Lilia Montoya

The committee meeting addressed a marketing and communications program update, including FY26 results and the FY27 strategy. A summary of customer feedback trends and initiatives for FY2026 was provided, detailing feedback across various transit departments and outlining customer experience enhancement efforts. Additionally, an update on the NCTD+ Microtransit service was presented, covering key performance statistics, ridership data by zone, and cost analysis.

The Board of Directors held a regular meeting to conduct district business. Key discussion topics included reports on federal and state legislative activities, updates on performance, safety, security, and financial reports for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026. The Board approved several task order agreements for safety improvements and facility maintenance, adopted a proclamation for Rail Safety Month, authorized the award of various agreements, and approved an application for a grant program. Additionally, public hearings were conducted regarding job vacancies and recruitment efforts, as well as the adoption of the operating budget and capital improvement program for the upcoming fiscal year. Informational items regarding the LOSSAN Rail Corridor were also received.

This Service Implementation Plan outlines the North County Transit District's strategy to provide multimodal transit services over a five-year period. The plan focuses on key objectives including maintaining existing service levels, optimizing service for efficiency and customer experience, ensuring financial sustainability, and supporting modest, sustainable ridership growth. Key initiatives involve contingent NCTD+ zone expansion and the completion of the Convention Center COASTER Station to enhance regional connectivity, all while operating within constrained fiscal resources.

The board meeting included a safety brief and evacuation procedure review. A key agenda item was the presentation of a newly developed transit operations performance report dashboard, which aims to provide accessible and transparent operational performance metrics to the public and board members, replacing manual reporting processes. The dashboard includes historical trends, on-time performance tracking, and granular data for various transit modes.

The committee reviewed the draft proposed operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year and the five-year capital improvement program. Key discussion topics included the fiscal challenges posed by inflation, rising fuel costs, and unfunded federal and state mandates. The committee addressed the status of the NCTD Plus service areas, emphasizing that further expansions are contingent upon securing grant funding. Additionally, the committee discussed the necessity of prioritizing routes and preparing for potential service reductions or eliminations due to projected long-term budget deficits.