Richard Cordero

The agenda for the Board of Directors Monthly Meeting included committee reports with several action items. The Performance Monitoring/Audit Committee presented resolutions concerning the approval of a Heavy Duty Engine Oil Contract (Resolution 4) and the acceptance of State Funding from NYSDOT's Zero-Emission Transit Transition Program (Resolution 5). The Strategic & Operational Planning Committee proposed Resolution 6 for the approval of organizational Success Outcomes: Financial Stability, Customer Engagement, Community Value, and Employee Engagement. The CEO's Report provided updates on the launch of the CDTA Ambassador Program, service realignment successes, budget status, and advocacy efforts for State Operating Assistance.

The board meeting included committee reports covering various operational and financial areas. The Board Operations Committee discussed advocacy related to the Governor's budget proposal, which suggests a 5.75% increase in STOA funding, and changes to committee meeting schedules. The Performance Monitoring Audit Committee approved a contract award for heavy duty engine oil with Safety Clean Systems at a 45% price decrease, and addressed accepting $17,500,000 in New York State DOT funding for the West Facility project and a hydrogen fuel cell bus pilot program. Financial reports indicated that while some revenues like MRT were over budget, fare revenue was under budget, and the organization is working to address a projected $8.16 million deficit for fiscal year 2027. The Community and Stakeholder Relations Committee reported on the launch of the renewed Ambassador Program, designed to support customer service and fair compliance, and presented two potential vision statements for board selection. The Strategic Operational Planning Committee recommended the adoption of four updated organizational success outcomes focusing on financial stability, customer engagement, community value, and employee engagement. The CEO report highlighted successful execution of realignment phases, noting a significant reduction in overtime reliance, and detailed efforts to improve measurement in on-time performance and customer service feedback.

The Community and Stakeholder Relations Committee meeting agenda included discussions on the Ambassador Program, a refreshed Vision Statement, the Earned Media/Community Engagement Report, and a Bus Wrap discussion. Separately, the minutes from the January 22, 2026, regular monthly meeting detailed staff updates on the refreshed vision and values initiative, which is set for a full rollout on April 1, 2026. The earned media report highlighted six press releases generating nine media stories covering topics like the stroller pilot program and new QR codes on shelters. Social media engagement growth was noted, along with internal events such as a maintenance appreciation event and a retirement celebration. Community engagement activities included participation in the Morning of Kindness and providing transportation for the Albany Mayor's inauguration. The Ambassador Program presentation outlined its purpose to complement operations by providing customer service, addressing fare evasion and disruptive behaviors, and improving connections to community resources. Training for Ambassadors included de-escalation and awareness regarding human trafficking, homelessness, and mental health. The Vision Refreshed presentation reviewed potential options for the new statement, aiming to unify the region through sustainable mobility. The Earned Media report provided statistics on press releases, total media stories, social media follower counts, internal events, and community engagement highlights.

The Performance Management/Audit Committee meeting included consent agenda items covering the approval of a Heavy Duty Engine Oil Contract and the acceptance of State Funding. Administrative discussions included reports on Risk Management & Workers' Compensation, the Monthly Management (Financial) Report, and the Monthly Non-Financial (Performance) Report. A key action item discussed separately involved recommending a resolution to the board to approve a three-year contract for scheduling services not to exceed $325,000, approving the Annual Procurement Surplus Report (totaling $101,810 in proceeds), and approving the Annual Safety Management System Plan. Financial reports indicated that overall, the entity was in a satisfactory budget position with a surplus of $3.7 million as of January 2026, despite customer fares being under budget. Risk management reports confirmed that the balances for self-insurance accounts were deemed adequate.

The Strategic and Operational Planning Committee meeting agenda included the approval of previous minutes (from January 22, 2026) and addressed several key items. The consent agenda covered Success Outcomes, which were subsequently detailed in supporting documents recommending their formal adoption as the guiding framework for organizational performance measurement, focusing on Financial Stability, Customer Engagement, Community Value, and Employee Engagement. An administrative discussion provided an update on the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget, detailing projected revenues and expenses, highlighting significant decreases in Federal Assistance and Customer Revenue, and increases in Health Benefits and Maintenance Services, resulting in a projected deficit.