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WSTA Operations Meeting
March 12-14 2008
Port Angeles,
WA
ATTENDEES,
PROPERTY
Steven Abernathy, WSDOT
Bob Barber, Clallam Transit
Colleen Baumann, Community Transit
George Baxter,
Everett
Transit
Steve Baxter, Spokane Transit
Kevin Bradley, Pierce
Transit
Sheldon Beaux, Kitsap Transit
Laurel Curry, Pierce Transit
Kathryn Cregier, Kitsap Transit
Dennis Diggs,
Skagit
Transit
Phil Early, Intercity Transit
Shawn Harris,
Island
Transit
Jerry Heath, Pierce Transit
Randy Hendrickson, Pierce
Transit
Douglas Johnson, King Co. Metro
John May, Sound Transit
Bob Medcraft, C-Tran
Dan Morrissey, Grant Transit Auth.
Amanda Nightingale, Seattle Monorail Serv.
Michelle Parvinen, WSTA
Mike Pollack, Jefferson Transit
Frank Poulsen, Clallam
Transit
Sue Quick,
Lane
Transit
Otis Reed, Pierce Transit
Jerry Reynolds, Clallam Transit
Paul Schramer, Whatcom Transit Auth
Sandy Stutey, Mason Transit
Kristina Umbright, Pullman Transit
Nancy Vivolo, Clallam Transit
Jeff Wamsley, King Co. Metro
Barbara Warren, Ben Franklin Transit
Terry Weed, Clallam Transit
Liz Williams, Pierce Transit
PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION CONFERENCE
SEPT. 7-10
TRI CITIES,
WA.
FALL
MEETING
(schedule
changed after minutes where posted)
OCTOBER 22-24
AT:
TRI CITIES, WA
Program
Ideas:
Charter Rules w/ region 10 or Feds
FMLA extra 5 weeks?
Still not funded
May want to try round table talk with: small / large properties
discussions
How are properties handling van pools?
Nice welcome from
Terry Weed ( Gen. Manager – Clallam Transit )
Frank Poulsen ( Host – Clallam Transit )
Jeff Wamsley ( Committee Chairman )
UPDATES:
George
Baxter - Everett
Ø
Received 4 new 40’ Gilligs
Ø
Going to get new
Apollo cameras for use at transit centers and coaches
Questioned use of microphones – discussion
Ø
Have new
off street 6 bay transit center by the college
Sheldon
Breaux and Kathryn Cregier – Kitsap Transit
Ø
The FTA has ridden approximately 70% of
their routes checking for ADA compliance.
They will do more this year.
Ø
They are trying a new bid out.
They are going to do some 4-10’s.
They will start with 15 operators to see how it goes.
Ø
Discussion on 3rd party testers for
CDL’s.
Ø
Handed out research being done by
Western
Wash.
University.
They are partnered with them for a goal of a hybrid bus that will
get between 20 – 30 mpg.
They donated an electric bus for the team to work with.
If the project is successful Kitsap will buy up to 6 buses.
Very interesting, and this project is being watched by 11 others.
This is good work.
Congrat’s Kitsap
Colleen Baumann – Community Transit
Ø
Changing paratransit software to Trapeze
from Midas.
Ø
Ordered 12 40’ New Flyers
Ø
Supervisors contract negotiations will go
to mediation.
Ø
Continue to work on reducing absenteeism.
Ø
All employees have participated in the
NTI
diversity training developed by in house training dept.
Ø
Hired 2 Assistant Transportation managers
– 1 Administrative Assistant II
Ø
Promoted 2 dispatchers to transportation
supervisors – 1 Coach Operator to dispatcher
Ø
Have 5 new members on the Board of
Directors
Shawn Harris – Island Transit
Ø
Shawn was promoted to Operations Manager
of Island Transit on October 15, 2007.
He said he would mention that Frank is still there, and he says
Hi.
Welcome Shawn.
Ø
They have ordered 5 new Pacer II coaches
for Paratransit, and they are getting 10 Chevy
Goshen GC II 5500’s also
Ø
Working with Clallam and several other
agencies with regards to OPSCAN radio network.
