In Transit May/June2010

A Newsletter for Transit Employees

From the desk of the General Operator Loren Ott tries Manager out a prototype operator shield while driving It’s all Route 150. connected

Many of the challenges we face at Metro involve a number of related issues, actions or policies. Solutions don’t always come easily, but they are rarely beyond our grasp.

Here’s a case in point.

As we move ahead with the security improvements detailed in my last In Transit message, I am reminded of how operator and customer security are interwoven with our fare policies and practices.

Over the next few months we’ll be focusing attention on fare policy with the Metropolitan King County Council and the Regional Transit Metro tests operator shields Committee. We’ve long understood the relationship between our complex fares, team of representatives from Transit Operations, Vehicle Maintenance customer satisfaction, fare evasion, A (Component Supply Center and Fleet Engineering), and Safety is making and operator security. Now, as a result good progress on the research and testing of operator compartment shields on of reports requested by the County Metro buses. The investigating team also includes operators of the year Ineke Council, we’ll be in a better position to DeBoer (current) and Nate Chapelle (past). demonstrate those relationships. The shields, intended to enhance transit operator safety and security, are being We recently submitted a report on installed by the Component Supply Center on a range of bus types. Each base fare evasion to the County Council. Metro operators played a crucial role will test one shielded bus, as follows: in the successful completion of this ■ South Base: 6800 – 60' New Flyer study. During the survey, operators hybrid diligently recorded nonpayment and In this issue underpayment of fares by customers ■ Atlantic Base: 4100 – 40' Gillig trolley Transit center security systems ....2 Continued on page 2 ■ North Base: 3200 – 40' Gillig Fare evasion costs Metro ...... 3 ■ Central Base: 2300 – 60' New Flyer Kudos ...... 4 high-floor ■ Ryerson Base: 2800 – 60' New Flyer Short shots ...... 6 low-floor On the move ...... 8 Continued on page 3 Continued from page 1 General Manager Security systems make at the farebox. Many operators also completed a questionnaire asking for transit centers safer their ideas to reduce fare evasion. That input is summarized in the report, and roviding safe, secure facilities for customers we gave it full consideration as we Pand employees is vitally important to Metro formulated our recommendations to the Transit. One of the many tools we use to fulfill council for strategies to address fare that commitment is the transit center security evasion (see page 3). system program, which installs emergency call I want to thank our operators and ATU stations and surveillance cameras to enable 587 leadership for your support and real-time reporting of security incidents. These contributions to this effort. systems allow Metro Transit Police and local law enforcement agencies to respond more We now estimate that about 4.8 percent rapidly, reduce incidents overall, and help in the of our riders contribute to fare evasion, prosecution of crimes that do occur. with 1.9 percent paying too little and 2.9 percent avoiding payment entirely. This The program has installed emergency call and deprives our budget of about $62,000 surveillance camera security systems at the each week, or a little over $3.2 million Burien, Northgate, Eastgate, Issaquah Highlands, per year (roughly 2.5 percent of our total and Redmond transit centers. A new system is fare revenue). being added to the Aurora Village Transit Center, As we take a fresh look at our fare and planning is underway for installation at other policies and practices, at the council’s sites. request we also plan to look at our fare relationships with regional transit The call stations and cameras are connected partners— and others— via the Internet to Metro’s Security Monitoring to develop recommendations for better Center, a facility at Atlantic/Central Base that regional fare coordination. This June is staffed 24/7. When a customer or employee This emergency call we’ll submit a follow-up report to the presses an emergency call button, he or she box at the Burien council about fare policies. The report has instant two-way communication with the will include comments on the current Transit Center provides Monitoring Center. The surveillance cameras are state of fare integration, discount fares, an instant connection regular fares, and more. It will likely with Metro’s Security activated simultaneously and begin transmitting include recommendations to further Monitoring Center and video of the incident to the Monitoring Center, simplify and align Metro and Sound activates video cameras where it is recorded. Monitoring Center personnel Transit fares, using our common at the scene of the call. immediately assess the situation and call for ORCA fare card. police response if necessary.

