Aug 28, 2024 ART Policy Board

[00:00:03]

OKAY,

[1. Meeting called to Order.]

LEMME CALL YOU BACK.

JUDGE ADAMS HERE, JUDGE.

CO.

COMMISSIONER LESKI FOR JUDGE COUD.

IF HE'S NOT GONNA JOIN THE MEETING, , HE'S GONNA RUN THE NEXT ONE.

BUT ARE YOU CAN, ARE YOU SITTING IN FOR THIS OR DO YOU LOVE YOUR OH, I'M, I'M GOOD.

I THINK IT OKAY.

SIT RIGHT BECAUSE HE LOOKS CLOSE.

JUDGE CAMACHO HERE, JUDGE.

HE IS EXCUSED.

JUDGE JONES.

HERE.

JUDGE KELLY, IF YOU RUN.

HE DID? YES.

OKAY.

JUDGE ZY, HE KELLY? ME? I THINK SO.

COMMISSIONER CARPENTER? YES.

YES MA'AM.

JUDGE LUTZ.

UH, COMMISSIONER CASTI FOR JUDGE LUTZ.

JUDGE LAR IS EXCUSED.

JUDGE STEEL IS EXCUSED.

AND WE'VE GOT JUDGE GRIFFIN HERE.

WE HAVE A QUORUM.

OKAY.

ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? UH, SIR.

OKAY.

WE HAVE

[4. Consider and act upon the recommendation to approve the July 26, 2023 Area Regional Transit (ART) Policy Board Meeting Minutes.]

DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER WHAT WE DID? ANY MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? I MOVE.

I WAS HERE BUT I DIDN'T PIN ON ATTENTION.

IS THAT A SECOND? ? I'LL SET THAT.

SEC.

SECOND.

THE LAST MOTION.

JUDGE WOODMAN, I SPEAK.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED? OKAY.

NOW WE TO ELECT

[5. Consider and act upon the election of the 2024 ART Policy Board Chair and Vice Chair.]

WHOEVER'S NOT HERE, IT SHOULD BE FAST.

.

THAT'S HOW IT HAPPENED LAST YEAR.

OVER HERE.

ASSUME THEY'RE GONNA, I CAN'T HARDLY, I CAN'T HARDLY HEAR WHAT I SIT OVER HERE.

YEAH.

CAN'T HEAR YOU.

CAN'T HEAR OVER THERE.

HERE, SIT HERE AND YOU SIT THERE.

I HAVE A MOTION FOR POLICY.

BOARD CHAIR.

VICE CHAIR.

WHO'S THE VICTIM? MM-HMM.

.

ANYBODY VOLUN? HAS ANYBODY BEEN VOLUNTOLD? I'M GOOD.

OKAY.

WE HAVE, UH, JUDGE WOODMAN HAS VOLUNTEERED TO BE THE CHAIR.

WE HAVE VOL A VOLUNTEER FOR VICE CHAIR.

JUST SO YOU KNOW, YOU MEET JUST ABOUT ONCE A YEAR.

SO LET LET ME ASK YOU, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT GONNA, IT'S NOT GONNA WEAR YOU OUT.

CAN THE ALTERNATES COME? BUT WE CAN'T MAKE IT? WHERE'S SEAN? CAN AN ALTERNATE CAN ALTERNATE COME IF THE, IF THE BOARD CHAIR CAN'T, IS THERE ANY REASON THEY, IF THEY CAN'T MAKE IT? I DON'T KNOW OF ANY.

YEAH.

SO I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY UNLESS THERE'S, THERE'S SOME TYPE OF EMERGENCY AND YOU CAN'T MAKE IT.

SOMEBODY'S GOTTA SIT HERE.

CORRECT.

OKAY.

YEAH.

I THINK WE ASK FORGIVENESS.

SOMETIMES OUR CONTRACTS HAVE RULES, BUT I DON'T KNOW ANY REASON.

WHAT DID WE GET? EQUIPMENTS? IT'S THE CHAIR VOLUNTEER FOR VICE CHAIR.

IF Y'ALL DO THE VICE CHAIR, I'LL ALTERNATE IF YOU DON'T MAKE IT.

YEAH.

I'LL DO THE VICE CHAIR.

VICE CHAIR.

THANK YOU.

.

THEY ALL IN FAVOR.

ACCEPTING THEIR THE DEVIL.

AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED? THANK YOU.

YOU'RE IT.

NOW I'M SORRY.