Ø
Withholding route restructuring until
June ’08 to be sure they have the correct vehicles for different
routing.
Mike Pollack – Jefferson Transit
Ø
Major budget problems $200,000 shortage.
They laid off 1 Manager, 1 Dispatcher and 2 Operators.
Did some re-organization, Maintenance/Operations Manager
combined. Many duties are
redistributed between those still there.
Ø
Mr. John Koschnick resigned 2 weeks ago
also.
Ø
The
Hood Canal bridge work is scheduled to be done
by May 2009. Until then they
really could use any surplus 30-35 foot buses to assist with routing
around this project.
Ø
ATU accepted the last contract.
Doug Johnson, Ken Johnston, Jeff Wamsley – King County Metro
Ø
2007 broke all record boardings in fixed
routes, as well as vanpool.
Ø
CDL classroom training is done by the new hires on
their own. Losing a lot of
trainees, and costly.
Ø
Smart card is taking way too long to
start. Many things have
delayed this.
Ø
Just hired 32 additional supervisors, and
they still need more.
Ø
Moved into the new building for transit
control. A lot more room,
but it’s cold and no view.
Ø
Now 3 trains from
Westlake
to Hutchinson,
for 15 min. service
Ø
They converted 59
Breda
dual-mode coaches to strictly trolley’s.
This is the FIRST
time since 1973 that the entire fleet is the same color.
Ø
Getting 22 New Flyer articulate buses.
These are additional, not replacements
Ø
Moved radio frequency from 450 MHz to 700
MHz. Should be complete by
2009.
Ø
Automatic stop announcements should be on
all buses by Aug/Sept 09.
Sandy Stutey – Mason Transit
Ø
A coach operator got a letter from DOT
for a CDL
re-test. This was a supposed
random selection as an audit for 3rd party testing.
Ø
The Board of Directors has expanded from
6 to 9 recently.
Ø
They just received 3 new Gillig 35’ low
floors. Drivers seem really
happy with them.
Ø
Winter weather caused havoc this year.
Flooding, ice, slides and storms causing
road closures etc.
They help with evacuations for the Dept. of Emergency Management.
Phil Early – Intercity Transit
Ø
Installation is 70% complete putting
camera equipment with sound on the coaches.
Ø
Drivers having major problems with seats.
They cannot get them to drop down lower in the front of the seat.
Working hard to fix this problem.
Ø
With new charter rules next month and the
new reporting procedures is causing lots of work to comply with this.
Steve Blaska – Spokane
Transit
Ø
They have applied for the ridership
award.
Ø
They have hired an in-house planner
Ø
Problems with the Bella Porter 3 Bike
rack. They have had several
failures with this one
Dennis
Digges – Skagit Transit
Ø
Ridership fixed route, as well as
Dial-a-Ride numbers up
Ø
They operate on a 2/10 of 1% sales tax.
They will go out for another 2/10 .
Ø
Process of buying 5 new fixed route
buses, and 5 new DAR’s.
All but 1 are replacements.
Ø
Emphasis on Park & Ride constructions.
Ø
A lot of hiring going on, replacing
people who have left.
Amanda Nightingale – Seattle
Monorail Services
Ø
Will be trying to attract riders with
marketing/outreach efforts.
Will be offering a new multi venue card beginning in April.
Trying to help during the low ridership periods in the day.
Would like to begin marketing the monorail as
Green transportation.
The station refurbishment work is complete in downtown and
Seattle
Center.
Hope to have both trains running by summer.
Ø
Have had all employees attend the in
house “People Skills” training.
This has been very successful.
Paul
Schramer – Whatcom Transit Authority
Ø
Recently started the latest of 5 GO
LINES. These are lines with
colors instead of numbers.
Blue, Red, Green, Gold, and now Plum.
This is 15 minute service for
Bellingham.
Ø
Western Washington Univ. now has
universal passes which allow students to ride unlimited times on WTA
buses.
Ø
Maxed on buses, but expecting 3 new
Gilligs.
