CTA, amazon lockers, public subsidies
CTA was recently in the news for schedule changes and addressing the ghost bus problem.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/1/11/23550585/cta-fix-ghost-bus-problem
Staff member Jeremy Fine says public agency funding has a bigger impact on their budget than rider payments, including sales tax revenues.
President Dorval Carter: “We need to get a permanent fix” to their public subsidy problem.
There’s a proposal to extend a pilot period for Amazon lockers at CTA stations. They’re continuing to negotiate on a long-term contract. Jeremy Fine says the lockers offer an amenity to CTA riders.
CTA is paid $25 per machine, per month.
Fine says Amazon is happy with locker usage numbers. Believes it’s a benefit to customers who can pick on and drop off packages on their daily commute.
Approved unanimously.
Staff member Bill Mooney presents a resolution for an agreement with Christ Temple Missionary Baptist Church at 57 W 95th St to provide parking space for employees. 20-25 spots.
Employees at the 95th St station have been parking on the street.
Director Ortiz suggests 25 spots may not be enough. Asks about payment rate.
Mooney says the rate they’re paying is comparable for the area and they did “due diligence,” but doesn’t mention any numbers.
They pass the contract and also vote on a group of resolutions unanimously. The committee adjourns.
The CTA regular board meeting should begin shortly.
Two CTA board members are Baptist ministers but not at the church involved with the contract for parking.
The Chicago Transit Authority regular board meeting gets started with public comments.
The first speaker asks about the process for small vendors getting CTA contracts.
The next public speaker moved from Boston and sold her car because they’re close to an L station. Says her boyfriend waited 45 minutes to get on an L train.
Every stop on the blue line is absolutely packed in the morning and afternoon commute times.
Public commenter: “I’ve waited alone in stations at 10pm for 20-30 minutes.”
“We’re all trying to use transit… We will show up. We also need the trains to show up and be there on time.”
Another public comment about trains not showing up. In one period, less than 50% of scheduled trains were showing up. In one case, over an hour wait.
“Continuing to post misinformation” and building mistrust with their riders.
Director Ortiz thanks pubic commenters for sharing but no one makes in direct response.
There’s someone speaking off-screen who I assume is director Dorval Carter. Gives an update on the action plan to improve service. https://t.co/m7azF4fe4A
Director Carter talks about new years eve service. “We are operating very close to the margins.”
“We need employees to show up.”
“Sometimes we fall short. There’s no question in my mind that new years eve was one of those times.”
“It would have been very easy to cut service, like some of our competitors did.”
The long term solution “is both hiring and retention.”
CTA has a record 1,000 bus driver applications in December. Hopes it will help fill the remaining 600 bus driver vacancies.
Next job fair is January 28 at CTA headquarters.
Carter continues, they made temporary bus schedule changes starting January 8. The schedule frequency is changed to meet their available workforce.
This will improve bus tracker accuracy. There will be fewer ghost buses.
Carter uses a lot of professional bureaucrat-speak. Instead of plainly saying they’re cutting the bus schedule, he says the “schedule frequency is changed to meet their available workforce.” Bureaucrat-speak makes people tune out and miss what’s actually being said.
Carter talks more about employees not showing up for shifts. “I cannot afford to fire more employees. I don’t have enough employees as it is.”
Needs to see how and where they can improve it. Is working with union leadership.
Director Jakes says most public comments are about either security or reliability of knowing when a train or bus will be there.
Is there a way that “persons can get that as close to real time as possible.” “They’d rather know what time something will be there.”
Carter responds schedule was not aligning with what their service was putting out. CTA is responding by adjusting bus schedule.
Claims chances of seeing a ghost bus or train is now about 10%.
Carter says ghost buses or trains happen when there’s something on the tracker but then it disappears.
On rail side they were up to mid to upper 80s on reliability, but that has recently dropped.
Carter again brags about not cutting service. “This is not a service cut.”
Speaking personally, having trains and buses regularly not show up feels like a service cut, even if he’s not calling it that.
Carter talks more about staffing issues. Doesn’t discuss any potential change to the tracker apps that lie to people about what buses and trains are coming.
Board member Miller asks about the effectiveness of job fairs.
Carter responds that the job fairs are a “one stop shop” that help a potential employee go through the whole process. He believes the next one will be well attended.
Board member Ortiz wants to “put an exclamation mark” on schedule accuracy for customers. They vote to accept the report.
They move to go into executive session “for reasons stated by council.” But council only referenced the open meetings act. Public agencies are supposed to tell the topics and purpose for going into executive session.
The CTA board of directors comes back from executive session. They discussed a lawsuit involving an accident of someone struck by a CTA bus.
The settlement is 20 million dollars. Five million of that will be reimbursed by insurance.
Wow. $20 million.
The Amazon locker deal passes the full board. There are two abstentions. They don’t say why they abstained but one director does work with Amazon.
Staff member Bill Mooney reports on ongoing projects. One is happening down my block. https://t.co/wPXQ6AFWkE
Director Carter talks about negotiating a new agreement with Septa for DBEs. He doesn’t explain but I assume he means Disadvantaged Business Enterprises.
There’s no new business so the Chicago Transit Authority board of directors meeting adjourns.
That concludes my live tweeting for #CHIdocumenters.