Minutes Gateway Cities Service Council Regular Meeting

Transcription

1 Minutes Gateway Cities Service Council Regular Meeting Thursday, May 10, :00PM Salt Lake Park Community Center Lounge 3401 E Florence Ave Huntington Park, CA All Metro meetings are held in ADA accessible facilities. Meeting location served by Metro Lines 111 and 612. Called to Order at 2:00 PM Council Members: David Armenta, Chair Lori Y. Woods, Vice Chair Richard Burnett Gene Daniels JoAnn Eros-Delgado Samuel Peña Wally Shidler Joe Strapac Officers: Gary Spivack, Deputy Executive Officer Dolores Ramos, Sr. Administrative Analyst Medford Auguste, Sr. Transportation Planner Chad Kim, Sr. Transportation Planner Julia Brown, Community Relations Manager Kelly Blanton, Transportation Associate Carlos Rico, Transportation Associate For Metro information in English, please call the following phone number: Para más información de Metro en español, por favor llame al número que aparece a continuación: Մետրոյի մասին հայերեն լեզվով տեղեկություններ ստանալու համար, խնդրում ենք զանգահարել այս հեռախոսահամարով Для получения информации о Metro на русском языке, пожалуйста, позвоните по указанному ниже телефонному номеру: 需要都会运输局的 ( 语言名称 ) 资料, 请拨打以下电话号码 : Metro に関する日本語での情報は 以下の電話番号でお問い合わせください : ส าหร บข อม ลเก ยวก บรถโดยสารเมโทรเป นภาษา [ไทย] กร ณาต ดต อท หมายเลขโทรศ พท ด านล าง: ដ ម បន យ ជ ម អ កបក រ Metro ម ក ស មទ រស ព ត លខ 메트로 (Metro) 정보를 [ 한국어 ] 로알아보시려면, 아래번호로전화하십시오 : Để biết thông tin về Metro bằng tiếng Việt, vui lòng gọi số điện thoại dưới đây:

2 1. PLEDGE of Allegiance 2. ROLL Called 3. APPROVED Minutes from April 12, 2018 Regular Meeting, Councilmembers 4. RECEIVED On-Board Survey Overview, Jeff Boberg, Senior Systems Analysis & Research Manager The Annual Metro On-Board Survey shows that 90% of bus patrons are satisfied with Metro service compared to 88% of rail patrons. Fifty-five% of bus ridership is female compared to 45% of rail ridership. Rail riders have higher incomes than bus riders. More people walked to the bus stop (84%) than to a rail station. San Fernando Valley is the second most satisfied service area for bus service. Councilmember Strapac asked if method of fare payment was a question on the survey. He is concerned about the lack of retail outlets for TAP cards in low-income communities Mr. Boberg responded that a question about fare media used was on the survey; he will provide that information to the Council. Vice Chair Woods asked how many times a year the survey is conducted and if the survey is administered by Metro employees. Mr. Boberg responded that the survey is conducted annually in fall and spring. In 2017, only the fall survey was conducted. The survey is distributed and collected on Metro Bus and Rail by a contractor. Approximately 40,000 surveys were distributed, and about 20,000 responses were received. The survey is purposely kept very short so that it can be completed on short bus trips. Councilmember Peña commented that compared to annual ridership, the number of surveys returned provides a very small sample. Mr. Boberg replied that the survey has a very high return rate and is weighted to provide statistically sound results. It is really challenging to get it down to this few questions; there are always requests to add question to the survey. Councilmember Shidler commented that he rides transit nearly every day and has never seen anyone administering the survey, on bus or on rail. He asked if the survey includes a question about ethnicity. Mr. Boberg replied that demographic questions such as ethnicity are asked for Title VI purposes. As they are personal questions, they are placed at the end of the survey so that if the respondent doesn t want to answer those questions, at least they ll have completed the rest of the survey. Mr. Timberlake commented that he agreed with Councilmember Shidler s observation. He has twice seen surveyors on the bus and they did not want to give him a survey to complete. The consultants he has seen have been very selective about who they distribute the survey to. He practically had to force them to give him the survey. Councilmember Shidler suggested that the survey be condensed to fit on a prepaid postcard to ensure that the surveyors are not selective in who they choose to give the survey to. Mr. Boberg replied that someone might not have been given a survey because it has to be a GWC Service Council May 10, 2018 Minutes 2

