[0:05] >> It is 9 AM on the dot. Good morning

[0:08] ladies and gentlemen welcome to the

[0:09] August meeting at the METRO Board of

[0:10] Directors. I will now call the meeting

[0:14] to order Ms. Greenhouse will commence

[0:15] the roll call of Board members. Good

[0:20] Morning, please respond when you hear

[0:21] your name to confirm attendance for the

[0:23] record. Chair Brock present First Vice

[0:24] Chair Preston present Second Vice Chair

[0:25] Vilaseca Secretary Fry here Director Han

[0:40] Director Han Director Ponce here Director

[0:46] Trevino. I Vilaseca? She should be joining

[0:48] virtually any moment

[0:55] >> Let the record reflect a quorum of the

[0:56] Board is present. METRO is conducting

[0:57] the meeting using inclusive practices so

[1:02] you can watch, hear or

[1:08] participate in the discussion. This

[1:09] is in line with our continuing commitment

[1:10] to increase accessibility for all.

[1:11] Closed caption is available for those

[1:12] viewing the meeting online. I'd like to

[1:16] remind Board members to state your name

[1:17] for the record when making or

[1:19] seconding a motion on any item of

[1:20] business for the agenda. Are there any

[1:23] registered speakers that would like to

[1:27] provide public comment on item number

[1:28] one of the agenda? Seeing none, The

[1:34] Board will consider approval of the

[1:35] minutes from July 30, 2026. Is there a

[1:38] motion? Preston so moved, second. It

[1:47] has been properly moved and seconded

[1:48] the minutes of the meeting July 30,

[1:50] 2026 of the METRO Board of Directors

[1:52] has been approved. Any discussion? All

[1:57] in favor? Any opposed? The ayes have it

[2:00] and the motion has been approved. Ms.

[2:10] Greenhouse will call the names of

[2:11] speakers who have registered to provide

[2:12] public comment on the remaining agenda

[2:15] items. . We have 19 speakers to address

[2:16] the Board this month. Each speaker has

[2:18] three minutes to provide comment. The

[2:29] first speaker is Dexter Handy

[2:30] >>Good morning. I am Dexter Handy, United

[2:36] States Air Force retired, I chaired the

[2:40] complete streets coalition and citizen

[2:46] transportation coalition also the vice

[2:47] president of super neighborhood

[2:52] coalition 22. I want to thank METRO

[2:53] for the improvements made to

[2:54] Washington Avenue along the Boost 85

[2:57] route. As you may know that coalition

[3:00] and the greater Houston coalition for

[3:01] complete streets are committed to

[3:02] making streets safer for all people

[3:03] from ages eight through 80 and beyond

[3:09] including mass transit riders

[3:11] pedestrians bicyclists the elderly and the

[3:12] Disabled. In the summer of 2025,

[3:19] In cooperation for Houston hosting

[3:20] World Cup events you all repaved

[3:21] several major thoroughfare routes. We

[3:25] asked if you were fixing streets could

[3:26] you also fix the sidewalks and

[3:27] crosswalks and enhance the bus stops as

[3:31] well. We already provided will you with

[3:34] results of the Washington Avenue which

[3:36] documented over 300 sidewalk

[3:42] intersection crosswalk and bus stop

[3:43] efficiencies along this path with

[3:44] recommendations for enhancements and

[3:47] improvements. Over 85 volunteers

[3:51] completed 10 audits producing over 1000

[3:55] photographs and images of deficiencies

[3:56] in addition to 300 deficiencies

[4:00] mentioned before. We reference the

[4:01] report we provided you as a guide for

[4:04] fixing the corridor. Your team got to

[4:06] work and fixed are cracked and broken

[4:07] sidewalks added bus shelters, with

[4:09] seating we really love that, restriped

[4:12] and redid the major crosswalks with

[4:20] high visibility striping making things

[4:21] safer for pedestrians including the

[4:22] aged and ADA folks and mass transit

[4:23] users. We really appreciate the work

[4:24] you did for us. . And schedules during

[4:39] this period improved our local commuter

[4:43] experience in addition to the ability

[4:45] to move hundreds of thousands of fans

[4:46] to and from the Fan Fest experience. I

[4:55] encourage you to look at ways to keep

[4:56] the service running long-term as it

[4:57] appears to reduce congestion and help

[4:58] improve overall air quality during this

[4:59] period according to recent reports.

[5:03] Again thank you for all you are doing

[5:04] to improve our transportation

[5:08] experience in Houston. Thank you

[5:09] >> Thank you Mr. Handley. I'd like to

[5:14] note for the record Second Vice Chair

[5:15] Vilaseca has joined virtually. The next

[5:24] speaker is Stacy Fairchild

[5:25] >>Good morning. I am here to thank you

[5:32] all for the boost 85 project

[5:35] improvements. Very well received in

[5:38] Washington corridor. You all were very

[5:42] responsive to us whenever we requested

[5:45] some additional improvements. As it

[5:49] pertains to crosswalks at seven

[5:50] intersections along the Avenue. I'm

[5:51] here to thank you, I'm sorry my breath

[5:54] is out I was walking upstairs. Very

[6:01] much appreciated, also, Mr. Jasien, I

[6:05] appreciate you responding whenever the

[6:09] cement trash cans were in the right

[6:11] lane on both sides of Washington Avenue

[6:12] at two different shelters. Within the

[6:14] hour they were picked up and put back

[6:17] in their rightful place. You know, you

[6:23] all are great to work with and thank

[6:24] you for the service. Chief Tien has

[6:26] been highly responsive whenever we've

[6:29] had issues with homeless hanging out at

[6:35] the different shelters along the

[6:38] Avenue. I have noticed that PD officers

[6:41] handle these individuals with care

[6:44] which is very much appreciated. Also

[6:49] the shelters, we love the improvements

[6:51] all of them. They are all clean. We

[6:56] look forward to what else you have in

[6:57] the corridor for us so thank you

[6:58] >> Thank you Ms. Fairchild. The next

[7:06] speaker is Mr. John Nix [Speaker off

[7:15] mic]. The next speaker is Ariel Stone

[7:16] >>Ms. Stone is virtual

[7:17] >> The next speaker is Melissa Manney

[7:39] >> Good morning. Good morning. Okay. As

[7:58] the owner and property manager retail

[7:59] center at 15155 Westheimer Road we

[8:00] request the relocation of bus stop 7886

[8:01] due to vagrant activity and ongoing

[8:02] security will concerns. These extend to

[8:04] the neighboring property at 15015

[8:08] Westheimer Road. The owner has made

[8:12] significant investments additional

[8:13] security measures including extensive

[8:19] camera surveillance system, planned

[8:20] barbed wire fence along the rail of the

[8:21] property and security patrols while

[8:22] these measures are intended to mitigate

[8:24] ongoing concerns we believe relocating

[8:25] the bus stop will provide additional

[8:27] benefit and improve the situation. ,

[8:34] Despite the security measures we

[8:35] continue to experience recurring issues

[8:36] including individual sleeping on the

[8:38] property accumulation of trash and

[8:39] human waste and break-ins. Most recently

[8:45] at 15015 Westheimer experienced a break

[8:50] in last month. We included several

[8:51] photos for representative examples of

[8:52] activity on the property daily. The

[8:55] safety and well-being of tenants and

[8:56] patrons is our highest priority. We

[9:03] want tenants to fill safe secure and

[9:04] comfortable while operating business

[9:05] allowing them to thrive and remain at

[9:07] the property long-term. Their success

[9:10] is essential to individual businesses

[9:11] and maintaining a safe stable retail

[9:13] center. Given the ongoing tenant

[9:22] safety security and overall condition

[9:23] of the property we request that bus

[9:24] stop 7886 be reviewed and relocated to

[9:25] a more suitable location. We believe

[9:32] this change combined with security

[9:33] measures implemented will significantly

[9:34] improve the safety and overall

[9:35] environment for tenants patrons and

[9:36] surrounding properties.

[9:37] >> Thank you for your comments.

