1. Valley Metro Accessibility Advisory Group (VMAAG) Meeting
January 31, 2019

2. Welcome and Introductions
Ron Brooks
Manager of Accessible Transit Services
Agency Business, Technology & Services
Valley Metro

3. Review of 12/20/18 Meeting Summary
Ron Brooks
Manager of Accessible Transit Services
Agency Business, Technology & Services
Valley Metro

4. 2019 Origin and Destination Study
Omar J. Peters, AICP, Planner III
Capital and Service Development
Valley Metro

5. How do we learn this information about our riders?

6. Background Light rail Fixed-route buses Commuter buses Circulators
Surveys of customers travel patterns onboard
Light rail
Fixed-route buses
Commuter buses
Circulators
Rural route
Conducted every three to five years
2019
2015
2010/2011
2007

7. Purpose Get data on customer travel patterns and demographics
Support travel forecasting models (MAG regional models and STOPS)
Meet Title VI Civil Rights Requirements per FTA guidance
Compare with past studies to assess transit use trends
Support “Before and After Studies” for rail capital projects

8. 18,000 Goals and Objectives Question Topics
trip origin and destination
transfers
trip purpose
fare type
access/egress modes
boarding/alighting location
demographics
Question Topics
18,000
completed surveys will be collected
17,500 weekday weekend

9. Schedule
we are here

10. Status  Task Status Kickoff Meeting
Formed Technical Advisory Group (TAG)
Finalized On-to-Off Sampling Plan
Full Survey Sampling Plan
Draft
Full Survey Questionnaire
Rider Outreach Efforts
Underway
Surveyor Training
Collection of On-to-Off Surveys

11. Technical Advisory Group
Members
Member agencies
Valley Metro staff
MAG staff
Responsibilities
Review deliverables:
Sampling plan
Survey questionnaire
Final report

12. Sampling Plan On-to-Off Survey Full Survey 40,000 completes
Routes with >1,000 average weekday boardings
Full Survey
17,500 weekday completes
800 weekend completes
What is ETC’s proposed accuracy (margin of error) by transit mode

13. Survey Distribution
Surveyors ride the buses/trains and randomly select riders that board at each stop
Surveyors use tablets (e.g. iPads) to collect surveys
Surveyors read the questions and enter the rider’s responses

14. Survey Distribution
If rider can’t finish the survey, it is ed to them or followed up with phone call
Up to 50% of surveyors are bilingual, if there is a language barrier, rider gets phone survey
If rider is hearing impaired, a paper survey is administered or ed

15. Rider Outreach Goal: increase rider awareness about surveys
Bus car cards
Social media posts and website
Audio announcements on buses, rail platforms

16. Draft Survey Questionnaire
Scenario:
33 year old man on Route 29 – Thomas Road from home to heading to work in the morning

17. Draft Survey Questionnaire
Home address or cross street

18. Draft Survey Questionnaire
Type of place coming from

19. Draft Survey Questionnaire
Bus/train transferred from

20. Draft Survey Questionnaire
Mode used to access transit

21. Draft Survey Questionnaire
Type of place going to

22. Draft Survey Questionnaire
Address or cross street of place going to

23. Draft Survey Questionnaire
Bus/train transferring to

24. Draft Survey Questionnaire
Mode after getting off transit

25. Draft Survey Questionnaire
Boarding location for first bus

26. Draft Survey Questionnaire
Alighting location for first bus

27. Draft Survey Questionnaire
Boarding location for second bus/train

28. Draft Survey Questionnaire
Alighting location for second bus/train

29. Draft Survey Questionnaire
Time started trip and if returning

30. Draft Survey Questionnaire
Fare type and source of transit schedule information

31. Draft Survey Questionnaire
Vehicles in households
Persons in households
Employed adults in households
Employment status

32. Draft Survey Questionnaire
Student status

33. Draft Survey Questionnaire
Drivers license
Smartphone
Veteran status

34. Draft Survey Questionnaire
Person with disability
Disability type
Age
Race

35. Draft Survey Questionnaire
Are you a person with a disability? Yes No
[If Yes] Which of the following types of disabilities apply, if any?
Low vision
Deaf/hard of hearing
Mobility problem-use a wheelchair
Mobility problem-do not use wheelchair
Blindness
Mental/cognitive impairment
Other___________
Declined

36. Draft Survey Questionnaire
Gender
Household income

37. Draft Survey Questionnaire
Language spoken

38. Next Steps Pilot test the full survey
FTA review of survey plan and questionnaire
Continue surveyor training
Begin full survey collection

39. Proposed Paratransit Service Changes for Mesa
Ron Brooks
Manager of Accessible Transit Services
Agency Business, Technology & Services
Valley Metro

40. Proposed Paratransit Service Changes
City of Mesa is proposing to redefine the paratransit service area within Mesa:
Currently, service is citywide.
Proposal is to operate paratransit within the portions of Mesa that are required by the federal ADA.
ADA requires service within ¾ miles of bus routes and light rail stations.
If adopted, change will occur on July 1, 2019.

