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All right, thank you, everybody, for being here today

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at the Metrolink board meeting.

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Let me call the meeting to order.

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Friday, July 24, 2026, 10:00 AM.

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And first order of business is the safety briefing.

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So, Hilary Konczal, Chief Safety, Security

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and Compliance Officer, please come to the podium

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and provide our safety briefing.

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Good morning, vice chair, board of directors.

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In the event of evacuation, we will collectively

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walk out the room.

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Just make sure there aren't any tripping hazards, chairs,

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book bags, that sort of thing.

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We'll walk out the entrance to the boardroom,

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down the escalators.

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The entrance to the building will turn right,

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and we'll meet in front of the Metro customer service area,

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where we'll take headcount and make

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sure everyone is accounted for.

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In the event of a medical emergency,

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we do have an AED located outside of the security desk.

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We have our LA County Sheriff's Department who will also

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render aid and dial 911.

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In the event of an earthquake, we'll

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take cover under the benches and where we can

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and wait for the rumbling to stop

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to see if further evacuation is necessary.

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And in the event of an active shooter, we'll deploy the run,

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hide, fight tactic.

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Thank you.

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Very good.

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Thank you very much.

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Next item is Pledge of Allegiance.

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We'll ask Director Michael Vargas to lead us today.

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Thank you.

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[INAUDIBLE]

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I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America,

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and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God,

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indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

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All right, next, Madam Clerk, the roll call.

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Director Spiegel.

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I'm here.

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Just-- whoops.

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I'm taking my liberty.

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Everybody's asking about the flowers.

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It's not my birthday.

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Darren, you want to explain where they're from?

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Do I have to?

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So, yes, we're recognizing Director Spiegel

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for going above and beyond the call of duty.

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We had a budget, audit, and finance committee meeting

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a couple of weeks ago.

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And we learned through counsel that-- and we had several board

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members that were taking that meeting remotely outside

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of our region.

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So we were going to have difficulty getting

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to a quorum of actually having a people here within the service

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area of Metrolink.

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So I reached out to Director Spiegel the night before.

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And she was kind enough to change.

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We're recognizing Director Spiegel

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for going above and beyond the call of duty.

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We had a budget, audit, and finance committee meeting

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a couple of weeks ago.

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There's two of you.

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There's two of me.

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One of me is enough.

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It's coming from the control room.

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OK, I think they've corrected it.

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OK, so anyway, it's a thank you to Director Spiegel for joining

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us, a meeting that she had not planned

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on attending, to make sure that we could conduct the meeting.

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So that's what is.

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So thank you, director, in person.

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So yes, in the room, in the region and--

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whatever she would like, it's on us.

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OK, good enough.

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Very good.

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OK, continue, please.

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Director Vargas.

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Director Molina.

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Second Vice Chair Trembley.

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Director Engler.

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Here.

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Director Barger.

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Here.

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Director Najarian.

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Here.

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Director Sandoval.

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Here.

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Director Solis.

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Director Ohlsen.

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Director Allen.

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Director O'Connor.

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Director Camacho.

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Director McCallon.

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Director Wapner.

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Here.

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Director Dutrey.

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Director Marquez.

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Chair Chaffee.

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Director Nguyen.

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Director Go.

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Here.

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Director Tettemer.

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Vice Chair Berkson.

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Here.

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We do have a quorum present.

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Barely.

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All right, very good.

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Do we have any public comments for today's meeting

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of items not on the agenda?

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We do not have any requests to speak

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for items not on the agenda.

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We have a request to speak for four of our regular calendar

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items.

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And we have received a few written public comments

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requesting that we maintain funding and do not

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cut service that will be emailed to the Board after the meeting.

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Very good.

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So we'll go ahead and listen to the public comments related

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to those items when we get to them.

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And we will move to Item 6, Approval of the Consent Calendar

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Items 11A through 11F.

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Are there any items that need to be discussed?

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Can I get a motion to approve?

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Approve it.

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And a second.

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Second.

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Right, all in favor, aye.

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Opposed, abstentions.

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I know that's not the way we normally do it.

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But in my head, that's the way I like to do it.

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I like to be awake when I'm having meetings.

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So I make everybody do something and say something.

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Anyway, it was a unanimous yes.

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We will move to the regular calendar, Item 7A,

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fiscal year '27 budget development update presented

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by Tom Schamber, Chief Financial Officer.

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Good morning, Vice Chair Berkson, members of the board.

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On July 18, last Saturday, a proposed FY27 budget

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was provided to the member agencies.

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The budget, commonly referred to as scenario 4,

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was based on maintaining the current level of service

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for the duration of fiscal '27.

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Over this week and next, I will hold meetings with each member

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agency to review the budget and to answer their questions.

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It is then up to the member agencies

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to determine if there is consensus

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to advance this budget to their respective boards for approval.

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If consensus is not reached, the member agencies

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will need to convene a meeting to discuss

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an alternative scenario for development.

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Next slide.

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If consensus is reached to move the current budget forward,

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there are two alternatives toward reaching budget adoption.

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These alternatives were presented

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to the budget, audit, and finance committee

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earlier this month.

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The BAF Comm voted to follow alternative one.

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Alternative one would involve a special board meeting in August

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to formally transmit the budget to member agencies.

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In early September, another special board meeting

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would be held in lieu of the BAF Comm to hold a public hearing

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and adopt the budget.

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This budget would take effect on October 1.

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Under this alternative, no continuing resolution extension

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would be required.

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Next slide.

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Alternative two would involve a special BAF Comm

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meeting in August to review the budget transmittal.

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The full board would hold a special meeting

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in early September in lieu of the regularly scheduled BAF

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Comm meeting to approve the transmittal.

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This would be followed by a public hearing and adoption

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by the full board at its regularly scheduled meeting

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in late September.

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The budget would take effect on November 1.

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And in this case, a one-month extension

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of the continuing appropriations resolution would be required.

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The BAF Comm favored the alternative,

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which didn't involve an extension

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of the continuing appropriations resolution.

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Each of these alternatives assumes

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the current budget scenario is approved by consensus

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in a timely manner.

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Should there be a delay in the decision

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to move forward with this scenario,

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or if the budget does not have unanimous support,

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additional time would be required

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to identify a new scenario and develop another budget

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for consideration.

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This would require an extension of the continuing resolution,

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which is the subject of the next item on today's agenda.

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Next slide.

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That concludes my report.

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I'm happy to answer any questions.

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All right, Catherine.

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First of all, thank you for that.

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I looked at the list.

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What is the turnaround for the agencies

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to get the information back to me?

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And can it be extended?

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And if so, do you have enough adequate cash flow

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to cover any costs if we don't come up with finalization?

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Yeah, so we're hoping for a two-week review period

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before we hear back definitively from folks.

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We do get some feedback, but we're

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waiting for that official decision from each agency.

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We do have sufficient cash flow.

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We are finalizing MOUs with the member agencies

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to get their first quarter payment.

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So as yet, we haven't received first quarter money.

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But we do need it urgently to sustain operations.

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And then, Darren, is Metro working with you?

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I mean, I'll be very transparent.

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My goal is to make sure that we limit any cuts.

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And so I want to make sure that Metro is working with you

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and providing face time to go over scenarios.

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Yes, I would-- all the member agencies are working with us.

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We have different challenges in each of the counties

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that have given us targets.

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Tom will be meeting with LA Metro staff

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Monday of next week--

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Tuesday of next week.

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So we will have person to person conversations at that point.

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And I would ask then if there are any problems or concerns,

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you will alert us so that we can be on top of it with you.

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Sure.

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Absolutely.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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All right, Tim, did you have a comment?

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No.

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William, you?

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OK, anybody else?

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Go ahead.

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Yeah, thank you.

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Just a quick question.

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The continuing resolutions, if we

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engage in more continuing resolutions,

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is there a financial issue going forward?

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Is there a danger that we're going to run

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into spending more or less?

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We would get a second quarter payment along

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with that second continuing resolution.

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So we would continue to operate at last year's funding levels

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and get a second support payment for that quarter.

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So no, there would not be any issue.

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With one proviso, and that is that the member

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agencies, when we build them, they pay us.

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So that is out there.

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And given the uncertainty of things,

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in interest of full transparency,

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there could be pushback.

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We do know in the case-- correct me if I'm wrong, Tom,

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that Orange County is giving us the number at which the target

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reduction is, which is lower than last year's.

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They're still paying.

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It's just at a lower rate than what

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would have been in the continuing resolution.

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Is that a correct statement, Tom?

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Correct.

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So that said, at least we're getting something coming

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through the door.

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Karen.

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And as I have said in past years that please notify us

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as directors that if our agency hasn't paid, that we are

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aware that we can help in getting that payment done

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because sometimes, we just don't know

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that the agency hasn't paid.

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So I would appreciate all of us if our agency

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hasn't paid that you notify us.

274
00:11:53,610 --> 00:11:54,930
Yes.

275
00:11:54,930 --> 00:11:55,610
Very good.

276
00:11:55,610 --> 00:11:57,610
Thank you.

277
00:11:58,730 --> 00:11:59,930
Warren.

278
00:11:59,930 --> 00:12:01,930
Thank you.

279
00:12:03,610 --> 00:12:05,970
So we told you very clearly that we

280
00:12:05,970 --> 00:12:08,150
don't want to study any other alternatives,

281
00:12:08,150 --> 00:12:10,370
that we wanted the current service level

282
00:12:10,370 --> 00:12:14,730
to be the focus of the studies and the budget development

283
00:12:14,730 --> 00:12:16,730
process.

284
00:12:17,810 --> 00:12:22,490
That being said, because we have such a short timeline,

285
00:12:22,490 --> 00:12:28,930
and in the event that there are some shortfalls in the revenue

286
00:12:28,930 --> 00:12:34,410
contribution side or perhaps on the cost-cutting side as well,

287
00:12:34,410 --> 00:12:36,470
I don't want to call it a secret plan,

288
00:12:36,470 --> 00:12:42,470
but do you have a concept of a alternative to--

289
00:12:46,810 --> 00:12:47,810
Coming out of my pocket.

290
00:12:47,810 --> 00:12:49,227
--I don't want to call it a plan B

291
00:12:49,227 --> 00:12:51,570
because that goes against what we asked you to do.

292
00:12:51,570 --> 00:12:55,890
We said there's only plan A. Are you ready, at that point,

293
00:12:55,890 --> 00:13:00,900
to move quickly to develop different suggestions

294
00:13:01,550 --> 00:13:04,610
to this board as to what we need to do to move forward?

295
00:13:04,610 --> 00:13:10,100
We are looking at other savings opportunities because we--

296
00:13:10,890 --> 00:13:13,300
we are looking at other savings opportunities

297
00:13:13,300 --> 00:13:15,910
that I will call also somewhat low-hanging fruit

298
00:13:15,910 --> 00:13:20,670
to find savings to address the two counties that have given us

299
00:13:20,670 --> 00:13:22,630
a target to try to aim for.

300
00:13:22,630 --> 00:13:25,710
And we're working closely with both counties

301
00:13:25,710 --> 00:13:32,468
on that to where we help sweeten the pot at Metrolink, where

302
00:13:32,468 --> 00:13:34,510
there might be a few dollars found someplace else

303
00:13:34,510 --> 00:13:37,790
where we find some other savings in our operations.

304
00:13:37,790 --> 00:13:38,810
So we do have that.

305
00:13:38,810 --> 00:13:41,580
The only question will be, does that get us far enough?

306
00:13:41,580 --> 00:13:45,220
And we are looking deeper into those

307
00:13:45,220 --> 00:13:48,700
because we do know we have to focus on particularly the two

308
00:13:48,700 --> 00:13:50,000
counties that gave us a target.

309
00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:54,780
So yes, we are working on stuff behind the scenes,

310
00:13:54,780 --> 00:13:57,800
given what we've heard at least as initial feedback.

311
00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:00,540
And obviously, the constraint is there

312
00:14:00,540 --> 00:14:02,960
isn't going to be much time to go through that.

313
00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:04,420
So you know that.

314
00:14:04,420 --> 00:14:06,160
I mean, I'm not telling you anything new,

315
00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:08,940
but I'm just raising that out so everyone

316
00:14:08,940 --> 00:14:11,780
is-- we are doing what we can to make

317
00:14:11,780 --> 00:14:14,500
sure we're as efficient as possible to the point

318
00:14:14,500 --> 00:14:17,800
where, again, we are doing our own revenue forecast.

319
00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:18,560
We're not going out to--

320
00:14:18,560 --> 00:14:21,340
we've modified that so that we can keep this streamlined.

321
00:14:21,340 --> 00:14:24,540
All right, thank you very much.

322
00:14:24,540 --> 00:14:25,953
All right, any other comments?

323
00:14:25,953 --> 00:14:26,620
I just want to--

324
00:14:26,620 --> 00:14:27,620
Go ahead.

325
00:14:27,620 --> 00:14:32,800
I just want to add to that that we voted for our budget CTA.

326
00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,240
So we're pretty adamant on those numbers.

327
00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:38,160
I don't know how much flexibility we'll have.

328
00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:41,783
So I think it's really important that we do meet those targets

329
00:14:41,783 --> 00:14:42,700
that we've been given.

330
00:14:42,700 --> 00:14:45,440
And if there is going to be a plan B, that it basically

331
00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:48,160
is plan A at this point, right?

332
00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:51,265
So I just want to make sure that that's understood.

333
00:14:51,265 --> 00:14:52,140
All right, very good.

334
00:14:52,140 --> 00:14:54,600
And if I can just ask, I believe the new budget

335
00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:59,680
was provided to the member agencies a week or last weekend.

336
00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:03,280
And I didn't study it myself.

337
00:15:04,620 --> 00:15:08,760
But I've relied on some others that are the professionals.

338
00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:12,960
And it appears to them that Orange County still

339
00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:16,560
has a higher than what their target was by some

340
00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:22,280
six or something million, which just sends a flag out

341
00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:24,560
to me saying, all right, well, if we're not

342
00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:28,960
at that level with this plan, option 4, what are we doing?

343
00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:33,920
A 4.1 and figure out if there's a way to somehow get them

344
00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:37,360
to where they need to be while not sacrificing service

345
00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:40,550
throughout the rest of the system?

346
00:15:40,550 --> 00:15:44,610
Vice Chair Berkson, I only say, give us a chance to work it out.

347
00:15:44,610 --> 00:15:46,710
I think we got some things happening.

348
00:15:46,710 --> 00:15:53,350
In fact, I presented to the CEOs a week ago an option

349
00:15:53,350 --> 00:15:55,950
where something we've never done before.

350
00:15:55,950 --> 00:16:01,550
We receive on an annual basis a funding source called state rail

351
00:16:01,550 --> 00:16:03,390
assistance.

352
00:16:03,390 --> 00:16:05,890
We normally use it because it's a volatile number.

353
00:16:05,890 --> 00:16:07,850
It's not much, usually $5 to $6 million.

354
00:16:07,850 --> 00:16:09,590
We usually use that to match capital

355
00:16:09,590 --> 00:16:10,930
grants and that kind of thing.

356
00:16:10,930 --> 00:16:12,430
It's just because it's not something

357
00:16:12,430 --> 00:16:15,100
that you could sustain through operations.

358
00:16:15,100 --> 00:16:21,830
But we did receive a bigger bump in FY25-26 of $9.3 million.

359
00:16:21,830 --> 00:16:23,985
And what I shared with the CEOs is

360
00:16:23,985 --> 00:16:26,110
that I would be prepared to recommend to this board

361
00:16:26,110 --> 00:16:29,390
that we would take that full amount of $9.3 million

362
00:16:29,390 --> 00:16:31,290
to offset some of those numbers.

363
00:16:31,290 --> 00:16:34,750
So the numbers that the staff has seen

364
00:16:34,750 --> 00:16:38,870
does not include what I shared with the CEO.

365
00:16:38,870 --> 00:16:43,130
So 9.3 in our challenge does not go very far,

366
00:16:43,130 --> 00:16:46,900
but it does hopefully soften the blow

367
00:16:46,900 --> 00:16:48,100
and show the commitment at Metrolink of what

368
00:16:48,100 --> 00:16:50,130
we're trying to make happen.

369
00:16:50,130 --> 00:16:51,690
All right, very good.

370
00:16:51,690 --> 00:16:53,730
Any public comments on this item?

371
00:16:53,730 --> 00:16:55,570
We do have one request to speak--

372
00:16:55,570 --> 00:16:56,490
All right.

373
00:16:56,490 --> 00:16:58,490
--from Adriana Rizzo.

374
00:16:59,310 --> 00:17:01,310
Welcome.

375
00:17:02,770 --> 00:17:04,890
Hello, everybody.

376
00:17:04,890 --> 00:17:06,100
My name is Adriana Rizzo, representing

377
00:17:06,100 --> 00:17:09,730
Californians for Electric Rail here from Riverside.

