[0:00] And call this meeting to order.

[0:08] This is the, what is today? September 8th meeting of the General Manager's Accessibility Committee. Welcome everyone. And let's see here.

[0:24] Well, we're actually going to have Nikki do the script for us today.

[0:29] Yes.

[0:29] I was just going to ask and I know that Kim usually does that.

[0:36] So Nikki, go ahead and take that away for us there.

[0:40] Thank you.

[0:41] Good afternoon and welcome to the September 8th meeting of the Jerome Managers Access Committee.

[0:46] Public access to the committee is available to be a calling option.

[0:50] or on Zoom in members of the public may directly address the body in offer comment in no time.

[0:56] If you have doubt in by phone when the agenda item you would like to speak on is called

[1:01] press star 9 to raise your head. In the committee secretary will unmute you at the

[1:06] appropriate time and call your name or the last four digits on your phone number. If you are

[1:11] attending the meeting via Zoom video, you may use the raise hand feature and your name

[1:17] will be called when it's your turn to speak. We request that all speakers clearly and slowly state

[1:23] their name for the record and make sure their location is quiet and that all other audio devices

[1:28] are turned on. Each speaker will be allowed up to two minutes to present comments. For individuals

[1:34] who need in a turn of way to non-verbally communicate, the Q&A function is available on Zoom. Please type

[1:42] any question or comment in the QA and staff will read it out now during the meeting. All responses will be made verbally and we ask that and we ask that no non staff members respond in writing or mark any question as red. Again, please only use the QA function if you are required and alternate non verbal way to communicate. Thank you and I will not turn to me and over to chair.

[2:10] Thank you, Nicky, can we go ahead and have roll call and introduction of members and guests please?

[2:17] Yes.

[2:19] Chair, Chairman.

[2:20] Present.

[2:23] Thank you.

[2:24] Nice chair, Melissa.

[2:26] I'm here.

[2:28] Thank you.

[2:30] Karen, I'm here.

[2:32] Thank you.

[2:34] Thank you.

[2:36] Thank you.

[2:38] Monique chat man.

[2:41] The Harvard students.

[2:43] Chanita.

[2:45] President.

[2:47] Thank you.

[2:49] Warren Houston.

[2:50] I have him excuse.

[2:55] Sandra Johnson.

[2:56] I have heard students.

[2:59] David Minwell.

[3:01] Thank you.

[3:05] Thank you.

[3:06] Dr. James.

[3:09] President.

[3:10] Thank you.

[3:13] Dr. James.

[3:15] James,

[3:16] Watson of Welcase.

[3:18] President.

[3:19] Thank you.

[3:21] Barbara Williams.

[3:30] Barbara Zahn-Lyre.

[3:32] Yes.

[3:33] Congressman.

[3:36] Roland Wong.

[3:38] President.

[3:40] Awesome.

[3:40] Thank you so much.

[3:42] Now we will have introductions of staff.

[3:44] and guests. My name is Nicky McNulty. I'm here. Barbara Williams. Thank you Barbara.

[3:54] I am

[3:55] your secretary, Nicky McNulty.

[3:58] And Rikaila, Cambridge Weeks Festival Services. David.

[4:05] David Wilkins, AC Transit Director, Regulatory Programs, Robert.

[4:15] Good afternoon, Robert Darrell's Director of Service Development and Planning for AC

[4:18] And so I'd pass it off to Stephen.

[4:21] Hi, good afternoon.

[4:22] Stephen Jones, Director of Legislative Affairs and Community Relations.

[4:26] I will pass it off to Ryan Lau.

[4:29] Ryan Lau, external affairs representative for AC Transit.

[4:38] Good afternoon.

[4:38] I'm Johnathan B. R. Mc Communications Manager for AC Transit.

[4:43] And I'd like to introduce my colleague, Tony G.

[4:47] Tony G, a service information and wayfinding administrator for AC Transit.

[4:56] Mr. At the Assistant Director of Maintenance.

[5:22] I'm looking to see if we have everybody.

[5:31] And I think we do back each year. Okay. So, I believe we've got a quorum for today, looking at the agenda, are there any changes to the order of the agenda?

[5:49] No, seeing none, let's move to the consent calendar and the approval of the minutes for July 14th, 2026.

[6:01] Any comments, or any, do I have a motion?

[6:05] I don't know if it matters, Sean, that your theme is not identified as our chair.

[6:12] I'm identified as vice chair, and I don't think that's very fair to you.

[6:18] So I think we there need to remove vice chair after mining.

[6:22] This is Melissa by the way.

[6:24] This is Melissa.

[6:25] So either we remove vice chair from mining, or we add you as the chair because you run this meeting.

[6:31] Awesome.

[6:33] We need you here.

[6:34] You need recognition for all the work that you're doing.

[6:36] So, and totally agree, and I actually, in the actual minute,

[6:42] I already added care to your name.

[6:45] Sorry, we left that out.

[6:47] Sean, forgive me for not raising my hand, but I am very concerned

[6:52] that our board liaison is not here, or if she is here, she has not said that she is.

[6:58] This is unacceptable.

[7:00] Absolutely. She is here now.

[7:01] All right.

[7:02] Diane, a doctor, a director of Welsh, please, please introduce yourself.

[7:08] Because we need you, Dad Lake.

[7:10] Thank you.

[7:13] Hi, everyone.

[7:14] This is Jean Walsh Ward, director for Work 3.

[7:18] Excuse me, Ward 2.

[7:20] Awesome.

[7:21] Thank you, director Walsh.

[7:24] OK, moving back to the minutes here.

[7:27] Um, do I move that we approve the minutes from the July 14th meeting? Okay, so we've got a motion from Melissa and then, uh, was that you Dr. Thomas?

[7:41] Seconding, okay, so we've got a motion in a second. Can we get a roll call vote, please?

[7:50] Yeah, I'll go ahead and do the roll call this time.

[7:51] Thank you. The approval of minutes. Yeah, we're letting Nicky just do parts of it, so we don't throw it all the way in the water.

[7:59] So let's start at the top again. Sean. Approved. Melissa. Approved.

[8:08] Karen. Approved. Erica.

[8:14] I mean, I was not there. What do I say? Okay, you can have stains.

[8:21] Monique is excused.

[8:25] Cheneeta approved.

[8:28] Warren Kishman is excused.

[8:31] He's absent.

[8:32] Senator Johnson is also absent.

[8:35] David.

[8:36] Approved.

[8:38] Jim Robson.

[8:40] abstain.

[8:44] Dr. Thomas.

[8:45] Approved.

[8:47] Faber Williams.

[8:50] Approved.

[8:56] Thank you, the minutes have passed.

[9:00] Back to you chair.

[9:03] Okay, thank you so much.

[9:05] We're going to go on to our regular updates with the first one being the service planning update from Robert.

[9:15] Thanks, Chair. Good afternoon again. Robert Darles, Director of Service Development and Planning.

[9:21] There is an attachment in your agenda packet that goes over the adjustments that we recently implemented as part of the August service change.

[9:30] The August service change is our opportunity for board policy to make probably the largest number of changes for the year

[10:00] Assments, including reinstating our supplementary service, as well as any trips on regular routes that are school related that weren't necessary in the summer.

[10:11] So it's a big service change on the less.

[10:13] How quickly go through the list of changes here, there were improvements to a number of lines going through Oakland and Alameda.

[10:23] Line 30 and 31, I want to point this one on a particular, we want to make these be evenly

[10:29] space that you haven't even had way along through Bell Avenue and Park Street.

[10:33] I know the attachment says Park Boulevard, it's actually, that's the Oakland roadway in

[10:41] Alameda Park Street, so I just want to make that correction for the notes, and it was pointed

[10:46] out by public comment that we received.

[10:49] There's some other detours that we're handling down in, in Hayward, San Leandro, along line 34 and line 93.

[11:01] And then, improve the, the end of line location of back house at East Bay, which better works for passengers as well as for bus operators, getting a break location and restaurant location.

[11:16] And let's see what else we may change as two.

[11:20] Then we have a bunch of minor changes.

[11:22] So what we do is we look at,

[11:24] we try to look at our running time data

[11:25] that we have on previous trips.

[11:28] And then we try to make adjustments to a number of routes

[11:31] to try to better match actual conditions out there.

[11:34] The second half of that attachment

[11:36] then goes on to talk about all of the school trippers

[11:39] or supplementary service trips that we add it back

[11:41] and also made adjustments to two compared to the last school year.

[11:44] A lot of this is related to schools changing their bell times, which is a common occurrence,

[11:53] and us at AC Chancellor respond accordingly. I will say that sometimes we don't get

[11:59] a school bell time change information, and so as we go into planning for our next service change,

[12:06] which would be in the beginning of the next calendar year. So in January, 2021, we'll be making

[12:12] additional school bell time adjustments to accommodate any of the bell time changes that happened

[12:20] that we weren't notified of or just we received that information way past the time that we were

[12:27] making adjustments to our schedules. So that's a summary of our August change and as I said,

[12:33] we're working on January and we're happy to take some feedback on both scheduled service change periods

[12:40] And that concludes my presentation. So happy to take any questions. Thank you.

