[00:00:01]
EVENING EVERYONE.[1. Call to Order]
I AM BOARD CHAIR LAURA CABELLA.IT IS NOW 5:04 PM I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE AUGUST 26TH VIA BOARD MEETING.
LET'S BEGIN WITH ROLL CALL VICE CHAIR GOMEZ.
PRESENT, ASSISTANT SECRETARY COOPER.
TRUSTEE RENA PRESENT, TRUSTEE TWI.
UH, AT THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND PLEASE STAND
[2. Moment of Reflection, Pledge of Allegiance ]
FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND, UH, TEXAS FLAG.[3. Citizens to be Heard ]
TO BE HEARD.WE HAVE TWO CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO BE HEARD.
UH, WE NOW, WE NOW COME TO THIS.
THIS IS TO BE HEARD PORTION OF A PUBLIC MEETING.
THE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN HEARING THE COMMENTS AND CONCERNS FROM OUR PATRONS AND CITIZENS IN THE SAN ANTONIO BAYAR 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 QUESTION OR CONCERN.
AND VIA APPRECIATES YOU TAKING THE TIME AND EFFORT TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS WITH US THIS EVENING.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MS. MONICA LOPEZ.
I AM LEGALLY BLIND AND RAGING MY FAMILY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
LIKE MANY OTHER FAMILY IN OUR COMMUNITY, I DEPEND ON ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION TO LIVE AN INDEPENDENT LIFE.
I WAS APPROVED FOR VIATRAN, BUT BECAUSE OF MY HOME IS JUST OUTSIDE THE THREE QUARTER MILE BOUNDARY, I DON'T QUALIFY FOR THE SERVICE.
THAT SMALL LINE ON THE MAP MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE WITHOUT RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION, SIMPLE THINGS, GETTING MY SON TO SCHOOL, GOING TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, ATTENDING TO MEETINGS, BECOME DAILY STRUGGLES.
AND I, I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE.
MANY OTHERS WITH DISABILITY FACE THE SAME CHALLENGE.
I AM ASKING THE BOARD TO MAKE EXPANDING VIA TRANS A PRIORITY.
THIS IS ABOUT EQUITY AND SAFETY.
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES SHOULD NOT BE LEFT BEHIND JUST BECAUSE OF WHERE A BUS LINE ENDS.
PLEASE WORK WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY TO FIND SOLUTIONS.
SO EVERYONE WITHIN SAN ANTONIO CITY LIMITS CAN ASK US TO, VIA TRA.
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN ISOLATION AND UNSAFE ALTERNATIVES JUST BECAUSE OF WHERE THE BUS LINE HAPPENS TO END.
WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION IS THE BRIDGE TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.
EXPANDING VIATRAN IS NOT JUST A SERVICE IMPROVEMENT, IT'S AN INVESTMENT FOR DIGNITY AND INDEPENDENCE AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTOPHER FARLEY.
WE MAY CONCERN SINCE OUR LAST BOARD MEETING, WHICH I ATTENDED LAST TUESDAY, OCTOBER THE 22ND, 2024.
I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO LATELY BESIDES WORKING AT THE GYMS. RESTAURANT STORE NUMBER 10 ON NORTHEAST LOOP FOR 10 PAR BOTTLE.
I ALSO HAVE A SECOND JOB WORKING AT CRACKER BARREL, NINE MONTHS IN AND COUNTING ON JONES MOBERG NEAR WHERE THE OLD LOGAN'S ROADHOUSE USED TO BE, WHICH IS PLUCK OR SWING BAR.
NOW, I'M PRETTY SURE YOU ALL HAVE HEARD BY NOW THAT THE GYMS STORE NUMBER 10 ON STORE, STORE NUMBER 40 ON 1604 IN BANDERA HAS BEEN
[00:05:01]
PERMANENTLY CLOSED AS OF LAST TUESDAY, AUGUST THE 19TH BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION.THE GYMS ON I 10 AND HENER IS EVEN SLOWER.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOME GOOD FOOD, WHETHER IT'S BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNER OR DESSERT, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COME EITHER STORE NUMBER 10, WHERE I WORK AT IN THE MORNINGS OR AT CRACKER BARREL IN THE AFTERNOON EVENINGS.
I WORK WITH A WONDERFUL GROUP OF PEOPLE AT BOTH PLACES AND THEY WILL TAKE REALLY GREAT CARE OF YOU.
UH, ON OUR PERSONAL NOTE, I MIGHT BE IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING THIS COMING FRIDAY, AUGUST THE 29TH, 2025, FROM THE ICAHN APARTMENTS TO THE FLATS ON WAKEFIELD, WHICH IS LOCATED NEAR THE NORTH STAR MALL AND BEHIND SEA ISLAND.
ONCE I GET SAILED INTO MY NEW APARTMENT, I'LL UPDATE MY ADDRESS TO YOU.
THERE ARE NO OTHER CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
[4. President/CEO Report ]
MR. DIDA, A PRESIDENT.WE DO, WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A SHORT, UH, PRESENCE REPORT TODAY, BUT SHORT BUT EFFECTIVE.
UM, WHAT WE'RE GONNA HIGHLIGHT TODAY IS A, A NUMBER OF A NEW EX EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM, SOME PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY FOCUS ACTIVITIES THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED IN THE LAST MONTH.
FIRST WE'LL START OFF WITH, BEGINNING WITH, UM, JOHN.
I SEE JOHN B, WE CALL HIM JOHN B, UH, BUT IT'S, UH, BOLA BI BOLA BASIS, RIGHT? THAT'S IT.
YOU COULD SAY SANDY J JOHN B BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA READ BEGINNING WITH OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONAL OVERSIGHT AND EFFICIENCY.
JOHN BRINGS MORE THAN 25 YEARS OF OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP ACROSS BUSINESS AND TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRIES.
HIS DEEP EXPERIENCE IS ROOTED IN DRIVING CUSTOMER FOCUSED SERVICE WHILE FOSTERING HIGH PERFORMING TEAMS AT VIA, HE WILL OVERSEE OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES THAT ENABLE COLLABORATION AND ENSURE FISCAL EFFICIENCY, HIGH SERVICE QUALITY, AND STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH STAKEHOLDERS.
JOHN'S PASSION FOR CONTINUOUS IMPROVE AND LEADERSHIP WILL, WILL HELP US DELIVER EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE WHILE STRENGTHENING OUR ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE.
LET'S ALL WELCOME JOHN ABOARD.
THIS MONTH WE'RE ALSO GONNA CELEBRATE THE PROMOTION OF, OF KELLEN HUTTON.
HE IS NOW OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF FACILITY OF PASSENGERS AND AMENITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL KELLEN JOINED VIA IN 2020.
THAT 2020, IT FLEW BY KELLEN AS A CONTRACT AND SPECIFICATION COORDINATOR, AND QUICKLY PROGRESSED TO FLEET MANAGER, WHERE HE OVERSAW MAJOR PROJECTS AS THE VIA TRANS OPERATION CENTER AND THE DEPLOYMENT OF OUR ELECTRIC BUS CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
HIS PROMOTION REFLECTS OUR COMMITMENT TO DEVELOPING TALENT INTERNALLY AND ENSURING THAT OUR FACILITIES MEET THE HIGHEST STANDARDS FOR CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES ALIKE.
OH, LET ME, LEMME SWITCH THE, THE, THE SLIDE HERE, RACHEL.
SO THIS MONTH PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING RACHEL BENAVIDES, OUR VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGY AND SERVICE DELIVERY, WHO WAS HONORED EARLIER THIS MONTH BY THE SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS JOURNAL.
AT ITS ANNUAL WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP AWARDS, HONOREES ARE SELECTED FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO GIVING BACK THROUGH BOARD SERVICE AND VOLUNTEER WORK.
RACHEL EXEMPLIFIES THESE QUALITIES AND HER RECOGNITION UNDERSCORES OUR COMMITMENT TO NURTURING LEADERS WHILE STRENGTHENING OUR TIDES TO THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.
LET'S ALL CONGRATULATE RACHEL ON THIS WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION.
NEXT, WE HAVE SANDEEP AND I SEE SANDEEP IN, IN, IN THE AUDIENCE.
WE'RE POLICE TO ANNOUNCE THAT SANDEEP SIN, OUR VICE PRESIDENT OF SERVICE AND PLANNING AND SCHEDULING, HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO THE TRANSIT RESEARCH BOARD STANDING COMMITTEE ON TRANSIT SYSTEM PLANNING THROUGH APRIL, 2028.
HIS APPOINTMENT GIVES VIA ENSURES THAT WE STAY INFORMED OF OUR INNOVATIONS AND BEST PRACTICES TO ENHANCE OUR REGIONAL PLANNING EFFORTS.
THIS ACHIEVEMENT REFLECTS THE EXPERTISE OF, OF SANDEEP AND OUR ONGOING COMMITMENT TO THE INDUSTRY AND THE LEADERSHIP THAT HE'S, UM, HE'S HELPING US LEAD.
SO ALTOGETHER, LET'S, UH, CONGRATULATE SANDEEP.
I KNOW MARELA AT LEAST SHE WASN'T HERE A LITTLE WHILE AGO.
I THINK SHE'S ACTUALLY OUT AT V TALK, UM, DOING SOME WORK.
[00:10:01]
WE'RE PROUD TO ALSO, UH, CELEBRATE MARI, UH, MARISELA DS WELLS, WHO SERVED AS A MENTOR ON THE WTS CAPITAL SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON, DC.AS PART OF THE TRANSPORTATION U PROGRAM, SHE GUIDED 45 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND THE INTERSECTION OF TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND PUBLIC SERVICE.
