[00:00:02]
[ATD 1. Call to Order]
EVERYONE, AND WELCOME.I AM BOARD CHAIR FERNAN REYES.
IT IS NOW 5:08 PM AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE ORDER THE MARCH 26 A TD BOARD MEETING.
UH, LET'S BEGIN WITH THE ROLL CALL.
I THINK SHE'S RUNNING A LITTLE BIT LATE.
ASSISTANT COOPER IS OUT OF TOWN.
TRUSTEE BROWN, UH, IS OUT OF TOWN OR MAYBE COMING IN LATE.
OKAY, WE HAVE ENOUGH FOR A QUORUM? UH, THANK YOU.
NOW WE'RE GONNA GO TO, LET'S PLEASE STAND FOR
[ATD 2. Moment of Reflection, Pledge of Allegiance, Announcements]
THE ALLEGIANCE TO THE US FLAG AND THE TEXAS FLAG.I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE ALL TO THE FLAG.
FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, HONOR, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
HONOR, HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG TO THIS, TO THE TEXAS WEDNESDAY ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
NEXT IS THE, UH, MR. A, DO YOU HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? UH, I HAVE NO ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE A TD MEETING.
OKAY, WE HAVE NOW REACHED THE CITIZEN SPIRIT PORTION OF OUR MEETING.
DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZENS TO BE HEARD? MR. CHAIR FOR THE A TD, THERE ARE NO CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
[ATD 4. Consent Agenda]
FOUR, CONSENT AGENDA ITEM, UH, TRUSTEES, UH, THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM.ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? SO MOVED, MR. CHAIR.
MS. ELDER, DO WE HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING? NO, SIR.
WE DO NOT HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING.
WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF OUR MEETING.
I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING, SO MOVE SECOND.
THE A TD MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
[1. Call to Order]
5:12 PM AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE ORDER OF THE MARCH 26TH VIA BOARD MEETING ITEM NUMBER TWO, WHICH WAS SEE THE, UH, MOMENTS OF REFLECTION WE'VE ALREADY DID AND WAS ADDRESSED IN OUR OTHER MEETING.SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER
[3. President/CEO Report]
THREE.THIS BRINGS US TO MR. PRESIDENT CEO REPORT.
WE'LL BE, WE'LL BE DOING PICTURES OF A, OF A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, SO WE'RE GONNA HOLD THAT TO A SINGLE SESSION, SINGLE PHOTO SESSION IN A, IN A BIT.
ALRIGHT, SO THE FIRST THING IS THAT WE HAVE NOT ONE BUT TWO STAR ADMINISTRATORS FOR THE MONTH.
FIRST TIME EVER, WE'VE HAD A TIE AND THEY ARE SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER, ARTURO HERRERA AND BUDGET PROGRAM SPECIALIST.
I THINK ALL OF YOU HAVE SEEN ART ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS.
HE, BUT HE HAS WORKED ON THE ART, UH, GREEN LINE.
NO RELATION, UH, SINCE ITS INCEPTION.
THIS PROJECT IS VIAS FIRST NEW START, CIG PROJECT WITH A STRICT TIMELINE.
HE HAS SHOWN LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY COORDINATION WITH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL TECHNICAL STAKEHOLDERS.
OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, HE'S BECOME A KEY MEMBER OF THE ARTS TEAM.
IT'S SO WEIRD TO SAY THAT, AND HAS DEVELOPED NEW PROCESSES FOR MANAGING THIS LARGE CAPITAL PROJECT, WHICH HAS PAVED THE WAY FOR SE VIA SECOND A RT LINE.
THE SILVER LINE MARK IS HERE, RIGHT? MARK? OH, HE'S ALL, HE'S ALL THE WAY IN THE BACK.
AND MARK, WE'RE GONNA HAVE YOU COME FORWARD FOR A PICTURE WHEN WE GET THAT ALL LINED UP.
BUT LEMME TELL YOU A BIT ABOUT MARK.
MARK JOINED VIA HIS OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET IN JANUARY, 2020.
AND, AND SINCE THEN, HE HAS MADE TREMENDOUS STRIDES IN STREAMLINING O B'S REPORTING AND SYSTEM PROCESSES.
HE HAS ALSO GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND PROVIDING TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS, TRAINING STAFF, AND TAKING ON VARIOUS AD HOC PROJECTS.
MARK'S KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLSET HAVE MADE HIM AN INDISPENSABLE ASSET TO OMB AND THE AGENCY AND HIS WILLINGNESS TO SHARE THIS KNOWLEDGE HAS HELPED EQUIP OTHERS WITH THE KNOW-HOW TO APPROACH VARIOUS TASKS IN A MUCH MORE EFFICIENT MANNER.
SO LET'S JUST RECOGNIZE, UH, MR. MARK LOPEZ.
WE'RE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT SANDEEP SEN AND SANDEEP, I KNOW YOU'RE THERE, YOU'RE RIGHT IN THE FRONT.
DIRECTOR OF SERVICE PLANNING AND SCHEDULING HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO THE
[00:05:01]
TRANSIT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM, OVERSIGHT PANEL FOR THE TCRP PROJECT.NEW TRANSIT DELIVERY TO DRIVE RIDERSHIP GROWTH.
TRBS COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM SELECTS PRO QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WITH SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE ON TRAGIC PROJECTS TO SERVE AS PANEL, UM, PANEL MEMBERS IN SANDEEP IS EXPRESSLY QUALIFIED TO FILL THIS ROLE.
CONGRATULATIONS, SANDEEP, AND SITTING NEXT TO SANDEEP, CONGRATULATIONS TO, TO STRATEGIC INITIATIVES MANAGER JOHN TEMAN, WHO HAS OBTAINED THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL PMP CERTIFICATION FROM THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE.
AND JOHN, I KNOW YOU CAN STAND UP.
IT'S AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF HIS HARD WORK AND COMMITMENT TO PROFESSIONAL GROWTH, WHICH WILL UNDOUBTEDLY CONTRIBUTE TO SUCCESS OF OUR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES.
WE CONGRATULATE JOHN ON THIS REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT AND LOOK FORWARD TO HIS CONTINUED CONTRIBUTIONS AND LEADERSHIP AS HE BRINGS TO OUR TEAM THAT HE BRINGS TO OUR TEAM IN THIS ROLE.
UH, NEXT I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE A PROMOTION.
PLEASE JOIN ME AND CONGRATULATING ROBERT TERAZA JR.
TO CAPITAL PROJECTS ADMINISTRATOR.
IN THIS NEW POSITION, ROBERT WILL TAKE ON MORE RESPONSIBILITIES RELATED TO DEVELOPING STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES, BUDGETS, REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE THE PASTURE EXPERIENCE AT THE BUS STOP LEVEL, WITH A KEEN EYE ON PASSENGER COMFORT AND ACCESSIBILITY, AS WELL AS TRANSIT, OPERATIONAL, AND SAFETY NEEDS.
HE WILL CONTINUE HIS WORK TRACKING, ORGANIZING, REVIEWING, AND EVALUATING VIA CAPITAL PROJECTS AND THOSE BY OTHER DAYS, WHICH DIRECTLY IMPACT VIA SERVICE AND PASSENGERS.
WE THANK YOU AND OUR PASSENGERS.
AND NOW WE WOULD LIKE TO, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU, INTRODUCE YOU TO THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK.
NOT EXACTLY NEW BECAUSE HE WAS A BOARD MEMBER IN THE PAST, BUT NEW IN THIS CAPACITY, SO, AND HE'S ALREADY STANDING UP.
JOIN ME IN WELCOMING VIAS NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION, MR. BRIAN DILLARD.
UH, BRIAN COMES TO US FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WHERE HE SERVED AS A CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER FOR OVER FIVE YEARS.
PRIOR TO JOINING CTER GOVERNMENT, BRIAN SERVED AS A VIA BOARD MEMBER, A CYBERSECURITY CONSULTANT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WORKING WITH SHELL OIL, CHEVRON OIL, LOCKHEED MARTIN, AND DELTA RISK.
HE BEGAN HIS CAREER AS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, WHERE HE SERVED 10 YEARS ACTIVE DUTY AS A CYBERSECURITY OPERATIONS SPECIALIST.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, BRIAN.
UPON RETURNING TO SAN ANTONIO TOWARD THE END OF HIS MILITARY CAREER, BRIAN BECAME A NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCATE AND COMMUNITY LEADER, WHICH IS WHERE I MET BRIAN ACTUALLY WHEN I WAS ON THE SAGE BOARD.
HE'S CURRENTLY SERVING AS BOARD CHAIR FOR ESSENCE PREPARATORY PUBLIC SCHOOL, WHICH OF COURSE IS WITH AKEEM BROWN.
OUR, OUR TRUSTEE VICE CHAIR OF SA DIGITAL CONNECTS BOARD SECRETARY FOR CORTISONE MINISTRIES INC.
AND BOARD MEMBER OF THE SISS SA ISD FOUNDATION.
HE'S AN ALUMNUS OF LEADERSHIP.
SAN ANTONIO LSA 43, SHOULD HAVE WAITED ABOUT FOUR YEARS AND IS A SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS JOURNAL 40 UNDER 40 HONOREE.
I JUST, WHEN I LOOK AT THIS LIST, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE YOU SAVE TIME FOR THIS JOB RIGHT HERE.
THANK YOU BRIAN VIA RECENTLY WON FIRST PLACE IN THE MOST POPULAR TRANSIT AGENCY CATEGORY OF THE TRANSIT APP'S RIDERS CHOICE AWARD.
TRANSIT APP IS INDEPENDENT OF OUR ORGANIZATION.
THEY USE MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND SURVEY RESPONSES FROM RIDERS ACROSS 18 DIFFERENT CITIES TO DETERMINE VIAS.
TOP RANKING RIDERS GRADED THEIR RESPECTIVE TRANSIT AGENCIES ON CATEGORIES SUCH AS DELAYS AND DISRUPTIONS AND WHETHER THEY WOULD RECOMMEND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
THE SURVEYS ARE PART OF TRANSIT APPS QUARTERLY RIDERSHIP HAPPINESS BENCHMARKING QUESTIONNAIRE, AND USED AGGREGATE DATA FROM THE PAST THREE SURVEYS TO DETERMINE WHICH AGENCIES WERE TOP IN CLASS TRANSIT APP PRESENTED VIA WITH AN AWARD DURING THE ANNUAL TEXAS TRANSIT ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE.
AND HERE I AM PROUD OF THE COLLECTIVE WORK DONE BY EVERY MEMBER OF THE VIA TEAM, ALONG WITH JOHN GARY AND THE PICTURE AND TAKES EVERYONE WORKING HARD TO ENSURE THAT CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE WE PROVIDE IS BEST IN CLASS.
WE CERTAINLY RECOGNIZE, ESPECIALLY THE FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES THAT DO THAT WORK FOR US.
AND, UH, IT'S REALLY GRATIFYING TO HAVE
[00:10:01]
AN EXTERNAL NATIONAL ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZE US AS THE MOST POPULAR TRANSIT AGENCY.IN OTHER NEWS, I AM BEYOND PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION ADDED THE PROPOSED SILVER LINE TO THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET, WHICH WOULD BRING THE TOTAL FEDERAL CAPITAL DOLLARS DESIGNATED FOR THE A RT IN SAN ANTONIO TO MORE THAN $410 MILLION.
$410 MILLION NEVER, NEVER APPROACHED BEFORE IN THE HISTORY OF THIS AGENCY, I HAPPY TO SAY FTA HAS ALSO INCREASED ITS PARTICIPATION ON THE GREEN LINE FROM 50% MATCH TO 60% MATCH, AND ADDED AN ADDITIONAL 109.7 MILLION THAT'S IN THAT 410.
AND THE PROPOSED SILVER LINE HAS ENTERED THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET AT 134 SET POINT SE 134.7 MILLION, ABOUT HALF OF THE ESTIMATED PROJECT COST.
WE ALSO RECEIVED MORE THAN 8 MILLION FROM THE FDA TO CONDUCT PROJECT DEVELOPMENT ON THAT PROPOSED SILVER LINE.
ALL IN ALL, MAKING REALLY TERRIFIC PROGRESS TOWARD DELIVERING THIS, THE GREEN LINE IN 2027.
AND I'M OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE OUTLOOK FOR VIA DELIVERING THIS SILVER LINE IN 2029.
UH, SO LET'S GIVE IT A HAND TO EVERYBODY WHO'S INVOLVED IN ALL THAT WORK.
ON FEBRUARY 28TH, WE UNVEILED THE FIRST TWO HONOREES TO BE INDUCTED INTO VIAS NEW HALL OF HOPE HONOR.
