1. Welcome and Introductions* 1:00 p.m. (attachment 1-1)
2. Project Purpose, Goals, and Objectives* 1:10 p.m. (attachment 2-1)
In response to concerns that the cost of MUNI's paratransit program has increased exponentially in recent years and combined with the apparent lack of a viable long-term funding plan to match that growth, the Authority Board established the Select Committee on Paratransit. The Committee's specific purpose is to work closely with the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA/MUNI) to develop recommendations for a long-term financial strategy and to identify strategies for optimizing cost effectiveness of MUNI's paratransit program. The Board also directed the formation of this Paratransit Working Group (PWG) to advise the Committee in the development of recommendations. Like the Committee, the PWG will convene for a limited period of time, until it has addressed the focused purpose for which it was created. We will review the group's purpose and establish goals and objectives that the PWG will accomplish.
3. Participant Roles and Meeting Protocol* 1:30 p.m. (attachment 3-1)
The Authority Board approved a work program for the PWG that over the course of four meetings is expected to produce recommendations will be forwarded to the Select Committee on Paratransit. The scope of work and timeline will require that PWG meetings are well-staffed, focused and productive. In order to help accomplish this, we have produced guidelines for participant roles and meeting protocol that will be reviewed at the meeting.
4. MUNI's Paratransit Program – Demand and Cost Trends* 1:40 p.m. (attachment 4-1), (attachment 4-2), (attachment 4-3), (attachment 4-4), (attachment 4-5), (attachment 4-6), (attachment 4-7)
MUNI has been providing paratransit services since 1978, and has implemented various modifications to its program in order to meet ADA requirements that were put into place in the early to mid-1990s. We will provide an overview of MUNI's Paratransit Program structure, including the four types of services that the program currently provides, and review historic paratransit data and trends concerning demand (e.g., number of trips, including trips by mode), cost per trip, and total budget, with some comparisons to other Bay Area paratransit programs.
5. Preliminary Financial Outlook: Demand and Cost Projections* 2:00 p.m. (attachment 5-1), (attachment 5-2), (attachment 5-3)
In order to understand the long-term funding need for MUNI's paratransit program, we need to make projections of growth in demand (e.g. the number of trips), as well as other program cost increases such as inflation. To start this discussion we will review and discuss demographic projections of likely San Francisco paratransit users, as well as a budget-based forecast of overall program cost increases.
6. Review of MUNI Cost Efficiency and Demand Management Strategies* 2:15 p.m. (attachment 6-1)
There are many different strategies that paratransit programs throughout the Bay Area and across the country can employ to manage both costs and demand. We will examine strategies that MUNI is currently implementing or considering implementing, including cost-effectiveness recommendations contained in the Paratransit Coordinating Council's white paper. We will also discuss why some commonly-used strategies may or may not work well in San Francisco , and start identifying additional proposals for cost effectiveness and demand management.
7. Next Steps 2:45 p.m. We will recap any decisions made at this meeting, note follow-up items, and review the meeting plan for subsequent meetings to determine if additional items should be added, or if items can be deleted if consensus has been reached. We will also confirm the date for the next meeting of the PWG.
Other Items
8. Public Comment
9. Next Meeting: November 21, 2005
10. Adjournment 3:00 p.m.
* Materials Attached
PWG MEMBERS WHO ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND SHOULD CONTACT MELISSA PELKEY AT 522-4820
This meeting location is wheelchair accessible. In order to allow individuals with environmental illness or multiple-chemical sensitivity to attend the meeting, individuals are requested to refrain from wearing perfume or other scented products. All times shown are for information only.
If you prefer receiving future agendas via email instead of regular mail,
Agendas and other information relevant to the Authority's Select Committee on Paratransit and Paratransit Working Group are available on the Authority's website at www.sfcta.org by clicking on the Paratransit item in the green Announcements bar on the right side of the page.