AM I JUST GONNA MAKE A WHO, WHO VOTED? WHO WAS THE MOTION? WHO WAS THE SECOND? I GOTTA HAVE THOSE ANYWAY.

GOOD.

I'VE GOT YOU AS MADE A MOTION.

I WAS VOLUNTOLD, SO, I MEAN, SO I'M GONNA SAY EVANS MADE, EVANS MADE THE MOTION.

I'M, HE MADE THE MOTION.

I SECOND IT SECOND.

AND SUSIE, LEMME ASK YOU, JUDGE CO.

ARE YOU SITTING IN THE MEETING OR ME? I DON'T KNOW.

THAT'S I HOW DID YOU HAVE US? 'CAUSE I CAN'T VOTE.

IF HE'S SITTING IN IT, THEN THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING LET HIM DO IT.

I'D RATHER NOT.

BUT IF HE'S THE CHAIRPERSON, THE VICE CHAIRMAN, I'LL BE THE ALTERNATE.

'CAUSE WE KNOW HE AIN'T GONNA SHOW UP.

CORRECT.

THAT'S GOOD.

SO THAT I'VE GOT, BUT WHO SECONDED THIS MOTION TO GET Y'ALL INTO OFFICE? I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA SAY JUDGE JONES MADE THE SECOND PERFECT.

I JUST VOLUNT TOLD EVERYBODY.

PERFECT.

THERE YOU GO.

GONNA FINISH THIS ONE OUT FIRST.

THIS MEETING.

I CAN'T YOUR GOVERNMENT IN ACTION.

.

THIS IS GOOD TO BE A COMMISSIONER.

YES.

OKAY.

ALL IN FAVOR? WE VOTED RIGHT? MM-HMM.

? YES.

[6. Consider and act upon the recommendation to approve the updated Alamo Regional Transit (ART) Drug & Alcohol Policy. - Duane Evans]

ITEM SIX.

WE HAVE TO APPROVE THE UPDATED ART, DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICY.

DWAYNE THE FED STRIKE AGAIN.

RIGHT.

GOOD MORNING CHAIR POLICY BOARD MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS DWAYNE EVANS.

I'M

[00:05:01]

THIS IS JIM LA 40.

YOU SEEK THE APPROVAL TO UPDATE ALAMO REGIONAL TRANSIT DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICY AS NEW POLICY DIRECTION AND UPDATES ARE RELEASED BY FTA AMO REGIONAL TRANSIT WITH THE GUIDANCE OF TEXTILE AND .

EVALUATE POLICY CHANGES NEEDED TO STAY UP TO DATE FOR CONTINUED COMPLIANCE OF OUR RURAL TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM.

YOU HAVE A COMPLETE RELI VERSION OF THE POLICY IN YOUR PACKETS.

I WANTED TO ADDRESS PRIMARY AFFECTED AREAS BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.

THE FIRST IS THE REMOVAL OF IDENTIFYING SPECIFIC TESTING SUCH AS URINE OR BREATH.

THERE ARE MORE OPTIONS BECOMING AVAILABLE IN THE FUTURE.

OUR CURRENT PROCEDURE WILL STILL BE URINE AND BREATH TESTING UNTIL WE HAVE GUIDANCE ON IMPLEMENTING AND ANY ADDITIONAL FORMS OF TESTING IT.

ALAMO REGIONAL TRANSIT DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICY GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND THE MINIMAL REQUIREMENTS.

IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT WE IDENTIFY TESTING THAT WE DO ON OUR OWN AUTHORITY.

THESE ITEMS ARE NOW UNDERLINED IN THE POLICIES.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER FOR YOU? CAN I ADD, JUST AS YOU KNOW, THE, THIS WAS ALL DONE AT THE, UM, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A CONSULTANT WHO'S AN EXPERT IN THE FTA AND AND, UH, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

YES, SIR.

UH, REQUIREMENTS ON THIS, AND IT'S BEEN VETTED THROUGH HR TO MAKE SURE IT'S CONSISTENT WITH OUR HR POLICIES.

I LOOKED IT OVER FROM A LEGAL AND POLICY STANDPOINT AS WELL.

AND SO THEY'RE REALLY MINOR CHANGES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO DO THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE FDA REQUIRES IS, UM, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT FOR A NOTIFICATION OF A FDA REQUIRES NOTIFICATION IF THERE'S AN ARREST OR A CRIME COMMITTED IN THE WORKPLACE.