[12:45] Thank you, Robert. I see a bunch of hands raised, so we're going to go, Erica, then Melissa and David. Go ahead, Erica.

[12:58] This came to me because this was this has been like going around a lot.

[13:04] It's kind of like a long, long, long-term thing that I'm curious about.

[13:11] It's the hop, it's the hop-in hop-in street bike lanes, project happens.

[13:19] There's 80 trains that have a, have a plane on the bus stops and hop-gins.

[13:26] And this kind of a follow-up question to that is, what impact would it have on a distance

[13:34] and senior community that takes the provost, that's all.

[13:43] Yeah, great question.

[13:46] So we've coordinated with the city,

[13:48] but it's been a while, so we have not touched

[13:50] based on the latest designs,

[13:53] but what we were coordinating with the city

[13:56] on in the past were boarding islands at stop locations

[14:00] to separate the bus stop from the bike lanes, proposed bike lanes are to go in and then we

[14:09] would also look at any of our bus stops need to be optimized so that means should it be moved

[14:15] from near-site to far-site at far-site to better location for operations or do bus stops need to be

[14:22] lengthened because they're substandard today. So any project like Hopkins where there's a change

[14:30] to the roadway geometry, we always take that as an opportunity

[14:33] to optimize our bus stops.

[14:37] That's all.

[14:40] Thanks, Erica.

[14:42] Melissa, go ahead.

[14:44] Robert, I want to express my gratitude

[14:47] for you giving us this list ahead of the meeting.

[14:51] Thank you very much.

[14:53] I appreciate having been able to read through everything

[14:56] before I got here today.

[14:58] So I have an idea of

[15:00] If there was anything I need to think about, so I just want to thank you very much for giving us the

[15:06] list ahead of time. You're very welcome and as we had changes, we'll continue to provide that in advance

[15:12] of our presentations.

[15:16] Thank you. David go ahead. Okay, a question and the comment. Could you clarify

[15:22] I have thought that most high school students are bust in other buses, school buses.

[15:33] Is that true? And if not, yeah, because it's not, then I want to make sure that I have the wrong perception.

[15:41] Because I'm very concerned about what's happening in Berkeley. The crowding on buses, as I've told you over and over again,

[15:48] is really very difficult for many of us, and I'm also in save

[15:55] money in San Francisco, so we've talked about overcrowding as well on those buses.

[16:01] And that's something that transit agencies need to do a lot better with.

[16:05] We need more buses, we need more frequent times, and or we need students to be

[16:13] bus in separate buses because this is a real problem. Many of these kids don't care.

[16:21] There are some of them extremely impolite and if a disabled person gets on, you know, the buses are so packed.

[16:28] They won't move to the back and if they do move to the back, there are so many often that moving to the back doesn't help because the bus is full.

[16:36] So a person in the wheelchair can't use a wheelchair cannot get on people who are blind can't find seats and

[16:43] What's worse people can't get out and

[16:47] This I've been on buses where seniors who are not

[16:51] necessarily blind or how we use wheelchairs, but might have a some other disability or whatever

[16:57] They get really frantic because the driver opens the bus. They can't get out of the driver's doing his or her best to help them

[17:06] But can't because the kids won't move.

[17:08] There are a lot of problems here.

[17:10] And I don't think that ACT Transit is really

[17:12] face these issues enough.

[17:14] So that's one common.

[17:17] But I do want to know if other high school students

[17:21] in other areas in their service area are

[17:25] bus in different buses or do they also use regular buses?

[17:31] Yeah, for the most part in the, in the Bay Area, the student students who take transit are usually on public transit, so areas one of those regions of the country where there is a very little yellow bus school service in our area, there's some yellow bus school service for special needs.

[17:54] And then I think Berkeley has its own fleet for because they have mandatory busing to get kids from one district to another within their city, but that's I think only at the elementary and I'll actually the elementary school level.

[18:12] But in terms of high schools, pretty much it's common in the Bay Area for high school students to be riding public transit.

[18:19] Okay, so that's why a whole bunch of us are getting together throughout the Bay Area because we're then and we're going to try to change that

[18:25] Because we're finding all over the Bay Area. They overcrowding is absolutely

[18:31] Unacceptable and very very difficult and so I just want to let you know ahead of time. This is not just an easy transit issue

[18:37] This is a transit industry issue throughout the Bay Area. The other comment that I thank you for the clarification

[18:45] The other comment I have

[18:46] concerns a Berkeley, and related to what Erica has said,

[18:54] Melvia has a bike lane at the curb, and that is an absolute disaster, especially for blind

[19:00] people. It is unsafe. It means that there are no buses on Melvia, and what I have heard is from

[19:08] some agency transit folks is that you might be providing another one of those bus rapid transit

[19:13] unsafe inaccessible temple lines that you want to do on telegraph and other places and you

[19:21] might do an Hopkins as well in the middle of the boarding island in the middle of the street.

[19:27] And I have to tell you that until research is shown that this is safe, many, many of us,

[19:35] not just here, but nationally as well are very, very concerned about the idea of floating bus stops.

[19:40] we feel that bike lanes should be in the middle of the street, not at the curb, and that we

[19:45] should be able to board at the curb. That is the safest for all of us. And I just want to

[19:51] make this very clear to AC Transit. You continue to do bus rapid transit even though nationally.

[20:00] It has been said over and over and this is unofficial that many, many, many of us nationally in various organizations such as the American Council, the blind and others, that you provide bus service at the current.

[20:13] And you're not doing that. And it is because, you know, Oakland, you have the temple line, and you're thinking of using the tempo, also on telegraph and throughout, also we don't, in fact, throughout your entire service area.

[20:25] and we are very, very concerned about floating bus stops in general.

[20:31] San Francisco, one more comment.

[20:34] San Francisco even has floating restaurant parklets,

[20:39] which are incredibly dangerous.

[20:40] What I heard about that, I couldn't believe it.

[20:43] So I just want to say that this is very, very dangerous

[20:47] and very disturbing.

[20:50] Thank you.

[20:51] Thank you, David.

[20:52] I think, I think, you know, what this item is looking specifically at the service planning update.

[20:59] So it might be worthwhile to be to to put forth an agenda item when we get to the end of the meeting

[21:07] proposed agenda item. The problem is on that this has to do with service planning because, for instance,

[21:12] on Milvia, we can't get any service. So this does have to do with service planning and if Hopkins

[21:19] has a as a curbside bike lane, they won't have service there either. So this has to do with service planning. Thank you.

[21:27] Thank you. I agree that the intersection is there. I think, you know, the accessibility.

[21:34] I think we should agenda is and look at agenda ising that specific topics so we can dig in more on questions and concerns that the committee has an

[21:45] appreciate you're bringing up that specific topic.

[21:49] Point will take you. Thank you.

[21:52] Roland, go ahead, please.

[21:54] Yeah, thank you. What do you have today?

[21:58] My comment is regarding

[22:01] cancellation trips on AC transit.

[22:07] I've been recording

[22:09] through the transit app that frequency of cancellations. I basically whenever I take the bus,

[22:27] I prepan my trips. So, for example, like June 21, there was cancellations too in a row.

[22:42] July 17, there were three cancellations, there was basically one trip in between them.

[22:55] August 10th, there was two August 21st, there were three.

[23:03] And I feel that it's, even though it's probably because I don't know, maybe lack of drivers forcing

[23:18] in all these cancellations, but it really impacts people that need to get around, go to work,

[23:27] school or even there are appointments and it's sort of throughout the day but I do notice

[23:38] that the pattern was in the mornings and nowhere almost everybody needs the pluses to get

[23:47] around, you know, like, like in the morning, it's about eight, eight or nine, eight,

[23:57] fifty-four and nine or nine, eight, eight, so it's just, you know, make it very difficult for

[24:06] people to get around, you know, so I asked my comment and I don't know, you know, how AC

[24:15] is going to even do in a future. When the service cuts, if the ballot measure doesn't pass,

[24:24] I say, well, it's going to be even worse. You know? So, that's my comment on these

[24:33] cancellation trips. Anyway, okay, thank you. Yeah, and I just quickly mentioned that we do have

[24:41] a semi-annual service reliability report going to our board of directors tomorrow evening for

[24:47] the board meeting and that does discuss a lot about our service reliability and mistrifts

[24:55] and the measures we're taking to try to improve on that but you're correct.

[25:00] Act in that there's a work for shortage on that often drive strict translations and we're trying to address those as best we can.

[25:07] I know. All right. Thank you.

[25:11] Thanks, Roland, for identifying that issue. And again, maybe towards the end of the meeting as we talk about future agenda items that might be a report to also bring back to this committee to be able to understand

[25:27] operations and how operations are not just affecting the general public access to the bus that

[25:35] specifically how operations affect seniors and folks with disabilities access. Are there any

[25:42] I'm looking at for any additional hands regarding the service planning update seeing none

[25:50] And do I have any members of the public?

