Thread by @grenadine

Listening to the Regional Transit Authority board meeting. It’s my first one.

The interim general manager RTA appointed after Matt Webb left also worked for WSP, which seemed like a potential conflict of interest. Ben works as program mgr for WSP. #DetroitDocumenters

Sounds like they are carving out part of it to give to HNTB (I don’t know what that is) but WSP is getting paid more for doing more work in the new arrangement? #detroitdocumenters

Real talk this RTA meeting is a legally public meeting that is not interested in being understandable to the general public. #detroitdocumenters

RTA says thru June meetings will be virtual and then they will see from there, depending on how changes to the open meetings act (whoa) and executive orders play out. #detroitdocumenters

The RTA should buy everyone some affordable earbuds to address these echoes. #detroitdocumenters

The RTA is serving as a pass-through for the Area Agency on Aging on finances for the MI Ride 2 program, which provides transportation for disabled people and seniors. #detroitdocumenters

BTW this isn't official #DetroitDocumenters work, just started taking casual notes on this meeting and figured I'd hashtag it so people can find it.

The RTA approved a pass-through agreement with M1 Rail. #detroitdocumenters

New DDOT Director Oglesby is speaking at the Regional Transit Authority (virtual) meeting. #detroitdocumenters

Oglesby worked his way up in Boston, MA, and has also worked in Palm Springs, CA. Then he ran rail in Florida. #detroitdocumenters

Oglesby: "My goal is to try to make DDOT a premier transit system." #detroitdocumenters

The Citizens' Advisory Committee met three days ago, says Megan Owens. They discussed RTA and transit provider updates, and how to frame messaging around how transit is essential. The CAC is switching to meeting quarterly. #detroitdocumenters

Ben Stupka says AATA, DDOT, and SMART are operating fixed route (aka normal) bus service but on reduced schedules, and are operating paratransit. #detroitdocumenters

Ridership down is around 78-88% across SE Michigan. #detroitdocumenters

Stupka lists masks, back door boarding, other safety measures currently happening. Masks have been tricky to implement in the field. If someone has a mask in their pocket, do you pass them up, do you pick them up? #detroitdocumenters

Management of mask supply is "a crazy question," says Stupka. Certainly is on par with what I've heard from DDOT directly, it's hard to get that many masks out there #detroitdocumenters

A dog is barking on the call. Can we keep having a dog at the meeting when we having meetings in person again someday? #detroitdocumenters

MDOT coordinates regular calls among transit providers throughout the state to share ideas and knowledge on all the safety and COVID issues. #detroitdocumenters

"I'm not gonna take THAT thorough notes of this public meeting."

--me, about to take detailed notes on a public meeting, forever

John Metzinger says AAATA is developing a recovery plan. #detroitdocumenters

Mikel Oglesby says DDOT is looking at ramping up to full service. They have selected a barrier to keep drivers safe. #detroitdocumenters

These barriers take 6-8 weeks to arrive. They are glass (I hope shatter/maybe bullet proof). They may start charging fares when they have those--fare-free has been to protect drivers. #detroitdocumenters

"We're cleaning like crazy. It's very expensive. But we've got that CARES Act money, so we're moving forward with that." --Mikel Oglesby

New DDOT Director Mikel Oglesby notes with concern that buses are full during COVID. I'm honestly refreshed that he's aware of this, given recent convos with DDOT, who seemed not so aware a couple weeks ago. (I shouldn't be refreshed by this) #detroitdocumenters

Rob Cramer from SMART says they are starting to install plexiglass barriers for drivers, but need to figure out how to prevent fareboxes from becoming vectors if they start charging fares again (yeah wow) #detroitdocumenters

SMART cut about 70% of service but still have riders. People need to get to work, and a few are riding for lack of anything else to do.

They are going to be increasing up to 60% of their normal service, but no commuter routes. #detroitdocumenters

Return of office workers will be "sporadic at best, maybe for the short term, maybe for the long term" per SMART's convos with employers. So focus on routes that serve other workers, like hospital workers. #detroitdocumenters

SMART is finalizing a playbook or plan. June 8th is their "magic date" for their first service restoration increase. #detroitdocumenters

I am SO RELIEVED that bus service is going to be increasing. That will allow people to actually have some distance on the bus. This is the first "reopening" I've been happy to hear about. #detroitdocumenters

Having farebox turned off and reduced ridership have been a hit to transit provider finances (although here in Detroit we actually get a lower % of our money from farebox than many other cities--some cities have truly been hosed). #detroitdocumenters

It's hard to predict how federal formula funds will be impacted by this. A potential new stimulus has passed the House called Heroes Act, which has additional $15bn for large urban area transit systems. Not sure if it will pass Senate. #detroitdocumenters

Ben Stupka says how do providers time returns of service with stay-at-home timing? Downtown office workers is one major sector to consider. What can we do w shared use mobility and other modes, in lower productivity transit route areas? #detroitdocumenters

Where can the RTA play a role in putting together a pandemic response plan or documenting actions folks have had to take, asks Ben Stupka? #detroitdocumenters

"Buses aren't really made to do these things. You end up putting a lot of different parts on them." May have to look at other bus layouts in the future. #detroitdocumenters

Gary Bulluck from People Mover is speaking. They are looking at how to adjust and prepare stations, things like retrofits of trains and QR codes for contactless boarding. Will adjust ridership schedules as Downtown workers return. #detroitdocumenters

People Mover will look at when to start charging fares again "in concert with other riders" in order to not be confusing or cause any undue stress. #detroitdocumenters

Freman Hendrix says he is looking forward to working with Ben Stupka as RTA leader. Paul Hillegonds seconds that. #detroitdocumenters

Rob Cramer of SMART says there are concerns about having enough drivers to run the service, hence their first service increase being only to 60% of service. School bus drivers who have lost their normal work may be a source of candidates. #detroitdocumenters

Mikel Oglesby says DDOT had a staffing issue prior to COVID, down 100 drivers. DDOT has been used as a training ground for people who get their CDL and then go to better paid employment #detroittransit

DDOT is in the middle of contract negotiations with the drivers' union. He's trying to include stricter attendance requirements with increased pay: "It's a novel idea but you have to come to work." #detroitdocumenters

Also Mikel Oglesby says "our union is old school" and included things in the contract "I haven't seen since the 1970s." I wish he would say more about what he means. Soon DDOT will have a lot of positions and be one of the few hiring. #detroitdocumenters

John Metzinger says there's a new law that may help with paid leave for COVID absences, which they hope would help with driver attendance. #detroitdocumenters

Ben Stupka presents the RTA staff report. Regional master plan has slowed down and that they must talk about more strategically in coming months. Convos between RTA and each of the counties going fwd. #detroitdocumenters

The Ann Arbor Detroit bus, they are in talks about how to relaunch the service (which shut down weeks after launching, due to COVID). Indian Trails is working thru physical bus improvements. Is there state funding? #detroitdocumenters

The A2 to Detroit bus is also heavily impacted bc their user groups may not be back: Downtown office workers, and U Mich students who may not even be back in the fall (I don't think schools are gonna actually end up doing in-person in the fall, IMO) #detroitdocumenters

RTA board meeting is adjourned. #detroitdocumenters

DDOT has a virtual community input meeting today at 5pm. Submit your questions in advance. #detroitdocumenters

detroitmi.gov/events/virtual…