AC TRANSIT DISTRICT Board of Directors Executive Summary
GM Memo No. 10-019 Meeting Date: January 20, 2010
Committees: Planning Committee External Affairs Committee Rider Complaint Committee Board of Directors
Finance and Audit Committee Operations Committee Paratransit Committee Financing Corporation
SUBJECT: Minutes for the Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) Meeting held November 10, 2009
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Information Only
Briefing Item
Recommended Motion
Consider Receiving Minutes.
Fiscal Impact: None. Background/Discussion: The Minutes for November 10, 2009 were approved by the AAC on December 8, 2009. Prior Relevant Board Actions/Policies: None. Attachments: Attachment 1:
AAC Minutes for November 10, 2009
Approved by:
Mary V. King, Interim General Manager Nancy Skowbo, Deputy General Manager Service Development
Prepared by:
Mallory Nestor-Brush, Accessible Services Manager Evelina Lawrence, Administrative Assistant
Date Prepared:
December 9, 2009
Rev. 6/09
GM Memo 10-019 Attachment 1 November 10, 2009
AAC Minutes
REGULAR MEETING OF THE AC TRANSIT ACCESSIBILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (AAC) NOVEMBER 10, 2009 Meeting came to order at 1:10 pm. 1. Roll Call and Introduction of Guests AAC members present: Janet Abelson, Chair Margarita Diaz Dolores Dyer Pam Fadem, Vice Chair Jim Gonsalves Burrill Hansen Christopher Pangilinan Alan Reade Mark Williams Hale Zukas AAC members absent: Joe Bischofberger (excused) Carolyn Montgomery (excused) Don Queen Staff:
Mallory Nestor-Brush, Accessible Services Manager Kim Huffman, Accessible Services Specialist Evelina Lawrence, Accessible Services, Administrative Assistant Abel Perreira, Passenger Lift Maintenance Supervisor
Guests:
Jerry Grace Naomi Armenta Owen Cooper Melissa Crisp Mary Fowler
2. Order of Agenda The order of the agenda was approved.
3. Approval of Minutes MOTION: Gonsalves/Fadem approved the AAC minutes of the September 8, 2009 meeting. 10 Yeas. 0 Abstentions. 4. Review of Lift/Ramp Road Call Report
Abel Perreira, Passenger Lift Maintenance Supervisor, reported that many of the lift road calls are due to driver error. There is a spike in road calls after a new sign-up as drivers may shift divisions and be unfamiliar with the equipment. Many lift/ramp road calls may be reduced if drivers stop in the proper place. Adding general bus stop-placement information in the Operator’s User’s Guide would be helpful. Abel reported that a troubleshooting guide is being developed in order for Central Dispatch (CD) to respond to drivers when they experience problems with the lifts/ramps. Mallory noted drivers receive eight hours of training per year; at least 2-4 hours are donated to Accessible Services issues. Many of the road calls were from drivers who have been driving 60 plus months. Mallory will follow up with the training department to prioritize issues that should be a part of the annual training. 5. Public Comments Jerry Grace suggested that when a meeting is cancelled due to weather conditions, everyone, including the lobby guards, should be informed as early as possible. Accessible Services will contact AAC members; however, AAC Members are asked to contact Evelina if they will not attend the meeting. 6. Chair’s Report Chair Abelson reported that she attended the “Rail-volution” Conference. Chair Abelson’s speech, “Transit Available for All”, addressed the building of housing near transit lines which are not accessible to people who use mobility devices. MTC was presented with a list of recommendations for changes, including requiring 10% of townhomes be accessible and inhabitable for people with disabilities. Chair Abelson remarked that government funding controls many housing projects, and state law does not provide for universal access to townhomes. Chair Abelson added that
contacting California law makers may help get laws changed to include universal access. Mark Williams suggested that a letter be written to address these issues. Mallory will follow up for a contact to address issues of universal access in Transit Oriented Development. 7. Board Liaison Report None. 8. Service Review Advisory Committee (SRAC) Report Chair Abelson reported that the SRAC did not meet in November. The next meeting will be held December 1, 2009. 9. ACTIA PAPCO Report Hale Zukas reported that ACTIA adopted their work plan for 2009-2010. 10. Memorandum to the AAC Mallory presented a memorandum to the members of the AAC to clarify the discussions of the draft final of the Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device (EPAMD) procedures, and to answer the questions submitted to the legal department. The Full Load and Stroller policies have been separated out from the EPAMD policy. The first on/last off policy for individuals in a wheelchair, the priority seating policy, and the Full Load policy remain unchanged. 11. Proposed Language for Operator’s User’s Guide Mallory presented proposed language for the Operator’s User’s Guide, addressing boarding and alighting for passengers in wheelchairs, priorityseating, securement of mobility devices, and the driver’s role in addressing priority seating for seniors and passengers in wheelchairs. Mallory clarified that the definition of Full Load is when all seats and/or securement areas are occupied and there are standees from the rear door to the yellow line. The number of standees will vary depending on coach type. Mallory addressed the regulations requiring identification and provision of priority seating. Van Hool buses have some forward and rear facing priority seating; seating in the rear of the bus has also been identified as priority seating. A driver can request, but cannot require that riders vacate the seats.
