE A DECISION ON A POTENTIAL TRANSIT REFERENDUM.
AND IN FRONT OF THE CAP METRO BOARD TO, UH, DEDICATE, UH, THE ONGOING FUNDING, UH, BECOME THE FEDERAL GRANTEE AND THE CAPITAL EXPANSION FUND.
SO THOSE ARE THE DECISION POINTS WE HAVE LEFT.
WE STILL CERTAINLY HAVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF WORK STILL TO DO, BUT I DO WANT TO REITERATE OUR THANKS TO YOU ALL TODAY FOR A MOMENTOUS DECISION.
WE CAN'T DO ANY OF THAT WORK IF WE DIDN'T DO TODAY.
AND TODAY TOOK BASICALLY 20 YEARS TO GET TO.
AND I THINK NOW THAT THE HARDER, THE HARD WORK IS STILL AHEAD, BUT WE ARE IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION.
SO THOSE ARE THE STEPS CHAIR AND, UH, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE JUST HAPPY FOR ALL YOUR PARTICIPATION AND APPRECIATE YOUR TIME EVERYONE BASED ON EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
ANY FINAL COMMENTS? I'VE ALSO GOT ONE LAST COMMENT IS COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, PLEASE.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS CLEAR AS WE WERE WRAPPING UP THAT THE FINANCIAL DOLLAR AMOUNT TIED TO THE TIMELINE OF THIS PROJECT IS STILL YET TO BE DETERMINED.
I'M ALREADY SEEING SOME CHATTER THAT WHAT WE APPROVED TODAY, WASN'T WHAT WE APPROVED TODAY.
WE APPROVED OUR SUPPORT OF THE PLAN.
WE STILL HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE DOLLARS AND CENTS MOVING FORWARD, AND THAT PART IS YET TO BE DETERMINED.
IN MANY RESPECTS, LIKE WE'VE GOT A NEW HAT TODAY AND WE JUST THROW IT ACROSS THE RIVER.
WE GOT A LOT MORE WORK TO DO BETWEEN NOW AND THEN HARDER DECISIONS IN SOME RESPECTS, IT'S EASY TO MAKE THE SHOPPING LIST.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO THE CHRISTMAS LIST OF FIGURING OUT HOW TO MAKE IT MEET.
SO WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF WORK TO DO BUCKLE YOUR SEAT BELTS, CAUSE THE PAY SLOWLY PICKS UP HERE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS.
I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PRESENTATIONS AFTER THE BREAK AND I'M REAL EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE DID BEFORE THE BREAK, UH, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT, UH, WAS TRULY MOMENTOUS AND MMM, IT'S JUST REALLY EXCITING TO SEE THAT.
AND, AND, AND, AND I HOPE THAT THAT, THAT I'M HERE TO ACTUALLY RIDE ON THAT WHEN IT ACTUALLY STARTS, UH, BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE QUITE THE TRIUMPH.
AND I REALLY DO BELIEVE, AS I SAID EARLIER, THAT THIS KIND OF TRANSIT SYSTEM, UH, IS A KEY TO BEING ABLE TO KNIT TOGETHER, UH, THIS COMMUNITY.
I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR WORK, ESPECIALLY YOU GOT GINA AND RANDY, UH, POINT ON THIS, UH, PROJECT.
YOU GUYS HAVE DONE JUST A, AN INCREDIBLE JOB.
UH, BRINGING THIS TO THE COMMUNITY.
LIKEWISE, THANKS TO RANDY AND JAYNA AND GREG, I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE BEEN WORKING SUPER HARD AND ALL THE STAFF FOLKS DOWN THE LINE WHO DON'T GET THEIR FACE ON THE VIDEO TODAY.
AND ALL OF THE MANY CONSULTANTS WHO'VE REALLY, REALLY BEEN GRINDING AND TO OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL BOARD WHO HAVE, UH, SEVERAL BIG LIFTS GOING ON ALL AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S REALLY BEEN A TREAT TO COLLABORATE AS WE HAVE.
UM, AND, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THIS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE THEN NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
SO, UH, WITH THAT, UM, IF THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL BUSINESS THAT NEEDS TO BE HANDLED TODAY, THE CAP METRO BOARD MEETING WILL BE ADJOURNED AT FIVE 30 AND AS IS THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THANKS FOR RUNNING THE MEETING.
THANK YOU ALL GOODNIGHT, RANDY.