TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Michael A. Hursh, General Manager
SUBJECT: Riding Together: Bay Area Healthy Transit Plan Body
ACTION ITEM
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider the adoption of Resolution No. 20-042 endorsing the Riding Together: Bay Area Healthy Transit Plan as a baseline set of measures that AC Transit, along with other Bay Area transit agencies, will implement to ensure the health of transit riders and workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Safe and Secure Operations
Initiative - Service Quality
Bay Area Public Transportation Providers have collectively developed a cohesive health and safety plan-this plan-to bring the region’s public transportation providers together around transit-related health and safety standards and mitigations. This plan will provide guidance for the mitigations to be consistently applied across the network to best serve those currently riding transit to make essential trips and help the Bay Area ease out of the COVID-19 pandemic shelter-in-place order.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
The Plan includes mitigations that have associated costs; however, most of these costs are already being incurred by the District as part of ongoing COVID-19 response and recovery. Additional cost to the District could be associated with tracking and reporting on metrics. These costs are being tracked for possible future FEMA reimbursement. Addressing safety and health on transit is in support of rebuilding ridership which is essential to the District’s financial stability.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
Collectively, the transit operators in the nine Bay Area counties, have joined forces to initiate research, study U.S. and international efforts, and review information from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), to develop common commitments and expectations for employees and passengers on Bay Area transit systems. From this work, the operators developed Riding Together-Bay Area Healthy Transit Plan. Development of the plan was a regional collaboration.
While the transit operators are all guided forward by our State and local leadership toward business resumption, the plan prioritizes safety of employees and passengers as job number one.
The plan serves as a tool for the operators, providing common commitments that have been set in place for employees, current passengers, and those who will be returning to transit.
Bay Area Transportation Provider Participants
• Altamont Commuter Express (ACE)
• Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit)
• Caltrain
• Central Contra Costa Transit Authority (CCCTA)
• City of Dixon Readi-Ride
• County Connection
• Eastern Contra Costa Transit Authority (Tri Delta)
• Fairfield and Suisun (FAST)
• Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (GGBHTD)
• Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA)
• Marin Transit
• Napa Valley Transportation Authority (VINE)
• Petaluma Transit
• Rio Vista Delta Breeze
• SamTrans
• San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)
• San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA)
• Santa Rosa CityBus
• Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)
• Solano County Transit (SolTrans)
• Sonoma County Transit
• Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART)
• Tri-Valley Wheels
• Union City Transit
• Vacaville City Coach
• Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA)
• Western Contra Costa Transit Authority (WestCAT)
Adoption of the attached resolution endorses the Riding Together: Bay Area Healthy Transit Plan as a baseline set of measures that AC Transit, along with other Bay Area transit agencies, will implement to ensure the health of transit riders and workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. As noted in the resolution, this plan is intended to co-exist alongside the District’s own COVID-19 recovery plan now branded as reNEW. Note that one aspect receiving significant attention is the social distancing requirements on-board transit vehicles. AC Transit has adopted six foot requirements and will not reduce the distance without first seeking Board approval. Staff will update the District’s plan to include the monitoring required under the regional plan. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission has requested that all Bay Area Transit Operators adopt a resolution for Plan implementation.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
Advantages: Adoption of a set of minimum standards gives transit customers consistent expectations across all Bay Area public transportation operations and identify mitigations for public transportation providers and employees regarding workplace health and safety.
Disadvantages: Additional reporting requirements outlined in the plan will need to be absorbed by existing staff.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
Do not adopt the resolution. Continue to mitigate COVID-19 risks without regional coordination. Staff does not recommend this alternative.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
SR 20-302 Consider adopting the draft COVID-19 Recovery Plan
SR 20-261 Consider receiving an update on the District's involvement in the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's (MTC) Blue Ribbon Task Force.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Riding Together Healthy Transit Plan
Prepared by:
Claudia Burgos, Director of Legislative Affairs and Community Relations
Approved/Reviewed by:
Beverly Greene, Executive Director of External Affairs, Marketing & Communications
Robert del Rosario, Director of Services Development and Planning
Claudia L. Allen, Chief Financial Officer
Jill A. Sprague, General Counsel