378
00:17:09,730 --> 00:17:12,170
Really happy to see that we're getting close to a budget.

379
00:17:12,170 --> 00:17:15,730
And happy to see that the more severe service cuts

380
00:17:15,730 --> 00:17:18,500
are mostly off the table.

381
00:17:18,500 --> 00:17:19,810
I just want to emphasize again the need

382
00:17:19,810 --> 00:17:23,210
to avoid all service cuts, including the temporary March

383
00:17:23,210 --> 00:17:27,190
cuts, which we have seen ridership growth stagnate.

384
00:17:27,190 --> 00:17:30,610
And I know several people who have stopped using Metrolink

385
00:17:30,610 --> 00:17:34,210
for certain things because of the last eastbound

386
00:17:34,210 --> 00:17:39,310
91 train of the day has been eliminated, just as an example.

387
00:17:39,310 --> 00:17:41,750
One opportunity for additional revenue that I don't think

388
00:17:41,750 --> 00:17:44,830
has been explored yet is TDA funds, the Transportation

389
00:17:44,830 --> 00:17:46,210
Development Act.

390
00:17:46,210 --> 00:17:49,750
Metro yesterday voted to allocate $35 million

391
00:17:49,750 --> 00:17:53,590
in money intended for transit and cities

392
00:17:53,590 --> 00:17:55,700
in the Antelope Valley line.

393
00:17:55,700 --> 00:17:58,900
It isn't enough to fix Metrolink's operating deficit.

394
00:17:58,900 --> 00:18:00,430
I think this needs to be looked into further.

395
00:18:00,430 --> 00:18:03,810
And I would urge all of the member agencies, not just Metro,

396
00:18:03,810 --> 00:18:06,550
to avoid certifying unmet needs when

397
00:18:06,550 --> 00:18:10,405
that funding could potentially be used for Metrolink.

398
00:18:10,405 --> 00:18:12,300
I also want to emphasize the importance

399
00:18:12,300 --> 00:18:14,630
of continuing to adhere to Metrolink service development

400
00:18:14,630 --> 00:18:15,130
plan.

401
00:18:15,130 --> 00:18:17,830
Are we still on track for 30 minutes San Bernardino line

402
00:18:17,830 --> 00:18:19,830
service by 2029?

403
00:18:20,300 --> 00:18:23,550
As we think about the future, this board

404
00:18:23,550 --> 00:18:27,670
needs a plan for how can we continue to fulfill these plans,

405
00:18:27,670 --> 00:18:31,190
fulfill the service benefits promised by the score

406
00:18:31,190 --> 00:18:36,180
program, which we've invested hundreds of millions of dollars

407
00:18:36,180 --> 00:18:39,260
in state money for and ensure that those investments don't

408
00:18:39,260 --> 00:18:43,220
go to waste by continuing to plan for increased service

409
00:18:43,220 --> 00:18:46,180
and deliver a better experience for riders.

410
00:18:46,180 --> 00:18:47,125
Thank you.

411
00:18:47,125 --> 00:18:48,000
All right, very good.

412
00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:48,920
Thank you for that.

413
00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:50,560
And this item was received and filed.

414
00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:51,980
So unless there's objection.

415
00:18:51,980 --> 00:18:52,880
Mr. Chair.

416
00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:53,820
Yeah, Allen, go ahead.

417
00:18:53,820 --> 00:18:54,903
I just want to make sure--

418
00:18:54,903 --> 00:18:57,300
I know the focus right now is what Orange County and LA

419
00:18:57,300 --> 00:18:58,800
County want to do.

420
00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:01,600
But you can't forget about the other three counties.

421
00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:02,900
Our commitment may change depending

422
00:19:02,900 --> 00:19:04,165
on what everybody else does.

423
00:19:04,165 --> 00:19:05,540
So you have to make sure that you

424
00:19:05,540 --> 00:19:08,920
stay aware of what the other counties are deciding to do.

425
00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:10,810
Don't go in with assumptions that everyone's

426
00:19:10,810 --> 00:19:11,560
remained the same.

427
00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:13,852
We just have to worry about what the other counties are

428
00:19:13,852 --> 00:19:17,300
going to do because it may not be accurate.

429
00:19:17,300 --> 00:19:19,500
Well, I agree because Riverside County

430
00:19:19,500 --> 00:19:22,220
wanted more service this year, not less service.

431
00:19:22,220 --> 00:19:26,380
So, I mean, and willing to pay the price.

432
00:19:26,380 --> 00:19:29,600
But of course, our lines go through either Orange County

433
00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:29,960
or LA County.

434
00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:32,460
So we all have that challenge.

435
00:19:32,460 --> 00:19:34,240
And hopefully we can get to that point

436
00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:36,640
where everything works out.

437
00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:40,400
So we will receive and file that and move to Item 7B,

438
00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:43,000
approval of an extension for the continuing appropriations

439
00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:45,540
resolution for fiscal year '27, again,

440
00:19:45,540 --> 00:19:48,840
presented by Tom Schamber, Chief Financial Officer.

441
00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:49,920
Good morning again.

442
00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:54,000
I just went over the status of the FY27 budget.

443
00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:57,800
It was distributed to the member agencies on July 18.

444
00:19:57,800 --> 00:19:59,760
As I mentioned, there are two pathways

445
00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:02,560
towards adoption, which are dependent on the timing

446
00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:05,680
of key decisions and the direction of the board.

447
00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:07,760
I presented two alternatives, which

448
00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:10,640
both assume that the member agencies approve advancement

449
00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:13,240
of the currently proposed budget.

450
00:20:13,240 --> 00:20:15,880
One pathway avoids the need for an extension

451
00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:18,820
of the continuing appropriations resolution.

452
00:20:18,820 --> 00:20:22,360
The second pathway requires a one-month extension.

453
00:20:22,360 --> 00:20:24,840
The third pathway, which would arise if the member

454
00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:27,400
agencies determine that a new budget scenario should

455
00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:30,560
be developed, would require additional time for agency staff

456
00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:32,390
to complete their work.

457
00:20:32,390 --> 00:20:35,990
Exactly how much time cannot be determined at this time.

458
00:20:35,990 --> 00:20:38,300
It will depend on the timing of the decision

459
00:20:38,300 --> 00:20:40,510
to pursue another scenario, the time taken

460
00:20:40,510 --> 00:20:42,870
to finalize assumptions for that scenario,

461
00:20:42,870 --> 00:20:47,630
and the timing of future BAF Comm and board meetings.

462
00:20:47,630 --> 00:20:49,630
Next slide.

463
00:20:49,870 --> 00:20:52,670
We are recommending approval of a three-month extension

464
00:20:52,670 --> 00:20:56,300
of the continuing resolution until December 31

465
00:20:56,300 --> 00:21:00,390
for the Metrolink and Arrow operating and capital budgets.

466
00:21:00,390 --> 00:21:03,650
The budget will be developed as quickly as possible.

467
00:21:03,650 --> 00:21:07,110
And it is possible that a budget can be adopted before then.

468
00:21:07,110 --> 00:21:10,430
This extension is a precaution in light of uncertainty.

469
00:21:10,430 --> 00:21:12,910
And it also takes into consideration the board calendar

470
00:21:12,910 --> 00:21:14,750
for the remainder of the year.

471
00:21:14,750 --> 00:21:16,550
Next slide.

472
00:21:16,550 --> 00:21:17,970
That concludes my presentation.

473
00:21:17,970 --> 00:21:19,690
I'm happy to answer any questions.

474
00:21:19,690 --> 00:21:20,570
All right, very good.

475
00:21:20,570 --> 00:21:21,390
Comments, questions.

476
00:21:21,390 --> 00:21:21,890
Karen.

477
00:21:21,890 --> 00:21:28,490
That is with the caveat, as Mr. Head Honcho here said,

478
00:21:29,670 --> 00:21:32,550
that we would continue to make our payments, correct?

479
00:21:32,550 --> 00:21:33,500
Correct.

480
00:21:33,500 --> 00:21:36,250
So that has to be part of this, that we continue

481
00:21:36,250 --> 00:21:39,570
to make our payments of last year's amounts

482
00:21:39,570 --> 00:21:43,100
until the resolution of what we're going to end up doing.

483
00:21:43,100 --> 00:21:43,770
Correct.

484
00:21:43,770 --> 00:21:45,770
OK.

485
00:21:46,410 --> 00:21:47,290
Allen.

486
00:21:47,290 --> 00:21:48,370
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

487
00:21:48,370 --> 00:21:51,588
SPCT stands ready to support the continuing resolution.

488
00:21:51,588 --> 00:21:53,130
But we are asking-- we're ready to do

489
00:21:53,130 --> 00:21:54,390
the budget for the airlines.

490
00:21:54,390 --> 00:21:59,330
We'd like to see that come back to the board for approval.

491
00:21:59,330 --> 00:22:01,250
Understood.

492
00:22:01,250 --> 00:22:06,650
So in this case, that would be a modified--

493
00:22:06,743 --> 00:22:08,410
the recommendation would be an amendment

494
00:22:08,410 --> 00:22:14,490
to the staff recommendation that Arrow comes back at the earliest

495
00:22:14,490 --> 00:22:17,290
possible time, and that the continuing

496
00:22:17,290 --> 00:22:22,900
resolution for Metrolink proper would proceed as recommended.

497
00:22:23,970 --> 00:22:26,370
OK, any other comments?

498
00:22:27,130 --> 00:22:30,360
Do we have any public comments?

499
00:22:30,360 --> 00:22:33,800
We do have a request to speak from Adriana Rizzo.

500
00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:35,800
OK, welcome back.

501
00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:40,680
Hello, everybody.

502
00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:45,800
First, I want to say that I support extending the continuing

503
00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:48,880
resolution and urge the board to vote yes on this item.

504
00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:51,640
I think it's important insurance in case member agencies

505
00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:53,640
are uncooperative.

506
00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:56,520
But I think the fact that we're in this situation where

507
00:22:56,520 --> 00:22:59,960
we potentially won't have a budget until as late as

508
00:22:59,960 --> 00:23:02,660
December, halfway through the fiscal year,

509
00:23:02,660 --> 00:23:07,280
is a symptomatic of deep dysfunction within Metrolink

510
00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:09,400
governance.

511
00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:12,300
The JPA structure of Metrolink requires cooperation.

512
00:23:12,300 --> 00:23:14,840
But what we've seen this year is the opposite

513
00:23:14,840 --> 00:23:18,520
of that, where we can't even get agencies to agree on

514
00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:20,940
if we should follow our own service development plan,

515
00:23:20,940 --> 00:23:23,720
if we should have more or less service.

516
00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:27,740
And I think that this crisis highlights a need

517
00:23:27,740 --> 00:23:29,820
for deeper structural reform.

518
00:23:29,820 --> 00:23:33,100
In particular, most urgently, I would

519
00:23:33,100 --> 00:23:37,900
urge the Metrolink to explore a permanent, sustainable,

520
00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:42,600
additional source of operations funding,

521
00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:46,900
such as a new regional tax measure that

522
00:23:46,900 --> 00:23:51,100
is not dependent on the member agencies.

523
00:23:51,620 --> 00:23:54,200
Really, we need a source of--

524
00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:56,980
all of this complicated process of getting

525
00:23:56,980 --> 00:24:00,140
all these different actors to approve a budget

526
00:24:00,140 --> 00:24:02,420
is just really failing to deliver

527
00:24:02,420 --> 00:24:05,780
the service, a frequent, reliable service

528
00:24:05,780 --> 00:24:07,580
our region needs.

529
00:24:07,580 --> 00:24:12,220
And we need to think bigger, and particularly

530
00:24:12,220 --> 00:24:14,940
with the need for a funding source that

531
00:24:14,940 --> 00:24:16,940
is controlled by the Metrolink board

532
00:24:16,940 --> 00:24:21,100
and not reliant on so many different actors.

533
00:24:21,100 --> 00:24:25,200
I support Metrolink's move to find more state money.

534
00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:27,760
But for the last five years, we've

535
00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:29,680
really not seen interest from the state

536
00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:32,680
in sustained, reliable operational support.

537
00:24:34,820 --> 00:24:36,320
And I think that's going to continue

538
00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:42,800
to be a challenge until we have more statewide reforms that

539
00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:45,120
stabilize the state budget from year to year.

540
00:24:45,120 --> 00:24:46,720
And so I would really encourage the board

541
00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:52,960
to look regionally and think about what we can do here

542
00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:56,560
in Southern California to strengthen Metrolink

543
00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:03,600
as an agency and make it less a everybody's last priority.

544
00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:06,680
Thank you.

545
00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:07,220
Very good.

546
00:25:07,220 --> 00:25:07,720
Thank you.

547
00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:09,000
Appreciate your comment.

548
00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:12,600
Any other comments from the committee?

549
00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:15,600
Go ahead.

550
00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:19,760
We just want to make sure that even though it looks like we're

551
00:25:19,760 --> 00:25:22,300
going to try to get more time on this,

552
00:25:22,300 --> 00:25:25,590
we want to keep working towards the fact

553
00:25:25,590 --> 00:25:28,450
that it's a difficult problem to solve,

554
00:25:28,450 --> 00:25:31,270
but it's also just a math problem.

555
00:25:31,270 --> 00:25:33,630
So we have the variables defined.

556
00:25:33,630 --> 00:25:36,300
Where else can we pull levers from

557
00:25:36,300 --> 00:25:38,710
to get this to where we need to be?

558
00:25:38,710 --> 00:25:45,310
The issue for us is we've spoken our levels that we

559
00:25:45,910 --> 00:25:48,190
were able to fund to our tax dollars,

560
00:25:48,190 --> 00:25:50,990
M2 tax dollars allocated to this so

561
00:25:50,990 --> 00:25:54,990
that we can continue to service at the time we

562
00:25:54,990 --> 00:25:57,390
need it to keep going to.

563
00:25:57,390 --> 00:26:00,870
So I urge that we continue to keep working together

564
00:26:00,870 --> 00:26:04,972
and just do as much as we can to get there.

565
00:26:04,972 --> 00:26:05,930
The sooner, the better.

566
00:26:05,930 --> 00:26:08,190
I think delaying this further just puts us

567
00:26:08,190 --> 00:26:11,190
in a precarious situation towards--

568
00:26:11,710 --> 00:26:12,650
to what end?

569
00:26:12,650 --> 00:26:15,190
What if December 31, we still don't

570
00:26:15,190 --> 00:26:16,970
have all the full solution?

571
00:26:16,970 --> 00:26:21,410
So with that said, just want to keep that in mind

572
00:26:21,410 --> 00:26:23,490
that it's a everyday problem that we

573
00:26:23,490 --> 00:26:27,500
need to solve for the riders.

574
00:26:27,500 --> 00:26:28,970
Karen.

575
00:26:28,970 --> 00:26:34,190
I definitely agree that if we can't by December 31,

576
00:26:34,190 --> 00:26:36,300
there's just not going to be a solution.

577
00:26:36,300 --> 00:26:37,900
I'll be quite frank.

578
00:26:37,900 --> 00:26:40,910
I appreciate LA stepping up and reconsidering and working.

579
00:26:40,910 --> 00:26:43,130
I just hope Orange County, I know you're

580
00:26:43,130 --> 00:26:45,410
saying you're hard cut and dry.

581
00:26:45,410 --> 00:26:50,850
But if LA is stepping up, I hope that you can maybe reconsider.

582
00:26:50,850 --> 00:26:52,230
And we realize when it cuts.

583
00:26:52,230 --> 00:26:56,970
But you made a comment about constituents and ridership

584
00:26:56,970 --> 00:26:59,900
and wanting to help them.

585
00:26:59,900 --> 00:27:03,100
That's not going to happen in doing cuts.

586
00:27:03,100 --> 00:27:04,370
All right, Ara.

587
00:27:04,370 --> 00:27:08,530
And I do want to, from the LA Metro side,

588
00:27:08,530 --> 00:27:13,330
express our deep appreciation for our other counties,

589
00:27:14,290 --> 00:27:17,290
for San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura.

590
00:27:17,770 --> 00:27:20,110
We hope that you remain firm in the commitments.

591
00:27:20,110 --> 00:27:24,280
We understand there's budgetary pressures, but we're all in this

592
00:27:24,280 --> 00:27:25,200
together.

593
00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:30,340
And we're only as strong as our weakest link.

594
00:27:30,340 --> 00:27:31,800
We're competitive.

595
00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:32,740
Good, no, I know.

596
00:27:32,740 --> 00:27:34,300
I mean, I appreciated it.

597
00:27:34,300 --> 00:27:36,300
[INAUDIBLE]

598
00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:40,320
We're all.

599
00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:41,112
I think we're all--

600
00:27:41,112 --> 00:27:43,800
And in that corner.

601
00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:47,800
So thank you for working with your boards

602
00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:50,400
and maintaining the level that you have.

603
00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:52,880
Others of us have some different issues

604
00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:54,260
that we have to work through.

