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Forum Meeting Minutes

GREATER HARTFORD TRANSIT DISTRICT
ADA PARTICIPATION GROUP FORUM
Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Attendees: Marcia Baran, Marie Beaulier, Paul Copp, Ruth Griffin, Yvonne Loteczka, Janet Wallans, Anne Walsh, Gary Allen, Kathy Shea-GHTD, Valerie Ellis-GHTD, Pat Williams-GHTD, Joe Rodriguez-LTS, Brian McLaughlin-CTTransit, Jaime Nieves-LTS, Manuel Gonzalez-LTS, Nick Mangene-CTTransit, Vicki Shotland-GHTD, Jeanie Chrisman-LTS, Jack Russell-LTS, Tony Grimaldi-LTS.

Pat Williams noted the forum communication process was as follows: Notification mailed to 26 different agencies on June 27th, faxed to the Hartford Courant on June 27th and The Connecticut Radio Information System (CRIS Radio) on June 30th, posted on buses July 5th (front and back), and added to the customer update line (dial 860.724-5340 and select 8 to access this line).

Pat Williams presented a three month (March-May) update of average service operational data.. The report indicated that, on average, 23,000 Passenger trips were provided per month. Average monthly “No Show” trips and Total passengers served amounted to 827 and 1,075, respectively. No trips were denied.

LTS administered new runs for the drivers.

Anticipated date of release for the Fall/Winter Paratransit newsletter is expected to be on or around October 31, 2006.

Riders will see (12) twelve new Paratransit vehicles on the road sometime during the month of August. Operational improvements to the Paratransit vehicles include the ability to transport up to four wheelchair passengers at the same time and the repositioning of the lift to the right midsection of the bus. Ambulatory seats will be able to flip up in order to accommodate the adequate amount of wheelchairs necessary for any particular given trip. At the next forum, there will be a new vehicle available for riders to view.

Greater Hartford Transit has updated their website. Go to www.hartfordtransit.org and let GHTD know what you think about the site.

Brian McLaughlin advised the forum that CTTransit will be having minor service adjustments in August. CTTransit will also begin to sell fare media at certain Stop & Shop grocery stores (see below for specific locations). This will include the ADA 10-Ride Paratransit ticket booklet.

  • 331 Cottage Grove Road (Copaco Shopping Center), Bloomfield (on the L, S1, T4, T5 & T6 routes)
  • 940 Silver Lane (Charter Oak Mall), East Hartford (on the B & X routes)
  • 150 New Park Avenue, Hartford (on the K3 route)
  • 10 Pitkin Road, Vernon (on the Z route)
  • 1235 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford (on the E1, E6, E7 & E8 routes)
  • 1380 Berlin Turnpike (Jordan Lane Shopping Center), Wethersfield (on the F2, F3 & F4 routes)

Each of these Stop & Shop locations will sell ADA 10-Ride Ticket Books as well as CTTRANSIT 10-Ride Local Tickets (regular and senior/disabled) and 31-Day Local Passes. Tickets and passes will be sold at the Service Desk effective early August 2006.

Attendee: Janet Wallans
Comment:

  1. No shows are high. As of January, what was the number of no shows and the percentage?
  2. The hand rail on the vehicles does not extend far enough and sometimes I find myself holding on the door handle.
  3. Why aren’t the CTTransit announcements clear?
  4. After 4pm, I have experienced difficulties with the dispatch number.

Response:

  1. Jan 588,3.26%, Feb 758,,4.23%, Mar 880,4.15%, Apr 779, 4.12%, May 823 3.89%.
  2. LTS explained that because the new vehicles have electric doors the riders will not experience this problem.
  3. Nick Mangene/CTTransit will speak with the CTTransit maintenance department about the microphones on the buses.
  4. GHTD is aware of the problem and is working on it.

Attendee: Paul Copp
Comment:

  1. How many no show letters were mailed out?
  2. Who will be sending out the recertification guidelines?

Response:

  1. Pat Williams did not have the number of no show letters mailed, but explained that the no show letters will be mailed twice a month instead of once a month.
  2. The Kennedy Center will be sending recertification guidelines to GHTD.