HER DEDICATION EXEMPLIFIES VIAS COMMITMENT TO MENTORSHIP, EDUCATION, AND SHAPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF TRANSPORTATION LEADERS.
THANK YOU, MARTY, FOR FURTHER DEVELOPING OUR FUTURE PROFESSIONALS.
NOW DO WE HAVE DARRELL JORDAN? THERE HE IS.
SO DARRELL IS OUR STAR AWARD HONOREE FOR AUGUST, A FACILITY MAINTENANCE LEADER WHO EXEMPLIFIES DEDICATION AND SERVICE.
DARRELL TRANSFORMED A 700 SQUARE FOOT AREA INTO A MODERN OFFICE SPACE UNDER A TIGHT DEADLINE, DEMONSTRATING RESOURCEFULNESS AND TEAMWORK.
THIS PROJECT SHOWCASES LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO WORKING COLLABORATIVELY, COLLABORATIVELY IN MAINTAINING A GREAT POSITIVE ATTITUDE.
WE APPRECIATE HIS HARD WORK AND FOR THE REMAINDER, UH, AND FOR THE REMINDER THAT EXCELLENCE AT VIA COMES FROM DEDICATION OF OUR EMPLOYEES, UH, LIKE DARREL IN EVERY ROLE.
THANK YOU DARREL, AND CONGRATULATIONS.
NEXT WE'RE GONNA CONCLUDE OUR, UH, PRESENTATION WITH, UH, HIGHLIGHTING A MOMENT WHERE WE ASKED, UM, OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM TO GO OUT AND CELEBRATE WITH OUR CUSTOMERS, UH, THE MOST RECENT INVESTMENTS THAT WE HAVE DONE IN OUR SYSTEM.
AS A REMINDER TO THE BOARD, UH, TRUSTEES, UH, THIS PAST AUGUST 18TH, WE, UH, WE CELEBRATED, OR WE STARTED THE, THE AUGUST TRANCHE OF INVESTMENTS IN OUR SYSTEM.
WE'RE IMPROVING THE SYSTEM, UH, WITH A NUMBER OF, OF, OF SERVICE ADJUSTMENTS AND SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS, UH, COINCIDING WITH THAT, WE ASKED FOR OUR EMT, OUR EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM, UH, TO GO AND, AND, AND, UH, IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN THESE IMPROVEMENTS, UH, AND TALK TO, TALK TO OUR RIDERS, TALK TO OUR CUSTOMERS, AND EXPERIENCE WHAT THEY EXPERIENCE ON A DAILY BASIS.
UH, SOME PHOTOS HERE OF THAT, UH, THAT WAS HAPPENING ON THAT DAY.
TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FEEDBACK, OF COURSE THAT WAS HAPPENING FROM THE EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM.
FROM THAT, SO MUCH SO THAT WE'RE GONNA DO THIS MORE OFTEN AND NOT LESS OFTEN, UH, BECAUSE IT IS INDEED A MOMENT FOR ALL OF US TO, UH, CAPTURE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CUSTOMER FOR OUR SYSTEM.
UH, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR EMT GROUP, UH, FOR THIS INITIATIVE AND, UH, AND RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE THAT IT IS FOR OUR, OUR AGENCY.
AND WITH THAT MADAM CHAIR, UH, THAT CONCLUDES OUR, UH, PRE TO PREJUDICE REPORT.
AND, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED.
AND ARE WE GONNA DO A PICTURE THERE? STAR AWARD? YES.
THE STAR AWARD PICTURE? ABSOLUTELY.
AND, UH, WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE THE STAR AWARD.
DARRYL, YOU WANT TO COME ON UP AND, UH, WE'LL DO THAT HERE, RIGHT UP THERE WE ARE.
[00:15:33]
ALL RIGHT.AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO JOHN KELLEN'S AND DEEP MARTY AND DARRELL FOR THEIR RECOGNITION.
UH, AND I APPRECIATE, UH, THE UPDATE ON, UH, THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM TAKING THAT.
SO, UH, I MIGHT NEED TO TAKE ONE, UH, PAGE OUT OF THAT NOTEBOOK AND PERHAPS DO AN ADVENTURE WITH THE BOARD, UM, SOMETIME SOON.
THAT WAY WE CAN DO THAT AS WELL.
SO MAYBE WE CAN COORDINATE THAT AT THE NEXT TIME.
THAT WE, UH, WE HAD SOME EXCITING, UH, JANUARY COMING AROUND FOR SURE.
OF SOME BIG CHANGES COMING TO OUR SYSTEM, BUT EVEN BEFORE THEN WE CAN SCHEDULE THAT UP.
[5. Consent Agenda]
TRUSTEES, WE'RE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE, CONSENT AGENDA.DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING ANY OF THE AGENDA ITEMS LISTED? IF NOT, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE, PLEASE? SO, MOVE I SECOND A MOTION.
THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED.
[6. Financial Updates]
FINANCIAL UPDATES.IT'S NOW MY FAVORITE PART OF THE AGENDA.
I'M JERMAINE CHUBB, VP OF FISCAL MANAGEMENT.
I THINK I WAS THROWN OFF BY THAT.
UH, FAVORITE, UH, PART OF THE AGENDA? I'M JERMAINE CHUBB, THE VP OF FISCAL MANAGEMENT AND, UH, CFO
AND I'LL BE PRESENTING THE, UH, FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS HERE.
UH, LOOKING OVER AT OUR BALANCE SHEET HERE, OUR TOTAL ASSETS AND DEFERRED OUT FLOWS OF RESOURCES AT 1.264 BILLION.
THEY'RE $48.4 MILLION, OR 3.7% LOWER THAN THE, UH, PRIOR FISCAL YEAR END.
UH, WHEN WE LOOK OVER, AND I NEED THE POINTER HERE, I'M SORRY, HERE.
SO I'M HAVING ISSUE WITH THE, UH, ACTUAL POINTER HERE.
WE GOT SOME HELP ON THIS WAY? YEAH.
YOU KNOW, SO I'M JUST, I'M JUST GONNA TALK THROUGH IT HERE RATHER THAN DO WHAT I INTENDED TO DO HERE.
SO THE CURRENT ASSETS ARE DOWN $17.3 MILLION, AND THIS IS DUE TO OVERALL SPENDING.
SO THE CURRENT ASSETS ARE DOWN, UH, 17.3 MILLION DUE TO OVERALL SPENDING ON KS A M AND OVERALL AGENCY SPEND.
UH, THIS IS PARTIALLY OFFSET BY INCREASE IN OUR FEDERAL GRANTS OF, UH, 27.2 MILLION.
OUR NON-CURRENT ASSETS ARE UP BY 1.5 MILLION, AND THIS IS DUE TO AN INCREASE IN OUR A TD RESTRICTED CASH FOR, UM, CONSTRUCTION.
OUR CAPITAL ASSETS ARE DOWN 7.5 MILLION DUE TO, UH, THIS IS JUST NORMAL DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION OF, UH, 59.8 MILLION.
AND THAT'S PARTIALLY OFFSET BY AN INCREASE IN OUR CONSTRUCTION AND PROGRESS OR CAPITAL ASSETS THAT WE'RE BUILDING UP.
52.3 MILLION AND DEFERRED OUTFLOWS OF RESOURCES ARE DOWN BY 25 MILLION DUE TO, UM, MONTHLY AMORTIZATION OF OUTFLOWS AND PENSION, UH, FOR PENSION AND OPE, OUR TOTAL LIABILITIES AND, UH, DEFERRED INFLOWS AT 524.3 MILLION ARE DOWN BY 60.3 MILLION OR, UH, 10.3%.
OUR CURRENT LIABILITIES ARE DOWN BY 17.2 MILLION, AND THIS IS DUE TO REDUCTION IN ACCOUNTS PAYABLE OF 19.6 MILLION AND BONDS PAYABLE OF, UH, 13 MILLION, WHICH ARE PARTIALLY OFFSET BY INCREASES IN OUTSTANDING, UH, PAYABLES OF 7.2 MILLION.
NOW, LONG-TERM LIABILITIES, THEY'RE DOWN 21.6 MILLION, AND THIS IS PRIMARILY DUE TO, UH, DECREASES IN LEASE LIABILITIES AND BOND PREMIUMS. ALSO, OUR DEFERRED INFLOWS OF RESOURCES, THEY'RE DOWN 21.4 MILLION.
AND THIS IS RELATED TO AMORTIZATION OF PENSION AND OPE UH, BENEFITS.
LOOKING OVER HERE AT OUR TREASURY OVERVIEW, OUR CASH RESERVE STOOD AT 657.8 MILLION.
THIS IS DOWN, UH, 8.3 MILLION COMPARED TO THE, UH, PREVIOUS MONTH.
YOU CAN SEE HERE OUR ACTUAL DAYS, CASH ON HAND STOOD AT A 480 DAYS, AND SO DOWN FOUR DAYS, BUT AGAIN, WELL ABOVE THE, UH, POLICY REQUIREMENT THAT WE HAVE OF 120
[00:20:01]
DAYS.SO, REALLY DOING GREAT FROM A CASH RESERVE STANDPOINT.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE DAY'S CASH ON HAND, THAT'S LOOKING AT OUR UNRESTRICTED RESERVES.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR INTEREST EARNED FOR THE, UH, YEAR, SO YEAR TO DATE, UH, ACTUAL STOOD AT 24.8 MILLION WELL ABOVE, UH, BUDGET TO THIS, UH, POINT OF 16.2, WE'RE PROJECTING TO END THE YEAR AT 29.2 MILLION.