605
00:27:54,260 --> 00:28:00,200
And everyone has a different row to hoe, I guess.

606
00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:03,680
We all have different things that are coming at us.

607
00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:07,280
Ours is a smaller amount, but we have less coming in.

608
00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:11,343
So [INAUDIBLE] just we all have that same commitment.

609
00:28:11,343 --> 00:28:12,760
I'm just using the word commitment

610
00:28:12,760 --> 00:28:16,400
now from a monetary amount because you can't compare.

611
00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:18,800
You guys are [INAUDIBLE].

612
00:28:27,970 --> 00:28:31,200
As we talk about this, I wanted to make sure

613
00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:34,420
that staff is engaging with the member agencies

614
00:28:34,420 --> 00:28:37,380
because we're going to get through this budget.

615
00:28:37,380 --> 00:28:40,100
And it's already going to be time to start the next one.

616
00:28:40,100 --> 00:28:44,900
And before we conclude, have we had discussions

617
00:28:46,900 --> 00:28:49,697
with other member agencies to determine whether or not

618
00:28:49,697 --> 00:28:51,780
they're going to be pulling any additional funding

619
00:28:51,780 --> 00:28:53,197
for next year's budget?

620
00:28:53,197 --> 00:28:55,280
I mean, these are things that are coming up quick.

621
00:28:55,280 --> 00:28:57,640
So we can't wait till the last minute.

622
00:28:57,640 --> 00:28:59,940
That's what got us in this position

623
00:28:59,940 --> 00:29:05,860
because we found out at the very end of the fiscal year

624
00:29:05,860 --> 00:29:08,220
that all of a sudden, not just one but two counties

625
00:29:08,220 --> 00:29:09,820
needed to pull back.

626
00:29:09,820 --> 00:29:15,960
And that created a major race to try to get a budget that worked.

627
00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:18,680
Well, what happens next year if we know ahead

628
00:29:18,680 --> 00:29:21,340
of time that we're going to have additional constraints?

629
00:29:21,340 --> 00:29:24,440
We need to start building that in.

630
00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:27,000
So, Vice Chair Berkson, I think one

631
00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:29,600
of the things we are learning from this year

632
00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:32,300
is we are in a sort of a reset of our budget process.

633
00:29:32,300 --> 00:29:35,680
We had a real whiff, to a certain degree,

634
00:29:35,680 --> 00:29:38,840
on the budget process last time because we anticipated more fare

635
00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:39,880
revenue.

636
00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:41,980
Again, this is not just a member agency challenge.

637
00:29:41,980 --> 00:29:44,740
We didn't get fare revenue that we were expecting.

638
00:29:44,740 --> 00:29:47,780
So that was 50% of our challenge.

639
00:29:47,780 --> 00:29:49,760
We now know where we stand as it relates

640
00:29:49,760 --> 00:29:51,580
to ridership and revenue.

641
00:29:51,580 --> 00:29:53,160
We're in a much better place.

642
00:29:53,160 --> 00:29:57,240
We know where our escalators are and our contracts.

643
00:29:57,240 --> 00:30:01,100
We also know, at least from the one letter from Los Angeles,

644
00:30:01,100 --> 00:30:04,400
from LA Metro, that the target was for next year

645
00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:08,840
and then flat for three years after that.

646
00:30:11,695 --> 00:30:13,880
Our delivery of our service, that

647
00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:19,530
is not going to go down over those period of years.

648
00:30:19,530 --> 00:30:22,950
We have various obligations to do that.

649
00:30:22,950 --> 00:30:29,550
So our next year will be as difficult, if not more,

650
00:30:29,910 --> 00:30:32,790
because, again, I mentioned the 9.3 that we're

651
00:30:32,790 --> 00:30:35,973
prepared to put on the table, that is not

652
00:30:35,973 --> 00:30:37,390
going to be a source that is going

653
00:30:37,390 --> 00:30:39,790
to be reliable or sustainable.

654
00:30:39,790 --> 00:30:42,230
So we are going to have to wrestle with that issue, which

655
00:30:42,230 --> 00:30:45,750
is why it has been so critically important for us to continue

656
00:30:45,750 --> 00:30:49,300
to lobby in Sacramento for state support.

657
00:30:49,300 --> 00:30:54,430
And I mean, I don't know how we get

658
00:30:55,230 --> 00:31:00,300
there absent the targets that have been presented

659
00:31:01,470 --> 00:31:03,530
to us from member agencies.

660
00:31:03,530 --> 00:31:08,930
So we should expect something as challenging next year

661
00:31:10,710 --> 00:31:12,230
as we are dealing with this.

662
00:31:12,230 --> 00:31:18,170
We will know it sooner, though, to answer your question.

663
00:31:18,170 --> 00:31:20,130
We will know it much sooner.

664
00:31:20,130 --> 00:31:22,730
All right, well, my goal, obviously, in my head

665
00:31:22,730 --> 00:31:25,490
is let's not have to have any continuing resolutions

666
00:31:25,490 --> 00:31:26,590
for next fiscal year.

667
00:31:26,590 --> 00:31:29,890
Let's get it done on time knowing

668
00:31:29,890 --> 00:31:31,300
where we're at this year.

669
00:31:31,300 --> 00:31:33,700
So all right, this is an action item.

670
00:31:33,700 --> 00:31:37,570
So the action item is asking for a three-month continuing

671
00:31:37,570 --> 00:31:38,850
appropriations.

672
00:31:38,850 --> 00:31:40,490
Do we have a motion for that?

673
00:31:40,490 --> 00:31:44,590
With the proviso on the Arrow, that would not require that.

674
00:31:44,590 --> 00:31:47,500
So just make sure that the recommendation is modified

675
00:31:47,500 --> 00:31:50,650
to that or it's an amendment.

676
00:31:51,100 --> 00:31:52,700
Second.

677
00:31:52,700 --> 00:31:53,100
I second.

678
00:31:53,100 --> 00:31:55,410
All in favor, aye.

679
00:31:56,500 --> 00:31:57,810
Opposed, abstention.

680
00:31:57,810 --> 00:31:58,570
Opposed.

681
00:31:58,570 --> 00:31:59,130
Opposed.

682
00:31:59,130 --> 00:32:00,690
So motion carries.

683
00:32:00,690 --> 00:32:03,690
All in favor minus one.

684
00:32:04,500 --> 00:32:09,530
All right, with that, we move to Item 7C, internal audit,

685
00:32:09,530 --> 00:32:12,810
proposed fiscal year 2027 annual audit plan presented

686
00:32:12,810 --> 00:32:15,880
by Elisabeth Lazuardi, Director of Audit.

687
00:32:15,880 --> 00:32:17,880
Good morning.

688
00:32:17,960 --> 00:32:20,120
I'm reporting on Item C. It is recommended

689
00:32:20,120 --> 00:32:23,300
that the board approve the proposed '27 audit plan.

690
00:32:23,300 --> 00:32:25,160
Next slide, please.

691
00:32:25,160 --> 00:32:28,400
The internal audit charter requires the internal audit

692
00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:30,200
department to submit an annual audit

693
00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:33,400
plan to the board each year for approval.

694
00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:37,000
The five-step process we used to develop the annual audit plan

695
00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:38,960
is summarized here.

696
00:32:38,960 --> 00:32:40,960
Next slide, please.

697
00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:44,280
This slide highlights our newly proposed audit.

698
00:32:44,280 --> 00:32:46,000
Next slide.

699
00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:48,140
And we carried forward a few audits.

700
00:32:48,140 --> 00:32:53,955
We started in fiscal '26, which we will complete in fiscal '27.

701
00:32:53,955 --> 00:32:56,800
Following board approval, we will provide the board

702
00:32:56,800 --> 00:32:59,960
with the status of the audit plan on a quarterly basis.

703
00:32:59,960 --> 00:33:03,800
At the budget audit finance committee meeting on July 10,

704
00:33:03,800 --> 00:33:08,800
in response to Director Tettemer's request for an update

705
00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:11,400
on process improvements related to past challenges

706
00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:13,440
and mechanical failures, management

707
00:33:13,660 --> 00:33:16,580
will provide the board with a quarterly report

708
00:33:16,580 --> 00:33:18,600
on these areas going forward.

709
00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:21,460
The first report will be in October.

710
00:33:21,460 --> 00:33:23,100
Next slide.

711
00:33:23,100 --> 00:33:24,360
And this concludes my item.

712
00:33:24,360 --> 00:33:26,780
Happy to answer if you have any questions.

713
00:33:26,780 --> 00:33:28,600
Very good.

714
00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:32,260
Comments or questions about the audit report?

715
00:33:32,460 --> 00:33:35,180
So we did bring something up at our board briefing

716
00:33:35,180 --> 00:33:38,780
yesterday in regards to possibly talking

717
00:33:39,260 --> 00:33:42,360
about adding another item to this list,

718
00:33:42,360 --> 00:33:47,200
but wanted to just bring that to the board for consideration.

719
00:33:47,200 --> 00:33:52,420
With the number of issues that have been publicly

720
00:33:53,740 --> 00:33:56,180
blasted about Metrolink with trains

721
00:33:56,180 --> 00:33:58,940
and having the mechanical issues we had earlier this year

722
00:33:58,940 --> 00:34:01,540
to the one Saturday where, I don't know,

723
00:34:01,540 --> 00:34:03,940
between 150 and 500 stranded people

724
00:34:04,600 --> 00:34:08,580
in the blazing sun, fire department supplying them

725
00:34:08,580 --> 00:34:10,800
water and things like that.

726
00:34:10,800 --> 00:34:13,310
And some had heat stroke or whatnot.

727
00:34:13,310 --> 00:34:15,710
Obviously, the conversation basically

728
00:34:18,170 --> 00:34:22,449
is about whether or not we add an item to the audit plan

729
00:34:22,449 --> 00:34:27,249
to basically determine if our response teams are

730
00:34:28,570 --> 00:34:30,610
the ones driving the regular little Metrolink

731
00:34:30,610 --> 00:34:35,449
cars that might have water in the back or the backup trains.

732
00:34:35,449 --> 00:34:37,710
Are they doing what we need them to do?

733
00:34:37,710 --> 00:34:39,270
Do we have that plan in place?

734
00:34:39,270 --> 00:34:43,570
Is the checklist there, and they know what to do and when?

735
00:34:43,570 --> 00:34:45,389
I'm not sure what the feeling is here.

736
00:34:45,389 --> 00:34:51,170
But I think that, at least in discussion with our board

737
00:34:51,170 --> 00:34:55,100
briefing, it seems like that might be a good item

738
00:34:55,100 --> 00:34:59,730
to add so that we can at least make sure that the public is

739
00:34:59,730 --> 00:35:02,270
being treated as quickly as possible

740
00:35:02,270 --> 00:35:04,610
and the people that are representing

741
00:35:04,610 --> 00:35:08,530
Metrolink are getting out there as fast as they're supposed to.

742
00:35:08,530 --> 00:35:13,550
So I'm not sure if we've ever had an audit like that.

743
00:35:13,550 --> 00:35:18,300
Not that I recall myself, but I wanted just to bring it out

744
00:35:18,300 --> 00:35:21,350
and say that is something that I was thinking we might want

745
00:35:21,350 --> 00:35:24,350
to engage with if there's--

746
00:35:24,745 --> 00:35:25,370
Just a comment.

747
00:35:25,370 --> 00:35:27,870
I think that's something really important that we look into.

748
00:35:27,870 --> 00:35:29,970
I'm not sure it's quite an audit kind of function.

749
00:35:29,970 --> 00:35:32,110
Perhaps it's just something we have there and take a look at

750
00:35:32,110 --> 00:35:32,950
and bring it back.

751
00:35:32,950 --> 00:35:37,110
Mr. Vice Chair, I was going to suggest that this board has

752
00:35:37,110 --> 00:35:39,870
probably not been briefed in some time about how we handle

753
00:35:39,870 --> 00:35:42,270
those types of actions.

754
00:35:42,510 --> 00:35:45,270
Between our safety security and compliance team and our customer

755
00:35:45,270 --> 00:35:47,430
experience team, we can put together

756
00:35:47,430 --> 00:35:50,110
a presentation for a full board meeting that

757
00:35:50,110 --> 00:35:54,110
lays out because we have a long list of what's

758
00:35:54,110 --> 00:35:54,930
supposed to happen.

759
00:35:54,930 --> 00:35:57,930
Does it always work perfectly?

760
00:35:58,790 --> 00:36:01,290
But we do have a plan in place.

761
00:36:01,290 --> 00:36:05,830
So if we can do that and if we encounter a need potentially

762
00:36:05,830 --> 00:36:09,193
in the future, how it could be treated through Liz's team,

763
00:36:09,193 --> 00:36:10,110
that may be something.

764
00:36:10,110 --> 00:36:12,370
But maybe we get a bite at the apple

765
00:36:12,370 --> 00:36:14,790
from a management perspective on that one as well.

766
00:36:14,790 --> 00:36:17,290
I have no issue with that myself.

767
00:36:17,290 --> 00:36:18,370
Catherine.

768
00:36:18,370 --> 00:36:21,900
So is there a reason--

769
00:36:21,900 --> 00:36:22,890
and this may be what you're asking--

770
00:36:22,890 --> 00:36:27,810
why the materials and management maintenance of equipment unit

771
00:36:27,810 --> 00:36:30,890
was left out of the audit plan?

772
00:36:30,890 --> 00:36:33,850
As indicated in our report, we have a table

773
00:36:33,850 --> 00:36:36,350
identifying areas of high risk.

774
00:36:36,350 --> 00:36:39,570
Definitely, that's one of the high risks that were not

775
00:36:39,570 --> 00:36:42,850
selected for an audit for the fiscal

776
00:36:42,850 --> 00:36:46,430
'27, partly because as management is working on it,

777
00:36:46,430 --> 00:36:50,850
they also have their internal working group looking into this

778
00:36:50,850 --> 00:36:52,430
for process improvement.

779
00:36:52,430 --> 00:36:57,250
And again, as I already mentioned at the budget audit

780
00:36:57,250 --> 00:37:00,850
finance committee meeting, during the discussions,

781
00:37:01,490 --> 00:37:03,970
Director Najarian and Director Tettemer

782
00:37:03,970 --> 00:37:05,910
obviously raised that issues.

783
00:37:05,910 --> 00:37:08,900
And then you feel free to chime in.

784
00:37:08,900 --> 00:37:14,120
But it was agreed that an action item of management

785
00:37:14,120 --> 00:37:17,800
will provide quarterly report on those areas.

786
00:37:17,800 --> 00:37:19,280
OK, because given that that seems

787
00:37:19,280 --> 00:37:22,280
to be the equipment failures.

788
00:37:27,760 --> 00:37:32,560
So we have new leadership over the area that deals

789
00:37:32,560 --> 00:37:34,300
with our parts and operations.

790
00:37:34,300 --> 00:37:35,440
They're stepping up.

791
00:37:35,440 --> 00:37:37,720
We have this internal working group.

792
00:37:37,720 --> 00:37:44,280
To be real blunt, the locomotive that you see in front of you

793
00:37:44,280 --> 00:37:46,960
on these screens, the 40 of them,

794
00:37:46,960 --> 00:37:48,800
they have had a reliability.

795
00:37:48,800 --> 00:37:50,680
We are actually getting the parts we

796
00:37:50,680 --> 00:37:52,300
need when we do have failures.

797
00:37:52,300 --> 00:37:54,520
The situation that occurred on Saturday

798
00:37:54,520 --> 00:37:57,327
was something that we've become, unfortunately, accustomed to.

799
00:37:57,327 --> 00:37:59,160
They just happen to be a surprise every time

800
00:37:59,160 --> 00:38:00,560
it happens because you don't know

801
00:38:00,560 --> 00:38:02,760
when a fuel manifold is going to crack

802
00:38:02,760 --> 00:38:06,360
and renders the equipment completely unusable.

803
00:38:07,420 --> 00:38:10,120
We have fuel manifolds in inventory.

804
00:38:10,120 --> 00:38:12,120
We have spider shafts in inventory.

805
00:38:12,120 --> 00:38:14,300
So we know what our problem parts are.

806
00:38:14,300 --> 00:38:16,300
We just don't know when they're going to fail.

807
00:38:16,300 --> 00:38:20,980
And that is a problem with this particular locomotive

808
00:38:20,980 --> 00:38:26,260
that I have now determined to be a DeLorean as we

809
00:38:26,260 --> 00:38:29,960
struggle with some of the reliability challenges.

810
00:38:29,960 --> 00:38:34,100
But the team is working on the parts of material side.

811
00:38:34,100 --> 00:38:37,220
And we're trying to come up with ways

812
00:38:37,220 --> 00:38:40,460
to reduce even the part failure issue

813
00:38:40,460 --> 00:38:42,240
with the various manufacturers.

814
00:38:42,240 --> 00:38:42,800
Thank you.