[25:54] Thanks, so, no, so seeing none, we will move on to our next item,

[26:01] which is item 5v, the real time information flag,

[26:06] decow, pilot, Tony, go ahead, please.

[26:11] Good afternoon, thank you, Trifon.

[26:14] So my name is Tony G, I am the service information

[26:16] and we're finding administrator at AC Transit and I'm here to give you a preview of the real-time

[26:24] information flag decal pilot that we will be testing out at select locations in our district.

[26:34] Real-time arrival information is some of our more useful. It's some of the more useful information

[26:39] we can provide writers. We currently feature two voice telephone numbers on our flags

[26:45] to access real-time departures, 511, a 24-hour automated service provided by MTC, and our customer call center, which has limited hours, but provides translation into many languages, TTY service, and can answer questions in addition to providing departure information.

[27:04] The information is also available on our website, which is featured on this slide on the

[27:09] right, and then on our mobile app.

[27:14] QR code scans to our website have increased 32% in the past eight months.

[27:20] So their efficacy in making our online information more accessible has a proven track record.

[27:27] In addition to the digital and telephone resources, we currently have a little over 2,000

[27:32] have stop signs in our service area.

[27:35] These signs provide schedule information, free language assistance

[27:39] information, and a QR code that directs users

[27:41] to a stop specific web page on our site.

[27:46] Also, we're spaces available, a detail of our system overview map

[27:50] centered on the stop, fair information,

[27:53] and holiday information are also featured.

[27:56] The signs require updating and maintenance.

[27:59] So, it is cost prohibitive to add new ones, and we are facing potential cuts that could

[28:04] result in reduction in all kinds of services, potentially including maintenance of

[28:10] at-stop schedules.

[28:12] However, we'd like to continue to provide stop specific information at our stops because

[28:17] the information is useful to our writers, and we like to bring that information to more

[28:21] writers, whether or not they have a smartphone with unlimited data.

[28:27] So this brings us to the flag decal that we want to test.

[28:31] We will begin testing flag decals that provide a gateway

[28:34] to getting more information either online or via text message.

[28:38] And that do not require as much maintenance as to add stop schedules.

[28:43] The decal would include information such as a QR code

[28:46] with a link to a stop specific AC transit service information webpage.

[28:50] page, a URL for a URL of a typed out of that, you know, of that site. And then information

[29:00] on how to get departure times using text messaging. We are currently installing the, we will

[29:07] install the test decals at a variety of locations that represent our varied service area

[29:12] and the different demographics that we serve. Transliss Center stops, union line in Transliss

[29:19] Center, Richmond Parkway Transit Center,

[29:22] high traffic,

[29:23] soaps serving multiple bus lines,

[29:25] so a hub such as Broadway of 17th

[29:28] and Bancroft at Tullograph,

[29:30] low frequency, single bus line stops,

[29:33] such as Arlington at Indian Rock,

[29:35] serving line seven,

[29:37] and Paseo Padre Parkway at Seward Drive in Fremont,

[29:41] serving lines 281 and 621,

[29:44] and then supplemental school service only stops,

[29:48] such as Handsome Drive at Coach Drive and Lafayette Avenue at Christine Street in New York.

[29:55] Note that the Supplemental School Service only stops if they...

[30:01] We are focusing on text messaging and our feedback because that's the new feature we are adding.

[30:07] And we already know that QR codes are well used and adoption is continuing to grow.

[30:14] So, we welcome your feedback regarding these decals and the information they provide.

[30:18] And that concludes my presentation.

[30:19] Thank you. Thanks, Tony. Can you just expand a little bit? I wasn't clear on the polling.

[30:30] Oh, he's here. Exactly. Yeah.

[30:33] Go ahead. Oh, I'm sorry. We will install the decal on the flag as shown here on the right.

[30:41] And then we will install zip-type signs at the stops telling the writers how to react to the additional information.

[30:56] They'll be asked to text whether or not they find the information useful.

[31:02] And then as they enter that text messaging tree, they'll receive additional questions,

[31:08] automated questions asking for further feedback.

[31:13] Riders are also able to call our customer service center

[31:16] or email us to provide their feedback in a similar fashion.

[31:23] But we're just trying to offer a simplified way of reacting

[31:26] to the prototype.

[31:30] Okay, thank you.

[31:32] I see a couple of hands here.

[31:36] Melissa, I don't know who went first.

[31:39] So Melissa, David, and then I see director Walsh also has her hand up.

[31:47] So go ahead, Melissa.

[31:48] This is Melissa.

[31:49] And you already said you're getting a lot of feedback about the QR codes.

[31:53] I just want to add to it.

[31:54] They're awesome.

[31:55] I tinkered with the ones that were on the slides.

[31:59] This is such a great idea.

[32:00] Thank you.

[32:01] Thank you for just advancing us in this way.

[32:05] Thank you very much.

[32:06] Welcome. Thank you. Okay, David, go ahead, please.

[32:12] Did you explain how these are being made accessible for Black people?

[32:22] The QR codes would be useful for low vision folks who would have trouble reading the URL

[32:28] and internet into their phones.

[32:31] In addition to just the web access, we feel that the text messaging

[32:37] The texting for departure times is a feature that we haven't shared extensively with the public and we're hoping to make that more broadly accessible for folks, especially for people for writers who don't have unlimited cell phone data packages or a smartphone even, you're able to just text to the 41411 number.

[33:04] And receive real-time information for the particular stop that you're interested in.

[33:14] Not necessarily applicable for blind writers, unfortunately.

[33:22] If we rolled it out district wide, then a writer who is at a stop could use their phone to access the QR code.

[33:34] and the web page.

[33:37] So I don't understand about these things.

[33:41] Are you providing direct information at each stop?

[33:46] In other words, or do you have to use an application on the phone to get that information?

[33:52] That's what I'm not for blind people in general.

[33:54] I don't understand how these things work.

[33:56] Oh, I see.

[33:57] The QR code links to a web page that lives on our site.

[34:02] Okay. We have web pages devoted to each stop and the web pages first off list service alerts

[34:14] associated with that stop and then a real time information for that stop and then links to

[34:20] additional information for service that that stop for example the scheduled the schedules for

[34:27] with the lines that stop at that stop.

[34:30] So the decas, whatever they're called,

[34:32] don't say anything,

[34:33] whether they don't give any information themselves,

[34:35] they just have a barcode.

[34:37] Is that right?

[34:38] That's what I'm going to understand.

[34:40] The QR code has QR code, that's good.

[34:44] I'm sorry, so the decal has a title called Stop Info.

[34:50] And then a very large D QR code,

[34:52] because we tested these QR codes from a distance,

[34:56] and they have to be fairly large for a main capture.

[35:01] Again, don't be on our flags, so we have to make them the primary feature of the flag decal.

[35:10] I guess what I meant is they don't provide any real-time information themselves. They refer you to a website page.

[35:17] So are these website pages going to be tested? I mean, have you had these website pages tested to make sure they're accessible?

[35:28] AC Transit does not have a consistent testing accessibility testing policy nor have you hired any

[35:34] accessibility testers. I don't know how many times I have to say that to you all, but I'm going to say it again.

[35:41] We need to know because a lot of us can scan barcodes with our smartphones if we have them.

[35:50] I'm also concerned about people who don't have smartphones in general even if they're not like how they are going to get that real time information.

[35:58] and they guess they have to call on their regular phones,

[36:01] so 5-1-1, but at any rate, I'm concerned

[36:05] about the accessibility of these web pages.

[36:09] So I hope that you will be instituting

[36:11] some kind of testing procedures.

[36:14] Thank you very much.

[36:15] Thank you for your feedback.

[36:19] OK, thank you, Director Walsh.

[36:24] Good afternoon.

[36:26] Thank you for this.

[36:27] This is really exciting.

[36:28] I'm glad we're moving forward on this pilot.

[36:30] And I just wondered, I might have missed it in the materials, but how many are we doing?

[36:35] And how long will the pilot run for? And what are the next steps? Is the idea to sort of

[36:41] roll this out everywhere if it works? Or just if you could give a little bit more insight on that?

[36:45] Sure. We're going to start small. But we're looking at about eight stops just to get a sense of how

[36:51] people react to the decals if they're usable, if, you know, if, if our writers find them useful.

[37:02] After that, it depends, right? We do like our current ASAP schedule program, but again,

[37:10] it does require a significant amount of resources to maintain and to update and so these would be

[37:17] simpler and less prone to needing updates.

[37:23] So we could start rolling them out in locations,

[37:29] depending on whatever hierarchy we

[37:30] determined.

[37:31] We could feel that we might feel that low frequency stops would be better served by such

[37:41] information pieces.

[37:42] And so we might target those locations and roll them out, you know, as we update our flag information, you know, during service changes or in between service changes.

[37:56] But again, this also would require some overhead on our part with regards to our poll crew, our poll maintenance crew, and producing the decals through our print shop.