41. Summary of Public Outreach
Targeted outreach to agencies and organizations within the Mesa area
Letters to ADA certified Mesa residents
Flyers and on-hold messages for paratransit customers
Automated calls to customers in impacted areas
Six public outreach meetings
Public hearing on January 29

42. Summary of Public Response
75 individuals attended public meetings
90 comments received in-person, by phone, by and online
Primary concerns:
Whether or not RideChoice can meet service needs
Concern about RideChoice fares for longer trips
Concerns about needing to use RideChoice in conjunction with paratransit for longer trips

43. Next Steps February 6 – Valley Metro TMC
February 21, 7:30 AM – Mesa City Council City Council Chambers, 57 E. First Street, Mesa
February 21, 11:15 AM – Valley Metro Board of Directors 101 N. First Avenue, 10th Floor, Phoenix
July 1, 2019 – Service transition takes place, pending Board and Council approval

44. Accessible Transit Service Updates
Ron Brooks
Manager of Accessible Transit Services
Agency Business, Technology & Services
Valley Metro

45. Accessible Transit Services Update
Service Statistics-Through November, 2018
Program Eligibility and Enrollment
ADA Paratransit Eligibility Assessments Conducted
2,126
ADA Eligibility Determinations Issued
Non-ADA Dial-a-Ride Customers Enrolled
106
Reduced Fare Customers Enrolled
814
ADA Platinum Pass Customers Enrolled
561
RideChoice Customers Enrolled
461

46. Accessible Transit Services Update
Service Statistics-Through November, 2018
RideChoice Transportation Provided
Chandler
2,815
Fountain Hills
140
Gilbert
1,352
Maricopa County
422
Mesa
11,673
Surprise
5,860
Tempe
3,036
Total
25,298

47. Accessible Transit Services Update
Service Statistics-Through November, 2018
Paratransit Call Center Statistics
Reservations and ETA Calls
149,713
Average Speed to Answer
:32
Average Talk Time
2:54
% of Calls Answered within 2 minutes
91.8%
% of Calls Abandoned
3.0%

48. Accessible Transit Services Update
Service Statistics-Through November, 2018
Paratransit Service Statistics
Trips Provided
198,840
% of Trips On-Time
92.8%
Trips Excessively Late or Missed
0.7%
Passengers per Revenue Hour
1.32
Valid Complaints Received
334
Complaints/1,000 Trips Provided
1.13

49. Overview of VMAAG Bylaws and Member Responsibilities
Ron Brooks
Manager of Accessible Transit Services
Agency Business, Technology & Services
Valley Metro

50. Purpose
To advise Valley Metro staff on policies, programs and services that impact seniors and people with disabilities 
Examples:
Bus, light rail and paratransit operations
Accessibility of transit vehicles, stations, stops, and other facilities.
Accessibility of website, mobile app, printed publications, and other agency information.

51. Membership 15 members from diverse communities and backgrounds
15 members from diverse communities and backgrounds
Person with a disability, senior or caregiver
Representative of agencies that serve the senior/disability communities
Serve terms of two years
Up to three consecutive terms

52. Membership Expectations
Attend 75% of scheduled meetings in person or by phone
Remain current on issues impacting use of Valley Metro by people with disabilities
Speak up and be heard

53. Other Items and Announcements – All

54. Invitation for Comments from the Public
Members of the public are invited to provide comments on any non-agenda items.
Each speaker is limited to two minutes, and comments must be relevant to the accessibility of Valley Metro programs and services.

55. Next Meeting Thursday, February 28, 2019 2:30 – 4:00 PM
Tour of Ability 360
5025 E. Washington Street, Suite 200
Boardroom
Phoenix, AZ 85034

56. Tour Conditions No fragrances please!
To accommodate those with allergies, breathing conditions or multiple chemical sensitivities, please do not smoke or wear scented products when attending ABIL events or visiting ABIL offices. ABIL’s events are accessible and in compliance with ADA guidelines. Upon request, we provide sign language interpreters and materials in alternate formats.

57. Meeting Adjourned