[9:41] Apologies that you are having to deal

[9:44] with these issues. We want to make sure

[9:48] we address them. We have cheap TM not

[9:49] hear about Santiago, you can get with

[9:53] Santiago for some resolutions.

[10:07] >> We will take care of it we will get

[10:08] with you after the meeting

[10:09] >> Or if you leave contact information,

[10:12] I can reach out to you

[10:13] >> I can meet with you after the

[10:14] meeting if that is possible thank you

[10:23] >> Mr. Nix has arrived are you ready to

[10:26] speak?

[10:27] >> Sorry for the delay, you can blame

[10:37] METROLift Dan traffic for the delay.

[10:39] Several things to talk about today.

[10:46] Including I want to see on the maps the

[10:50] METROLift drivers use, , some drivers

[10:57] will say they are dispatch will tell

[10:58] them only use the ride co maps. The

[11:02] ride co maps are worse than

[11:05] trapeze. I can give you plenty of

[11:10] horror stories. How it always wants to

[11:11] rout you down lumpy bingo instead of

[11:12] going to the Beltway, like if I go from

[11:16] my apartment in Spring Branch like to

[11:17] [Indiscernible] as an example. It would

[11:23] be a lot better Reiko garbage we need

[11:24] to also do a complete overhaul of the

[11:33] system now of the service area of the

[11:34] extended area there is a lot of mess

[11:35] and I could go on and on. Other issues

[11:38] too I'd like to see more of a Spring

[11:39] Branch curb2curb micro-transit, it

[11:44] is much needed, Almost like a transit

[11:45] desert outside of [Indiscernible] and

[11:53] its much-needed also I'd like to see

[11:54] the 46 be extended from [Indiscernible]

[12:00] to Willowbrook and the 88 extended from

[12:01] the college to Bay area park-and-ride

[12:04] among other issues. Of those issues as

[12:06] well. Desperately needed with the

[12:10] budget coming up, desperately tried to

[12:16] reach out to private partnerships like

[12:17] with management districts or

[12:19] corporations to try to raise the budget

[12:20] to where we can experience nothing gets

[12:23] cut we experience as a rider. We are

[12:29] the backbones and the ones that are

[12:30] transit dependent we need METRO to get

[12:32] around, we desperately need METRO to be

[12:36] stronger not weaker [Indiscernible] as

[12:39] well. Even tried to get money from H

[12:41] JAC more money from them, keep the

[12:46] projects alive. That would be all I

[12:47] have to say and thanks so much. Have a

[12:51] great day go team whatever team you are

[12:53] rooting for. Thank you Mr. Nix. The

[13:00] next speaker is Michelle Blackwell

[13:01] >>Does the podium need to be raised up?

[13:14] >>My name is Ms. Blackwell, I'm

[13:37] speaking on behalf of my twin sister

[13:38] who lives in the [Indiscernible] area

[13:39] in regards for a request for frequency

[13:40] of two buses. The first one is the 137

[13:42] North Shore express for bus. , There is

[13:45] a need for that bus running every 23

[13:49] minutes it needs to run every 10

[13:50] minutes during peak hours in the

[13:55] morning from at least 6:30 AM until 9

[13:59] AM. And then in the evening it needs to

[14:03] run from 4 PM until 6:30 PM during peak

[14:04] hours every 10 minutes. There is a need

[14:06] for the 78 wayside bus, that buses

[14:09] running once an hour. Also in the

[14:16] morning it needs to run every 30

[14:17] minutes starting from 7 AM until 9 AM,

[14:23] And in the evening during rush time it

[14:24] needs to run from 4 PM to 7 PM every 30

[14:26] minutes. When my twin sister and other

[14:27] people get on that bus, the bus will

[14:31] break down, There's not another bus

[14:32] coming and they have to wait another

[14:38] hour. My twin sister either has to wait

[14:39] another hour or choose to walk a mile

[14:43] home someone coming to -- have

[14:50] to catch that bus going to school or

[14:51] things like that thank you. Thank you

[15:02] Ms. Blackwell. The next speaker is Mr.

[15:03] Nolan

[15:06] >> Mr. Nolan? Robert Kuter? Jacob

[15:26] Clementage

[15:32] >> Hi guys. I have a gift for Mr. Ponce

[15:44] from Leslie you did a good job of

[15:45] pushing METRO so I got this for you

[15:46] from Leslie. Also what I want to say is

[15:49] you all did such a good job making me

[15:54] feel like a satisfied customer, that I

[15:58] went to the ride store and bought a

[16:05] pair of socks. I think that's how

[16:06] people can help support METRO more and

[16:09] more like going to the ride store, the

[16:12] ride store and purchasing, they have

[16:18] umbrellas, ponchos, you name it they

[16:22] have it. Finally I wanted to push

[16:28] myself by saying I got this from a

[16:32] Congresswoman [Indiscernible] Garcia.

[16:33] It's a certificate of special

[16:35] congressional recognition presented to

[16:39] Jacob on this day August 12, 2026 On

[16:43] behalf of the 29th District of Texas my

[16:49] sincere admiration for your unwavering

[16:53] dedication to our community. Watching

[16:59] you continued success and many more

[17:00] opportunities to make a difference.

[17:05] Signed Sylvia Garcia. This is for Mr.

[17:11] Ponce. I can give it to you. Also what

[17:14] I wanted to say, Ms. Brock, I'd like

[17:21] you to be my guest when I'm honored at

[17:24] the Houston city Council because Mayor

[17:33] Whitmire's office the other day and he

[17:34] says we will have to honor you. Will

[17:35] you be with me? I would be honored to

[17:46] be with you Jacob. [Applause]. Ms.

[17:55] Teresa Morales works for

[18:03] [Indiscernible] and I have a bank

[18:04] account.

[18:07] >> Okay. Thank you Jacob. Jessica right

[18:11] behind you will grab that from you.

[18:14] Thank you for your invitation and your

[18:18] kind words. Thank you for letting me

[18:27] know they have those cool socks at the

[18:28] ride store because I want some.

[18:29] >> The next speaker is Carolyn

[18:30] Charlotte. Good morning. To the Board

[18:49] members. And director. My name is

[18:52] Carolyn Charlotte. I am 73 years old. I

[18:57] am a senior citizen. On July 21 I fell

[19:06] on the eight W. Belford bus. I was

[19:08] taken to the hospital and the ambulance

[19:17] and the METRO police came and gave me a

[19:20] claim number and the information I

[19:24] needed. So it was so hard to call, to

[19:26] put the claim in, that I left so many

[19:32] messages, I called so much and I could

[19:39] never reach anyone. So finally I

[19:40] decided I want to speak to a

[19:41] supervisor, the supervisor that called

[19:44] me was Mr. Shelton. He then told me

[19:53] that the [Indiscernible] would be

[19:54] Diane Martinez but that was not true.

[19:57] The lady that did call me named Joy,

[20:01] she had a real real real bad attitude.

[20:08] She told me who was [Indiscernible] and

[20:09] the name was Terry. Terry talked to me

[20:16] real bad. The only thing she asked me

[20:17] for that day was for my driving license

[20:20] number and my date of birth. She asked

[20:27] me some questions, I told her why don't

[20:28] you just look at the video because I

[20:32] know the bus had a camera on the bus.

[20:38] She said as soon as I do that I will

[20:39] call you right back and she never did.

[20:43] Finally the supervisor, her supervisor

[20:45] did call me and she was very upset that

[20:48] I went over her head to talk to Mr.

[20:53] Shelton. She told me, I don't know why

[20:56] you called Mr. Shelton, he can't do

[21:00] nothing for you. I said ma'am, I've

[21:03] been trying to get in touch with

[21:07] somebody and he was the only one that

[21:08] would return my call. Terry emailed me

[21:14] and told me my claim was denied because

[21:19] I was at fault and the driver did

[21:23] nothing wrong. I let her know I was not

[21:26] the bus driver, I was a passenger on

[21:30] the bus. I asked Joy on Monday because

[21:32] I came down here Monday, I was told I

[21:37] could not see or talk to anybody. So

[21:41] that evening, Joy called me on the

[21:43] phone, I asked her I said ma'am, if I'm

[21:48] wrong, let me see the video. She said

[21:53] she was going to send it to me but I

[21:55] never received it. I asked, did Ms.

