Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTransit Citizens Advisory Committee September 26, 2019 TRANSIT CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING NOTES Transit Citizens Advisory CommitteeDate 9-26-19 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 Cornell Mack GM McDonald Transit/Ratpdev x Thaddeus Davenport Operations Manager McDonald Transit/Ratpdev x Udomekong Udoko Planner Augusta, Georgia x Portia Stith Secretary Augusta, Georgia x Sholonda Smith Administrative Assist Augusta, Georgia x Edkesha Anderson Program Manager Augusta, Georgia x Tim McFalls Commercial Develop Augusta, Georgia x Kwangil Tae Guest Consumer x Thomas Roe Guest Consumer x Frederick Williams Guest Consumer x Ruth H. Williams Guest Consumer x ABSENTEES Sharon Dottery Director Augusta, Georgia AGENDA Chairman Terence Dicks called meeting to order. Motion made by Vice-Chairperson Denice Traina for approval of the minutes. Seconded by Member Charles Cummings - no opposes. Motion passed. Reports Chairman Dicks Spoke with Director of Augusta Public Transit, Sharon Dottery, regarding report. We have been slated to get a Deputy Director for the department next year. Udomekong Udoko The ARTS 2050 MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) is currently doing their long-range plan. They are inviting the community to share thoughts on how to improve transportation for the City of Augusta. This includes roadways, trails, bike paths, and sidewalks. There are two upcoming events in the month of October. We encourage those who can to attend these meetings. GM Cornell Mack The new General Manager of RATPDEV/McDonald Transit introduced himself to the committee and expressed his excitement and vision for improvements to transportation. He is also looking forward to working with TCAC. Meeting Minutes Template (v1.0) Page 2 of 5 Transit Citizens Advisory CommitteeDate 9-26-19 The input and information shared from these meetings will be heard and he is interested in seeing how these ideas can be utilized. Edkesha Anderson Volunteer opportunities available for anyone wanting to participate in Keep Augusta Beautiful. Avenues where TCAC can get out and talk to the public about what we do and what we are trying to accomplish. If we wish to collaborate with them, every weekend in the month of October is available. There has been some dialog with Ms. Dottery regarding the bus shelters and securing funding for shelters. Tim McFalls Commends Udomekong for data given to his department to help understand the needs of Augusta Public Transportation. We have had good, open, honest, and transparent dialog with the representative, Udomekong. Well pleased with the information received by his department, Community Economic Development. If Augusta Public Transit does not keep up with the growth of Augusta, then it will impede growth in this area. The opportunity to speak with whomever, whenever is welcomed about this issue. There are 4,000 soldiers coming to Ft. Gordon that will want to have transportation available. Route from Cyber Center to Ft. Gordon is something that we should already be looking into. The spur off that is getting to where they live once they leave Ft. Gordon. These are the issues we are running across and the things we are being asked. The bus schedule now is not conducive to their needs. The buses are cleaner, and are more on time than they have been in the past. These are the things we are also hearing from our patrons. When companies are considering coming to Augusta, one of the main concerns is transportation and how reliable is our public transportation. If we do not have it, it is going to impede our growth. Charles Cummings Agrees with Tim and does not think transportation is held in high enough regards. We have to continue to push forward. Gaylon Tootle Only five percent of the budget for Richmond County is allocated for transportation. Some of it is funded by state and federal grants as well. Our leaders need to understand that transportation is a vital part of our community. Terence Special thanks to Mr. McFalls for his input and we will certainly be getting with him again. Also looking forward to working with the new GM, Mr. Mack. We will continue with this advocacy. Edkesha Anderson Willing to present issues regarding transit before those in power if she has a better understanding of what needs to be presented. Terence We need a different message, a different approach after getting input from this committee. We then need to figure out a process and how it should be presented. Approval Date: Page 3 of 5 Transit Citizens Advisory CommitteeDate 9-26-19 New business Gaylon -When will passes be available on Ft. Gordon? This is presenting a hardship on patrons trying to find their own way to work when the passes just need to be renewed. Thaddeus This was submitted and was sent back because the information was needed in PDF format. Pictures of operators were not clear, but has now been resubmitted for approval. It will then go to Ms. Dottery and then Ms. Mulkey. The status, it is now pending approval. Gaylon The process normally requires that a list of names is submitted and a background check is submitted which takes 20 minutes. A pass is given once the background check has cleared. They will then take a picture for your pass. It simply should not take two months to get a pass. We have people who are unable to get to work because we do not have a pass. Secondly, we are down to four vans now. One has been sitting in the shop for a month or so. Where are we on replacing new vehicles for the fleet? Cornell Mack There are some discussions going on now regarding the vehicle in the shop. Thaddeus GDOT is in discussion with Ms. Dottery. Insurance issues are also involved. Denice What were the discussions regarding eating on the buses? Thaddeus - The announcement frequency has been increased and the operators are to be mindful and watch to make sure customers are not coming on with food or drinks. Thomas Rowe There is a problem with the position of his chair being secured on the bus. Frederick and Ruth Williams Spoke on behalf of their son, Frederick. He experienced over a year ago not having transportation to work because passes on Ft. Gordon needed to be renewed. He is presently presented with the same problem. This is a hardship for his family trying to get him to work. Asking that someone realize the urgency of this matter for the patrons of Augusta Public Transit. This does not look good in the disabled community and requires immediate attention. Denice Make sure that a complaint is on record with 311. With no further comments regarding agenda items, meeting was adjourned by Chairman Dicks. Approval Date: Page 4 of 5 Transit Citizens Advisory CommitteeDate 9-26-19 DECISIONS MADE: NEXT MEETING OCTOBER 24, 2019 MEETING ADJOURNED 5:10 P.M. POST MEETING ACTION ITEMS/NEXT STEPS Action Assigned To Deadline On Time Performance Thaddeus Monthy Meeting date for December Committee 10/22/19 Status of bus fleet Sharon/Cornell/Thaddeus TBD Individual operators go to have Thaddeus/ Sharon TBD picture taken on post Chair position on bus-Mr. Row Thaddeus TBD Approval Date: Page 5 of 5