Ø
Will have a facility expansion some time
this year.
Ø
Will be implementing a new timekeeping
system soon, Highline.
Frank Poulsen, Terry Weed , Jerry Reynolds, Bob Barber, Nancy Vivolo
– Clallam Transit
Ø
Detours for the 8th st. Bridge approx.
1/3 complete
Ø
The downtown construction has made it
challenging to say the least for buses getting in and out of town.
Ø
We are currently fully staffed, bus
expect a number of openings later this year.
Ø
CTS will continue to participate in WISTIP’s guest
rider program.
Ø
WISTIP’s Risk Management team continues
to assist with creating and updating policies.
Ø
The Sequim Lavender Festival will again
be in July. We will provide
shuttles again, and they expect 26,000 passengers in this 3 day period.
Ø
Having a live evacuation drill in May.
Ø
Last operator contract had a strike, but
now settled. Need to Hire,
Hire, Hire!
Sue Quick
– Lane Transit
Ø
Shared excellent video, and explanation
of the BRT
experience. The tough
problems with routing, timing, exc.
This is a massive undertaking, and well done.
Ø
There will be passes given to University
students, as well as Middle and High school students for the MX to ride
the buses.
Ø
Fares planned for this perhaps in 2010,
now free. With the new
street routing, there have been several accidents, and falls due to
quick stops. Hopefully as
the public begins to understand this will slow down.
Kristiana Umbright – Pullman Transit
Ø
Their building is finally done.
Happy, and now they have 4 maintenance bays.
Ø
The operators now have lockers in the
break room.
Ø
No decision on Wal-Mart coming to town
yet.
John May – Sound Transit
Ø
The Sounder numbers are up 12%
Ø
The park and rides are filling up before
all of the trains have even come in yet.
Ø
They are trying to add UW service also.
Ø
The base capacity is full to the brim.
Steve Abernathy – WSDOT
Ø
Money available Use it or Lose it.
Ø
Charter rules:
They are asking to bid on special events, ie- fairs, boats,
festivals. Still under
discussion.
Round
table discussions
Ø
Shared latest legislative going on
currently.
Ø
CDL requirements July ’08- All applicants to have
certified training. No 3rd
party testing. Blank referrals will be sent out to all who need them
from DOL.
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ADA Call Compliance- Pierce & Kitsap have
‘secret riders’, which
document if the
ADA
is being done. King co.
pulls bus video’s if they get a 2nd no compliance complaint.
Video shows if operator makes calls.
Ø
Strollers – Carts – Service Animals—For
scooters, carts in Everett the will write down allow dimensions
and give to the passengers.
Most properties now do not require children in strollers to be removed.
The attendant must hold on to the stroller when bus is in motion.
Most properties do not require the operator to actually get up
and assist, but do not discourage if the operator does assist.
Ø
Cellular Phones- In July it will not be
allowed to have a device up to your ear when moving.
Any device with a cord attached to the vehicle that you have to
place next to the ear to hear is also not going to be allowed.
Most properties know this and will all deal with this on their
own.
Peter
Thein: Executive Director –
WSTA Legislative updates
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RFID
Radio frequency, Smart Card Usage, Passed privacy issue
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1173
Toll Usage
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3096
state route 520 toll?
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2216
ATU
wants a non voting member to all boards-passed house, not senate
Ø
2815
Greenhouse emissions, not funded yet, fee for systems to report
emissions.
Ø
3224
Rail study, for the East side
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2878
Budget bill, some wants include Ferries need re-building, now
almost out of money they
still are tabling important items
Ø
3261
re: RCW 4661, July 08, stop ear piece cell phone use.
Questions, if given ticket will go on driving record?
There is NO transit exemption as first thought, and area Unions
may fight. Time will tell
Right now, House passed by the Senate is waffling.
Ø
6277
Private transportation passed allowing usage of Park and Rides.
The flag stop definition did not pass
Ø
Note:
The 3rd party tester meeting is the 20th of the month.
He will attend, but would like help from the agencies.
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