[22:00] Terry look at the diagnosis from the

[22:02] hospital? She said well, she did not

[22:04] need to do that, because you are at

[22:10] fault. So I'm asking you directors this

[22:13] morning, let me see if I was wrong. Why

[22:16] can't I see the video? I don't even

[22:20] think it is a video now. I talked said

[22:23] to somebody named Jos , he said he

[22:27] would listen to it but it never

[22:31] happened. I'm asking you all to please

[22:32] help, let me see the video. If I'm

[22:36] wrong all I want is a fair hearing, a

[22:42] fair judgment, and I want the truth.

[22:46] >> Charlotte, [Indiscernible] overseas

[22:50] that group, he will reach out and visit

[22:51] with you after the meeting is done.

[22:56] >> Thank you. [Indiscernible] is my

[22:58] director of risk management and he will

[23:00] get your information. Raise your hand.

[23:06] >>. Mr. Thomas. Hello everybody how are

[23:24] you doing today? Good morning. As a US

[23:29] military veteran and [Indiscernible]

[23:35] and Police Department and having just

[23:36] spoke at the City Hall City Council,

[23:38] having been lifelined before and coming

[23:40] back from the military, learning about

[23:44] the system because I actually was a

[23:48] navigator at North side getting the

[23:49] transit centers and park and rides from

[23:51] the 45 and the 72, 77 going all the way

[23:57] to Homestead, I knocked on doors, I

[24:00] don't have that paperwork before me I

[24:05] might have it somewhere I'm pretty

[24:06] organized but I might be too organized.

[24:08] The thing about organization is, after

[24:14] coming here and seeing all these people

[24:15] it makes me feel good to be back into

[24:16] the building 1201 Louisiana, I remember

[24:18] that building over there. When you are

[24:25] lifelined you can't talk or to because

[24:26] your shot in your left eye and you

[24:27] draw your own blood, you take a bus and

[24:30] they had construction by the Catholic

[24:35] Church, you get off the bus at

[24:36] Westheimer and the Beltway, And some

[24:41] youngsters I'm over 70 my birthday is

[24:42] September 17 next year I will be 70,

[24:46] you get off the bus and was under

[24:47] construction they jump out and try to

[24:50] shoot you. You tell them my duffel bag

[24:51] has my uniform in it, dry cleaning bag

[24:54] around it. So I need to go to work. God

[24:59] always listens. Their gun jammed and they

[25:00] hit me in the head, and I did not get

[25:04] knocked out. Instead of [Indiscernible]

[25:05] which I could do, I decided I was going

[25:08] to get my uniform, the Bible was in

[25:14] there and they started the church

[25:15] [Indiscernible] so I know about buses,

[25:19] they know me and saw I could talk to

[25:20] when I was [Indiscernible]. Now having

[25:25] to catch these buses and talking to

[25:26] people at customer service on the

[25:30] phone, I'm not talking about them in

[25:35] general I'm not going to name anyone

[25:36] when people hang up on the phone they

[25:37] clear their throat and Jan and all of

[25:39] that, You talk to customer service

[25:44] representative which is not dispatch

[25:45] the call taker then they have to go

[25:46] on the phone and have you talked to

[25:48] someone else sitting on the fourth

[25:49] floor they can hand them the phone. The

[25:58] misnomer about everything, the nucleus

[25:59] of everything is on the World Cup thank

[26:02] you my grandmother [Indiscernible] they

[26:03] did not let me come back to see the Red

[26:04] Cross paid for the trip. Every time I

[26:07] think about Elizabeth it's always to

[26:09] greet my grandmother. I think about

[26:10] that name in my heart right here. What

[26:12] happened is that they had the World

[26:15] Cup, Park and ride was open until

[26:20] midnight, people thinking it's still

[26:21] open and they can go out on Cyprus. I

[26:23] came from a METRO board meeting, they

[26:29] let me three hours [Indiscernible] go

[26:32] around Bagby and come down Louisiana

[26:34] Street three hours on 18 August. They

[26:39] called me over and over again that they

[26:40] could not come around the block. So the

[26:43] news people came, I was talking out

[26:44] loud so they could hear me, I know they

[26:46] could hear my voice. The main thing is

[26:51] for 20 years they haven't had anything

[26:52] on the Northwest corridor the

[27:02] park-and-ride military veteran, why do

[27:03] we have to wait until [Indiscernible]

[27:04] to ride the bus until three as a

[27:05] citizen of the United States when they

[27:06] take your Social Security at 62. Yet to

[27:07] wait until your 70 to ride the bus for

[27:13] free. You can only write three times go

[27:14] to vote jury duty or ride the METROLift

[27:18] for free only when you go to vote and

[27:19] one time they [Indiscernible] that's

[27:22] it. I have to wait until I'm 72 do that

[27:27] to ride METROLift. I was suspended with

[27:34] this new app because they don't know

[27:35] the difference between same-day trip

[27:36] being you can make resurrection now you

[27:37] cannot ride a feeder trip to the

[27:49] park-and-ride the nearest one to me is

[27:50] [Indiscernible] on West Road and

[27:51] [Indiscernible] they will do that and

[27:52] they will take a park-and-ride so I can

[27:53] go to Cyprus but they will not let

[27:56] METROLift go north, Sam's Club right

[27:57] there and they won't go there either.

[27:58] That's the Northwest corridor, called

[28:00] the Northwest transit center. I had to

[28:03] take a bus when I got suspended all the

[28:06] way down, I walked 35 minutes, My

[28:10] neighbor is a truck driver and delivers

[28:11] to the Houston Food Bank, he said don't

[28:13] be walking out there in the middle of

[28:26] the street. So I walked in he dropped

[28:27] me off came down to the federal

[28:28] building and of course he knows my

[28:29] military background he gave me a

[28:30] knuckle bump in the uniform, I caught

[28:33] the monorail, not caught the light rail

[28:34] train to go to the airport. You have 30

[28:39] seconds. 30 seconds we need to get that

[28:43] going, METROLift pulls right in there

[28:44] so we can get there, we have a

[28:51] wheelchair person riding in the middle

[28:52] the street by 711 and a blind person

[28:53] trying to get to the park-and-ride. The

[28:54] police are writing all kinds of

[29:12] tickets. We need to call and tell them

[29:13] to [Indiscernible]

[29:14] >> That's it thank you all God bless

[29:15] you

[29:16] >> Isaiah Lopez

[29:17] >>My name is Isaiah, I'm a community

[29:25] member fed up with the voter approved

[29:26] METRONext plans being gutted year after

[29:31] year. I'm here to talk about METRO

[29:32] recent Gulfton proposal in the 2027

[29:33] budget. I will start with some

[29:36] background, In 2024 Mayor Whitmire took

[29:39] office appointed a CenterPoint

[29:40] executive to Chair METRO, together they

[29:44] have shifted The agency focus from

[29:49] serious transit expansion with METRONext

[29:50] to more policing surveillance and

[29:51] micro transit with their plan no one

[29:53] voted for METRO now. The same year when

[29:56] discussing METRONext plans in Gulfton,

[29:58] the extension of the silver line, the

[30:02] Mayor made the following racist

[30:05] comments about residents. , They are

[30:07] largely undocumented immigrants , they

[30:10] want basic services you think they will

[30:11] be welcome in the Galleria? Two years

[30:15] later delay after delay the agency has

[30:17] unveiled its Gulfton proposal,

[30:21] unfortunately it seems to appease the

[30:22] Mayor race from two years ago. The

[30:26] Gulfton BRT is no longer an extension

[30:27] of uptown Silver line , it's a separate

[30:31] line. Most of its route is now mixed

[30:35] with general traffic instead of

[30:36] dedicated lanes to improve frequency

[30:39] and travel time. , As it is instead a

[30:40] more reliable buses that stops

[30:44] Residence in immigrant communities

[30:45] Seymour METRO police surveillance and

[30:49] cooperation with HPD which itself has

[30:50] been cooperating with ice. Just

[30:54] yesterday shared a story about ice

[30:55] boarding a METRO bus and detaining

[30:57] passengers not too far from Gulfton.