[38:07] So it wouldn't be an automatic installation, you know, it would not be an instant installation throughout the 5,000 stops in our service area, but we could certainly try to, you know, capture as many stops as possible as quickly as possible.

[38:22] Are you going to run the pilot for a few months or what, what is the time frame? I'm just curious.

[38:28] Yeah, we haven't made that determination yet. I believe we're looking to see what kind of response we will receive.

[38:36] If we don't receive enough, perhaps we will expand the pilot to try to get more respondents.

[38:43] And then get a sense of whether it's successful before we move forward with more.

[38:49] But hey, well, hey, it's worth a try. That's exciting. And then just question about the Spanish. Is that question going to be in Spanish?

[38:58] Because I imagine if the Spanish speaker reads it, they might not understand what it's saying.

[39:02] Yeah, that was an oddity.

[39:08] The current texting application isn't available in any language other than English at the moment.

[39:19] So, so we we were asking this.

[39:21] I mean, not going to give us to us reliable.

[39:24] I agree. I agree. I agree.

[39:27] But, you know, texting to the 401 401 number is only available in English at the moment

[39:33] and we do need to kind of gauge the interest in another language at another language

[39:40] in order to satisfy those requirements.

[39:43] Just to jump in here, just to clarify, we will be offering the text message feedback in Spanish.

[39:51] Okay.

[39:52] With a separate, there will be two.

[39:55] The zip tied sign will have both a Spanish and English feedback.

[40:00] That prompt with separate phone numbers.

[40:05] Right. Well, I look forward to learning more. Excuse me. And I'm wondering at the end of, like, the pilot and getting the responses and will there be sort of a report coming to the board about this, or because this is the first I'm hurting hearing about it.

[40:18] But I'm definitely curious to see how it goes. I don't know if you've determined that yet.

[40:24] I'm afraid we haven't made that determination.

[40:27] I believe given it would have to be based on the feedback we receive from our writers.

[40:33] And if they're significant feedback then we can certainly share that with the board.

[40:37] Can I start with Director Walsh?

[40:40] Good afternoon.

[40:41] This is Claudia Woodwell's chief external affairs officer for AC Transit.

[40:45] I apologize.

[40:46] I miss the introductions at the beginning of the meeting.

[40:48] But yes, Director Walsh.

[40:49] This is the first step, right?

[40:50] We want to make sure that we are getting input from this committee.

[40:53] the General Manager's Accessibility Committee, having these conversations before we roll out these

[40:58] pilots, and then ultimately, you know, taking information to the board, we can also keep you updated

[41:04] via the General Managers by weekly sort of more informal email updates. We can plan to include this

[41:11] one in the next update. That's headed your way, I think, at the end of this week. That's great. Yeah,

[41:17] and I just think it's responding to a need that the community has when we make all these major

[41:23] services changes and we're not able to update those signs and we have the wrong information

[41:27] out there. So this is really getting to that problem and it's attempting to solve it.

[41:31] So I'm very interested to see how it goes. So anyway, thank you very much.

[41:35] Yeah, certainly. And I want to just give Kudos to both Tony and Jonathan right for being creative

[41:40] here, looking for solution. I know this is a topic that you have raised concerns about over

[41:46] the last couple of years with every service change, particularly it was a big lift to update all

[41:51] at-stop signs after realign that took a couple of weeks and it's not beneficial to our writers

[41:56] when the information that we have out there is not current, right? So we're looking at creative

[42:01] ways on low-cost solutions to providing more accurate information at our stops for our writers.

[42:09] Love it. Thank you so much. Great work, team.

[42:13] Okay. Thank you. Roland, I see your hand. Go ahead, please.

[42:20] Yes. Thank you for the presentation.

[42:26] For the QR, be careful. Where's the kind of

[42:42] people,

[42:48] and you identified the locations of the eight stops, just kind of curious if this

[42:57] been identified.

[43:00] And lastly, I know most the predominantly scientist has been posted,

[43:06] But I sometimes have a hard time seeing the destination to and from, just for example,

[43:20] the nine university part and the nine Sally Andrew.

[43:26] So, what I do to compensate this footprint I do is going shot and to look to see where

[43:37] what's the bus is, you know, the destination.

[43:43] I know I realize that predominantly most of these scientists are already done, so, but,

[43:55] you

[43:55] with love vision or just people in general trying to figure out the destinations and especially

[44:06] with the other service changes happening during this past month or two. So those are my questions

[44:17] Yeah, maybe identify some of them if you could.

[44:25] Thank you.

[44:27] Sure, thank you for your feedback.

[44:31] I'll go in the reverse order or at least I'll start with the last item.

[44:37] We can certainly try to make the destinations larger on our best stop flags.

[44:41] Note that our best-off life will likely undergo a larger redesign in conjunction with MTC's regional mapping and wave-finding program.

[44:56] But in the meantime, we can certainly try to make the destinations larger.

[45:00] There's very limited space on our flags and we're just trying to feature as much information and as clearly as possible.

[45:13] So where it would be posted on the right side of this slide is an example of a bus stop flag.

[45:20] We would likely put it at the bottom of a bus stop flag in any open decal space.

[45:29] We're hoping that the prototype testing will give us some feedback as to accessibility

[45:36] for wheelchair users or shorter users or people further away from the stop itself.

[45:44] It's hard for us to test all of the variations in the office and it'll be easier just to try to get as much feedback as possible from our writing public who has, you know, more diverse equipment and needs.

[46:01] So, you know, if that may prove to be the reason why this is not an acceptable solution

[46:09] because it's not, it's just not a usable bite by somebody who is too far away, but we're

[46:17] hoping that that's not the case and that it will be usable by, you know, many of our writers

[46:25] if not all. As for the locations, in the slide deck, which I believe is in the meaning agenda,

[46:35] I have to pilot locations listed here. We have not begun installation yet. We're waiting

[46:40] for some back-end logistics to play out before we can install at these locations, but these are

[46:48] the planned locations at the moment. If this changes and I can certainly update the committee on that

[46:54] and provide the exact locations of where

[46:58] the prototypes will be installed.

[47:02] Yeah, regarding where the placement is on a flag,

[47:09] flag vote,

[47:13] and now I could kind of do.

[47:16] I could read what a map this is fairly low,

[47:22] you know, and it's within the wheelchair, you know, height. So I'm not sure if these QR

[47:35] decals is going to place somewhere around that area. I mean, I don't know, anyway.

[47:42] So unfortunately not, they would be placed above the map sign cases that you're referring to.

[47:56] The map sign cases are meant to be read just right up there by a writer, a waiting writer.

[48:05] They also feature the QR code, by the way, and each of them feature unique QR codes that direct them to the webpage for that particular stop.

[48:19] But the ones that we are wanting to test would be placed on the fly some selves, which is quite a bit higher.

[48:26] But the QR codes will be quite a bit larger than what we have in the field right now.

[48:32] Okay. Thank you very much. Yeah. You're welcome. Thank you for your feedback.

[48:38] Yeah, and just that on to what Tony says that is a key part of what we will be testing in the field is weather.

[48:44] This QR code is workable for folks for all different folks, you know, at all different distances from the flagpole.

[48:52] We did test it in doors in the office from different heights and different distances.

[48:58] And it, you know, appears to work, you know, if it didn't work at all, we wouldn't be getting to this point.

[49:05] And so now we're seeing if it will work for shorter folks or folks, you know, using a wheel,

[49:13] chair, other mobility device, you know, we're farther away from the flag.

[49:19] So that will be a key focus of our testing.

[49:25] Thank you. Melissa, you had a question.

[49:28] I have a comment because I'm concerned about David's questions and I admit I do not understand the technology that's available for blind people.

[49:45] So I just wanted to point out a few things.

[49:49] So on the agenda, when you click on the link that goes to the slides or this item on the agenda,

[49:58] you're going to go to...

[50:00] It's going to take you to a set of slides. Slide number four has two QR codes on it. And I don't know if the technology on your phone will say we'll tell you that there's a QR code in front of you and what you need to do to activate it.

[50:19] I apologize for, for lack of a better word for being ignorant, but I, I, I don't know.

[50:26] I don't know if there are alt tags on the slides to help you know that at that slide,

[50:31] there are two QR codes there so you can practice. I have no clue how you would know where the sign

[50:38] is located on the street to angle your phone, add a QR code for your phone to tell you there's a QR

[50:46] code and I don't know if your phone can audibly tell you, hey, there's a QR code, do you want

[50:51] me to link to it? So I'm just trying to help out to be so that he can crack or, and I think

[50:58] there are other people on the call who are blind and I just sort of like, you know, if you

[51:03] wanted to try this with the information that was provided at this meeting, on the fourth slide

[51:09] of the slides for this agenda item, there are two QR codes. If you have the technology

[51:16] that tells you your phone has identified a QR code, and if after that, when you open

[51:24] the QR code, if your phone can then read the page to you, the QR code that's on the left

[51:30] side actually does tell you real time. The one on the left goes to Lakeshore Avenue and the

[51:36] are through Boulevard, stop by, sorry, 50,000.

[51:42] And it does list the real time departures.