AND YOU CAN, IF YOU TURN AROUND IN THE BACK, YOU SEE THE, THE BEGINNING OF OUR HALL OF HONOR.
HOPE ANDRADE BEGAN HER SERVICE TO THE BOARD IN THE 1990S AND THEN RETURNED IN 2015 TO SERVE AS ITS CHAIR OFFERING VISIONARY LEADERSHIP.
DURING A TIME OF IMMENSE CHANGE AND GROWTH FOR THE AGENCY, MARILYN JONES SERVED AS THE FOUNDING CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF VIA, WHICH STARTED IN 1978.
SHE LED HISTORIC EFFORTS THAT REVITALIZED SAN ANTONIO'S TRANSIT SYSTEM AND CHAMPIONED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
BOTH WOMEN WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING TO SHAPE THE VIA WE KNOW TODAY AND THE FUTURE WE ENVISION FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO IT WAS AN HONOR TO RECOGNIZE THESE TRAILBLAZING WOMEN AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS.
THANK YOU TO THE FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS, COLLEAGUES, AND TO OUR BOARD MEMBERS WHO JOINED US TO CELEBRATE THE INAUGURAL VIA HALL OF HONOR INDUCTION.
I THINK WE HAVE A SHORT VIDEO OF THAT.
IT IS AN HONOR TO WELCOME YOU ALL HERE, BUT ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS HISTORIC DAY AND THIS HEARTFELT CELEBRATION.
I'M PROUD THAT TODAY WE ARE RECOGNIZING TWO OUTSTANDING VIA BOARD MEMBERS MARILYN JONES AND HOPE ANDRA.
AS THE FIRST INDUCTEES TO THE VIA HALL OF HONOR ON THE EVE OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, THESE REMARKABLE WOMEN WHO SIMPLY BY TAKING THEIR OWN PLACE AS LEADERS, LEADING VIA INTO NEW HEIGHTS, MADE THEIR OWN HISTORY WITH THEIR LIKENESS AND CONTRIBUTIONS NOW ENSHRINED IN OUR WALL.
THIS ROOM IS TRANSFORMED WITH THEIR LIKENESS.
IT'S A PLACE OF REVERENCE FOR THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE AND A SPACE WHERE WE BEAR WITNESS TO CARRY ON WITH THEIR WORK THAT THEY BEGAN ME JONES SERVED AS THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD FROM 1977 TO 1980.
IN VIAS INFANCY, HER SERVICE PREDATED VIAS EXISTENCE.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE SHE FOUGHT FOR AT LEAST THREE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS TO CREATE ENABLING LEGISLATION TO ALLOW FOR CITIES TO CALL FOR THE CREATION OF A METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY THROUGH A LOCAL REFERENDUM, VIA WAS THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY IN THE STATE.
BECAUSE OF MARILYN JONES' VISION, HER LEADERSHIP, AND HER TENACITY.
WE ARE HONORED HERE IN CELEBRATION OF OUR MOTHER'S ACCOMPLISHMENT.
WE ARE PROUD OF VIA AND WHAT IT HAS BECOME.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE LOVE OUR MOTHER.
SHE WAS ENDOWED WITH MANY GIFTS.
SHE WOULD NEVER HAVE ASKED FOR ANY SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR HERSELF.
SHE KNEW THAT TRANSIT, GOOD TRANSIT WOULD MEAN AN ECONOMIC DIFFERENCE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
SHE WAS ALWAYS EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE TIME THAT SHE SERVED AS CHAIR AND AS A BOARD MEMBER OF VIA AND ALL THOSE EFFORTS TO HELP LAUNCH IT INTO A WORLD CLASS TRANSIT SYSTEM FOR OUR CITY.
HOPE HAS BEEN AN IMMUTABLE POWER TO INSPIRE, TO COMFORT, TO ENCOURAGE AND TO LEAD US ALL WITH EQUAL PARTS
[00:15:02]
OF GRACE AND GRIT.AND AS THE CHAIR OF THE VIA BOARD, SHE WAS SO OFTEN, SO OFTEN THE VOICE OF REASON AND CLARITY, BUT THAT SAME VOICE COULD ALSO RALLY THE TROOPS TO ACTION AND LEAD US TO VICTORY, MAKING IMPORTANT GAINS FOR OUR COMMUNITY ALONG THE WAY.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE TIME THAT I SERVED AND THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE, THE STRUGGLES TO GET THROUGH, AND NOW WE'RE CELEBRATING.
IT'S ONLY BECAUSE WE, WE DIDN'T GIVE UP.
WE PERSEVERED AND WE WORK TOGETHER.
THIS OPENS THE DOOR THOUGH, FOR US TO INDUCT ADDITIONAL PEOPLE INTO THE HALL OF HONOR.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO IT EXPANDING OVER THE YEARS.
I'M REMINDED OF THE WORDS OF MAHAD MA GANDHI, AND HE SAYS THE BEST WAY TO FIND YOURSELF IS TO LOSE YOURSELF IN THE SERVICE OF OTHERS.
AND IT'S MY HOPE THAT THIS INDUCTION INTO THE HALL OF HONOR WILL SERVE AS A REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF SERVICE INTEGRITY AND PERSEVERANCE IN ALL THAT WE DO.
AND IT IS MY HOPE THAT ONE DAY MY GRANDSONS WILL BRING THEIR CHILDREN TO THEIR GRANDMOTHER'S HOMETOWN AND BE REMINDED OF HER SERVICE.
OR THAT ONE DAY A YOUNG GIRL WALK IN AND SEE OUR NAMES ON THIS PLAQUE AND SAY, I WANT TO BE ON THAT HALL HONOR ONE DAY ON THE SIDEBAR.
I, I THINK IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING.
WE HAVE, UH, THE ORIGINAL CHAIR FROM ALL THE WAY BACK IN THE SEVENTIES.
THEN WE HAVE A CHAIR FROM 2015, BOTH WOMEN, AND THEN WE HAVE A VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD AND WE HAVE A SECRETARY OF BOARD ALL WOMEN.
UH, THIS IS AN INDUSTRY I THINK THAT, UH, REALLY SUPPORTS HAVING OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY TO BOTH, UH, SERVE AND TO MOVE UP.
SO IT'S, THAT'S PRETTY EXCITING.
VIA, WAS PROUD TO HOLD THE WHOLE HOST.
WE WERE PROUD TO HOST THE 2024 TEXAS TRANSIT ASSOCIATION'S CONFERENCE, EXPO, AND RODEO MARCH 15TH THROUGH THE 20TH AS THE HOST AGENCY, WE WELCOMED OVER 500 PARTICIPANTS FROM ACROSS THE STATE AND BEYOND TO TAKE PART IN THE ANNUAL BUS, VAN AND MAINTENANCE RODEO, A TWO DAY CONFERENCE AND AN EXPO, EXPO HALL EXPERIENCE THAT FEATURED SOME OF THE LATEST IN TRANSIT TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION.
AND IN FACT, WHEN YOU ADD THE FOLKS THAT WERE THERE FOR THE EXPO, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE TOTAL ATTENDANCE AT THE EXPO WAS NEARLY 1000, WHICH FAR ECLIPSES ANY PREVIOUS TEXAS TRANSIT ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE.
UH, FIRST THANK YOU TO THE TEAMS FROM ACROSS VIA WHO SPENT YEARS PLANNING, ORGANIZING, STRATEGIZING, AND EXECUTING.
UH, WHAT WAS THE LARGEST TTA CONFERENCE IN THAT AGENT THAT AGENCY'S HISTORY, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, TEAM OF MAINTENANCE, TRANSPORTATION, OPERATIONS, SAFETY, PROCUREMENT, AND MANY, MANY VOLUNTEERS ALL DESERVE HIGH PRAISE FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO MAKE THIS EVENT A SUCCESS.
SO YOU HAVE NOT JUST MY THANKS AND MAN AND, AND AND ADMIRATION, BUT THAT OF THE PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED, WHO ALL SAID IT WAS THE MOST AWESOME, UH, CONFERENCE THEY HAVE ATTENDED, AND THEY WANT TO COME BACK TO SAN ANTONIO AND SPEND MORE TIME, WHICH IS A DOUBLE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A DOUBLE WIN FOR ALL OF US.
SO CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS TO ALL OF YOU.
AND AS I SAID, UH, I'M PROUD TO ADD THAT THAT V'S.
TEAM HAD A GREAT SHOWING AT THE BUS VAN AND MAINTENANCE RODEO COMPETITION, CLAIMING IMPRESSIVE AWARDS AT THE STATEWIDE COMPETITION.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OUR BOARD CHAIR WAS THERE BRIGHT AND EARLY AND WELCOMING THE CROWD AND, AND STAYED TO WATCH, UH, THE, THE COMPETITION.
SO WE WERE, WE HAD SENIOR MANAGEMENT THERE CHEERING ON, AND WE HAD BOARD REPRESENTED CHEERING ON FOR GOOD REASON.
TEAMS AND INDIVIDUALS COMPETED IN, IN TE OF SKILL, AGILITY, KNOWLEDGE, AND DISPLAY INCREDIBLE TALENT IN ALL CATEGORIES.
AFTER, EVEN AFTER A BRIEF RAIN DELAY, THE VIA TEAMS REALLY SHINED AND SHOWED WHAT IT MEANT TO BE VIA PROUD.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE COMPETITORS AND THANK YOU TO THE JUDGES STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS.
WE WERE HONORED THE STATE, UH, STATE RODEO WINNERS AT A BANQUET THAT WAS HOSTED BY TTA AND THE HONOREES WHO WERE ABLE TO JOIN US TODAY.
PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED AND THEN IT WILL BE PICTURE TIME, RIGHT? SO FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS TO MARCUS WHITE AND JOSE MEZA.
[00:20:03]
WHO EARNED SECOND AND THIRD PLACE RESPECTIVELY IN THE 40 FOOT BUS, BUS CATEGORY? CONGRATULATIONS ALSO TO MOISE GARCIA.WHO PLACED FIRST IN THE PARATRANSIT CATEGORY, FIRST PLACE, AND IN THE MAINTENANCE CATEGORY? CONGRATULATIONS GOES TO THE TEAM OF PHILIP DAVIS, MARCOS LOPEZ, DAVID BARRES, AND HUGO ILLA AL, WHO IS THEIR COACH, WHO PLACED FIRST IN THE OVERALL MAINTENANCE COMPETITION.
SO AS A SIMPLE RECAP, FIRST IN MAINTENANCE, FIRST IN VAN, SECOND AND THIRD AND 40 FOOT BUS, NOT A BAD SHOWING.
SO NOW WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS, UH, MARK, WE'LL START WITH YOU.
WE'LL HAVE MARK COME FORWARD AND DO A PICTURE, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE EACH ONE OF YOU COME DO A PICTURE WITH, WITH THE BOARD.
AND THEN WHEN THAT'S DONE, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A, A, A SHOT WITH ALL THE RODEO WINNERS COLLECTIVELY WITH THE BOARD.
[00:26:07]
JUST I'LL, AND I'LL JUST NOTE THAT THE FIRST PLACE WINNERS WILL COMPETE NATIONALLY AT THE AP RODEO IN PORTLAND, OREGON.SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO FIRST PLACES THERE AS WELL.
IT'S WITH A IMMENSE PRIDE THAT I ANNOUNCED THAT THE TEXAS TRANSIT ASSOCIATION NAMED VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT, THE OUTSTANDING METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY IN TEXAS, THE AWARD RECOGNIZES EVERYONE AT VIA FOR THEIR SIGNIFICANT WORK TOWARD DELIVERING THE SERVICES AND PROJECTS THAT INCREASE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY, HELP DRIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CREATE ECONOMIC MOBILITY, AND IMPROVE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS OF THE SAN ANTONIO REGION.
THIS IS THE SIXTH TIME IN THE PAST 20 YEARS THAT TTA HAS PRESENTED VIA WITH THIS AWARD.
THE CREDIT FOR THIS PRESTI PRESTIGIOUS AWARD GOES TO HUNDREDS OF INCREDIBLE PEOPLE AT VIA WHO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY EVERY DAY.