[31:05] This is shameful and one example of how

[31:06] increases to METRO police funding M

[31:07] investments in drones mobile command

[31:08] units don't reflect community safety.

[31:11] Communities are afraid to meet their

[31:12] [Indiscernible] and ride the bus . On

[31:17] top of this the most recent proposal

[31:18] link often gets rid of the circulator

[31:19] buses and replaces service with micro

[31:23] transit for which METRO has been

[31:25] subsidizing Uber and live during peak

[31:28] hours. This is not only bad for transit

[31:31] riders but operators like many of the

[31:32] fine people we have here today. As

[31:36] Andrew from [Indiscernible] transit

[31:46] union puts it, everybody understands

[31:47] how Uber and Lyft constantly screw

[31:48] over their Drivers and we see a lot of

[31:51] similarities in micro transit in some

[31:52] ways it's worse because we fund us with

[31:58] our tax dollars someone is paying one

[31:59] or two dollars for micro transit trip

[32:00] that might cost the agency 40 or $50.

[32:04] We are subsidizing inefficient services

[32:05] that incentivizes the destruction of

[32:07] good jobs. Clearly we need more union

[32:09] members and transit riders on the

[32:10] Board, not corporate executives.

[32:14] Micro-transit is meant to complement

[32:15] not replace bus routes. In closing I

[32:26] stand in solidarity with community

[32:27] members and transit workers to demand

[32:28] shift the focus back to METRONext back

[32:29] to transit equity and sustainability,

[32:30] back to what we voted for. The next

[32:40] speaker is virtual, Trinidad

[32:45] [Indiscernible]. Good morning I was

[32:46] going to say briefly for the new buses,

[32:50] do you know when they will be in

[32:54] service? They have not arrived for the

[33:05] small ones and the other

[33:06] [Indiscernible] in terms of CNG buses?

[33:11] >>We will have someone look into it and

[33:24] get back with you on that. Okay thank

[33:30] you. That's it

[33:31] >>Joseph Lawrence

[33:32] >> Good morning ladies and gentlemen.

[33:48] [Indiscernible] how are you doing this

[33:55] morning? I have been before you guys

[33:56] several times in regards to the

[33:57] community connector when it was evolved

[34:02] and circuit. My position is what it was

[34:03] last time I came before you. I really

[34:10] would like for you guys to think about

[34:11] and reconsider expansion in the second

[34:12] Ward. I live in [Indiscernible] now. In

[34:17] our area, the smallest of the areas it

[34:19] is served by the community connector,

[34:21] we only have two cars. We really could

[34:25] use at least three cars, excuse me, at

[34:32] least three cars. We really would like

[34:33] to have the area expanded out to at

[34:39] least Harrisburg Wayside because a lot

[34:40] of the people that live [Indiscernible]

[34:42] are elderly and will some of them ride

[34:45] the bus. If they wanted to go to

[34:50] Walgreens at Wayside, the walk from the

[34:52] bus stop or even the platform is a

[34:53] little much for them. When this first

[34:57] started, it covered all the way past

[35:01] [Indiscernible] I understand the

[35:02] numbers weren't that great or it was

[35:04] putting a strain on the vehicles. But

[35:09] right now we really could use that

[35:10] service. It's a wonderful service. It

[35:16] is something very much appreciated by

[35:17] everyone in my community. The only

[35:18] thing we are asking is that you really

[35:25] reconsider the expansion, also to

[35:28] expand the time. Because right now we

[35:31] have until 7 to 5. Downtown has 7 to 7. We

[35:35] would appreciate if you could do at

[35:36] least a 7 to 7 and if at all

[35:40] possible or any new cars with some air

[35:43] conditioning because this heat is

[35:46] unbearable and these drivers are out

[35:47] here in this heat. They do deserve to

[35:49] have some air conditioning. One last

[35:51] thing before I go, I have been asking

[36:00] about bus shelters at [Indiscernible]

[36:01] and the bus shelter I have seen is not

[36:03] very accommodating at all. The seat

[36:07] might be big enough for two people. You

[36:13] are talking about a community here the

[36:14] people that catch the bus, not

[36:18] everybody can stand. I wish you all

[36:19] will go back to the old bus shelters

[36:20] that had a little bit more room. Right

[36:23] now the bus shelter you are putting in

[36:26] place is not working out all. Basically

[36:30] that's about all I have to say. I

[36:35] appreciate everything you guys are

[36:36] doing for the community connector.

[36:38] Please reconsider the expansion part,

[36:40] we really really really need it. Thank

[36:46] you guys and have a wonderful day

[36:49] >> Thank you. This is Michael

[36:52] Andreotti, we will reach out to you

[36:53] thank you for your comments. We

[36:57] continue to evaluate the second Ward

[36:58] and the community connectors zones, if

[37:02] there's anything we can do for

[37:03] expansion of hours we will work with

[37:06] you on that. No decisions have been

[37:07] made yet but we will reach out to you

[37:14] and see what your comments are and what

[37:15] we can do to address those

[37:16] >>Michael we also report back to the

[37:19] Board and let us know the outcome.

[37:34] >> Absolutely. Thank you

[37:35] >> The next speaker is Ken Rogers

[37:36] >>Good morning. My name is Ken Rogers,

[37:47] I'm president of greater third Ward

[37:48] super neighborhood number 67. My

[37:55] concern is [Indiscernible] I'm sure you

[37:56] all remember the connector started in

[37:57] the third Ward. We were a test. We love

[38:01] the connector. We have always loved the

[38:04] connector. We love the idea of the

[38:08] connector. But, the speaker before me,

[38:14] Mr. Lawrence, extension of hours. I

[38:18] think we need that. We need that in the

[38:24] third Ward. I think it needs to be

[38:28] uniform across Houston. Especially with

[38:31] this daylight savings time. It does not

[38:36] get dark until after 7 PM. Daylight

[38:41] burning. If you get off work and you

[38:46] need to run to the grocery store real

[38:49] quick, that would come in handy.

[38:53] Getting off at 5 PM not everybody works 9

[38:54] AM to 5 PM, some of us work a little

[39:01] later it would be helpful if we could

[39:02] have that extension of time and have a

[39:03] uniform so no matter where you are what

[39:05] neighborhood you are in that you can

[39:10] utilize the community connector. I'd

[39:12] like to thank Michael for all his

[39:15] support and help in the third Ward.

[39:20] and, everybody I come in contact with

[39:26] the METRO, Stephanie, she is a Pearl, I

[39:29] really appreciate all the help I get.

[39:32] Unfortunately sometimes I go to them

[39:39] with a problem, and they say ken, you

[39:40] probably need to come to the Board and

[39:41] talk to them so I am here now. I'm

[39:43] pulling on your heartstrings as I often

[39:45] do. It's a difficult out there. And

[39:49] that air-conditioning in the

[39:52] connectors, they would benefit not only

[39:55] the drivers but our community also.

[39:59] and, so that you don't forget, I still

[40:02] have a dream for Sunday mornings, the

[40:04] ladies in the church house on their way

[40:08] to church on the connector. I was at

[40:13] [Indiscernible] elementary the first

[40:18] day of school, a tradition we do we

[40:19] welcome the kids and high-fived them, I

[40:23] looked up And they asked us not to take

[40:24] pictures of the kids. But I looked up,

[40:27] and I looked on the street, and there

[40:32] was a parent and a kid getting out of

[40:35] the connector, coming to the

[40:38] elementary. This is an important thing

[40:41] that you guys are supporting, we have

[40:48] the connection of the school you know

[40:54] it is a lot of pressure on the schools

[40:55] especially in our area. We are asking

[40:58] that you help us keep the kids in

[41:04] school. And enrollment up. Thank you

[41:06] for listening to me. My ramblings.