[51:46] It tells you when the next buses are coming.

[51:49] And again, I'm sorry that I am just ignorant

[51:55] about what's available for blind people.

[51:58] But this isn't, I don't know.

[52:01] I just wanted to let you know that on the slides,

[52:04] this information is there, and I just wanted to try to help.

[52:10] Forgive me, Sean, because I noticed that Melissa is really struggling and she really

[52:14] wants to help.

[52:15] So I just want to say thank you.

[52:16] I do not use my iPhone to look at presentations that are said to us.

[52:22] Most presentations are not very accessible, but I do look at, I repower points with my

[52:33] scan bar codes moose, it isn't always easy, they're not always easy to find, but there are

[52:39] ways to do it. I wouldn't say that that is the best way that to rely on bar codes, and that's

[52:46] why I am concerned, but it is possible. I don't want to spend a lot more time on this, but I just

[52:52] want to say in general that AC Transit has not done, and by the way, it's not just AC Transit,

[52:58] It's the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

[53:01] The MTC does not have a well-organized coordinated research project for all the 27 Bay Area agencies to deal with these issues.

[53:12] Not only do we have to test various technologies and applications, we also have to make the built environment accessible and nothing.

[53:21] Really, nothing acceptable and significant is being done right now in the Bay Area.

[53:25] That's all I have to say. Now we have a lot of ideas. We many of us, and we would like to put them forward,

[53:32] but we have gotten very little cooperation and a lot of resistance from MTC, and yes, the agencies.

[53:39] And I remember Tony that we had a very nice talk, but I don't remember who was last June,

[53:45] or the June before that, because I get little confused sometimes. But you had said on a recording of

[53:52] of our meetings that all of the measures that I and several others have suggested for way finding

[53:57] with two expensive for AC transit to implement. So my feeling is that's why MTC has to have a

[54:03] bay area wide research project and they don't seem to want to do that right now. So that's something

[54:10] that we all have to encourage them to do. But thank you Melissa for your concern. I appreciate it.

[54:24] You're made it, Sean.

[54:28] Sorry about that.

[54:30] Thank you for continuing both to

[54:32] David and to Melissa to address the issues around accessibility of way finding as well as

[54:39] a bus stop information for low vision and blind folks.

[54:44] I think we will continue.

[54:46] We need to continue to address these specifically in terms of what tools we can use

[54:52] to improve accessibility for blind riders.

[55:00] I just saw a hand go up. Who is that? Claudia, go ahead.

[55:06] It's me, Sean, apologies for the late addition. I just wanted to add, we do have a meeting scheduled

[55:13] with Warren Kishman. I think it's maybe the end of next week to talk about this topic. I'm

[55:20] regional mapping and wayfinding accessibility. I would be happy to include you in that conversation.

[55:25] And Jonathan, if you can email David separately and see if the time works for him, it's a

[55:32] virtual meeting.

[55:33] So hopefully it does.

[55:34] We would love to engage further on this topic with you.

[55:38] That's great.

[55:39] And you know, there are a lot of organizations such as accessible design for the blind.

[55:45] I have sent that.

[55:46] I don't know how many times I've sent resources to Mallory and Kim and others.

[55:50] So, if you contact for instance, Dr. Billy Louise Benson, as far as mapping and all that,

[55:58] there's a site called Audium AUD-IOM. They are producing audible maps, which is very interesting.

[56:05] And the lighthouse produces tactile maps and Tony knows about that because they produce a number

[56:11] of experimental tactile maps for AC Transit. So, we have plenty of mapping possibilities and that's great.

[56:19] so yes, please include me in the meeting. I'll be happy to said, Jonathan, you're email divine.

[56:26] Great, thank you. Thank you. I just wanted to add that we did finalize some

[56:35] transits, tactile transit center maps, and they are available through the scope of the blind

[56:40] in Fremont and also through Kim Bridgeway and they are for a six transit centers throughout the district.

[56:52] Yes, the Lighthouse is selling actually two blind folks and also providing some for free.

[56:58] I don't remember the restrictions for five different transit agencies including AC transit.

[57:05] So we're very pleased about that. Thank you, Tony.

[57:09] Okay, and I see a hand in the audience McIe Freeman go ahead, please.

[57:22] Good day, you guys.

[57:25] Even if you think, I'll get to hear you.

[57:31] I'd like to be through it enough.

[57:35] As well, we have a number of blind and low-vident instruments, and to prevent the

[57:47] The silence of inclination, if you could, as my contact to that way-finding meaning as well-released.

[58:14] Thank you, Makai.

[58:15] I hear the suggestion being to include Makai in that meeting next week.

[58:22] believe to have wider representation of way finding and accessibility for individuals who are

[58:33] blind given CIL's representation of that community. So if someone could reach out that would

[58:42] great. Any other hands, I'm not seeing any other hands here. So if we can go ahead then and move on

[58:53] to the next item, item 5C, the 26 draft federal and state advocacy programs presentation by Ryan.

[59:03] Go ahead, please Ryan. Yeah, good afternoon, Chair Fong and GMAC members. My name is Ryan Lau,

[59:11] external affairs representative at AC Transit presenting our draft

[59:16] a 2027 federal and state advocacy programs. So every year,

[59:23] AC Transit's board of directors, adopts programs that help guide the

[59:28] districts advocacy work at the federal and state levels of government.

[59:33] This advocacy work involves influencing legislation,

[1:00:00] This week, and I will be reaching out to our transportation partners across the Bay Area to get their feedback.

[1:00:09] Today, I'm asking for your input, the GMAC,

[1:00:14] and rather than reading through these documents, which were included in your packet, I'll just offer a summary of the key priorities that we intend to focus on next year.

[1:00:28] Tim, we can summarize any feedback that the committee has and send them to me by next Tuesday so I can include them in our final draft document.

[1:00:40] But if you have any questions or comments today, please feel free to ask away.

[1:00:46] But let's get started.

[1:00:47] So, not surprisingly at all, our number one priority is to continue to secure funding for basic

[1:00:54] operations, AC trends that like other Bay Area trends that agencies continue to face major

[1:01:01] funding shortfalls. This is due to a variety of different factors. One being the federal

[1:01:09] pandemic relief is gone. Another is regional sales tax revenue has flattened and our fair revenue

[1:01:18] has growth has flown. And at the same time fuel costs are up by 28 percent. Bus maintenance

[1:01:28] parts are up 14 percent and the cost of new buses has surged by 35 percent. And the expenses

[1:01:37] of transitioning to a 100% zero emission fleet which is mandated by the state by 2040 is also

[1:01:47] very significant. As a result, AC Transit faces a projected deficit of 200 million dollars over

[1:01:55] the next four years and so therefore we are a laser focused on preserving funding that supports

[1:02:03] our current operations and securing new funding that supports our service into the future.

[1:02:10] So back in July, some of our other staff updated you on the state of AC Transit, they provided

[1:02:18] that presentation and they covered a variety of different topics, including the state loan,

[1:02:25] which would allow AC Transit to borrow up to $55 million which would close this year's financial

[1:02:32] got to avoid service cuts today and also the regional transit measure on the November ballot

[1:02:40] that if approved would generate $980 million each year for Bay Area buses, trains, and ferries

[1:02:49] of which AC Transit would receive $52 million a year which would help to protect existing bus

[1:02:57] service and prevent layoffs. If we can't find new sustainable funding, AC trends that will

[1:03:06] be forced to make deep layoffs and service cuts of up to 16 percent, and layoffs that

[1:03:13] affect up to 300 employees. So obviously funding remains one of our top priorities. And to

[1:03:23] We clearly are this includes continued funding for accessible fixed route service and

[1:03:29] peer transit service and funding for ADA infrastructure improvements as well.

[1:03:37] And then additionally, transitioning to 100% as zero-mission fleet is also a high priority

[1:03:45] with all transit agencies in California that have to operate a 100% zero-mission vehicles

[1:03:51] by 2040. We have estimated the cost of complying with this mandate at $2.2 billion and that's just

[1:04:02] our agency. That's not industry-wide.

[1:04:08] This coming year will be working with the California

[1:04:11] Transit Association to find ways to help us comply with this state mandate. One of the

[1:04:21] tax exemption for zero mission buses that we previously had and expired this past January.

[1:04:29] Doing so would save AC transit 40 to $70,000 each zero mission bus that we buy.

[1:04:40] And we're looking into how we might actually extend the timeline for compliance with that

[1:04:47] fully zero mission fleets by 2040. We're also interested in working on non-emergency, medical, transportation, medical expansion.

[1:05:00] To simply, it would have a non-emergency transportation that is provided by a paratransit service covered by medical in order for covered beneficiaries to access medical services, which would alleviate the pressure on us, because those trips are very expensive.

[1:05:27] And there's certainly more to these programs, but these are the priorities that I thought

[1:05:32] would the committee would be most interested in and on October 28th we'll be briefing the

[1:05:41] AC Transit Board of Directors on the proposed new programs and then we'll be returning

[1:05:47] on November 18th to ask the Board to approve them and we appreciate your time and I'm happy to answer

[1:05:56] any questions?