Dolores Dyer felt strongly that drivers are not enforcing people to move from priority seating. Alan Reade suggested that since Federal law states “these spaces must be vacated”, drivers should direct riders’ attention to the signage displaying that language. Mallory emphasized again, that by law AC Transit has to have priority seating available; however, drivers can only request that riders move, but cannot require that they move. Chair Abelson suggested the policy be more direct, using words like “you must” instead of words like “always” to emphasize the importance of the language. The committee agreed that the Operator’s User’s Guide language needs to be empathic in terms of presentation. 12. Discussion of Draft Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device (EPAMD) Policy The EPAMD policy establishes guidelines and instructs how Segways and other EPAMDs are to be accommodated on AC Transit buses. Mallory responded to questions submitted by the committee: 1. Is a visitor policy required? Yes. If visiting from an outside area, the rider will need proof of qualification to board AC Transit buses with a Segway. This would include a Discount Card from another transit agency. AC Transit will accept the rider’s required documentation for up to 21 days a year. Visitors, who use the system for more than 21 days a year, will have to apply for an AC Transit EPAMD Use Permit, and will participate in an in-person orientation and skills demonstration. 2. Can there be a “One Segway per Bus” limit in the policy? No. AC Transit cannot limit the number of Segways per bus. The policy is wheelchairs will board first and alight last. All other devices are first come, first serve.
3. Is the operator required to provide boarding, alighting and/or securement assistance? Yes. Under ADA guidelines, drivers must provide assistance if requested. Drivers will be trained in assisting riders with Segways. 4. Can AC Transit ban Segways from lifts (Ramp only policy)? No. Segways cannot be restricted from using the lift. The one exception is when boarding MCI coaches. The Segway will need to be stored in the undercarriage of the bus. AAC members voiced concerns regarding language: • All documents should be consistent in stating EPAMD’s policy must that Segways be pushed with power off or in the safe power-assist mode only • Tactical logistics of the policy. The language for the driver be moved from the EPAMD policy to the Operator’s User’s Guide • Item 6: in “Debarkation –EPAMDs shall not be transported upon the bus by anyone under the influence of intoxicating substances, including alcohol and drugs”, should be moved to “Boarding” or “Standard” sections. MOTION: Fadem/Williams recommended adoption of procedure, certification, application, and placard with suggested changes. The motion carried unanimously 10 yeas. 0 abstentions. Owen Cooper thanked the AAC for the hard work that went into creating the policy. Mallory stated that there will be a bulletin issued to the drivers and will include a photo of a Segway, and a Segway properly secured on a vehicle. Kim Huffman announced that she has secured the use of a Segway for the Training Department to test for boarding, alighting, and securement on each coach type on December 9th and 10th. 13. Stroller Procedures Developing a stroller procedure is difficult as strollers are not in a protected class, and no certification is needed in order to ride. The use of strollers and other wheeled devices, grocery carts, walkers, etc. have been on the rise.
AAC members voiced the following concerns and objections to the policy: • Strollers are not a mobility device. • Other non-mobility devices need to be included. • Language needs to be changed regarding first come, first serve. Add, “Per AC Transit policy, wheelchairs will be boarded first at each stop”. • The fact that passengers with strollers can be denied entry if there is a full load is a concern. Chair Abelson noted that previous policies, required strollers to be folded. If that verbiage is still in effect, people with strollers cannot take up the wheelchair securement area. Wheelchairs are protected by the ADA, strollers are not. Pam noted that some strollers are double size and drivers don’t want to deploy the ramp for strollers. Mallory responded that there is no limit on stroller size. Mary Fowler noted that certain wheelchairs won’t fit on the bus and are denied. The rules for strollers should be the same. Hale Zukas noted that the common wheelchair is 30” X 48”, and is boarded without problems. He added that most strollers will fit on the bus. Pam Fadem added that if boarding policies are too restrictive, many people will not be able to ride. The policy needs to maximize access for most people. Chair Abelson suggested that the policy state that AC Transit will accommodate strollers up to a certain size. Mallory added that marketing and education campaigns will help to make the public more aware. Pam suggested that though walkers are a type of mobility device, they should be addressed in the policy as well. The configuration of walkers has changed and many do not fold up.
Chair Abelson is concerned that the language “out of the aisle” is too restrictive and should be changed. If riders can’t get the stroller out of the aisle, they won’t ride. Mallory will send the policy back to the SRC for further editing. 14. Member Communications and Announcements Mark Williams reported that seniors and people with disabilities are being harassed by teenagers while on the bus. The Oakland School District will hold a meeting in January 2010 to address this issue. An audio/video presentation is being developed. The Superintendent of the Oakland School District asked that the Berkeley and Emeryville school districts participate in the creation of the video. 15. Staff Communications and Announcements Mallory announced that the Revised Service Adjustment Plan will be addressed at the Board Meeting on November 18, 2009. Adjustments are tentatively scheduled to go into effects in March of 2010. 16. Set Next Agenda and Meeting Date The next AAC Meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 1:00 pm on the 10th Floor of 1600 Franklin Street. Agenda items will include, Video for Teens and an Update on the Service Adjustment Plan. 17. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 4:10 p.m.
