Hampton Roads Transit Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities

Hampton Roads Transit Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities

October 8, 2014 Meeting Minutes

Call to order

Chairperson Donald Fennell called meeting to order at 1:02 pm and introductions were made by all attendees below:

Committee Members in Attendance:

Ina Kreps – Consumer, Portsmouth

Mary Mathena – Consumer, Virginia Beach

Patricia Brown – Consumer, Hampton

Donald Fennell – Consumer, Newport News

Heather Hornsby – Consumer, Virginia Beach

Thomas Bryan – Consumer, Virginia Beach

Dawn Brantley – Provider, Chesapeake

Helen Brown – Provider, Norfolk

Committee Members not in Attendance:

Christopher Heath – Consumer, Chesapeake (excused)

Shirley Williams – Consumer, Hampton (excused)

Sue Merryfield- Provider, Hampton (excused)

Alicia Griffin – Consumer, Newport News (excused)

Sabrina Newman – Provider, Newport News (excused)

Margaret Cary – Consumer, Norfolk (excused)

Others in Attendance

Todd Condron – Provider, Virginia Beach (term expired)

Keith Johnson, HRT

Jim Price – HRT

Mark Stemple – HRT

Cheryl Watson – HRT

Andy Steed – MV Transportation

Pedro Valentin – MV Transportation

Mary LaFontaine – HRT

Steven Fields – Provider, SSSEVA

David Gonzales – Provider, PORTCO

Shirley Confino-Rehder – Provider, NMC

William Harrell – HRT

Ted Moyler – HRT

Brian Smith – HRT

Felicia Harris – HRT

Jerry Dunkley – HRT

David Cunningham – SSSEVA

Pamela Jamieson – Customer

Diane McFarland – Daily Press

Frank Azzalina – HRTI

Joe Dillard – HRT

Linda Gurley - Customer

Approval of minutes

A motion to approve the August minutes was made and properly seconded.

Public Comment

No Public comment related to Paratransit.

Pamela Jamieson commented many wheelchair lifts or ramps on fixed route buses are inoperable causing buses to be unreliable for customer with wheelchairs.

Mr. Price stated some operators may say the lifts are not operational and encourages customers to provide specific information such as operator name, time, and bus number to identify the problem.

Mr. Price assures Hampton Roads Transit will investigate and determine if disciplinary action is required.

Chairman’s Report

Mr. Fennell announced the policy chairperson Mr. Christopher Heath has relocated out of the area. Mr. Fernell stated there will be another policy chairperson announced by the next Advisory Committee Meeting.

Customer Service Update

Felicia Harris announced that Hampton Roads Transit will be a Virginia-Relay partner eliminating the TDD line. Ms. Harris stated effective November 1, 2014 customers can dial 711 to reach Virginia-Relay that provides communication assistance for persons with hearing and speech impairments.

Subcommittee Reports

·  Service Quality Report – Pat Brown stated all the van seat belts are not working properly, also a visual impaired customer tripped on a tie down located on the floor of the van. Ms. Brown stated there is often a long wait trying to contact reservations. Ms. Brown included late pick-ups. Mr. Steed stated customers can contact dispatch to schedule a trip if they did not reach reservations by 5:00 pm.

·  Policy – Mr. Fennell reported operators are not getting out of vehicles. Mr. Stemple stated Hampton Roads Transit needs the name of the operator to address the complaint. Mr. Fennell asked if there is a policy in effect for operators to get flu shots. Mr. Valentine stated there are safety awareness and health awareness discussions with staff but we cannot make flu shots mandatory.

·  Membership – Mr. Fennell stated there are four (4) vacancies, one (1) consumer for Chesapeake, one (1) consumer for Norfolk, one (1) consumer for Portsmouth and one (1) provider for Virginia Beach.

Paratransit Operations Report

Mr. Steed presented the MV Paratransit Operations Report as enclosed in the August Committee Meeting Package.

Hampton Roads Transit Certification Report

Mr. Johnson presented the Certification Report as enclosed in the August Committee Meeting Package.

Old Business - Mary Lafontaine provided an update on the Connect Hampton Roads Project.

New Business - Keith Johnson offered tours of the new paratransit van on site.

Adjournment - Motion to adjourn was made and seconded; meeting adjourned at 2:12 pm.

Upcoming Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Hampton Roads Advisory Committee for Persons with disabilities will be held on December 10, 2014, 3400 Victoria Blvd. Hampton, VA. The Subcommittees will meet one hour prior to discuss business.