Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors Meeting - August 29, 2019
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Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors Meeting - August 29, 2019
Note: The transcript indicates the meeting was called to order on August 26, 2019, but the specified date for this summary is August 29, 2019. The meeting covered consent calendar items, public comments, the SacRT Forward launch update, the GM/CEO performance evaluation, and a report on a recent light rail collision.
Consent Calendar
- Item 3 (Resolution for low-floor light rail vehicle procurement with Siemens Mobility Inc.): Approved unanimously. Public comment by Helen O'Connell (Mobility Advisory Council) expressed concern that specifications were not available before purchase. Staff responded that the first four vehicles are on San Diego's contract with no specification choices, but the next 19 can be modified. Staff committed to meeting with the MAC.
- Item 4A (Repealing resolution 1908-0091 and delegating authority for up to seven free ride days): Approved unanimously. Public comment by Jeffrey Tardigia requested clearer agenda explanations for transparency, noting the original resolution did not include buses and the purpose needed elaboration.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mike Barnbaum announced upcoming meetings: Yolo County Transportation District (Sept 9), Paratransit board (Sept 16), Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (Sept 18), and San Joaquin Joint Powers (Sept 27). He highlighted connectivity between RT and Roseville's transit services.
- Crystal McGee (Vice President, ATU Local 256) urged the board to bring paratransit back in-house. She cited financial figures: $61 per missed trip, $2.9 million in brokerage services, $4.6 million in fringe benefits (only $1.5 million for 120 union drivers vs. $3.15 million for 100 non-union drivers), a 10% annual ridership decline, and a funding gap ($3.6 million needed but $8 million received from STA/TDA funds). She noted fear of retaliation among drivers.
- Jeffrey Tardigia raised concerns about bus stop signs (small print, missing numbers, ghost stops), the need for an app, and safety checklists following the recent light rail incident. He also gave positive feedback on maintenance staff.
Discussion Items
- Item 5: SacRT Forward Update (James Boyle, Director of Planning)
- Launch day in 13 days (Sept 8-10). New network features more weekend service, better frequency, and consistent routes.
- Preparations: weekly implementation meetings since October, command center operating Sept 8-10, street team, zone managers, tablets for trip planning, and media events.
- Staff will rove discontinued routes to ensure no stranded passengers. Police services will assist.
- Public comments: Mike Barnbaum praised connectivity and noted free rides on buses from Sept 8-11. Jeffrey Tardigia suggested light rail status reports at peak times (6 a.m. and 3 p.m.) and a mobile bus stop solution.
- Item 6: Resolution approving annual performance evaluation for GM/CEO Henry Lee
- Previously discussed in a July 22 board retreat and August 12 closed session. Approved unanimously with one public comment from Jeffrey Tardigia thanking the board for transparency.
- Incident Report (GM Henry Lee)
- On August 22, 2019, at 9:35 p.m., a passenger light rail train collided with a stopped maintenance train between Roseville Road and McCartney stations on the Blue Line.
- 13 minor injuries, all released by Friday morning. NTSB and CPUC investigating; RT cooperating fully.
- Bus bridge implemented; operations resumed after three days (normally seven). Lee thanked staff and the board, and committed to corrective actions and safety culture improvements.
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar items 3 and 4A approved unanimously.
- Resolution approving GM/CEO performance evaluation adopted (100 votes in favor).
- Board acknowledged staff’s response to the light rail collision and expressed gratitude.
- Closed session announced for two litigation items (case Matthew Doughty vs. RT and anticipated litigation). No report out of closed session expected.
- SacRT Forward launch is scheduled for September 8, 2019, with all-hands-on-deck support.
Meeting Transcript
Um my staff are probably doing that. My staff are doing that. I don't know. So it'll come. Good evening. Good evening, Jeffrey. Called to order this meeting of the August 26, 2019 meeting of the Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors. Would the clerk please call the role to establish quorum? Certainly. Director Miller. Director Shanier? Director Cerna? Here. And Chair Kennedy? Here. With that we have a quorum at 90 votes. Okay. Would you please uh stand and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance? Pledge of the case. The United States of America handed to the Republic for which it stands under God. Liberty and Justice for all. And not having our clerk here threw me off. Please read the mess of the statement. The meeting of the Sacramento Regional Transit District will be cable cast without interruption on Metro Cable 14, the local government affairs channel. Tonight's meeting will air on August 28th at 2 o'clock PM and again on August 29th at 9 o'clock AM and will be webcast at www.sacmetrocable.tv is also closed captioned. Members of the audience wishing to address the board should fill out a speaker card located at the rear of the room and provide it to me or Jessica. Please speak into the microphone and state your name for the record. We would appreciate everyone turning off their cell phones. Thank you. Thank you very much. And with that, we will go to the consent calendar. I'll move consent. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. We do have two items uh for speaker cards. So uh would the clerk please read item number three into the recording? Item number three resolution conditionally approving the contract for low floor light rail vehicle LRV procurement with Siemens Mobility Inc. and delegating authority to the general manager CEO to execute contract change orders or amendments to the contract. My name is Helen O'Connell and I am on the Mac board for the Mobility Advisory Council for RT. And we've been asking for specifications on the low floor vehicles to find out what kind of um configuration they were going to get when they buy the new vehicles. But they said that they didn't have any specifications. And now you're um getting everything ready to buy vehicles that they haven't gotten any specifications for. And I was just wondering if that should go before the Mac with the specifications before you buy them. Thank you. Thank you, Helen. Mr. Lee. Would you like to respond quickly? We have a uh mock on the talk here. Under what we'd be able to, yeah.
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