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CALL TO ORDER

The Regular Meeting of the Committee for Transit Accessibility (CTA) was called to order at 1:10 p.m. by Chairperson Tamez in Building A, Auditorium, Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), 3331 North First Street, San Jose, California.

ROLL CALL

Members Present:
Cynthia Aleman
Emma Eljas
Linda Gallo
David Grant
Katie Heatley (Ex-Officio)
LeNae Liebetrau
Marjorie Jensen
Martin Lasich
Laura Michels
Aaron Morrow
Maryjane Naughten
Marian Otis
Frederico S. Orillaneda
Barbara Rhodes
Thomas Slack
Barbara Stahl
Randy Tamez

Members Absent:
Jeannette Bruntz
Sandra Gouveia
Michelle HammCiric
David Julian

A quorum was present.

INTRODUCTION OF AUDIENCE MEMBERS

Received introductions from the audience including: Mark Robinson, Guadalupe Retrofit Project Manager; David Terrazas, Marketing Department; David Ledwitz, Natalie Wells, Sheri Fisher, and Paulette Mulligan, VTA Accessible Services; Gilda Grozdanich and Elaine Baltoa, VTA Board Office; and Gary Hunnicutt, OUTREACH Customer Services.

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

There were no Public Presentations.

Minutes of June 11, 2003

M/S/C (Morrow/Orillaneda) on a vote of 13 ayes, to 0 noes to 3 abstentions to approve the Minutes of June 11, 2003. Members Michels, Rhodes and Slack abstained.

Member Michels requested a copy of the Pedestrian Technical Guideline draft.

Guadalupe Retrofit Project Update

Mark Robinson, VTA Project Manager for the Guadalupe Light Rail Platform Retrofit Project, reported that platforms are being raised along First Street in order to fully utilize and accommodate low-floor light rail vehicles. The low-floor vehicles are in operation on the Tasman Corridor. Mr. Robinson noted that bus bridges are in place to accommodate service to Bay Point Station.

Mr. Robinson stated that First Street would be entirely retrofitted for low-floor vehicles, but due to budget difficulties, the remaining stations on the system, the Downtown Transit Mall area and the South Line stations would be delayed. Staff is aggressively pursuing additional funds in order to get the stations modified. Unfortunately, it is not going to happen in the same timeframe that had been envisioned. It will probably be a number of years before VTA would be able to get contracts under way and construction started with money in hand.

Mr. Robinson stated that low-floor vehicles would be implemented into the operations on the Guadalupe. This would be done in the same timeframe the retrofit of the First Street platforms is finished. For a period of years the First Street platforms will be available for level boarding on each car and every door of each car.

Mr. Robinson stated that when going south away from First Street into the Transit Mall and toward the South Line, there would be platforms that cannot accommodate level boarding. There would be the potential of passengers having ease of boarding on First Street; however, the same ease would not be available on the South Line. Mr. Robinson stated that for that reason, staff is putting together an operations plan, an operating procedures for operators. Staff is also putting together a community outreach communications program for this period for persons in need of ingress and egress from the system. Customers will continue to board on the first door of the first car of the train, consistent with what is done at this time. Mechanical lifts on the front door will be removed and not required on the First Street North Line System. The mechanical lifts will remain in place for the period when we continue to have Guadalupe trains.

Mr. Robinson stated that when the low-floor vehicles come in, the mini raised wooden platforms will continue to be in place so that level boardings on and off trains on the Transit Mall South Line are going to be at the front door utilizing the mini-level platforms. This is an interim period. It has been anticipated that there will be individuals who will be in need of assistance to get off the second or third car of the train when going to the Transit Mall or the South Line. To address this situation staff is looking at a mobile aluminum ramp to de-board persons from the second or third train who boarded on the level boarding portion of the North Line. The operator will come out and set up the ramp and the passenger will be escorted off of the train and onto the platform. A manufacturer is building the protype and staff would like to practice on one of these ramps for de-boarding trains. The protype is expected this week. Mr. Robinson requested volunteers from CTA to assist in an exercise next week to ensure that the ramp is a solution for the interim period.

Member Slack queried where ramps would be stored. Mr. Robinson responded that ramps would be secured toward the front of the platform and stated that the driver will come off of the train and move the ramp as requested.

Chairperson Tamez requested volunteers to assist in testing the new ramp. Members Naughten, Otis, Rhodes, Slack, and Stahl volunteered to assist in testing the new ramp.

David Terrazas, Customer Services Manager, reported that a draft outreach plan has been prepared to review questions regarding how customers would be notified either de-boarding from the train or general passengers regarding limitations of access to a light rail train in operation. Mr. Terrazas stated that the Customer Services Department would reach out to community organizations, general riders through existing communication channels, VTA stakeholders, CTA, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), the Board of Directors and non-English speaking customers in Spanish, Vietnamese, and Mandarin formats. Mr. Terrazas stated that special attention would be paid to the creation of materials in accessible formats including Braille, large font type, and audio.

