HomeMy WebLinkAboutTransit Citizens Advisory Committee August 22, 2019
TRANSIT CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING NOTES
Transit Citizens Advisory CommitteeDate 8-22-19
ATTENDANCE
Name Title Organization Present
Terence Dicks
Chairman District 2 x
Denice Traina
Vice-Chairperson Legislative Appointment x
Charles Cummings
Member Legislative Appointment x
Gaylon Tootle Member District 6 x
Sharon Dottery Director Augusta, Georgia x
Oliver Page Transportation Planner Augusta, Georgia x
Udomekong Udoko Planner Augusta, Georgia x
Portia Stith Secretary Augusta, Georgia x
Thaddeus Davenport Operations Manager McDonald Transit/Ratpdev x
Thomas Rowe Guest Consumer x
Sholonda Smith Administrative Assist Augusta, Georgia x
Edkesha Anderson Program Manager Augusta, Georgia x
Candave Rogers Guest Consumer x
ABSENTEES
Mike Roth GM McDonald/Ratpdev
AGENDA
Chairman Terence Dicks called meeting to order. Motion made by Member Gaylon
Tootle for approval of the minutes. Seconded by Member Charles Cummings - no
opposes. Motion passed.
Reports Director Sharon Dottery We have approval to purchase 17 shelters. These
will be ordered next week after official letter of approval has been received. On the
facility, the move date will be in October. We are still waiting on some furniture to be
delivered.
Terence Will our meetings be held at the new facility?
Sharon - Yes, they will be held at 2844 Regency Blvd.
Terence Could you give an update on the On Time Performance Data?
Thaddeus Information will be compiled for ADA, Rural, and Fixed Route regarding On
Time Performance.
Gaylon Could that report also include what the contract specifies in comparison to
actual performance?
Thaddeus Yes, that will be included.
Terence There is a problem with people eating and leaving trash on the buses. We had
talked about announcing more frequently the policy of no eating or drinking on the buses.
Thaddeus Will follow-up with the GM and Kevin on increasing the frequency of the
announcement.
Oliver The enforcement of the policy and not the frequency of the announcements is
the real issue at hand.
Meeting Minutes Template (v1.0) Page 2 of 4
Transit Citizens Advisory CommitteeDate 8-22-19
Denice How many shelters were requested of the 17 received?
Sharon 17 shelters were requested. We will be replacing them in phases. We have a
total of 692 stops so it will take some time and not all stops will get a shelter. We will
look at benches where shelters are not placed. Cost is approximately $5,895.00 per
shelter.
Denice Was additional staffing requested?
Sharon Yes, a Deputy Director was requested and is now in the budget process.
Gaylon Rural has a problem with a shortage of drivers. How is this being addressed?
Sharon That is something that will be discussed with our contractors. They are actually
the ones in charge of hiring our drivers. Right now our Rural Program only has 6 buses,
one of which was in an accident this morning. Currently in talks with GDOT for a
replacement vehicle. In order to increase the Rural Program, the number of denials has to
be tracked in order to justify the need for more buses. Every time a trip is denied because
a bus is filled to capacity, a form must be completed showing that service was denied. As
of last month, there were no denials. A new customer is not a denial until the application
package has been turned in and then there can be a denial if service is not available.
Gaylon There are problems just maintaining these older buses. radios do
not work and there is no one available to answer calls for buses that come in later.
Sharon The radios are handled through the IT Department. The maintenance issues will
be discussed with our contractor.
Terence What are the costs for benches and how many are we looking to purchase?
Sharon Benches have not yet been discussed with Engineering.
Oliver Are statistics kept on calls missed?
Sharon There is a recording of every call. ADA and Rural has separate lines. Every
message is logged every day.
Gaylon Someone is needed to answer those calls. If the bus is running late, we do not
know if the bus is coming or not.
Sharon If you have a scheduled time, even if the bus is running behind, you will be
serviced.
Sholonda We are here to help and support you in any way possible.
Edkesha The purpose of Keep America Beautiful is to educate, engage, and coordinate
public awareness on litter prevention, proper recycling, and the beautification of Augusta.
Oliver Planning Department has a new Deputy Director, Carla Delaney.
Udokomekong Over 400 surveys have been collected and is ongoing.
New business
With no further comments regarding agenda items, meeting was adjourned
by Chairman Dicks.
Approval Date: Page 3 of 4
Transit Citizens Advisory CommitteeDate 8-22-19
DECISIONS MADE:
NEXT MEETING SEPTEMBER 26, 2019
MEETING ADJOURNED 4:56 P.M.
POST MEETING ACTION ITEMS/NEXT STEPS
Action Assigned To Deadline
On Time Performance Thaddeus Monthy
Schedule changes laminated Sharon TBD
Frequency of No Eating Policy Thaddeus-Mike/Kevin TBD
Announcements on buses
Hiring of drivers Sharon-Mike TBD
Announcement frequency re: Mike TBD
no food or drink on buses
Radio problems Sharon-IT TBD
Maintenance of buses Sharon Alonzo TBD
As a candidate, will board Sharon Legal TBD
member have to step down
Approval Date: Page 4 of 4