815
00:38:42,800 --> 00:38:43,580
Thank you.

816
00:38:43,580 --> 00:38:46,580
All right, any other comments?

817
00:38:47,140 --> 00:38:50,780
All right, this is an action item to approve--

818
00:38:50,780 --> 00:38:51,693
oh, public comments.

819
00:38:51,693 --> 00:38:52,860
Do we have a public comment?

820
00:38:52,860 --> 00:38:54,760
OK, now it's an action item.

821
00:38:54,760 --> 00:38:57,200
Do we have a motion to approve the audit

822
00:38:57,200 --> 00:39:00,740
plan as is in the staff report?

823
00:39:00,740 --> 00:39:01,540
Second.

824
00:39:01,540 --> 00:39:03,850
All right, all in favor, aye.

825
00:39:03,850 --> 00:39:05,850
Opposed, abstentions.

826
00:39:06,900 --> 00:39:10,370
Not a lot of yeses, but no no's.

827
00:39:10,370 --> 00:39:13,970
Item 7D, contract number SP645-27,

828
00:39:14,430 --> 00:39:17,770
customer service center recommendation to award 22nd

829
00:39:17,770 --> 00:39:21,370
Century Technologies, presented by Rachel Chaires,

830
00:39:22,700 --> 00:39:24,670
Senior Manager, Customer Relations, and Tammi Phillips,

831
00:39:24,670 --> 00:39:27,670
Senior Contract and Compliance Administrator.

832
00:39:28,890 --> 00:39:31,770
Good morning, Vice Chair Berkson, member of the board.

833
00:39:31,770 --> 00:39:33,770
Next slide, please.

834
00:39:33,810 --> 00:39:37,500
Metrolink's customer service center handles over 500,000

835
00:39:37,500 --> 00:39:40,490
customer contacts each year, providing real time information

836
00:39:40,490 --> 00:39:43,300
on schedules, fares, connecting transit,

837
00:39:43,300 --> 00:39:45,330
and assistance during service disruptions.

838
00:39:45,330 --> 00:39:47,910
In addition to supporting marketing campaigns,

839
00:39:47,910 --> 00:39:50,290
special trains, and mobile app issues,

840
00:39:50,290 --> 00:39:52,690
live agents are available via phone and text

841
00:39:52,690 --> 00:39:55,530
during designated business hours, seven days a week.

842
00:39:55,530 --> 00:39:58,970
And recorded information is available 24 hours a day.

843
00:39:58,970 --> 00:40:00,970
Next slide, please.

844
00:40:01,690 --> 00:40:04,630
This procurement will ensure uninterrupted, high-quality

845
00:40:04,630 --> 00:40:07,910
customer support for riders when the current contract expires

846
00:40:07,910 --> 00:40:09,910
in November 2026.

847
00:40:10,150 --> 00:40:11,990
We began with a request for information

848
00:40:11,990 --> 00:40:14,730
in October that drew 33 responses--

849
00:40:14,730 --> 00:40:18,700
I'm sorry-- that drew responses from 33 firms,

850
00:40:18,700 --> 00:40:20,630
giving us strong insight into modern customer service

851
00:40:20,630 --> 00:40:22,630
tools and staffing models.

852
00:40:22,630 --> 00:40:24,710
The request for proposal was issued in March

853
00:40:24,710 --> 00:40:27,700
and generated strong industry interest.

854
00:40:27,700 --> 00:40:30,330
Of the 83 firms that downloaded the solicitation,

855
00:40:30,330 --> 00:40:32,730
25 attended the pre-proposal conference.

856
00:40:33,110 --> 00:40:35,510
Staff answered 348 follow-up questions

857
00:40:36,170 --> 00:40:38,570
and ultimately received 11 proposals.

858
00:40:38,790 --> 00:40:41,570
Eight were responsive, and six advanced to interviews

859
00:40:41,570 --> 00:40:44,110
after meeting the technical threshold.

860
00:40:44,110 --> 00:40:47,410
Proposals were evaluated on capabilities, staffing,

861
00:40:47,410 --> 00:40:49,700
operations, and price.

862
00:40:49,700 --> 00:40:51,410
After combining technical and cost scores,

863
00:40:51,410 --> 00:40:54,790
22nd Century Technologies Inc received the highest overall

864
00:40:54,790 --> 00:40:55,830
ranking.

865
00:40:55,830 --> 00:40:59,100
Their proposal demonstrated strong operational readiness,

866
00:40:59,100 --> 00:41:02,130
a modern technology platform, and a staffing approach

867
00:41:02,130 --> 00:41:05,450
that aligns with Metrolink's performance expectations.

868
00:41:05,450 --> 00:41:08,930
22nd Century has been in business for 29 years as an IT

869
00:41:08,930 --> 00:41:12,650
services integrator and has 12 years of experience operating

870
00:41:12,650 --> 00:41:14,530
customer service centers.

871
00:41:14,530 --> 00:41:17,190
The company is headquartered in McLean, Virginia,

872
00:41:17,190 --> 00:41:18,570
with an existing customer service

873
00:41:18,570 --> 00:41:20,890
facility in Dallas and the capability

874
00:41:20,890 --> 00:41:23,810
to establish a local operation if needed.

875
00:41:23,810 --> 00:41:27,450
They currently employ more than 350 trained customer service

876
00:41:27,450 --> 00:41:30,210
agents supporting federal, state, and local government

877
00:41:30,210 --> 00:41:33,810
clients, including several public transportation agencies.

878
00:41:35,210 --> 00:41:36,950
To support a seamless transition,

879
00:41:36,950 --> 00:41:39,210
they also intend to recruit experienced staff

880
00:41:39,210 --> 00:41:41,700
from the incumbent contractor.

881
00:41:41,700 --> 00:41:43,700
Next slide, please.

882
00:41:43,410 --> 00:41:46,530
Staff recommends awarding a three-year contract to 22nd

883
00:41:46,530 --> 00:41:50,210
Century Technologies Inc with two one-year option periods

884
00:41:50,210 --> 00:41:54,850
for an amount not to exceed $8.5 million and authorizing the CEO

885
00:41:54,850 --> 00:41:58,730
to exercise the option periods at the authority's discretion.

886
00:41:58,730 --> 00:42:00,520
Next slide, please.

887
00:42:00,520 --> 00:42:01,640
This concludes my report.

888
00:42:01,640 --> 00:42:03,660
And I'm happy to take any questions.

889
00:42:03,660 --> 00:42:04,660
All right, very good.

890
00:42:04,660 --> 00:42:06,660
Karen.

891
00:42:09,440 --> 00:42:14,840
Is the current company OK with 22nd Century recruiting

892
00:42:19,720 --> 00:42:21,680
their folks?

893
00:42:21,680 --> 00:42:23,400
That is a standard.

894
00:42:23,400 --> 00:42:27,200
When there's a transition of customer service center

895
00:42:27,200 --> 00:42:31,800
contracts, the new contractor will reach out to the incumbent

896
00:42:31,800 --> 00:42:33,360
to determine if there is staff that

897
00:42:33,360 --> 00:42:35,920
is interested in transitioning over.

898
00:42:35,920 --> 00:42:38,140
And where is our incumbent based?

899
00:42:38,140 --> 00:42:39,600
In Brea, California.

900
00:42:39,600 --> 00:42:43,800
So the new one is in Virginia.

901
00:42:44,480 --> 00:42:47,400
Yes, they're headquartered in Virginia.

902
00:42:47,400 --> 00:42:50,000
And there doesn't seem to be a problem because it's straight

903
00:42:50,000 --> 00:42:52,360
over the phone customer service?

904
00:42:52,360 --> 00:42:57,760
No, we have several SOPs that we'll be sharing.

905
00:42:57,820 --> 00:42:59,900
We'll be working closely with them

906
00:42:59,900 --> 00:43:02,900
on developing their training curriculum.

907
00:43:03,220 --> 00:43:06,820
They also operate customer service centers

908
00:43:07,260 --> 00:43:10,580
for transportation agencies across the country.

909
00:43:10,580 --> 00:43:12,260
So we're really confident that they

910
00:43:12,260 --> 00:43:15,940
will be able to support us successfully.

911
00:43:15,940 --> 00:43:17,620
OK, thank you.

912
00:43:17,620 --> 00:43:18,300
Allen.

913
00:43:18,300 --> 00:43:18,880
Thank you.

914
00:43:18,880 --> 00:43:20,900
Did you have the opportunity to actually visit their customer

915
00:43:20,900 --> 00:43:22,900
service center to see how it operates?

916
00:43:22,900 --> 00:43:24,100
I have not.

917
00:43:24,100 --> 00:43:27,500
You think that that might be advisable?

918
00:43:27,500 --> 00:43:32,900
Is that something you would do normally or not?

919
00:43:33,500 --> 00:43:37,460
Historically, I mean, Director Wapner, that's not something

920
00:43:37,460 --> 00:43:39,140
where we've gone to those.

921
00:43:39,140 --> 00:43:42,572
Not to say it's not a reasonable idea.

922
00:43:42,572 --> 00:43:44,780
That's not been a practice of Metrolink's in the past

923
00:43:44,780 --> 00:43:48,600
to go and visit those centers.

924
00:43:48,600 --> 00:43:53,180
We generally take the references we have from those agencies

925
00:43:53,180 --> 00:43:55,980
that they recognize that they currently perform work

926
00:43:55,980 --> 00:43:59,580
for as sufficient for our ability

927
00:44:00,810 --> 00:44:02,623
for them to perform on our contracts.

928
00:44:02,623 --> 00:44:05,290
I'm just wondering if sometimes the flexibility of that customer

929
00:44:05,290 --> 00:44:08,110
service center, are they really using folks that are there

930
00:44:08,110 --> 00:44:10,610
or they're using the address and there's other folks working

931
00:44:10,610 --> 00:44:11,830
somewhere else in the world?

932
00:44:11,830 --> 00:44:12,890
How do we know that?

933
00:44:12,890 --> 00:44:13,390
I'm sorry.

934
00:44:13,390 --> 00:44:14,557
Can you repeat the question?

935
00:44:14,557 --> 00:44:17,100
How do we know that the folks that are working for them

936
00:44:17,100 --> 00:44:19,190
are actually working within the United States

937
00:44:19,190 --> 00:44:21,490
and they're not using folks in other countries

938
00:44:21,490 --> 00:44:22,385
to answer the phones?

939
00:44:22,385 --> 00:44:23,510
Thank you for the question.

940
00:44:23,510 --> 00:44:26,730
They have confirmed that their entire staff is located

941
00:44:26,730 --> 00:44:29,130
within the United States.

942
00:44:30,180 --> 00:44:32,580
OK, any other-- Tim.

943
00:44:33,170 --> 00:44:35,500
Yeah, thank you.

944
00:44:35,500 --> 00:44:38,210
You had mentioned that they're based in Virginia.

945
00:44:38,210 --> 00:44:41,410
They have a center in Dallas.

946
00:44:41,410 --> 00:44:43,550
And then you also said, if I understood correctly,

947
00:44:43,550 --> 00:44:47,100
that there is the possibility of a local option.

948
00:44:47,100 --> 00:44:49,130
Maybe you didn't phrase it that way.

949
00:44:49,130 --> 00:44:50,570
What triggers that?

950
00:44:50,570 --> 00:44:52,650
Because what I assume to be a local option

951
00:44:52,650 --> 00:44:56,570
is California or somewhere in Southern California.

952
00:44:56,570 --> 00:44:57,690
Can you explain that?

953
00:44:57,690 --> 00:45:02,100
Yes, they indicated that if we require them to be local,

954
00:45:02,100 --> 00:45:06,190
that they can secure a facility here and set up operations

955
00:45:06,190 --> 00:45:07,923
locally.

956
00:45:07,923 --> 00:45:09,590
Just out of curiosity, is there a reason

957
00:45:09,590 --> 00:45:13,790
why we wouldn't do that, given proximity?

958
00:45:13,870 --> 00:45:16,270
Is there additional cost?

959
00:45:17,710 --> 00:45:18,530
It's close by.

960
00:45:18,530 --> 00:45:20,390
We can go see it.

961
00:45:20,390 --> 00:45:23,590
Just any thoughts on that insight would be appreciated.

962
00:45:23,590 --> 00:45:26,570
Yeah, Director Sandoval, and I don't know, Tammi or Rachel,

963
00:45:26,570 --> 00:45:30,310
if there's an added cost for them to tool

964
00:45:30,310 --> 00:45:32,150
up a facility in Southern California

965
00:45:32,150 --> 00:45:34,670
that we would then be on the hook for.

966
00:45:34,670 --> 00:45:36,310
So much of what customer service does

967
00:45:36,310 --> 00:45:40,630
happen is almost by its very nature is kind of remote.

968
00:45:40,630 --> 00:45:44,270
But it is nice to be able to go kick the tires locally

969
00:45:44,270 --> 00:45:45,190
if we can.

970
00:45:45,190 --> 00:45:47,205
Can you answer that question, Rachel or Tammi?

971
00:45:47,205 --> 00:45:49,830
Is there additional cost to have it or Sabrina who's stepped up

972
00:45:49,830 --> 00:45:52,520
behind you, just so you know.

973
00:45:52,520 --> 00:45:55,800
They did not indicate an additional cost.

974
00:45:55,800 --> 00:45:57,500
But I can certainly find out and get back to you.

975
00:45:57,500 --> 00:45:59,460
And maybe one of the questions is

976
00:45:59,460 --> 00:46:04,260
this is a three-year contract, two additional years.

977
00:46:05,540 --> 00:46:09,740
Maybe through our process of just monitoring,

978
00:46:11,920 --> 00:46:13,300
perhaps we go back to them and say, listen, we really

979
00:46:13,300 --> 00:46:16,300
would like for you to bring a local component here.

980
00:46:16,300 --> 00:46:17,800
Certainly, it could mean some jobs,

981
00:46:17,800 --> 00:46:21,180
albeit probably not a lot of positions, but just something

982
00:46:21,180 --> 00:46:23,140
to be aware of.

983
00:46:23,140 --> 00:46:23,940
Good point.

984
00:46:23,940 --> 00:46:26,120
All right, any other comments, questions?

985
00:46:26,120 --> 00:46:28,120
Any public comments?

986
00:46:29,700 --> 00:46:33,160
All right, this is an action item asking for the contract.

987
00:46:33,160 --> 00:46:35,180
Do I have a motion to approve?

988
00:46:35,180 --> 00:46:36,820
And do I have a second?

989
00:46:36,820 --> 00:46:38,940
All right, all in favor, aye.

990
00:46:38,940 --> 00:46:40,420
Opposed, abstention.

991
00:46:40,420 --> 00:46:42,420
Motion carries unanimous.

992
00:46:42,660 --> 00:46:47,460
Onto 7E, contract number C3167-26 SCORE Marengo

993
00:46:50,500 --> 00:46:53,240
and Rancho siding extension projects,

994
00:46:53,240 --> 00:46:55,960
construction recommendation to award Granite Construction

995
00:46:55,960 --> 00:46:58,540
Company, presented by Katy Thorpe,

996
00:46:58,540 --> 00:47:01,640
Principal Engineer Capital and Third Party Construction.

997
00:47:01,640 --> 00:47:04,200
Director Berkson, before Katie starts,

998
00:47:04,200 --> 00:47:06,000
this is a really big deal.

999
00:47:06,000 --> 00:47:08,000
Go ahead, Katy.

1000
00:47:08,720 --> 00:47:09,817
No pressure.

1001
00:47:09,817 --> 00:47:11,900
Good morning, vice chair and members of the board.

1002
00:47:11,900 --> 00:47:13,900
Next slide, please.

1003
00:47:13,920 --> 00:47:17,800
Authority proposes to extend both the existing Marengo

1004
00:47:17,800 --> 00:47:21,160
and Rancho siding tracks on SCRRA's San Bernardino line

1005
00:47:21,160 --> 00:47:24,500
to improve frequency and flexibility of future service.

1006
00:47:24,500 --> 00:47:26,000
Next slide, please.

1007
00:47:26,000 --> 00:47:30,200
Invitation for bid was released on February 6, 2026.

1008
00:47:30,320 --> 00:47:31,440
We received four bids.

1009
00:47:31,440 --> 00:47:34,960
And the lowest was 39% over the designer's independent cost

1010
00:47:34,960 --> 00:47:36,160
estimate.

1011
00:47:36,160 --> 00:47:39,600
Authority staff analyzed the bids alongside the designer

1012
00:47:39,600 --> 00:47:42,520
and determined a few key factors in the bid.

1013
00:47:42,520 --> 00:47:46,640
And independent cost estimate discrepancy were as follows.

1014
00:47:46,640 --> 00:47:49,320
The designer's escalation factors were too low.

1015
00:47:49,320 --> 00:47:52,740
Material cost escalations have been particularly volatile

1016
00:47:52,740 --> 00:47:56,580
in recent years, with some track and signal components doubling

1017
00:47:56,580 --> 00:47:58,100
in cost.

