SOCIAL SERVICES TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COUNCIL 

                                                                           MINUTES                  April 4, 2018

Present              Voting Attendees:

                                Michael Hack – Vice Chair        Consumer

                                Sonia Silva                               Access to Independence 

                                Erika Martinez                          ARC – Imperial Valley

                                Lorena Arambula                      San Diego Regional Center 

                                Raul Cordova                            Work Training Center 

                                Rosie Blankenship                     Area Agency on Aging

                                Kathi Williams                          CTSA – ICTC 

                                David Aguirre                           CTSA – ICTC

                                Kathleen Lang                           California Health and Wellness

                                Michelle Soto                            California Children Services (CCS)

                                Debora Garcia                           Imperial County Public Authority / IHSS

                        Non-Voting Attendees:

                        Cristi Lerma                              ICTC

                        Gil Rebollar                              Area Agency on Aging 

                                Raul Martinez                           Imperial County Public Health

                                Eric Estell                                 IVT/IVT Access/IVT Ride/IVT MedTrans

                                Cesar Sanchez                           IVT/IVT Access/IVT Ride/IVT MedTrans

                        Karla Aguilar                            IVT/IVT Access/IVT Ride/IVT MedTrans

                        Karla Pacheco                           IVT/IVT Access/IVT Ride/IVT MedTrans

                        Helio Sanchez                           IVT/IVT Access/IVT Ride/IVT MedTrans

1.       Mr. Hack called the meeting to order at 10:04 a.m.  A quorum was present. Introductions were made.

2.       Minutes adopted for March 7, 2018 (Cordova/Williams). 

3.       FY 2018-19 UTN “Findings” Letter of Response                         

Mr. Aguirre stated that the second meeting of the Unmet Transit Needs process was held on March 22, 2018 and staff presented recommendations to the requests presented at the previous hearing to determine what was reasonable to meet and what was not reasonable to meet at this time. The Findings for FY 2018-19 were identified as the following:

-           The existing transit services should be continued -  o IVT RIDE – Brawley, Calexico, El Centro, Imperial and West Shores o County-Wide Transit System- Imperial Valley Transit o ADA Paratransit Services – IVT Access

o IVT MedTrans

T: Projects\SSTAC\2018\April\M040418

SSTAC Minutes 04/04/18

-          Continue coordination between existing transit services, including paratransit services provided by both public and social service agencies.  ICTC staff shall provide recommendations and technical assistance when requested by social service and public agencies.

-          All transit services shall comply with the American's with Disabilities Act of 1990; provisions specific to respective services offered.

-          All transit services shall comply with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and/or Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Drug and Alcohol Testing rules; provisions specific to respective services offered.

-          Staff will continue to pursue resources for the implementation of the proposed IVT Red Line in Imperial and IVT Garnet Line in Calexico. 

-          Staff will continue to provide technical assistance to the Cities of Calexico and Imperial for the development of the Cities’ transfer terminal projects.

-          Staff will continue to pursue resources for the implementation of service changes in accordance with the priorities in the FY 2018-19 Unmet Needs List which are identified as the following: 

o   Expand Sunday service to Niland, Calipatria and Westmorland, and increase frequency on Imperial Valley Transit (IVT) routes 2N and 2S.  This action includes the addition of service hours on the corresponding ADA paratransit service, IVT Access.   

o   Implement two additional trips on Imperial Valley Transit route 41S (Brawley to El Centro FAST) to reduce overcrowding on route 2S in the primary corridor.   

o   Implement IVT Express schedule modifications and an additional late round trip from IVC to Calexico after 5:30 PM, after IVC adjusts it “college hour” scheduling.  

-          Mr. Aguirre stated that an item not on the list is the request from Area Agency on Aging to provide IVT Ride services to seniors in Heber to attend nutrition during the summer months. This request will require coordination with the City of El Centro.

-          Mr. Aguirre stated that a SSTAC response letter was drafted and it was provided to the SSTAC for their review and recommendations. The “response letter” included the items on the Unmet Transit Needs List for FY 2018-19; and, the request from the Area Agency on Aging. 

A motion was made to approve the SSTAC FY 2018-19 “Letter of Response” with a minor addition requested by Dr. Lang to include in parenthesis “for all routes” on the first item of the Unmet Transit Needs List (Lang/Cordova), Motion carried unanimously.

- Mr. Aguirre stated that staff will present the panel adopted “Findings” to the Commission and request approval at the April 25, 2018 meeting.

4.       CTSA Reports:

Ms. Williams had the following announcements:

-          Ms. Williams stated that she attended a Transit Fare Policy training in Seattle and that a fare study on ICTC transit services is on the horizon. The goal for the study will be to raise fares minimally and provide more opportunities for purchasing tickets. Funds to hire a consultant for this study will be included in the budget for FY 2018-19. 

Mr. Aguirre had the following announcements: 

-          The ICTC Bench and Bus Stop Inventory project is almost completed. ICTC and member agency staff have worked together to complete the priority list for implementation and pursuit of funding. The bus stop signage specifications with specific route information are being finalized. 

-          The contractor has completed construction and installation of the bus shelter infrastructure for the Brawley bus stop improvement program and anticipates final completion of the project by late April 2018.

5.       Transit Operator Reports                                                            

-          Imperial Valley Transit:  Updates were given by Mr. Sanchez:

o    March was very busy but nothing to report at this time.

-          IVT Access:  Updates were given by Ms. Pacheco: 

o    Service as usual, nothing to report at this time.  

-          IVT Ride – Updates were given by Ms. Aguilar:

o    IVT Ride West Shores in now traveling to the City of Brawley on Tuesdays beginning February 27, 2018. The bus is stopping at the Brawley Bus Terminal and at Walmart and is charging $2.50 per trip for curb to curb service. 

o    Ms. Blankenship stated that she would forward the contact information for Bryon Pickrell, Board President of the Salton Community Services District.

o    There were 51 new sign-ups in the month of March.

-          IVT MedTrans – Updates were given by Mr. Helio Sanchez:

o    Service was slower than usual in the month of March. o IVT MedTrans hired a new driver for the later shift and he has learned the routes and experienced weather and environmental hazards in a short time. 

6.       General Discussion

- Ms. Blankenship requested that staff send Mr. Rebollar transit information he can take with him to the Westmorland Health Fair. 

7. Adjournment

-          Meeting adjourned at 10:42 a.m.

-          Next meeting will be on May 2, 2018.