Transit Paratransit Coordinating Committee 1BMEETING AGENDA PLEASE NOTE: The SCTA/RCPA Business Office is closed, and this meeting will be conducted entirely by teleconference pursuant to the provisions of the Governor’s Executive Orders N-29-20 and N-35-20, suspending certain requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act. TPCC Members will be calling or video- conferencing into the TPCC Meeting via Zoom. Members of the public who wish to listen to the meeting may do so via the following conference line or Zoom platform: Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84664334791?pwd=aUpxa3Y3TjI0SmJldGFJUFZwME5Vdz09 Meeting ID: 846 6433 4791 Passcode: 985240 Call in: 1 (669) 900-9128 Instructions for Public Comment: Please submit any comments in writing to Drew Nichols at [email protected] by 12:00 noon on March 16 (please identify the agenda item related to your comment and indicate whether your comment should be read aloud or only submitted for the record). March 16, 2021 – 1:30 p.m. Sonoma County Transportation Authority Meeting to be held remotely via Zoom. Information provided above. ITEM 1. Introductions 2. Approval of Meeting Notes: January 19, 2020 – DISCUSSION / ACTION* 3. Vision Zero update, Department of Health Services – Discussion 4. Coordinated Claim FY21/22 Draft – ACTION* 5. Roundtable Updates – Discussion a. Transit / Paratransit Operators b. Mobility Partner Reports 6. Public Comment 7. Items for Next Agenda – Discussion 8. Other Business / Comments / Announcements 411 King Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 | 707.565.5373 | scta.ca.gov | rcpa.ca.gov 1 9. Adjourn *Materials attached. The next SCTA/RCPA meeting will be held April 12, 2021 The next TPCC meeting will be held May 18, 2021 Copies of the full Agenda Packet are available at www.scta.ca.gov. ACCOMMODATION FOR PERSONS LIVING WITH A DISABILITY: If you have a disability that requires the agenda materials to be in an alternate format or that requires an interpreter or other person to assist you while attending this meeting, please contact SCTA at least 72 hours prior to the meeting to ensure arrangements for accommodation. SB 343 DOCUMENTS RELATED TO OPEN SESSION AGENDAS: Materials related to an item on this agenda submitted to the Transit Paratransit Coordinating Committee after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection in the Sonoma County Transportation Authority office at 411 King Street, during normal business hours. Pagers, cellular telephones and all other communication devices should be turned off during the committee meeting to avoid electrical interference with the sound recording system. 2 TRANSIT PARATRANSIT COORDINATING COMMITTEE MEETING NOTES Meeting Notes of January 19, 2021 ITEM 1. Introductions Lauren Garbaldi moved for approval of Tim Webster as Vice-Chair, Steve Schmitz seconded. Meeting called to order at 1:32 p.m. by Dana The committee approved the motion. Turrey. 3.2. SCTA/RCPA Meeting Schedule for Committee Members: Dennis Battenberg, Chair, 2021 via phone; Stan Gow, Vice Chair; Tim Webster, Earl Provided for the committee’s information. Baum Center for the Blind; Steven Schmitz, Sonoma County Transit; Jon Gaffney, Golden Gate 3.3. TPCC Member Roster and Transit; Debbie Baldo, Vivalon (formerly Vacancies Provided for the committee’s information. Whitlestop Wheels); Mohammed Ali, MV Transport/Santa Rosa CityBus; Yuri Koslen, Santa 3.4. TPCC By-Laws - information Rosa CityBus; Silvia Martinez-Palacios, Petaluma Provided for the committee’s information. Transit; Kathleen Cortez, Area Agency on Aging; Lake Kowell, Disability Services and Legal Center; 4. COVID Vaccine Transportation Coordination Lauren Garibaldi, Petaluma Peoples Service; April for Transit Dependent Pearson, Volunteer Wheels; Scotty Milay King, Kathleen Cortez spoke on the COVID vaccine drive- Sebastopol Senior Center. through vaccine clinic recently held at the Guests: Daniel Shelley; Tobias Weare. fairgrounds. However, all slots were filled and there was fewer staff and vaccinations and it is Staff: Dana Turrey; Drew Nichols. believed the most vulnerable population are those 2. Approval of Meeting Notes: November 20, who are not signing up for a vaccine due to the 2020 - DISCUSSION / ACTION* absence of resources to get there. Tim Webster moved for approval of the Ms. Cortez commented on the upcoming November 20, 2020 minutes, Lauren Garbaldi challenges that could affect vulnerable seconded. populations, such as needing paratransit service Approved as submitted. to access vaccines, and asked the committee their 3. Administrative Items opinions. 3.1. Office Elections The committee discussed paratransit and volunteer driver service for vulnerable populations Dana Turrey opened for nominations for Chair. to have transportation to vaccination sites. Tim Webster nominated Dennis Battenberg. April Pearson commented on suggestions to have Stan Gow moved for approval of Dennis the vaccine administered on the bus, so that Battenberg as Chair for 2021, Lake Kowell passengers do not have to board/disembark. seconded. The committee approved the motion. Lake Kowell nominated Tim Webster for Vice Chair. 