I CHANGE THE POLICY TO REQUIRE OUR EMPLOYEES TO NOTIFY US IF THEY'RE ARRESTED AT ANY TIME, ARRESTED OR CONVICTED OF ANY OFFENSE.

AND SO WE'RE A LITTLE MORE STRINGENT THAN WHAT'S REQUIRED IN THAT REGARD.

OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S ALL VERY CONSISTENT WITH FTA GUIDELINES.

OKAY.

ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.

DWAYNE, HAVE MOST TO APPROVE THE UPDATED POLICY? YEAH, JUDGE, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE UPDATED ALAMO REGIONAL TRANSIT DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICY IS LAID OUT BY MR. EVANS.

OKAY, I SECOND, SECOND, SECOND.

JUDGE WHITMAN, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYE.

OPPOSED? OKAY.

THANK YOU.

[7. AACOG Alamo Regional Transit Ridership Report - Sean Scott]

RIGHT.

UM, GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

MY NAME'S JOHN SCOTT.

I'M ONE OF THE SENIOR DIRECTORS HERE.

I'M LAWYER COUNCIL GENTLEMAN.

UH, ONE OF MY PURVIEWS IS THE, UH, THE REGIONAL TRANSIT DISTRICT AND THE OTHER ONE'S PUBLIC.

THIS BOARD DOES NOT MEET VERY OFTEN, SO I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY JUST TO UPDATE YOU A LITTLE BIT ON PROJECTS THAT THE STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING ON.

UH, FIRST THING I'M JUST GONNA SAY IS, I'M GONNA SAY IS THE LAST, SINCE THE LAST TIME WE MET, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES AND PERSONNEL AND LEADERSHIP HERE AT, AND THAT INCLUDES THE ART PROGRAM, I THINK THE FIRST FOUR YEAR AWARE OF.

I DO WANT PUT A NAME TO THE POSITIONS THAT ARE THE DAY-TO-DAY.

UM, UH, A PROGRAM, THE TEAM OF THE ART PROGRAM.

SO, UH, DWAYNE EVAN, NOW DIRECTOR OF ALMO REGIONAL DISTRICT.

ROBERT, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR THANK YOU, IS THE OPERATIONS MANAGER.

STEVE IS THE DRIVER'S SUPERVISOR.

SO THIS TEAM IS VERY RESPONSIVE, RESPONSIVE, UH, TO ANY REQUESTS.

SO YOU CAN CONTACT ANY OF THESE PEOPLE, UH, N HELP INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED.

AND OF COURSE, YOU JUST FEEL, TALK TO ME ANYTIME.

UM, SOMETHING I JUST WANNA SHARE WITH YOU IS THAT, UH, WE POSTED THIS ARC MISSION AND STATEMENTS AT THE OFFICE AND ANYWHERE OUR EMPLOYEES CONGREGATE, SOMETIMES IN THE DAY GROUND OF OUR OPERATIONS, IT'S EASY FOR US TO FORGET THAT WE'RE NOT JUST OUT THERE DRIVING BUSES.

UH, WE, WE PROVIDE A SERVICE TO PEOPLE THAT REALLY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES.

AND OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS, TOWARDS OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE, UH, IS JUST AS IMPORTANT.

SO WE JUST PUT THESE LOWER REMINDERS AROUND TO HELP OUR STAFF AND EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE OPERATE, THE IMPORTANT THINGS.

UM, THE NEXT QUARTER IS THE, I JUST WANNA MENTION SOME OF OUR STRATEGIC GOALS.

THIS IS A LIST OF THE GOALS THAT, UH, WE USE THAT WHEN WE START OUR, OUR PLANNING PROCESS.

ALL THREE OF THESE GOALS BECAME MET TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE MOVING IN THE CORRECT DIRECTION AND THAT ALL OF OUR PROJECTS MADE OUR CORE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROVIDING RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.

FIRST ONE, ONE'S KIND OF SELF-EXPLANATORY.

WHILE WE NEED TO GROW, WE STILL NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WITH THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.

THE SECOND ONE IS OUR PLANNING STRATEGIES NEED TO MATCH OUR REGIONAL, REGIONAL COORDINATED TRANSP TRANSPORTATION PLAN.

AND SO I'LL TALK ABOUT THE PLAN HERE IN JUST A SECOND, ANOTHER TOPIC.