3 random sample. The surveyors all attend training; Metro sends secret shoppers to observe them at least once to ensure they are administering the survey correctly. If they are not, they are reported to the contractor for termination, which has occurred in the past. Vice Chair Woods asked how long it takes to complete the survey process. Mr. Boberg replied that it takes approximately two months. There are 4-6 weeks of setup, then 8 weeks of survey distribution in the field. Two surveyors are used to distribute the survey on articulated buses and rail. Contract lines are not surveyed; those bus lines that make up 90% of Metro s boardings are surveyed. 5. RECEIVED Green Line to Torrance Update, Meghna Khanna, Senior Transportation Planning Manager The alternatives for the Green Line Extension to Torrance are currently being evaluated. New alternatives that were suggested by the City of Lawndale are being included in the evaluation. Alternatives 1 and 3 have the most support from stakeholders. Alternative 1 is fully funded under Measure M; other alternatives will need additional funding. Alternative 1 and 2 includes a multi-use path. Alternative 3, the public engagement alternative, is aerial till 166 th and then at grade, ROW next to I-405 needed. Alternative 4 goes south to connect with Redondo Beach Transit Center, an all Aerial configuration. BNSF rights would need to be acquired, and this alternative is not recommended by Metro Operations. The Alternatives all follow the same alignment south of 190 th St. Alternative 3 has the poorest travel time due to street running segments. Ridership for all alternatives is around the same. Alternative 3 would remove the fewest cars removed from the street. Councilmember Peña asked when freight trains were last active on the tracks south of 190 th St, and noted that Ganahl Lumber just opened up a $10 million facility. Ms. Khanna replied that there are still active trains using the tracks; freight operations would not be impacted in the segment, Metro is merely seeking additional right of way to operate alongside. The project is scheduled to go to the Metro Board in July to finalize alternatives to be included in the environmental process, which is tentatively scheduled to begin in Councilmember Strapac asked if a rider starting at Norwalk Station would have a one seat ride to LAX on the Green Line. Ms. Khanna responded that the project would offer that opportunity, but that the Crenshaw Line operating plan is yet to be finalized. Councilmember Shidler asked why Alternatives 2 and 4 are being considered if stakeholders are in favor of 1 and 3. He also asked if this would allow one seat rides from Norwalk to LAX. Ms. Khanna replied that Alternative 3 has support as well. The Metro Board will be presented the operating pattern in June; the South Bay will have a one seat ride to LAX. Mr. Quinlin asked if it will provide a one-seat ride from Norwalk and Torrance, and the cost to build at grade light rail versus aerial or trench alignments. Ms. Khanna responded that at grade is the least expensive to build, then aerial, then trench. Mr. Timberlake commented that the 96th St Station has an open air design, which is a terrible mistake. Any announcements will be drowned out by the airport noise. He is opposed to any plan that will not provide a one seat ride from Norwalk to LAX, and he hopes the Council would also formally oppose any such plan. GWC Service Council May 10, 2018 Minutes 3