AND SO THAT'S, UH, 13 MILLION, UH, ABOVE THE, UM, I'M SORRY, THAT'S, UH, 9.8 MILLION ABOVE THE, UH, BUDGET THERE.
SO DOING GOOD DUE TO ADDITIONAL CASH RESERVES.
AND THEN THE, UM, INTEREST RATE EARNINGS ARE HIGHER THAN WHAT WE BUDGETED FOR AS WELL.
AND SO REALLY DOING GOOD ON THE INTEREST EARNED THERE AS WELL.
LOOKING HERE AT OUR, UH, INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR YEAR TO DATE, UH, REVENUES FOR JULY, THEY'RE STANDING, UH, 328 MILLION UP 23.4 MILLION OR 7.7% AGAINST THE BUDGET.
OUR GRANT REVENUES ARE DOWN 23.9 MILLION DUE TO, UH, 53 0 7 FORMULA GRANTS EXHAUSTED FOR THE YEAR.
OTHER GRANTS ARE PENDING APPROVAL.
AND THEN WE HAVE SOME, UH, PROJECT DELAYS.
OUR CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE UP, UH, 39.3 MILLION DUE TO AN INCREASE IN PROJECT REIMBURSABLE EXPENSES VERSUS OUR BUDGET.
AND OTHER REVENUE IS UP BY $9 MILLION, MAINLY DUE TO HIGHER INVESTMENT INCOME COSTS BY HIGHER RESERVES.
AND, UH, INTEREST RATES THAT WE DISCUSSED A MOMENT AGO.
UH, EXPENSES ARE DOWN BY 9.2 MILLION OR 3.5%.
THIS IS DUE TO LABOR INFRINGES, WHICH ARE DOWN BY 7.2 MILLION, DUE TO A DECREASE IN, UH, PENSION EXPENSES.
UH, THAT'S CAUSED BY FAVORABLE EARNINGS ON OUR ASSETS IN THE, UH, PENSION PLAN.
AND THEN OUR SERVICES ARE DOWN 6.8 MILLION.
AND THIS IS DUE TO A DELAY IN OUR SECOND O AND M FACILITY, PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND SILVER LINE, UM, SPIN, UH, MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES ARE ACTUALLY UP BY $3.7 MILLION DUE TO HIGHER COST RELATED TO FLEET MAINTENANCE, AND OTHER IS DOWN BY $0.7 MILLION DUE TO LOWER COST OF TRAVEL AND TRAINING.
LOOKING AT OUR SALES TAX PERFORMANCE, WE STARTED TO DO A, A VIEW OF THE, UH, ROLLING 12 MONTHS AND THEN THE YEAR OVER YEAR, UH, VIEW FOR COMPARISON FOR, UH, SALES TAXES.
AND SO, UH, LOOKING AT HERE THE PAST 12 MONTHS, SALES TAXES HAVE ACTUALLY GROWN BY 3.5% ON THAT, UM, LAST ROLLING 12 MONTH BASIS.
AND SO THIS IS, UH, SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN WHAT WE BUDGETED FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 AT 3.4%.
WHEN WE LOOKED AT THIS LAST MONTH, THE, UH, 12 MONTHS WERE ACTUALLY UP BY ABOUT 2.4%.
AND SO AT 3.5%, WE'RE DOING MUCH BETTER, LOOKING TO GROW TO, UH, WHAT HISTORICALLY WE'VE HAD IN THE PREVIOUS 10 YEARS OF, UH, 5.3% OR SO AT THAT 3.5% RANGE.
WE'RE STILL BELOW HISTORICAL, UH, GROWTH LEVELS HERE.
UH, REASONS BEING, UH, THERE'S STILL A DECLINE IN OUR JOB GROWTH HERE.
WE HAVE AN INCREASE IN UNEMPLOYMENT, DEC DECLINE IN CUST, UH, CONSUMER SENTIMENT DECLINING IN INFLATION RATES, AND A DECLINE IN THE, UH, OVERALL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT.
AND SO LOOKING TO SEE SOME RECOVERY FROM THIS, UM, THESE DECLINES HERE, GOING OVER TO THE, UH, PERFORMANCE DASHBOARD FOR BUS, OUR COMPLAINTS, MECHANICAL RELIABILITY, AND ON TIME PERFORMANCE, THEY'RE BETTER THAN TARGET AND PERFORMING BETTER THAN THE, UH, PRIOR FISCAL YEAR.
OUR WEEKDAY RIDERSHIP AND COST EFFECTIVENESS.
OUR WITHIN TARGET RANGE THROUGH JULY, 2025 COLLISIONS ARE, UH, BETTER THAN TARGET RANGE THROUGH JULY.
THERE WERE, UH, 19 REPORTED BUS COLLISIONS THROUGH JULY, OF WHICH NINE WERE PREVENTABLE, AND 10 WERE NINE PREVENTABLE.
LOOKING AT, UH, VIA TRANS HERE, OUR WEEKDAY RIDERSHIP COLLISIONS, MECHANICAL RELIABILITY AND COST EFFECTIVENESS ARE BETTER THAN TARGET.
WEEKDAY RIDERSHIP IS BETTER THAN THE PRIOR YEAR ON TIME PERFORMANCE AND COMPLAINTS, UH, WITHIN THE, UH, TARGET RANGE.
AND THEN FINALLY HERE, LOOKING AT THE, UH, VIA LINK DASHBOARD, OUR AVERAGE MONTHLY RIDERSHIP ON TIME PERFORMANCE AND COST EFFECTIVENESS ARE BETTER THAN TARGET AND DOING BETTER THAN THE, UH, PRIOR YEAR.
AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION INDEX STANDS AT, UH, 4.82 FOR JULY.
SO, MADAM CHAIR, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU AND THE BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK.
TRUSTEES, ANY QUESTIONS HERE? I HAVE A QUESTION.
TRUSTEE UA, IF WE CAN GO BACK TO THAT INCOME STATEMENT, REAL QUICK SLIDE.
I JUST WANT TO, UH, ILLUSTRATE THAT THE, THE BIG DIFFERENCE HERE IS THE CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS NOT BEING INCLUDED IN THE 2025 BUDGET, RIGHT? MM-HMM
CAN YOU EXPLAIN, UH, THAT, AND IT, THERE'S A NOTE ON THE BOTTOM THAT SAYS IT'S PART OF A FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL FORECAST.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ILLUSTRATE THAT WE'RE STILL PERFORMING VERY WELL, EVEN THOUGH WE SHOW A 90.5, UH, UH, $90.5 MILLION CHANGE IN NET POSITION VERSUS LAST YEAR'S ACTUALS.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE UNDERPERFORMING, IT'S JUST THAT THAT CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION IS NO LONGER THERE.
THE CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION, WHICH WAS A KNOWN NUMBER AS WELL, AUDREY LIKES TO POINT THIS OUT AND SHE CORRECTLY POINTS THIS OUT.
IT, IT, IT'S A KNOWN NUMBER WE JUST DIDN'T BUDGET FOR HISTORICALLY.
AND SO WE STARTED SHOWING THIS VIEW, UH, TO THE BOARD.
[00:25:01]
WE DON'T SHOW THAT NUMBER BECAUSE IT WASN'T BUDGETED FOR, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE PLAN TO ADDRESS GOING FORWARD.AND THEN LABOR INFRINGES IS OBVIOUSLY GOING UP AS A COST.
IS THAT JUST NORMAL INFLATION IN, UH, ON YOUR EXPENSES? ON YOUR FIRST, UH, THE LABOR INFRINGES NUMBER, IT WAS 185.
SO WHAT WE'RE COMMUNICATING HERE, IF YOU LOOK AT IT VERSUS BUDGET, IT'S ACTUALLY DOWN VERSUS BUDGET.
AND WE'RE DOING FAVORABLE ON OUR PENSION PLAN, UH, ASSETS BECAUSE WE HAVE FAVORABLE EARNINGS.
AND SO THAT, UH, HAS THE EFFECT OF REDUCING OUR PENSION EXPENSE FOR THE YEAR.
AND THAT'S ACTUALLY AMORTIZED OVER FIVE YEARS.
AND SO ASSUMING EVERYTHING IS STEADY OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, WE'LL SEE LOWER EXPENSES THAN WE HAD, UM, PREDICTED OTHERWISE BEFORE WE HAD THAT, UH, FAVORABLE EARNINGS LAST YEAR.
YEAH, I ACTUALLY FLAGGED THE MATERIAL AND SUPPLIES JUST BECAUSE, UH, I GUESS OF SUPPLY DEMAND, UM, THE, THE COSTS OUT THERE FOR, UM, YEAH.
EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT'S OUR FLEETING FACILITIES AND, AND REALLY THAT, THAT GROUP HAS HAD A RUN RATE THAT HAD EXCEEDED OUR BUDGET FOR THE YEAR.
AND SO WE BUDGETED A LOWER, A LOWER NUMBER FOR THEM ATTEMPTING TO PUSH DOWN THE COST IN THAT, UH, PARTICULAR GROUP.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE COST YEAR OVER YEAR, IT IS STILL IN LINE WITH THEIR RUN RATE.
AND SO WE DID MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENT FOR THAT IN OUR FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET.
AND, AND MADAM CHAIR AND, AND, AND ED'S BACK THERE AND, AND, UM, OUR, OUR BUS WHISPER AS, AS WE CALL HIM, UM, BUT HE IS STARTING TO HEAR, UH, THE T WORD FROM SOME VENDORS AND IT'S THE TARIFF WORD.