IT'S BEEN MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO WORK ALONGSIDE ALL OUR VIA SUPER HEROES WHO INSPIRE ME AND EVERYONE HERE, SO MANY OTHERS TO DO THEIR BEST AND TO KEEP SAN ANTONIO MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
IN ADDITION, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT OUR OWN PRESIDENT AND CEO JEFF ARN WAS HONORED WITH THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION HE'S MADE TO THE TRANSIT INDUSTRY IN TEXAS THROUGHOUT HIS DECADES OF SERVICE TO MOBILITY AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BY THE TEXAS TRANSIT ASSOCIATION.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING JEFF FOR HIS TIRELESS WORK TO ACHIEVE OUR MISSION, TO CONNECT THE COMMUNITY AND PUT OPPORTUNITY WITHIN REACH FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS SERVED BY VIA IN PURSUIT OF A MORE MOBILE FUTURE FOR ALL.
SO I'LL JUST LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD IS CODE FOR OLD PERSON LEGACY AWARD, BUT I CERTAINLY DESERVE IT.
THIS IS A NATIONAL CELEBRATION OF TRANSIT EMPLOYEES AND IT HONORS THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO UPLIFTING OUR COMMUNITY AS IT HAS BECOME A TRADITION AT VIA THE AGENCY'S LEADERSHIP TEAM, BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF STAGE CHEERING SECTIONS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE SERVICE AREA TO WA TO WAIVE THANK YOU SIGNS AND GREET OPERATORS ON DUTY VIA ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES THE HUNDREDS OF FRONTLINE WORKERS, INCLUDING MECHANICS AND MAINTENANCE CREWS, SAFETY POLICE AND CUSTOMER INFORMATION TEAMS WHO MAKE SURE WE CAN DELIVER SAFE, RELIABLE BUS AND VAN SERVICE DAILY.
SO WE THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND AS I SAID TO SEVERAL OF THE OPERATORS THAT I I MET THIS MORNING, TODAY MAY BE TRANSIT APPRECIATION DAY, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU 365.25 DAYS A YEAR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE EVER.
AND IN FAIRNESS, I ALSO AGAIN WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR CHAIR WAS THERE BRIGHT AND EARLY BECAUSE HE HAD TO DO THAT FIRST AND THEN GO TO THE OPENING SESSION AND WELCOME THE 500
[00:30:01]
VISITORS TO SAN ANTONIO.OKAY, ON SATURDAY, MARCH 23RD VIA JOIN THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE CITY TO HONOR THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF CIVIL RIGHTS CHAMPION CESAR CHAVEZ AT THE 2024 CESAR CHAVEZ, MARCH FOR JUSTICE, SPONSORED BY THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO VIA AND OTHERS, AND ORGANIZED BY THE CESAR E CHAVEZ LEGACY AND EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION.
WE ARE PROUD TO GET, AGAIN, TO PROVIDE FAIR FREE SERVICE TO THOSE TRAVELING TO AND FROM THE MARCH.
AS PART OF OUR SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION, WE ARE ALSO HAPPY TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION BY OFFERING T-SHIRTS, STAFF SUPPORT, AND OUR ANNUAL BREAKFAST HELD AT THE UNION HALL.
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED THIS EFFORT, INCLUDING OUR EVENTS PLANNING TEAM.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE VIA CARES VOLUNTEERS WHO WORKED WITH ORGANIZERS TO HAND OUT WATER TO PEOPLE MARCHING AND AMPLIFIED VIAS SUPPORT FOR THE EVENT.
LET'S RECOGNIZE EVERYONE THERE.
AS A NOTE TO THE TRUSTEES ON SATURDAY.
UH, DURING THAT MARCH, THE A TU LOCAL 6 94 PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED FLYERS DURING THE ANNUAL VIA SPONSORED MARCH THAT ACCUSED VIA OF UNION BUSTING.
SPECIFICALLY THE FLYER STATED THAT EMPLOYEES ARE JOINING SAN ANTONIO'S TRANSIT UNION AND VIAS MANAGEMENT IS REFUSING TO RECOGNIZE THE UNION OR NEGOTIATE PUTTING TO THE SIDE THAT WE DO NOT NEGOTIATE BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNIT OR AGREEMENT.
UNION BUSTING IS A CHARGE OF EGREGIOUS ACTION ON THE PART OF VIA, BUT I HAVE SEEN NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT LEVEL OF CHARGE.
FIVE BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO THE MARCH, THE A TU SUBMITTED SOME UNSIGNED DOCUMENTS AND REQUESTED THAT VIA ASSIGN THEM WITHIN TWO BUSINESS DAYS.
OF COURSE, WE SAID WE COULD NOT DO THAT.
THEY RESUBMITTED THE SAME FORM ON LETTERHEAD AT 1 48 ON LAST FRIDAY, 1:48 PM JUST THE DAY BEFORE THE MARCH, DEPUTY CEO TRAMMELL BROWN NOTIFIED THE A TU THAT VIA HAD RECEIVED THE DOCUMENTS AND THAT WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF A GOOD FAITH REVIEW OF THEM.
SPECIFICALLY VIA IS CURRENTLY IN RECEIPT OF A TU LETTERHEAD DOCUMENT ENTITLED, ORGANIZING NEW WORKERS AT VIA SENT AND RECEIVED TODAY ON MARCH 22ND, 2025 FOUR, UH, VIA WILL REVIEW AND CONSIDER THE MATTERS OUTLINED AND CONTACT YOU TO INCLUDE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS VIA HAS NOT AND DID NOT REJECT OR REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE DOCUMENTS, NOR HAS VIA REFUSED TO MEET WITH THE A TU FRANKLY BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT SOUGHT A MEETING TO DISCUSS THE TOPICS.
BUT SIMPLY TO HAVE THE DOCUMENT SIGNED YESTERDAY, I REQUESTED A TU PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION THAT SUPPORTS THE PUBLIC CLAIM, THE VERY PUBLIC CLAIM THAT VIA HAS REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE THE UNION OR MEET WITH UNION MEMBERS THAT IT HAS PARTICIPATED IN UNION INVESTING OR THAT HAS REFUSED ANY MEETINGS ON THIS MATTER.
I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY HAD MADE VERBAL AND WRITTEN REQUESTS, BUT I, BUT I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY COPIES THAT WOULD SUBSTANTIATE THOSE WRITTEN REQUESTS.
I'VE NOT BEEN A MA MADE AWARE OF ANY ACTIVITIES THAT COULD BA BE CONSTRUED AS UNION BUSTING.
AND THE A TU 6 94 HAS NOT REPORTED ANY OF THOSE PRIOR TO LAST SATURDAY TO ME, I SUBMIT THAT THERE IS A VERY REAL AND SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ASKING FOR TIME TO REVIEW A LEGAL DOCUMENT VERSUS QUOTE, REFUSING TO MEET.
I SUBMIT THAT THE PUBLIC CHARACTERIZATION OF THIS AGENCY AS A UNION BUSTER IS UNSUPPORTED, AND THAT THIS BOARD AND THIS AGENCY IS DUE AN EQUALLY PUBLIC APOLOGY.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE WILL CONTINUE THE GOOD FAITH REVIEW OF THE A'S FIRST REQUEST AS PREVIOUSLY COMMITTED, AND UPON COMPLETION, WE WILL MEET WITH UNION LEADERSHIP IN GOOD FAITH.
UH, FIRST LEMME SAY THAT I DON'T THINK WE COULD HAVE FOUND TWO BETTER PERSONS TO RECOGNIZE AND PUT IN OUR HALL OF FAME THAN MARILYN JONES AND HOPE RA, BOTH THOSE LADIES DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR OUR CITY.
AND I KNOW IN HOPES CASEY CONTINUES TO WORK VERY HARD FOR, FOR THIS CITY.
SO I'M, I'M GLAD THAT WE DID THAT.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY BOARD FOR COMING UP WITH THE IDEA OF THE HALL OF FAME AND, UH, AND JUST STARTING TO RECOGNIZE PEOPLE THAT GIVE A LOT TO OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH VIA AND THROUGH OTHER MEANS.
SO, UH, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT.
I HAVE A GREAT BOARD, UH, TO WORK WITH AND I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM.
UH, ESPECIALLY OUR SECRETARY MALONE.
I THINK IT WAS HER IDEA THAT WE KIND OF STARTED WITH THIS AND, UH, AS FAR AS THE HALL OF
[00:35:01]
FAME AND, UH, I THINK THE REST OF THE BOARD MEMBERS AND, AND EXECUTIVE BOARD, UH, DECIDED TO TAKE ON, UH, THAT CHALLENGE.AND, UH, LO AND BEHOLD, WE'VE COME UP WITH, I THINK, A GREAT IDEA, UH, FOR THE PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE RODEO.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND FOR BEING THERE AND WORKING AND FOR CONTRIBUTING, UH, TO A SUCCESSFUL EVENT.
I CAN TELL YOU, UM, FROM A LITTLE EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD IN DRIVING A BUS, IT'S NOT AS EASY AS YOU ALL MAKE IT LOOK.
SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE STAFF THAT MAKES THOSE BUSES RUN.
AND FOR, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY THINKS THAT THE BUS JUST SHOWS UP.
THEY DON'T REALIZE ALL THE THINGS THAT GO ON BEYOND IN THE BACKGROUND TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
SO, I MEAN, WE'RE A TEAM OF ALL SET.
UH, WE SEEM TO WORK TOGETHER TO TRY TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CITIZENS.
AND FOR THAT, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALSO.
[4. Citizens to be Heard ]
I MEAN THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE TO THANK TODAY.COULD GO ON FOR A LONG TIME, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT GOT RECOGNIZED TODAY OR MENTIONED TODAY, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR VIA, FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO FOR NEXT I WILL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM, WHICH WILL BE, UH, UH, CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZENS REGISTERED TO SPEAK? MR. CHAIR? WE HAVE 11 CITIZENS TO BE HEARD, SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
UH, BASED ON THAT, I'LL, I'LL LET THEM READ THIS STATEMENT.
WE HAVE NOW COME TO THE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD PORTION OF OUR PUBLIC MEETING.
THE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN HEARING THE COMMENTS AND CONCERNS FROM OUR PATIENTS AND CITIZENS IN SAN ANTONIO BEAR COUNTY AREA.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS CONCERNING PUBLIC BUSINESS OR POLICY OVER WHICH THE BOARD HAS SUPERVISION AND CONTROL MAY BE ADDRESSED AT A LATER DATE BY THE PRESIDENT, CEO AND OR HIS STAFF.
THIS PROCESS ASSURES THAT YOU RECEIVE THE MOST ACCURATE RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTIONS OR CONCERN.
THANK YOU, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME AND EFFORT TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS WITH US THIS EVENING.
I WORK FOR A VIA TRANSIT SECURITY, UM, OFFICER.
UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANNA SAY.
FIRST, I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY.
UM, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT, UM, THAT WE WERE HAVING, UH, WITH THE SECURITY TEAM IS THE, UH, THE LACK OF SAFETY AND TRAINING FOR OUR OFFICERS.
UM, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPERATIVE, UH, THAT THOSE THINGS, UH, ARE DEALT WITH BEFORE YOU PUT ANY OFFICERS IN HARM'S WAY AT THESE, UM, PARKING RIDES, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE HIRING ARMED OFFICERS, UH, FOR THESE POSITIONS, UH, NOT JUST FILLING A BODY OR A NUMBER.
UM, I THINK THAT THAT'S VERY, UH, FOR ME UNPROFESSIONAL AND IT'S, IT'S, UH, MAYBE A SLAP IN THE FACE I FEEL FOR ME AND OTHER OFFICERS THAT DEAL WITH THINGS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS FROM THE PARKING RIDES, UH, GETTING CALLS FROM DISPATCH, UM, WITH PEOPLE ON BUSES, UM, THAT ARE GIVEN BUS DRIVERS, UM, PROBLEMS. RIGHT? UM, WE'RE ALREADY STRETCHED OUT AS IT IS WITH PD AND SECURITY OFFICERS, BUT WE'RE A BRANCH FROM THAT.
UM, ALSO WITH THE TRAINING FROM, FROM THE RADIOS AND EQUIPMENT THAT WE DON'T HAVE AND TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WITH DISPATCH AND GOING THROUGH THINGS FROM CAMERAS, UH, NOT WORKING AT FACILITIES AND ET CETERA.
UM, I THINK THAT THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
UM, AND ALSO THAT IS, UH, FOR ME, VERY IMPORTANT AND ALSO OTHER OFFICERS THAT I WORK WITH BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE PUTTING OUR LIFE ON THE LINE FOR A COMPANY THAT I FEEL SHOULD HAVE THAT INTEREST AT HEART.
ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE HIRING SOMEBODY ARMED AND YOU NEED TO HAVE ON BULLETPROOF VESTS AND TASERS AND GAS AND ALL THAT STUFF.
AND, UM, YOU PUT THEM ON SITES AND THEY'RE NOT FULLY TRAINED.