It’s worth noting that Sound Transit When no incident is in progress, the on-site cameras are focused on potential recently instituted fare changes that vandal targets so Monitoring Center staff can use them to check on possible were designed, in part, to better align trouble spots. their fares with ours—which is a good start. The presence of these systems seems to be a strong deterrent to crime. It also helps customers act on Metro’s “See Something, Say Something” message. While we have been doing this work, another process has gotten underway. “The new security system at Burien Transit Center has encouraged our patrons When the County Council adopted the to call in dozens of potential trouble situations each week, allowing rapid law 2010 budget, it also created a Regional enforcement response when needed,” said Facilities Security Coordinator Gail Transit Task Force that is charged with Israelson. “A downward trend in incidents at this site is already apparent.” recommending a policy framework to guide future service investments or Service Quality Chief Jim Kost is making sure the word gets out to Metro contractions at Metro. operators about these systems. “We’re starting a driver awareness program on the new security systems at our transit centers so operators can understand The task force has begun its work the benefits, help inform customers how the system works, and reinforce (see page 6), and by September it will Metro’s commitment to passenger safety,” Kost said. have identified short-term and long- Continued on page 3

Page 2 Continued from page 1 Fare evasion costs Metro Operator shields

hen it adopted the 2010 budget, the Metropolitan King County Council ■ East Base: 3200 – 40' Gillig Wdirected Metro to estimate the extent and cost of fare evasion and ■ Bellevue Base: 3200 – 40' Gillig to include operators in the process of making those estimates. In February ■ Spare: 3100 – 35' Gillig and March, all Metro operators at each base were asked to record detailed information about fare evasion on two full days. The results showed that about Buses will be assigned to cover 2.9 percent of passengers paid no fare (excluding free trips and children under different types of service, including age six), and another 1.9 percent paid just part of the fare. Based on these different times of day and use of the figures, fare evasion costs Metro about $62,000 a week in lost revenue. Transit Tunnel. Each day, operators from each base Operators had three main will be able to drive the shielded bus suggestions for addressing fare on their regular routes. Other operators evasion: can check out a demo bus while it is parked at their base. ■ Fare simplification (i.e., eliminating zones and peak-hour The first bus with a demonstration surcharges). This is an important shield was put into service in April. part of Metro’s current work with The final one is expected to complete Sound Transit and other agencies testing by the first of July. Each bus to better coordinate regional will be evaluated for one month, with fares, which the County Council operators providing written feedback also directed Metro to do. on a form to be analyzed by Research ■ Elimination of the Ride Free and Management Information. Area and its pay-on-exit policy. Training and Safety staff members and Metro will further analyze the others will also provide input as time data to measure fare evasion permits. levels on trips where passengers pay on exiting the bus. Metro is working with the City of Seattle to update the estimated costs and Continued from page 2 benefits of the Ride Free Area. General Manager ■ More Transit Police and fare checkers. Fare enforcement Almost five percent of Metro’s term objectives for transit service investments and formulated a service patrols will help evaluate the customers fail to pay all or part of their fares. policy based on those objectives. effectiveness of this strategy The group’s job is not an easy one. and assess whether to revise Its members are learning how tightly procedures for assigning Transit Police and/or hire additional Transit Police policy issues, service objectives, or security officers. Starting this fall, Metro will begin using its new proof- and implementation programs are of-payment system on the RapidRide A Line on Pacific Highway South. If intertwined. We fully support the task the system is successful on the A Line, Metro may consider having it play a force’s efforts, and look forward to its larger role throughout the system. report.

A big thank-you to all the Metro operators who helped us measure fare evasion When we receive the report and and made recommendations to reduce this problem. consider its implications, along with the direction of our own fare policies and practices and our relationships with other transit providers, we’ll be sensitive to any proposed changes that might negatively affect our employees, customers, and revenues. An intricate web ties them all together.