4 6. RECEIVED West Santa Ana Branch Update, Matt Abbott, Principal Transportation Planner The West Santa Ana Branch (WSAB) has four new northern alignments alternatives. They are E-Alameda (Underground), F-Alameda/Center, G-Downtown Transit Core, and H-Arts District/6 th Street North. Little Tokyo opposed the original aerial configuration. An alignment will likely not be selected until 2020 Councilmember Daniels commented that the Eco Rapid Board recommended Alternatives E, F and G for Metro Board adoption. Councilmember Strapac expressed concerns regarding the line being truncated in Artesia and that there doesn t seem to be a strategic plan in coordination with OCTA. To travel further east, it would be simple to connect the Green Line to Metrolink; he thinks it would be easier to go to Santa Ana as was originally planned. Mr. Abbott replied that OCTA did not wish to participate in the project. There is an optional potential station in Cerritos. Vice Chair Woods doesn t understand why it is called the WSAB if it doesn t reach Santa Ana; the name should be changed soon. She believes the Orange County ridership is woefully underestimated. She hopes that parking structures and other system supports will be included to support that ridership. Councilmember Shidler finds it unfortunate that Orange County and Cerritos backed out of the project. He felt the alignment that gives the most ridership should be selected. Mr. Abbott replied that a portion of the alignment would run parallel to the Blue Line, which is nearly at capacity. Councilmember Daniels commented that he has been fighting for this line to address the lack of transportation options for economically depressed areas of southeast Los Angeles County. He thinks that this line will help uplift the area, and he hopes that Orange County will come around. Mr. Abbott replied that environmental justice is a huge consideration in this project. Vice Chair Woods commented that she attended Supervisor Hahn s community meeting and the consensus was that the project should provide a one-seat ride to Union Station. Mr. Quinlin asked if the southern portion of the Alignment is set and when it would be built. Mr. Abbott replied the southern portion of the Alignment is set; the project is scheduled to be completed in 2041, but is included in the 28 by 2028 initiative to potentially accelerate the timeline to be completed by Metro is also looking at publicprivate partnerships to potentially expedite the timeline. Mr. Timberlake stressed that this area is the most transit dependent part of the county. Residents have needed this service for years. He still hopes that the Pacific-Alameda alignment will be selected. Operation of the Blue and Expo Lines demonstrates how unwise it is to have different lines share right of way. If an additional train is added to the shared Expo and Blue Line segment, it will negatively affect performance of all three lines. 7. RECEIVED Quarterly Station Evaluation Report, Kelly Blanton, Transportation Associate Staff evaluated 36 stations using 32 measures of performance for FY18 Q3. This quarter, an additional three stations were evaluated in response to requests of councilmembers or GWC Service Council May 10, 2018 Minutes 4

5 members of the public. All 36 stations were rated Good to Very Good and one station, Hawthorne/Lennox was rated Marginal. Burbank Station had a significant score increase and Chatsworth Orange Line Station had a significant score decrease. Councilmember Shidler requested that Metro contact Union Pacific (UP) to urge them to clean up the trash in their right of way. Councilmember Daniels added that others cannot clean up the area due to liability issues. Councilmember Shidler added that staff may wish to contact the Public Utilities Commission to see if they can pressure UP to clean up the rightof-ways. Vice Chair Woods asked if a response had been received to the letter sent to Supervisor Ridley-Thomas. Mr. Spivack replied that no response has been received. 8. CARRIED OVER Line Ride Report, Councilmember Samuel Peña 9. RECEIVED Regional Service Performance Report, Gary Spivack, Deputy Executive Officer NextGen Update: Listening sessions have been held at all Divisions, Customer Care Focus Groups have been held, and the NextGen Technical Advisory Committee met April 24. A youth engagement listening campaign has also started in collaboration with DaVinci Schools. Metro Vision 2028 Released for Public Comment First/Last Mile Plan to improve neighborhood access to Blue Line adopted at April 26 Board Meeting Mr. Spivack introduced Jon Gordon, Community Liaison from System Safety and Security. Mr. Timberlake commented that there are so many vendors on the south side of Florence and at the entrance of the Blue Line Florence Station that during peak periods, it is very difficult to pass to the bus stop or the station. People are sometimes forced to walk in the street to make it to the next train or bus. If the vendors only used one side of the sidewalk, that would be an improvement that would allow people to walk on the sidewalk. Councilmember Strapac commented that he saw a vendor posted on the platform of LATTC Blue Line Station. He thinks Metro has a ways to go before the issues on the Blue Line are under control. Councilmember Daniels added that the same vendor has been at Artesia Station for three years. Councilmember Shidler commented that the bus stops at Florence Station were originally on the west side of the street; he d like to see them relocated to their original spot. Mr. Spivack replied that he would ask Mr. Kim to review the request. Councilmember Peña commented that he drives by the Florence Station on his way to work in Inglewood every day. Getting rid of vendors and homeless people will take some work. There are police present on the system but they are just watching these issues without addressing them. Mr. Spivack replied that a market similar to the pilot at MacArthur Park Station may be a way to address the issue. He requested that Mr. Stewart provide an update on the issue. Councilmember Shidler added that most of the vendors are on Metro property, but only nine of them have permits. GWC Service Council May 10, 2018 Minutes 5

6 10. PUBLIC Comment for items not on the Agenda None 11. CHAIR and Council Member Comments - None Adjourned at 3:42 PM GWC Service Council May 10, 2018 Minutes 6