I THINK THAT'S VERY UNPROFESSIONAL AND UNFAIR.
I THINK BEFORE THAT HAPPENS, THEY NEED TO BE TRAINED.
UM, ALSO, UM, UM, ALSO WITH THE, UH, THE BUILDINGS, UM, DEALING WITH ACCESS TO BUILDINGS AND TRYING TO HELP OUT, UM, THE, THE STAFFING THERE, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
AND WE DON'T HAVE, UH, PROPER ACCESS TO THAT.
I DON'T KNOW THE REASON WHY FOR THAT.
BUT, UH, IF WE NEED TO GET INTO A BUILDING AND WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO IT AND DON'T KNOW THE REASON WHY, UM, I THINK IT'S, IT WE CAN'T DO OUR JOB, UM, TO SECURE AND AND PROTECT,
[00:40:01]
YOU KNOW, VIA PROPERTY, UH, THE BUS DRIVERS AND ALSO OTHER EMPLOYEES AND PEOPLE THAT RIDE THE BUS.SO I THINK, UM, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AS FAR AS THE TRAINING GOES, UH, THAT WE, WE, WE HAVE THE PROPER UNIFORMS, UM, THE VEST, UM, AND ALSO WITH THE, UM, WITH THE SUPERVISORS, UM, UH, TO, TO HAVE OUR BACKS WHEN WE GO THROUGH STUFF.
UM, NOT AT THE, AT THE LAST MINUTE WHEN WE GET ASSAULTED OR THEY HEAR SOMETHING OVER THE RADIO AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU WANNA SHOW FACE.
WE HAVE EVEN OR IVAN BLACKSMITH.
SO COM COMBINE WILL BE, YOU'LL BE, YOU'LL BE TALKING SIX MINUTES 'CAUSE A TOTAL THREE MINUTES EACH.
OH, WE SHOULD BE LESS THAN THAT.
WE, MELANIE AND I ARE REALLY APPRECIATIVE FOR, UH, YOU AVAILING YOUR TIME.
UH, JUST WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF THE VIA TRANS, AND WE SAY THAT BECAUSE WE LIVE IN ZIP CODE 7 8 2 6 0 AND WE BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A NEW EDIFICE OR FACILITY RIGHT AT THE CORNER OF STONE OAK PARKWAY AND 2 81 AND WE HAVE A SPECIAL NEEDS SON AND UNFORTUNATELY HE DOESN'T DRIVE.
AND SO THEREFORE WHENEVER IT COMES TO HIM BEING ABLE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, HAVE A, YOU KNOW, VOCATIONAL, UH, ASSIGNMENT, MELANIE AND I ESSENTIALLY HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, AVERT FROM OUR REGULAR RESPONSIBILITIES AND WE HAVE TO DROP HIM OFF AT A LOCATION THAT'S ABOUT A MILE FROM WHERE WE LIVE.
SO UNFORTUNATELY, WHEREVER WE ARE WITH REGARD TO OUR RESPONSIBILITIES THAT DAY, WE HAVE TO ESSENTIALLY GO TO THE STARBUCKS AT EVANS ROAD AND STONE OAK PARKWAY BECAUSE THE EXPANSION OF THE VIA ROUTE DOESN'T COME TO OUR HOME, WHICH ONCE AGAIN IS ABOUT A MILE AWAY.
SO I GUESS THE QUESTION THAT I WOULD HAVE FOR THE BOARD IS, IS THERE ANY PLANS TO EXPAND THE COVERAGE SO THAT MY SON AND MANY THAT ARE LIKE HIM MIGHT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT I HEARD EARLIER, WHICH IS THE WORLD CLASS OF VIA TRANS SYSTEM AND BENEFIT, THEREFORE, MELANIE, ANY OKAY, THANK YOU.
THAT, THAT WOULD BE MY QUESTION.
AND WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT.
I APPRECIATE AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE, FOR THE BOARD'S TIME.
WE AT BRIDGE ALMANZA TEST TEST.
UH, CHAIR VIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND MR. ARNT.
UH, MY NAME IS BRI ALMANZA IV.
I'M THE PRESIDENT BUSINESS AGENT OF A U LOCAL 6 9 4.
AND WITH ME IS AM SOTO, WHO'S THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND ALSO BUSY NATION OF A A TU LOCAL 6 9 4.
A WEEK AND A HALF AGO THE A TU INFORMED VIA MANAGEMENT THAT WE ARE SEEKING TO ORGANIZE ANY GROUP OF EMPLOYEES IN THE VIA SYSTEM.
MORE THAN 60% OF THE MAINTENANCE FIELD AND STATION SUPERVISOR AS WELL AS CUSTOMER SERVICE EMPLOYEES AND SECURITY GUARDS HAVE ALREADY SIGNED CARDS TO BECOME MEMBERS OF OUR UNION.
WE HAVE SIGNED CARDS AND WE HAVE SIGNED CARDS IN THE UNION HALL, BUT BEFORE WE SHARE THEM WITH MANAGEMENT, WE WANT TO AGREE TO A FAIR PROCESS FOR ALLOWING THEM TO JOIN.
WE THINK THESE GUYS HAVE EACH VOICE IN THE MEET AND CONFER PROCESS.
THIS IS, THIS DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A COMPLICATED PROCESS.
THESE EMPLOYEES WE ARE ORGANIZING DO THE SAME JOB AS EMPLOYEES WHO ARE MEMBERS OF A TU LOCAL 10 91 AT CAPITAL METRO IN AUSTIN.
WE HAVE A PROPOSED A RECOGNITION AGREEMENT TO VIA MANAGEMENT BASED ON THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN LOCAL 10 91 AND CAPITAL METRO THAT WOULD ALLOW A NEUTRAL THIRD PARTY REVIEW THE SIGNED UNION CARDS TO DETERMINE WHETHER A MAJORITY OF THIS NEW GROUP REALLY HAS SIGNED UP.
MANAGERS ARE MAKING THIS UNNECESSARILY COMPLICATED.
[00:45:02]
WE FEAR THAT WHEN THEY SAY THEY ARE REVIEWING OUR REQUEST, THEY ARE REALLY JUST DELAYING.IN OUR EXPERIENCE, MANAGEMENT OFTEN DELAYS SIMPLE DECISIONS.
WE DO NOT WANT THIS DECISION DELAYED BECAUSE WE WILL BEGIN EXCHANGING PROPOSALS FOR A NEW WORKING CONDITION AGREEMENT IN JUST TWO WEEKS.
OUR GOAL IS TO INCLUDE NEW MEMBERS IN THE NEW WORKING CONDITIONS, BUT THIS WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT IF MANAGEMENT CONTINUES TO DELAY.
AND IN OUR EYES, THIS UNNECESSARY DELAY REPRESENTS A FORM OF UNION BUSTING BY MANAGEMENT.
OUR UNION HAS BEEN REPRESENTING MEMBERS OF V FOR OVER A HUNDRED YEARS SINCE BEFORE V WAS CREATED.
WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR A RADICAL CHANGE.
WE'RE ONLY ASKING MANAGEMENT TO RECOGNIZE THESE MEMBERS AS PART OF OUR UNION.
WE BELIEVE BY REPRESENTING MORE MEMBERS, WE CAN IMPROVE OUR MEMBERS WORKPLACE AND SERVICE FOR COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
THE UNION IS ASKING YOU THE BOARD OF VIA TO ENSURE THAT MANAGEMENT ALLOWS A FAIR PROCESS FOR NEW MEMBERS TO JOIN OUR UNION.
WE HAVE TRIED TO COMMUNICATE OUR GOALS AS CLEARLY AS POSSIBLE AND WE ARE EAGER TO MEET WITH MANAGEMENT AND ANY BOARD MEMBERS TO RESOLVE THIS SITUATION.
AND IN SOLIDARITY, ANDREW, BE ANDREW BETAS.
UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MR. BROWN WHO IS NOT HERE AND BONNIE FOR HELPING ME WITH MY CAR SITUATION.
UH, IT WAS A LONG RESOLUTION BUT I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MEET WITH THE TWO OF THEM, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
MY NEXT UH, POINT IS, IS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AVIA CAN DEVELOP SOME SORT OF PROGRAM FOR OUR HOMELESS POPULATION OUT THAT CONSTANTLY TAKES OUR BUSES.
WE MEET A LOT OF PATRONS WHO UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO INFLATION AND MANY OTHER SITUATIONS THAT HAPPEN IN LIFE ARE NOT ABLE TO, UM, BE ABLE TO LIVE ON THEIR MEANS AND SO FORTH.
AND THEY RELY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR JUST TO KILL TIME OF THEIR DAY.
I'M ASKING VIA TO SEE IF WE CAN PARTNER UP WITH HAVEN FOR HOPE OR DO SOMETHING ON OUR OWN TO ACCOMMODATE THESE PEOPLE AS MUCH AS WE CAN, EVEN IF IT'S A LITTLE FOOD BANQUET OR SOMETHING.
ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS IS IF, TO SEE IF WE CAN HAVE A INVESTIGATION GOING ON WITH OUR IT TEAM, OUR AVLS, WHICH ARE MBTS GIVE US NO REAL TIME PERFORMANCE.
EVER SINCE THE BEGINNING OF OUR SIGNUP, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOOK AT OUR, UH, TIME POINTS CORRECTLY.
THEY SAY WE'RE EITHER WAY TOO EARLY, WAY TOO LATE, WHICH CAUSES CONFUSION TO AND DELAY TO OUR SERVICE OR THE WRONG INFORMATION TO OUR SERVICE.
AND WE GET IN TROUBLE FOR THAT.
I'M ASKING THAT WE TRY TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE IT TEAM TO SEE IF WE COULD FIX THIS FOR OUR NEW SIGNUP COMING UP PRETTY SOON.
ANOTHER THING THAT CAME OUT WAS OUR RED FLAG WITH, UH, BIKES WITH BATTERIES.
UNFORTUNATELY, UH, MOST ITEMS THAT COME IN WITH BATTERIES ON OUR BUS IS A, IS A NO.
UH, WITH THIS BIKE COMING ON WITH A BATTERY, IF THEY PUT IT ON THE BIKE RACK, IF IT EXPLODES, THE FIRST PERSON THAT'S GONNA HIT IS US.
IF IT'S IN OUR 60 FOOT PRIMOS, IF IT EXPLODES, IT'S GONNA HIT OUR PEOPLE.
WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE BETTER WAY TO, UM, ACCOMMODATE FOR THIS SORT OF DEAL.
UH, OBJECTS WITH BATTERIES SHOULD NOT BE IN THE BUS AT ALL AND I THINK WE SHOULD GO BACK TO THE WAY THINGS WERE BEFORE.
ANOTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS IS FAVORITISM.
A LOT OF OUR MANAGEMENT THAT WE HAVE HERE VIA TO ME IS PERSONALLY CORRUPTED AND A LOT OF OPERATORS CAN AGREE WITH ME.
FOR EXAMPLE, UH, WE HAVE A STATION FOREMAN WHO WAS GONE FOR A DECADE AND DECIDED TO COME BACK.
AND NOW INSTEAD OF BECOMING A BUS OPERATOR LIKE THE MOST OF US WOULD, HE IS NOW A STATION FOREMAN AND THAT IS NOT RIGHT.
HE HAS, SHOULD BE HERE FOR AT LEAST TWO TO THREE YEARS.
GOOD ATTENDANCE, NO WRECK, NO ACCIDENTS, AND THAT SHOULD BE DEFINITELY LOOKED INTO.
UH, ANOTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS IS OUR WAGES.
UH, MR. MARTIN, WE HAVE COME TO YOU A COUPLE OF TIMES, A COUPLE BOARD MEETINGS TO ASK ABOUT OUR INCREASE IN WAGES, NOT JUST BECAUSE WE NEED THEM, BUT BE DUE TO INFLATION.
UH, BILLS ARE GOING UP, FOODS GOING UP, RENTS GOING UP, AND WE HAVE LITTLE MEANS TO SHOW.
FOR EXAMPLE, I HAD TO GET A SECONDARY JOB AND IT WAS DENIED WITH VIA DUE TO THE TIME AND THE REST THAT I NEED IN ORDER TO BE HERE.
UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
SO I HAVE TO DO WHAT I HAVE TO DO TO SUPPORT MYSELF, MY FAMILY AND OTHERS, AND AS WELL AS MY OTHER FELLOW OPERATORS.
ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO, ANDREW, DID YOU SAY SAMUEL MARTINEZ IS? YES, I'M RIGHT HERE.
YOU GIVE HIM HIS THREE METS CONTACT PEREZ.
