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Social Services Transportation Advisory Council (SSTAC)
Time:
Place:
This meeting is to be held virtually.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/93700098434?pwd=RDFhZzJvUG1uMUFDRGxRdXhwZXZXQT09
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodations
The Fresno COG offices and restrooms are ADA accessible. Representatives or individuals with disabilities should contact Fresno COG at (559) 233-4148, at least 3 days in advance, to request auxiliary aids and/or translation services necessary to participate in the public meeting / public hearing. If Fresno COG is unable to accommodate an auxiliary aid or translation request for a public hearing, after receiving proper notice, the hearing will be continued on a specified date when accommodations are available.
By Phone:
669 900 6833 US
Meeting ID: 930 5096 6463
Passcode: 167324
New Agenda Item
I.Public Presentations
This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wishing to address the SSTAC on the items within its jurisdiction but not on this agenda. Note: Prior to action by SSTAC on any item on this agenda, the public may comment on that item
II.Executive Minutes of February 23, 2021 Meeting
III.Presentation of the FAX ADA Transition Plan (SZS Engineering Access, Inc.)[DISCUSSION]
Summary: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), FAX is required to prepare an ADA Self-evaluation and Transition Plan which describes barriers to access for people with disabilities related to FAX’s transit network and identifies remediation of these barriers.
This plan is intended to ensure that FAX remains in compliance with the ADA by scheduling the remediation of the barriers to access until remediation is completed. FAX will provide an overview of the plan and will seek comments and input.
The consultants retained by the City of Fresno will be presenting the FAX ADA Transition Plan to the SSTAC.
Action: Information. The Committee may provide additional information at its discretion.
IV.Re-appointments and updates to SSTAC Membership (Todd Sobrado)[APPROVE]
Summary: Several appointments to the SSTAC have lapsed and need to be re-appointed. Please see the attached document for seats and reappointments.
Darlene Christiansen has been selected by FAX to take the place of Judith Nishi on the SSTAC who recently retired.
Action: Staff requests that SSTAC recommend the Fresno COG TTC and PAC approve the re-appointments of interested SSTAC members for another 2-year term.
V.Review of the FY 2021 Section 5310 Grant Awards (Peggy Arnest)[APPROVE]
Summary: Fresno COG is the Designated Recipient of FTA Section 5310 Program funds for Fresno County, which provides capital and operating assistance grants for projects that meet the transportation needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities. The funds may be used for projects where public mass transportation services are otherwise unavailable, insufficient, or inappropriate; that exceed the requirements of the ADA; that improve access to fixed-route service, and; that provide alternatives to public transportation.
Please see the enclosed attachment for FTA Section 5310 Funding Recommendations.
On February 8, 2021, Fresno COG issued a formal call for projects for $1,184,976 in Fresno County Large Urban Area FTA Section 5310 funding. Staff received five applications requesting vehicle purchases totaling $1,709,493. A scoring committee comprising volunteers from the Social Service Technical Advisory Committee (SSTAC) evaluated the applications and issued these funding recommendations:
Action: Fresno COG staff and the SSTAC Scoring Committee request approval from the full SSTAC committee to move forward with these recommendations to the Transportation Technical Committee, Policy Advisory Committee, and finally to the Policy Board for approval.
VI.Notice Of Funding Opportunities (NOFA) For the Consolidated Transportation Services Agency (CTSA)(Moses Stites)[DISCUSSION]
Summary: The City of Fresno is making available up to $1,230,666 and the Fresno County Rural Transit Agency (FCRTA) up to $413,000 in State Transportation funds to fund eligible services and activities that support social service transportation within Fresno County. FAX and the FCRTA are inviting proposals from service providers, especially social service transportation providers, for these services as detailed in the attached document. Proposals are due by Thursday, April 15, 2021.
Action: Information. The Committee may provide additional information at its discretion.
VII.FY 2021 – 2022 UNMET TRANSIT NEEDS ASSESSMENT
A.Leadership Counsel for Justice Accountability (Moses Stites)[DISCUSSION]
Summary: Leadership Counsel for Justice Accountability has submitted comments to Fresno COG and transit agencies in the form of a letter. Fresno COG and the transit agencies have prepared the attached response letter to the comments received.
Action: Information. The Committee may provide additional information at its discretion.
B.Unmet Transit Needs Report (Todd Sobrado)[APPROVE]
Summary: Fresno COG is conducting the Annual Unmet Transit Needs Assessment process. Public outreach and participation is an essential part of this process. As a result of COVID-19, Fresno COG conducted the outreach process online.
Instead of meetings scheduled throughout urban and rural Fresno County as in years past, outreach consisted of a public survey and 6 virtual events: five on ZOOM, one on Facebook.
Fresno COG sent public outreach flyers to the UTN mailing list and ran a digital marketing campaign between February 9 and March 2, 2021, targeted at Facebook users within Fresno County. The comments received are included in the draft Unmet Transit Needs Assessment.
A summary of the comments received includes:
- Several requests for transit service to Clovis Community College.
- Feedback about recent route changes to the FAX fixed-route network.
- Comments about service between outlying rural communities and the Fresno metropolitan area.
The Draft FY 2021-2022 Unmet Transit Needs Report is attached herein. SSTAC members are requested to review the draft report before the UTN meeting on April 20, 2021 in preparation to vote on the report.
Action: Staff recommends that SSTAC approve and forward the draft Unmet Transit Needs Assessment for FY 2021-22 to the Fresno COG Transportation Technical Committee, Policy Advisory Committee, and Policy Board.
VIII.Other Member Items
Please call Todd Sobrado at (559) 621-1532 or by email at harold.sobrado@fresno.gov for more information or to RSVP.
The Fresno COG offices and restrooms are ADA accessible. Representatives or individuals with disabilities should contact Fresno COG, at least 3 days in advance, to request auxiliary aids and/or translation services necessary to participate in the public meeting.