3 Ms. Cortez further added potential sites – such as Golden Gate Transit school gymnasiums – that could accommodate Jon Gaffney reported ridership is about 30% of the paratransit busses. pre-COVID levels for fixed route and paratransit Tim Webster asked if additional information service respectively; ferry ridership is only 3% of becomes available, to send it out to the pre-COVID levels. committee. Mr. Gaffney announced that due to the additional 5. Round Table Updates federal assistance, the Golden Gate Transportation and Highway District will not be laying off 5.1. Transit / Paratransit Operators employees at this time. Further federal assistance Sonoma County Transit will be needed come spring time. Steven Schmitz announced fixed route schedule 17 new paratransit vehicles have been received changes that increase service to 70% of pre-COVID. and are undergoing preparations for service. There will be other routes reintroduced when in- Santa Rosa CityBus person school sessions begin. Ridership remains about 30% of pre-COVID levels for both fixed route Yuri Koslen reported on fixed-route service and paratransit. modifications to address staffing and social distance challenges. Pre-COVID service levels are Sonoma County Transit has received two expected to return at some point, with some additional electric busses and will serve Rohnert adjustments on previously low-performing routes. Park and Cotati. Mr. Koslen announced fare collection will begin on Tim Webster asked about providing fare free February 1, 2021 and paratransit passengers will transportation to those en route to receive a also have the ability to purchase electronic tickets. vaccine, given the vaccine will be provided by the government. Mr. Koslen further reported on the recently issued RFP for electrification of the CityBus yard. Each transit operator answered that that request has not been brought up at this point, but will look Mohamad Ali spoke on food delivery service in into it at their respective agency. partnership with Catholic Charities. Petaluma Transit 5.2. Mobility Partner Reports Silvia Martinez-Palacios reported on fare Area Agency on Aging collections starting. Petaluma Transit has made Kathleen Cortez reported AAA is supporting five purchasing monthly bus passes available online. transportation programs in the county in addition Ms. Martinez-Palacios described the paratransit to Sebastopol Senior Center and Petaluma People rider card, which can also be purchased online. Services: West County Community Services Center, This takes the form of a punch card and one can Healdsburg Senior Center, and the Center for purchase up to 12 rides for $33. These can also be Social and Environmental Stewardship. purchased from the bus driver by check or exact Ms. Cortez spoke on the Connected Communities change. forum to talk about findings from the study and on Ms. Martinez-Palacios described the paratransit ongoing work to create a directory in the event of a evaluation form that is being evaluated in-house. disaster. 4 Ms. Cortez also announced the County of Sonoma and passengers riding and how will it look for the was recently designated Aging and Disability rest of the year. Resource Connections (ADRC), in partnership with Dana Turrey briefly answered that there was the Disability Services and Legal Center. impacts to transit fund due to the absence of fares, Disability Services & Legal Center but also because much of the funding transit use is sales tax and gas tax based. Lake Kowell reported on the excitement to become an emerging ADRC and will work together Yuri Koslen added historically fare-free was used to develop a senior/disabled one-stop shop so one as toll to market transit. In this instance, it was has access to the services they need. utilized as social distance to limit contact between the driver and passenger. Ms. Kowell reported on financial assistance available to eligible individuals and on disaster Mr. Koslen also added that reintroducing fares also preparation materials for those who may need it. helps address social distancing issues as there were passengers riding transit for no specific Petaluma People Services reason other than for the ride. Lauren Garibaldi reported on the I Ride driver Tim Webster commented that the reintroduction program. Not all rides are able to be filled at this of fare is an added burden to those who point due to a decrease in volunteer drivers. benefitting from the free fares and asked about the Petaluma People Services (PPS) continues to decision to start fare collection. deliver 130 meals per week and are continuing to Mr. Koslen responded that there is a desire to look for more volunteer drivers. address social distancing and added the Clipper Ms. Garibaldi added that PPS will provide rides to START program has a 20% off of fares for low- vaccine sites, however there has not been any income individuals. There are other free programs requests at this time. that will remain: veterans, SRJC students, eligible Sebastopol Senior Center paratransit riders can use fixed route free.