[00:10:01]

SO, AND THEN THE NEXT DEAL IS WE'RE GONNA, THE NEXT GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LEVELS OF SERVICE FIT, UH, THE DEMANDS OF THE SERVICE.

THAT OUR, THAT OUR LEVELS OF SERVICE MEET THE DEMANDS OF SERVICE, OUR SERVICE DELIVERY.

I'LL SAY IT A DIFFERENT WAY THAT, UM, THE IMPORTANT THING RIGHT THERE IS THAT WE USE EVERYTHING AVAILABLE TO US, ALL THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE CAN GET TO BE DATA DRIVEN, MAKE GOOD DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT LEVEL OF SERVICE WE NEED TO PROVIDE AND HOW, HOW TO PUT IT UP THERE.

SO EXAMPLE OF THAT IS, IS BEFORE RUNNING DEMAND RESPONSE SERVICE AND RESPONSE SERVICE GETS COVERED UP, WE KNOW WE NEED TO PROBABLY START LOOKING AT A ROUTE SYSTEM THAT'S GOING TO HANDLE MORE, MORE CAPACITY AND EVERYTHING.

SO A BIG DEAL FOR US IS TO USE OUR TECHNOLOGY, TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE DECISIONS ON HOW TO, HOW TO OPERATE OUR SERVICES.

UH, TALK REAL QUICK ABOUT SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE IN DIFFERENT MODES OF SERVICE.

OUR FIRST IS OUR ADVANCED SERVICES.

UH, THESE ARE, THIS IS TRANSPORTATION SERVICE THAT WE TAKE RESERVATIONS AT LEAST A DAY IN ADVANCE.

IT'S ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE.

I COULD TELL YOU THAT THESE RIDES FILL UP VERY FAST.

UH, YOU CAN RESERVE YOUR RIDE BY CALLING OUR DISPATCH OR BY USING OUR OURSELF, UH, RESERVATION MOBILE APP.

UH, THE NEXT SERVICE WE PROVIDE IS A SCHEDULED ROUTE SERVICE, WHICH, UH, THIS IS OUR MOST EFFICIENT METHOD OF PROVIDING SERVICE FOLLOWS A PREDETERMINED ROUTE AND PREDETERMINED TIME POINTS.

IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND IT'S PUBLISHED TIMES.

ANYBODY CAN CHECK WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEM AND, AND, AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

UM, OUR NEWEST SERVICE IS A, WHAT WE'RE CALLING MICRO TRANSIT.

THE SERVICE IS THE SAME DAY ADVANCE OR SAME DAY RESERVATION SERVICE.

IT'S NOT ADVANCED RESERVATION THOUGH.

SO, UH, WHERE I'M GOING WITH THAT IS THAT IF YOU WANT TO PICK UP TODAY AT THREE O'CLOCK, YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO USE THIS SERVICE.

BUT IF YOU'RE READY TO BE PICKED UP RIGHT NOW, YOU WOULD SCHEDULE YOUR SERVICE AND WE WOULD COME PICK YOU UP WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF, OF BOOKING YOUR TRIP.

UH, SO, SO THOSE, THOSE ARE THE THREE MODES OF SERVICE WE BUILT.

UH, THE SERVICE ON THAT MICRO TRANSIT, THE COST IS VERY HIGH, BUT IT'S A, A, A VERY CONVENIENT SERVICE.

SO I THINK IT COULD BE USED A LOT.

WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MODERATE HOW WE PRESENT IT TO THE PUBLIC, AND WE NEED TO LAYER OUR MODES ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.

I MEAN, BETWEEN OUR ROUTE SERVICE, OUR DEMAND RESPONSE SERVICE, AND OUR MICRO TRANSIT SERVICE, THEY ALL FIT TOGETHER.

ONE'S NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE OTHER, BUT, UM, THEY WORK TOGETHER.

SO, ONE MORE SERVICE, ANOTHER SERVICE THAT ALAMO REGIONAL TRANSIT STAFF PROVIDES IS TRAVEL TRAINING.

YOU HEARD US TALK ABOUT THE APPS AND EVERYTHING.

EVERYTHING.

SO THIS IS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON HOW TO USE OUR APP AND, UH, TO PLAN AND TO RESERVE THEIR TRIPS.

WE GO OUT, WE VISIT SENIOR CENTERS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, UH, OTHER GROUPS, VETERANS, JUST, UH, ANY, ANY KIND OF CONGREGATION OF PEOPLE WE CAN GET TOGETHER.

