Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors Meeting - August 26, 2024

The Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors met on August 26, 2024, at 4:02 PM. The meeting included approval of a consent calendar, a resolution commending outgoing Director Brett Daniels, an update on the Light Rail Modernization project, extensive public testimony on safety and operational issues, and a general manager's report. The board recessed into closed session for real estate and labor negotiations.

Consent Calendar

• Items 2.1 through 2.12 were approved unanimously on a motion and second, with all directors present voting in favor. No abstentions or oppositions were recorded.

Resolution Commending Brett Daniels

• Resolution 2024-08090, commending outgoing Director Brett Daniels, was approved unanimously. Director Daniels was absent due to travel and internet issues; the certificate will be presented at a future date.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jennifer Coleman (30-year rider) reported ongoing telephone interference issues with RT's dispatch radio and requested removal of a ringing tone she experiences. She also asked why Excel cannot be used to provide credit when passengers lack exact change.
• Jeffrey Tardi Gia (frequent public speaker) criticized the lack of responses to items delegated to the general manager, citing an eight-year delay on the I-80 elevator project. He also noted that Connect Card machines at Sacramento Valley Station and 29th Street have been non-functional for months, and fare vending machines often cannot accept change.
• Helen O'Connell raised concerns about pay equity between RTGo and Big Bus operators, noting that RTGo drivers are paid less despite driving the same vehicles and performing mandated services.
• Dan Allison (Sacramento Transit Advocates and Writers) invited board members and staff to participate in "Week Without Driving" (September 30 – October 6), a national event to experience life without a car. He noted that 30% of Americans cannot drive or choose not to.
• Crystal McGealy (ATU 256 President) provided a summary of safety issues: 84% of operator respondents reported verbal assaults, 16% said it occurs daily, and 17% said they were reprimanded for reporting incidents. She highlighted that ATU was not included in early planning for the new low-floor trains. She also reported that a driver at Arden Del Paso could not access a restroom and defecated on themselves. She presented a two-week snapshot of assault data and called for transparency.
• Brian Griggs (paratransit operator and shop steward) described poor conditions of paratransit buses, including extreme heat (20+ degrees above outside), excessive noise (exceeding 84 decibels), and inadequate maintenance due to understaffing.
• David Halford (ATU Light Rail representative) presented data from the safety committee covering May 2023 to May 2024: 91 incidents across all transit divisions, averaging one problem every four days. A poll of members found 84% verbally assaulted, 27% assaulted weekly, 36% experienced physical assault, 31% sexual harassment, 9% assaulted with weapons, 17% stalking, and 60% believe assaults have increased in the last five years. He called for operator training on assault documentation.
• Michael Bevins (transit advocate) proposed several ideas: transit corridors (e.g., Watt Avenue), bike cargo trains, express trains, and a demonstration bus route on the planned Green Line to the airport.
• Eve Wynn (Elk Grove division union rep) reported that children on buses are cursing, threatening drivers, and smoking marijuana. She requested that RT contact schools to suspend offending riders.
• Heller Chapel (light rail operator and shop steward) expressed safety concerns about the new S700 low-floor trains: operators have not been trained on stopping positions (only one of 25 stations has a marker), tripping hazards inside trains, handrails too high for short operators, and a step-down of up to 30 inches when exiting to use route selectors (Cal/OSHA allows 18 inches). She stated that management is rushing the launch, causing anxiety.
• Vanessa Nichols (CBS operator) reported that interlock doors pop open during service, water leaks, high decibel levels (72-89 on older buses, 70-80 on newer), and lack of follow-up on assault reports. She herself was assaulted and heard nothing after filing.
• Joyce Adams Watkins (44-year veteran, retiring) supported the union, emphasizing safety, restroom access, and the need to address assaults over fare disputes.
• Ann Pruitt (reservations employee) cited ergonomic issues (broken chairs, extreme cold in the new building at 1400 29th Street) and said management told them nothing can be done about the temperature.
• Artemis Molier (light rail operator, 12 years) raised safety at Watt Avenue Station (where a police officer was shot), lack of security, and training issues on the new trains: insufficient cab space for a trainer, unsafe dismount (3 feet down), and tripping hazards without warning decals.

Discussion Items

• Light Rail Modernization Update (Item 4.1) – Carmen Alba presented: All station platforms must be raised to 8 inches to accommodate new passenger-activated bridge plates on the S700 fleet. Construction is phased, with weekend shutdowns. Revenue service is projected to begin late October or early November. 20 new S700 LRVs have been received; 14 are conditionally accepted and SACRT-ready (decals, stop announcements). Minimum weekday service requires 8 LRVs on the Gold Line; weekends require 9 for both Gold and Green lines. Training is 95% complete. Community outreach included tours for the Mobility Advisory Council (MAC) and bicycle advocates. Staff is working on open items: in-person customer service support, exterior ramp deployment tone, and barricades at Gold Line mini-high ramps. Future items include between-car barriers, bike racks, and activation strip. Marketing has a Community Assistance Program (CAP) where employees volunteer to assist riders. Director Serna asked about exterior wrapping for revenue; staff said no wrapping for two years due to warranty. Public comment from Coco (Sacramento Transit Advocates) requested transparency on decision-making, especially regarding disability access issues.
• General Manager's Report (Item 8) – Henry Lee thanked the public and union members for feedback. He acknowledged safety concerns, noting that RT has added 80 security guards, 20 police officers, and 70 ambassadors, but acknowledged that communication with operators about police actions needs improvement. He announced a new item in the GM report (8.1.3) to track responses to feedback from previous board meetings. He highlighted the upcoming launch of low-floor vehicles on the Gold and Green lines, with a press conference on September 3 at Township 9 Library Station. He showed a video from the Transit Unplugged TV podcast featuring RT and community partners. He also reported on a trip to South Korea with Director Jennings and Director Kozlowski, praising Seoul's transit system (3.4 billion annual riders, 2-minute headways). He noted that RT receives only 20% of a one-penny sales tax, far less than peers.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar (items 2.1–2.12) approved unanimously.
• Resolution 2024-08090 commending Brett Daniels approved unanimously; to be presented later.
• Light Rail Modernization update received as information; no action taken.
• Board directed the general manager to provide a memo to the board and public addressing safety concerns raised in public testimony, and to provide an update at the next meeting on conversations with the union regarding safety.
• Director Serna suggested exploring collaboration with the Downtown Sacramento Partnership and county to enhance safety around transit stations.
• The board recessed into closed session at approximately 5:30 PM for real estate negotiations (Item 13.1) and labor negotiations (Item 13.2). Chair Kennedy stated no report was expected from closed session.