—Kevin Desmond, General Manager

Page 3 KUDOSIN TRANSIT

recognized. He comes to work every on Suzanne as a person and as a day and does his job, no supervision representative of King County Metro required. He is the man behind the Transit.” scenes who makes the wheels on the bus go ’round, and helps make Metro a ■ Bike-to-work video features transit system we can all be proud of.” operator — North Base Operator Ed Bowman, a 10-year bicycle commuter, ■ Rideshare employee runs Boston was among King County employees Marathon — On April 19, Rideshare featured in a “May is Bike Month” Operations Vanpool Services video focused on bicycle commuters. Representative Julie Paone completed The video, which includes Ed riding the 114th Boston Marathon. With an his recumbent bike, is available overall time of 3 hours, 42 minutes online at http://your.kingcounty. and 25 seconds, Paone finished in the gov/employees/media/healthheroes/ top 46 percent of all 26,127 runners BikeCommuting.asx. and in the top 30 percent among women runners. To participate in ■ Operator honored by the event, she first had to meet community — On April 26, the a time standard in a prior qualifying Issaquah Valley Grange named East race. In Transit congratulates Paone Base Operator David Waggener on her achievement. Man of the Year for his volunteer contributions to his community. Bob Martinsen won’t have to look ■ for a parking spot at work for a Transit operations chief Waggener, a Metro driver for the while. honored — The National Committee past six-and-a-half years, has served for Employer Support of the Guard as a docent for both the Issaquah ■ Martinsen named top Vehicle and Reserve recently honored North Historical Society and Friends of Maintenance employee — Mechanic Base Operations Chief Suzanne Issaquah Salmon Hatchery since 1998, Bob Martinsen was named 2010 Keyport. The organization recognizes has chaired the Issaquah Cemetery Vehicle Maintenance Employee of the employers and employees who Board, helped organize a community Year on April 29. A valued member practice leadership and personnel fund drive for the slain Lakewood of the VM team since February 1979, policies that support employee police officers, and has served as Martinsen has worked as a mechanic participation in the National Guard a post commander and (currently) on the monorail (4 years), on the and Reserve forces. “Many reservists assistant quartermaster of Post 3436 historic (2 years), and guardsmen return home from of the Issaquah Veterans of Foreign and on buses at Atlantic (a.k.a. Central deployment to find themselves Wars. Waggener also accepted U.S. Base) Maintenance. He currently unemployed or out of touch with Representative Dave Reichert’s request works the yard truck in the Atlantic their employers,” said Operator Tim that he serve on a volunteer board for yard, where he rushes to the rescue, Wilson, who nominated Keyport the Honor Flights Program, which flies rain or shine, for everything from for the award. “While deployed in World War II veterans to Washington, loose mirrors to buses that won’t start. Afghanistan, I was able to stay in D.C. to view the memorial honoring Managers and co-workers honored his touch periodically with my base those who served in that war. “Even 31 years of diligent, consistent service chief…She was diligent in helping in this economy, it should be a priority and his tendency to be a behind-the- me resolve some pressing benefit to get these vets to Washington, D.C. scenes, unsung hero. Mike Eeds, issues and facilitating the transition as a way to repay our debt to them,” supervisor of Atlantic Maintenance, back to work after being gone for Waggener said. “They’re getting up called him “the type of employee that nearly 18 months. Her thoughtfulness there in age and can’t wait for better everyone loves, but who is seldom and professionalism reflect well economic times.” Page 4 Transit operators of the month April 2010 Atlantic Base: Richard Bryant Central Base: Paul Canlas Eastside Campus: Ehsanollah Zarghami North Base: Daniel Gonzalez Ryerson Base: Lori Cogar South Base: Michael Krause

May 2010 Atlantic Base: Kirk Wilson Central Base: David Vance Eastside Campus: Robert Simpson North Base: Michael Sattler Ryerson Base: Frank Sykora 2009 Metroadeo champion Tammy Klein negotiates the serpentine, one of South Base: Shannon Strozier 11 challenges in the operator competition at the International Bus Roadeo in Cleveland.