AND WE HELP THEM WITH THE SELF-REGISTRATION USING THE APP, HOW TO DO THEIR THINGS.

THIS ALLOWS THESE PEOPLE TO, UH, HAVE FREEDOM TO SCHEDULE THEIR OWN SERVICES ON THEIR OWN TIME AND, AND KEEPS THEIR INDEPENDENCE.

LAST SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE RIGHT NOW, SOMETHING I MENTIONED BEFORE IS OUR REGIONALLY COORDINATED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

UM, WE, WE'VE CREATED A TRANSPORTATION PLAN.

WE'VE HAD THE TRANSPORTATION PLAN IN EFFECT FOR, UH, OVER 10 YEARS NOW.

THIS PLAN GETS UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS.

UM, AND IT HELPS PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON WHAT OUR FUTURE NEEDS ARE AND WHAT UNMET MET NEEDS WE ARE NOT PERFORMING OR SERVING IN, IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

UM, OUR PLANS POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE IF YOU EVER NEED TO GO AND LOOK AT IT AND VISIT IT.

TEXT DOT REFERENCES THESE PLANS TO, UH, TO DETERMINE DISCRETIONARY FUNDING DISTRIBUTION.

SO IF, IF IT'S IN OUR PLAN AND WE APPLY FOR IT, THEN, THEN THEY'RE GOING MAKE SURE IT MATCHES UP AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DIDN'T JUST, JUST DO IT.

WE HAD A PLAN FORWARD.

GOING FORWARD WITH THIS .

UM, THE NEXT UPDATE TO WILL BE PRESENTED TO THIS GROUP RIGHT HERE, UH, BEFORE IT GETS SENT BACK TO T DOT.

SO I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT TWO YEARS AWAY, BUT I'LL KEEP YOU INFORMED OF EXACTLY WHEN THAT'S, THAT'S GOING TO BE NEEDED.

UM, IN THE PAST I'VE MENTIONED THAT TEX DOT PUT A REQUIREMENT ON US TO, UH, FOR THE TRANSPORTATION TO GROW.

SO FAILURE TO RE REACH A 2% GROWTH FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR COULD RESULT IN A REDUCTION IN STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING.

YOU COULD SEE THAT, UH, WE MET OUR MARK FOR THIS YEAR.

UM, TOO BAD THEY DON'T GIVE US REWARDS FOR GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND, BUT THEY WILL PENALIZE US FOR GOING FOR NOT MEETING THE STANDARDS.

SO, UM, WE'VE GOT PROJECTS GOING ON NOW FOR 2025 THAT ARE, ARE GOING TO HELP US MEET THE, THE GOALS FOR 2025 AF 'CAUSE WE'VE ALREADY ACHIEVED 2024.

WHAT'S GOING ON IN 2025? WE CURRENTLY HAVE THREE PROJECTS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON THE FINAL PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION.

HOPEFULLY THEY'LL BE UP AND RUNNING OCTOBER 1ST.

UH, ONE OF THEM IS A KERRVILLE THAT'S GOING TO BE A, A, A MICRO TRANSIT OPTION WITH, UH, FIXED ROUTE SERVICES MIXED IN.

THE LAST TIME WE'VE BEEN TALKING IS THEY REALLY WANT TO LEAN TOWARDS THE MICRO TRANSIT SIDE IN

[00:15:01]

WE ARE, UH, TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING THE CURRENT, UH, CONNECT SEINE ROUTE AND THEN ADDING MICRO TRANSIT TO SUPPORT IT AT, UH, OFF PEAK HOURS SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, EARLY MORNING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THE, EMPLOY, THE, THE PEOPLE USING IT FOR EMPLOYMENT.

UM, THINGS THAT ARE IN PROGRESS FOR US.

OH, I'M SORRY.

I GOT ONE MORE.

THAT'S THE BIG ONE FOR ME.

, IT'S WILSON COUNTY.

WE JUST SIGNED THAT UP REAL QUICK.

THAT'S GONNA BE A, I I, THIS ONE'S A BLANK SLATE TO ME.

IT'S A REALLY GREAT PROJECT.

WE'RE GOING TO, UH, START A, A ROUTE SYSTEM IN FLORESVILLE WITH, UH, UH, SPOKES THAT COME IN FROM, UH, LA VERNIA AND STOCKDALE AND PANDORA.

AND, UM, I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE TREMENDOUS RIDERSHIP THERE AND GREAT EXPANSION AND, UH, PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ONE RIGHT THERE.