[1:06:04] Okay. I actually had a couple of questions. I think this item was a little confusing,

[1:06:12] initially when I looked at the agenda because the agenda had specifically said 2026 draft

[1:06:20] federal and then when I looked at the materials it said adopted. So, you know, I think we're so we're

[1:06:27] at the potential proposed 2027 draft. Did we have a different set of attachments that should

[1:06:39] have been in our packet as opposed to the adopted 2026?

[1:06:46] Yeah, so we are actually just getting started with this process. You're actually the first

[1:06:52] And so this is the adopted 2026 advocacy program and so from there based on the GMAC suggestion, various staff feedback, we will be adjusting what we had for 2026 and moving into the 2027 advocacy program so we're working off last year's final adopted draft.

[1:07:19] and based on your feedback, we'll be adjusting that along the way. Does it make sense?

[1:07:26] Okay, okay, so can you, so I had heard a few things highlighted.

[1:07:32] One of which obviously I think you would get probably a hundred percent agreement from everybody on this committee,

[1:07:38] which is basically focusing on all of the available streams of funding for operations as well as, you know,

[1:07:48] and the continued exemption of the zero emission buses from sales tax.

[1:07:58] There was a point that you mentioned about the Metacalic expansion, which I'm not 100% clear on.

[1:08:08] My understanding of Metacal reimbursement for non-emergency medical transportation

[1:08:17] is that medical has essentially moved pretty much, you know, almost 100% to medical managed care

[1:08:30] programs, HMO programs of which there are two in Alameda County, medical coverage through

[1:08:38] Kaiser and MediCal coverage through Alameda Alliance, those entities actually have transportation

[1:08:47] service hubs within their MediCal coverage that then dispatch vehicles and provide the

[1:08:55] free transportation so that they're the, you know, so what I'm not clear on is, is the idea

[1:09:06] that East Bay Paratransit would become a contracted NEMT provider or are we just trying to capture

[1:09:15] payment for medical recipients who are not utilizing the medical benefit under their HMO programs.

[1:09:26] Because I'm not sure how I guess realistic that is for us to be able to capture

[1:10:02] So it feels like you are much more well-versed and medical than I am.

[1:10:09] My understanding is that we're looking at the latter, so any trips that we cover through

[1:10:17] peer transit would be a coverable cost through medical. And this is an issue that came to us a couple

[1:10:26] years ago through the transit agency in San Diego, and we're actually going to revisit this with

[1:10:35] them and figure out exactly where they are on this issue. And then we'll decide if we want to

[1:10:42] bring it forward to the California Transit Association or not. If, like you say, most of these trips

[1:10:50] are handled through third party provider HML, then maybe we should rethink this, but I don't

[1:11:00] have any more details on that.

[1:11:02] Yeah, I think we should maybe have a offline conversation and more detail because I think

[1:11:13] part of what happens is that individuals are not aware of the benefits through their Medicare

[1:11:20] providers and and we might be able to do better things to to do that education at the ADA

[1:11:27] pair transit level as well as community organizations like the one that I work with that do that

[1:11:33] because those entities can use TNCs and are a very effective at using TNCs and I think as much as

[1:11:43] that anyway I don't want to get into details we can talk about that offline but I'm not sure that

[1:11:49] might be a very effective part of the advocacy program moving forward.

[1:11:57] Are there, let me shut up for a minute here, are there any other comments from committee members

[1:12:06] or the public on the advocacy programs that AC Transit should be considering moving forward

[1:12:14] for 2027?

[1:12:17] Mika, okay, has her hand up?

[1:12:21] Okay, Mika, go ahead, please.

[1:12:29] She's excellent.

[1:12:32] Consumers.

[1:12:35] The next care.

[1:12:39] Now, who ride up?

[1:12:42] Very,

[1:12:45] um,

[1:12:46] this really,

[1:12:48] not the sort of,

[1:12:51] make sure you lose there.

[1:12:53] after this book, they take up straight stuff, deliveries,

[1:13:04] I think something that,

[1:13:20] very

[1:13:21] pile,

[1:13:24] takes route down. There are many people to not use that.

[1:13:34] Paracharsets and regenerate

[1:13:37] money. If you lose that, takes route down, and it's losing that in your house.

[1:13:55] I have

[1:14:04] Thank you.

[1:14:07] Are there any additional hands or comments?

[1:14:16] Jim, go ahead, please.

[1:14:17] Yeah.

[1:14:18] I'm assuming that you're open to input in the future from members of the GMAT for your future plans for the prior list of priorities.

[1:14:34] And we'll be submitted and do you have an email that we could or something that we could test

[1:14:47] input to

[1:14:52] text input?

[1:14:57] Well, I'll send email there with.

[1:15:01] That we could give you input on our thoughts about the priorities for 27.

[1:15:11] I think you could maybe share that with Tammy.

[1:15:16] She can feed it my way. We do have a pretty aggressive schedule.

[1:15:23] So if you do have something that you want to share with us, please do so sooner rather than later.

[1:15:28] All right.

[1:15:30] All right.

[1:15:30] And if I could just jump in real quick, this is Steven Jones, Director of Legislative Affairs

[1:15:34] and Community Relations, just to answer your question, we're always open, right, if the

[1:15:39] committee has suggestions of things that maybe we don't see, you know, from where from

[1:15:44] where we sit.

[1:15:46] We've always enjoyed a really close partnership with the community, or with the committee

[1:15:50] and a lot of great information exchange.

[1:15:52] So if there are things that are coming up that you think that our legislative team needs

[1:15:57] be aware of. We're always happy to to receive that information. Okay, thank you. Thank you.

[1:16:04] Can you clarify for us? I think you mentioned that the proposed 2027 advocacy programs for both

[1:16:17] the state and the federal level will be going to the board on October 28th.

[1:16:22] Yeah, that's correct.

[1:16:26] So any input we have should probably come go to Tammy by what date?

[1:16:39] It's hard to give you a specific job,

[1:16:41] because we're sort of working through our internal team

[1:16:45] and incorporating feedback as we receive that.

[1:16:50] would we say like end of the month and of September? Okay, and then just in terms of

[1:17:01] understanding process so that the committee is also aware, so the proposed 2027 state

[1:17:08] and federal advocacy programs will go to the board on the 28th and then they will

[1:17:15] essentially vote to adopt those programs for the next year. Is that correct?

[1:17:21] So, 10, 28 meeting, the 10, sorry, 10, 28 is sort of to socialize them around the ideas

[1:17:32] and the proposal and for us staff to receive feedback if there's any particulars that they,

[1:17:41] know, they feel like need to be prioritized or depriorized or what have you. And then we'll

[1:17:48] be coming back November 18th for final approval. Got it. Okay. Um, so this committee could also

[1:17:58] participate by public comment at the 1028 meeting as well. Sure. Yes. Yes. Absolutely. Public meeting.

[1:18:08] Yeah. Okay. Great. Any other comments? Looking for hands? Not seeing any. Okay. So we

[1:18:23] will move on to our next item, which is item 5D, the review of the Ram Road call report.

[1:18:31] Tammy?

[1:18:37] I'm going to have to name Jimet. This is Tammy Kele. I'm going to give you. Thank

[1:18:41] came, she's starting the sharing. Okay, this is our wrap roll call report. Please notice the

[1:18:48] dates is from July 1st through August 30th. So these six are for two months worth.

[1:18:57] And actually that still looks pretty good for two months.

[1:19:01] If you look at the problem found area, you see everything indicates a charge wall. So these all six

[1:19:09] these events are chargeable. And if you look at their fourth column, coach number and free

[1:19:16] trip failure, all of them did pass a free trip before they left the yard.

[1:19:23] But that's how we also have

[1:19:24] Mr. Dranon line to answer any questions.

[1:19:37] Yeah, and I'm seeing that it, you know, a lot of the older vehicles

[1:19:43] tend to continue to have the issues as opposed to newer vehicles, so which could just, you know, okay.

[1:19:53] So, any questions about the Ram Brod call report?

[1:20:00] I have something on my clothes. It's not a lot, but it happens frequently enough where we're now

[1:20:10] most of the time I stand. But how are the bus seats cleaned? The metal ones and also the

[1:20:22] Trans Bay buses, the six series, like 61, 10, 610, 610, 3, they have those cloth seats.

[1:20:30] How are they clean?

[1:20:34] We have daily cleanings that the buses go through when they're being serviced for the night,

[1:20:39] getting fueled.

[1:20:40] And so they do a general sweeping, mopping, empty trash, empty in the fair box.

[1:20:47] That's the standard nightly cleaning that they'll go through.

[1:20:51] Do they wipe down the seat?

[1:20:53] They do if it's obvious, it's like they will wipe them down.

[1:20:59] One thing we go through and do a deep cleaning in the vehicle, where they'll do a more

[1:21:07] in-depth starting from the ceiling or if they're way down and go through the entire bus,

[1:21:12] if something's reported by the operator specifically that they call out that maybe not obvious

[1:21:19] To the cleaning crew, when they're going through the buses at night, they don't address separately.