1018
00:47:58,100 --> 00:48:00,740
Lastly, due to the number of current and pending construction

1019
00:48:00,740 --> 00:48:03,460
contracts in the Southern California area--

1020
00:48:03,460 --> 00:48:06,980
sorry here echo-- there is a concern amongst contractors

1021
00:48:06,980 --> 00:48:10,860
regarding labor availability and potential labor shortages, which

1022
00:48:10,860 --> 00:48:15,620
may lead to premium pay in order to obtain qualified workers.

1023
00:48:15,620 --> 00:48:17,340
After review, Granite Construction

1024
00:48:17,340 --> 00:48:20,200
was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible

1025
00:48:20,200 --> 00:48:20,600
bidder.

1026
00:48:20,600 --> 00:48:22,600
Next slide, please.

1027
00:48:23,100 --> 00:48:26,380
It is recommended that the board authorize the CEO to award

1028
00:48:26,380 --> 00:48:31,580
contract number C3167-26 for the SCORE Marengo and Rancho

1029
00:48:31,580 --> 00:48:35,180
Cucamonga siding projects to Granite Construction

1030
00:48:35,300 --> 00:48:39,500
in the amount of $51,502,175, plus a 5% contingency,

1031
00:48:41,840 --> 00:48:46,640
bringing the total not to exceed amount to $54,077,283.75.

1032
00:48:49,420 --> 00:48:50,490
Next slide.

1033
00:48:50,490 --> 00:48:51,890
Thank you.

1034
00:48:51,890 --> 00:48:53,110
All right, very good.

1035
00:48:53,110 --> 00:48:55,110
Comments or questions.

1036
00:48:55,770 --> 00:48:57,770
That $0.75 is important.

1037
00:48:59,690 --> 00:49:01,690
It just sounds like a 5% contingency

1038
00:49:01,690 --> 00:49:05,410
is kind of low when it comes to a construction project.

1039
00:49:05,410 --> 00:49:08,890
Yeah, 10% is typical, but, I mean--

1040
00:49:08,890 --> 00:49:12,650
I just don't look for it a lot of change orders, that's all.

1041
00:49:12,650 --> 00:49:14,810
I hope so too.

1042
00:49:14,810 --> 00:49:17,500
Any public comments on this?

1043
00:49:17,500 --> 00:49:24,730
We do have a request to speak from Adriana Rizzo on this item.

1044
00:49:24,730 --> 00:49:25,970
Hey, everybody.

1045
00:49:25,970 --> 00:49:27,750
This is really exciting.

1046
00:49:27,750 --> 00:49:30,210
I'm very happy to see that these projects are

1047
00:49:30,210 --> 00:49:32,870
moving forward and getting close to the construction phase.

1048
00:49:32,870 --> 00:49:36,810
It's going to be a game changer to have 30-minute service

1049
00:49:36,810 --> 00:49:39,410
on the whole San Bernardino line and hopefully have that be

1050
00:49:39,410 --> 00:49:42,210
a little more reliable than we've been seeing with

1051
00:49:42,210 --> 00:49:45,690
the attempts to do 30 minutes for part of it.

1052
00:49:45,690 --> 00:49:47,850
So this is really great.

1053
00:49:47,850 --> 00:49:49,990
I have a concern, though, that this

1054
00:49:49,990 --> 00:49:53,110
is one of the only SCORE program projects that

1055
00:49:53,110 --> 00:49:57,300
seems to be moving forward in anywhere near on time.

1056
00:49:57,300 --> 00:50:01,390
I mean, we were supposed to have SCORE phase 1 done by 2028

1057
00:50:01,390 --> 00:50:02,100
now, right?

1058
00:50:02,100 --> 00:50:07,300
And some of these projects have been indefinitely canceled.

1059
00:50:07,300 --> 00:50:10,750
They're indefinitely delayed like the Serra Siding.

1060
00:50:10,750 --> 00:50:14,190
Others of these projects like the Balboa Double

1061
00:50:14,190 --> 00:50:16,510
Track, some other projects in LA County

1062
00:50:16,510 --> 00:50:19,100
have been delayed like 10 years.

1063
00:50:19,100 --> 00:50:23,110
I think some of the AVL projects are not supposed to be complete

1064
00:50:23,110 --> 00:50:27,630
until the late 2030s, based on the latest update I saw.

1065
00:50:27,630 --> 00:50:30,630
And this is really concerning for riders

1066
00:50:30,630 --> 00:50:36,310
and for people who want to see a better, more

1067
00:50:36,310 --> 00:50:38,310
serviceable Metrolink system.

1068
00:50:40,830 --> 00:50:42,710
I'm wondering, has the--

1069
00:50:42,710 --> 00:50:47,140
first off, it's quite difficult to actually find information

1070
00:50:47,140 --> 00:50:49,720
about the status of these projects.

1071
00:50:49,720 --> 00:50:52,580
I'm wondering if the SCORE website

1072
00:50:52,580 --> 00:50:54,500
page could be updated more frequently

1073
00:50:54,500 --> 00:50:58,440
to provide more information about these projects.

1074
00:50:58,440 --> 00:51:00,380
And secondly, I'm wondering, has Metrolink

1075
00:51:00,380 --> 00:51:02,620
done any kind of comprehensive audit

1076
00:51:02,620 --> 00:51:07,740
to study the reason for why there's so many delays?

1077
00:51:07,740 --> 00:51:11,660
This would be helpful for us as advocates to identify ways

1078
00:51:11,660 --> 00:51:16,340
where we can push for legislation or other changes

1079
00:51:16,340 --> 00:51:20,200
that could help us deliver some of these projects faster.

1080
00:51:20,200 --> 00:51:23,638
So we want to see these projects on time, on budget.

1081
00:51:23,638 --> 00:51:25,680
But that's not really what's happening right now.

1082
00:51:25,680 --> 00:51:27,140
So thank you.

1083
00:51:27,140 --> 00:51:28,700
All right, thank you very much.

1084
00:51:28,700 --> 00:51:31,100
Comments from the board.

1085
00:51:31,820 --> 00:51:36,860
Yeah, what were you so excited about this item?

1086
00:51:36,860 --> 00:51:40,420
Because this is one of-- as actually the speaker just

1087
00:51:40,420 --> 00:51:43,220
mentioned, we have not had many SCORE projects

1088
00:51:43,220 --> 00:51:44,240
get out of the gate.

1089
00:51:44,240 --> 00:51:49,320
And this project on the San Bernardino line, our most used

1090
00:51:49,320 --> 00:51:51,720
line will give us--

1091
00:51:52,200 --> 00:51:55,880
awarding this contract today, having the funding in place

1092
00:51:55,880 --> 00:51:58,500
means that this project will be done in advance of 2028

1093
00:51:58,500 --> 00:52:02,200
in the Olympics, which will give us the ability to run 30-minute

1094
00:52:02,200 --> 00:52:06,200
bidirectional frequencies on that San Bernardino line.

1095
00:52:06,200 --> 00:52:09,400
So it is setting us up for success.

1096
00:52:09,400 --> 00:52:14,280
And it's just great to finally get that project out the gate.

1097
00:52:14,280 --> 00:52:16,960
You look like a little kid looking at the candy bar.

1098
00:52:16,960 --> 00:52:19,560
You were just-- did I miss something?

1099
00:52:19,560 --> 00:52:23,820
You can turn to Katy and Justin and the team on this.

1100
00:52:23,820 --> 00:52:27,260
These are long processes to make happen.

1101
00:52:27,260 --> 00:52:33,160
And I will say that the fact that we had the budget

1102
00:52:33,160 --> 00:52:35,380
bust on the independent cost estimate was like, OK,

1103
00:52:35,380 --> 00:52:36,620
how are we going to track down the money?

1104
00:52:36,620 --> 00:52:38,162
And we now have two different sources

1105
00:52:38,162 --> 00:52:39,900
to cover that, the delta.

1106
00:52:39,900 --> 00:52:44,620
So we're just excited about getting shovels in the ground.

1107
00:52:44,620 --> 00:52:46,500
So, Darren, can you--

1108
00:52:46,500 --> 00:52:50,300
so going back in my dusty memory bank here,

1109
00:52:50,300 --> 00:52:52,320
SCORE program, if I'm not mistaken,

1110
00:52:52,320 --> 00:52:55,920
was supposed to be a $10 billion--

1111
00:52:56,420 --> 00:53:00,900
it was set up to be $10 billion of funding coming in

1112
00:53:00,900 --> 00:53:02,760
and doing all these programs.

1113
00:53:02,760 --> 00:53:06,660
So the speaker that mentioned so many have been canceled

1114
00:53:06,660 --> 00:53:09,300
or postponed, is that because--

1115
00:53:09,300 --> 00:53:11,720
I don't know what the exact amount we brought in.

1116
00:53:11,720 --> 00:53:15,720
But I know it's nowhere close to the total that we were seeking.

1117
00:53:15,720 --> 00:53:22,320
So is that the reason for the delays and the cancelations?

1118
00:53:22,460 --> 00:53:28,340
And where are we with the total score of the 10 billion?

1119
00:53:28,340 --> 00:53:30,620
Where do we get to?

1120
00:53:30,620 --> 00:53:32,120
Where we are is in phase 1.

1121
00:53:32,120 --> 00:53:35,380
And I want to say the original cost estimate was

1122
00:53:35,380 --> 00:53:37,380
2.3 or $2.5 billion.

1123
00:53:39,420 --> 00:53:43,610
But that number was developed seven years ago.

1124
00:53:43,610 --> 00:53:46,890
And as Katie indicated, some of these factors

1125
00:53:46,890 --> 00:53:51,500
that are hitting us are blowing cost estimates

1126
00:53:51,500 --> 00:53:53,450
right through the roof.

1127
00:53:54,650 --> 00:53:57,583
So we can certainly provide more information.

1128
00:53:57,583 --> 00:53:59,750
There are various reasons why we've been challenged.

1129
00:53:59,750 --> 00:54:02,570
We were delayed for some time on our Simi Valley Double Track

1130
00:54:02,570 --> 00:54:06,100
Project because we had a dispute with the Union Pacific Railroad.

1131
00:54:06,100 --> 00:54:07,190
That's been resolved.

1132
00:54:07,190 --> 00:54:09,290
But in the meantime, construction costs

1133
00:54:09,290 --> 00:54:10,652
have escalated.

1134
00:54:10,652 --> 00:54:12,110
So that project isn't fully funded.

1135
00:54:12,110 --> 00:54:15,210
So there's a variety-- that's just one example.

1136
00:54:15,210 --> 00:54:19,250
We've found other ways to try to get some benefits that

1137
00:54:19,250 --> 00:54:22,500
deliver without the Serra siding being one of those projects

1138
00:54:22,500 --> 00:54:23,750
where we have some other bets.

1139
00:54:23,750 --> 00:54:25,450
We have a project in downtown Riverside

1140
00:54:25,450 --> 00:54:26,850
that was going to be funded.

1141
00:54:26,850 --> 00:54:28,850
And we've been able to find a more efficient way

1142
00:54:28,850 --> 00:54:31,570
to get benefit from it that's going to be less expensive.

1143
00:54:31,570 --> 00:54:34,500
So we're always trying to be creative

1144
00:54:34,500 --> 00:54:36,790
that, again, that plan was developed seven years ago.

1145
00:54:36,790 --> 00:54:40,370
So as we have to bob and weave to a certain degree,

1146
00:54:40,370 --> 00:54:44,950
and this is why this project we're excited about it

1147
00:54:44,950 --> 00:54:47,670
is because we're going to make this one happen.

1148
00:54:47,670 --> 00:54:48,350
Good.

1149
00:54:48,350 --> 00:54:51,270
All right, any other comments, questions?

1150
00:54:51,270 --> 00:54:54,510
OK, this one is an action item.

1151
00:54:54,510 --> 00:54:55,790
So moved.

1152
00:54:55,790 --> 00:54:58,790
Do I have a second?

1153
00:54:59,590 --> 00:55:01,430
All in favor, aye.

1154
00:55:01,430 --> 00:55:03,430
Opposed, abstentions.

1155
00:55:03,630 --> 00:55:05,470
Motion carries.

1156
00:55:05,470 --> 00:55:09,670
Item 7F, system safety, security and compliance,

1157
00:55:12,810 --> 00:55:16,910
SSSC Department activities update quarter three fiscal year

1158
00:55:16,910 --> 00:55:19,310
2026, presented by Hillary Konczal,

1159
00:55:20,270 --> 00:55:23,700
Chief Safety Security and Compliance Officer.

1160
00:55:23,700 --> 00:55:24,310
Good morning.

1161
00:55:24,310 --> 00:55:29,210
Again, today, I'm here to present our third quarter safety

1162
00:55:29,210 --> 00:55:30,850
security and compliance stance.

1163
00:55:30,850 --> 00:55:32,850
Next slide, please.

1164
00:55:33,230 --> 00:55:37,430
So total train strikes for quarter three

1165
00:55:38,300 --> 00:55:40,300
were flat compared to quarter two.

1166
00:55:40,300 --> 00:55:42,260
If you look at the bottom there, those

1167
00:55:42,260 --> 00:55:46,380
are the number of train strikes by type.

1168
00:55:46,380 --> 00:55:48,980
Nothing alarming, but we are trending downward

1169
00:55:48,980 --> 00:55:51,620
for the year, which is very, very positive.

1170
00:55:51,620 --> 00:55:53,620
Next slide, please.

1171
00:55:54,420 --> 00:55:58,620
So here, you'll see the train strikes by county.

1172
00:55:58,620 --> 00:56:02,220
LA Riverside Ventura counties recorded one less train strike

1173
00:56:02,220 --> 00:56:03,760
in Q3 than Q2.

1174
00:56:03,760 --> 00:56:05,580
Orange County is flat.

1175
00:56:05,580 --> 00:56:08,540
And San Bernardino county recorded three more train

1176
00:56:08,540 --> 00:56:11,260
strikes in the third quarter than they

1177
00:56:11,260 --> 00:56:12,560
did the second quarter.

1178
00:56:12,560 --> 00:56:15,600
So we are watching those closely.

1179
00:56:15,600 --> 00:56:17,820
And again, as I said, we have a total

1180
00:56:17,820 --> 00:56:21,220
of 15 train strikes for the year.

1181
00:56:21,220 --> 00:56:22,620
Next slide, please.

1182
00:56:22,620 --> 00:56:24,460
These are the same numbers broken down

1183
00:56:24,460 --> 00:56:28,780
by line, just to give you a different visual perspective.

1184
00:56:28,780 --> 00:56:30,200
Ventura line is flat.

1185
00:56:30,200 --> 00:56:32,600
Antelope Valley, 91/Perris Valley,

1186
00:56:33,380 --> 00:56:39,920
Orange and the IEOC lines all recorded one less train strike.

1187
00:56:39,920 --> 00:56:42,800
San Bernardino recorded five more train strikes

1188
00:56:42,800 --> 00:56:45,720
than they did in Q3 than Q2.

1189
00:56:45,720 --> 00:56:48,160
In Q2, they had zero train strikes.

1190
00:56:48,160 --> 00:56:50,540
Riverside recorded two less train strikes,

1191
00:56:50,540 --> 00:56:54,160
and then Airline recorded one more train strike.

1192
00:56:54,160 --> 00:56:57,240
And as a reminder, a lot of these lines

1193
00:56:57,240 --> 00:56:59,600
go through more than one county.

1194
00:56:59,600 --> 00:57:02,000
So that's why we do it both ways.

1195
00:57:02,000 --> 00:57:04,000
Next slide, please.

1196
00:57:04,280 --> 00:57:06,940
So here we have our fare evaders unruly passengers.

1197
00:57:06,940 --> 00:57:08,440
They're up quite a bit.

1198
00:57:08,440 --> 00:57:10,600
Don't want to alarm you.

1199
00:57:10,600 --> 00:57:12,440
The reason why they are up quite a bit

1200
00:57:12,440 --> 00:57:17,800
is because we have increased our fare collection

1201
00:57:17,800 --> 00:57:19,440
strategy, so to speak.

1202
00:57:19,440 --> 00:57:23,400
Alstom obviously increased their requirement to 50%.

1203
00:57:24,400 --> 00:57:27,840
And we also increased the amount of streetcaring

1204
00:57:27,840 --> 00:57:29,700
we're doing at Union Station.

1205
00:57:29,700 --> 00:57:35,000
So what we do is we'll hold our customers at the ramp

1206
00:57:35,000 --> 00:57:38,430
to make sure they have a valid fare to get onto the platform.

1207
00:57:38,430 --> 00:57:40,570
And that's helped immensely.

1208
00:57:40,570 --> 00:57:43,490
That's a lot of the reasons why the fare evasion is up.

