CapMetro board meeting.
>> Travillion: well, I
should say good afternoon.
Good afternoon, everybody.
And thank you all for coming
out to our public hearing
and special board meeting.
I will call this meeting to
order.
Today is wednesday, FEBRUARY 11th.
The time is 12:22.
With a quorum available.
I have to check with my
attorney, with a quorum
available, we'll start the
meeting at 12:22.
We are going to rearrange
our order.
We're going directly to
action items.
And we will go -- when we
finish our action item we'll
go back to the front and
then work on the rest of our
agent.
First item on our agenda,
and I'll read it into the --
I'll read it into the
record, approval of a
resolution authorizing the
PRESIDENT And ceo or her
designee to apply for the
capital area metropolitan
planning organization,
campo, 202008-2031 call for
projects, submitting both
CapMetro's bus stop street
furniture and equipment
program and hybrid bus fleet
upgrade program for campo
consideration and committing
to providing local match
funding from CapMetro
should the projects be
selected.
Anna land will make this
presentation for us.
>> absolutely.
Good afternoon, members of
the board, chair travillion,
president and ceo dottie
watkins.
My name is anna land and we
are here to seek approval
for the two projects that
chair travillion started.
The bus stops churn and
equipment program and the
hybrid bus fleet upgrade
program.
This was originally
presented on JANUARY 14th to
the finance audit and
administration committee and
was supposed to be on the
JANUARY 26th board agenda
that was rescheduled due to
weather.
We are seeking the
application for these two
projects.
Under the campo call for
projects, which is basically
a competition for federal
transportation funds
eligible follow roadways,
transit, multimodal
improvements and safety
enhancements.
There are three different
categories that we would
like to apply under, and
they are the service
transportation block grant,
transportation alternative
set aside and the carbon
reductions program.
The first project is the
CapMetro bus stop street
furniture and equipment
program.
We are seeking funds to
install 120 bus stop
shelters and 76 priority
transit stops.
It is a little over
8.1 million and if awarded
we would commit to a match
of approximately a little
over 1.6 million.
the second is the hybrid bus
fleet upgrade program.
This is for the purchase of
18 diesel electric hybrid
buses to replace our
electric fleet and it
supports our state of good
repair goals.
The total project cost is
$27 million, and if awarded
we commit to a local match
of $5.4 million.
And that's the end if you
have any questions.
>> Travillion: board
members, do we have any
questions?
Do we have any questions?
Have any questions?
Hearing none, chair will
entertain a motion to --
>> chair, before we take
that motion, I've been
informed that one of our
public speakers signed up to
speak not just on the public
hearing, but also on this
action item, so I think it
would make sense that we
hear from them before the
board takes a vote.
>> Travillion: all right.
Would that be MS. Joseph?
>> I believe so.
>> MS. Joseph, are you with
us?
Yes, MR. Easton.
What is it you want me to
comment on, is it the public
hearing or the action item?
I know you changed some
order or something, but I
didn't catch all that was
said at the beginning of the
meeting.
>> Travillion: the action
item.
>> okay.
Thank you, MR. Chair,
members, I'm zenobia joseph.
i just wanted to say as it
relate specifically to the
capital area metropolitan
planning organization, as it
relates to the bus stop
furniture, I just want you
to recognize -- and I
mentioned this in the
finance committee as well.
Specifically at 100041 st.
Albert the great catholic
church, 12100 is on metric,
there was a bus stop shelter
that was just placed there
within the last two weeks,
and also one on parmer or
near parmer at parmer
elementary, but I would just
remind you specifically that
at braker and metric there
is still a flat beverage for
route 392, and I would ask
you to recognize as well
that the trashcans as I have
mentioned before are being
removed from CapMetro's
bus stops, specifically
north plaza and rundberg.
And there are trashcans that
have been removed from 392
stop by [Indiscernible],
rotter ham and shropshire,
so while you are asking for
more amenities, the question
is why is it that you're
unilaterally allowing the
staff to remove those from
the bus stops?
Receiving more is not going
to make the system more
equitable.
I would remind you that
northeast of U.S. 183 the
system is actually
inequitable there.
I would call to your
attention the letter that
was written by sharmila
[Indiscernible] That said
50% of the enhanced stops
were on rundberg, which is
not true.
