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Agenda Item # 8

BOARD MEMORANDUM

BACKGROUND:

For customer convenience and ADA compliance, VTA operates and contracts for 24/7 maintenance of 15 elevators at the following Light Rail Stations:   Virginia, Tamien, Curtner, Capitol, Branham, Blossom, Snell, Cottle, Great Mall, Montague, and Hamilton. As soon as a report of an inoperable elevator is received, in-house maintenance and contractors are contacted to make the necessary repairs and quickly return the elevator to service. The State of California inspects elevators on a yearly basis, and they also issue permits of operation after all requirements are met.

DISCUSSION:

In an effort to improve customer service during elevator closures and repairs, VTA is developing and will implement an audio and visual announcement procedure to inform customers of out-of-service elevator(s) effective September 2007. 

Once notified of an inoperable elevator, VTA will make platform Public Address (PA) announcements (audio), between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Visual Message Board (VMB) announcements every 15 minutes of inoperable elevator(s) until the elevator is back up and operational. 

We are updating signage at the Great Mall and Snell Light Rail Stations, both of which have multiple elevators, to identify each elevator for announcements. Currently, programmed announcements in Light Rail vehicles advise customers how to contact the operator for assistance when an elevator is out of service.   Operators will call OCC, and transportation will be dispatched to transport passengers who need assistance in traveling to a station which has an inoperable elevator. The new platform announcements will augment the existing in-vehicle announcements to further enhance VTA’s commitment to keep passengers informed.

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