[1:21:25] Okay.

[1:21:27] I was just wondering, how do they clean the cloth seats daily?

[1:21:31] The cloth seats are generally cleaned.

[1:21:33] It's like based on the monthly detail.

[1:21:37] Unless there's something it calls out specifically on the seats.

[1:21:42] But then we have a water extraction vacuum that we use the same as doing carpet.

[1:21:49] How much longer are you guys going to keep those 21 series buses, those vanholes, and

[1:21:56] fleet?

[1:21:56] How much longer?

[1:21:58] Not much longer, we're deploying a series of nine fuel cell buses at Division 4.

[1:22:08] We're waiting to commission the new fuel station before we did full operations down there.

[1:22:14] Once those buses go into service at Division 4, we're going to be moving some 2,200s up to Division 2,

[1:22:21] to take advice of the vanholes, last of the vanholes going to go away, probably by December.

[1:22:28] And what are you guys going to do with those buses? Are you going to burn them? Are you going to burn them?

[1:22:34] You need to burn them really honestly. Those were the worst buses in the world as far as I was concerned.

[1:22:39] But what are you planning to do with them? Just just on a curiosity.

[1:22:42] It's, they will be shredded into 1,000 pieces.

[1:22:47] Oh, okay, just making sure.

[1:22:49] They will never be on the road again.

[1:22:51] Oh, God, okay.

[1:22:54] That'll be the day.

[1:22:55] I'm looking forward.

[1:22:56] Thank you.

[1:23:01] Okay.

[1:23:02] Thanks, Janita.

[1:23:03] I don't see any other hands.

[1:23:08] So with that, we'll close out our regular updates

[1:23:13] and move on to standing reports with the first item being chairs report.

[1:23:20] So I just wanted to report back. I am the designated AC transit consumer and member of the regional network management customer advisory group,

[1:23:37] which is an MTC group that advises the regional network management team on issues.

[1:23:49] And the last meeting, which was held on last month, oh, do I have the exact date of that?

[1:23:58] I don't have the exact date of that meeting, but essentially the entire meeting was spent on the work plan for the customer

[1:24:06] advisory group and it is the region's transportation, the region's 2021 transit transformation

[1:24:19] action plan that informs the work plan of the customer advisory group. So we essentially

[1:24:27] looked at that work plan and the priorities listed within the tap specifically around

[1:24:39] You know, fairs and payment, customer information, which includes mapping and way-finding issues

[1:24:47] affecting the transit network and then lastly and certainly importantly issues around accessibility.

[1:24:57] So what I will make sure to do it.

[1:25:00] All of our meetings is to present and update on what the work plan is and what the regional network management group customer advisory group is working on and any relevant issues for this committee.

[1:25:19] Additionally, looking at ways for this committee to, you know, streamline and address some of the kind of outstanding, both regular issues that we need to address as well as outstanding agenda items and Melissa and I have been talking, Melissa is the Vice Chair and I is a chair.

[1:25:41] And are hoping to connect with AC Transit on a more regular basis to review agendas and to look at the outstanding agenda items that have been slated for future meetings to figure out the best ways for us to gather information, have information as a GMAC ahead of time so that we can really kind of dig into what kind of input would be useful for us.

[1:26:10] in advising the AC transit staff in moving forward around planning issues, especially as they affect

[1:26:20] older adults and people with disabilities.

[1:26:25] So that is my report for this month.

[1:26:33] And then we have

[1:26:34] let's see. Moving on, I'm not sure. Sandra is here today. We had the Elameda County Transportation

[1:26:44] Commission. Papako report was item 6B.

[1:26:52] So given that Sandra is not here, we will skip that

[1:26:57] for this month and then our next item we may also have to skip as Warren Cushman is not here.

[1:27:05] our third item item 6C was the East Bay Paratransit Advisory Committee report.

[1:27:14] So we will also skip that.

[1:27:18] Item 6D, we haven't had any GMAC veteran bus operator meet-ups.

[1:27:25] I know Kim, we were talking about sort of re-conceptualizing this, do we have any updates

[1:27:35] I wanted to have a break this month either.

[1:27:42] With that then we can move to any public comments.

[1:27:47] Any additional public comments?

[1:27:54] Anything.

[1:27:55] Tammy, we had received prior.

[1:28:00] And I don't see.

[1:28:05] I saw a hand just go up or two hands.

[1:28:08] Uh,

[1:28:10] uh,

[1:28:11] Shanita and David,

[1:28:12] um,

[1:28:13] were these issues for public comments,

[1:28:15] so I'm going to go next to

[1:28:17] member communications and announcements.

[1:28:20] Mine was from member communications.

[1:28:22] Okay.

[1:28:24] Okay.

[1:28:26] Okay.

[1:28:27] So not hearing any, uh,

[1:28:29] public comments.

[1:28:31] Why don't we move to member,

[1:28:33] uh, and staff communications and announcements.

[1:28:36] I'll go, we'll need a and then David.

[1:28:39] Could I ask a question first?

[1:28:41] Sure, yes.

[1:28:41] Because I don't understand, I don't know if we may be able to,

[1:28:44] when can we members make comments?

[1:28:47] I mean, we're part of the public,

[1:28:48] but we're on the committee.

[1:28:49] So when is that time, when is that possibility allowed for?

[1:28:55] I've never understood when we do that.

[1:28:57] I think as members of the committee,

[1:29:01] we can make comments on items that are on our agenda.

[1:29:06] Additionally, item eight is for any specific member

[1:29:11] communications and announcements.

[1:29:14] And then certainly as members, we can propose

[1:29:20] future agenda items, which would be under item nine

[1:29:26] that would be put forth by, I believe, a motion

[1:29:30] in a second to have them included in our future

[1:29:35] meeting. The reason that I asked Sean is because you talked about the work plan that

[1:29:40] you that MTC is working on it and that you were participating in and I was

[1:29:45] wondering you mentioned accessibility and I was wondering if you could provide us

[1:29:49] somehow somewhere sometime with more information on that part of the plan

[1:29:53] because I think it's really important and let's say you do it now but if you

[1:29:57] Do you have details that would be really helpful?

[1:30:00] So, yes, I will, I do believe, and I'm, like I said, I will bring regular updates. I know that previously we've had MTC come to this meeting around specifically, you know, some of the efforts that are happening around accessibility.

[1:30:22] we can ask for a more formal presentation other than my reporting back to you on the standing

[1:30:29] regional network management customer advisory group meetings. And that if there's anything

[1:30:37] David that the committee members want to see agenda is for this meeting we can include always

[1:30:43] under item 9. I hope that answers your question and then,

[1:30:51] Chenita, you want to go ahead with your member announcement or communication?

[1:30:55] Yes. I want to remind everyone of the 23rd annual healthy living festivals coming up September 24th,

[1:31:02] in 2006 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and of course it's going to be at the Oakland Zoo. I do believe

[1:31:10] registration is closed, but you can still go to event right and see if it's closed or not.

[1:31:20] That's it. Thank you.

[1:31:24] Are there any other member communications or announcements? And if not, we can move to staff,

[1:31:35] any other okay so we'll go ahead and move to staff that then I saw Tammy and I

[1:31:44] think I saw Kim's hands as well go ahead Tammy okay I was trying to let you

[1:31:51] guys know that Andrea Johnson has resigned from the committee due to health

[1:31:57] reasons as you wish one let you guys know that she'll miss this group she

[1:32:01] I think this is a very important group to have.

[1:32:03] Hasher Ms. Wokeworth, are you guys?

[1:32:06] That's it.

[1:32:09] Thank you.

[1:32:10] She will be missed for sure.

[1:32:12] Thank you.

[1:32:16] Go ahead, Kim.

[1:32:17] Thank you.

[1:32:17] Kim Ridgeway, AC Transit.

[1:32:19] I have two announcements.

[1:32:20] The first is just on a continuous basis of ensuring

[1:32:26] will chair security mobility devices

[1:32:30] processes are constantly brought up to operators through our safety department bulletins.

[1:32:38] A new bulletin was issued on August 28th and it's again just a reminder of the bus operators

[1:32:46] responsibilities under the ADA, including rendering assistance to passengers under the ADA guidelines

[1:32:53] means that the operators require to leave their seats to secure the mobility device, listening

[1:32:58] to the passengers in regards to their needs, kind communication, always assumed to use the

[1:33:04] lap belt unless the passengers tells you otherwise, and a list of challenges in what to do

[1:33:11] when operators face those challenges, including when you can't, when they can't perform

[1:33:18] a complete securement, when the securements don't work, or when a passenger refuses securement

[1:33:22] and to contact OCC for assistance and or clearance before moving the vehicle and always

[1:33:28] to be aware and follow the required turning speed during travel on the route.

[1:33:34] So, just want to let you know that these things are constantly coming through our safety and

[1:33:38] transportation departments and they wanted me to let you all know that that was issued again on August

[1:33:47] 28th. I do have a second announcement, Chair Fawn, please.