[41:11] Thank you so very much

[41:12] >> Thank you for your comments. As you

[41:15] know the community connector is near

[41:16] and dear to my heart. It was my

[41:19] understanding we were supposed to

[41:22] switch out the current vehicles with

[41:26] air conditioning? Do you know where we

[41:27] are on that?

[41:29] >> Absolutely, I have some great news

[41:33] we have the 12 hour AC units coming in

[41:34] in the next 60 days. We will be

[41:36] replacing all of the older units, that

[41:43] is coming soon

[41:44] >> Did I tell you about that guy he is

[41:50] awesome. If you will report as well on

[41:51] the expansion of hours? Absolutely

[41:58] thank you

[41:59] >> Sebastian Laporte

[42:00] >> Hi thank you for your time and thank

[42:05] you for stepping up during the World

[42:09] Cup. Since it is budget season, I'd

[42:14] like to request a targeted improvement

[42:15] to the green and purple lines. I work

[42:19] at the University of Houston the main

[42:20] campus in the third Ward. I take the

[42:23] Purple Line into campus from the south

[42:26] side. But sometimes after work if I'm

[42:28] going into downtown for something, I

[42:32] get on the train and continue north,

[42:35] from UH. In my observation a lot of UH

[42:37] and TSU students take the Purple Line

[42:40] between campus and downtown. For

[42:47] instance if you ride that train at four

[42:48] or five in the evening and is packed

[42:50] with students. I've asked him what a

[42:52] lot of them do is catch buses from the

[42:55] west side into downtown and transferred

[43:00] to purple for the final leg of the

[43:01] journey to UH or TSU. The other day I

[43:06] ran into a former student who takes the

[43:10] park-and-ride from Kati, transfers to

[43:11] purple and comes into campus. The issue

[43:12] I would like to highlight is the

[43:18] service on the last 10 blocks in

[43:20] downtown between the theater district

[43:23] and Convention Center is often

[43:25] irregular because the tracks are not

[43:26] blocked off from traffic. During rush

[43:28] hour the tracks fill up with cars,

[43:33] sometimes delivery vehicles will idle

[43:36] on the tracks. I've even seen an image

[43:39] of someone locked out of their car they

[43:40] parked on the tracks and got locked

[43:42] out, The train was delayed until they

[43:44] were able to get back into their car.

[43:47] All of this degrades the service. The

[43:52] last 10 blocks through downtown can

[43:53] take five minutes or 15 minutes. This

[43:59] can make students late to class or

[44:00] cause them to miss connections of

[44:02] traveling back home. I believe among

[44:05] the components of METRONext that were

[44:07] paused was a measure to add some kind

[44:10] of barrier separating the train tracks

[44:12] along Rusk and capital, Reviving that

[44:20] project would do a lot to improve

[44:21] service on the two east-west train

[44:23] lines and make it through service is a

[44:24] better use of money. Also one final

[44:27] thing we learned the other week the

[44:35] block at Carolyn and Walker will soon be

[44:36] a 12 story parking garage. It

[44:41] will soon have an entrance along Rusk

[44:42] Street along the green and purple line

[44:44] tracks. I worry that once the garages

[44:48] open rush-hour traffic in and out of

[44:49] the garage could cause further delays,

[44:52] adding something to separate trains and

[45:06] traffic along Rusk could help us get in

[45:07] front of that problem before it becomes

[45:08] one. Thank you

[45:09] >> Thank you for your comments.

[45:10] >> Owen Taten

[45:19] >>Owen Taten? Dominic Maisoc

[45:20] >>Good morning. The redline was an

[45:35] enjoyable trip into town. I think

[45:39] everybody needs to do something in this

[45:41] room. It's on the METRO website. It is

[45:50] the actual official ballot language and

[45:51] Board paperwork that went with

[45:52] METRONext. I think people need to read

[45:58] it. Specifically, not everything was on

[46:01] the ballot, the ballot referred to

[46:09] resolution 2019, part of that is within

[46:14] that, yes it says METRO may borrow

[46:18] money for this, on the other hand you

[46:19] look at Proposition A or Exhibit A,

[46:24] METRO is not to do things to put its

[46:25] financial situation in danger. People

[46:27] need to read the original documents.

[46:33] Reverand, you try to get the best

[46:34] translations of the Scriptures before

[46:35] you do your hominy, it is the same

[46:43] here. Michael, I appreciate you riding

[46:44] the train this morning, I saw Michael

[46:46] on the train. That's a good thing. One

[46:50] thing about the Gulfton, I was texting

[46:56] Tom about this, we have universities

[47:01] here rise, TSU U of H TTI, near the

[47:07] Northwest transit center. With some of

[47:11] these new students, can we take all of

[47:12] this data about Gulfton, put it through

[47:15] An AI program and see what they come up

[47:24] with. I think this could be a good

[47:25] student project I know there were some

[47:26] students when Christoph was on the

[47:27] Board, they were doing engineering

[47:33] projects concerning METRO. I think

[47:34] that's a good thing. Also, with transit

[47:45] why are they the only people receiving

[47:46] transit when nobody else is. It's

[47:52] complete METRO project, I think that is

[47:53] wrong I think that is wrong. I know I'm

[47:55] coming up in my 30 seconds. My thing is

[47:59] if you are not going to do the whole

[48:04] BRT thing for the University line, the

[48:11] line for Gulfton, you do what all or

[48:12] you do it none. Lastly the meeting on

[48:15] Tuesday was good except one thing,

[48:19] Robert I agree with you that meeting

[48:20] should have been last month. The

[48:25] discussion was good. I think John Nix

[48:28] once the area to have curb2curb

[48:32] service, I think it should be complete

[48:36] through the system. We need to look at

[48:37] new bus network 2.0, start over again

[48:42] completely. Lastly, curb2curb and

[48:49] community connector. That was promised

[48:50] in the 79 ballot election, I was

[48:51] involved in doing it. The first idea

[48:55] would be the 344. I ran out of time so

[49:00] thank you. Thank you Mr. Maisoc. Pastor

[49:08] David Smith

[49:09] >>Good morning everyone. My name is

[49:18] David Smith the pastor of missionary

[49:22] Baptist church, also the former

[49:23] president of [Indiscernible]

[49:28] neighborhood. I'm here to recognize the

[49:29] positive work METRO has done in our

[49:32] community. Over the past few months

[49:38] we've had meaningful improvements that

[49:39] make a difference in residence

[49:40] businesses seniors and families who

[49:41] depend on public transit. We especially

[49:45] appreciate repaving along

[49:48] [Indiscernible] Drive, This has me

[49:52] traveling through our area safe or

[49:53] comfortable for METRO passengers

[49:54] motorists and pedestrians . Investment

[50:01] demonstrates METRO understands the

[50:02] importance of maintaining strong .

[50:07] Transportation infrastructure in every

[50:08] community we are thankful for new bus

[50:09] shelters in our area more than just a

[50:11] place to wait it provides protection

[50:12] from Houston heat rain unpredictable

[50:15] weather, Especially important for

[50:21] seniors individuals with disabilities

[50:22] parents with young children and those

[50:23] who allow one METRO as a primary means

[50:24] of transportation. In addition to

[50:28] installing new shelters METRO responded

[50:29] to concerns regarding cleanliness and

[50:30] upkeep of these shelters . Keeping

[50:36] these areas clean safe and accessible

[50:37] helps passengers feel confident while

[50:42] using public transportation. We also

[50:43] appreciate and are compassionate matter

[50:44] which METRO addresses homelessness in

[50:45] our area of some of the bus shelters.

[50:49] These situations can be challenging but

[50:50] it's important every person be treated

[50:51] with dignity compassion and respect. .