CONTINUING, UH, OUR TRANSIT POLICE, UH, VERY HARD WORKERS, UH, UNFORTUNATELY LIKE MANY, THERE IS NOT ENOUGH OF THEM.
UH, WHENEVER WE GET A TRANSIT PD OFFICER TO
[00:50:01]
US, IT USUALLY TAKES BETWEEN 30 TO 45 MINUTES, WHICH DELAYS SERVICE AND TIME AND THE PEOPLE'S TIME.UH, UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS ALSO A SCARY MOMENT FOR US OPERATORS BECAUSE WHEN SOMEBODY COMES IN OUR BUS DISRUPTS OR BREAKS THE CODE OF CONDUCT OR THREATENS US, WE HAVE TO DEPEND ON THESE POLICE OFFICERS TO COME TO THE SCENE.
AND THEY DO GET THERE AS FAST AS THEY CAN, BUT THEY'RE LITERALLY MILES AWAY FROM WHERE WE NEED THEM TO BE.
UH, I TRIED TALKING TO MR. BROWN TO SEE WHY SAPD WON'T RESPOND TO OUR CALLS AND IT JUST DEPENDS APPARENTLY IF THE DISPATCHER GETS SAPD INVOLVED OR NOT.
AND I THINK THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO IF WE CAN EVEN DEVELOP A PROGRAM FOR THAT AS WELL TO HIRE MORE OFFICERS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE NEED FOR THE SAFETY OF ME AND MY OPERATORS.
WE NEED MORE TRANSIT POLICE OFFICERS WHO ALSO DO NEED A WAGE INCREASE AS WELL.
THEIR PAIN STARTING RATE IS RIDICULOUS IN MY PERSONAL OPINION AND MANY OTHERS.
AND THAT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED UPON.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF UNDERWRITTEN RULES HERE AT VIA, WHICH IS VERY SAD AND ANNOYING.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS NO BOOK THAT STIPULATES WHAT THESE UNDERWRITTEN RULES ARE.
SO I'M ASKING YOU, MR. ARNT, TO PLEASE MEET WITH OUR COUNSELORS AND UPPER MANAGEMENT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THESE QUOTE UNQUOTE UNDERWRITTEN RULES ARE AND IF THEY CAN BE LAID OUT IN A BOOK THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UH, WE ARE COMING OUT WITH THIS NEW ART SYSTEM.
UNFORTUNATELY, AS GOOD AS IT SOUNDS, IT IS VERY CONFUSING TO ME BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH OPERATORS.
OPERATORS LEAVE DAY IN, DAY OUT.
WE'RE LESS THAN 800 OPERATORS.
IN ORDER FOR THIS SYSTEM TO TRULY WORK, WE NEED TO HAVE THE PROPER AMOUNT OF EMPLOYEES.
EMPLOYEES HERE TRY TO WORK ON THEIR DAYS OFF, BUT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH RUNS.
OTHER OPERATORS ARE EXCESSIVELY TIRED FROM WORKING DUE TO HOW THE PUBLIC TREATS US IN MANY OTHER WAYS.
SO I'M ASKING THAT WE CAN PLEASE FOCUS ON THE BENEFITS OF OUR OPERATORS, WHICH IS WAGES, BENEFITS FOR MEDICAL, AND OTHER DIFFERENT SITUATIONS THAT WE CAN HELP OPERATORS IN.
IF THE BOARD REALLY TRULY APPRECIATES VIA OPERATORS LIKE MYSELF AND MY OTHER OPERATOR FAMILY HERE, AS WELL AS MY STATION FOREMAN, SUPERVISORS, LEAD SUPERVISORS, MY DISPATCHERS AND MY UPPER MANAGEMENT, PLEASE RE-LOOK AT OUR WAGES AND PLEASE HELP US.
WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN MAKE VIA A BETTER PLACE FOR US AND IT NEEDS TO GET TO THAT POINT TO WHERE PEOPLE, WHERE WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE BEING CARED VERSUS JUST A NUMBER.
AND I'M JUST HOPING, LIKE I SAID, MR. ARNT, PLEASE, I WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH YOU PRIVATE ONE-ON-ONE.
UH, IF YOU COULD HAVE YOUR ASSISTANT PLEASE EMAIL ME OR A COUNSELOR, KEITH SALTZ TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS FOLLOW UP FOLLOW UP CONVERSATION.
IS THERE A WAY TO SET THE TIME? WE'LL SET, WE'LL SET IT FOR YOU, SIR.
YOUR HONOR, I DIDN'T WANT TO CHEAT AND TAKE TOO MUCH TIME.
OH, MR. ARN, MR. CHAIRMAN AND ESTEEM BOARD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HEARING ME.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME YOUR TIME.
I'VE BEEN, UH, BEEN GRATEFUL TO BEEN AN EMPLOYEE HERE FOR THE LAST 10 PLUS YEARS.
I'M CURRENTLY A FIELD SUPERVISOR AND I'M ONE OF THE MANY THAT HAVE, UH, SIGNED THAT, UH, UNION CARDS REQUESTING THE A TU TO REPRESENT US IN CONTRACT TALKS.
GOING FORWARD, I WOULD LIKE THE ASK THE BOARD TO PLEASE, UH, RE REQUEST THAT THE, UH, EXECUTIVE MEMBERS, UH, VIA EXPEDITE THAT AND MAKE IT HAPPEN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
UH, PRIOR TO WORKING HERE AT VIA, I DID WORK AT ANOTHER TRANSIT AGENCY WHERE ALL THE SUPERVISORS INFORMANT WERE A PART OF THE SAME UNION AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT MUCH OF A PROBLEM.
TO BE HONEST, ACROSS THE NATION, IT'S MUCH MORE COMMONPLACE THAN YOU MIGHT IMAGINE.
SO WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR SOMETHING NEW, WE'RE JUST ASKING TO BE INCLUDED AND TO HAVE A VOICE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING AND I WISH YOU ALL A GOOD NIGHT.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD I'VE BEEN WITH VIA FOR 16 YEARS.
ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO, I TRANSFERRED INTO SALARY.
I GOT A VERY SMALL INCREASE FOR MOVING INTO THE SALARY FOR MY PROMOTION.
ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WE INCREASED THE SIZE OF OUR DEPARTMENT.
THE NEW PEOPLE COMING IN MADE THE SAME MONEY I DO, IF NOT MORE.
[00:55:02]
FOR AN INCREASE.IT'S HARDER THAN PULLING TEETH ON YOURSELF.
MET WITH NOSE, EVERYTHING WE TRY IS GETS SHOT DOWN.
THANKFULLY, I HAVE A FANTASTIC MANAGER WHO WORKS WITH ME IN EVERY WAY AND HE WAS ABLE TO HELP GET ME A VERY SMALL INCREASE.
ASIDE FROM THAT, THEY CONTINUE TO TAKE AWAY FROM US.
SALARY IS NOT ABLE TO RECEIVE LONGEVITY PAY.
SO MY YEARS OF SERVICE DO NOT MATTER.
ANY INCENTIVES THAT WE WERE AFFORDED HAVE BEEN STRIPPED AWAY.
IF I HAD STAYED AS AN HOURLY EMPLOYEE, I WOULD BE MAKING MORE MONEY THAN I AM NOW, WHICH IS QUITE FRANKLY SAD AND DEMORALIZING.
WE HAVE MARY CERVANTES AND MARY'S GONNA HAVE A TOTAL OF SIX MINUTES WITH THREE MINUTES BEING YIELDED TO HER FROM CATHERINE WOODS.
I APPRECIATE YOU, UH, LISTENING TO ME TODAY.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH, UH, UH, VIA ACCOUNT FOR A LITTLE BIT OVER 15 YEARS, UH, WITH FOUR DIFFERENT, UH, CONTRACTING AGENCIES AND ALSO I JOINED THE THE VIA, UH, NOT TOO LONG AGO IN MAY.
AND, UM, I APPRECIATE, UH, WORKING FOR VIA.
I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF BEING PART OF VIA TEAM AND I DO, UH, SUPPORT THE A TU.
UM, I'M THINKING THAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO HELP ME WITH OUR VOICES TO BE ABLE TO GET THINGS MORE ORGANIZED WITH, UH, TRANSIT SECURITY.
AND I JUST WANTED TO, UM, SAY ON JULY 30TH, 2023, I WAS ATTACKED BY A DRUNKEN PASSENGER AT NORTH STAR PARK AND RIDE.
I RECEIVED BRUISING OF BOTH MY ARMS, WHICH LASTED FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.
I BEGAN TO HAVE HEADACHES, BODY ACHES, AND CHEST PAIN.
THE PERSON WHO ATTACKED ME IS LOUISE KING CISNEROS WAS IN JAIL AWAITING A PLEA BARGAIN AGREEMENT ACCORDING TO THE DA.
ON AUGUST THE 18TH, 2023, I WENT TO MY DOCTOR ELISA ROCI PA.
SHE NOTICED THAT THE BRUISES ON, ON MY ARMS AND ASKED WHAT HAPPENED.
I EXPLAINED TO HER ABOUT THE INCIDENT AT THE PARK AND RIDE.
UH, SHE CHECKED ME OUT AND, AND, AND SAW THAT MY HEART RATE HAD BEEN INCREASED TO 104.
SHE THEN REFERRED ME TO A CARDIOLOGIST BECAUSE OF HER CONCERN OF MY HEART.
THAT SAME DAY I CONTACTED MY SUPERVISOR, SERGEANT MCDONALD.
SHE ADVISED ME TO GET A PHYSICIAN STATEMENT FROM MY DOCTOR.
I GET THE STATEMENT AND READ AS, AS IS TO WHOM IS MY CONCERN.
MARY CERVANTES IS A PATIENT AT HOLY CROSS FAMILY PRACTICE AND HAS BEEN UNDER MY CARE SINCE MARCH OF 2023.
DUE TO THE STRESS OF HER JOB, MS. CERVANTES REPORTED ANXIETY WAS INTERFERES WITH A DAILY LIFE AND ABILITY TO COPE WITH STRESS, OFTEN CREATING GREAT DISTRESS.
MS. CERVANTES HAS SUSTAINED BRUISES FROM COMBATIVE PASSENGERS AT PARK AND RIDE.
SINCE STARTING DISPOSITION, HER RESTING HEART RATE HAS INCREASED AND HER CURRENT JOB POST MS. CERVANTES IS A HIGH RISK OF DEVELOPING PTSD AND HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING CHEST PAIN NIGHTLY FOR THE PAST MONTH.
MS. CERVANTES IS NOT LOOKING FOR A PART-TIME JOB.
SHE NEEDS A DIFFERENT POST WHERE SHE'S LESS LIKELY TO ENCOUNTER HOSTILE AND AGGRESSIVE INDIVIDUALS DOING DURING HER WORK DAY.
YOUR ASSISTANCE IS HIGHLY APPRECIATED.
AT THAT TIME, I WAS CALLED INTO THE OFFICE TO MEET WITH SERGEANT FLORES AND SERGEANT TROTTER AND THEY TOLD ME I WAS GOING TO WORK AT STONE OAK PARK AND RIDE.
I SAID, IF THERE IS A BUS I COULD TAKE THERE BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A CAR SUITABLE FOR TRANSPORTATION.
SO NOW I'M POSTED AT STONE OAK PARK AND RIDE.
I HAVE TO GET UP AT, UH, DAILY, GET UP IN THE MORNING AT FOUR 30 IN THE MORNING TO CATCH TWO BUSES AND COMMUTE 30 MILES TO GET TO WORK BY SEVEN O'CLOCK.
SINCE SEPTEMBER I'VE BEEN AT THIS POST ON JANUARY 17TH, 2024, I DEVELOPED A SEVERE RESPIRATORY VIRAL INFECTION, WHICH WAS SO BAD.
ON MARCH THE SEVENTH, 2024, I DEVELOPED ANOTHER SEVERE VIRAL RESPIRATORY INFECTION IN WHICH I WAS IN BED FOR THREE DAYS.
IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO MAINTAIN WORKING AT THIS FAR AWAY POST 'CAUSE OF THE ELEMENTS COLD WEATHER AND THE CHANGES.
I AM ALSO A, A HIGH RISK FOR A STROKE AND HIGH AND HEART ATTACK, WHICH I EXPLAINED TO SERGEANT COSO ON THREE OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT
[01:00:01]
OCCASIONS.EVERY TIME HE SAID HE WOULD TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT MY SITUATION AND GET ME MOVED.
SERGEANT COSO ALSO MENTIONED ABOUT GETTING ME A HARDSHIP.
HE WOULD START THE PAPERWORK ON ALL OCCASIONS.