UM, WORKING ON THE MARKETING AS WE SPEAK, UM, THINGS THAT ARE IN PROGRESS RIGHT NOW.

JUST SOME SERVICE EXPANSION PLANNING, SO THAT WE HAVE THOSE SHELF PROJECTS READY TO GO IS, WE'VE HAD, UH, TENTATIVE TALKS IN WITH THE LEADERS IN KARNS COUNTY, KENDALL COUNTY, AND KAMAL COUNTY ABOUT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF SERVICE.

WE HAVEN'T REALLY ESTABLISHED GOOD PLANNING YET, BUT WE'RE GOING TO AND MOVE FORWARD.

UH, JUST, UH, JUST SO THAT WE'RE READY IN CASE SOMETHING NEW COMES IN, WE ALSO HAVE A ISSUE GOING ON SHIRTS AND SLO WITH NEW BRAUNFELS PULLING OUT OF, OF THE, UH, THE FUNDING STREAM THAT, THAT VIA GIVES US, UM, SHIRTS AND SLO ARE, ARE, ARE GOING TO BE SEVERELY UNDERFUNDED TO PROVIDE SERVICE.

AND SO WE'VE GOTTA FI FIGURE OUT A NEW WAY TO PROVIDE SERVICE AND PARTNER UP WITH VIA TO DO THAT.

AND SO WE'RE GONNA START WORKING ON THAT.

UM, ONE MORE THING THAT'S KIND OF OUTSIDE THE NORM IS THAT, THAT WE'RE WORKING ON A PILOT PROJECT WITH BRAZOS TRANSIT OUTTA COLLEGE STATION TO HELP WITH, UH, LIBERTY COUNTY.

AND WHAT IT IS, IS THAT, UH, WE'RE WANTING TO SEE IF, IF WE CAN OPERATE THEIR MICRO TRANSIT SERVICE IN LIBERTY COUNTY FROM, FROM OUR OFFICES RIGHT HERE, UM, ACROSS, ACROSS OUR TECHNOLOGY AND THE PLATFORMS. AND, UM, SO FAR THE EARLY PRE IT SEEMS LIKE WE CAN DO IT.

UM, IT'S GOING TO BE THEIR VEHICLES, THEIR DRIVERS, EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

WE'RE JUST GOING TO MONITOR AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR TECHNOLOGY CAN KEEP UP WITH THEM WITH NO AND INTERFERING.

SO IT'D BE A KIND OF A NICE TEST TO SEE HOW IT, HOW IT COMES OUT.

UM, I DO WANT TO UPDATE YOU ON THE SERVICE CHANGE ABOUT NEW BRAUNFELS.

I MEAN, TODAY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, YOU KNOW, THEY AGREED UPON AN I A TO PROVIDE A MONTH TO MONTH SERVICE, UH, UNTIL THE CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELS DOES DETERMINE THE BEST METHOD OF SERVICE FOR THEM.

UM, IT, IT, IT DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING FOR US EXCEPT FOR WE'RE NOT BILLING, UH, UH, VIA ANYMORE.

AND WE'RE NOT DOING THAT.

IT'S, IT'S JUST A STRAIGHT, STRAIGHT UP AGREEMENT WITH NEW BRAUNFELS.

WITH NEW BRAUNFELS COMING OUT.

UM, THE, THE COUNT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T AFFECT OUR GROWTH RATE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE NEW BRAUNFELS WAS ALREADY CONSIDERED OUTSIDE OF OUR RURAL AREA.

SO WE, WE DON'T COUNT IT IN IN THAT KIND OF GROWTH SERVICE.

A COUPLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS REAL QUICK IS THIS YEAR ALONE, WE'VE ALREADY HAVE SEVEN NEW BUSES DELIVERED AND PUT INTO SERVICE.

WE'VE BOUGHT THREE NEW A DA MINIVANS AND THEY'RE DELIVERED AND IN SERVICE, THE A DA MINIVANS ARE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE USING FOR OUR MICRO TRANSIT SERVICE.

UM, WE HAVE FOUR ADDITIONAL MINIVANS ORDERED.

WE EXPECT DELIVERY OF THOSE THIS SEPTEMBER.

SO HERE IN A COUPLE WEEKS, I THINK THEY'RE JUST WAITING ON US.

UM, THE NEXT TWO ITEMS RELATE BACK TO OUR STRATEGIC GOAL ABOUT EXPANDING OUR TECHNOLOGIES.