UH, SO THAT IS INDEED SOMETHING WE'RE MONITORING.
'CAUSE THAT'LL FLOW THROUGH RIGHT AT, AT THIS POINT HERE.
UH, BUT WE'LL KEEP, WE'LL KEEP THE BOARD APPRISED OF, OF, OF WHAT THAT WORKS OUT TO BE.
AND I JUST, UH, GO BACK TO A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WHEN WE WERE GETTING OUR ANALYSIS FROM, UH, DAVID, RIGHT? YEP.
WHAT IS, WHAT IS HIS, UH, COIN THERE? IF YOU'RE ASKING FOR ME TO FORECAST, ASK ME AGAIN TOMORROW.
I'LL GIVE YOU A DIFFERENT THAT GIVES ANSWER, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UM, BEFORE WE GO ON TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, UM, I DID WANNA RECOGNIZE RACHEL, I MISSED YOU EARLIER ON MY COMMENT.
SO CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR, UH, WOMEN, UH, BUSINESS AWARDS WITH THE BUSINESS JOURNAL.
IT'S A EXTRAORDINARY AFFAIR FOR AN EMPLOYEE TO BE RECOGNIZED AT THAT LEVEL, UH, FOR THE SAN ANTONIO BUSINESS JOURNAL.
[7. VIA's Training and Development Update on Retention]
RIGHT.NUMBER SEVEN, VIA, UH, VIA TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT UPDATE ON RETENTION, UH, MR. KAGAN AND MS. BENAVIDES.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR FOR YOUR KIND REMARKS.
TRUSTEES, MY NAME IS RACHEL BENAVIDEZ.
I'M VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGY AND SERVICE DELIVERY HERE AT VIA.
AND YOU KNOW, MY COLLEAGUE SEAN KAGAN, VICE PRESIDENT OF SAFETY TRAINING AND SYSTEM SECURITY, THANK YOU FOR INVITING THIS CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSION ON THE STRENGTH OF OUR TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND PLANS TO ENHANCE AND IMPROVE THAT PROGRAM.
THE ROLE OF THE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION IS TO CREATE SAFE SERVICE PROVIDERS.
THEY ARE THE ENGINES THAT DRIVE HIGH PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
THE IMPACT OF THESE PROGRAMS CAN BE SEEN IN OUR MOST DECORATED OPERATORS, AND I'LL POINT SPECIFICALLY TO THE MILLION MILE CLUB AND THE KAPLAN SAFE DRIVER AWARD.
THESE ARE NATIONAL PROGRAMS, RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING SAFE SERVICE DELIVERY AMONG BUS AND VAN OPERATORS.
FOR CONTEXT, A BUS AND VAN OPERATOR OR VAN OPERATOR MUST HAVE 12 AND A HALF YEARS WITHOUT A PREVENTABLE ACCIDENT TO BE IN THE 1 MILLION MILE CLUB, 25 AND A HALF YEARS FOR THE TWO, FOR THE 2 MILLION MILE CLUB.
AND 37 AND A HALF YEARS FOR THE 3 MILLION MILE CLUB IN OUR HISTORY.
VIA HAS ENTERED 361 OPERATORS IN THE MILLION MILE CLUB, 1,000,077 IN THE 2,000,003 OPERATORS IN THE 3 MILLION MILE CLUB.
IN 2024 ALONE, WE ADDED 70 OPERATORS TO THESE RANKS.
AND IN THIS YEAR, WE EXPECT TO HONOR 111 NEW MEMBERS WITH 79, ACCOMPLISHING THE 1 MILLION MARK 12, THE 2 MILLION MARK IN THREE IN THE 3 MILLION MARK.
THESE IMPRESSIVE METRICS POINT TO THE STRENGTH AND SUCCESS OF V'S TRAINING PROGRAM.
AND ITS FOCUS ON SAFE SERVICE DELIVERY AND OUTCOMES THAT ARE ALSO FOUNDATIONAL TO MAINTAINING HIGH STANDARDS FOR COMPLIANCE, EMPLOYEE AND SYSTEM SAFETY, CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, AND OTHER KEY SAFETY METRICS.
NOW MY COLLEAGUE SEAN, WILL TELL US MORE ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING SOME UPCOMING ENHANCEMENTS DESIGNED FOR, TO DELIVER EVEN BETTER OUTCOMES.
THIS FINAL SLIDE HIGHLIGHTS SOME NEW AND SOME EXISTING INITIATIVES WE'VE IMPLEMENTED IN THE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF OUR SAFE SERVICE OPERATORS WITH THE GOAL OF IMPROVING STUDENT OPERATOR EXPERIENCE, INCREASING RETENTION, AND IMPROVING GRADUATION PERFORMANCE.
[00:30:01]
OUR CON UH, OUR MONTHLY PERFORMANCE OF COACHING SESSIONS WITH INSTRUCTORS, IDENTIFYING THE HIGH PERFORMING INSTRUCTORS AND SEE WHAT WORK AND IDENTIFYING THOSE AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT.WE ARE ASKING MORE FROM OUR INSTRUCTORS, COMING IN EARLY, STAYING LATE, INCREASING THE COUNSELING IN THE ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS WITH THESE BUS STUDENT OPERATORS TO IDENTIFY ANY RISKY BEHIND THE WHEEL OR CLASSROOM BEHAVIORS THAT MAY IMPACT THEM FROM GRADUATING.
AND WITH THIS EXTRA EFFORT, WE, UH, CREATED A INSTRUCTOR INCENTIVE PROGRAM THAT REWARDS THEM FOR ACHIEVING HIGH, UH, GRADUATION MEASURES.
UH, THE TRANSFER PORTAL OPPORTUNITY, THAT'S A WIN WIN WIN FOR BOTH OUR STUDENT OPERATORS HR AND THE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WHERE, UH, WITHIN REASON, IF AN OPERATOR CAN CANNOT TEMPORARILY CONTINUE ON WITH THE TRAINING PROGRAM, THEY COULD FALL BACK OR TRANSFER TO A FALL IN CLASS AND PICK UP THEIR TRAINING PROGRAM FROM THERE.
UH, HISTORICALLY, THAT OPERATOR WILL HAVE TO LEAVE THE TRAINING PROGRAM, LEAVE THE AGENCY AND GET HIRED BACK ON.
BUT NOW, WITHIN REASON AND WITHIN MEASURES, UH, THEY'RE ABLE TO, UH, TRANSFER BACK TO ONE OR TWO CLASSES AND PICK UP WHERE THEY'RE, UH, PICK UP FROM, UH, ALLOWING US TO RETAIN THAT OPERATOR AND, UH, AND THEN AND IMPROVE FROM THEIR CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE.
UH, PERFORMANCE TRACKING AUTOMATION, WE'RE LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY, AUTOMATING PROCESSES, UH, THAT CREATE THAT ALLOWS US TO MAKE BETTER DATA, D DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS AND, UH, AND, AND SUPPORT OUR OPERATORS BETTER.
WE'RE, WE'RE QUICKLY, UH, CAN ENHANCE FEEDBACK FORMS FROM OPERATORS, IDENTIFY, UH, THOSE CHALLENGING PROBLEMS THEY HAVE DURING THEIR, THEIR TESTING PROGRAM AND GIVE THAT FEEDBACK TO THE OPERATOR.
SO WE'RE DEFINITELY BECOMING A MORE INFORMED, UH, TRAINING DEPARTMENT AND MILESTONE CELEBRATIONS FROM THE TIME THEY'RE ONBOARD.
WE REALLY WANT TO RECOGNIZE THESE OPERATORS FOR ALL THEY'VE ACCOMPLISHED.
THE TRAINING PROGRAM IS A 13 WEEK PROGRAM WITH EIGHT OF THOSE WEEKS, SIX DAYS A WEEK.
SO FROM EACH PART OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM, FROM THE TIME THEY OBTAIN THEIR CDL PASSION, THEIR ENDORSEMENT, THEIR DPS EXAMS UP TO GRADUATION, WE REALLY WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM, UH, INCREASE THAT, UH, RETENTION, INCREASE THAT GRADUATION RATE, AND MAKE THEM A, A, A LONG TIME EMPLOYEE OF VIA.
AND WITH THAT, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, TRUSTEE TO WILL? HI.
THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
I, I GOT REALLY EXCITED, UM, HEARING ABOUT THE PROGRAM.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY INNOVATIVE TO, UM, TO LOOK AT THE PROGRAM, SPECIFICALLY THE TRANSFER PORTAL OPPORTUNITY AND TO COME BACK.
I SAW, UH, TRUSTEE REYNA AND I, WE BOTH KIND OF PERKED UP AT THE SAME EXACT TIME.
UM, BUT CAN YOU GIVE US SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFICALLY ON WHEN THEY ARE WITHDRAWING FROM THE PROGRAM, THE, THE FIRST TIME OR THAT ONE TIME, AND SO WHEN THEY COME BACK, ARE THEY TELLING YOU WHY THEY WITHDREW? AND IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS, I GUESS, SOMETHING THAT VIA CAN CONTROL, ARE WE LOOKING INTO THOSE, UM, CHANGES? SO, BUT THIS IS REALLY COOL.
IT'S SUCH AN INNOVATIVE AND, AND INEXPENSIVE WAY TO REINCORPORATE THEM.
ONE OF THE FIRST HURDLES THAT MOST BUS OPERATORS GET IS GETTING THERE, OBTAINING THEIR CDL PASSENGER ENDORSEMENT.
