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CALL TO ORDER

The Regular Meeting of the Committee for Transit Accessibility (CTA) was called to order at 1:15 p.m. by Vice-Chairperson Grant in Building A, Auditorium, Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), 3331 North First Street, San Jose, California.

ROLL CALL

Members Present
Jeannette Bruntz
Emma Eljas
Linda Gallo
Sandra Gouveia
David Grant
Michelle HammCiric
Marjorie Jensen
David Julian
Martin Lasich
Aaron Morrow
Maryjane Naughten
Marian Otis
Frederico S. Orillaneda
Thomas Slack
Barbara Stahl

Members Absent
Cynthia Aleman
Katie Heatley (Ex-Officio)
LeNae Liebetrau
Laura Michels
Barbara Rhodes
Randy Tamez

A quorum was present.

INTRODUCTION OF AUDIENCE MEMBERS

Received introductions from the audience including: David Ledwitz, Natalie Wells and Sheri Fisher, VTA Accessible Services; Carolyn Grattan-Aiello, Human Resources; Kermit Cuff, Service Planning; Joonie Tolosa, Operations Planning, Chester Fung, Congestion Management; Tom Giuffre, American Association of Retired Persons (AARP); Shannon Holmes, Orthopedic Hospital and Clark Wilson, Consultant.

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

There were no Public Presentations.

Minutes of May 7, 2003

M/S/C (Gouveia/Morrow) to approve the Minutes of May 7, 2003.

Eligibility Certification Vendor Presentation

George Tacké, Accessible Services Manager and Staff Liaison, introduced Shannon Holmes, Transition Manager, Orthopedic Hospital of Los Angeles. Ms. Holmes currently manages the Santa Cruz office.

Ms. Holmes stated that Orthopedic Hospital looks forward to a partnership with VTA and OUTREACH. Ms. Homes stated that Disabled Services at Orthopedic Hospital is recognized throughout California for its turnkey paratransit eligibility program. The sole purpose of Disabled Services is ADA paratransit evaluations and to date it has conducted approximately 175,000 evaluations throughout California.

Ms. Holmes stated that Disabled Services has been working closely with VTA's Accessible Services staff to assure that it would follow the scope of work developed through an extensive community and public input process. The overall goals of Disabled Services are consistent with the understanding of the primary objectives as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and outlined more specifically by the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA). The primary transportation goal of the ADA is to make the public bus system accessible. Paratransit is recognized as a back-up plan for persons unable to use the public bus system some or all of the time.

Ms. Holmes reported that the objectives of Disabled Services in terms of the eligibility program in Santa Clara County are: 1) to ensure that those who qualify for paratransit services are granted eligibility; 2) to provide a transit evaluation which includes education and referral to other accessible transit options; 3) to make the application process as timely and accessible as possible; 4) to protect the system from fraud, waste, and abuse; and 5) to provide an accurate, professional, and sensitive evaluation.

Ms. Holmes reported that staff at Disabled Services receives a comprehensive training program. The training program includes ADA and FTA regulations, accessibility of fixed route transit, sensitivity, mobility devices, physical disabilities and assessments, cognitive and psychiatric disabilities and assessments, visual impairments and human guide techniques, information regarding respiratory dysfunction, oncology, and transplant information.

Member Slack queried how long it would take an applicant to apply and receive approval/disapproval. Ms. Holmes responded that it would be within 21 days as mandated by the ADA. Member Slack queried whether all applicants would be required to have a personal interview. Ms. Holmes responded that all applicants would be required to have a personal interview.

Member Jenson queried where the assessments would take place and when they would begin. Ms. Holmes responded that the go-live date is July 1, 2003, and offices are being set up in San Jose, Sunnyvale, and a community-based office in a senior center in the Gilroy/Morgan Hill area.

Member Eljas queried regarding when Disabled Services began and the experience of interviewers. Ms. Holmes responded that Orthopedic Disabled Services has been in operation since 1993 in Los Angeles, California. Ms. Holmes stated that most interviewers have a background in occupational or physical therapy with experience in rehabilitation in healthcare settings.

Member HammCiric queried whether phone interviews are a possibility. Mr. Tacké reported that the policy of the Board of Directors is that everyone is treated the same.

Mr. Tacké reported that the policy in place includes 100 percent in-person interviews, letters from physicians, and applications.