SO WE UPGRADED OUR APP OR OUR PHONE APP AND IT INCLUDES, UH, TRIP PLANNING SERVICE AND THEN, UH, METHODS TO PAY.

SO WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN CASH BASED AND WE'LL STILL, WE'LL STILL HAVE, WE'LL STILL TAKE CASH, BUT IT'S ALWAYS BEEN, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T CARRYING CASH ANYMORE.

AND SO HIT TARGETING SOME OF THESE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE HITTING ON THE MICRO TRANSIT AND EVERYTHING.

WE NEEDED TO GET A CREDIT CARD BASED APP.

AND SO WE HAVE THAT IN PLACE.

IT'S A THIRD PARTY, SO THE LIABILITY ON THE CREDIT CARDS ARE NOT OURS.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE ON THAT, THAT THIRD PARTY.

THE LAST THING IS THE PHASED IN ON THE NEW CAMERAS ON BUSES.

SO WE PUT IN A NEW CAMERA SYSTEM ON, ON THE, ON THE 10 NEW BUSES THAT WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED.

THIS, THE, THESE CAMERAS, UH, ALLOW US TO MONITOR EVERYTHING LIVE SO WE CAN SEE THE PASSENGERS IN THE BUS.

WE CAN SEE EVERYTHING GOING ON, UM, WITHOUT GOING OUT, HAVING TO PULL A HARD DRIVE AND DOWNLOAD VIDEO AND HOPEFULLY IT WAS CAPTURING AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

WE CAN MONITOR THIS THING EVERY DAY, MAKE SURE IT'S LIVE.

THIS SYSTEM WILL PHASE IN AS THE OLDER VEHICLES PHASE OUT.

UM, THE SYSTEM GIVES US A SECOND OPTION THAT WE ARE NOT, UH, WE WE'RE NOT USING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T FINISHED THE, UH, SECURITY ASSESSMENT ON IT.

BUT WE CAN, WE CAN PROVIDE FREE WIFI ON ALL THE BUSES WITH THIS CAMERA SYSTEM.

WE CAN SHARE, WE CAN SHARE OUR SIGNAL THAT'S ON THERE.

UM, WE JUST NEED TO GET WITH OUR PEOPLE AND MAKE SURE THAT IT, IT, IT'S SECURE AND SAFE TO DO THAT.

SO WE, WE HAVEN'T, WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT YET.

UM, UPCOMING THINGS GOT RIGHT NOW IS, UH, YOU VOTED, UH, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TODAY VOTED TO APPROVE 18 NEW VEHICLES.

WE'RE EXPECTING ANOTHER ALLOCATION IN THIS NEXT MONTH.

[00:20:01]

SO THAT'S REALLY GOING TO UPGRADE OUR SERVICES, ADDITIONAL SERVICE EXPANSION, FUNDING, MONEY.

UH, THIS IS HOW THE SERVICE EXPANSION PLANNING MONEY IS HOW WE WERE ABLE TO ADD SERVICE IN WILSON, KERRVILLE AND, UH, THE CITY OF SEINE.

SO BECAUSE OF THE GREAT LOCAL SUPPORT THAT COMES IN AND EV EVERYBODY HAS SKIN IN THE GAME, THEY'VE PUT MONEY INTO THIS.

UH, TDOT CAME BACK AND ASKED IF WE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

AND OF COURSE I SAID, YEAH, YOU KNOW, , IT'S NO BRAINER THERE.

AND I TOLD HIM THAT WE HAVE THESE THREE, WE HAVE THREE PROJECTS IN THE PLANNING PHASE THAT, UM, THESE THINGS CAN COME TOGETHER RAPIDLY FOR US.

WE, WE WORK TOGETHER GREAT AS A COMMUNITIES AND, AND TOGETHER IN PARTNERSHIPS.

SO THAT I TOLD THEM THAT WE COULD PROBABLY IMPLEMENT THIS RATHER RAPIDLY IF, IF THEY WERE TO APPROVE MORE FUNDING FOR US.

I DON'T KNOW IF I MENTIONED TO Y'ALL ABOUT THIS, BUT YOU DON'T GET MANY OPPORTUNITIES.

UH, WELL, I'M GONNA SAY WE GET A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAPITAL.

WE CAN BUY BUSES, WE GET BUY SOFTWARE AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

BUT THIS FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS FOR ME, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THAT WE'RE GONNA GET LONG-TERM SUPPORT FOR OPERATIONS, I REALLY DON'T EXPECT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR A LONG TIME.