So I've asked MR. Palmer to
analyze the bus stop
shelters and the
distribution of those
assets, the yellow book
gives him his guidelines.
He has not done so at this
point, but I would remind
you that the pass-through
funds that you receive are
from the federal highway
administration and your
systems, as my comments are,
arrest in the context of the
civil rights act of 1964,
which prohibits
discrimination based on
race, color, national
origin, and your system is
inequitable as it relates to
the bus stop shelters and
amenities.
So I actually am against
that.
I know that travis county
will be looking at this item
tomorrow and I'm also
against the red line parkway
trail funding.
It's about $2 million that's
in the same call for
projects.
So I just would ask you to
take a look at the north
lamar area in particular and
to ceo dottie watkins, I
just want to remind you that
the mid block stops need to
be closed on lamar,
especially at yager where
MR. [Indiscernible] Was
killed in JULY 25.
Same area as MR. Norton in
2026 on or about
JANUARY 30th, he was hit and
then he died from his
injuries.
His service dog lived.
those are my comments as it
relates specifically to this
item.
I'm not sure whether the
action item.
I told MR. Easton the item I
would speak on.
I would ask you to be
transparent on why you
removed the summary of
comments so that actually
aligns with your minutes.
That is in my view
discrimination and I would
ask you to be transparent on
why you no longer put our
comments in the board
packet.
If you have any questions I
would gladly answer them at
this time and would ask for
guidance as it relates to
the public hearing.
>> Travillion: all right.
Board members, do we have
questions?
Do we have any questions?
All right.
Thank you, it MS. Joseph.
Also, is there anyone else
that would like to address
the board here during the
public comment period?
Anyone else that would like
to address the board?
Oh, this is the action item,
not public comment.
Let me take that back and
ask if there are no
questions, the chair will
entertain a motion to
approve action item number
1.
Okay.
All right.
It's been moved and properly
seconded that we approve
action item number 1.
Any further discussion?
any further discussion?
Hearing none, all in favor
of approving action item
number 1.
And I need to make sure that
our board members are on
camera.
I see both board members on
camera.
All in favor of approving
item number 1, please let it
be known by saying aye.
>> [Chorus of ayes].
>> Travillion: all right.
And so it looks like I have
four ayes and I will make it
unanimous.
So action item number 1 has
been approved.
Thank you.
Now let me go back -- we
called to order at 12:22.
Now we will move into on
presentation for the public
hearing, which should be
before public comments.
All right.
So let's put the
presentation together.
That will be peter braden to
present.
>> good afternoon, chair
travillion, PRESIDENT And
ceo watkins and members of
the board.
My name is peter brentton, I
am a senior community
engagement coordinator here
on behalf of the CapMetro
team working on improving
our fare programs.
I hope for your health and
safety you can remembered to
book your valentine's day
reservations.
I am here today to present
on who topics, the day past
retirement and the farebox
replacement.
>> health and safety.
>> yes.
Before we get into depth I
want to point out that these
two items, while distinct,
go hand in hand.
They're linked.
That perspective -- from
that perspective we expect
that customers will
experience this as one
change.
That's important because
we've been making strategic
steps over the past few
years to modernize our
technology, improve the
experience for our
customers, and simplify the
options when it comes to
fares.
Now, we'll start by talking
about the day pass
retirement and the farebox
replacement, however, I want
to provide you one piece of
information out of order.
Our fareboxes are 20 years
old.
Revenge of the sith, the
ipad shuffle, the first
video ever posted to
YouTube.
Technology has changed a lot
since 2025 and considering
the unfathomable advances in
technology since the time
our fareboxes were first
installed, we have been able
to identify and evaluate
options for our customers to
improve their experience and
hopefully provide them more
value.
You'll see that we're
talking about time based
versus account-based payment
systems on this slide, and
there are a lot of words.
What's important to note is
that we are currently
operating both of these
systems at once and our
momentum is towards
operating only one.
That is for simplicity,
efficiency and a better
experience for our
customers.
If you use a paper pass
today, you are using the
time-based system.
When you activate or dip the
paper pass, a timer starts,
and you are able to swipe
that pass as valid fare
media for the time that that
timer is active.
