HomeMy WebLinkAboutTransit Citizens Advisory Committee November 7, 2019
TRANSIT CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING NOTES
Transit Citizens Advisory CommitteeDate 11-7-19
ATTENDANCE
Name Title Organization Present
Terence Dicks
Chairman District 2 x
Denice Traina
Vice-Chariperson 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
Denice Mulkey Special Services Mgr McDonald Transit/Ratpdev x
Udomekong Udoko Planner Augusta, Georgia x
Portia Stith Secretary Augusta, Georgia x
Kwangil Tae Guest Consumer x
Ruth Williams Guest Consumer x
Franceo Ceja Guest Consumer x
ABSENTEES
Sharon Dottery Director Augusta, Georgia
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.
Moment of reflections for the passing of Mr. Thomas Rowe TCAC Board Members
Reports GM Cornell Mack Currently most of the emphasis has been placed on
Operations and Maintenance Departments. They are diligently working on ideas and
approaches on being on time and keeping our vehicles on the road as long as possible.
Member Tootle is requesting that the monthly report include the reasons why the buses
are not on time in the monthly report. Our current ratios are unacceptable and we need to
figure out innovative ways to fix this.
Cornell This has been a hot button issue in my eight weeks here. Several factors could
cause the buses to be late. The current On Time Performance numbers are not acceptable
to my staff members or me. We are open to suggestions. However, it is my
responsibility to review and analyze the data and determine how to move forward in
attaining our goals.
Gaylon We also have a job to do and while giving us a lot of information that we do not
understand may not be the answer, there has to be some common ground. We are in this
together and have the same concerns that you have.
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Transit Citizens Advisory CommitteeDate 11-7-19
Chairman Dicks Mr. Mack, if you could for the purposes of this meeting, provide the
report with the numbers but also provide an explanation, whether it is equipment,
personnel, accidents, etc.
Member Charles Cummings The two buses that are down, is that affecting the report
numbers.
Cornell No, those are our Rural buses.
Vice-Chairperson Traina The data on ADA performance had improved consistently.
The Rural buses are also reflecting much higher numbers. We should not focus on just
one piece, but the whole thing. It is hard to facilitate a change in four weeks. Perhaps a
quarterly report would better reflect the information we are trying to gather.
Terence Is that a recommendation to request this information quarterly?
Denise In terms of accessing this particular point, I think quarterly is better because it is
giving time to implement ideas and it takes time to see change.
Gaylon This is not a beat up session, but a sharing of ideas. We are simply asking for a
commentary so that we can come together and figure out what is going on.
Terence We will then look at that report quarterly, giving the department time to
implement change.
Udomekong Udoko Would it help if the bus drivers documented and reported why they
were late?
Terence Dispatchers could provide this information.
Cornell After clarification, you are only requesting a description of major reason for the
buses being late.
Denice I have a document on Arts Transportation Improvement Program (2015-2018)
We are now looking at the budget and in relation to the budget, language matters.
Transportation should not be contingent upon the revenue it generates and that should be
articulated in the new document as data is compiled.
Terence We cannot rely on the fare box to run this system. That has to be an investment
and a commitment made by the City of Augusta, making sure those resources are there.
We want our transportation system to be worthy of our city.
Charles Mr. Tootle and I had the opportunity to go before the Commission and spoke
about the five percent allocated to transit. We, as a committee, are working together to
keep transit moving forward.
Gaylon We also emphasized that Transit is not a moneymaker. It is a grant-funded
program. I am very impassioned about transit. I depend on it; I need quality and I need
for it to be on time.
Terence I had two calls from senior patrons complimenting Transit on getting them to
their destinations on time. They were very complimentary on the service they received.
Guest Mrs. Williams Transportation is back at Ft. Gordon. Would like an explanation
why she was told her son did not have pickup at his door when there was construction on
Windsor Springs Rd. The bus could not pick him up at the driveway but picked him up at
the end of the road, and then turned around in that driveway. Some of your drivers have
picked up others at that same address, in the driveway. This is a safety issue because of
the heavy traffic in the area.
Approval Date: Page 3 of 5
Transit Citizens Advisory CommitteeDate 11-7-19
Denise Mulkey Everything is case by case when it comes to Rural. Our safety person or
a street supervisor can be sent out to access the area.
Cornell Drivers have different skill levels and may err on the side of caution. They
would be held accountable if they have a preventable accident.
Denise The drivers have gone through our training but they do not have their CDL.
Some drivers are not as experienced as others are.
New business Election, December meeting
With no further comments regarding agenda items, meeting was adjourned
by Chairman Dicks.
Approval Date: Page 4 of 5
Transit Citizens Advisory CommitteeDate 11-7-19
DECISIONS MADE:
NEXT MEETING DECEMBER 19, 2019
MEETING ADJOURNED 5:10 P.M.
POST MEETING ACTION ITEMS/NEXT STEPS
Action Assigned To Deadline
Monthly/Quarterly Report Cornell, Terence, Denice TBD
Approval Date: Page 5 of 5