■ New supervisors-in-training ■ Metro shines at International Bus his favorite activities. As a Metro selected — In Transit congratulates Roadeo — An elite team from Metro employee, Buchanan had a gift for the 24 candidates chosen to be competed in the APTA International drawing out the best in anyone he supervisors-in-training. SITs are Bus Roadeo in Cleveland in early met. As a loaned executive to the competitively selected based May. Atlantic Base Operator Tammy Combined Charities program, he also on merit, work record, written Klein, winner of the 2009 Metroadeo, touched the lives of employees across exams, interviews, and role-play finished a very respectable eighth many departments. A solid family performances. In seniority order, they among 39 entrants in the 40-foot man and respected co-worker, he will are: Enrique Calderon Jr., James coach class. In her first international be missed by many. His Health Hero Wells, George Kalbflesch, Corina competition, Klein finished ahead video is still online at http://your. J. Rostrom, Richard Randall, of last year’s national champion kingcounty.gov/employees/media/ Bryan Oh, Steve Johnson, Wayne and bested all Washington state healthheroes/Bucky2010.asx. Flesch, Mark Otero, Dennis competitors entered in her event. Caputo, Carroll Humphrey, Esther Metro’s Vehicle Maintenance Metcalf, Benjamin Limargo, team, made up of mechanics Larry Michael Cooper, Gary Gustafson, Fitzpatrick and Ryan Stringfellow Craig Jamieson, Gerald Kennedy, (East Base) and Arvin Vulliet (North Harujdin Vojnikovic, Tamera Base), finished fifth among 22 Stuart, Kevin Haptonstall, Keith teams in the Mechanic competition Rodmyre, Michael McGrath, after paying most of their own trip Stephen St. Aubin, and Dustin Toms. expenses because budget constraints limited Metro to paying only their The Transit Operations SIT test team entry fee. The combined scores of reports being impressed with all of Metro’s contingent earned them the the applicants who participated in the joint title of “Third Grand Champion” highly competitive process, selected and were a scant 0.52 percent short of or not. All displayed a depth of snagging second place overall. In Transit online knowledge, creativity, and motivation Current and past issues of In ■ that reflected well on the rich and Health hero passes away — Mike Transit are available on the diverse culture of Metro employees. “Bucky” Buchanan, a 24-year King County website at www. All full-time transit operators are veteran mechanic of Metro’s Vehicle kingcounty.gov/transportation/ encouraged to prepare for, and Maintenance team, passed away kcdot/MetroTransit/InTransit. participate in, future SIT recruitments. on March 10 while hiking, one of Page 5 SHORT SHOTS IN TRANSIT News briefs in and around the Transit Division