If you use a reloadable fare
card or the umo app, you are
using the account-based
payment system.
You pay per ride and you are
capped at certain amounts,
certain thresholds.
That paper pass, when you
activate it, you steadily
lose value.
I like to think of it as an
hour glass.
You can only buy a specific
amount of sand and you only
have a specific amount of
time to use it.
If you lose the pass, if you
get sick, if you decide I
would rather take an uber
home, you lose value.
However, in contrast the
account-based payment system
lets you put in only as much
sand as you need at one
time, and if you lose your
phone or the reloadable fare
card you don't lose the
value that you've put in so
long as you've registered.
It's recoverable.
Considered the benefits for
our customers, we've been
making strategic steps over
the past few years to
prepare for a full
transition from the
time-based payment system to
an account-based payment
system.
We are now at the point
where we will make a big
leap and retire the
time-based payment system
for all of our fixed route,
local and commuter services.
Here is a simple summary of
the changes we are proposing
to the fare structure.
Local and community fares
will see a removal of the
time-based products and the
capping of the thresholds
stated explicitly rather
than as references to the
time-based pass product.
There's also clarifications
made to make pickup a
discrete fare and state that
fare capping does not apply
to that service, codifying
our current practice while
we explore options for fare
capping on pickup.
We've also added language to
define the intervals for
fare capping with a daily
fare cap being assessed
during the service day and a
monthly fare cap being
assessed during a calendar
month.
We conducted a title six
fair equity analysis in
accordance with our fare
policy because we're
changing out the system
works.
Title vi studies are used to
calculate whether changes in
policies, programs or
services from organizations
receiving federal funding do
not discriminate against
people based on race, color
or national origin as
required by the title vi of
the civil right act of 1964.
The key findings of the
study we conducted showed
that more than 97% of all
trips made using the service
would not see a fare change,
with fewer than three
percent of all trips
affected.
These are trips made with
day passes, purchased with
cash on our buses or at
ticket vending machines.
If you are a customer that
currently pays with cash for
day passes and you ride
frequently, you will
actually benefit by
transitioning to the umo app
or the reloadable fare card
because you get access to
daily and monthly fare
capping.
We studied the impact of day
pass retirement on two
groups as part of the fair
equity analysis, minority
customers and low income
customers.
They then looked to see
whether those groups MAY see
disproportionate negative
impacts or if those groups
wouldn't receive
proportionate benefits.
When we viewing the impacts
to minority customers we see
no disparate impact.
The impact we do see is
minor with a less than two
percent difference in the
impact between minority
customers and non-minority
customers.
When reviewing the impacts
to low income customers, we
see no disproportionate
burden either.
The impact we do see again
is minor with less than two
percent difference in the
impact between low income
and non-low income
customers.
Okay.
Now I will move on to our
farebox replacement, but
before I do, I want to note
that this year will be the
20th anniversary of the
nintendo wii.
Our farris boxes --
>> you didn't say mtv.
>> our fair boxes need to be
replaced.
They are no longer party r.
Supported by the
manufacturer and a new
system will lower our
ongoing costs of good
repair.
Knowing that an account an
based payment system
improves the customer
experience and therefore
planning for the retirement
of the time-based payment
system, we made the
strategic decision to align
the farebox replacement and
day pass retirement.
Our new validaters offer
improved payment options
that allow for fare capping
such as the fare card and
recently tap to pay, though
tap to pay is only daily
fare capping.
There we go.
The new fareboxes will still
accept cash as payment for
single rides.
We do encourage customers
who pay with cash to use a a
reloadable fare card or the
umo cap that ensures they
will receive maximum value
with daily and monthly fare
capping.
At the upcoming board
meeting on the 23rd we
will be asking the board to
approve these fare structure
changes.
If approved, we will end all
purchases of day passes
starting MARCH 1st and
sales of day passes on buses
and tv ms, ticket vending
machines, in early MAY and
stop accepting paper parses
on our buses JUNE 1st.
Installation of the new
fareboxes would span roughly
from JUNE 1st to SEPTEMBER 1st and we
expect to end our paper pass
exchange program at the end
of the calendar year.
The exchange program is
still in development.
We expect to launch it
before JUNE.
Thank you very much.