Member Rhodes queried whether e-mail messages would be available to persons interested in receiving the latest information. Mr. Terrazas responded that this suggestion could be considered but it is not part of the initial draft. Mr. Terrazas noted that customers can contact the Customer Service Center 24-hours per day and use the VTA website to obtain this information.

On order of Chairperson Tamez, there being no objection, the Guadalupe Retrofit Project Update was received.

Phase III Paratransit Service Business Practices Improvement Plan Update

George Tacké, Accessible Services Manager and Staff Liaison, reported that the first interviews for the eligibility certification program would take place within the next week. Chairperson Tamez volunteered to be one of the first persons to be interviewed and will report back to the CTA at the next meeting.

Mr. Tacké reported that service would continue to be provided throughout Santa Clara County with a service area surcharge added to the regular cost of each trip that originates and/or terminates outside of the Paratransit Service Area. To provide clarification, staff is differentiating between the borders to be used to define Santa Clara County and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Paratransit Service Area.

The ADA Paratransit Service Area is the service area required by ADA based on peak bus and light rail services. That is mostly within Santa Clara County. There are sections of Santa Clara County, mostly on the perimeter, in rural areas, and up in the hills that are beyond 3/4 of a mile from bus and light rail services

Mr. Tacké reported that in September 2003 everyone who lives outside of the ADA service area but within the County would be identified and sent a letter. This would not include the several hundred persons who occasionally go to places outside of the service area. The service area surcharge of $6 will be effective October 13, 2003.

Mr. Tacké reported that the Board of Directors deferred service area surcharges for pick-ups and destinations in the Gilroy, Morgan Hill, and San Martin area until July 1, 2004.

Mr. Tacké reported that the proposed door-to-escort surcharge has been deferred until July 1, 2004 by the Board of Directors and until current paratransit customers have been evaluated for their medical need for the service and their ability to pay.

Mr. Tacké reported that customers could not schedule additional trips once a negative account balance of $15 has been reached. Previously scheduled trips will be provided.

Member Lasich requested clarification regarding fees for an escort or a companion. Mr. Tacké stated that a companion is a friend who must pay a fare. A personal care attendant is an assistant who travels without charge and an escort is a door-to-door service provided by the driver of the paratransit vehicle.

Member Slack queried whether future service cuts would affect customers as it relates to the paratransit service area. Mr. Tacké responded that if bus and/or light rail service is cut in the future, it could impact paratransit customers in that area and responded further that if 21 percent service cuts take place in January 2004, staff will re-adjust the service area.

Member Naughten stated that persons living on a fixed income would be devastated by changes in paratransit services.

M/S/F (Rhodes/Stahl) on a vote of 5 ayes to 11 noes to 0 abstentions to propose that the word "Improvement" in the phrase Paratransit Business Practices Improvement Plan never be used again and be replaced with Paratransit Business Practices Modification Plan.

Member Stahl queried the amount of savings to VTA to have the eligibility criteria now for Orthopedic Hospital. Mr. Tacké responded that once fully implemented, the estimated savings would be $3 million per year.

Member Eljas queried whether transition would be provided to customers shifting from paratransit to regular bus service. Mr. Tacké responded that the assumption is that if a person were ineligible for paratransit, he or she would be able to use public transit and would have access to all services of a public transit user. Mr. Tacké noted that as part of Phase IV staff is trying to develop different levels of travel training, orientation training, and transit-use training for different levels of needs. This system is in place right now. Part of the program would include providing information.

Member Jensen stated that the Silicon Valley Independent Living Center offers mobility training for a fee.

Member Jensen queried whether on-the-spot escort service would be available if necessary. Mr. Tacké responded that escort service has not been discontinued. Mr. Tacké stated that as a policy on-the-spot escort service would need to be addressed.

Member Morrow queried whether OUTREACH could provide information regarding upcoming changes on the telephone to the end user. Ex-Officio Member Heatley responded that this could be done.

Member Otis queried whether an escort announcing his presence at a Customer's door would be considered escort service. Mr. Tacké stated that if the proposal were implemented, door-to-door escort service would not be discontinued though there would be a fee for the service.

On order of Chairperson Tamez, there being no objection, the Phase III Paratransit Service Business Practices Improvement Plan Update was received and filed.

Legislative Updates

Legislative Updates were deferred to the CTA Meeting of August 13, 2003.

Committee Staff Report

Mr. Tacké reported that the Accessible Services Hotline is now in place to answer questions regarding the application process for eligibility. Mr. Tacké introduced Paulette Mulligan, Accessible Services Representative.

Member Eljas requested that Ms. Mulligan report to CTA periodically regarding the certification application process.

Chairperson's Report

There was no Chairperson's Report.

Items of Concern and Referral to Administration

There were no Items of Concern and Referral to Administration.

Announcements

There were no Announcements.

ADJOURNMENT

On order of Chairperson Tamez, there being no objection, the meeting was adjourned at 2:23 p.m. to the Committee for Transit Accessibility Workshop.

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.

NOTE: M/S/F MEANS MOTION SECONDED AND FAILED.