1209
00:57:43,490 --> 00:57:46,950
And then the unruly passengers is tied very closely

1210
00:57:46,950 --> 00:57:50,390
to fare evaders because once you tell somebody

1211
00:57:50,390 --> 00:57:53,550
that they can't take the train, then it gets confrontational.

1212
00:57:53,550 --> 00:57:55,770
So then we have them ticketed or arrested.

1213
00:57:55,770 --> 00:58:00,300
And that's when they become an unruly passenger.

1214
00:58:00,300 --> 00:58:02,300
Next slide.

1215
00:58:04,430 --> 00:58:07,190
These are basically conductor assaults or assaults

1216
00:58:07,190 --> 00:58:11,310
on trains that are recorded through the National

1217
00:58:11,310 --> 00:58:13,310
Transportation database.

1218
00:58:13,550 --> 00:58:20,230
We've recorded six for the month of February and eight for March.

1219
00:58:20,230 --> 00:58:22,250
Even though it says nonmajor physical,

1220
00:58:22,250 --> 00:58:25,550
the nonmajor physical ones are if somebody's pushed

1221
00:58:25,550 --> 00:58:28,850
or there may be a nudge or something.

1222
00:58:28,850 --> 00:58:30,830
So we do watch those.

1223
00:58:30,830 --> 00:58:34,670
And our law enforcement is always close by

1224
00:58:34,670 --> 00:58:36,910
to handle any of those assaults.

1225
00:58:36,910 --> 00:58:38,730
Next slide, please.

1226
00:58:38,730 --> 00:58:43,530
So these are law enforcement activities by county.

1227
00:58:44,210 --> 00:58:46,950
These are conducted by the LA County Sheriff's Department.

1228
00:58:46,950 --> 00:58:49,770
I just want to specify that.

1229
00:58:49,770 --> 00:58:53,610
And for the three months for quarter three,

1230
00:58:53,610 --> 00:58:57,770
there were a total of 6,821 law enforcement details that were

1231
00:58:57,770 --> 00:59:00,870
conducted by the LA County Sheriff's Department.

1232
00:59:00,870 --> 00:59:02,730
The next slide, please.

1233
00:59:02,730 --> 00:59:07,290
So this is the same information just again broken down by line

1234
00:59:07,290 --> 00:59:11,900
by the LA County Sheriff's Department again for a total

1235
00:59:11,900 --> 00:59:15,290
of 6,821 law enforcement details that were conducted.

1236
00:59:18,890 --> 00:59:23,100
And I just want to remind you, these are in addition

1237
00:59:23,100 --> 00:59:24,590
to all of their other duties.

1238
00:59:24,590 --> 00:59:26,710
A lot of times, there's a call for service.

1239
00:59:26,710 --> 00:59:30,910
We have to handle a fare evasion,

1240
00:59:31,730 --> 00:59:34,450
dealing with right of way inspections.

1241
00:59:34,450 --> 00:59:38,830
So there's a lot of things that go on in addition to this right

1242
00:59:38,830 --> 00:59:40,190
here.

1243
00:59:40,190 --> 00:59:42,190
Next slide, please.

1244
00:59:42,230 --> 00:59:45,590
So these are the same law enforcement activities

1245
00:59:45,590 --> 00:59:48,630
by the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department.

1246
00:59:48,630 --> 00:59:53,590
They monitor or patrol the San Bernardino County line

1247
00:59:53,590 --> 00:59:57,300
or the San Bernardino line, I apologize, from Montclair

1248
00:59:57,300 --> 00:59:59,500
through Redlands University station.

1249
00:59:59,500 --> 01:00:04,450
So they had a total of 3,027 law enforcement activities.

1250
01:00:05,150 --> 01:00:06,950
Next slide, please.

1251
01:00:06,950 --> 01:00:09,470
So the rule violations, I'm happy to report,

1252
01:00:09,470 --> 01:00:14,350
are trending downward, even though it increased by three

1253
01:00:14,350 --> 01:00:16,750
in the third quarter.

1254
01:00:16,750 --> 01:00:19,810
Last year, if you remember, we had a spike in rule violations.

1255
01:00:19,810 --> 01:00:21,910
We created an action plan.

1256
01:00:21,910 --> 01:00:25,630
And I'm happy to report that our rule violations are

1257
01:00:25,630 --> 01:00:28,300
down for the year 78%.

1258
01:00:28,110 --> 01:00:30,190
So this is a positive story, even

1259
01:00:30,190 --> 01:00:34,240
though there's a little spike in rule violations there.

1260
01:00:34,240 --> 01:00:37,500
And we do continually watch them and work with our operations

1261
01:00:37,500 --> 01:00:38,740
team.

1262
01:00:38,740 --> 01:00:40,460
Next slide, please.

1263
01:00:40,460 --> 01:00:42,860
So FRA reported injuries.

1264
01:00:42,860 --> 01:00:50,200
We recorded two less injuries in Q3 than we had in Q2.

1265
01:00:50,200 --> 01:00:53,700
Injuries are down 18% compared to the previous year.

1266
01:00:53,700 --> 01:00:57,140
A lot of them were like-- we had two pinch points,

1267
01:00:57,140 --> 01:01:02,660
I think one slip and fall, but nothing major to report.

1268
01:01:02,660 --> 01:01:04,420
Next slide.

1269
01:01:04,420 --> 01:01:07,180
So training, we continue to train our employees

1270
01:01:07,180 --> 01:01:10,780
in numerous safety and operational practices.

1271
01:01:10,883 --> 01:01:12,300
Safety is the most important thing

1272
01:01:12,300 --> 01:01:18,600
here at Metrolink in addition to a lot of other operational

1273
01:01:18,600 --> 01:01:20,600
[AUDIO OUT].

1274
01:02:01,640 --> 01:02:04,860
And we did a phenomenal job.

1275
01:02:04,860 --> 01:02:07,320
And when I say we, I say Metrolink as a whole.

1276
01:02:07,320 --> 01:02:08,940
There were no safety issues.

1277
01:02:08,940 --> 01:02:11,940
No incidents, security incidents whatsoever.

1278
01:02:12,380 --> 01:02:14,280
We did have increase in ridership.

1279
01:02:14,280 --> 01:02:16,720
I believe the 15% increase in ridership

1280
01:02:16,720 --> 01:02:19,720
that I put up there may be low, but those were initial numbers

1281
01:02:19,720 --> 01:02:22,600
that I got when I was putting together the presentation.

1282
01:02:22,600 --> 01:02:25,820
So I just wanted to point that out that even us as an agency,

1283
01:02:25,820 --> 01:02:28,820
we should be extremely proud.

1284
01:02:29,140 --> 01:02:34,540
I've worked on NATO, the Obama campaign, his inauguration.

1285
01:02:34,650 --> 01:02:36,410
These national events are huge.

1286
01:02:36,410 --> 01:02:42,250
They take a lot of coordination with Secret Service, FBI, DHS,

1287
01:02:42,250 --> 01:02:43,310
TSA.

1288
01:02:43,310 --> 01:02:46,910
And with the limited number of resources that we had,

1289
01:02:46,910 --> 01:02:51,330
our team did a phenomenal job and at Darren's leadership,

1290
01:02:51,330 --> 01:02:52,100
I should say.

1291
01:02:52,100 --> 01:02:54,190
So I just want to point that out there.

1292
01:02:54,190 --> 01:02:56,300
Next slide.

1293
01:02:56,300 --> 01:02:57,390
So these are just a few.

1294
01:02:57,390 --> 01:02:59,810
I can't go over everything we did because a lot of it,

1295
01:02:59,810 --> 01:03:02,670
we don't want to give our secrets away

1296
01:03:02,670 --> 01:03:05,450
because we're going to start preparing for the Olympics next.

1297
01:03:05,450 --> 01:03:10,430
But we've held two active shooter drills before the event.

1298
01:03:10,430 --> 01:03:12,290
They were simulated.

1299
01:03:12,290 --> 01:03:15,700
We had law enforcement on the train.

1300
01:03:15,700 --> 01:03:20,110
We had actors that acted as an active shooter.

1301
01:03:20,110 --> 01:03:23,170
So we did a lot of preparation.

1302
01:03:23,170 --> 01:03:26,790
LASD, we had a workshop with them

1303
01:03:26,790 --> 01:03:31,130
or drill with them and then San Bernardino County.

1304
01:03:31,130 --> 01:03:34,730
And we also included local law enforcement.

1305
01:03:34,730 --> 01:03:38,500
All forward-facing employees were trained in bomb detection

1306
01:03:38,500 --> 01:03:40,850
to know what to look for if they seen a suspicious package

1307
01:03:40,850 --> 01:03:45,410
or bomb along the railroad right of way or what have you.

1308
01:03:45,410 --> 01:03:48,350
And we had limited resources.

1309
01:03:48,350 --> 01:03:52,890
But we were lucky through LA County and the County Sheriff's

1310
01:03:52,890 --> 01:03:58,290
Department to be able to obtain 22 additional officers, two

1311
01:03:58,610 --> 01:04:01,770
sergeants and a lieutenant for match days

1312
01:04:01,770 --> 01:04:03,410
at no cost to Metrolink.

1313
01:04:03,410 --> 01:04:04,670
So that was a plus.

1314
01:04:04,670 --> 01:04:07,310
And they helped us out with Allied Universal.

1315
01:04:07,310 --> 01:04:08,990
We had 15 additional armed.

1316
01:04:08,990 --> 01:04:11,210
We were able to obtain 15 additional armed security

1317
01:04:11,210 --> 01:04:12,900
guards.

1318
01:04:12,900 --> 01:04:15,270
So they were strategically placed throughout the system.

1319
01:04:15,270 --> 01:04:17,490
And then our LA County Sheriff's Department

1320
01:04:17,490 --> 01:04:19,470
and our San Bernardino Sheriff's,

1321
01:04:19,470 --> 01:04:23,300
they did over 200 I say facility inspections.

1322
01:04:23,300 --> 01:04:27,550
But those are everything along our 564 miles of track

1323
01:04:27,550 --> 01:04:29,950
that they were patrolling.

1324
01:04:31,490 --> 01:04:33,490
Next slide.

1325
01:04:34,470 --> 01:04:38,190
The other thing we did was before the beginning

1326
01:04:38,190 --> 01:04:40,750
of the matches, we did high rail trips

1327
01:04:40,750 --> 01:04:42,670
with an officer in the high rail to make sure

1328
01:04:42,670 --> 01:04:45,610
that there's nothing along the railroad right of way,

1329
01:04:45,610 --> 01:04:48,100
no sabotage, suspicious people.

1330
01:04:49,550 --> 01:04:53,350
We increased our street coloring, our fare enforcement.

1331
01:04:53,350 --> 01:04:57,730
And then we worked weekly with LA Metro.

1332
01:04:57,730 --> 01:05:02,230
And we had one of our employees, a security employee, safety

1333
01:05:02,230 --> 01:05:06,350
employee, and then an LASD Sheriff deputy

1334
01:05:06,350 --> 01:05:10,150
in Metro's ESOC, which helped us coordinate

1335
01:05:10,150 --> 01:05:13,792
the busing to our trains at Union Station and vice versa.

1336
01:05:13,792 --> 01:05:15,250
So there was a lot of coordination.

1337
01:05:15,250 --> 01:05:16,630
It all worked well.

1338
01:05:16,630 --> 01:05:19,470
I'd be remiss if I didn't thank Michael Litschi and the customer

1339
01:05:19,470 --> 01:05:22,210
service team as well and the operations team.

1340
01:05:22,210 --> 01:05:24,650
But that will conclude my-- oh, I'm sorry.

1341
01:05:24,650 --> 01:05:25,150
Hold on.

1342
01:05:25,150 --> 01:05:26,740
One more slide.

1343
01:05:26,740 --> 01:05:28,840
This is what I really wanted to thank.

1344
01:05:28,840 --> 01:05:31,888
So I just want to recognize a few people.

1345
01:05:31,888 --> 01:05:33,680
And if you're in the room, please stand up.

1346
01:05:33,680 --> 01:05:36,180
I know that two of them are on vacation.

1347
01:05:36,180 --> 01:05:40,980
Captain Abi Ben-Sahile from the LASD Metrolink Bureau,

1348
01:05:41,660 --> 01:05:46,460
Lieutenant Nick Aguirre from the LASD Metrolink Bureau,

1349
01:05:48,800 --> 01:05:51,220
Sergeant Ryan Bressler, he's on vacation.

1350
01:05:51,220 --> 01:05:52,120
He worked too much.

1351
01:05:52,120 --> 01:05:54,780
He said he needed time off, so.

1352
01:05:54,780 --> 01:05:57,720
And Nicole Adams, our security manager for Allied Security,

1353
01:05:57,720 --> 01:06:00,120
who's in the back.

1354
01:06:00,260 --> 01:06:03,412
And Tinh Quach, manager of security and law enforcement

1355
01:06:03,412 --> 01:06:04,120
who works for me.

1356
01:06:04,120 --> 01:06:05,880
He is actually on vacation.

1357
01:06:05,880 --> 01:06:08,820
And then Eric Smith, who's to my left, our manager, emergency

1358
01:06:08,820 --> 01:06:10,960
preparedness and operations trainer.

1359
01:06:10,960 --> 01:06:13,540
This guy, I call him professor.

1360
01:06:13,540 --> 01:06:14,262
He's phenomenal.

1361
01:06:14,262 --> 01:06:15,720
But I just want to thank everybody.

1362
01:06:15,720 --> 01:06:16,240
Thank you.

1363
01:06:16,240 --> 01:06:18,240
[APPLAUSE]

1364
01:06:20,260 --> 01:06:22,120
And that will conclude my report.

1365
01:06:22,120 --> 01:06:23,920
Very good with applause at the end.

1366
01:06:23,920 --> 01:06:25,160
That's amazing.

1367
01:06:25,160 --> 01:06:27,233
Comments from the board?

1368
01:06:27,233 --> 01:06:27,900
Just a question.

1369
01:06:27,900 --> 01:06:28,180
Thank you.

1370
01:06:28,180 --> 01:06:28,888
A quick question.

1371
01:06:28,888 --> 01:06:31,500
We get reports of trains versus unoccupied vehicle.

1372
01:06:31,500 --> 01:06:34,000
What is normally the cause of having an unoccupied vehicle

1373
01:06:34,000 --> 01:06:35,120
on the track?

1374
01:06:35,120 --> 01:06:38,640
Usually, the vehicle will stall, and the person

1375
01:06:38,640 --> 01:06:41,360
will get out of the vehicle.

1376
01:06:41,360 --> 01:06:43,840
There's been a few instances where a vehicle was stolen

1377
01:06:43,840 --> 01:06:45,540
and they parked it on the track.

1378
01:06:45,540 --> 01:06:47,760
But most of the time, it's somebody that gets

1379
01:06:47,760 --> 01:06:48,900
stuck on the track.

1380
01:06:48,900 --> 01:06:52,200
The car might die, and they just out of panic, they

1381
01:06:52,200 --> 01:06:55,800
get out and trying to call 911 and stuff like that.

1382
01:06:55,800 --> 01:07:00,600
Any investigations if any of these are intentional?

1383
01:07:00,900 --> 01:07:02,900
There are a couple that are intentional.

1384
01:07:02,900 --> 01:07:05,460
And we get that determination from the coroner.

1385
01:07:05,460 --> 01:07:07,660
A lot of times, when the police department,

1386
01:07:07,660 --> 01:07:09,720
when they're doing their investigation,

1387
01:07:09,720 --> 01:07:12,120
they'll suspect it's intentional.

1388
01:07:12,180 --> 01:07:16,240
But we really go off of the coroner's manner of death,

1389
01:07:16,240 --> 01:07:17,230
but yeah.

1390
01:07:17,230 --> 01:07:18,940
I guess I'm talking about unoccupied vehicles.

1391
01:07:18,940 --> 01:07:22,620
Anybody parked their car and leave just to cause a collision?

1392
01:07:22,620 --> 01:07:23,260
Oh, no.

1393
01:07:23,260 --> 01:07:26,100
No, we haven't had that since way back.

1394
01:07:26,100 --> 01:07:29,190
I don't want to mention it.

1395
01:07:29,190 --> 01:07:31,190
But no.

1396
01:07:31,230 --> 01:07:34,710
All right, any other comments or questions?

1397
01:07:34,710 --> 01:07:35,450
Well, very good.

1398
01:07:35,450 --> 01:07:40,890
I guess that was a good test run for what's coming up in 2028.

1399
01:07:40,890 --> 01:07:43,870
And it was nice to see.

1400
01:07:43,870 --> 01:07:47,670
And you say a 15% increase in ridership during that period?

1401
01:07:47,670 --> 01:07:48,890
Roughly, yeah.

1402
01:07:48,890 --> 01:07:50,890
That's good.

1403
01:07:51,830 --> 01:07:53,390
All right, and with that--

1404
01:07:53,390 --> 01:07:55,790
Those were preliminary numbers.

1405
01:07:55,830 --> 01:07:56,790
Perfect.