I hope the information was
helpful.
Happy to answer any
questions you MAY have.
>> Travillion: board
members, do we have any
questions?
Yes, go ahead board member
vela.
>> Vela: thank you, chair.
What percentage of our
customers are still using
cash?
>> that is a great question.
I MAY lean on some of my
colleagues here in the room.
I know -- we can follow up.
>> Vela: great.
I know it's a small
percentage, but just out of
curiosity I was wondering
how many folks it is.
>> Travillion: okay.
Any additional questions?
if there's no questions,
additional questions?
Hearing none, thank you, but
you might want to stay close
because I will open up the
public hearing and we'll
take up public comments on
the fares item and give the
general public an
opportunity to tell us
whatever they want to tell
us.
>> thank you.
>> Travillion: so let's
see, I understand we have
one speaker who has signed
up in advance.
Let's see, can we call
MS. Joseph back.
>> MS. Joseph, did you want
to make additional comments
today?
>> Travillion: is she
still with us?
>> yes, I'm on the line.
Thank you, MR. Chair.
Okay.
Thank you, MR. Chair,
members.
I'm zenobia joseph.
I wanted to make my comments
in the context of title vi
of the civil rights act of
1964, which prohibits
similar education based on
race, color, national
origin.
I do see you have a title vi
fare equity analysis on page
nine of 86.
However, it is disingenuous
for your staff member to say
that fewer than three
percent of the trips are
affected.
Especially for people who
MAY take more than two trips
a day or twice a day.
I want to remind you that
cap remap JUNE 3rd, 2018,
eliminated north, east,
west, connectivity so
starting there you already
know that people have to
take more than two buses to
get anywhere if you are
northeast of U.S. 183.
I want you to recognize that
your origins and
destinations survey from
2023, there's a good article
in the austin monitor by
nina hernandez, OCTOBER 6,
2023, that specified that
african-american riders are
the most transit dependent
and it went up to 88%.
So the question is did you
actually analyze what impact
this would have on
african-americans in
particular?
And then the immigrants that
are northeast of U.S. 183
and the hispanic riders too.
I want to remind you that it
was MARCH 25, 2024, when
your service analysis
manager jennifer govea said
if a passenger needs three
vehicles to get to their
destination they're counted
three times.
So you are double and triple
counting the minority
population and specifically
she said, quote, this is
part of our federal funding
allocation and our formula
for receiving funds from the
fta, unquote, federal
transit, administration.
I do want you to recognize,
MR. Chair, that this does
have a disparate impact on
african-americans and low
income riders a
disproportionate burden.
If you are asking people to
pay 1 fiscal year $25 per
ride, that's $1.25, 250 for
just going on two buses
before they even get to
work, that's about five
dollars.
They have to get back,
that's about ten dollars
round trip.
That's more than the actual
commuter pass.
I want to remind you that
the commuters also ride free
on game days when the train
is too full and they can't
even get to the farebox on
the 803 metro rapid.
I would ask you to table
this item, do the analysis
appropriately as opposed to
selling the system to us as
though it's the best thing
since sliced bread.
I want you to recognize that
you already have arguments
between the unhoused people
and people who get on the
bus and you have the
20-year-olds and students
who have no id because you
haven't enforced it.
This is discriminatory and I
would ask you to recognize
that more needs to be done
to make the system equitable
as opposed to diminishing
the service and treating us
like second class citizens.
If you have any questions, I
would gladly answer them at
this time, but your analysis
is flawed because it does
not take in consideration
the routes that very
eliminated by roberta
gonza
lez, who was there when
she made her presentation to
the board, and it is time
for him to retire.
If you have any questions,
i'll gladly answer them at
this time.
Thank you for allowing me to
make my comments.
>> Travillion: board
members, do you have any
questions?
Do you have any questions?
Hearing none, thank you very
much for your presentation.
>> thank you, MR. Chair.
>> Travillion: is there
anyone else in the audience
that would like to address
the board?
Any other -- any other -- do
we have any calls, ed?
Okay.
So without anyone who wants
to make a presentation in
the audience, without any
additional calls, then I
will call this meeting -- I
will close this meeting at
12:46.
Any questions or
observations?
[Pounding of gavel].
All right, the meeting is