PERMANENT CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE MTA
MINUTES OF JUNE 2, 2016
A meeting of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee (PCAC) to the MTA was convened at 12:00 noon on June 2, 2016, in the 20th floor Conference Room 4 at 2 Broadway, New York City.
The following members were present:
Andrew Albert
Christopher Greif
Mark Epstein
Ira Greenberg
Orrin Getz
William Guild
Mike Godino
Edith Prentiss
Randy Glucksman
Wilhelm Ronda
Stuart Goldstein
Larry Rubinstein
Burton Strauss, Jr.
The following members were absent:
Francena Amparo
Rhonda Herman
Gerard Bringmann
Sharon King Hoge
Sheila Carpenter
Matthew Kessler
Richard Cataggio
Maureen Michaels
Francis Corcoran
Scott Nicholls
Owen Costello
Raymond Pagano
Marisol Halpern
Bryan Peranzo
In addition, the following persons were present:
William A. Henderson -PCAC Executive Director
Ellyn Shannon -PCAC Associate Director
Angela Bellisio -PCAC Transportation Planner
Bradley Brashears -PCAC Transportation Planner
Karyl Berger -PCAC Research Associate
Veronique Hakim -NYCT
Deborah Hall-Moore -NYCT
Marsha Desormeaux -MTAOIG
Yvonne Morrow -Concerned citizen
Ken Stewart -Concerned citizen
Richard Schulman -Concerned citizen
Dustin Jones -Concerned citizen
Approval of Agenda and Minutes
The agenda for the June 2, 2016 meeting was approved. The minutes of the March 3, 2016 meeting were approved.
Chair’s Reports
Randolph Glucksman delivered the written PCAC Chair’s Report.
LIRRCC Chair’s Report
Edith Prentiss stated that on the Saturday before Mothers’ Day, there were no conductors walking through LIRR trains. She said that there were also no announcements of stops on board the 10:00 am train to the East End.
Chris Greif asked about the current status of improvements at the LIRR’s Flushing Main Street station. William Henderson said that progress on the project has been held up by delays in property acquisition. Ira Greenberg commented that the judge still has not ruled on a suit challenging the terms for the MTA’s property acquisition at the station.
Ms. Prentiss asked if the Citi Field station improvements will give better access to persons with disabilities. Mr. Henderson responded that he was not sure of the specific elements of the improvements, but that the contract was just let for work on the station.
Orrin Getz said that LIRR service to the East End should be as good as Metro-North service to Port Jervis. He also asked how the LIRR’s second track project is progressing. Mr. Henderson stated that the construction is moving forward as originally estimated. He acknowledged that the schedule may seem slow, but that it is the one originally proposed. Larry Rubinstein also commented that the LIRR second track work is on schedule
Mr. Greif asked about tracks that he had seen being constructed near the Jamaica AirTrain building. Mr. Henderson said this is part of the LIRR’s Jamaica reconfiguration project.
Stuart Goldstein asked whether a letter has ever been sent expressing the PCAC’s displeasure over the conversion of Brooklyn service into a shuttle. Mr. Henderson said that the letter has been sent. Mr. Goldstein made a motion that the PCAC be on record opposing the plan MTA’s plan for Jamaica Station platform F. Andrew Albert said that he has discussed the matter with the NYC Transit President and MTA Chairman and suggested that a letter be sent about the disruption of travel for Brooklyn-bound LIRR riders from this project. The motion was approved. Mr. Henderson said that the letter would be sent and a copy forwarded to the Governor, as requested. Andrew Albert said that he has discussed the matter with the NYC Transit President and MTA Chairman.
Mr. Glucksman suggested that Brooklyn’s elected officials be brought into the conversation and the Committee discussed reaching out to the affected elected officials. Mr. Glucksman asked members to email to staff suggestions on this issue. Mr. Goldstein asked whether the Jamaica Station configuration plan was an internal decision or something for Board action. Mr. Henderson replied that the MTA Board could mandate a new direction, but its members know of the decisions that have been made. Mr. Albert commented that the plan was a decision made under Helena Williams. Mr. Greenberg added that the new arrangements have been raised during network strategy meetings that have been held with Board Members.
MNRCC Chair’s Report
Mr. Glucksman asked for any comments or questions on the written report and none were raised.
NYCTRC Chair’s Report
Mr. Albert said that there have been three major decisions to be made by NYC Transit in the works that will be coming to a head, including where the M5 bus route will be split, how the closure of portions of the L subway line will proceed, and whether and how F express service will be re-implemented in Brooklyn. Orrin Getz said that the L train closure is an opportunity to implement new services, such as bus rapid transit, to make up for the lost capacity. Mr. Albert noted that there are also plans to add ferry service and to adjust other bus and subway service to make up for the loss of L service between Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Trudy Mason noted that there is also a question of whether the Second Avenue Subway will open by the end of the year.