1406
01:07:56,790 --> 01:07:59,310
Do we have any public comments?

1407
01:07:59,310 --> 01:08:00,990
That's receive and file.

1408
01:08:00,990 --> 01:08:03,810
That'll be the order of business for that.

1409
01:08:03,810 --> 01:08:09,270
And we will move to Item 7G, July legislative update,

1410
01:08:09,270 --> 01:08:10,870
being presented by Jeff Dunn.

1411
01:08:10,870 --> 01:08:13,162
Good morning, Vice Chair Chaffee, members of the board.

1412
01:08:13,162 --> 01:08:14,110
Next slide, please.

1413
01:08:14,110 --> 01:08:16,930
The California legislature is presently in its summer recess,

1414
01:08:16,930 --> 01:08:19,510
will return on August 3 to begin the final stretch

1415
01:08:19,510 --> 01:08:21,690
of the legislative session.

1416
01:08:21,690 --> 01:08:23,569
At that time, lawmakers will take up legislative fixes

1417
01:08:23,569 --> 01:08:25,710
to the Budget Act passed in mid-June,

1418
01:08:25,710 --> 01:08:29,250
including various trailer bills to amend, clarify and amend,

1419
01:08:29,250 --> 01:08:32,130
or implement specific provisions of the budget.

1420
01:08:32,130 --> 01:08:35,100
It is within this budget trailer bill activity

1421
01:08:35,100 --> 01:08:36,930
that Metrolink is seeking state assistance

1422
01:08:36,930 --> 01:08:39,930
to appropriate $35 million of operations

1423
01:08:39,930 --> 01:08:43,130
funding to the railroad to avert or relieve

1424
01:08:43,130 --> 01:08:45,290
the budgetary challenges that we are tasked

1425
01:08:45,290 --> 01:08:46,930
with addressing to allow Metrolink

1426
01:08:46,930 --> 01:08:49,330
to operate at full service.

1427
01:08:49,330 --> 01:08:52,250
We are circulating a joint legislator sign on letter

1428
01:08:52,250 --> 01:08:54,569
to be delivered to the governor and legislative leaders

1429
01:08:54,569 --> 01:08:55,950
in early August.

1430
01:08:55,950 --> 01:08:59,770
And our CEO, Mr. Kettle, will be traveling to Sacramento August 5

1431
01:08:59,770 --> 01:09:02,529
to pursue in-person this advocacy with lawmakers

1432
01:09:02,529 --> 01:09:04,250
and administration officials.

1433
01:09:04,250 --> 01:09:06,950
We will keep you apprised as these efforts continue.

1434
01:09:06,950 --> 01:09:08,950
Next slide, please.

1435
01:09:09,130 --> 01:09:10,930
On the federal side, yesterday, the house

1436
01:09:10,930 --> 01:09:15,223
departed for summer recess after narrowly passing a continuing

1437
01:09:15,223 --> 01:09:16,890
resolution to keep the government funded

1438
01:09:16,890 --> 01:09:18,450
until December 4.

1439
01:09:18,450 --> 01:09:21,160
It will return to session on August 30.

1440
01:09:21,160 --> 01:09:23,560
The Senate remains in session until August 7

1441
01:09:23,560 --> 01:09:25,600
before it takes its recess.

1442
01:09:25,600 --> 01:09:28,600
Regarding the FY 2017 bill, the House Bill

1443
01:09:28,600 --> 01:09:32,340
cuts passenger rail by an estimated $17.2 billion,

1444
01:09:32,340 --> 01:09:34,520
which includes expiration of advance appropriations

1445
01:09:34,520 --> 01:09:39,000
under the IIJA cuts to Amtrak intercity rail and the Sea Grant

1446
01:09:39,000 --> 01:09:39,606
program.

1447
01:09:39,606 --> 01:09:41,439
The bill passed the Appropriations Committee

1448
01:09:41,439 --> 01:09:43,607
on June 3 by a party line vote.

1449
01:09:43,607 --> 01:09:45,399
In the Senate, the Appropriations Committee

1450
01:09:45,399 --> 01:09:48,399
has yet to release its bill or set a date for markup.

1451
01:09:48,399 --> 01:09:50,939
Current level funding expires on September 30,

1452
01:09:50,939 --> 01:09:53,720
unless a CR or successor THUD appropriations bill

1453
01:09:53,720 --> 01:09:55,800
passes by or before that date.

1454
01:09:55,800 --> 01:09:58,940
In Olympics funding, as reported to you last month,

1455
01:09:58,940 --> 01:10:01,000
Metrolink has held a senior level meeting

1456
01:10:01,000 --> 01:10:04,800
with FEMA officials to share its recommendations for funding

1457
01:10:04,800 --> 01:10:07,800
allocation best practices in the soon to be released notice

1458
01:10:07,800 --> 01:10:11,560
of funding opportunity to guide allocation of the $1 billion

1459
01:10:11,560 --> 01:10:14,720
of Olympics security funding provided by the Big Beautiful

1460
01:10:14,720 --> 01:10:15,400
Bill.

1461
01:10:15,400 --> 01:10:18,160
Metrolink will continue meetings with FEMA district staff

1462
01:10:18,160 --> 01:10:21,380
and state officials at Cal OES to ensure

1463
01:10:21,380 --> 01:10:24,600
these processes are implemented as efficiently as possible

1464
01:10:24,600 --> 01:10:27,300
once the NOFO is released and will keep the board apprised.

1465
01:10:27,300 --> 01:10:28,680
This concludes my presentation.

1466
01:10:28,680 --> 01:10:30,600
I'm happy to take any questions.

1467
01:10:30,600 --> 01:10:31,160
All right, very good.

1468
01:10:31,160 --> 01:10:33,160
Comments, questions, Karen.

1469
01:10:34,740 --> 01:10:39,420
That word, "continuing resolution," I know we just--

1470
01:10:39,420 --> 01:10:41,628
I believe that's the first time we've done that.

1471
01:10:41,628 --> 01:10:42,920
We've had to do it in the past.

1472
01:10:42,920 --> 01:10:44,520
But it's been a number of years.

1473
01:10:44,520 --> 01:10:46,520
Number of years.

1474
01:10:47,780 --> 01:10:51,980
In the opposite, has there ever been

1475
01:10:52,860 --> 01:10:57,660
our legislature that didn't have a continuing resolution?

1476
01:10:58,280 --> 01:11:01,520
It seems in Washington, DC, not in recent memory, of course.

1477
01:11:01,520 --> 01:11:05,300
I think it's reflective of the budgetary divide

1478
01:11:05,300 --> 01:11:07,600
in both chambers.

1479
01:11:07,600 --> 01:11:10,660
Well, your comments were very much

1480
01:11:11,420 --> 01:11:13,920
appreciated when you said we'll start working on earlier.

1481
01:11:13,920 --> 01:11:16,420
So we don't have this again because you do it

1482
01:11:16,420 --> 01:11:20,980
the second time, it's going to become a habit.

1483
01:11:20,980 --> 01:11:22,720
So I just want to make sure that we work

1484
01:11:22,720 --> 01:11:24,720
really hard not to do that.

1485
01:11:24,720 --> 01:11:28,000
I certainly, I have ill feelings towards our legislature

1486
01:11:28,000 --> 01:11:30,345
that continually do that.

1487
01:11:30,345 --> 01:11:31,720
Now they're on break because they

1488
01:11:31,720 --> 01:11:33,220
did the continuing resolution.

1489
01:11:33,220 --> 01:11:35,620
It's disingenuous to us.

1490
01:11:37,120 --> 01:11:42,520
So thank you for your sharing of wonderful words.

1491
01:11:42,760 --> 01:11:45,760
Well, I would say, at least in the federal side,

1492
01:11:45,760 --> 01:11:49,680
if a continuing resolution passes and funds the government

1493
01:11:49,680 --> 01:11:53,600
through December 4, that means status quo funding, which

1494
01:11:53,600 --> 01:11:56,680
is actually good because the House Bill cuts passenger

1495
01:11:56,680 --> 01:11:57,960
rail significantly.

1496
01:11:57,960 --> 01:12:00,260
The Senate likely will not do a bill.

1497
01:12:00,260 --> 01:12:02,800
If they don't, they'll have to go by CR,

1498
01:12:02,800 --> 01:12:04,320
and it's level funded through December 4, which

1499
01:12:04,320 --> 01:12:06,400
is better than cuts.

1500
01:12:06,400 --> 01:12:08,400
OK, thank you.

1501
01:12:08,720 --> 01:12:09,880
All right, yeah, Catherine.

1502
01:12:09,880 --> 01:12:11,840
So-- and thank you for that.

1503
01:12:11,840 --> 01:12:14,740
On the federal side, on the Olympic security funding,

1504
01:12:14,740 --> 01:12:17,890
I'm assuming that you are coordinating with LA28,

1505
01:12:17,890 --> 01:12:20,170
so that when we're asking for the security funding,

1506
01:12:20,170 --> 01:12:22,670
it's a holistic approach to--

1507
01:12:22,670 --> 01:12:25,410
It is a holistic approach absolutely with actors.

1508
01:12:25,410 --> 01:12:27,970
Now, in terms of our meeting with FEMA,

1509
01:12:27,970 --> 01:12:30,310
we were focused on our recommendations

1510
01:12:30,310 --> 01:12:34,790
for Metrolink and for passenger rail procedurally when

1511
01:12:34,790 --> 01:12:38,100
the NOFO is released so that it is efficient as possible.

1512
01:12:38,100 --> 01:12:41,150
But of course, the security funding

1513
01:12:41,150 --> 01:12:44,490
is very much holistic from all the agencies.

1514
01:12:44,490 --> 01:12:46,300
Are you meeting with LA28 or do you

1515
01:12:46,300 --> 01:12:48,190
have a relationship with LA28?

1516
01:12:48,190 --> 01:12:50,150
We do have a relationship with LA28

1517
01:12:50,150 --> 01:12:52,470
where I'm not meeting with them specifically

1518
01:12:52,470 --> 01:12:53,610
on security funding.

1519
01:12:53,610 --> 01:12:54,990
I don't know if we are there.

1520
01:12:54,990 --> 01:12:57,500
Yes, we are, Director Barger.

1521
01:12:57,500 --> 01:13:01,330
Both myself and then Hilary Konczal is coordinating.

1522
01:13:01,330 --> 01:13:03,550
We regularly coordinate with LA28

1523
01:13:03,550 --> 01:13:05,950
on the security side as well as Metro.

1524
01:13:05,950 --> 01:13:12,550
Because I would just think if we apply supporting one another,

1525
01:13:13,408 --> 01:13:13,950
I don't know.

1526
01:13:13,950 --> 01:13:16,950
What amount are you requesting?

1527
01:13:17,610 --> 01:13:19,610
Do you know?

1528
01:13:21,100 --> 01:13:22,170
I'd have to--

1529
01:13:22,170 --> 01:13:24,900
Yeah, I'd like to find out more about this

1530
01:13:24,900 --> 01:13:25,650
because what I'm finding is happening

1531
01:13:25,650 --> 01:13:28,370
is that many agencies are kind of working on their own

1532
01:13:28,370 --> 01:13:30,370
without coming together.

1533
01:13:30,930 --> 01:13:33,353
And I think it's important as we move forward,

1534
01:13:33,353 --> 01:13:35,770
we move forward with one voice so that we have coordinated

1535
01:13:35,770 --> 01:13:38,510
effort because while you're doing security on Metrolink--

1536
01:13:38,510 --> 01:13:41,850
and by the way, I'm really proud of--

1537
01:13:41,850 --> 01:13:44,450
and we all talked about the fact that we had no incidents

1538
01:13:44,450 --> 01:13:46,850
with the World Cup.

1539
01:13:47,970 --> 01:13:49,893
And I want to carry that over to the Olympics.

1540
01:13:49,893 --> 01:13:51,810
But I think it works when you are coordinating

1541
01:13:51,810 --> 01:13:56,570
across all regions to make sure that we

1542
01:13:56,570 --> 01:14:00,290
are coordinating our efforts and not duplicating.

1543
01:14:00,290 --> 01:14:01,830
And Jeff, correct me if I'm wrong.

1544
01:14:01,830 --> 01:14:04,210
So we know FEMA has already been given it

1545
01:14:04,210 --> 01:14:06,490
was I thought a billion, right?

1546
01:14:06,490 --> 01:14:06,990
Yes, sir.

1547
01:14:06,990 --> 01:14:11,350
And so what we have tried to do is for the Olympics.

1548
01:14:11,350 --> 01:14:15,800
And so what we're trying to do is as FEMA develops

1549
01:14:15,800 --> 01:14:17,640
its notice of funding availability,

1550
01:14:17,640 --> 01:14:21,740
that there is a recognition of the role that commuter rail,

1551
01:14:21,740 --> 01:14:23,920
we would play in that larger situation

1552
01:14:23,920 --> 01:14:27,780
so that we are able to access those dollars directly.

1553
01:14:27,780 --> 01:14:29,640
But we're doing it in collaboration

1554
01:14:29,640 --> 01:14:32,580
with all of the law enforcement that's involved.

1555
01:14:32,580 --> 01:14:36,720
Yeah, and I would agree that you all play an important role,

1556
01:14:36,720 --> 01:14:40,900
especially in bringing people into the region for the games.

1557
01:14:40,900 --> 01:14:43,480
And so, I mean, I'll advocate that you all

1558
01:14:43,480 --> 01:14:48,320
are an equal member at the table because when it comes

1559
01:14:48,320 --> 01:14:51,440
to transportation, we're looking at across the board

1560
01:14:51,440 --> 01:14:56,600
accessibility and giving people options to get to the venues.

1561
01:14:56,600 --> 01:14:57,540
Thank you, supervisor.

1562
01:14:57,540 --> 01:14:58,840
I would say one of the things that we're

1563
01:14:58,840 --> 01:15:00,920
going to be focusing on and that we communicated

1564
01:15:00,920 --> 01:15:04,800
with FEMA is that there be flexibility, once the NOFO is

1565
01:15:04,800 --> 01:15:07,240
released, to have funding move as expeditiously

1566
01:15:07,240 --> 01:15:10,000
as possible to agencies that need it in order

1567
01:15:10,000 --> 01:15:12,940
to allow enough time to implement

1568
01:15:12,940 --> 01:15:15,800
the requested funds for.

1569
01:15:15,800 --> 01:15:18,460
For example, we need to install camera systems

1570
01:15:18,460 --> 01:15:21,320
on our entire fleet across the entire network.

1571
01:15:21,320 --> 01:15:22,700
And that takes time.

1572
01:15:22,700 --> 01:15:24,980
And so if the NOFO and the process

1573
01:15:24,980 --> 01:15:29,920
goes too far into abutting the actual Olympics themselves,

1574
01:15:29,920 --> 01:15:32,442
even if the money were to be appropriated

1575
01:15:32,442 --> 01:15:33,900
beyond a certain period of time, we

1576
01:15:33,900 --> 01:15:37,920
would not have enough time to make those types of investments.

1577
01:15:37,920 --> 01:15:40,100
So that's one of the messages that we're

1578
01:15:40,100 --> 01:15:42,400
communicating that there's flexibility in the process,

1579
01:15:42,400 --> 01:15:44,692
that we not only get the funding that we're asking for,

1580
01:15:44,692 --> 01:15:47,600
but we get it timely.

1581
01:15:47,600 --> 01:15:48,100
Very good.

1582
01:15:48,100 --> 01:15:49,540
Any other comments?

1583
01:15:49,540 --> 01:15:50,600
Thank you very much.

1584
01:15:50,600 --> 01:15:52,540
Oh, public comments.

1585
01:15:52,540 --> 01:15:55,600
We do have a request to speak from Adriana Rizzo on this item.

1586
01:15:55,600 --> 01:15:57,600
OK.

1587
01:16:00,460 --> 01:16:06,820
Hello, there is a line in the agenda packet for this item that

1588
01:16:06,820 --> 01:16:08,340
was not in the report but I thought

1589
01:16:08,340 --> 01:16:12,760
was really important about the need for sustainable funding

1590
01:16:12,760 --> 01:16:14,840
sources that are not one-time.

1591
01:16:14,840 --> 01:16:17,840
Just want to highlight that.

1592
01:16:18,120 --> 01:16:21,920
I think there's a couple of opportunities for Metrolink

1593
01:16:21,920 --> 01:16:24,320
to advance that goal.

1594
01:16:24,440 --> 01:16:28,700
But the current lobbying efforts are really important.

1595
01:16:28,700 --> 01:16:31,440
But I think there's a couple of opportunities looking

1596
01:16:31,440 --> 01:16:33,600
a little bit farther in the future for Metrolink

1597
01:16:33,600 --> 01:16:36,000
to advance that goal.

1598
01:16:36,000 --> 01:16:38,680
One of them is there's a proposition

1599
01:16:38,680 --> 01:16:41,560
on the ballot this year, I believe it's prop 2,

1600
01:16:41,560 --> 01:16:43,820
to increase the state's rainy day fund.