[51:01] I'm grateful for METRO has worked to

[51:02] address safety issues for our community

[51:03] and remain sensitive to the needs of

[51:04] humanity and individuals experiencing

[51:05] homelessness on behalf of our community

[51:10] I'd like to thank Tom Jasien his staff

[51:14] [Indiscernible] Rocky Marrero and

[51:18] Christine for maintaining open

[51:25] communication with us At the

[51:28] community their willingness to listen

[51:29] respond continue concerns provide

[51:30] updates and work collaboratively has

[51:31] helped us drink the relationship

[51:32] between METRO and are community. Good

[51:35] communication builds trust and

[51:36] responsive experience shows we can help

[51:38] and work together with public agencies

[51:39] community leaders working together .

[51:44] Toward a common purpose we recognize

[51:45] there's always work to be done but

[51:51] today, I want to pause and say thank

[51:52] you thank you thank you For what

[51:55] listening to her concerns investing in

[51:56] our area infrastructure maintaining bus

[51:58] shelters and treating the people with

[52:01] dignity and respect. I look forward to

[52:06] continued partnership with METRO as we

[52:07] work together to make our community

[52:08] safer stronger and more accessible to

[52:10] everyone. I've been a pastor in the

[52:12] area for 34 years this is the first

[52:13] improvement I've seen in 34 years. I

[52:19] have another meeting this morning but I

[52:20] want to come here publicly and say

[52:21] thank you for the work you have done in

[52:23] our area. God bless you and God keep

[52:24] you in our prayers. Madam Chair this

[52:32] concludes the registered speakers

[52:36] >> Thank you Ms. Greenhouse. I would

[52:38] like to open this up, like I normally

[52:42] do with comments with gratitude. I want

[52:44] to thank you all for being here. I went

[52:49] to thank, whether you come here to

[52:52] address an issue, or coming here to say

[52:53] thank you to the Board and the

[52:54] leadership team and staff for the work

[53:01] they do, whether coming here to address

[53:02] safety issues like Ms. Manny, we don't

[53:10] know what's going on in the community

[53:11] you are boots on the ground coming and

[53:13] talking to us, so we can be aware of

[53:16] situations. We can't be everywhere so

[53:17] your voice is important. I want to

[53:19] thank the Board for their service, for

[53:24] everything you do. I want to thank the

[53:25] CEO and leadership team and the staff

[53:28] for all the work they do. Thank you

[53:33] very much. I want to also address a

[53:38] couple of concerns we had regarding

[53:45] community connector. We will definitely

[53:46] take a look at that. Chief Tien is not here

[53:51] today, But I also wanted to recognize

[53:56] him and his team for the great work

[53:57] they do regarding the homeless. We have

[53:59] a lot of work and progress made, we

[54:01] still have work to do. But his group

[54:06] that interact with the homeless hour

[54:08] care unit, we lead with care, so I

[54:12] think they are doing a great job making

[54:16] sure they are sensitive to the needs of

[54:19] the community. Also want to, again I

[54:25] have a clicker, I am supposed to flip

[54:30] through here, let me see if I can do

[54:31] this. Also want to highlight the work

[54:34] in Gulfton, the curb2curb. We went

[54:36] on a ride along, the community is very

[54:50] excited about the curb2curb service

[54:51] now being extended into the Gulfton

[54:53] area this is a tremendous service that

[54:54] will help mothers with children, it

[54:56] will help our elderly, also connect

[55:00] people to places they need to go,

[55:02] picking them up from where they are and

[55:05] taking them where they need to be. The

[55:10] community connector, I mean the curb to

[55:13] curb will circulate among the

[55:17] community. We have also been working

[55:18] with Commissioner [Indiscernible] on

[55:23] the initiative. I appreciate all the

[55:24] work that has been done there. We went

[55:27] out and met with the community, they

[55:29] are very very excited, as you can see

[55:33] in the photos of the new service there.

[55:36] I also want to thank Michael for the

[55:39] implementation of the services. Also

[55:47] I want to thank Council member

[55:51] [Indiscernible] for inviting us to meet

[55:52] with the LGBTQ+ community leaders

[55:54] regarding how to better connect with

[55:55] the community and what the needs are in

[56:00] terms of safety and sensitivity

[56:09] training. It was a very healthy meeting

[56:10] on how we can interact better with the

[56:11] Montrose center and serve that

[56:12] community. Thank you Council Member

[56:15] Castillo for helping us coordinate that

[56:21] meeting. Also, this month we had the

[56:22] Texas 21 statewide meeting held here.

[56:29] The team was very very appreciative to

[56:30] METRO for hosting a two day conference

[56:33] On how to build a stronger more

[56:40] connected transit system. Everybody

[56:41] worked diligently to talk about issues

[56:42] and how they can be improved. Our newly

[56:44] elected Congressman came and spoke to

[56:51] the group about how we can better

[56:52] interact at the federal level and some

[56:54] of the things he's thinking about. He

[56:56] was listening to the feedback and also

[57:03] talking to us about what he thinks, how

[57:07] we can better engage with his office as

[57:14] well. We also, I was able to moderate a

[57:18] discussion with Commissioner Briones

[57:20] with the greater Houston partnership.

[57:22] We talked about the budget. It was very

[57:29] much parallel process in terms of how

[57:30] we are approaching the budget. You put

[57:32] a process in place so you can support

[57:38] programs and services and create

[57:40] outcomes. I want to thank the County

[57:44] Commissioners for the work they are

[57:46] doing. It can be a tough process.

[57:52] I want to thank our leadership team

[57:55] and Tom Jasien for the work they are

[57:58] doing. If you take into consideration

[58:04] we just came off of a really busy FIFA

[58:07] season. We had all hands on deck,

[58:13] nobody taking vacation, everybody

[58:14] working overtime to host the World Cup.

[58:17] We nailed it, hit it out of the park.

[58:20] Immediately rushed into budget season.

[58:22] A lot of work has been done, I want to

[58:27] take a moment to acknowledge that on

[58:28] behalf of the team. It's been a busy

[58:32] year. Thank you for your work. Also I

[58:37] don't want to steal Director Morales

[58:41] thunder but she will have comments

[58:42] regarding the budget in the process and

[58:45] principles as we go into the next

[58:50] phase. She's also going to try to

[58:52] coordinate another budget workshop,

[59:00] that way we can continue to

[59:01] double-click into the issues regarding

[59:03] our budget process and get us to a

[59:05] great place. Also want to remind people

[59:08] as we talk about METRONext, and METRO

[59:12] now principles, over the last, we have

[59:20] implemented over $400 million worth of

[59:22] METRONext initiatives, that includes

[59:26] bus projects, Booster projects

[59:30] universal accessibility projects

[59:31] transit center improvements Park and

[59:34] ride improvements. Many of the approved

[59:35] items have been implemented, along with

[59:38] METRO now initiatives to make sure we

[59:41] are cleaner, more accessible. That we

[59:45] have addressed good state of repair

[59:48] that we are also taking care of the

[59:55] issues that are safety concerns. Making

[59:58] sure we have MPD fully staffed and have

[1:00:03] a decentralized presence in the

[1:00:06] community. Lots of work has been done.

[1:00:09] Want to take a moment to acknowledge

[1:00:12] that. Let's see if there is anything

[1:00:18] else I want to highlight. Maybe my

[1:00:21] clicker will tell me, I jumped into

[1:00:25] that without clicking so there you have

[1:00:27] it. That concludes my remarks, With

[1:00:33] that I will turn it over to Mr. Jasien

[1:00:34] who will present his president and CEO

[1:00:35] comments. Thank you Chair Brock,

[1:00:39] Michael Andreotti, you were clearly

[1:00:43] winning today. I'm keeping score and

[1:00:45] you are way ahead of everybody so

[1:00:48] congratulations. I did want to make

[1:00:53] note, we talked about METRO and coming

[1:00:56] out of FIFA and our police focus was

[1:00:59] quite active during FIFA. We have not

[1:01:02] stopped what we are doing. While it's

[1:01:08] continuing to be a challenge, I want

[1:01:11] you to be aware Board that METRO

[1:01:17] police, every sworn officer from the

[1:01:18] chief down to the newest recruit, is

[1:01:19] out on the system. There's a new

[1:01:24] requirement they [Indiscernible] four

[1:01:28] hours per week. There is a presence

[1:01:29] spreading throughout the system not

[1:01:33] just the train but the bus network as

[1:01:36] well. This will be helpful to help

[1:01:41] address the issue of a safe environment

[1:01:44] to operate in and ride in. We look

[1:01:48] forward to reporting the results of

[1:01:54] that initiative. Just wanted you to be

[1:01:55] aware that is something not talked

[1:01:57] about very much. Now I want to mention,

[1:02:00] the thing we enjoyed to do every month.