Ms. Prentiss commented that whenever a Select Bus Service (SBS) route is implemented, it is at the expense of local riders and that the connections that the SBS route makes with subway service may be at an inaccessible station.
Yvonne Morrow said that NYC Transit is talking about making the M23 route into an SBS and potentially eliminating its stop at 5th Avenue. Ms. Mason commented that there are many M15 SBS buses and few local buses on 1st and 2nd Avenues.
Ellyn Shannon asked whether the M15 SBS service will change after the Second Avenue Subway is completed.
Old Business
Mr. Henderson presented a Resolution of Appreciation for Mike Sinansky. It was approved unanimously.
Mr. Henderson said that the LIRRCC had nominated Ira Greenberg to fill the unexpired term of the PCAC 1st Vice Chair that was created by Matthew Kessler’s resignation. The Committee elected Mr. Greenberg unanimously to complete this term.
The Committee discussed the possibility of changes to the meeting time for PCAC. Mr. Henderson presented the results of a request for comments on potential changes to the meeting times. The option for moving the meeting to the morning had received some support, but most members responding had preferred keeping the current noon meeting time. Staff will continue to solicit the preferences of members and update the committee for potential action at a later meeting. Of those in attendance, one member favored a morning meeting, eight members favored the current schedule, three favored an early afternoon meeting starting at 12:30 pm or later, two favored a mid-afternoon meeting, and one favored a late afternoon meeting.
Introduction of New York City Transit President Veronique (“Ronnie”) Hakim to Discuss Issues Facing NYC Transit and Its Connection to the MTA’s Commuter Rail Systems
Mr. Glucksman introduced Ms. Hakim. She said that she started as NYC Transit President a few days before the New Year’s Eve Celebration. Ms. Hakim said that she started by going to different locations and facilities and hearing a different voice than one gets from senior staff. She started her discussions with rank and file employees, and in last winter’s snow storm, she saw that employees did a very good job. Ms. Hakim said that she found that the MTA did an effective job communicating about bringing subway service back and buses back to the streets as they reopened.
Ms. Hakim said that NYC Transit is asking a lot of employees. Internally, NYC Transit is using MTA Today to communicate with employees, and externally, NYC Transit is taking advantage of subject matter experts within the agency to provide information to stakeholders, such as bringing other staff to informational meetings on the L line. There were thirty other staff persons at these meetings besides Tom Prendergast and the other senior staff who were on the dais.
Ms. Hakim said that she has a list of the top 150 managers within NYC Transit. She wanted to greet them and held a meeting with these individuals, but found that this contact was something that was valuable and now these meetings will occur every quarter.
At the next meeting, issues surrounding inclusion and diversity will be discussed. Ms. Hakim said that sometimes employee Equal Employment Opportunity claims are at their root failures in management. NYC Transit is trying to give managers tools to work with employees in a new way and change the culture.
There was a time that the MTA could through money at problems, but this is no longer the case. Now the MTA needs to work creatively. Ms. Hakim noted that NYC Transit is stressing tools such as training resources and tuition reimbursement to try to move the agency forward.
Ms. Hakim noted that the MTA Capital Program is now approved and that it is vitally important to NYC Transit. The total value of the NYC Transit part of the program is $15.8 billion, or $11.7 billion exclusive of the cost of rolling stock. There is a need to talk more about the Capital Program to customers. She said that the MTA has not communicated the “why” behind capital expenditures effectively. One example is that riders do not understand the importance of expenditures on signals. A massive effort is not needed, but people need to know why funds are being expended.
Ms. Mason stated that she originated the Rider Information
Center in the subways, and having information in a central place worked. Ms. Hakim said that it is challenging to effectively communicate with customers, and that they have to use electronic media better. There are resources available, but we haven’t availed ourselves of them. For example, Wi-Fi is being installed in subway stations and on buses, and the MTA must consider how they will use it, in addition to the ways that customers use it. NYC Transit has communication experts, but communication needs to be quicker. She said that for service status information a wait of fifteen minutes is too much. Ms. Mason said that people also want to know why something is happening and noted the “On the Go” kiosk had no information about service problems she encountered today’.
