Susquehanna Regional Transportation Authority

The board discussed and took action on several resolutions, including recognizing a long-term employee, awarding contracts for an AI Voice Front Door system, enterprise resource planning software, and door additions at the Zarfoss facility. Additionally, the board approved revisions to the hiring and maintenance of essential requirements and employment qualifications policy, and adopted amendments to the purchasing and procurement manual to better align with federal standards and internal controls.

The committee meeting included a presentation on the Regional Human Services Transportation plan, focusing on needs for elderly and disabled residents and soliciting feedback. Discussions also addressed the committee's potential name change to better reflect its commitment to all riders while retaining 'Advisory' and 'SRTA.' Members received updates regarding federal and state budget timelines, the Statewide Independent Living Council, and status reports on the Capital Region Facility land transfer and the Rabbit Works van pool program. The committee reviewed performance metrics from December, including ridership data, call center statistics, and complaint trends, alongside a comprehensive summary of current administrative and driver staffing vacancies across multiple serviced counties.

The committee reviewed the renovation design for the Lemoyne Transfer Center and discussed the status of public comment for the project. Additional topics included the implementation of Quantum wheelchair restraints on paratransit buses, an update on the state budget and transportation funding, and the potential renaming of the committee. The meeting also addressed performance metrics from the previous month regarding ridership, on-time performance, and call center activity, alongside a review of current staffing requirements for drivers and maintenance positions.

The meeting agenda included several resolutions for contract awards: Resolution 2606 for heavy duty vehicles to Gillig, LLC; Resolution 2608 for drug and alcohol screening services to Vault Workforce Screening; and Resolution 2609 to award a five-year contract for the Cisco enterprise agreement to TeleCom Business Solutions. Additionally, Resolution 2607 sought pre-award authority for the Executive Director to finalize the fixed-rate gasoline contract following a joint procurement process. Staff reports covered solar panel considerations, a scheduled review of the Shared Ride Program, and ongoing discussions regarding the potential management of a statewide vanpool program with PennDOT. The Board also addressed public comment regarding a bus stop removal.

The committee discussed improving transit services for persons with disabilities and/or low incomes. Key discussions focused on the analysis of a recent survey, where driver courtesy scored highly, but five areas were identified for improvement. The committee will provide recommendations for these five issues, which CAT management will then address. Updates were provided on the Request for Proposals (RFP) process for a new website, with proposals due January 5th. Furthermore, CAT is preparing an RFP for a new phone system to resolve customer service and complaint handling obstacles, including exploring options for callers to hold their place in line. A resolution was discussed regarding transfer station procedures to clarify bus boarding locations, including updating signage and issuing a press release. An ongoing issue with audible alerts on buses is being addressed by installing locked boxes on new buses to prevent drivers from disabling the alerts. Other topics included an observation report regarding dispatch and reservations, and a rider voicing concerns about shared ride scheduling and the importance of noting multiple disabilities.