UM, WHEN THEY DO NOT OBTAIN THAT, IS EITHER BECAUSE THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL IN PASSING THE TEST, OR THEY JUST DID, DID NOT PURSUE GETTING THE TEST.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE TIME TO TRANSFER, GIVING THEM AN EXTRA WEEK TO ACHIEVE THAT AND OBTAIN THAT CDL PASSING THEIR ENDORSEMENT.
NOW THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM, UM, WE'VE BEEN INCREASING OUR COUNSELING SESSIONS TO IDENTIFY THOSE WEAKNESSES ON WHAT, WHAT'S FAILING THEM, WHETHER IT COULD, A LOT OF IT COULD BE PERSONAL, UH, CHALLENGES, WHETHER IT'S TRANSPORTATION, UH, AND AS IF THEY DO HAVE TO EXIT THE PROGRAM, WE CAPTURE THAT IN THE EXIT, UH, INTERVIEW ON WHY THEY'RE EXITING THE PROGRAM.
UH, UNDERSTANDING THAT, UH, A BUS, NOT EVERYBODY'S CUT OUT TO BE A BUS OPERATOR, NOT EVERYBODY.
IT IS A CHALLENGING BUT REWARDING OPPORTUNITY.
UH, BUT DEFINITELY WE, UH, ENHANCE THE PROGRAM.
A LOT OF IT IS MENTALLY, UH, GIVING THEM THE SUPPORT AND TELLING THEM THEY CAN DO THIS.
UH, BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS WHY, UH, A, A STUDENT OPERATOR MAY HAVE TO EXIT THE PROGRAM.
AND IF TRAMELL CAN ELABORATE MORE ON THAT, UH, HE SURE CAN
AND SO, UH, IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF, UH, WHAT WE CALL, UH, LIFE SITUATIONS THAT REAR THEIR HEAD.
UH, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE PERFORMING WELL IN A PROGRAM AND THEY HAVE A FAMILY MATTER THEY HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF MM-HMM
UM, AND SO THEY HAVE TO SEPARATE.
AND SO WE KIND OF, ALMOST LIKE A, A NETFLIX MOVIE, WE CAN PAUSE MM-HMM
UH, THEIR PERFORMANCE IS STANDARD AND, AND THE INTEGRITY THAT THEY LEFT AT AND JUST RESUME, UH, WHEN THEY'RE READY TO COME
[00:35:01]
BACK, UH, THAT, THAT'S WORKED SUCCESSFULLY WORKED WITH HR TEAM AND OTHERS.BUT, UH, THERE'S JUST A, AN ENTIRE DIFFERENT CURRENT OF, UH, EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THEY'RE NOT ALONE.
UH, AND THERE'S MORE WAYS THAT, THAT WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT GETTING TO A YES AND GETTING TOWARDS, UH, THE PROGRAM COMPLETION.
SO, SO A LOT OF GOOD ENERGY RIGHT NOW.
UH, THAT JUST, ALL THAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY.
MOSTLY BECAUSE, UM, SO NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW THIS.
I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY ONE OF THE ONLY ONES.
BUT MY FATHER WAS AN OPERATOR.
UH, I'M NOT GONNA AGE HIM OR, UH, MR. BROWN.
SO, BUT THEY WERE IN THIS, I BELIEVE Y'ALL WERE IN THE SAME CLASS AND OR Y'ALL STARTED AROUND THE SAME TIME.
UM, SO I'M NOT GONNA AGE IT, BUT, UH, YEAH, YOU DID.
UM, BUT SERIOUSLY, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I REMEMBER HAVING TO SIT OUTSIDE WHILE MY DAD WAS GETTING HIS TRAINING.
SO I JUST, I THINK THIS IS JUST SO WONDERFUL.
UM, AND I ALWAYS SAY A SMALL LITTLE THING BEFORE I COME IN TO ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT WE ARE WORKING FOR THE DIGNITY OF THE PEOPLE.
UM, AND SO I REALLY JUST, TO ME, THIS IS COMPLETELY IT.
AND SO I JUST, I'M GETTING REALLY A LITTLE EMO 'CAUSE IT'S REALLY WONDERFUL KNOWING THAT IT'S JUST THAT LITTLE BIT THAT WE CAN HELP THEM OUT AND ACHIEVE SOME GOALS.
I CAN'T, CAN'T SAY THAT MUCH BETTER, UH, THAN TRUSTEE TWELL DID, BUT JUST WANNA LET THE RECORD REFLECT HOW AWESOME THIS IS.
AND JUST SPECIFICALLY TO THE TRANSFER PORTAL.
UM, I THINK IT'S JUST MEETING OUR, OUR FOLKS WHERE THEY ARE, RIGHT? IT'S, IT'S VERY MUCH A HUMAN CENTERED WAY TO, TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT INNOVATION.
MY QUESTIONS ARE JUST RELATED TO CONVERSION RATES, WHICH YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME NOW, BUT JUST IN THE NEAR FUTURE, LIKE HOW, AGAIN, HOW MANY OF THE FOLKS ARE, ARE WE LETTING IN THAT ARE NOT MAKING IT OUT? HOW MANY ARE COMING BACK? WHAT'S THE RECIDIVISM RATE KIND OF, AND THEN WHAT IS OUR CONVERSION RATE FOR FINISHING? AND JUST CONTINUING TO PICK AT THE, THE LITTLE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.
SO I APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S HARD WORK.
YES, I AGREE WITH, UH, MY COLLEAGUES OVER HERE.
IS IT, UH, CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US WHAT KIND OF COMPENSATION THEY RECEIVE DURING THE TRAINING PERIOD? OR DO THEY GET ANY COMPENSATION? UH, THEY GET REGULAR COMPENSATION FROM BEING A BUS OPERATOR.
SO FROM THE TIME THEY, UH, COME IN AS A STUDENT OPERATOR, UH, THEY GETTING FULL-TIME, UH, A BUS OPERATOR PAY RATE.
AND, AND EXPLAIN THE BONUS AS WELL.
'CAUSE THE BONUS IS PAID OUT, I THINK OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
WHAT? THE BONUS SAT, UH, I'M NOT AS CLEAR ON THE BONUS.
SATORI, DO YOU KNOW THE BONUS REAL QUICK? PAID OUT IN THREE PARTS, A THOUSAND DOLLARS EACH PART, UH, AFTER 90 DAYS.
UH, AND THEN WHEN THEY START, AND THEN I COULDN'T HEAR THE LAST ONE, BUT, UH, THEY, THEY GET A DECENT BONUS.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
NUMBER ONE, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE VIA OPERATORS FOR WHAT YOU PRESENTED ON, UM, UH, WHICH WAS MEETING THAT MILLION DOLLAR MARK, 2 MILLION AND 3 MILLION.
UH, AND, AND I, I HOPE WE CAN CELEBRATE THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT MAKE, UH, THOSE, THOSE MARKS.
UH, AND THEN TWO, UH, AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON THE, WHAT WE WOULD CALL IT, THE REJUVENATION YES.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF EFFORT THAT'S BEEN PUT INTO THAT SINCE LAST FALL.
AND, UM, JOHN, I KNOW YOU HAD A LOT OF, UH, TO DO WITH THAT LAST YEAR WITH THE NEGOTIATIONS, UH, WITH OUR, UM, LOCAL UNION.
AND AS PART OF THAT, YOU KNOW, I'D BE CURIOUS JUST TO HEAR, UM, THEIR PERSPECTIVE AS WE CONTINUE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
UM, YOU KNOW, JUST TO GET AN UPDATE.
WE, WE CAN JUST GET THAT BY EMAIL, UM, JUST TO HEAR, UH, FROM THEM.
UH, BUT I'M CURIOUS, UH, WHAT, WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY AS WELL.
AND JUST TO ADD TO THAT, I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.
WE WILL BE RECOGNIZING OUR 1 MILLION MILE, 2 MILLION MILE AND 3 MILLION MILE OPERATORS NEXT MONTH.
UH, THE INVITATIONS WILL BE IN THE MAIL, BUT IT'S, UH, SCHEDULED FOR HER SEPTEMBER 26TH AND 27TH.
WE GOT SOME GOOD, WE, WE, WE HAD A 3 MILLION MILE LAST TIME, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE ONE THIS YEAR.
WE ARE GONNA HAVE A 3 MILLION.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO ON TO AGENDA
[8. Proposed Expansion of VIA Link Service]
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, PROPOSED EXPANSION OF VIA LINK SERVICE.[00:40:02]
UH, YES.GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR AND THE MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEE.
I AM SANDEEP SEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF SERVICE PLANNING AND SCHEDULING.
I AM HERE TO PRESENT THE PROPOSED ADDITION OF A NEW ING ZONE FOR IMPLEMENTATION ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2025.
IN TODAY'S AGENDA, I WILL PRESENT THE PROPOSED NEW ING ZONE COSTING AND BENEFITS AND IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE.
AND THE NEXT STEPS, THERE ARE FIVE EXISTING ING ZONES, WHICH ARE NPAS, MAINLAND, MADELA, RANDOLPH, AND DOWNTOWN.
THE EXISTING ZONES ARE DISPLAYED ON THE MAP IN BLUE.
WE ARE PROPOSING A NEW VEING ZONE, WHICH IS ZONE SIX, DISPLAYED AS GREEN ON THE MAP, LOCATED IN THE SOUTHEAST PORTION OF VS SERVICE AREA.
THE NEW ZONE SIX COVERS THE SOUTHEAST AND BROOKS PORTION OF OUR SERVICE AREA.
THE SERVICE HOURS FOR ZONE SIX IS BETWEEN 5:00 AM IN THE MORNING TILL 11 O'CLOCK, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
EXPECTED WAIT TIME IS 20 MINUTES OR BETTER.