Member HammCiric queried whether there is follow-up with persons who are determined ineligible. Ms. Holmes responded that her experience with persons who have been denied eligibility has been that they usually have a misunderstanding of paratransit, (those who have the ability to use fixed route transit or other transportation resources.) Ms. Holmes stated that there is no follow-up with persons who have been denied eligibility.

Member Stahl queried the time period before a person is certified. Ms. Holmes responded that within the guidelines of ADA, certification must be complete within 21 days.

Member Gouveia queried the percentage of eligible persons out of the 175,000 evaluated. Ms. Holmes responded that she does not have exact figures, but stated that the denial rate in Santa Cruz County for client re-certification is five percent and eight percent for new applicants.

Member Slack queried whether information has been provided regarding how many interviews to expect on a per month basis and whether Disabled Services staff would be able to handle the workload. Mr. Tacké reported that 660 applications are expected per month for the first three years and 440 applications per month thereafter.

Member Lasich queried whether new applications are available at this time. Mr. Tacké reported that brochures would be available on June 23, 2003, and would be provided to clients by OUTREACH.

Member Bruntz queried whether applicants have an opportunity to rate the service. Mr. Tacké reported that the Board of Directors has directed staff to provide a survey one year after implementation of all customers, eligible and denied. This information will be provided to the Committee for Transit Accessibility as well as the Board of Directors.

Member Morrow queried the process to track information. Mr. Tacké responded that there would be a tracking number unique to each customer.

Mr. Tacké reported that the role of Orthopedic Hospital is to determine eligibility and ineligibility. When a person is declared ineligible, the file will be delivered to VTA and VTA will manage appeals through another vendor.

Member Eljas stated that CTA would need updates regarding many of the questions that were asked today.

On order of Vice-Chairperson Grant, there being no objection, the Eligibility Certification Vendor Presentation was received.

Draft VTA Pedestrian Technical Guidelines Accessibility Section

Chester Fung, Transportation Planner II, introduced Clark Wilson, Consultant for the Project. Mr. Fung stated that the goal of the Guidelines is to raise the quality of the pedestrian environment including better accessibility. The pedestrian environment includes sidewalks, pathways, streets, transit facilities, walkways, over crossings and parking areas. The Guidelines acknowledge that while VTA has an interest in a high quality pedestrian environment, VTA is not responsible for a lot of the pieces of the pedestrian environment. The intent of the Guidelines is to provide guidance for those who are actually designing a building, pieces of the pedestrian environment.

Mr. Fung reported that the Guidelines were produced by convening a working group based on experienced membership from various parts of the community representing bicycling, pedestrians, real estate, business and City of San Jose staff. Mr. Fung requested input from the CTA. The accessibility section includes grades, walkways, ramps, driveways, lifts and surfaces.

Member Slack expressed concern regarding raised sidewalks due to tree roots. Mr. Fung responded that this issue would be included in the Guidelines.

Member Slack queried whether the Segway scooter would be addressed in the Guidelines. Mr. Fung responded that Segways would be addressed on a city-by-city basis since sidewalks are within the jurisdiction of cities. Vice-Chairperson Grant advised that CTA would address the issue of the Segway in the CTA July and August Agenda.

Mr. Fung reported that the Guidelines address recommended designs for placement of ramps. The recommendation is that whenever possible, two ramps would be used that go directly into the crosswalk.

Member Morrow expressed concern regarding maintenance of tactile strips. Mr. Fung responded that maintenance of streets and sidewalks is within the jurisdiction of cities.

Member Lasich queried whether audio signals have been considered. Mr. Fung responded that audio signals differ city-by-city. Mr. Fung stated that this is a recommended practice in the Guidelines.

Member Jensen queried whether there is a plan to be sure that all streets have sidewalks and are accessible. Mr. Fung responded that the issue is who pays for the sidewalks and responded further that developers generally pay for sidewalks. The City of Sunnyvale, other cities and VTA are trying to partner with funding from the State to retrofit areas without sidewalks. Mr. Fung reported that after the Guidelines are adopted, VTA intends to make funds available for projects that are in the spirit of the Guidelines.

Vice-Chairperson Grant queried when the draft Guidelines would be completed. Mr. Fung responded that the comment period would last through the end of July 2003.

Member Eljas stated that when malls and sidewalks are developed, there must be enough room for wheelchairs. Mr. Fung responded that this issue is defined in the Guidelines by zone.