[1:33:54] Go ahead. All right. This is a message

[1:33:55] from Mallory Brush, two chair-fong and GMAC members.

[1:34:00] The time has come for me to turn the keys over to AC Transit's accessible services

[1:34:05] to the next generation of brilliant folks.

[1:34:08] I have had a fascinating 40 years in the transit industry serving and working alongside

[1:34:12] great individuals like you who wake up every day saying how I can make a difference.

[1:34:18] How can I improve the accessibility and access to transportation for all individuals and

[1:34:23] communities?

[1:34:24] of others can express better than I that what you do as individuals and collectively as the

[1:34:31] GMAC matters and is so important. She added a couple of quotes for instance, Helen Keller,

[1:34:39] alone we can do little together we can do so much. John F. Kennedy, every person can make a difference

[1:34:46] in every person to try. And Sherry Anderson, volunteers don't get paid not because they're worthless,

[1:34:52] but because they're priceless. She says it's been my pleasure to honor to serve you and the community.

[1:35:00] I wish you good health and safe travels. I truly do appreciate your time, energy and efforts on behalf of AC Transit. Again, that's from Mallory Brush. She is officially retired. Her last day with the district was Monday, August 31. The letter that she puts together, I sent to Tammy and Mickey to send to you all so that you can have that at your fingertips as well.

[1:35:26] but she was, I talked to her today, and she was as you all the best.

[1:35:34] Thank you, Kim. I think, I think many of us are probably a bit surprised that she retired.

[1:35:41] I know she's had a very long career with AC transit and has been an integral part of our work here

[1:35:54] as the GMAC over the years and under our previous iteration, as the accessibility advisory committee

[1:36:01] she, we will miss her presence and thank you for that and we look forward to receiving that

[1:36:10] communication.

[1:36:14] Are there any other member or staff communications or announcements?

[1:36:19] seeing

[1:36:24] none. Okay, moving on to item nine, future agenda items and our next meeting date.

[1:36:35] Erica, go ahead.

[1:36:38] Beth to buy a bar of oil. I would like to have whenever AC transit has more updates on what they're going to do.

[1:36:49] If the Hopkins student's cycling process path object happens, I want to have more information on how AC-tranded will fill with the bus stops on Hopkins settled.

[1:37:11] Okay, and I'm wondering as well, because I think I heard a couple of things earlier that both you and David mentioned, which were, you know, in terms of bus stop accessibility and the impact of bike lanes or, you know, the rapid transit, the tempo buses and the impact on accessibility.

[1:37:38] So, maybe there could be, oh, I see, David's hand went up.

[1:37:43] I don't know if this was related to David, go ahead.

[1:37:47] Yeah, it was.

[1:37:49] Cable's in an associate's and other organizations nationally are doing research on such

[1:37:55] concerns is what you mentioned, Erica, bike lanes, floating bus stops, which are in the middle of

[1:38:02] the street, which we see plentifully in Oakland, unfortunately now.

[1:38:06] They're very unsafe and very inaccessible, especially when it comes to, it's really close to a bike lane in a car lane, and you've got to cross that street, and it's, people have been hurt in various parts of the country, and I don't have the information they wish I did right here at my fingertips, but I would like to suggest that we broaden that.

[1:38:31] not to just include Hopkins, but to talk about the whole concern about bike players and floating bus stops.

[1:38:39] Because I think it's important, and I will do my best to get some research to find out what's going on.

[1:38:44] There is some work going on.

[1:38:47] That is expected to be published hopefully by the end of this year, the beginning of next year,

[1:38:51] and I will get more information.

[1:38:53] So thanks, Sarah, for bringing that up.

[1:38:55] And I would also like to suggest that we talk about accessibility in general, not just for blind people, but also for blind people and people with low vision and deaf blind individuals, but in general, I think that it will be helpful to know who is going to be the new accessibility manager.

[1:39:14] I think AC Transit needs to completely overhaul its accessibility policy. It has a chance to set a national precedent.

[1:39:23] And I think that would be wonderful, not only does it deserve kudos for what it has done

[1:39:28] environmentally because it does, but it needs to have, it should have kudos for what it should

[1:39:36] be doing excessively and it is not. It is one of the least accessible transit agencies that I know

[1:39:44] of in this country right now. And there are many reasons for that. And I think that we should

[1:39:50] discuss, we should discuss some of these concerns, and one of the concerns that I have is an

[1:39:55] AC Transit needs to hire, and not only AC Transit, but...

[1:40:00] But it needs to hire people, qualified people with disabilities to work in key accessibility positions and as a transit planners. I'm tired of getting this, but we need to discuss this.

[1:40:13] And it's the same thing. A person of color cannot be told by white people what to do. You cannot make decisions for somebody of color. And it's the same thing for people with disabilities. No one can make decisions for us except people with disabilities. Thank you.

[1:40:29] Okay,

[1:40:38] you mute it yourself. Sorry. I was just asking for a refresher as to what we need to be able to move an item forward as a future agenda item.

[1:40:54] Oh, maybe I have a specific agenda topic. We want to call it. And then just one person has the second it.

[1:41:02] Okay. So, maybe if I can rephrase here, can we have specifically as a agenda item bus stop accessibility, as it is impacted by bike lane and floating bus stop implementation and and specifically here about that.

[1:41:31] This is Melissa. I'll be happy to second. If it's ready first.

[1:41:37] Okay, first and second. It's great.

[1:41:40] Just let me clarify, make sure we're talking about the same thing.

[1:41:44] You'd like to have a discussion among us members and staff regarding

[1:41:52] Best stops, accessibility with bike lanes and floating best stops.

[1:41:58] Yes.

[1:41:58] Yes. So, in that case, yeah, now I know which staff members we can invite to help with that discussion.

[1:42:06] Okay.

[1:42:09] And just let you guys know how we kind of do this. We already have like next month's planned out.

[1:42:13] We always know who's coming. So it's up to when the people are available to come to the meeting to give you guys information regarding this.

[1:42:23] Okay, so you know might be November it could be decent but we don't know that

[1:42:29] These I could tell you know it's probably not October because you know, that's less than a month away

[1:42:34] And this is way there timing goes just I just don't want people to expect them to

[1:42:39] Bring up something we wanted to have this seal unless it's never so late. It's a member discretion only we can help. They fit it anywhere

[1:42:46] But bring in some extra fees from other areas. We need to get their availability

[1:42:52] Absolutely. Absolutely. And as I mentioned in my report, I think what Melissa, as Vice Chair and

[1:43:01] I would like to be able to do is to meet with staff to sort of make sure that we are

[1:43:06] capturing kind of the essence of what it is that we want to move, you know, and the agenda

[1:43:14] item, what specific pieces, how to move that forward and any specific questions or information

[1:43:21] that we need prior to the meeting so that it can be as informed as discussion as possible.

[1:43:29] Roland, do I see your hand go ahead please?

[1:43:31] Yes, regarding my comment regarding the cancellation trips, I think maybe we can, maybe

[1:43:43] eventually have a presentation regarding the operations of how is it transit decides, you know, you know what I mean?

[1:44:00] I can't explain it by now in these words, but we basically regarding operations of

[1:44:12] how they determine these cancellations, because these two in a row kind of really impacts

[1:44:23] people, you know, trying to get to do their destinations,

[1:44:32] so I think that's my future agenda item.

[1:44:38] It doesn't have to be right away. It's just one of those things that we could probably have a refresher on them on this.

[1:44:49] So what I'm hearing specifically is an agenda item that looks at cancellations and their specific impact on service quality.

[1:45:00] I think we could probably wrap into that discussion. I think I forget who it was that talked about service quality report that was going to the board that addressed some of those issues. And maybe that could also be brought back to this committee so that we understand how those different factors affect service quality and what is being done by the district to address those service quality issues.

[1:45:30] Yes.

[1:45:33] So, cancellations and impact on service quality as well as other operational issues that are

[1:45:40] affecting service quality.

[1:45:42] Yeah.

[1:45:43] Yeah.

[1:45:43] That's correct.

[1:45:44] Do we have a second?

[1:45:46] I will.

[1:45:48] Erica.

[1:45:49] Great.

[1:45:49] Awesome.

[1:45:50] Thank you.

[1:45:51] Thank you.

[1:45:52] I know we are kind of running over time here.

[1:45:56] So, are there any other issues or any other?

[1:45:59] Once our next meeting date, or next meeting date,

[1:46:04] is a calendar in front of me?

[1:46:07] Tammy, Nicky.

[1:46:10] And next date is October 13th.

[1:46:19] OK, without any further ado, then I will go ahead

[1:46:23] and adjourn this meeting for today.

[1:46:25] Thank you, everyone.

[1:46:26] I'm sorry we ran a little over today.

[1:46:29] Thank you, everyone, for your input.

[1:46:32] Bye bye.

[1:46:35] Thank you everybody. Have a great month.

General Manager's Access Committee (GMAC) on 2026-09-08 1:00 PM

Agenda

Transcript