WE'LL REMOVE ROUTE EXTENSION ON ROUTE 25 AND 30 ON JANUARY 12TH, 2026.
THERE IS NO CHANGE TO THE UNDERLYING VIA TRANS SERVICE.
THERE IS, THERE WILL BE A SATELLITE STOP IN SANDY OAKS, AND THE SERVICE WILL OPERATE IN SANDY OAKS BETWEEN SEVEN O'CLOCK TO SEVEN, SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING TO SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE EVENING, WEEKDAYS ONLY.
THERE ARE OTHER SATELLITE STOPS IN ZONE SIX, WHICH ARE MISSIONS AND ONE MISSION ESPADA MISSION NATIONAL PARK, STINSON AIRPORT, LONE STAR BAKERY IN CHINA GROUP, THE LAKESIDE COMMUNITY, AND THE HEB ON WW WHITE.
COMPARING THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF ZONE SIX WITH OTHER ZONES.
THE SQUARE MILE FOR ZONE SIX WOULD BE 13.8 SQUARE MILES WILL BE SERVING THREE MUNICIPALITIES IN THIS ZONE WILL BE SERVING 31,200 PEOPLE, OUT OF WHICH 87% ARE MINORITY, 37% ARE SENIOR, 9% ARE CAR-FREE.
HOUSEHOLD WILL BE SERVING 10,900 ZO UH, JOBS, UH, BY THIS ZONE SIX SERVICE.
20% OF THIS ZONE SIX POPULATION ARE LOW INCOME POPULATION.
AND WE HAVE 263 ACTIVE VIA TRANSPLANT IN THIS ZONE.
SO THE COST COMPARISON OF ZONE SIX WITH FIXED ROUTE SERVICE ON ROUTE 25 AND ROUTE 30, ROUTE 25 AND 30 OPERATING 30 MINUTE FREQUENCY.
MONDAY TO SUNDAY, ON AVERAGE WEEKDAY RIDERSHIP WILL HAVE FOR THE WHOLE ROUTE IS 2,214.
THE AVERAGE WEEKDAY RIDERSHIP BOARDING WITHIN THE ZONE BOUNDARY WOULD BE 218.
THE ESTIMATED ANNUAL COST FOR THE WHOLE ROUTE ROUTE IS 5.93 MILLION.
COST PER PASSENGER IS $8 94 CENTS.
IF WE IMPROVE THE ROUTE FREQUENCY TO 20 MINUTE ON ROUTE 25 AND 30 SERVING MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, WE ESTIMATE THE AVERAGE WEEKDAY RIDERSHIP WOULD BE 3,321.
THE AVERAGE WEEKDAY RIDERSHIP WITHIN THE ZONE BOUNDARY WOULD BE 327, BUT IT'LL COST US 9.85 MILLION.
[00:45:01]
NINE 90.WE ARE PROPOSING THE SAME AMOUNT OF SERVICE WITH VIA LINK ON 20 MINUTE FREQUENCY.
MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, WE'LL HAVE AVERAGE, UH, RIDERSHIP WITHIN THE ZONE.
THE ESTIMATED ANNUAL COST IS 1.83 MILLION, AND THE COST PER PASSENGER IS $21 36 CENTS.
THE BENEFITS OF THE PROPOSED ING ZONE, IT'LL HAVE MORE COVERAGE SERVING 30,000 PEOPLE, AND 10,600 JOBS HAVE BETTER SERVICE, WHICH MEANS LESS WAIT TIME FOR CUSTOMERS, WHICH IS 20 MINUTES COMPARED TO 30 MINUTES AND 60 MINUTES ON FIXED ROUTE.
IT HAS LOWER OPERATING COST COMPARED TO THE FIXED ROUTE, WHICH IS AROUND 8.02 MILLION LESS.
AND WE'LL HAVE MORE RIDERS AROUND HUNDRED AND 2000 NEW ANNUAL RIDERS.
WE ESTIMATE, UH, FOR THE FIRST, UH, 24 MONTHS, THE IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE.
I AM PRESENTING THIS INFORMATION TO THE BOARD FOR INFORMATION, PUBLIC OUTREACH AND COMMENT, PERIOD TO COLLECT FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC WILL START FROM TODAY.
I'LL COME BACK TO THE BOARD AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING IN SEPTEMBER FOR BOARD TO TAKE ACTION, PUBLIC INFORMATION TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE APPROVED SERVICE CHANGE.
WE'LL START FROM THE DAY OF THE SEPTEMBER BOARD MEETING.
WE'LL IMPLEMENT THE SERVICE ON NOVEMBER 3RD, ON JANUARY 12TH, 2026.
WE'LL REMOVE ROUTE 25 AND ROUTE 30 EXTENSION.
THE NEXT STEPS, UH, PUBLIC OUTREACH AND COMMENT TO COLLECT THE FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC FOR THE PROPOSED SERVICE CHANGE.
PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 15.
BOARD ACTION WILL HAPPEN ON SEPTEMBER 23RD.
BOARD MEETING TO APPROVE THE SERVICE PLAN.
AND SERVICE WILL BE IMPLEMENTED ON NOVEMBER 3RD, 2025.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTION.
UH, THANK YOU SANDE FOR THE PRESENTATION.
SO YOU'RE GONNA REMOVE EXTENSION FOR 25 AND FOR 30? YES.
UH, SO IT WILL NOT DISRUPT 26 OR 28 EITHER.
UM, AND WHEN YOU SAY BROOKS, THE BROOKS AREA, WHERE IN THE BROOKS AREA WILL IT GO? IT'LL, IT'LL COVER THE WHOLE OF THE BROOKS AREA, THE BROOKS BOUNDARY.
UM, I WILL SAY THE POLYGON, UH, WHICH YOU SEE ON THE SOUTHEAST SOUTH PORTION, I WILL SAY MM-HMM
IT COVERS MOST OF THE BROOKS AREA.
AND SO BASICALLY THE BOUNDARY WILL BE, UH, COMMERCE, I SHOULD SAY COMMERCE HOUSTON, ALL THE WAY OVER TO BROOKS.
BUT YEAH, BUT THERE IS LIKE PARTIAL PORTION ON THE SOUTHEAST.
UM, SAY IF WE LOOK ON THE EAST PORTION, IT GOES TO SOUTHEAST LOOP FOUR 10.
BUT WHEN WE GO TO BROOKS, IT'S MORE LIKE SOUTH PREA STREET.
UM, SO IT HAS BITS AND PIECES, BUT IT COVERS MOSTLY MOST OF THE BROOKS AND I WILL SAY MOST OF THE SOUTHEAST PORTION, UM, OF THE VIA SERVICE AREA.
NOW, WHEN YOU SAY SAT, WHAT, WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE SATELLITE STOPS? SO, SATELLITE STOP MEANS IF PEOPLE WANTS TO GO, UM, TO ONE OF THE MISSION.
SO THE VIA LINK VAN WILL GO AND DROP THAT PEOPLE, UM, THAT PERSON AND ALSO BRING THAT PERSON BACK.
BUT SOMEBODY HAS TO REQUEST JUST LIKE AS YOU REQUEST ON A VIA LINK SERVICE.
SO BASICALLY IT'S MORE LIKE ADDITIONAL STOP IN ADDITION TO THE ZONE.
SO SOMEBODY COULD REQUEST LIKE THE HEB ON WW WHITES.
[00:50:01]
AND THEY CAN GO TO BROOKS AND COME BACK TO THAT AREA? YES.AND IF I MAY ADD, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A VERY INNOVATIVE WAY THAT THIS PROGRAM HAS DEVELOPED OVER THE COURSE OF THESE ZONES THAT WE'VE LAUNCHED.
UM, THIS, THIS PARTICULAR ZONE WILL HAVE THE MOST SATELLITE STOPS, UM, WHICH WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT, AT BEING ABLE TO REACH THE VARIOUS MISSIONS FROM THE SATELLITE STOPS.
BUT SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, SOME OF THE VETERAN BOARD MEMBERS WILL RECOGNIZE, UH, THE NAME SANDY OAKS.
AND SANDY OAKS, WE'RE ABLE TO NOW GO COVER SANDY OAKS IN A MUCH MORE EFFICIENT WAY, BECAUSE WE'RE ONLY GONNA BE TAKING SERVICE OUT OF THIS ZONE WHEN IT'S REQUESTED TO GET TO THAT DESTINATION.
MEANWHILE, THESE, UH, THESE VEHICLES WILL BE OPERATING WITHIN THE ZONE, UH, BUT WHEN IT'S REQUESTED, IT WILL ACTUALLY, UH, DEPART, UH, THE ZONE TO GO TO THE SATELLITE LOCATIONS.
SO VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO IN THE DOWNTOWN ZONE.
UH, A SATELLITE STOP ON THE DOWNTOWN ZONE IS THE PEARL.
SO THE PEARL IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE THIS TYPE OF SERVICE CAN BE SUPER FLEXIBLE ON THOSE MAJOR DESTINATIONS AND COVER MORE AREAS.
BUT IF NOBODY'S REQUESTING TO GO TO THE PEARL, THAT SYSTEM STAYS WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
IT WILL BE THE SIMILAR, UH, SIMILAR HERE, BUT WE'RE MAKING A NUMBER OF SATELLITE STOPS AVAILABLE.
SO VERY INNOVATIVE, APPLAUD, YOU KNOW, THE PLANNING GROUP IN SANDEEP FOR, FOR THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOXES THEY SAY, UH, BUT REALLY LOOKING AT, AT DESTINATIONS IS, IS WHAT THE, UH, THE RIDERS ARE GONNA WANT.
