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| SFMTA home > About Us > Meetings > Muni Accessibility Advisory Committee (MAAC) > July 20, 2006, minutes | |
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MUNI ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (MAAC) Minutes of July 20, 2006 Members Present: Rae Chamberlain, Leslie Clark (Vice Chair), Ed Evans (Chair), Melvin Galloway, Ed Harley (Secretary), Jeanne Lynch, Bruce Morgan, Bruce Oka, Vernon Smith Absent: Janet Copriviza (Excused), Paul Fichera, Barbara George (Excused), Jewel McGinnis (Excused), Arden Wheeler (Excused) Accessible Services Staff Present: Jamie Osborne, Annette Williams Guests: Charlotte Barham (BART), Marisa Espinosa (MTA), Calvin Gee (MTA intern), Pamela Herhold (BART), Matt Lee (MTA), Bob Planthold, Stephanie Smith (Muni), Matt West (MTA intern) Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 1:02PM. Introductions: Introductions were made in lieu of a roll call. Reading and approval of agenda: The agenda was approved with corrections. Approval of the minutes of June 2006 MAAC meeting: The minutes were approved with corrections. Report from the Chair: MAAC Chair, Ed Evans has noticed a lot of problems on the 14 line. Operators feel that the vehicle can only carry one wheelchair user at a time, and that they can pass by a second wheelchair user if they already have one on board. I’ve seen this a number of times. As well, the driver will say “Next bus” and pass up a waiting wheelchair user when the vehicle is not full. I feel that we need to increase our operator training and retraining efforts. This is also true with boarding riders in wheelchairs first and the problems of riders who are able-bodied taking up the front seats. Stephanie Smith, MAAC Operator Recognition Award Ceremony: The operator was nominated by Arden Wheeler. Mr. Wheeler reported that: The operator was doing an outstanding job calling out special stops for the ones that ask for it, and she doesn’t forget. Not once did she not call out a transfer stop, and the name of the bus lines. She was polite and courteous to all on the bus. MAAC presented Ms. Smith with a framed certificate that was signed by all members present. Ms. Smith graciously accepted the award and thanked the MAAC members and guests. She said that she was very grateful to be acknowledged for doing a good job. Marisa Espinosa (MTA) & Charlotte Barham (BART), Update on Muni / BART Fast Pass Progress: Marisa Espinosa and Charlotte Barham discussed the Senior and Disabled Muni Fast Pass and the ability to use this pass on BART. Currently this type of program does not exist; however, MTA and BART are exploring possible options to develop a successful one. They gave a quick presentation on what options currently exist for Seniors and riders with disabilities on both systems. They opened a dialogue with MAAC members and guests, regarding current and historical issues with the Fast Pass. From each agencies perspective, they want the Fast Pass program to be revenue neutral. They asked the committee for feedback on an appropriate price be for a Fast Pass that would be good for both Muni and unlimited BART in the city of San Francisco. They also asked for feedback on how to protect the agencies against fraudulent use of the Fast Pass by people who were not eligible for the Senior or Disabled fare. Ms. Espinosa and Ms. Barham indicated that the Translink card automatic fare deduction system is scheduled to come on line at the end of May 2007. They presented the committee with three options for a potential Muni/BART Fare Instrument:
Ed Evans suggested that a charge of $12 to $15 may be acceptable for a monthly Senior and Disabled Fast Pass that included unlimited rides on BART in the City of San Francisco. Bob Planthold requested that a grace period for the Fast Pass be included for BART as well as Muni access. Mr. Planthold reported that he was also concerned about the availability of Senior and Disabled Fast Passes. He felt that vendors should be supplied with greater quantities of the passes so that they did not sell all of their passes so quickly. On Thursday July 27th, Muni and BART staff will be meeting with BART’s accessibility advisory task force in Oakland. On August 24th, a discussion of the issues and options will be brought to the BART board of directors. In September, they will distribute a summary of their presentation and a memo to both the BART and MTA boards. MAAC thanked Ms. Espinosa and Ms. Barham for the presentation and requested to be updated on their progress. Accessible Line Rerouting / MTA Special Events Communications: Jamie Osborne, Muni Accessible Services, discussed the issue of temporary service re-routing during special events. He specifically noted an incident that occurred during the July 4th fireworks celebration at Fisherman’s Wharf and the Aquatic Park. Mr. Osborne discussed Muni’s current processes for communicating temporary route service changes and requested suggestions from the committee on methods for communicating these changes with riders with disabilities. The following suggestions for special event communications were offered by committee members and guests:
Muni Accessibility Future Planning: Mr. Osborne requested MAAC members and guests to contribute to a brainstorming exercise. The goal of the exercise was to envision Muni’s accessible services in 20 years. He asked the group to describe both what their ideal accessible transportation system would look like and how it would function. The following descriptions were collected: Bruce Oka – I would like to see a faster fixed route system. A system based upon Bus Rapid Transit that runs quickly and efficiently. However, safety for the system should not be compromised in the name of speed. Bruce Morgan – With people living longer lives, we will see more people with disabilities who need accessible transit. We should make more transit stops accessible. Bob Planthold - I would like to see a vehicle maintenance better emphasized and Muni’s management take the responsibility when equipment failures take place. Now, I see vehicles in service for months regardless of if accessibility facilities are functional. There needs to be an adequate supply of accessible vehicles available, so that when a vehicle goes out of service it can be appropriately replaced. In the past, Muni has had this pointed out. They have done squat to address this issue. Jeanne Lynch – I’d like to see some kind of movement to embrace Bus Rapid Transit. I went to one of the very first meetings and witnessed a lot of opposition from the business community. They use scare tactics when people talk about moving ahead. The needs of people with disabilities have to be part of future planning. This has to be done constructively and diplomatically. You need to get everyone involved. Stephanie Smith - As an operator we get bulletins in our panel that stress that we fill out the defect cards. I have made a relief and the driver tells me that the lift doesn’t work. There are instances where even though I fill out the card, the vehicle has not been serviced and the problem still exists. This situation has to be improved. I agree that somebody is neglecting their job and that reflects poorly on the operator. If the vehicles are not going to be fixed, what is the point? Ed Evans – The merchants out on Geary Boulevard do have some valid concerns. We don’t want to see an improvement on the 38 line that comes at the expense of the merchants. We could also put a diamond lane out there, and use the BRT money to fix the lifts. In the next 10 years, I want to see a full fleet of vehicles with no toxic emissions. I want to see an increased use of alternative fuel vehicles so that our dependence on fossil fuels can be taken away. I would also like to see more environmentally friendly bus stops. Bob Planthold – I think that MTA needs to have consistent implementation and maintenance of diamond lanes, especially on Market street. I haven’t seen MTA and the SFPD enforce the diamond lane restrictions on Geary, Market or anywhere else. Bruce Oka – Many of you who were at the low-floor bus demonstration heard Marty Mellera discuss the option of including a grab bar on the driver side wheelchair securement area. I really like this idea. Why don’t we have this included on all vehicles? It can’t be that much of a cost. Annette Williams- The issue is the reinforcement of the vehicle walls. This is definitely something we will look at in future vehicles; however, retrofitting our existing fleet will be difficult. Bruce Morgan – When you are in the stops. I like the idea of having announcements so that you know when the next vehicle is coming. I wish that NextBus technology was applied more system wide. Vernon Smith – I’d like to see communications improved on the buses that we have now. I think that the route that the bus takes everyday should be announced. If the bus makes any turn, the DVAS would announce it. Rae Chamberlain – Increase transportation funding by charging downtown businesses an equitable transportation tax and charging automobile users a congestion fee for driving downtown. Ed Evans – We should charge delivery vehicles fees for being in the city during the day and for delivering goods along transit routes. Public Comments: There were no public comments. ADA Complaints: MUNI Accessible Services staff presented June ADA complaint data from 2005 and 2006 to the MAAC committee. Items for Next Agenda: 1. Ed Evans – Bus shelters are being used by people for nefarious reasons. I would like to discuss the needs for more enforcement of regulations on bus shelter use. 2. Ed Evans – I would like to bring up pedestrian safety issues and create a concerted effort to rid our sidewalks of bicycles and skateboards. All citizens are impacted by the misuse of our sidewalks. 3. Jamie Osborne – Leah Shahum, of the MTA Board of Directors and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has agreed to talk with us at the next MAAC meeting regarding bicycles and pedestrian safety Member’s Questions and Comments: Jeanne Lynch wondered why there was no representative from the Union here today. I want to clarify a stop that was initiated when the 2 Clement was changed. At Clement and Arguello there is a questionable stop. I need clarification about this location, is there a stop at Clement and Arguello? [Answer: There is a stop bar at Clement and Arguello]. Announcements: Due to technical difficulties, we were unable to transcribe the announcements portion of the MAAC meeting. If you have announcements from the 7/20/06 meeting that you would like added to the official minutes, please contact Jamie Osborne. Adjournment: At 2:48PM, the meeting was adjourned to the next regularly scheduled meeting of Thursday, August 17th, 2006, at 1:00PM. |
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