To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Transportation and Public Works
Staff Name and Phone Number: Johannes J. Hoevertsz 707-565-2231
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): All
Title:
Title
Sonoma County Transit - Riding Together: Bay Area Healthy Transit Plan
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Approve a resolution committing Sonoma County Transit to implement the Riding Together: Bay Area Healthy Transit Plan and to comply with its operator performance reporting requirements.
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Executive Summary:
In May 2020, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) convened a Blue Ribbon Transit Recovery Task Force (BRTRTF) comprised of elected officials, public transit operators and advocates to complete three tasks: 1. Expedite the distribution of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Stability Act (CARES Act) funds to the region’s transit operators; 2. Develop a safety plan to protect the health of transit workers and riders in the region; and 3. Identify ways to improve regional transit network connectivity, financial sustainability and system equity. Supervisor David Rabbitt, as an MTC Commissioner, currently serves on the BRTRTF.
Task one was completed in July and resulted in Sonoma County Transit receiving approximately $5.7million in federal assistance from the CARES Act that will aid in supporting transit operations through FY 2020-21. CARES Act funds have been provided to transit operators at a time when traditional transit funding sources and passenger fare revenues have decreased due to the economic impacts and ridership loss associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
This action pertains to Task two of the BRTFTF and commits Sonoma County Transit to implementing the resultant document: Riding Together: Bay Area Healthy Transit Plan and committing to its operator performance reporting requirements.
Discussion:
In mid-March 2020 when local Shelter-In-Place orders were imposed, Sonoma County Transit began working with other Bay Area transit operators to develop policies and procedures to ensure that drivers and the riding public are safe while using its services during the COVID-19 pandemic. These efforts include implementing stringent vehicle cleaning practices, vehicle modifications to facilitate distancing, suspension of fare collection to limit driver/passenger interaction, enforcement of mandatory facial covering requirements, as well as, other mitigation efforts to protect drivers and the riding public.
Concurrently, the MTC established the BRTFTF with the goal of guiding the Bay Area’s nine-county transportation network through the pandemic. The task force expressed a desire for a unified transit response to protect transit riders and employees, and Bay Area communities, from spread of COVID-19.
In response, the Bay Area’s transit operators collaborated with MTC on the development of the Riding Together: Bay Area Healthy Transit Plan which provides a unified and comprehensive framework of health and safety mitigation standards and responsibilities for both transit operators and the riding public. In developing the plan, guidance from the American Public Transit Association (APTA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the World Health Organization (WHO) and others were used to develop a solid foundation to ensure a safe transportation network in the Bay Area.
To measure the effectiveness of the plan, each operator is required to monitor and assess system performance with regard to key metrics such as passenger face covering compliance, social distancing/capacity evaluation, internal contact tracing of confirmed infected employees and compliance among all the operator’s employee groups for properly wearing face coverings. Operators will measure and report performance data on a monthly basis.
MTC requires that each of the Region’s transit operators adopt a resolution that commits it to implementing the plan and to meet performance reporting requirements. Sonoma County Transit’s currently implemented COVID-19 policies and practices meet or exceed plan requirements.
Prior Board Actions:
None
Fiscal Summary
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
No financial impacts specific to this action.
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Riding Together: Bay Area Healthy Transit Plan