WHEN SIGNUP CAME, I ASKED HIM, WHERE WAS I ON THE LIST? HE SAID, I WAS IN THE MIDDLE.
I WAS NEVER CALLED FOR SIGNUP.
ANOTHER SECURITY OFFICER SAID, COSO SAID TO HER THAT I WAS NOT ASSIGNED, THAT I WAS ASSIGNED TO STONE OAK ONLY WAY I WAS GOING TO BE MOVED FROM THERE IF I QUIT OR GOT TERMINATED.
THAT'S WHY I'M STILL HERE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS AT VIA.
I DO MY WORK TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED ME AT MOST OF THE PARKING RIDES, BUT I DO MY BEST WORK.
I'M JUST ASKING FOR SOME CONSIDERATION TO BE MOVED BECAUSE I'M SO FAR FROM THERE AND I'M AFRAID I'LL GET MORE SICK AGAIN AND MAYBE THIS TIME I WON'T SURVIVE.
I JUST WANT A LITTLE BIT OF CONSIDERATION.
AND I KNOW THAT, UH, I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF, UM, SENIORITY BECAUSE I, I WAS, UH, WORKING WITH CONTRACTORS, BUT I'VE BEEN WITH YA SINCE MAY.
BUT I PUT ALL MY EFFORTS AND AND INTO DOING THE BEST I CAN AT EVERY PARKING RIDE THAT I WORK AT.
AND I'M JUST ASKING FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CONSIDERATION.
AND I DO SUPPORT THE A TU 'CAUSE I BELIEVE IF THEY'RE NOT LISTENING TO US AS OUR VOICE, IF WE TALK TO THEM, THAT MAYBE THE A TU CAN HELP US GET ACROSS TO WHAT WE NEED TO GET DONE.
UH, SO MY NAME'S JONATHAN DEAN.
CURRENTLY I'M A BUS LEAD STATION FOREMAN AND I'VE WORKED AT VIA FOR 18 YEARS.
WHAT BRINGS ME HERE TODAY IS TO REITERATE A LITTLE BIT WHAT MR. GENTI SAID.
UM, BASICALLY WE'RE SEEKING APPROVAL AND RECOGNITION, RECOGNITION TO BE ABLE TO JOIN THE UNION.
UH, COME UP HUMBLY JUST TO ASK IF YOU WOULD PLEASE CONSIDER IT.
I KNOW THINGS DO TAKE TIME, BUT TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.
UH, NEGOTIATIONS OR DISCUSSIONS ARE APPROACHING AND UH, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE LOOKING OUT FOR OUR BEST INTERESTS.
VIA IS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK FOR MANY PEOPLE.
SPEND A WHOLE CAREER HERE AND THEN SOME OPERATORS RETIRE AND THEY COME BACK.
SO THAT SHOULD SPEAK TO THE DEDICATION.
EMPLOYEES SUCH AS MYSELF AND OTHERS WANT TO GIVE TO VIA VIA HAS DONE A LOT FOR ME AND I'M GLAD TO BE AN EMPLOYEE.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MS. GINGER TRAINER
I'M HONORED TO STAND BEFORE YOU ONCE AGAIN.
SO VERY PROUD OF ALL THE ENDEAVORS OF VIA TO HELP THE NEED AND HOMELESS.
FIRST, I WANNA ASK IF YOU MIGHT CONSIDER PROVIDING SOME SORT OF TRANSIT TO THE CITY OF KERRVILLE.
I'M IN RECOVERY COACH TRAINING THIS WEEK AND LEARNED THESE RESIDENTS MUST WAIT 45 MINUTES FOR AN UBER TO ARRIVE.
THESE ARE PEOPLE IN RECOVERY AND THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO GET TO THEIR MEETINGS.
LAST SPRING OF 23, YOU DECIDED TO PLACE PLACARDS ON YOUR BUSES, DISPLAYING ONE PILL KILLS WITH A QR CODE TO THE FACTS ON FENTANYL AND A NEW 9 8 8 CRISIS HOTLINE.
NOW, I'VE LEARNED OF SIX OTHER TRANSIT COMPANIES THAT HAVE EMBRACED THE CHALLENGE TO SAVE LIVES FROM OVERDOSE INITIATIVE BY TRAINING THEIR DRIVERS AND STAFF ON THE USE OF NARCAN.
JUST IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, DENVER HAS SAVED 22 SOULS IN CRISIS.
NARCAN IS NOW ON THESE BUSES IN DENVER, SAN FRANCISCO, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, DC AND BOSTON.
THIS SPRING OF 24, I CAN SEE VIA STEPPING UP TO DO THE SAME.
AFTER ALL, THEY WERE THE FLAGSHIP IN OUR DRUG CRISIS BY SPREADING AWARENESS LAST YEAR.
AND I'M STILL ASKING FOR JUST ONE BUS TO DISPLAY THE WRAP.
ONE PILL KILLS WITH A PICS OF OUR KIDS WHOM LOST THEIR LIVES WITH A QR CODE TO TEXAS PICTURES
[01:05:01]
AND THEIR FACES ON THE WRAP.WRITERS CAN LISTEN TO A STORY, A DIFFERENT STORY EACH DAY UNTIL ONE RESONATES WITH THEM LIKE IT DID FOR MADISON OF SEATTLE.
SHE LISTENED TO MY BROOKS STORY AND SENT THIS MESSAGE LAST WEEK.
I WANTED YOU TO KNOW, I HEARD YOU TELL BROOKE'S JOURNEY AND I'M NOT HEAVY INTO DRUGS.
ACTUALLY, THE OPPOSITE JUST BEGAN DUE TO CHILDHOOD TRAUMA.
AND BECAUSE OF BROOKE'S STORY, I TOLD MY THERAPIST, MAYBE I NEED SOME HELP.
I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SHARING HER JOURNEY AS IT HAS HELPED ME TO START MY OWN PATH TO DOING BETTER.
NARCAN WAS ACTUALLY IN MY ROOM, IN THE ROOM WITH BROOKE WHEN SHE PASSED THAT EARLY SUNDAY MORNING IN HER OWN BED THREE YEARS AGO.
DOWNTOWN SHE WAS, NO ONE WAS THERE TO ADMINISTER IT.
SO SHE SPENT MUCH OF HER TIME HOMELESS, SLEEPING IN DUMPSTERS, TRAVELING THE COUNTRY BY TRAIN AND EVEN RIDING VIA BUSES TO GET AROUND.
PERHAPS LISTENING TO A STORY, MIGHT HAVE INSPIRED HER TO STOP HEROIN, WHICH IN THE END WAS PURE FENTANYL.
HELP ME EDUCATE OUR KIDS NOT TO TAKE ONE PILL FROM ANYONE.
AS I DO PRESENTATIONS IN SCHOOLS, OMA MEANS LOSING A CHILD BEFORE THEIR TIME.
DON'T LET FENTANYL TAKE YOUR CHILD OR YOUR GRANDCHILD.
THIS CONCLUDES THE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
UH, I TOOK THE TIME TO COME AND SPEAK TO US TODAY.
[5. Consent Agenda]
WITH THAT, UH, WE'LL MOVE ON WITH THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER FIVE, CONSENT, AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS AN ACTION ITEM.TRUSTEES, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MR. CHAIR? I MOVE ADOPTION.
OKAY, SECOND, FIRST AND A SECOND.
ANY OPPOSED? NATE? UH, SEND, AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVED.
[6. Electric Cab of North America (eCab) Downtown Partnership]
SIX, WE WILL NOW RECEIVE A PRESENTATION ON THE CAB DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP.OH, I'M SORRY, TRISH, I DIDN'T SEE YOU OVER THERE.
SO RATHER THAN ME TELL YOU, I'M GONNA BRING IN THE EXPERTS, THE CEO OF CENTRO, AND, UH, WITH WHOM WE ARE PARTNERING ON THIS, UH, NEW INNOVATIVE SERVICE.
I'M A BIT OVERDRESSED FOR THE OCCASION.
I DON'T USUALLY DRESS UP TO BOARD MEETINGS LIKE THIS, BUT THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONSERVATION SOCIETY IS DENIED TOO.
SO I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO GO HOME AND CHANGE, SO I HAD TO WEAR SOMETHING OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR ALL OCCASIONS.
SO ANYWAY, ON BEHALF OF CENTRO, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, MYSELF, MY TEAM AT CENTRO, AND OUR PARTNERS AT UTSA WHO ARE HERE PLEASE STAND.
UH, MARY HERNANDEZ AND LOUIS RAMIREZ, WHO WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH.
UH, WE ARE VERY EXCITED AND VERY ENERGIZED ABOUT, UM, THIS PILOT PROJECT THAT WE'RE PROMOTING THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP, NOT JUST WITH UTSA, BUT WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND YES, ALSO WITH VIA TWO.
SO AS WE TALK ABOUT THE LAST MILE OPPORTUNITY, OR EVEN QUARTER MILE OPPORTUNITY IN DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO, WE THINK THAT THIS IS A MICRO MOBILITY OPTION THAT SHOULD BE PURSUED.
SO AS WE LOOK AT WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE, WE LAUNCHED THIS ON THE 18TH OF MARCH.
THESE ARE WHAT THE VEHICLES LOOK LIKE.
THEY ARE ELECTRONIC CABS, UM, MUCH LIKE GOLF CARTS, UH, THAT MOVE AROUND DOWNTOWN AND THEY'RE ON A FIXED ROUTE.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE CALL A CIRCULATOR ROUTE.
YOU CAN SEE OBVIOUSLY THE VEHICLES ARE BRANDED WITH CENTRO.
OBVIOUSLY IT HAS THE PARTNERS THAT ARE ON HERE VIA IS INCLUDED IN THAT AS WELL.
UM, BUT REALLY THIS WAS MANDATED AND I'M GLAD OUR PARTNERS FROM UTSA ARE HERE.
UH, BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEIR INVESTMENT IN DOWNTOWN REGARDING THEIR CAMPUSES, UM, WHICH REALLY IS ALMOST AT ABOUT BETWEEN THE TWO CAMPUSES, UM, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT ARE BEING INVESTED, THEY HAD A VERY PRESSING NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FACULTY FROM THE PARKING LOT INTO THE CLASSROOM.
SO AS WE LOOKED AT WHAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY, AND THEY CAME TO CENTRAL AND SAID, HEY, NO PUN INTENDED, PEDAL TO THE METAL.
WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS AND WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS VERY QUICKLY.
AND IN FACT, WHEN WE FIRST ENGAGED IN CONVERSATIONS, WHICH WAS PROBABLY AROUND SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, THEY WERE LIKE, WE REALLY WANNA LAUNCH THIS BY THE SPRING SEMESTER.
SO THAT ONLY LEAVES A COUPLE OF MONTHS, RIGHT? JANUARY 15TH, MID MONTH FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
SO WE GOT TO WORK OBVIOUSLY, AND LOOKED AT WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES, AND THIS IS A DIAGRAM ASSOCIATED WITH OUR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
[01:10:01]
SHAPED A BIT LIKE A JIGSAW PUZZLE PIECE, RIGHT? WE'RE BOUNDED TO THE EAST AND THE WEST BY THE FREEWAY SYSTEMS. WE GO AS FAR SOUTH AS C CHAVEZ, WE GO AS FAR NORTH AS BROOKLYN, WHICH IS WHERE THE CPS SYNERGY HEADQUARTERS IS LOCATED.BUT AS A RESULT OF BEING VIA BEING A PARTNER IN THE PROJECT, WE ALSO INCLUDED CENTRO PLAZA, WHICH YOU WILL SEE HERE.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE SIX CARS.
THEY ARE TRAVERSING THE ROUTE THAT WE HAVE HERE.
UH, WE HAVE TWO CARS THAT ARE CONSTANTLY BEING CHARGED BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THEY OPERATE ON A BATTERY, WHICH IS NICE TOO BECAUSE IT'S ZERO CARBON FOOTPRINT.
AND WHAT WE WOULD THINK IS REALLY A HEAT ISLAND, UH, WHICH IS DOWNTOWN, BUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE FOUR CARS OPERATING ALL AT ONE TIME WAS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
SO, UH, THE OPERATION, WE DECIDED TO PARTNER WITH ECAB OF NORTH AMERICA, 14 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE MARKET.
THEY HAVE A PROJECT RIGHT NOW CURRENTLY WITH TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY IN SAN MARCO.
LOTS OF GREAT REFERENCES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
UH, FROM A PRICING STANDPOINT, THEY WERE THE MOST COMPETITIVE.
THEY COULD SCALE VERY, VERY QUICKLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE TIMELINE.
