Sacramento Regional Transit District Board of Directors Meeting - October 9, 2019

The Sacramento Regional Transit (RT) District Board of Directors held a meeting on October 9, 2019, to consider consent items, hear public comments, discuss termination of the ADA paratransit service agreement with Paratransit Inc., receive updates on light rail modernization and the SACRT Forward bus network launch, and take reports from directors and other agencies. The board took unanimous actions on several items and provided direction to staff.

Consent Calendar

• The board approved the consent calendar (items 1 through 5) by a unanimous vote of 100 votes. Director Hansen noted a conflict for Rancho Cordova’s representative due to a city council meeting that night.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mike Barnbaum reported on the YOLO County Transportation District board meeting, highlighting that YOLO Bus is the only public transit service serving Sacramento International Airport. He discussed a potential partnership between YOLO and RT for a UC Davis Medical Center shuttle, with options for a soft launch (April 5, 2020) and grand launch (September 6, 2020).
• Jeffrey Tardiya criticized RT’s communication, stating that bus destination signs often show “We’re Hiring Drivers” instead of route numbers, causing confusion. He also raised concerns about schedule changes for long-time riders and the impact of free-ride days on paratransit service.
• Arthur Ketterling requested schedule adjustments on bus routes 1 and 21 on Saturdays to improve connections, noting that Route 21 leaves Lewis and Orlando at 7:27 and 8:27 p.m., causing riders to miss Route 1 by four minutes.
• James Warsenup (invited by Director Natoli) spoke about RT’s real estate practices, alleging mismanagement, lack of qualified professionals, and waste. He offered his expertise (35 years of commercial real estate experience) and urged the board to adopt best practices.

Discussion Items

• Item 6 – Termination of ADA Paratransit Service Agreement with Paratransit Inc. and In-House Operation
  • Staff presented two resolutions: (A) authorizing notice of termination for convenience to Paratransit Inc., effective October 1, 2019, with in-house operation starting April 1, 2020; and (B) withdrawing from the Four-Party Agreement (with Sacramento, County, and SACOG) effective July 1, 2020.
  • Public Testimony: Many speakers supported the transition but raised concerns. Mike Barnbaum asked about ride scheduling, acceptance of non-expired fare media, and employee protections. David Becker (ATU 256) supported bringing service in-house. Vic Wurston (Pride Industries) expressed confidence in RT. Charles Johnson (Mobility Advisory Council) endorsed the plan if service is equal or better. Jeff Tom emphasized avoiding implementation failures. Jeffrey Tardiya questioned RT’s readiness, citing ADA compliance issues. Barbara Stanton and Helen O’Connell asked about airport service, door-to-door vs. curb-to-curb, and mobility training. Pam Floor (MAC Chair) supported the move. April Wilt (Resources for Independent Living) stressed cultural competence. Glenda Marshall (Sacramento Metro Advocates for Rail and Transit) voiced support.
  • Board Discussion: Directors Cerna, Hansen, and Schneer thanked advocates and emphasized rider-focused service. They noted alignment with the disability community and promised continued engagement.
  • Outcome: Motion by Director Cerna, second by Director Schneer; approved unanimously (100 votes).
• Item 7 – Light Rail Modernization Project and Use of Proposition 1A High-Speed Rail Funding
  • Staff (Brent Bernicker) explained that $28 million in Prop 1A funds is needed to fully fund a $166 million project for new light rail cars and modernization. The project already has $64 million in TARCP and $20 million in Congestion Mitigation grants. The California Transportation Commission (CTC) requires a fully funded plan by their October 8-9 meeting.
  • Public Testimony: Barbara Stanton read a statement supporting the use of streetcar funds for light rail modernization. Stephen Barassa commended RT for securing a discount on 59 light rail cars (saving $88 million) and supported reprogramming Prop 1A funds, but expressed skepticism about the West Sacramento connector.
  • Board Discussion: Vice Chair Hansen moved to direct staff to return on October 7 with options for allocating Prop 1A funds between the Sacramento Valley Station loop and light rail modernization, noting the need to meet CTC deadlines. Director Cerna seconded, clarifying staff should provide options. The board concurred without a formal vote, giving direction to staff.
• Item 8 – General Manager’s Report
  • General Manager Henry Lee reported on the SACRT Forward bus network launch (September 8-9, 2019). He noted expanded call center hours (weekdays 6:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m., weekends 7:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.) and presented retired bus stop signs to board members.
  • Director of Planning James Boy provided stats: 54 street team members, 36 internal staff at command center, 16,500 rider interactions, over 100 positive TV news stories. He noted free-ride days boosted ridership but that post-free-ride ridership was not yet robust, with a fuller picture expected in October.
  • Deborah presented outreach efforts, including a video summarizing launch activities.
  • Brent Bernicker updated on the student free-ride program (Oct 1, 2019 – Sept 30, 2020): stickers distributed to over 300 schools, 22 libraries, and 21 MOUs signed. The press conference is set for October 1 at McClatchy High School.
  • Public Comments: Jeffrey Tardiya pointed out missing route signs at Sacramento Valley Station and inadequate bus stop locations near the arena. Mike Barnbaum suggested improvements from the “Fly SAC RT” project, including new routes to the airport and a financial advisory corporation.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
• Resolution A & B (Paratransit Transition): Approved unanimously, authorizing termination notice to Paratransit Inc. and withdrawal from the Four-Party Agreement.
• Direction on Prop 1A Funding: Staff directed to bring options to the October 7, 2019 board meeting for allocating $28 million in Prop 1A funds between the SVS loop and light rail modernization, with a focus on meeting CTC deadlines.
• SACRT Forward Launch: The board noted the successful launch and ongoing monitoring. Staff will continue to collect feedback for service adjustments, with major changes scheduled for April 2020.
• Student Free-Ride Program: Implementation underway; stickers and MOUs distributed; press conference scheduled.
• Reports from Directors: Directors reported on Paratransit Inc. board meetings (August 30, September 16) and the Capitol Corridor JPA meeting (September 18), noting that a Bay Area transportation measure does not affect Sacramento region.