Mr. Goldstein said that the members have questions about how subways relate to buses. As the Bus Control Center comes on line, they want to be assured that the subway and surface will talk to each other. Ms. Hakim replied that they missed a chance to co-locate command centers for rail and bus operations, so now they have to create a virtually co-located command center. She said that NYC Transit has done tabletop exercises to explore this possibility.
Mark Epstein asked whether NYC Transit can coordinate sales of tickets so that people can buy a joint ticket for group trips. Presently, riders can only buy two rides on a round trip rail ticket to complete their journey. Ms. Hakim said that there should be a technological answer to this.
Larry Rubinstein suggested that there be a way to check MetroCard balance remotely.
Ms. Prentiss said that Howard Roberts had a kitchen cabinet of riders with disabilities and extended an invitation to arrange a similar body for Ms. Hakim.
Mr. Greif stated that many people want to take trains, but have to take a bus to the train because stations are not accessible. He said that NYC Transit needs to increase the accessibility of stations. He said he attended the Williamsburg meeting on the L line and thought holding it was brilliant. Ms. Hakim said that initially it was not clear that people had to be convinced of the need for the project.
Ms. Hakim also said that NYC Transit has a lot of work to do around elevator maintenance. Ms. Prentiss commented that stated that there is a need to speed up elevator replacements. Ms. Hakim said they are refocusing on elevators and escalators. She stated that now there is only one person leading NYC Transit’s efforts in this area. NYC transit is looking at ways that they can use third party contractors for repair work when necessary, when currently labor contracts give these tasks to NYC Transit workers. The key is to convince employees that there is plenty of work for everyone
Mr. Albert noted there is difference in headway by direction on the Second Avenue Subway during rush hours. Ms. Hakim commented that planners have done lots of modeling to reach this result, but they are also constrained by a lack of subway cars on the property, as the R179 cars are delayed. Ms. Mason asked whether this car availability problem would affect SAS opening. Ms. Hakim responded that it would not, but that NYC Transit’s fleet management plan had not looked closely enough at the impacts of delays in delivery. Mr. Glucksman asked when the first R179 is scheduled to be delivered. Ms. Hakim said they expect prototypes in July, which will be eighteen months late.
Mr. Albert asked when the R211s will be delivered. Ms. Hakim replied that she did not know as the request for proposals has yet to be issued for these cars.
Orrin Getz stated that he would like to advocate for the 7 extension to Secaucus. He also wanted to know what the MTA can tell riders about this proposal. Ms. Hakim said that the planning work on Hudson River crossings is coalescing around the Gateway project and it is unlikely both can be done at the same time. Mr. Getz said he recognizes that Gateway is a priority, but there is a need to keep the 7 extension alive. Mr. Glucksman also mentioned there is a need to consider necessary work in the East River tunnels.
Mr. Epstein asked the state of progress on the countdown clocks. Ms. Hakim replied that this project is a priority. Originally integrated into the automatic train supervision project, countdown clocks are now being implemented as a separate project using something like a GPS which will identify particular trains.
Mike Godino commented that that signage in the subways is poor for blind persons. Often, there is only one sign at the bottom of the stairs that tells which trains serve a station.
Ms. Mason asked if there are any thought of giving countdown clock information at major bus stops, or bus time information at stations near major bus stops. She asked if bus time and countdown clock information could be coordinated, so that there is subway information on the surface.
Ms. Hakim stated that many enhancements are aspirational and that first they have to get the basic information right.
Ms. Prentiss noted that the USB plugs are located in the ceilings on new buses.
Mr. Glucksman stated that there is always a large line at station booths in Grand Central Station and that this indicates a need for more agents and MetroCard Vending Machines (MVMs). The same is true at Penn Station, where the 1, 2, and 3 trains see heavy ridership. Adding to the problem, there are MVMs in Grand Central Terminal that were removed.
Ms. Shannon asked if there is a way to have one-way in or out areas at station turnstiles. She also asked the status of smart card fare payment. Ms. Hakim replied that she had never heard of one way turnstiles, but NYC Transit has used exclusive up and down stairs and are using platform controllers. NYC Transit is also looking at ways to better use station agents.
In terms of migration of fare payments to smart cards, there is a request for proposals out at present and management is waiting to hear from selection committees on their recommendations. NYC Transit is also watching the rollout of commuter rail electronic ticketing.
Mr. Epstein stated that there is a problem with buying MetroCard monthly and electronic commuter rail monthly tickets together.
Mr. Greif stated that he would like to see the W train extended into Brooklyn, at least in peak hours.
Ms. Hakim stated that they will have early morning and late evening service from and to Brooklyn using W trains during their trips from and to Coney Island.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 2:00.
Respectfully submitted,
William Henderson
Executive Director