[1:02:02] The bus operators of the month. I want

[1:02:05] to acknowledge them and call them out.

[1:02:11] Cavelle Nash from Hiram Clarke, Patrice

[1:02:16] Walton from Polk, Mohammed -- from West,

[1:02:20] Wanda McDonald Robinson from Fallbrook,

[1:02:29] Adenuga Gabedo from Kashmere. Okay

[1:02:35] thank you. Those are the top operators

[1:02:38] of the month, please give them a round

[1:02:49] of applause. [Applause] I'd also like

[1:02:50] to add we have the top techs of the

[1:02:54] month. Julio Nieto from Kashmere

[1:03:03] Agusto Alvarado from West. Hector Marino

[1:03:04] from electronic maintenance and Kevin

[1:03:06] Washington from Fallbrook. Let's give

[1:03:07] them a round of applause [Applause].

[1:03:12] Our top METROLift contract service

[1:03:13] operators of the month, Pedro Sepulveda

[1:03:23] METROLift Transdev operator, Anthony

[1:03:29] Jones Transdev operator Derek Brown

[1:03:31] METROLift MVD operator. Give them a

[1:03:41] round of applause and could the entire

[1:03:42] group come forward for a quick

[1:03:43] photograph.

[1:05:12] >>Thank you. If I could now refer to

[1:05:38] our retirees coming up this month. I

[1:05:44] want to recognize Ray Linford with 27 years

[1:05:48] of experience, Elliott Swainson with 33

[1:05:54] years of service. I want to thank them

[1:05:57] and let them know we appreciate all

[1:05:58] their service to METRO and the

[1:06:01] community. A copy of the proclamation

[1:06:02] is in the packet to consider today.

[1:06:08] Before I close I want to recognize

[1:06:09] somebody else who is retiring and did

[1:06:10] not make the list. It snuck up on us

[1:06:13] but we have someone here in the

[1:06:16] audience by the name of Allen Clark. If

[1:06:19] you have not met Allen coming you have

[1:06:22] missed it. Allen will retire next week.

[1:06:28] We are thrilled for Allan to be able to

[1:06:29] move on in retirement. I want to

[1:06:32] acknowledge all the work he has done

[1:06:36] for METRO. He came to us five years ago

[1:06:40] from HGAC, He brought decades of

[1:06:50] knowledge and experience not to mention

[1:06:51] the fact that decades ago he started at

[1:06:52] METRO as a young planner. Allen has had

[1:06:55] a tremendous impact in shaping the

[1:06:56] future of this organization. He has

[1:07:01] served as the chief strategy officer

[1:07:05] and led the department with vision and

[1:07:06] clear focus on positioning METRO for

[1:07:09] long-term success. Allen's significant

[1:07:10] accomplishments is his leadership,

[1:07:17] Hundreds of millions of dollars in

[1:07:18] federal funds and other grant funding

[1:07:19] to address METRO priorities and major

[1:07:21] investments. Allen's contributions go

[1:07:22] beyond funding and strategy, He's been

[1:07:25] a trusted advisor and thoughtful leader

[1:07:29] dedicated public servant, always kept

[1:07:30] the mission of METRO and people we

[1:07:31] serve at the forefront. Allen thank you

[1:07:36] for your leadership, Your dedication

[1:07:39] and lasting impact you have made on the

[1:07:40] organization and community at large. We

[1:07:45] wish you a well-deserved retirement

[1:07:47] with happiness good health and plenty

[1:07:48] of time to enjoy what comes next.

[1:07:51] Congratulations Allan and thank you for

[1:07:52] everything you have done. Will you take

[1:08:02] a bow? [Applause]

[1:08:03] >> I'd like to get a legal opinion on

[1:08:09] this, We truly appreciate your service

[1:08:16] Allen. You will be dearly missed. .

[1:08:28] That concludes my report

[1:08:29] >> Thank you Mr. Jasien. We will now

[1:08:31] turn to the monthly working committee

[1:08:35] reports, First Vice Chair Preston

[1:08:36] filling in for Secretary Fry for the

[1:08:39] committee will present the monthly

[1:08:40] committee report

[1:08:41] >> Let me say, I was out of the

[1:08:47] country. Reverend Preston decided to

[1:08:48] sit in for me when he was told to.

[1:08:49] Thank you for doing that. It's in good

[1:08:56] hands take off

[1:08:57] >> Thank you Board Member Fry for the

[1:08:58] privilege to sit in on your behalf. Of

[1:09:07] course this is the committee report for

[1:09:08] the infrastructure mobility planning

[1:09:09] working committee we met on August 19,

[1:09:10] we did have public comment. We have one

[1:09:14] Board requests authorization item. And

[1:09:17] then we had our committee briefings. We

[1:09:22] had committee briefing on the capital

[1:09:25] project update, the Gulfton bus rapid,

[1:09:30] we had the universal accessibility and

[1:09:31] bus shelter program update, we had the

[1:09:34] construction update. Following that we

[1:09:39] had a briefing on the Wheeler transit

[1:09:46] center reconstruction. That concludes

[1:09:47] my report for today for the

[1:09:50] infrastructure mobility planning

[1:09:51] working committees

[1:09:52] >> Thank you first Chair Preston. Next

[1:09:57] vice Chair Preston Chair of Public

[1:09:58] Safety Committee will present his

[1:10:00] report. Thank you once again Madam

[1:10:04] Chair. The Public Safety working

[1:10:05] committee report is as follows, we met

[1:10:08] on August 19, 2026. We did have public

[1:10:14] comment. Following that we had a

[1:10:16] monthly safety message. The topic was

[1:10:18] back to school, getting people ready

[1:10:22] for travel and being safe during the

[1:10:25] school day. We had one request board

[1:10:28] authorization item. Following that we

[1:10:31] had to committee briefing items. One

[1:10:34] was the monthly police security report,

[1:10:38] the other the monthly bus and rail

[1:10:42] safety report. That concludes our

[1:10:43] report for today

[1:10:44] >> Thank you First Vice Chair Preston.

[1:10:48] Director Ponce Chair of customer

[1:10:51] experience operation committee will

[1:10:52] present his report

[1:10:53] >> Thank you Madam Chair. Also thank

[1:10:56] you Reverend Preston for chairing the

[1:10:57] last week committee meeting. We had two

[1:11:03] registered, I'm sorry this is for the

[1:11:04] customer experience operation committee

[1:11:07] report, we had two registered speakers

[1:11:10] this month. The committee discussed and

[1:11:11] recommended for items for board

[1:11:19] approval. I do want to highlight today

[1:11:20] item number 13 this will be a new

[1:11:24] system to enhance safety not just for

[1:11:25] riders but to monitor driver behavior.