I HOPE THAT I HAVE TO EAT MY WORDS ON THAT, BUT HISTORY KIND OF TELLS ME DIFFERENT.

SO THAT SUMS UP EVERYTHING THAT I WANTED TO DO.

UM, IS THERE ANY REQUEST, ANYTHING THAT Y'ALL TO START LOOKING INTO OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, SEAN? THE PRONTO SERVICE THAT'S LIKE, IT'S LIKE UBER YOU CALL, WE COME GET YOU.

YES SIR.

YES SIR.

UM, IF YOU WOULD LIKE, YOU CAN GO ONTO YOUR, UM, YOUR APPLE OR GOOGLE OR ANDROID OR WHATEVER, YOU COULD GO ONTO THE PLACE STORE, EITHER ONE.

IT'LL BE COMPLETELY OUT BASED PROMPT, WILL BE COMPLETELY OUT BASED.

UM, AND YOU COULD GO ON DOWNLOAD CAMO REGIONAL TRANSIT AND IT'LL DOWNLOAD, YOU'LL SIGN UP WILL BE A SELF SERVE OPTION TO TO, TO USE THE PROMPT.

UM, EVERY EVERY DAY DAY WE'RE GOING TO COME IN AFTER THE FACT.

AND SO YOU WENT AND USE THE OPTION OF ANY NEW GROUNDS ON THAT DAY, ON THE DAY BEFORE.

WE'LL COME IN THE NEXT DAY AND WE'LL EVALUATE YOUR, YOUR PROFILE TO SEE IF THERE'S OTHER FUNDING OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR YOU SO THAT MAYBE WE CAN PROVIDE CHECKS, TRANSPORTATION FOR CHEAPER, MORE ECONOMICAL WAY.

THOSE ARE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO DO.

YES, IT'S GOING BE UBER.

WE CAN CALL IT UBER STUFF.

THE TECHNOLOGY'S NOT QUITE AS HIGH AS UBER, I'LL TELL YOU THAT.

UM, YOU'RE NOT GONNA SEE A LITTLE BUS BUS COMING TO YOUR HOUSE, BUT IT'LL TELL YOU FIVE MINUTES AWAY.

.

WHAT IS, WHAT IS YOUR, UM, YOUR IDEA OF GETTING THIS OUT TO OUR CITIZENS IN OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES? THE, THE SERVICES, THE PROMPTING SERVICE OR WHICH ANYTHING.

SO WE HAVE DEMAND RESPONSE IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE COUNTY, EVERYWHERE WE HAVE THE SPONSORS.

UM, THEN WE USUALLY START TALKING, TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY LEADERS TO DETERMINE, DETERMINE, UM, IF THERE'S, IF THERE'S A HIGH NEED, A VICTIM.

AND I'LL GIVE YOU THE EXAMPLE OF WILSON COUNTY.

COUNTY RIGHT NOW IS WE HAD A LADY OVER THERE, SHE REALLY CHAMPIONED THIS CAUSE SHE CAME IN AND, UM, WE, WE KIND OF SIT DOWN WITH HER, CAME OUT WITH SOME IDEAS AND WE STARTED GOING TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THE JUDGE AND EVERYBODY, AND GOT THE PROJECT KICKED OFF AND EVERYTHING.

SO, UM, NORMALLY WE DON'T EXPAND VERY MUCH BECAUSE RARELY RAR DO WE HAVE MONEY FOR OPERATIONS TO EXPAND.

AND SO, SO UM, RIGHT NOW THE MARKETING IS, UH, IT IS PRETTY MINIMAL BECAUSE UNLESS YOU, UNLESS UH, YOU ARE IN A, WHAT WE CALL A WRAP SYSTEM, BECAUSE OUR WRAP SYSTEM, I CAN, I CAN BE ANY CAPACITY.

BUT WHEN WE RUN A DEMAND RESPONSE SIMILAR TO RIO COUNTY RIGHT THERE, I GOT LOADED AND BILL BUS IS STILL UP REALLY FAST.

SO WE HAVEN'T SPENT MUCH ON MARKETING.

YOU HEAR THE QUESTIONS? NO, SIR.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

YES, SIR.

YES.

[8. Next scheduled meeting is scheduled is TBD.]

IS THAT RIGHT? YES.

YOU WANNA SAY IN A YEAR OR SO? OKAY, WE'RE ADJOURNED.