1 10/13/2021 City of Alameda-AC Transit ILC Meeting Notes ILC Attendees – Tony Daysog, John Knox White (chair), Elsa Ortiz, Chris Peeples Special guest - AUSD Representative Susan Davis
Announcements/Public Comments - None
WETA/AC Transit Connectivity
• AC Transit launched Line 78 in August 2021. There are a few minor updates to the service planned for December. The plan is to continue the line after the 12-month pilot ends. Ridership issues tied to changes to commuter patterns due to the pandemic. The City is working to charge for parking which may affect ridership.
• E. Ortiz – Low ferry ridership impacts Line 78 ridership. Ridership is under five people per trip on Line 78. • Knox White – Any consideration to extend or increase weekend bus service? • M. Eshleman, AC Transit – Weekend service would not be a priority.
Mastick Senior Center Free Bus Pass Program
• Existing structure for bus pass program in Alameda is the EasyPass Program in which AC Transit and the Alameda Transportation Management Association (ATMA) have an agreement to provide reduced fare bus passes to businesses and residents. The EasyPass agreement is valide through 2023. The ATMA administers the program throughout the city of Alameda. In the past, some Mastick Senior Center community members were added as assumed employees, but since Mastick Senior Center does not meet EasyPass requirements, no new members will be added under the current program structure. • C. Peeples – If today, can a Mastick Senior Center participant able to get one? o N. Laynes, AC Transit – No, we are not issuing new Easypasses but we have not cancelled any existing passes.
o C. Peeples – What is the timeline?
o Mike Hursh – We will make it a priority to get started before the next meeting. Modifying the EasyPass agreement may not need Board approval.
• E. Ortiz – Will this be a new program for the Senior Center? Will this be an ongoing project or pilot? o N. Laynes, AC Transit – this will be a new type of program o G. Payne, City of Alameda – Yes, it’s the city’s hope that it is ongoing • Daysog – In terms of mechanics, why are new users not being added to EasyPass? o N. Laynes, AC Transit – The EasyPass program is not set up to cover senior centers. • G. Payne, City of Alameda – We currently have 63 low-income seniors receiving free bus passes; no waiting list; program not currently being advertised.
• A. Thomas, City of Alameda – Highlighted issue of restructuring relationship between City and ATMA; vision is to create a city-wide EasyPass program to increase bus transit and City should pay for that. City would like to open ATMA program to groups that do not currently fit into AC Transit’s Easypass program. • J. Knox White – What would it cost to provide every household with 2 EasyPasses for the entire city? Back of the envelope analysis would be helpful for further discussion.
Commercial Streets Program
2 • A. Thomas, City of Alameda, City of Alameda – Staff recommendation for next steps on the restriping from four to two lane quick-build in response to the pandemic at the upcoming City Council meeting on Nov. 2. Recommendation is to continue program with modifications for another two years while City Staff develops final plan. The City will continue to improve the barriers and physical infrastructure to keep the buses running as effectively and smoothly as possible.
• E. Ortiz – This is an issue that AC Transit is going to face in other cities as parklets continue after the pandemic.
o Knox White – Agreed with Ortiz and the need to explore ways to continue the partnership and conversation. Regarding the tradeoffs for bus service and commercial district since places like downtowns are not the most efficient places to run due to other priorities. • R. del Rosario, AC Transit – we are monitoring the conversations and there’s an impact to service reliability – looking at signal timings and other bus priorities. In our letter to the city, we understand there’s a hierarchy for land use and use of roadways and acknowledge businesses need support right now. • C. Peeples – Supportive of the recommendation and noted national discussion about curb space while moving away from the private automobile.
• A. Thomas – The four lanes were sub-standard for the travel lanes and the parking lanes. Need to be smart at the intersections to allow buses to proceed efficiently. • E. Ortiz – What is the position of the businesses? Are you removing parking meters? o A .Thomas – Generally, within the last 2 years, businesses prefer parklet over parking spaces.
Businesses want permanent bike racks for customers. Possibly a changing mentality. City has removed parking enforcement during pandemic, and now businesses are requesting the City to manage curb space again.
