pages: TransportationCommission/2013-10-23.pdf, 2
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TransportationCommission | 2013-10-23 | 2 | Commissioner Bellows moved to approve the Consent Calendar. Commissioner Bertken seconded the motion. The motion was approved 5-0; 1 abstention. 5. New Business 5A. AC Transit Fare Increases Commissioner Schatmeier explained that he produced a memo on his recommendations dated October 14th and discussed the objections raised at the Inter-Agency Liaison Committee (ILC) meeting. He said since the meeting, Staff Payne received a notice from AC Transit staffer Nathan Landau that transfers for transbay riders would continue. He felt his major objection is the elimination of transfers on the system and the fact that passengers located near the worse service would receive a fare increase and that seems inequitable. He noted that the memo says that service speeds would increase due to the elimination, but to him that does not make sense because passengers would have to come up with cash each time they board. Moreover, he believed the change is convenient for the operating department and not for the passengers, and the policy will increase the fare on the least efficient service. Thus, his recommendation is for AC Transit to provide every passenger with a 90-minute transfer, similar to MUNI, as proof of payment. Commissioner Bellows said she commended Commissioner Schatmeier's research and she agreed with his recommendations. Commissioner Vargas opened the floor to public comments. Commissioner Bertken said he rode MUNI three times a week and he felt their program was good. Furthermore, he liked the implementation of the transfer policy onto the Clipper card and their ability to provide paper transfers. Commissioner Schatmeier said AC Transit provided examples of other transit agencies implementing a similar transit policy, but the policy still represents a trend for favoring the operating department rather than the customers' needs. Commissioner Vargas asked AC Transit staff about the time savings once the transfer policy is eliminated. Robert del Rosario, AC Transit Director of Service Development, replied that staff analyzed the boarding times and cash paying passengers took eight seconds, Clipper passengers took four seconds and simply walking on board took three seconds. Thus, he said the transfer would be around the four seconds range. So, he said elimination of paying cash is the key. Commissioner Bertken said he was somewhat familiar with MUNI's system since he has been using it for some time and the biggest delay is inserting cash into the farebox. However, he felt the operators could easily generate a transfer pass within seconds. Page 2 of 19 | TransportationCommission/2013-10-23.pdf |