TRANSPAC Committee Meeting Summary Minutes
MEETING DATE: October 13, 2022
MEMBERS PRESENT: Loella Haskew, Walnut Creek (Chair); Peter Cloven, Clayton (Vice Chair); Tim McGallian, Concord; Mark
Ross, Martinez; Sue Noack, Pleasant Hill; Karen
Mitchoff, Contra Costa County
PLANNING COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: John Mercurio, Concord; Diana Vavrek, Pleasant Hill
STAFF PRESENT: Andy Smith, Walnut Creek; Melody Reebs, County Connection; Celestine Do, BART; John Cunningham,
Contra Costa County; Saravana Suthanthira,
Concord; Matt Todd, TRANSPAC Managing
Director; and Tiffany Gephart, TRANSPAC Clerk
GUESTS/PRESENTERS: Stephanie Hu, CCTA; Joy Bhattacharya, AMG; Frank Furger, AMG
MINUTES PREPARED BY: Tiffany Gephart
1. Convene Regular Meeting / Pledge of Allegiance / Self-Introductions Chair Haskew called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M. Introductions followed.
2. Public Comments
There were no comments from the public.
3. Consent Agenda
a. Minutes of the August 4, 2022, September 1, 2022 and September 29, 2022 Meetings.
Items Approved by the CCTA for Circulation to the Regional Transportation Planning Committees and Related Items of Interest.
b. CCTA Executive Director’s Report Regarding CCTA Actions/Discussion Items c. Items Approved by the CCTA for Circulation to the Regional Transportation Planning Committees and Related Items of Interest
d. RTPC Meeting Summary Letters
e. CCTA Meeting Updates and Countywide Information Links f. Continue use of Teleconferencing for Public Meetings by the TRANSPAC Board and Subcommittees Pursuant to the Provisions of AB 361. Approve the proclamation of a local emergency, ratify the proclamation of a State of
Emergency, and authorize the continuation of conducting remote teleconference meetings of the legislative bodies of TRANSPAC for the period through November 12, 2022, pursuant to the Brown Act provisions under AB 361.
g. TRANSPAC Committee Appointments – CCTA TCC Appointment for the Term Ending March 31, 2023. Appoint Lynne Filson, representing Martinez to fill the vacant alternate position on the TCC for the term ending March 31, 2023.
On motion by Commissioner Noack seconded by Commissioner Mitchoff to approve the consent agenda, except item A, by unanimous vote of the members present (Haskew, Cloven, Mitchoff, Ross, McGallian, Noack).
There was a request by Planning Commissioner John Mercurio to amend the August 4, 2022 minutes. Mr. Mercurio submitted the following clarification to item 4, Central County Action Plan Update, line 6, regarding the Contra Costa Water Districts Plan to pipe the Contra Costa Canal along the trail thereby creating new space for [inserted text] “the trail occupying the space under the bridges” and in the next sentence [deleted text] “a wider right of way” and [inserted text] “trail improvements”.
On a motion by Commissioner Noack, Seconded by Commissioner Cloven to amend the minutes as requested by unanimous vote of members present. (Haskew, Cloven, Mitchoff, Ross, McGallian, Noack).
End Consent Agenda
4. DYNAMIC PERSONAL MICRO TRANSIT FEASIBILITY STUDY
Matt Todd introduced the item. Stephanie Hu provided some background on the feasibility study and introduced Joy Bhattacharya’s presentation.
Ms. Hu noted that staff presented the findings of the study to City Councils in East County and received support for the project. She further noted that CCTA conducted industry outreach in February, 2022 to learn of potential developers to implement the project and determine if it is financially feasible. Ms. Hu further noted that in July, CCTA and Tri-Delta entered an MOU which defined roles and responsibilities for the project. The CCTA Board authorized staff to release an RFP to select a developer team and Ms. Hu described the proposed high-level components of the RFP.
Commissioner Haskew asked how people access the system. Ms. Hu commented that an app, for example, would allow users to hail a ride or alternatively by accessing a kiosk and the user would ideally only travel a short distance to connect to DPMT. Commissioner Haskew further
asked how accessibility is addressed for Seniors and People with Disabilities. Ms. Hu noted that the service may not be accessible to everyone, but the goal is for the stations to be both walkable and bikeable.
Commissioner Haskew noted that new commuters connecting to BART, which is already congested, via DPMT can potentially overload the system and asked how this will be addressed.
Mr. Bhattacharya noted that BART is supportive of DPMT and there have been discussions regarding capacity. Mr. Bhattacharya noted that reducing headways is one option.
Commissioner Haskew commented that there could be long queues at BART as DPMT users are arriving at the same time and how that will be handled. Mr. Bhattacharya commented that the loading area will be designed based on expected ridership demand such as accommodating more vehicles. Commissioner Haskew further asked about how the DPMT vehicles will avoid piling up at BART as users access the stations and how those cars will be cleared out and if they will sit at BART until another user hails a ride. Mr. Bhattacharya noted that the distribution of the vehicles is automated, and vehicles will disperse throughout network rather than pooling in one area so that users will have vehicles nearby when users hail a ride, and the wait times will be reduced.
John Mercurio asked about the estimated speed in which the vehicles travel and the estimated maximum wait time for users. Mr. Bhattacharya noted the average speed is 31 miles per hour and the wait time at each location will be less than 2 minutes. Mr. Bhattacharya also noted that the wait times could be higher depending on how large the network is.
5. TRANSPAC CCTA REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS.
Commissioner Noack commented that the CCTA Board is discussing creating an Ad Hoc committee to discuss the ongoing lease for GoMentum station which will expire in the next two years.
6. TAC ORAL REPORTS BY JURISDICTION
No member comments.
7. BOARDMEMBER COMMENTS
Commissioner Noack commented that an Electric Scooter Program has started in Pleasant Hill.
Commissioner Cloven thanked CCTA and Mr. Todd for attending the Clayton City Council and discussing Marsh Creek Road as a potential route of regional significance.
8. MANAGING DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Mr. Todd commented there was a good discussion about the Action Plan at the Clayton City Council meeting as Commissioner Cloven alluded to. Mr. Todd further noted that a letter of
support was submitted on behalf of TRANSPAC for the East Bay Regional Parks District Bay Trail project in the Martinez area. Mr. Todd further noted a site visit will happen Friday (October 14, 2022) and he will attend as a representative of TRANSPAC.
9. ADJOURN / NEXT MEETING The meeting adjourned at 9:43 A.M. The next meeting will be on November 10, 2022 at 9:00 A.M.