The RGRTA Board meeting
On March 1, 2007, RGRTA had a board meeting. As usual, Arlene has provided her excellant summary of the meeting. Here it is:
RGRTA BOARD MEETING
MARCH 1, 2007
The first row of public seating for set aside for the media (in attendance were the D & C editorial board and WXXI radio staff), at the monthly RGRTA board meeting. Close to thirty-five members of the public, from the disability community, Bus Fareness Committee, bus driver’s union representatives, and other community activists such as Rev. Raymond Graves, were present.
Mark Aesche opened the meeting, using a body microphone, to present his annual report and comprehensive plan for 2007-8 for RGRTA. (The fiscal year for RGRTA runs from April to March, so this is a year-end report.) Key points of interest reported by RGRTA management staff:
· Seven (7) million dollar net income for the transportation authority, for the end of the fiscal year, up from the prior projected one million.
· An 85% on time bus rate (RGRTA has a minimum goal of 90%)
· RGRTA receives a percentage of county mortgage taxes (1million dollars) for operations
· Monroe County Sheriff’s Snow Removal Program shoveled out 250 of 650 bus stops.
Customer Satisfaction Index Report
Ann Nichols presented the results of the customer satisfaction survey, showing an overall improvement (26%) from prior year’s data. Even with this improvement, there were some other key statistics of consumer satisfaction presented:
· 83% with timeliness of buses
· 45% with cleanliness
· 85% of call center staff
· 73% rating of drivers
· 2.13% disabled buses
· 1.96% pass ups.
There was some board discussion on pass ups (drivers not stopping) as these numbers were based on self-reports, and if drivers were passing up because the bus was full, mechanical difficulties, etc. Overall the board was displeased with the consumer satisfaction index on cleanliness, and stated the numbers over the four quarters showed a decrease in satisfaction. Mark Aesch spoke of solutions, such as using the cameras and tapes on the bus to monitor drivers, and taking disciplinary actions with drivers on pass ups.
T.I.D.E.
A great deal of the meeting focused on the proposed technical updates-GPS (global positioning system) technology, Smart Card (bus pass debit card) and Stop Enunciator (electronic voicing of bus stops). This would be rolled out in the next few years; the current timeline is as follows:
January 2007 Deadline To Review Written Proposals
March 2007 Oral Presentations Of Proposals
April 2007 Site visits.
It was not clear if the vendors interested in bidding for the projects would come to Rochester, or RGRTA staff would go to visit Trapeze Company (Toronto, Canada), Orbital Sciences (Virginia) or Siemens (Germany).
Renaissance Square
Mark Ballerstein, Monroe County Engineering Operations Manager, discussed the status of the Renaissance Square Project. Tom Argust raised questions about the need to see monthly financial expenditure statements. Mr. Ballerstein still had none, after one year of meetings, but promised to have operating cost estimates and expenditures at next month’s April meeting.
There was an animated discussion on Mark Aesche being the representative to the Main and Clinton Development Group, and how he would vote-as CEO of RGRTA or as a representative of the RGRTA board. It did not seem as if this issue was decided-Mark Aesche abstained gracefully-but the board voted to approve the proposal to give Mark Aesche carte blanche to act however he saw fit on the Main and Clinton Development Group. This group of four, is composed of two former county employees who are now in construction, is in charge of the planning for Renaissance Square. Mark Ballerstein, when questioned about the lack of an open process for membership in the Main and Clinton Development, stated it was based on their ’specialty expertise’. He also stated he is fine with it, as it is composed of people he knows and has worked with.
RGRTA Comprehensive Plan
Mark Aesche congratulated RGRTA for having a balanced budget for the 9th year, and stated this is the second time the budget has had a net surplus. He also mentioned RGRTA had purchased 54 buses. He presented many Power Point slides on RGRTA’s 2007-08 Strategic Operations Plan for the coming year: customer service excellence, financial stability, employee participation and putting buses where people want to go. A plethora of data on increased ridership, customer service, was presented; none about putting buses where people want to go. The Commissioners praised Mark Aesche and staff for a great presentation and excellent work.
Expenditures
RIT was approved to be a technical consultant on the T.I.D.E. project. This was based on their research in the developmental phase. They will be a sole source contract.
All other contracts, and funding were presented and approved in rapid-fire succession, with no discussion.
Other
Mark Heller (Orleans County) resigned as a Commissioner. There are now two vacancies on the RGRTA Board.
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Inquiring Minds at the public meeting were overheard asking the following questions:
Q: Why aren’t citizens allowed the opportunity to speak?
A: Public meetings usually allow citizens the opportunity to speak or ask questions at
the beginning or the end. RGRTA has opted not to be this. Instead, they have
Town Hall meetings, where questions can be asked to one or two administrative
staff, but not Commissioners.
Q: Why can’t citizens have a copy of the Comprehensive Plan at the meeting?
A: Reports, and other documents on the agenda were available for the public at the
December 2006 meeting, by request. Since, then, none have been available when
requested.
Q: Where on the website is the Comprehensive Plan-I can’t find it?
A: It is one the page with the Commissioners photos, at the bottom of the page. The
web address is http://www.rgrta.org/About/BoardOfDirectors.aspx
Q: What did the media think about the meeting?
A: The Democrat and Chronicle Editorial Board member had some interesting
opinions that you can check out at http://www.democratandchronicle.com/blogs/editorial/2007/03/aesch-rather-not-respond-to-reader.html
Feel free to post your comments as well!
Q: When is the next meeting?
A: Unknown-the website calendar ends at March 1, 2007. The pattern has been the
first of the month, but that is unconfirmed.