■ A greener clean — Metro has ■ Transit technology projects reach long recycled some of the trash our new milestone—Two of Transit’s customers leave behind on buses. large technology projects, the Transit Thanks to a new agreement with Radio System Project and the Allied Waste, bus cleaning is about On-Board Systems/Communication to get even greener. We clean our Center System Project, passed coaches with a combination of hand a significant milestone with the and vacuum power, and already sort successful completion of system recyclables like newspapers and integration testing on April 23. This pop cans out of the hand-cleaned test was the first in a series of test debris. Under the new agreement, phases leading up to the start of bus our vacuumed debris will also be installations in August. Together, recycled, saving money by reducing these two projects will replace the the volume of waste Metro needs legacy Transit Radio System and to dispose of. In the past, vendors provide new services for Metro had no interest in recycling this customers, including automated stop co-mingled debris, but according announcements and interior electronic to Recycling Coordinator Talon signs. The entire Metro fleet will be Swanson, that reluctance has converted to the new system by the changed. “It is thanks to the end of 2011. success of King County residential co-mingled recycling programs that ■ Task force update — The 28-member Regional Transit Task vendors are now willing to accept this A new prototype sign is installed at material,” Swanson said. Fourth Avenue S. and S. Jackson Force has begun work on its mission Street in April. to recommend a policy framework ■ Industry peer review on for Metro. The task force will passenger security — In more informative, easier to read, more recommend criteria for systematically collaboration with the American eye-catching, and easier to maintain increasing or decreasing Metro’s Public Transportation Association than our current signs. Smaller bus system depending on available (APTA), Metro hosted a national versions are already being installed revenues. It will also discuss state and industry peer review on passenger at some stops, and large ones will be federal legislative issues that will help security at the end of May. Transit fabricated and installed at major bus Metro achieve a stated vision. The security experts from Boston; stops as funding becomes available. task force will attempt to balance land Portland, Ore.; San Francisco; and For now, you can check out the three use, social equity and environmental Toronto toured Metro facilities, new large designs at the following justice, financial sustainability, talked to Base Security Committee locations: geographic equity, economic members, and met with other development, and productivity and Metro representatives and local law ■ Fourth Avenue S and S Jackson efficiency in its recommendations. enforcement officials. They shared Street, northbound, on the near Its groundwork was laid at the first best practices and discuss security side next to Union Station meeting at the end of March. At the ideas for the Metro system, including ■ Fourth Avenue S and S Jackson second meeting, in April, Metro staff security in the Downtown Seattle Street, northbound, on the far side members provided an overview of Transit Tunnel. (on the transit island) Metro, its service delivery, and its ■ Third Avenue and Pike Street, policies. At the May meeting the ■ New transit signs are northbound, on the far side next to group was briefed on the King County coming — Metro has developed a Century Square. This sign includes Auditor’s 2009 transit performance new family of bus stop signs that are a new-style yellow Skip Stop sign. Page 6 Continued from page 8 On the move

Lloyd Flatum, mechanic — April 19 James Lee - mechanic — April 19 Jun Li, mechanic — April 19 Charles Scott, equipment service worker — April 19 Jesse Shelton, mechanic — April 19 Jonathan Thornbrough, mechanic — April 19 William Unrau, mechanic — April 19 Randy Winders, manager — April 19

In Our Thoughts Staffers strum for St. Pat’s—Five musically inclined employees (and one spouse) played Celtic music in the King Street Center lobby Wally Everson, retired at lunchtime on March 17. Pictured, from left to right, are Brian service supervisor (Transit Duncan (fiddle), Debra Billups (mandolin and baritone ukulele), Operations — 1986), passed away on Drew Robinson (fiddle, vocals), Dale Cummings (guitar, vocals), and April 12 Anna Clemenger (bodhràn, whistles, vocals). Not pictured: Judith Wayne Hom, retired schedule Cummings (harp, vocals). planner (31+ years, Service Development—2005), passed away on May 30 audit and the Puget Sound Regional driver’s compartment was on display Council’s VISION 2040 growth and (see page 1). transportation plans. The task force meets at least monthly. For more Rider satisfaction mixed information, visit www.kingcounty. over September ’09 service gov/transittaskforce. changes — Metro made significant changes to several bus routes last ■ Annual security retreat — The September. Before-and-after measures annual Transit Operations Security of rider satisfaction show mixed Retreat, dedicated to helping Metro results regarding changes to routes 8, provide its operators and customers 36, 48, 106, and 174 (and new route with a safe and secure environment, 124, formerly part of Route 174). was held March 16. Transit Operations Mean satisfaction ratings showed little Security Coordinator John Lewis change for Route 36 and mixed results hosted the event, which was attended for routes 48 and 174/124. Satisfaction In Transit by operators and chiefs from all transit was most negatively affected for bases, plus Metro and union leadership routes 106 and 174. A broad look and the Metro Transit Police. across total results revealed a less General Manager Kevin Desmond satisfied base of respondents after summarized Metro’s responses to the service change. In five out of six the January assaults on a customer in categories (trip time, waiting areas, If you have any questions, comments or story ideas, send them to In Transit, the downtown transit tunnel and on physical characteristics, transfers, KSC-TR-0824, or contact Anna a Route 124 transit operator. Metro and frequency/reliability), ratings Clemenger: 206-263-6482 or anna. Transit Police Chief Dave Jutilla got worse for one to three measured [email protected]. briefed the group on current policing elements of service. Personal safety Produced by Transportation Office of efforts, including fare enforcement was the only category in which no Communications and the tactical deployment of transit specific service ratings went down. Editor: Anna Clemenger police officers. Project Manager In the frequency/reliability category, Transit Coordination: Bob Simpson Roland Bradley provided an mean ratings went up significantly for Staff Photographer: Ned Ahrens update on on-board camera system only one item: how often the bus runs Graphic Design: Jackie Phillips procurement. A prototype of a on weekends. 10080/dot/comm/ac/jp protective shield installed in a bus