1601
01:16:43,820 --> 01:16:46,720
I think this is really important for the state

1602
01:16:46,720 --> 01:16:50,920
to be able to find more sustainable, less

1603
01:16:50,920 --> 01:16:54,000
intermittent funding for transit because we

1604
01:16:54,000 --> 01:16:57,380
have a feast or famine budget situation at the state.

1605
01:16:57,380 --> 01:16:59,760
And more stable year to year funding

1606
01:16:59,760 --> 01:17:04,440
will make it easier to provide stable funding for transit.

1607
01:17:04,440 --> 01:17:08,640
Secondly, another opportunity is reforming the transit

1608
01:17:09,110 --> 01:17:10,900
development act.

1609
01:17:10,900 --> 01:17:13,350
As I mentioned in a previous comment,

1610
01:17:13,350 --> 01:17:16,950
the unmet needs process allows millions

1611
01:17:17,150 --> 01:17:19,910
of dollars in transit formula funding that

1612
01:17:19,910 --> 01:17:24,750
can go to operations to be spent on other things every year.

1613
01:17:24,750 --> 01:17:28,450
This is a big priority for transit advocates.

1614
01:17:28,450 --> 01:17:33,250
And I love for Metrolink and member agencies

1615
01:17:33,310 --> 01:17:37,390
to get involved in that process next year as well.

1616
01:17:37,390 --> 01:17:41,590
And then finally, just again, I think

1617
01:17:42,700 --> 01:17:46,870
Metrolink needs its own income, so to speak,

1618
01:17:48,270 --> 01:17:52,190
needs the ability to find new revenue that is not

1619
01:17:52,190 --> 01:17:54,170
controlled by member agencies.

1620
01:17:54,170 --> 01:17:58,890
And this is something that will require state authorization.

1621
01:17:58,890 --> 01:18:01,950
So just flagging that for the board as well.

1622
01:18:01,950 --> 01:18:04,255
Thank you for all your efforts.

1623
01:18:04,255 --> 01:18:05,130
All right, very good.

1624
01:18:05,130 --> 01:18:05,630
Thank you.

1625
01:18:05,630 --> 01:18:08,550
Any last comments on this from the board?

1626
01:18:08,550 --> 01:18:09,770
All right, good.

1627
01:18:09,770 --> 01:18:13,290
We will move to Item 8, our chief executive officer's

1628
01:18:13,290 --> 01:18:13,790
report.

1629
01:18:13,790 --> 01:18:14,290
Darren.

1630
01:18:14,290 --> 01:18:15,570
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair.

1631
01:18:15,570 --> 01:18:16,970
Next slide.

1632
01:18:16,970 --> 01:18:21,110
So we touched on the mechanical challenge we had over last week.

1633
01:18:21,110 --> 01:18:22,890
And I've used the term that it was a bit

1634
01:18:22,890 --> 01:18:26,490
of a perfect storm of factors.

1635
01:18:26,570 --> 01:18:30,490
And again, a fundamental part of this

1636
01:18:30,490 --> 01:18:35,790
is the challenge we're wrestling with with the F125 locomotive,

1637
01:18:35,790 --> 01:18:39,630
the only 40 in operation anywhere in the world.

1638
01:18:39,630 --> 01:18:41,610
So we wrestle with those challenges

1639
01:18:41,610 --> 01:18:43,570
with the manufacturer.

1640
01:18:43,570 --> 01:18:46,325
And again, I think we're going to see some progress in some

1641
01:18:46,325 --> 01:18:46,950
of these areas.

1642
01:18:46,950 --> 01:18:50,450
But it is just one of the challenges of that locomotive.

1643
01:18:50,450 --> 01:18:54,330
So it was not lost on Metrolink staff by any means

1644
01:18:54,330 --> 01:18:57,330
that there's room for improvement.

1645
01:18:57,670 --> 01:18:59,850
And under Rod Bailey's leadership

1646
01:18:59,850 --> 01:19:02,970
as the interim chief operating officer,

1647
01:19:02,970 --> 01:19:06,300
there's already lessons learned effort in some of these things.

1648
01:19:06,300 --> 01:19:09,630
And as usual, sometimes communication breakdowns

1649
01:19:10,120 --> 01:19:12,580
are the biggest challenge that we experience.

1650
01:19:12,580 --> 01:19:15,840
And that was one of the cases that happened here.

1651
01:19:15,840 --> 01:19:18,980
But nonetheless, it's got our full attention.

1652
01:19:18,980 --> 01:19:20,720
Next slide.

1653
01:19:20,720 --> 01:19:22,140
Some really good news.

1654
01:19:22,140 --> 01:19:27,200
We're really pleased to be able to share that our finance

1655
01:19:27,200 --> 01:19:32,600
team once again received the GFOA certificate of achievement

1656
01:19:32,720 --> 01:19:34,720
10 years running.

1657
01:19:35,960 --> 01:19:38,180
So that's a decade of success in this area.

1658
01:19:38,180 --> 01:19:41,320
And some of you have been around for an extended period of time

1659
01:19:41,320 --> 01:19:44,300
and will remember the times when we were not getting this award.

1660
01:19:44,300 --> 01:19:49,560
So I think it's a testament to our finance team

1661
01:19:49,560 --> 01:19:52,320
that we were recognized again this year.

1662
01:19:52,320 --> 01:19:54,280
Next slide.

1663
01:19:54,280 --> 01:20:00,280
All right, so we're all just reveling in the glow

1664
01:20:00,560 --> 01:20:02,600
that came out of the World Cup.

1665
01:20:02,600 --> 01:20:04,860
So we have a video here.

1666
01:20:04,860 --> 01:20:08,900
And I'd just like to share with board members what

1667
01:20:08,900 --> 01:20:12,380
our customers shared with us during World Cup.

1668
01:20:12,380 --> 01:20:14,400
Go ahead and roll the tape.

1669
01:20:14,400 --> 01:20:16,400
[VIDEO PLAYBACK]

1670
01:20:17,210 --> 01:20:19,740
- I'm really excited because I love soccer,

1671
01:20:19,740 --> 01:20:22,900
and especially because my brother loves soccer.

1672
01:20:22,900 --> 01:20:24,180
That's why I do.

1673
01:20:24,180 --> 01:20:27,720
And right now, we're on the train.

1674
01:20:27,720 --> 01:20:29,700
It's my first train in the US.

1675
01:20:29,700 --> 01:20:34,220
And it's been a pleasant experience so far.

1676
01:20:34,220 --> 01:20:36,820
- Once I realized it was at Union Station, once I

1677
01:20:36,820 --> 01:20:41,203
googled it, I said, oh my gosh, I have to go.

1678
01:20:41,203 --> 01:20:42,120
I don't have to drive.

1679
01:20:42,120 --> 01:20:44,140
I can take the Metrolink all the way up

1680
01:20:44,140 --> 01:20:47,460
and not worry about parking, get there safe and sound

1681
01:20:47,460 --> 01:20:49,500
and enjoy my time.

1682
01:20:49,500 --> 01:20:51,740
- I was telling my family that this

1683
01:20:51,740 --> 01:20:55,940
is a really nice, very clean station, very clean train.

1684
01:20:55,940 --> 01:20:59,600
And it branches out all over the place now, so.

1685
01:20:59,600 --> 01:21:03,800
- So it's just a lot more affordable.

1686
01:21:04,210 --> 01:21:06,470
And also sometimes, it's just more convenient.

1687
01:21:06,470 --> 01:21:10,250
If it's rush hour, it's so much easier to just get on a train

1688
01:21:10,250 --> 01:21:13,690
somewhere than sit in the car and inch forward

1689
01:21:13,690 --> 01:21:14,830
every few seconds.

1690
01:21:14,830 --> 01:21:16,830
- [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

1691
01:21:33,870 --> 01:21:35,870
[END PLAYBACK]

1692
01:21:36,370 --> 01:21:40,730
So thanks to our comms team for going out and convincing people

1693
01:21:40,730 --> 01:21:45,510
to share a few words on their experience with World Cup,

1694
01:21:45,510 --> 01:21:49,410
whether it was going to a match or going to the fan zones.

1695
01:21:49,410 --> 01:21:51,330
Next slide.

1696
01:21:51,330 --> 01:21:54,930
All right, so a couple things.

1697
01:21:55,850 --> 01:21:59,690
Picture to the left, you'll recognize the guy.

1698
01:21:59,690 --> 01:22:03,100
The lovely lady to his left is my wife, Carrie.

1699
01:22:03,100 --> 01:22:06,150
We did have a chance to go to the Spain Austria game,

1700
01:22:06,150 --> 01:22:08,990
one of the knockout stage matches.

1701
01:22:08,990 --> 01:22:11,870
And we experienced what our customers experienced.

1702
01:22:11,870 --> 01:22:15,670
We caught the train at the Moorpark Station,

1703
01:22:15,670 --> 01:22:17,450
made our way to Union Station.

1704
01:22:17,450 --> 01:22:23,630
And then from LA Union Station, we got on a Metro bus.

1705
01:22:23,630 --> 01:22:27,630
My compliments to Metro, the full Metro team.

1706
01:22:27,630 --> 01:22:30,710
I had a chance to see Conan Cheung the other day

1707
01:22:30,710 --> 01:22:32,430
and complimented him.

1708
01:22:32,430 --> 01:22:35,990
We got on a bus that was clean, smooth.

1709
01:22:35,990 --> 01:22:38,550
My wife was a little nervous of a neighborhood bus

1710
01:22:38,550 --> 01:22:42,990
doing 65 miles an hour on the flyover between the 110

1711
01:22:42,990 --> 01:22:47,310
and the 105 as we got there because I felt

1712
01:22:47,310 --> 01:22:51,383
a little bit like Scotty from Star Trek

1713
01:22:51,383 --> 01:22:53,500
that it's like, we're going to break up,

1714
01:22:53,500 --> 01:22:54,350
we're going to break up.

1715
01:22:54,350 --> 01:22:56,900
Because it was shaken a little bit,

1716
01:22:56,900 --> 01:23:00,970
but it was a great experience, other than the portion of just

1717
01:23:00,970 --> 01:23:02,970
being in LA traffic that, unfortunately,

1718
01:23:02,970 --> 01:23:04,410
we found ourselves in.

1719
01:23:04,410 --> 01:23:06,350
The bus was well air conditioned.

1720
01:23:06,350 --> 01:23:08,330
The staff was great.

1721
01:23:08,330 --> 01:23:11,500
We had a great experience.

1722
01:23:11,500 --> 01:23:12,970
Along with that, though, I had the chance

1723
01:23:12,970 --> 01:23:16,900
to volunteer with a number of our Metrolink staff

1724
01:23:16,900 --> 01:23:17,290
in the tunnel.

1725
01:23:17,290 --> 01:23:20,690
And so this was after our board meeting last Friday.

1726
01:23:20,690 --> 01:23:26,690
I Friday of last month changed into a different suit

1727
01:23:26,730 --> 01:23:31,730
and joined our team volunteering and helping guide customers.

1728
01:23:31,730 --> 01:23:34,510
That was obviously on a game day.

1729
01:23:34,510 --> 01:23:38,550
So had a great experience with helping our staff.

1730
01:23:38,550 --> 01:23:42,930
We had something on the order of 60-odd of our staff volunteered,

1731
01:23:42,930 --> 01:23:45,415
number of people volunteered on multiple occasions.

1732
01:23:45,415 --> 01:23:47,290
So it was just a really good feel good moment

1733
01:23:47,290 --> 01:23:48,950
to be a part of the Metrolink team.

1734
01:23:48,950 --> 01:23:52,690
And we got a jersey out of it, a Metrolink jersey out of it.

1735
01:23:52,690 --> 01:23:54,150
Just let us know if you'd like one.

1736
01:23:54,150 --> 01:23:56,550
They run big though.

1737
01:23:57,170 --> 01:24:00,400
But going back to one of the other questions,

1738
01:24:00,400 --> 01:24:02,820
how we saw success out of it.

1739
01:24:02,820 --> 01:24:07,200
We had a weekend boardings increase of 26%

1740
01:24:07,560 --> 01:24:12,300
compared to the prior six weekends prior to the World Cup.

1741
01:24:12,300 --> 01:24:16,840
So weekend boardings, 26% increase over the prior six

1742
01:24:16,840 --> 01:24:17,340
weeks.

1743
01:24:17,340 --> 01:24:21,640
We had a system-wide ridership growth of 12% year over year.

1744
01:24:21,640 --> 01:24:24,760
This is the statistic I'm most pleased with, though.

1745
01:24:24,760 --> 01:24:28,960
Nearly 25,000 new Metrolink mobile accounts were created,

1746
01:24:30,200 --> 01:24:34,220
representing a 22% increase of new riders introduced

1747
01:24:34,360 --> 01:24:37,620
to our system over that six-week period.

1748
01:24:37,620 --> 01:24:40,220
So that is directly attributable.

1749
01:24:40,220 --> 01:24:42,100
They're going to matches.

1750
01:24:42,100 --> 01:24:43,420
They're going to fan zones.

1751
01:24:43,420 --> 01:24:46,180
They downloaded our app, and they signed up for it.

1752
01:24:46,180 --> 01:24:48,920
So I think that's a real positive story.

1753
01:24:48,920 --> 01:24:53,400
And just what a great experience across Southern California

1754
01:24:53,400 --> 01:24:54,720
to be a part of it.

1755
01:24:54,720 --> 01:24:57,400
And yeah, it was a great experience.

1756
01:24:57,400 --> 01:24:59,140
Next slide.

1757
01:24:59,140 --> 01:25:00,182
And that's it, Mr. Chair.

1758
01:25:00,182 --> 01:25:00,682
Thank you.

1759
01:25:00,682 --> 01:25:01,240
Very good.

1760
01:25:01,240 --> 01:25:02,540
Thank you.

1761
01:25:02,540 --> 01:25:04,340
All right, board member comments.

1762
01:25:04,340 --> 01:25:07,580
Anybody have anything to talk about?

1763
01:25:07,580 --> 01:25:08,940
Lunch.

1764
01:25:08,940 --> 01:25:10,940
Chair's comments.

1765
01:25:11,292 --> 01:25:13,000
I just wanted to mention a couple things.

1766
01:25:13,000 --> 01:25:17,940
One, I went over after that last BAF Comm meeting

1767
01:25:17,940 --> 01:25:20,840
with Director Dutrey and Marquez,

1768
01:25:20,840 --> 01:25:23,600
and we went to the fan zone.

1769
01:25:23,600 --> 01:25:26,280
I thought kind of a precursor to what I expect,

1770
01:25:26,280 --> 01:25:28,860
the Olympics will be something similar.

1771
01:25:28,860 --> 01:25:32,620
And LA Metro, I have to complement their staff

1772
01:25:32,620 --> 01:25:35,100
and the way they set it up.

1773
01:25:35,100 --> 01:25:36,917
It was neat.

1774
01:25:36,917 --> 01:25:38,500
You felt like you were really involved

1775
01:25:38,500 --> 01:25:42,520
in the game that was on and just the fans and the support.

1776
01:25:42,520 --> 01:25:44,200
It made sense.

1777
01:25:44,200 --> 01:25:49,420
And I hope that they take that forward to 2028.

1778
01:25:50,580 --> 01:25:55,100
And the other thing, I guess that is going to be it.

1779
01:25:55,100 --> 01:26:01,100
If I can, I think thank you, Metrolink, for this.

1780
01:26:02,450 --> 01:26:06,910
My mom passed just a week or so ago.

1781
01:26:06,910 --> 01:26:07,870
And thank you, Karen.

1782
01:26:07,870 --> 01:26:11,950
I was in Vegas where she lived during that meeting.

1783
01:26:11,950 --> 01:26:12,970
And Karen stepped up.

1784
01:26:12,970 --> 01:26:18,810
And appreciate that so that I could tend to that.

1785
01:26:18,810 --> 01:26:23,170
But I would like, if possible, to just conclude today's meeting

1786
01:26:23,170 --> 01:26:25,850
in the memory of my mother, Audrey Phyllis Reitman

1787
01:26:25,850 --> 01:26:30,500
Berkson, who was born in December 15 of 1936

1788
01:26:31,130 --> 01:26:34,210
and passed July 1 of this year.

1789
01:26:34,210 --> 01:26:39,330
So 89 and 1/2 wonderful years with myself and my two sisters

1790
01:26:39,330 --> 01:26:41,730
and her three grandchildren.

1791
01:26:42,900 --> 01:26:43,610
All going to miss her.

1792
01:26:43,610 --> 01:26:48,130
But with that, we will close in memory of my mother.

1793
01:26:48,130 --> 01:26:50,300
And this meeting is adjourned.

1794
01:26:50,300 --> 01:26:52,300
Thank you.

1795
01:26:56,000 --> 01:26:56,000