• Comment from Maria Gallo (member of the public) – Need to acknowledge that we are an island with the closing of the Naval Air Station and we need more housing. Line 78/WETA are designed around a commuter population and we are not sure it will come back to pre-pandemic, and need to consider recreational trips. Need to get out of the silos and need to consider regional transportation working together.
AC Transit Service Recovery
• M. Eshleman, AC Transit stated that AC Transit wants to get back to pre-pandemic levels, and provided a presentation that was provided in the ILC packet.
Rockridge BART Connection Line 51A
• R. del Rosario, AC Transit –AC Transit staff is conducting an alternatives analysis study and will present to the Board in November.
AC Transit Ridership & Complaints with Actual Missed Runs • M. Eshleman, AC Transit – Ridership increases for Line 51A (25% increase), Line 96 (weekdays 30%), Line O (30-40% increase, although not at pre-pandemic levels), Line 78 higher ridership than lines OX and W.
o Highest Complaint categories – no shows and then pass ups o Workforce challenges like operator availability affects service output, and hopefully AC Transit is past this issue.
3 • E. Ortiz – Stressed that AC Transit is having a difficult retaining and hiring bus operators which is impacting our service on the road.
• T. Daysog – Appreciated the data and the year-over-year trends that indicate service and ridership is coming back.
New Developments Update
• A. Thomas, City of Alameda, City of Alameda – Issuing building permit for 200 units in Alameda Point soon, which includes the first 550 units in Alameda Point. More people are moving into new units and are given an EasyPass through ATMA.
o Increase in life science employment (Wind River Campus) 1000sqft+, Harbor Bay Business Park new businesses – possible increase to Line 20/21, Line 78, Line 19, will see increases to ridership opportunities
o New businesses are bringing new employees who are transit-oriented o Will provide overall housing elements to ILC in the future • S. Davis – Wind River and Del Monte Project – wants to advertise AC Transit routes to Marina Village office staff – can AC Transit create a specific map for district staff? o B. Greene will follow up with S. Davis
Safety Projects: Encinal, Grand, Lincoln/Marshall/Pacific, Mecartney/Island, Central and Otis/Doolittle/State Route 61
• G. Payne, City of Alameda – Presented Safety Project updates. Vision zero community: Webster/Park St are high-injury corridors
o Encinal – Caltrans project next year near school
o Otis/Doolittle – Caltrans project
o Lincoln/mar – Line 96 - lane reduction
o Grand – resurfacing and enhanced bike lanes w/ bus islands: meeting on Thursday, Dec. 9 virtual community workshop
o Mecartney – roundabout at the intersection Wed. Dec 1 community workshop, construction 2023
RM3 Status
• R. del Rosario – stated that some agencies are starting to consider planning for these monies; however, AC Transit is about six months away from allocations.
Next Meetings & Discuss Potential for Hybrid Meetings
• Next meeting rescheduled from Jan 12 to Jan. 26, 2022 due to C. Peeples’ conflict with a conference in Washington D.C., ACT & City will inform ILC members the meeting type. • C. Peeples – Jan. 12th is middle of TRB back in D.C. According to Dist. Secretary, the ILC members do not need to meet monthly instead they will follow ACT’s lead. ACT will inform ILC members. • Alameda City staff – waiting for city council to decide when council meetings will be moved to hybrid, then all boards and commissions will follow suit. City council will make decision on how it will operate and set the requirements for other meetings and subcommittees. • S. Davis – Environmental reasons to continue Zoom meetings and efficiency for staff. 4 April 13, July 13, October 12, 2022 future meeting dates Announcements/ Public Comments
• C. Peeples (Board Comment) – UC Davis Asilomar conference: National/International conference convos about curb space, incentives for dense develop and TOD. This ILC is on the cutting edge of a lot of stuff going on.
• E. Ortiz – Gov. signed AB 197 allowing cameras in front of buses – huge win. Now we will be able to ticket people parked in bus stops without having to call sheriff. Public notification needed 30days before activation.
Adjourned at 10:37 on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 by Daysog