On order of Vice-Chairperson Grant, there being no objection, the Draft VTA Pedestrian Technical Guidelines Accessibility Section was received and filed.

Proposed Service Changes

Kermit Cuff, Transit Service Development Specialist III, reported that no changes are planned for the quarter beginning July 2003. Mr. Cuff provided a report of proposed changes for the quarter beginning October 2003.

Member Morrow stated that if Line 68 is cut, it would be damaging to persons who need to get to medical appointments.

On order of Vice-Chairperson Grant, there being no objection, the Proposed Service Changes were received and filed.

Fiscal Year 2003 Third Quarter Performance Report

Joonie Tolosa, Senior Management Analyst, provided the Fiscal Year 2003 Third Quarter Performance Report, highlighting: 1) operating cost recovery ratio is 13.2 percent, up 6.7 percent compared to last year; 2) paratransit provided 781,960 trips for the first nine months of the fiscal year, up 5.3 percent over last year's figure; 3) VTA ridership for the first nine months was 34.6 million passengers, a 12.1 percent decrease compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year; 4) system-wide average weekday boardings were 148,259, down 12.8 percent which is lower than Fiscal Year 1991 ridership levels; 5) Fiscal Year 2003 third quarter bus ridership totaled 29.9 million passengers, a decrease of 10.6 percent compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year; 6) light rail recorded 4.7 million passengers, a decrease of 20.2 percent versus the same period the previous fiscal year; 7) sales tax revenue collected through the third quarter was down 7.9 percent, $8.9 million less than collected during the same period last year; and 8) operator shortage contributed to a 7.8 percent increase in late pullouts and a 16.2 percent increase in percent of scheduled service lost.

On order of Vice-Chairperson Grant, there being no objection, the Fiscal Year 2003 Third Quarter Performance report was received and filed.

Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Elderly/Disabled Advisory Committee Report

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Elderly/Disabled Advisory Committee Report was deferred to the Meeting of July 9, 2003.

Legislative Updates

Natalie Wells, Associate Management Analyst, provided an update regarding ACA 7 (Dutra) which would allow local and regional transportation agencies to impose a sales tax for transportation purposes if approved by a 55 percent rather than a two-thirds majority.

On order of Vice-Chairperson Grant, there being no objection, the Legislative Updates were received.

Committee Staff Report

Mr. Tacké reported that VTA is reviewing several avenues to generate revenue so that there would not need to be 21 percent service cuts.

Mr. Tacké reviewed the issue of whether VTA would be able to use 2000 Measure A funds that currently exist. Mr. Tacké stated that the question involved is whether VTA would only be able to fund services that exceed the November 2000 levels, or would VTA be able to use the funds to fill in the 21 percent service cuts. Legal counsel has stated that the 2000 Measure A funds cannot be used for anything that does not exceed November 2000 service levels.

Mr. Tacké reported that: 1) the fare increase effective August 1, 2003, has been approved; 2) the charge for paratransit would be $3.00; 3) effective September 1, 2003, the new minimum account balance policy would be implemented; 4) effective October 13, 2003, an ADA service area surcharge would be implemented except for South County; 5) paratransit service would be provided within ¾ mile beyond the service area; and 6) the door-to-door escort surcharge would be deferred for one fiscal year until VTA is able to evaluate each person's medical need for door-to-door escort service and their ability to pay.

Mr. Tacké stated that a representative of the Segway Human Transporter is scheduled to provide a demonstration to the CTA in July 2003.

Ms. Wells provided a report regarding light rail service to River Oaks Station and Tasman Station.

Chairperson's Report

There was no Chairperson's Report.

Items of Concern and Referral to Administration

Vice-Chairperson Grant suggested that two additional microphones are needed at the end of the table.

Member Morrow requested information regarding the cost to VTA to operate free shuttles in the downtown San Jose area and queried whether free shuttles will be included in service cuts. Mr. Tacké responded that free shuttles would be a part of the 21 percent service cuts and stated that information regarding the cost to operate free shuttles would be provided.

Announcements

There were no Announcements.

ADJOURNMENT

On order of Vice-Chairperson Grant, there being no objection, the meeting was adjourned at 3:03 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Judith Tinlin, Board Assistant
VTA Board of Directors

NOTE: M/S/C MEANS MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED AND, UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.