Page 7 ON THE MOVE Transit Division retirements, promotions/job changes, new hires, and remembrances

Retirements Rail

Design and Construction Marcus Calija to streetcar operator (South Lake Union Streetcar) from transit operator (North Base) Ron Quist, engineer V — May 31; 22 years Salvador Cortes to streetcar operator (South Lake General Manager Offi ce Union Streetcar) from transit operator (Central Base) Jeff Craig to rail supervisor from first-line supervisor Linda Smith, business and finance officer II — June 30; (Transit Control Center) 24+ years Douglas Hall to rail operator from transit operator Paratransit/Rideshare Operations (Central Base) Tomi Geivett, transit planner II (Accessible Services) Harmony Hunter to rail supervisor from first-line — April 14; 18 years supervisor (Transit Control Center) Donald McClain to rail operator from transit operator Operations (South Base) Will Hoffard, operator (South Base) — May 31; 16 years Carl Offenheiser to acting signal and communication chief from signal and communication technician Rail Justin Swanson to rail operator from transit operator Paul “Andy” Balder, streetcar operator — Dec. 31; 35 years (Central Base) Vehicle Maintenance Kevin Winter to acting rail operations chief (correction) from rail supervisor Jerry Arves, lead mechanic — April 30; 26+ years David Cluett, electronic technician — April 1; 30+ years Service Development Tom Dannenfelser, electronic technician — May 1; Steve Cahan to transit planner III from transit planner II 12+ years (Transit Route Facilities) Mary Jensen, supervisor of basic business systems Vehicle Maintenance — May 14; 19+ years Doug King, mechanic — April 2; 29+ years Todd Brown to acting transit maintenance analyst from Tom Lambe, mechanic — April 16; 30+ years mechanic (Atlantic Base) Nick Caraway to mechanic (Atlantic Base) from Promotions and Job Changes streetcar maintainer (South Lake Union Streetcar) Cindy Sattler to acting functional analyst II from data Operations administrator Alim Abdullah to transit operator (Atlantic Base) from rail operator () New Hires Arnie Becker to roving base chief from supervisor (Link Rail Light Rail) Al DeSart to transit operator (North Base) from streetcar Louis DiFazio, rail signal and communication operator (South Lake Union Streetcar/SLUS) technician — March 30 Charles Oates to transit operator (North Base) from Steve McColl, rail electrical worker — April 21 streetcar operator (South Lake Union Streetcar) Robert McKee, transit facilities electrician — April 21 Cathy Vujovich to base chief (South Base) from first-line Vehicle Maintenance supervisor (Operations Training) Aaron Allen, equipment service worker — February 22 Paratransit/Rideshare Operations Enrique Curameng, equipment service worker — Lorrie Alfonsi to transit planner III from transit planner III April 19 (term-limited); replaces Tomi Geivett, retired Chad Everett, equipment service worker — February 22

Continued on page 7

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