HOW MANY, UM, VEHICLES WILL BE WITHIN THIS AREA? WE ARE STILL LOOKING, THIS IS A PROPOSAL.
I MIGHT, UM, COME BACK WITH THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES.
UM, WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES ON AVERAGE IN THE, IN THE BIGGER ZONES.
WHAT ARE THEY? HOW MANY, HOW MANY VEHICLES? UH, IT'S AROUND SEVEN TO EIGHT VEHICLES.
I CAN TELL YOU, Y'ALL ARE GONNA BE SURPRISED WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN THIS ZONE.
WE, WE LOVE TO HAVE THAT PROBLEM.
WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM.
SO WE, SO GOING ON, JUST ADDING ON THAT REAL QUICKLY, WE DO HAVE CAPACITY TO ADD ADDITIONAL VANS OR TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES IF WE DO NEED, UH, ADDITIONAL CIRCULATION.
AND, AND, AND TWOFOLD TO THAT POINT AS WELL.
THE SECOND BULLET POINT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT FOR THAT OF MANAGING RESOURCES.
UH, SO WE CAN, WE, WE TALK ABOUT EXPECTED WAIT TIMES AT 20 MINUTES.
THE DELIVERY IN, IN ZONES ARE USUALLY UNDER 20 MINUTES, BUT WE'RE MANAGING TO THAT 20 MINUTES IN ORDER TO MANAGE THOSE RESOURCES AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF THOSE VANS.
SO THAT'S ONE WAY OF DOING IT BESIDES ALSO JUST ADDING VEHICLES INTO THE SYSTEM AS WELL.
UM, NOW THAT WE'RE HAVING A NUMBER OF ZONES THAT ARE ADJACENT TO EACH OTHER SOMEWHAT, UH, WE'VE SEEN, UH, THE VENDOR, UH, RELOCATE VANS TO CERTAIN AREAS OR CERTAIN ZONES DEPENDING ON THE CURRENT, UH, NEED AND, AND DEMAND AND RIDERSHIP.
UH, WE'VE SEEN THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, DURING FINAL FOUR FOR THE DOWNTOWN ZONE, THEY REALLOCATED FROM OTHER ZONES INTO, INTO DOWNTOWN IN ORDER TO, TO HANDLE THE RUSH.
SO I GUESS MY QUESTION, WOULD I, THE SHOPS AT SANDY OAKS THEN, SO A RIDER THAT'S THERE CAN THEN REQUEST A RIDE FROM THE SHOPS AT SANDY OAKS BACK INTO ZONE SIX? IS THAT, HOW WOULD OH, OKAY.
UM, SO BASICALLY THE RESIDENCE OF SANDY OAKS HAS NEEDS TO BE THERE AT THE SHOPS AT SANDY OAK YEAH.
UM, TO REQUEST THE RIGHT TO COME TO ZONE SIX.
AND THEN THEY WILL CONNECT ANYWHERE, MIGHT BE BROOKS TRANSIT CENTER OR EAST SIDE TRANSIT CENTER TO GO ANYWHERE WHERE THEY WANT TO GO THROUGH OUR SERVICE AREA.
'CAUSE I KNOW WHEN OUR SERVICE AREA DROPPED THERE, IT, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY HARD PILL FOR US TO SWALLOW.
UM, SO I THINK THAT'S JUST A REALLY, AGAIN, A REALLY FANTASTIC WAY THAT Y'ALL WERE ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT.
UH, ASIDE FROM THIS ZONE, FROST BANK SENT IN THE COLOSSEUM GROUNDS, WHAT ZONE IS IT COVERED BY? OR IS IT, CAN WE SEE THE, THE SLIDE THAT HAS THE, ALL THE ZONES FOR
[00:55:01]
V LINK? THESE ARE ACTUALLY, WE HAVE THE FIVE EXISTING ZONE AND THE NEW ZONE.UM, SO THE COLISEUM GROUNDS THERE ARE NOT WITHIN A ZONE TODAY.
UH, NO, WE, WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE GONNA BE COVERED BY THE A RT ZONE.
IT'LL BE THE ADVANCED RAPID TRANSIT.
UH, UM, YOU WOULDN'T CALL IT A ZONE, BUT IT, IT'LL BE COVERED BY THAT HIGH, HIGH CAPACITY, HIGH QUALITY SERVICE, WHICH WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT.
BUT I, I'D LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION OFFLINE, IF WE MAY.
ON, ON THE PROS AND CONS OF VIA LINK SERVICE IN THE AREA AROUND THE COLISEUM GROUNDS.
UH, GIVEN THE POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THAT AS A YEAR-ROUND DESTINATIONS.
IF, IF AT THE, AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT THIS, WHAT THIS SERVICE DOES IS PROVIDE MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY, UM, WE HAVE ADJUSTED OTHER ZONES.
UH, BASED UPON DEMAND, BASED UPON USE, BASED UPON, YOU KNOW, JUST SAN ANTONIO BEING SAN ANTONIO.
UH, SO WE, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
UH, SO THE EXTENSION THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, THE ROUTE EXTENSION IS GONNA BE RE REMOVED IN JANUARY 26TH.
HOW MANY RIDERS DOES THAT AFFECT? SO, AND WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH THAT? YES.
SO WHEN I TALK ABOUT ROUTE 25, UH, THAT PORTION BETWEEN THE EAST SIDE TRANSIT CENTER AND THE END OF THE LOOP, UM, THAT PORTION OF THE ROUTE IS 60 MINUTE FREQUENCY.
AND HARDLY ANY PEOPLE RIDE IT.
THERE'S A REASON WE ARE TRYING TO USE OUR RESOURCES JUDICIOUSLY.
SAME WITH ROUTE 30 EXTENSION, BUT WE'LL GO THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS ON SEPTEMBER 15TH TO HEAR FEEDBACK FROM THE PEOPLE.
IF THEY NEED THE SERVICE, THEN WE WILL TRY TO THINK ABOUT IT AND KEEP IT THERE.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE MIGHT HAVE THE V LINK TOGETHER ALSO, BUT AT LEAST THE PORTION WE ARE THINKING OF REMOVING THE, UH, ROUTE, IT HAS REALLY LESS AMOUNT OF RIDERSHIP.
AND THE FREQUENCY IS ALMOST LIKE, FOR ROUTE 30 IS 40 MINUTE AND ROUTE 25, THAT PORTION WE ARE REMOVING IS 60 MINUTE FREQUENCY AND TRUSTEE.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, THE VERNACULAR THAT WE USE ABOUT THE WORD REMOVING.
SO I'LL TAKE THE 25 AS AN EXAMPLE.
PERHAPS A BETTER WORD, IS REPLACING, UH, BECAUSE WHERE YOU SEE THE 25 TODAY, IT'S GONNA BE COVERED BY THE VEAL LINK IN THE FUTURE.
SO IT'S REALLY A REPLACEMENT OF THAT COVERAGE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM.
BUT WE CAN DO SO MORE EFFICIENTLY AND, AND, AND WITH MORE COVERAGE WITH THIS, UH, THERE IS THAT ONE DOTTED LINE AREA THAT WE'RE SHOWING THERE ON THE MAP, THE LAKESIDE, THAT WOULD BE A REMOVAL, BUT THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND TALKING TO THEM ABOUT THAT AND THE UTILIZATION OF IT.
UM, BUT THE OTHER DOTTED LINES WHERE WE'RE SHOWING, UH, THEM WITHIN THAT GREEN ZONE, THOSE WOULD BE REALLY A REPLACEMENT VERSUS A REMOVAL.
UH, THANK YOU SANDEEP FOR THIS.
UH, AND, AND THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS.
I THINK IT'S HELPING ME THINK THROUGH THIS.
UM, I GUESS TWO, TWO THINGS THAT I JUST WANNA SAY.
UH, ONE, I THINK WE SHOULD ALWAYS CAUTION ANY KIND OF REDUCTION IN SERVICE, WHATEVER WORD WE CHOOSE TO USE A REDUCTION IN SERVICE.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING IN THE CHAIR THAT I GET TO SIT IN, I WOULD CAUTION AGAINST IS INCREASING CONTRACTED SERVICES.
RIGHT? WE, WE ARE DOING GREAT WORK TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN OUR WORKERS.
UM, BUT THEN I THINK SOMETIMES COMMUNITY SEE, WELL, YOU'RE REDUCING SERVICE AND YOU ARE CONTRACTING OUT NOW TO FOLKS THAT ARE NOT, NOT VIA, UM, AND I KNOW IN THE NAME OF EFFICIENCY, WE'RE TRYING TO BALANCE OUR RESOURCES WITH HOW WE DELIVER THE BEST SERVICE TO THE MOST PEOPLE.
UH, BUT I THINK THOSE WOULD BE TWO THINGS THAT I WOULD JUST CONTINUALLY THINK ABOUT, UH, AS WE DO SOME OF THESE THINGS.
UM, BUT, BUT I APPRECIATE THE WORK AND I, YOU KNOW, TRUST THE NUMBERS.
UH, THAT, AND, AND, AND REALLY WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IS THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS TO SEE WHAT, WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT AND HOW WE CAN BEST ACCOMMODATE THAT GROUP.
PERHAPS WHAT WE COULD DO, UH, BECAUSE WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN, WE CAN FOLLOW THE SERVICE HOURS THAT WE'RE GONNA SAVE, UM, UH, BY THOSE REPLACEMENTS TO, TO YOUR POINT, UH, TRUSTEE RAYNA, THOSE ACTUALLY DON'T GO AWAY.