Attendee: Yvonne Loteczka
Comment:

  1. Will an ADA recertification process be conducted? How successful has GHTD been with targeting riders who are capable of being travel trained?
  2. Why does a wheelchair rider have to be evacuated from the rear emergency window instead of the side window?
  3. Drivers still continue to deploy the wheelchair lift on a curb cut.

Response:

  1. Valerie commented that GHTD will not have to bring all of the ADA riders in for recertification. Only riders who have had a temporary disability or a change in their disability will be asked to come in. GHTD is awaiting the final guidelines of the recertification process from the Kennedy Center.
    Riders receiving travel training get a six month temporary ADA eligibility. If the rider is successful with their travel training and they indicate that they are happy using CTTranist, then the rider advises the service that ADA is not needed. If the travel training is not successful, the rider is granted unconditional ADA eligibility.
  2. In emergency situations, a driver will evacuate passengers from one of the following locations: 1) driver door 2) passenger access door 3) wheelchair door. The only time the side window is used for evacuation would be by the fire department. Manuel Gonzalez reviewed the attached evacuation procedures with the forum. LTS will consider placing blankets on the bus to assist with evacuating wheelchair riders.
  3. LTS commented that they will continue to educate drivers not to deploy lifts at curb cuts.

Written
Comment:

  1. Linda Schnitzer is concerned that drivers do not have enough room to do tie downs. In some instances, the drivers have to climb over riders to properly tie down the wheelchair.

Response:

  1. LTS commented that drivers can ask for permission to tie down a rider in the middle of the vehicle. This will give the driver adequate room to tie down the rider, as opposed to if he had to tie down the rider in the far right wheelchair position and there is not enough room.

Written
Comment:

  1. Michael Carrier would like to know how many vehicles are used to operate the service on a daily basis.
  2. Why doesn’t the forum meet at another location?
  3. Drivers are driving too fast and they are not paying attention to speed bumps.

Response:

  1. On a daily basis, most of the 93 vehicles are used unless they are being serviced.
  2. The District is the facilitator of the forum and it should be held at One Union Place. In addition to being fully accessible, all participants are familiar with this site. The forum will not be moved to another location. Most attendees agreed with this decision.
  3. It is important to report to LTS immediately when drivers are driving too fast. The Drive Cam will on many occasions capture drivers who are driving unsafely.

Attendee Marcia Baran
Comment:

  1. Does the GHTD website meet the pertinent ADA guidelines?

Response:

  1. Yes, the website is accessible for the visually impaired.

Attendee: Gary Allen
Comment:

  1. What is the policy about reserving a trip?
  2. Does a rider have the option to refuse door-to-door assistance?

Response:

  1. Pat Williams briefly reviewed the policy for reserving a regular trip and a subscription trip.
  2. Manuel Gonzalez/LTS replied that the rider has the right to refuse the door-to-door assistance, but the driver is still required to walk behind the rider to assist if necessary. LTS noted that this is a liability issue. However, the GHTD can look into individual exceptions if they feel that the situation is not unsafe for the rider, and if they can get a signed waiver excusing LTS and the District from any liability in case of an incident.

Attendee: Marie Beaulier
Comment:

  1. When CTTransit drivers make an announcement, I hear them say it quietly to themselves and then over the loud speaker.

Response:

  1. Brian McLaughlin commented that on the newer buses the recording system will record the announcement and then repeats the announcements a few seconds later over the speaker system.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM THE
GREATER HARTFORD TRANSIT DISTRICT

The Connecticut Disability Advocacy Collaborative is sponsoring a Disability Convention at the Connecticut Expo Center on Saturday, September 16th, 10am-4pm. For further information, contact Stan Kosloski at 860.614.8351 or skosloski03@comcast.net

Next ADA forum is scheduled for, Tuesday, September 12th, 5pm at Union Station. You must make a reservation by calling, 724-5340 and select #1. All riders are required to pay the standard Paratransit rate, $2.50 each way.

All attendees must sign up to discuss issues at this forum. You may call Pat Williams ahead of time and let her know what issue(s) you would like on the agenda or you may sign up fifteen (15) minutes before the forum begins.