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Agenda Item # 12

BOARD MEMORANDUM

FOR INFORMATION ONLY

BACKGROUND: 

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title 49, Subpart G, Section 37.167 requires that all VTA transit buses announce stops at major intersections or destination points, at transfer locations, as well as at intervals along a route sufficient to permit individuals with visual impairments or other disabilities to be oriented to their location.   Stops must also be announced upon request. 

The regulations also require that VTA transit buses make bus route number announcements to customers waiting at bus stops, which are served by more than one bus route.

DISCUSSION: 

Announcing stops and bus route numbers benefits all customers, including customers with disabilities, and customers unfamiliar with our transit system.   Whether via VTA’s automated system, microphone, or a loud voice, VTA requires that stops and bus route numbers must always be announced.   This is not considered an optional activity.

VTA’s Coach Operator’s Rulebook reinforces this requirement and states:

Announcing Stops – The Operator shall announce all stops as listed on the appropriate Call Stops Sheet and as requested by passengers.   The Operator shall use the microphone, if available.

(Thus, if the automated system is not functioning, or if a passenger requests that a particular stop be called, then Operators must use the public address system or speak in a sufficiently loud voice to announce the stop.)

Automatic Annunciator – The Operator is required to use the automatic annunciator.   If the annunciator is not functioning and there are passengers waiting to board, the Operator shall announce the bus route and destination at all bus stops serving multiple routes. 

Operators are prohibited from tampering with the automated system in anyway which may affect system performance, and furthermore, must report all problems or non-functioning systems by filling out and submitting the appropriate reports in a timely manner.

The bus stop and bus route number announcement systems are fully automated and cannot be adjusted or disengaged by the Operator on most buses.  Both interior and exterior systems are pre-programmed to adjust volume levels depending on the time of day, e.g., louder during the day and lower volume levels at night.

VTA is committed to addressing the calling of stops and announcement of bus route numbers aggressively using Field Supervisors to monitor Operator compliance and system performance while the buses are in operation.  Management and supervisory staff are committed to diligently investigate all complaints received.  VTA recently issued an Operations Notice to all Operators reinforcing the importance of calling stops, announcing bus route numbers, and reporting any problems when the automated system is not working.  Periodic Operations Notices will be issued to all Operators to reinforce the requirements discussed herein, and retraining (or discipline) of specific Operators will be conducted as needed to ensure full compliance.

Attached for your reference are the most recently issued Operations Notices relating to calling bus stops, announcing routes and destinations.

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