THEY'RE GONNA BE THEN REINSTITUTED IN A FIXED ROUTE SYSTEM OR PART OF THE FIXED ROUTE SYSTEM SOMEWHERE IN THE SYSTEM.
SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL TRACK THAT, BECAUSE YOU MAKE A VERY GOOD POINT.
UH, THIS ISN'T REDUCING SERVICE FOR THE FIXED ROUTE.
WE'RE ACTUALLY JUST REALLOCATING THOSE RESOURCES INTO ANOTHER PART OF THE SYSTEM.
SO WE'LL MAKE SURE TO TRACK THAT FOR YOU.
THAT'S, IT'S A GOOD POINT THAT YOU BRING UP.
[01:00:03]
THANK YOU, TRUSTEE ARENA.UH, SO JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, THE COST COMPARISON SLIDE.
THIS IS JUST SOMETHING JUST TO CALL OUT AS WE LOOK AT THE PROPOSED ZONE, LOOK AT THE ESTIMATED ANNUAL COST OF 1.83 AS COMPARED TO THE OTHER ROUTES.
AND I THINK THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO THINK THROUGH THE EFFICIENCY OF THIS NEW OPPORTUNITY HERE, AND, AND THEN COMPARE IT TO WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, ABOUT THE FIXED ZONES, THAT IS SOMETHING ALSO JUST FROM AN ROI PERSPECTIVE TO CONSIDER.
UM, BUT YOU COULD CALL OUT ON THAT.
I, I DID HAVE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT QUESTIONS.
SO, UH, FROM, IF YOU GO BACK TO THE MAP ON THE ROUTE, PLEASE, MILITARY DRIVE RIGHT THERE, THAT SOUTHEAST CORNER.
UH, I'M THINKING ABOUT NORTH OF MILITARY.
WILL THAT, UH, BE IN THE SERVICE AREA? I CAN'T TELL IF THE DOTTED LINE ALONG THAT IS GONNA BE ACCEPTABLE TO DROP OFF AT THE HEB, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS, UH, HOME DEPOT, ALL THAT AREA IS, IS THAT, UH, ELIGIBLE SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID IN SOUTH PARK MALL? YES.
WE, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ALLOCATE THE VIRTUAL STOPS.
UM, SO THAT'S WHAT WE DO FOR THE ING TYPE OF SERVICE.
AND I THINK WE CAN TAP INTO THOSE, UM, BY PUTTING VIRTUAL STUFFS SO THE VEHICLE WOULD BE GOING THERE.
YEAH, JUST I WANNA ADVOCATE FOR THOSE RETAIL, YEAH, THAT RETAIL CENTER RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.
'CAUSE THAT IS A HUGE AREA YEAH.
UM, THAT PEOPLE, UM, GRAVITATE TOWARDS.
UM, UH, AGAIN, HARPING ON PUBLIC EDUCATION, UH, AS YOU CONTINUE TO TAKE THIS OUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN HIT AS MANY INDIVIDUALS IN THAT AREA FROM THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, I, I'M SURE THAT'S PART OF THE, THE PROCESS.
BUT THAT IS GONNA BE, UH, IMMENSELY HELPFUL WHEN WE LAUNCH THIS.
UM, AND THEN, UH, THE SAND YOS, DO WE HAVE AN MOU WITH THE SAND SHOPS SAND YOS FOR LIABILITY PURPOSES? NO, I DON'T THINK SO.
WE HAVE, DO WE NEED TO DO THAT JUST BECAUSE THAT IS NOW SOMETHING WE'RE PROMOTING AS PART OF, UH, AN OPTION FOR THOSE RESIDENTS TO PARK THERE, IF THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE, UM, HAVING PICK UP AND DROP OFF.
SO IF YOU CAN PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THAT FOR FURTHER, UM, INVESTIGATION.
'CAUSE TOM, TOM AND HIS TEAM HAS BEEN ACTIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH SANDY OAKS.
THIS WORKS AT, UH, FOR US IS A REALLY GOOD TIME AS WELL.
SANDY OAKS IS A CONTRIBUTOR WITH SALES TAX.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE ONE OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT, UM, ELECTED TO BE PART OF THE VIA FAMILY.
AND SO THEY ARE CONTRIBUTING SALES TAX.
UM, AND THEY WERE JUST RECENTLY CONSIDERING VOTING OUT OF THE DISTRICT OR OUT OF THE FAMILY, BUT THEY, THEY HAVE ELECTED TO STAY, BUT THEY HAVE OFFERED UP THIS SOLUTION OF THE LOCATION.
SO MAYBE YOU COULD FOLLOW UP WITH THEM.
SO BESIDES THIS SOLUTION, WE'RE ALSO COUPLING IT WITH THE, UH, ALMO AREA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS HAS THEIR RURAL BUSTLE BUSING PROGRAM THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU HEARD, UH, JERMAINE TALK ABOUT THE 53 OH $7.
SO WHEN WE GET, UH, OUR NEW ROUND OF FEDERAL FUNDS FROM THE UPCOMING BUDGET, THOSE WILL BE, UH, WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE INSTITUTING THAT, UH, THAT BUSING PROGRAM THERE AS WELL TOO, AS WELL AS CHINA GROVE AND, UH, AND ELMENDORF.
SO THIS IS ALL, UH, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT FEATURES THAT WE'RE TAKING OUT THERE.
UH, IT WAS JUST AT SAND DIEGO CITY COUNCIL MEETING, UH, TWO WEEKS AGO, UH, PRESENTED THIS.
UH, AND THEN THEY, THEY VOTED THAT THEY DEFINITELY WANNA STAY, UH, THAT COUPLED WITH THE RURAL BUSING PROGRAM WOULD, UM, WE WOULD ACTUALLY END UP SUBSIDIZING MORE SERVICE THAN, UH, THAN THEY PAY IN.
BUT IT'S, UH, IT'S A GREAT DEAL FOR, FOR BOTH OF US.
SO, SO THE SHOPS OF SANDY OAKS, THAT'S, IS THAT PRIVATELY OWNED OR CITY OWNED? IT'S PRIVATELY OWNED.
SO WE, BUT THERE WE ARE ACTUALLY, UH, THERE, RIGHT NEXT TO THAT IS A PUBLIC PARK THAT THE CITY OF SANDY OAK OWNS.
AND, UH, MAYOR MIKE MARTINEZ WOULD ACTUALLY PREFER THE DIGITAL STOP TO BE THERE.
UH, AND SO WE ARE GONNA GO OUT THERE ON NATIONAL NIGHT OUT ON OCTOBER 7TH, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST, YOU KNOW, HELP, YOU KNOW, TALK TO THEM.
THAT'S WHERE THEY, THEY'D PREFER THE DIGITAL SPOT IS ON, ON THEIR PROPERTY.
I, YEAH, I TRUST WE'LL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, BUT I JUST WANNA CALL THAT AS A RISK, UM, FOR US.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? TRUSTEES? GREAT.
[9. *Legal Briefing]
WE HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING.UM, AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION REGARDING, UM, OUR BUSMAN SHELTER AND OUTDOOR ADVERTISING.
SO TODAY IS AUGUST 26TH, 2025, AND THE TIME IS NOW 6:09 PM AND THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT, UH, BOARD OF TRUSTEES WILL OFFICIALLY GO INTO A CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION AS PERMITTED UNDER THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT.
THE ITEMS WE WILL DISCUSS DURING THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION
[01:05:01]
ARE AS FOLLOWS, ITEM NINE, EIGHT AND TITLE, LEGAL BRIEFING, BUS, VAN, SHELTER, AND OUTDOOR ADVERTISING, WHICH IS ALLOWED AS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 5 1 0.07.ONE ENTITLED CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY.
ALL PERSONS WHO ARE AUTHORIZED TO ATTEND THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, PLEASE PROCEED TO THE SMALL CONFERENCE ROOM.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY NOT ATTEND OR MONITOR THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IN ANY MANNER.
IT IS 6:26 PM WE'RE OFFICIALLY COMING OUT OF A CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING AGENDA ITEM NUMBER NINE, A NO DELIBERATIONS, UH, POKE POLICY, OR A VOTE TAKING OCCURRED DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UH, AND NOW WE'VE COME TO OUR FAVORITE, OH, EVERYONE'S LEFT ALREADY.
WE GOT, WE GOT SOME, SOME FOLKS THAT'S RIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR STAYING, UH, TRUSTEES.
YOUR FAVORITE ACTION ITEM OF THE AGENDA.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADJOURN? PLEASE MOVE A MOTION.
I THINK WE STILL HAVE A TD, RIGHT, DEBORAH? OH, THAT'S RIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER ON THAT.
WHAT'S THAT? WE DID NOT DO AT D YET.
SO WE DO HAVE TO JUST OPEN AND CLOSE IT.
[ATD 1. Call to Order]
WE, IT IS NOW, LET'S SEE, 6:27 PM AND I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE AUGUST 26TH AT D BOARD MEETING.UH, WE'VE ALREADY DONE THE MOMENT OF REFLECTION.
ANY CITIZENS TO BE HEARD FOR A TD? NO, NO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
UH, WE DO HAVE A CONSENT AGENDA,
[ATD 4. Consent Agenda]
UH, TRUSTEES, THIS IS IN ACTION.ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, MAY I HAVE A MOTION? AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MS. ELDER, DO WE HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING? NO MA'AM.
AND THEN WE HAVE OUR ACTION ITEM TO ADJOURN.
MAY A MOTION AND SECOND TO ADJOURN PLEASE.
UM, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.