THEY ASSUMED ALL OF THE LIABILITY AND COMPREHENSIVE LIABILITY INSURANCE ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
THEY ARE PAYING THEIR DRIVERS A LIVING WAGE, WHICH I THINK IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
UH, THEIR BUSINESS MODEL IS NOT NECESSARILY TIP BASED, WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT FROM A BUSINESS MODEL STANDPOINT.
IF YOU ARE A TIP BASED, MANY TIMES YOU WILL PASS UP A RIDER.
AND BY THE WAY, YOU HAIL THIS LIKE YOU WOULD A CAB OR YOU USE AN APP TO BE ABLE TO HAIL IT.
IF IT'S TIP BASED, SOMETIMES YOU'LL PASS UP THAT PERSON ON THE STREET BECAUSE YOU'RE LIKE, THAT PERSON CAN OFFER ME A BETTER TIP.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE LIKED ABOUT THIS BUSINESS MODEL.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE APP, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
YOU DOWNLOAD THE APP, YOU'RE ABLE TO, UM, SAY, HEY, I NEED A RIDE THROUGH THE APP.
OR YOU CAN CALL A NUMBER, OR LIKE I SAID, YOU CAN HAIL IT JUST LIKE A CAB.
AND BY THE WAY, THE DRIVERS ARE TRAINED.
AND WHEN SOMEBODY BOARDS OR NEEDS A RIDE, THEY ASK, ARE YOU A-U-T-S-A STUDENT? ARE YOU A VA EMPLOYEE? ARE YOU A COSA EMPLOYEE OR ARE YOU A MEMBER OF CENTRO? IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO DISTINGUISH THAT BECAUSE WE, AS WE LOOK AT MICRO MOBILITY AND THE OTHER OPTIONS THAT ARE IN DOWNTOWN, THEY ARE PERMITTED, RIGHT? WE ARE A COURTESY SHUTTLE, MEANING WE ARE TRANSPORTING EMPLOYEES OR STAFF STUDENTS AND FACULTY INTO THEIR PLACES OF BUSINESS OR INTO THE CLASSROOM.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET PERMITTED JUST BECAUSE I WANNA BE IN COMPLIANCE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT BEING GIVEN PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT.
BUT THIS IS WHAT THE PILOT LOOKS LIKE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE PARTNERS ALREADY.
WE HAVE FOUR TOTAL VEHICLES OPERATING AND TWO THROUGHOUT THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, AND TWO THAT ARE ON A CIRCULATOR ROUTE SPECIFICALLY FOR UTSA STUDENTS MONDAY TO THURSDAY.
WE WANTED TO BE SENSITIVE TO OTHER LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT OPERATORS THAT ARE WORKING IN THE SPACE RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE NOT OPERATING IN THE EVENINGS AND WE ARE NOT OPERATING ON WEEKENDS.
THIS IS REALLY MORE OF AN EMPLOYEE FOCUS CENTRIC PILOT.
SO THE FIXED ROUTE HOURS INCLUDE 7:30 AM TO 8:30 AM 1130 TO ONE 30 DURING LUNCHTIME, AND THEN FIVE TILL SEVEN.
THIS IS WHERE PART OF OUR LAUNCH AND THIS IS WHAT THE CARS LOOK LIKE.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO GO TAKE A RIDE, SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS AND POINTS THAT I CAN MAKE TODAY IS WE JUST HAD A CONVERSATION LAST WEEK.
UH, WE ARE DEPLOYING A HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE VEHICLE AS A PART OF THIS PILOT BECAUSE I WANNA BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT, WHERE, WHERE WE CAN MOVE THE NEEDLE FROM A DATA METRIC STANDPOINT REGARDING THE DISABLED.
MANY TIMES AS I'M WALKING AROUND DOWNTOWN, I'LL SEE SOMEBODY IN A WHEELCHAIR OR I WILL SEE SOMEBODY WITH A CANE OR SOMEBODY THAT HAS A DISABILITY.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TRANSPORT THOSE FOLKS.
I DON'T HAVE A PICTURE OF WHAT THAT CAR LOOKS LIKE, BUT IT IS GOING TO BE OPERATING WITHIN THE PIT THIS WEEK.
THE BEAUTY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROJECT, AND I'M GONNA MOVE TO WHAT WAS SO IMPORTANT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS OPERATION, IS REALLY THE DATA CAPTURE PART OF A PILOT IS WHAT WE CAN GLEAN ASSOCIATED WITH NOT JUST RIDERSHIP AND DEMOGRAPHICS AND ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS.
WHAT ARE THE MOST POPULAR ROUTES? DO WE NEED MORE HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES IN THE PIT? AS WE LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF MICRO MOBILITY OPTIONS IN DOWNTOWN, BY THE WAY, WHAT ARE THE MOST POPULAR ROUTES ASSOCIATED WITH GETTING PEOPLE FROM POINT A TO POINT B? SO THIS DASHBOARD IS AVAILABLE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND SO THE KIND OF DATA THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO GAIN AND CLEAN ASSOCIATED IN SIX MONTHS, I THINK BE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AS WE ALL MOVE FORWARD.
AND BY THE WAY, THANK YOU FOR THE JOB THAT VIA DOES, OBVIOUSLY FROM A TRANSPORTATION STANDPOINT.
BUT, UM, I WAS JUST QUOTED IN THE BUSINESS JOURNAL ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT TRANSPORTATION IN THE URBAN
[01:15:01]
CORE IS AND THE MICRO MOBILITY OPTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.AND THAT DOES INCLUDE WHAT DOES THAT MEAN REGARDING A RT AS IT MOVES THROUGH DOWNTOWN TOO, RIGHT? AS A RT IS DEVELOPED AND ESTABLISHED, WHAT IS THE MICRO MOBILITY OPTION? AND IT COULD BE EAB THAT GETS YOU FROM A LITTLE SHORT DISTANCE THAT YOU NEED TO GO TO AND INCLEMENT WEATHER, OR WHEN IT'S 110 DEGREES OUTSIDE OR IT'S RAINING AND YOU CAN POP IN AND BE ABLE TO GO.
BUT ANYWAY, MORE TO COME FROM US, OBVIOUSLY FROM A REPORTING STANDPOINT WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO GATHER THIS DATA, BUT WE COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED, OBVIOUSLY, ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP, ABOUT THE FACT THAT VIA STEPPED UP AND SAID, HEY, WE WANNA BE INNOVATIVE AND WE WANNA BE IN THIS SPACE AND WHEN WE WANNA BE HELPFUL AS FAR AS HOW WE PLOT THIS COURSE.
SO I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL HAVE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? YES, SIR.
MR. WILL? NO, I'LL, I'LL LET MR. OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE VETTING OF THE DRIVERS.
IS THE VETTING OF THE DRIVERS MORE LIKE THE VETTING OF A CAB DRIVER OR MORE LIKE THE VETTING OF A UBER OR LYFT DRIVER? IT'S MORE THE VETTING OF AN UBER DRIVER, BUT EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND CHECKS.
AND BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY UTSA IS A PART OF THE PARTNERSHIP, WE DID AN EVEN DEEPER DIVE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRIVERS AND THEIR BACKGROUNDS, UM, FROM A DRIVER'S STANDPOINT BECAUSE WE'RE TRANSPORTING STUDENTS AND THAT BECOMES INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS THAT YES, MA'AM.
SO
SO THAT ACTUALLY LEADS ME TO MY NEXT QUESTION,
THE, THE BRANDING I LOVE, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY UTSA, HOWEVER, I'M KIND OF CONCERNED THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT IS ASCERTAINABLE TO VIA, SO THAT WAY PEOPLE WOULD RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS ALSO A BRANCH OFF.
SO ON THE BACK OF THE VEHICLES, WE DO HAVE VIA THAT'S ON THE LOGO, THE BACK THOUGH.
SO IF YOU'RE PEDESTRIAN AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING, RIGHT, LIKE AS IT, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE LOOKING AT THE TAILGATE IF YOU'RE TRYING TO HAIL SOMETHING.
OBVIOUSLY, LIKE I SAID, FROM A PILOT STANDPOINT, SOME OF IT WAS BECAUSE THIS IS COMPLETELY BEING SUBSIDIZED, SO THESE ARE FREE OF CHARGE.
SO WE LOOK AT THE PARTNERS THAT CONTRIBUTED A LITTLE MORE MONEY THAN OTHERS DID OR WHATEVER, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE VIA AS A PART OF THE PROJECT.
I'M JUST CONCERNED BECAUSE FROM A VISIBILITY STANDPOINT, I JUST DON'T WANNA SEE SOMETHING FAIL THAT WE'VE ALREADY BEEN TRYING TO PROMOTE.
AND IT BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS THAT VISIBILITY FOR YOUR EVERYDAY REASONABLE PERSON TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND.
SO WE CAN RAMP UP WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOPEFULLY WE GET THE PERMITS WITHIN A WEEK AT THE CITY, WE CAN RAMP UP THE OPPORTUNITY ASSOCIATED MAYBE WITH GIVING OBVIOUSLY BIGGER VISIBILITY FROM A LOGO STANDPOINT ON THE VEHICLES.
WE CERTAINLY CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
I WOULD TELL YOU TOO, THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE YEAH.
AND WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND MAYBE THROUGH THE APP WE CAN HEIGHTEN VIA THAT WAY TOO.
CAN I MAKE A STATEMENT? YEAH, GO AHEAD.
I FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE EXTENSION TO CENTRAL PLAZA.
THAT'S A IMPORTANT CONNECTION.
AND I FEEL FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT UTSA WILL BE ABLE TO USE THAT TO BRING, UH, BRING PASSENGERS DOWN THERE AND THEN CATCH THAT SHUTTLE OVER.
AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE, UH, VIA BEING INCLUDED VERY PROMINENTLY MM-HMM.
SO THANKS, THANKS FOR BOTH OF US.
SECRETARY MILO, UH, TWO THINGS ON THE DISABLED ASPECT ASPECT.
RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST EMPLOYEE AND STUDENTS.
NOW, MAYBE THERE ARE A COUPLE STUDENTS WITHIN UTSA, BUT I KNOW OF NO EMPLOYEES.
SO HOW CAN YOU BUILD ON THAT? MM-HMM.
AND SECOND, WILL THESE DRIVERS BE TRAINED TO HANDLE THAT, REALLY HANDLE, BUT HAVE THE COMPASSION AND SO TO HANDLE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, THOSE IN THE WHEELCHAIRS AND THOSE THAT ARE BLIND AND THE COGNITIVE.
SO I THINK THE BEAUTY ABOUT AN OPERATOR THAT HAS 14, ALMOST 15 YEARS IN THE SPACE, UM, FROM A BACKGROUND CHECK, FROM A TRAINING STANDPOINT, FROM THE
[01:20:01]
FACT THAT WHEN WE ASKED THEM ABOUT THE DISABLED, THEY WERE LIKE, HEY, WE'LL DEPLOY A VEHICLE TOMORROW YEAH.UNFORTUNATELY, LIKE I SAID, I DON'T HAVE A PICTURE WITH ME TODAY, BUT THERE'S A RAMP THAT COMES DOWN.
THEY DO HAVE DRIVERS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY TRAINED IN DISABILITIES DRIVING THAT SPECIFIC VEHICLE.
I'M HAPPY TO COME BACK AND GIVE MORE INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH THAT DISABLED POPULATION.
BUT I'LL TELL YOU, I THOUGHT IT WAS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE HAD THAT VEHICLE SO THAT WE CAN GATHER THE DATA THAT WE NEED ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
UM, WE HAVE, AS WE KNOW, UM, LOTS OF HOMELESS THAT HAVE PROBLEMS, UM, ASSOCIATED WITH DOWNTOWN AS WELL.
UM, SO I, I WILL COMMIT TO YOU THAT ONCE THE DATA IS GATHERED, AND MAYBE EVEN SOONER THAN THAT, WHEN I'VE GOT MORE INFORMATION AT MY FINGERTIPS, MAYBE WITH NEXT MONTH, COME BACK TO YOU AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT THAT DISABLED, UH, DASHBOARD LOOKS LIKE REGARDING HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE UTILIZING IT, AND GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER TO YOU BE IN THIS PARTNERSHIP, BE WE CARRY OVER A MILLION PEOPLE IN VIA TRANS A YEAR AND THAT, AND MANY IN FIXED ROUTE.
UM, SO WE HAVE A PRETTY EXTENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAM IN PASTOR ASSISTANCE TRAINING.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER, WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH YOU ON THAT, THAT WE, THAT WE WOULD BE WILLING TO, UH, SHARE.
WE CAN ALL PARTNER AND WORK TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO GET THE BEST OUTCOMES.