[1:11:26] I believe this goes in line within our

[1:11:31] METRO now goal to keep riders safe. We

[1:11:37] also have four committee briefing

[1:11:40] items, two were the regular monthly

[1:11:42] discussions, monthly operation report,

[1:11:45] monthly business development report, in

[1:11:52] addition we received an update on

[1:11:53] METROLift procurement quarterly reports

[1:11:58] FY26 third-quarter. This concludes the

[1:12:02] customer experience operation committee

[1:12:03] report thank you

[1:12:04] >> Thank you Director Ponce. Next is

[1:12:12] Second Vice Chair Vilaseca Chair of

[1:12:13] audit human services will report her

[1:12:14] report

[1:12:15] >> Good morning everybody. Home

[1:12:18] Wednesday, August 19 HR committee is

[1:12:19] conducted in the boardroom. There were

[1:12:20] a few public comments. There were two

[1:12:24] committee briefing items presented by

[1:12:27] staff. The first the monthly audit

[1:12:31] compliance report, the second the human

[1:12:34] resources metrics report. There are no

[1:12:36] board authorization items presented on

[1:12:37] today's agenda from the meeting. That

[1:12:42] concludes the report thank you

[1:12:43] >> Thank you Second Vice Chair

[1:12:46] Vilaseca. Director Morales Chair of

[1:12:50] finance business administration will

[1:12:51] present her report

[1:12:52] >> Thank you Chair Brock. The finance

[1:12:54] business administration meeting met on

[1:12:58] August 19, We had one item for board

[1:13:02] approval the program for projects

[1:13:03] fiscal year 2026 FTA formula funds. We

[1:13:07] had two briefing items one the regular

[1:13:10] monthly financial report. The full

[1:13:11] report is in the board packet, we

[1:13:13] discussed sales tax revenue, there is

[1:13:17] softness including World Cup tax

[1:13:20] revenue. It is below projection of what

[1:13:24] we originally anticipated however it is

[1:13:30] enough. If you add that to the grant

[1:13:31] money enough to make a profit after the

[1:13:34] World Cup expenses. We also had a

[1:13:35] briefing item for fiscal year 27

[1:13:39] budget. We are facing headwinds due to

[1:13:41] the softness and sales tax revenue

[1:13:48] while seeing increases to our cost such

[1:13:49] as field and labor. However I am

[1:13:52] encouraged because of the hard work of

[1:13:54] the Board, the finance team, Tom

[1:14:00] Jasien. As Chair Brock mentioned, we

[1:14:03] are adding an additional workshop to be

[1:14:08] scheduled next week. The bottom line is

[1:14:10] that everybody is committed to ensure

[1:14:13] we maximize our resources while not

[1:14:20] compromising our core services and our

[1:14:25] ridership. I think that is on

[1:14:26] everyone's mind so I'm encouraged about

[1:14:28] that. This concludes my report. Thank

[1:14:32] you Director Morales, thank you for all

[1:14:33] the work you have done to get us to

[1:14:36] this point. Thank you for listening to

[1:14:43] the Board members and adding a solution

[1:14:44] of an additional meeting. You've done

[1:14:49] to make sure we don't have anything

[1:14:53] that impacts services, thank you very

[1:14:54] much for your service in this process.

[1:14:57] We will now turn to the consent agenda.

[1:15:01] Do we have a motion to approve the

[1:15:02] items on the consent agenda? Preston so

[1:15:05] moved, is there a second? Ponce second.

[1:15:18] It has been properly moved and seconded

[1:15:19] the consent agenda be approved any

[1:15:20] discussion? All in favor? Opposed? The

[1:15:21] ayes have it. Let's turn to items for

[1:15:25] separate consideration. Item 11

[1:15:26] >> First Vice Chair Fry. Preston. I'm

[1:15:38] reading it sorry.

[1:15:39] >> Madam Chair, item 11, I move the

[1:15:47] board authorize Interim President CEO

[1:15:48] to negotiate and execute a sole-source

[1:15:54] contract with Frauscher Sensor

[1:15:59] Technology Inc. for a purchase of

[1:16:00] interlocking axle counters with a

[1:16:04] maximum contract amount of 1,538,000.

[1:16:11] >> Bob Fry second. It has been properly

[1:16:17] moved and seconded. Any discussion? All

[1:16:23] in favor? Opposed? The ayes have it and

[1:16:24] the motion has been approved. Item 12

[1:16:34] Director Morales

[1:16:35] >> I move the Board approved the

[1:16:36] program of projects for fiscal year 26

[1:16:37] FTA formula funds outlined in Board

[1:16:38] meeting materials authorize interim

[1:16:39] president and CEO to approve final

[1:16:43] adjustment funding allocations Submit

[1:16:50] associated FTA grant applications

[1:16:51] perform required administrative actions

[1:16:52] and execute grant agreements and

[1:16:56] related documents to secure and

[1:16:57] administer FTA formula grants for the

[1:17:03] Houston urbanized area consistent with

[1:17:04] METRO projects capital plans and

[1:17:05] federal grant requirements

[1:17:06] >> Is there a second? Preston's second.

[1:17:08] It has been properly moved and

[1:17:10] seconded. All in favor?

[1:17:14] >> Hi there, it is me. I know we are

[1:17:18] moving click through these few items. I

[1:17:23] wanted to go ahead and speak to this

[1:17:24] item if that is okay Madam Chair. I do

[1:17:30] want to say, I know the formula funds

[1:17:33] are distributed across METRO service

[1:17:36] here in the city that county works

[1:17:40] collaboratively with the county to go

[1:17:41] through the process to make sure funds

[1:17:43] are distributed in time to make sure

[1:17:45] there is no service interruptions or

[1:17:50] anything like that. I wanted to say

[1:17:51] that Harris County rides program, to

[1:17:54] share about it, it provides service in

[1:17:57] unincorporated Harris County, a lot of

[1:17:58] residents depend on it. It is valuable

[1:18:02] and needed, and available to residents

[1:18:05] in those parts. There are rising costs

[1:18:08] to operate it. We all know there are

[1:18:09] constraints all around on funding

[1:18:12] sources all around. I want to emphasize

[1:18:17] as we have earlier and throughout the

[1:18:18] discussions and budget season and

[1:18:20] today, we don't want service to be in

[1:18:21] danger or compromised in any way. With

[1:18:24] that I just wanted to share those

[1:18:29] comments as we have Any further

[1:18:30] discussion? on the agenda item. I

[1:18:33] wanted to share those thoughts on

[1:18:34] behalf of the county. , Thank you for

[1:18:42] your comments we also share your values

[1:18:43] to ensure we don't have disruption of

[1:18:46] service thank you.

[1:18:47] >> Any more discussion? All in favor?

[1:18:54] Opposed? The ayes have it and the

[1:18:55] motion has been approved. Item 13

[1:18:58] Director Ponce

[1:18:59] >> Thank you Madam Chair. I move the

[1:19:12] Board authorize interim president and

[1:19:13] CEO to negotiate and execute a one-year

[1:19:14] sole-source contract with Seon Design

[1:19:15] DBA safe fleet to upgrade METRO

[1:19:19] existing safe fleet video system all

[1:19:24] METRO revenue vehicles to a cloud-based

[1:19:32] operation called Nexus, $289,560. Is

[1:19:38] there a second? Second by Bob Fry. It

[1:19:41] has been properly moved and seconded.

[1:19:48] Any discussion? All in favor? Opposed?

[1:19:49] The ayes have it and the motion has

[1:19:51] been approved. Item 14 First Vice Chair

[1:19:55] Preston. Thank you Madam Chair I moved

[1:20:00] the Board authorize interim President

[1:20:01] and CEO to negotiate and execute a

[1:20:04] one-year interlocal agreement with

[1:20:05] Houston forensic science Center Inc. to

[1:20:10] provide MPD with accredited forensic

[1:20:12] laboratory services on an as-needed

[1:20:14] basis for maximum contract amount of

[1:20:22] $250,000

[1:20:23] >> Is there a second? Ponce second.

[1:20:24] The item has been properly moved and

[1:20:31] seconded. All in favor? Opposed? The

[1:20:32] ayes have it and the motion has been

[1:20:37] approved.

[1:20:38] >>Okay, there are no further items on

[1:20:54] the agenda. Do we have a motion for

[1:20:56] adjournment? Preston so moved. Is there

[1:21:01] a second? Ponce second. It has been

[1:21:03] properly moved and seconded. Any

[1:21:07] discussion? All in favor any opposed

[1:21:12] The ayes have it and the motion has

[1:21:24] been approved. We stand adjourned,

[1:21:25] thank you everyone for your service.

[1:21:26] >> Wednesday, September 2 at 1 PM

Board Meeting

Agenda

Transcript