MR. I JUST HAVE A QUICK COMMENT.
I I THINK THIS IS, THIS IS, THIS IS AMAZING.
UM, I THINK ANYTHING THAT REALLY KIND OF SHIFTS THE MOBILITY CULTURE IN SAN ANTONIO'S GREAT.
I THINK THE BIGGEST SORT OF, UH, SORT OF CULTURAL SHIFT IS GONNA HAPPEN THAT PEOPLE GET USED TO NOT ALWAYS BEING ON THEIR CARS.
AND THEN ANY, ANY LITTLE INCREMENT, ANY DIFFERENT PARTNER, EVERY, EVERY COLLABORATION THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO, I THINK BREAKS THAT OR STARTS ADVANCING THAT CULTURE OF MOBILITY.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE HAVING THIS ALMOST MAKES ME WANT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL BECAUSE WHEN I WAS GOING TO SCHOOL DOWNTOWN, I JUST HAD TO WALK MYSELF EVERYWHERE AND WHICH WAS, UH, IT WAS GREAT FOR EXERCISE, BUT IT WASN'T, UH, SPEED.
SO I, I APPRECIATE THE, WELL, THE PARTNERSHIP WITH V AS WELL.
WELL, WE APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP VERY MUCH.
AND LEMME JUST TELL YOU, WITH THE CONSTRUCTION THAT WE HAVE AT DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO RIGHT NOW, MOBILITY IS HAMPERED IN A VERY, VERY SIGNIFICANT WAY.
SO WE'RE WORKING EVERY DAY TO RUN THE ROUTES SO THAT WE CAN CREATE SOMETHING MORE EXPEDIENT TO BE ABLE TO WORK AROUND WHERE THERE IS NEW CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE THERE IS NEW CONSTRUCTION EVERY WEEK.
SO ANYWAY, THIS MOBILITY OPTION HELPS THAT.
THANKS TRISH, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, SO QUICK, UH, COUPLE OF QUESTIONS TO CLARIFY.
THIS IS, YOU, YOU SAID, UM, THE PRIMARY FOCUS IS FOR, UH, FACULTY AND STUDENTS, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
SO THERE'S NO COST ASSOCIATED FOR THEM? NO.
IN THIS, THERE'S NO COST ASSOCIATED WITH ANYONE.
SO THIS IS A FREE SERVICE FOR ANYONE.
AFTER YOU GET THE, THE PERMIT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION YES.
UM, AND SO THE DATA THAT YOU WILL BE YIELDING, IS THAT GONNA BE COLLECTED ON A A MONTHLY BASIS OR HOW, TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE GONNA BE COLLECTING IT ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND SO HOW ARE YOU GONNA BE AGGREGATING THAT AND SHARING THAT EXTERNALLY? SO I'VE GOT A DATA CONTENT PERSON WHO'S ON STAFF AT CENTRO, UM, WHO'S GONNA BE LOOKING AT THAT DASHBOARD EVERY SINGLE DAY AS WELL AS UTSA AND COLLECTING THAT DATA SO THAT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE, WHAT'S TRENDING, WHAT WE CAN GLEAN FROM IT, I FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOT REALLY GOOD EXPERTISE IN THIS SPACE.
AND, UM, ALTHOUGH I'M NOT A DATA SCIENTIST, I AM SOMEBODY WHO IS VERY FOCUSED ON PROVING A CASE RELATIVE TO THE DATA THAT IS GLEANED.
AND SO HOW WOULD THAT BE SHARED BACK WITH THE PARTNERS THAT FIND THIS? WE CAN CERTAINLY SHARE THAT BACK WITH YOU PUBLICLY.
'CAUSE I MEAN, I THINK IT'S GONNA BE FASCINATING AND I THINK IT'S GONNA BE UBER INFORMATIVE.
JUST RUN OVER TO THEIR OFFICE AND LOOK AT IT.
AND THEN AFTER THIS TRIAL PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS, JEFF, YOU KNOW YES.
I'M, I'M ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT THE RISKS THAT WE BRING UP, RIGHT? YES.
'CAUSE OF THE OPPORTUNITY THEY WERE BRINGING TOGETHER.
OR RESIDENTS, STUDENTS AND FACULTY HERE.
WHAT ARE, ARE YOUR THOUGHTS, TRISH AND, AND JEFF ON THE NEXT STEPS AFTER THIS PILOT PROJECT IS COMPLETED? WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU SAY THAT.
'CAUSE WE ARE ON A CALL EVERY SINGLE WEEK BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, OKAY, WHAT IS THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'RE GETTING? WHAT DOES THE DATA SAY? OR WHATEVER, WHAT ARE THE DRIVERS HEARING? SO WE'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE THINGS EVERY SINGLE WEEK AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS.
BUT WE JUST HAD A CONVERSATION YESTERDAY WHERE IT WAS LIKE THE NEXT PHONE CALL THAT WE HAVE NEEDS TO BE ABOUT HOW DO WE SUSTAIN THE PROGRAM ONCE THE PILOT IS OVER? SO WE'RE STILL, WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT ALREADY.
BECAUSE THE LAST THING THAT I WANNA DO FROM A MANAGING EXPECTATIONS REGARDING MICRO MOBILITY IN DOWNTOWN IS THAT THE, A ADOPTION RATE, UTILIZATION RATE IS OFF THE CHARTS AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE PULL UP STAKES AND MOVE OUT AND PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED? LIKE, I THOUGHT THIS WAS A COOL PLACE.
UM, AND WE WERE ABLE TO NAVIGATE AND MOVE AROUND DOWNTOWN IN A VERY EASY WAY.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S NOTHING THERE.
SO THERE ARE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS REGARDING
[01:25:01]
SUSTAINABLE FUNDING AND WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE HERE AT THE TABLE, WE OFFSET IT WITH ADVERTISING REVENUE, WHICH IS ALSO AN OPTION.BUT THERE'S ALSO FEDERAL GRANTS THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ACCESS ASSOCIATED WITH A LONGER TERM PROGRAM.
SO WE'RE INVESTIGATING EVERYTHING.
SO THEN IS THIS SOMETHING PRIOR TO OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS, UM, AND REVIEWING THE BUDGET, WE SHOULD HAVE A SENSE OF WHERE WE WOULD BE.
SO CAN WE DO THAT AT MIDPOINT SOMEWHERE AROUND JUNE? YEAH, SURE.
WE WANT TO DO IT AT MIDPOINT BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA HIT THE SUMMER AND THEN THAT'S GONNA SHIFT THE MARKET A GREAT DEAL.
AND I'LL, I'LL JUST TELL YOU THAT MY
BUT WE HAD AN ARRANGEMENT WITH A CONTRACTOR.
AND BECAUSE I, SOMETIMES I THINK IF YOU, IF, UH, IF YOU GO INTO SOFTLY, I'M NOT SAYING WE ARE
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, MY MY FEELING WAS THAT THE PILOT SHOULD GO THROUGH THE FULL FIRST SEMESTER OF YEAH.
AND THE PILOT WON'T QUITE DO THAT.
TALK, NOT THAT IT COULDN'T PROBABLY BE EXTENDED OR, OR WHATEVER, BUT YEAH.
BUT LISTEN, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT OVERALL CONVERSATION AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU ALL ARE A PART OF THE VERY BEGINNINGS OF THE MIX BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY HAD CONVERSATIONS IN SOUTH TOWN BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATED WITH SOUTHTOWN.
THEY WANT A CIRCULATOR MOVING OVER TO SOUTHTOWN THAT GOES TO THE PEARL.
YOU KNOW, JOHNNY WANTS ONE THAT GOES OBVIOUSLY OVER TO HIS RESTAURANT OVER AT ILLA, UH,
SO WE'RE THE VERY BEGINNING OF, I THINK, A MUCH BIGGER CONVERSATION REGARDING MICRO MOBILITY IN DOWNTOWN.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS WE'LL HAVE DATA AND WE'LL HAVE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO, WE'LL HAVE PROOF OF CONCEPT TO YOUR POINT, JEFF, TO BE ABLE TO SAY, HEY, LET'S DO THIS AND LET'S KEEP IT FUNDED.
UH, I JUST WANT TO, UH, SAY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING TO JEFF ABOUT FOR QUITE SOME TIME,
UH, BUT ONE OF THE IDEAS THAT, THAT WAS PRESENTED TO ME WHEN I FIRST TOOK THIS POSITION WAS HOW DO WE GET THE BUSES FROM DOWNTOWN? MM-HMM.
AND UH, FORTUNATELY WE DIDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THE MICRO MOBILITY AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME.
UH, SO I'M GLAD THAT, THAT Y'ALL WERE ABLE TO, TO, TO TAKE THAT ON AND THEN TO, FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HELP YOU.
UH, BUT I ALSO NOTICED IS THERE ANOTHER, UH, SYSTEM BEING USED IN, IN THE INNER CITY? 'CAUSE I SAW, I SAW SOME WHITE CARS.
SO THERE'S SOME, SOME INDEPENDENT OPERATORS THAT HAVE COME UP THAT, UM, THERE'S ACTUALLY THREE, THERE'S DUST, WHICH IS OPERATING.
I THINK THEY JUST, I GUESS, INCREASED THEIR FLEET TO ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN MM-HMM.
AND THEY'RE DOING LIKE NORTH ST.
MARY STREET INTO SOUTH TOWN UP UNTIL TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING MOVING THROUGH.
UM, AND THOSE ARE THE CRESWELL TOWING FOLKS.
THEY HAVE AN OPERATION CALLED DUST.
THEN YOU HAVE AN OPERATION CALLED EGO.
UM, I THINK THEY'VE GOT FOUR TO SIX.
THEY'RE BRANDED WITH EGO, BUT NOT A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER STUFF.
BUT THEY'RE THE WHITE VEHICLES THAT YOU SEE.
AND THEN YOU HAVE ESSAY GO THAT I STARTED WITH TWO VEHICLES THAT I THINK THEY'VE SCALED UP TO ABOUT SIX RIGHT NOW.
AND THEY'RE, I THINK THEM AND DESK ARE OPERATING BASED UPON ADVERTISING, UM, REVENUE, PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO PUT THEIR LOGO, RESTAURANTS, ET CETERA, UP ON THEIR CARTS.
BUT LIKE I SAID, WE TRY TO BE VERY SENSITIVE TO THOSE OPERATIONS IN WHERE OUR HOURS WERE AND NOT COMPETING WITH THEM IN THE SPACE, WHICH IS WHERE THEY EARN THEIR BREAD AND BUTTER, WHICH IS IN THE EVENING AND ON WEEKENDS.
SO NOW DOES UTSA DOWNTOWN CAMPUSES, 'CAUSE THEY GOT MORE THAN ONE NOW.
IT GOT CUT OFF THE, THE TIME LABEL, BUT IT, IT GOES TO 10 30 MONDAY.
MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY TILL 10 30.
I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT, WELL WHAT DO I GO HAPPEN POOR STUDENTS THAT NEEDS THAT TRANSPORTATION
SO ANYWAY, I WANNA THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND I CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU AND I KNOW VIA IS VERY EXCITED TO BE PARTNERING WITH YOU ALL AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING FOR OUR DOWNTOWN AREA.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH.
WELL, WE APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP.
OUR AMBASSADOR OPERATION FUNCTIONS MUCH LIKE YOUR DRIVERS, RIGHT?
WE'RE, WE'RE HOSPITALITY AMBASSADORS WHETHER YOU'RE ON A BUS OR WHETHER YOU'RE ON FOOT.
I THINK VICE CHAIR
JUST ONE MORE QUESTION ON COMMUNICATION.
ARE WE GONNA AMPLIFY THEIR, UH, SOCIAL, UH, YES.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE A PARTNER, RIGHT? SO, WE'LL, WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU ON THAT.
AND I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE BOARD THAT AT THE, AT THE EVENT THAT WE HAD, THAT I SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC THAT,
[01:30:01]
YOU KNOW, V HAS BEEN IN THE MICRO MOBILITY BUSINESS SINCE 2019 AND WE CURRENTLY SERVE MORE THAN 9,000 PASSENGER TRIPS A WEEK IN OUR MIC.IN OUR MICRO MOBILITY PROGRAM.
WE COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER NICELY.
UH, WE HAVE NOW REACHED THE, UH, OKAY.
UH, MS. ELDERS, DO WE HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING? NO, SIR, WE DO NOT.
TRUSTEES, WE'LL REACH THE END OF OUR MEETING.
I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND TO ADJOURN.
ANY OPPOSED DAY MOTION CARRIES THE VA MEETING.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TODAY.