He told me there was a bunch coming in three minutes.
So pull that over as soon as you're on your other device,
okay? All right
Hello to everyone that has joined us so far it is five o'clock. I do want to give a few more minutes for us to officially get started, you know, customarily we start in about Bible five, but I do want to greet those who are already on and we'll get started at Bible five
recording in progress
All right, everyone that time is now 505 I would like to officially start our meeting. Happy New Year as this is the first official meeting of 2024 for our community input meeting. My name is Iommi, Bell Torrance and I am the Outreach Coordinator for D that just want to thank you all for joining us tonight. I'm excited about what we have in store I want to get right into our introductions and I'm going to start off with our Interim Director.
Thank you, Miss Taurus. Good evening, everybody is as Mr. Warren said and Happy New Year. Michael Staley Interim Executive Director, Detroit Department of Transportation
Okay, and now I'm gonna kind of go out of order as I see everyone but Mr. Barkley
do you need no and Barkley, Deputy Director of operation and maintenance at data.
Mr. Stewart
Good afternoon, everyone. Good evening, everyone. So Stewart, Assistant Director of Operations here at DDOT
Mr Yama cure.
I am Ricky Omicron, the Capital Projects Manager here at the Miss Taylor
the Aisha Taylor, Assistant Director of administration for DITA Mr. Gear. Manager contract for paratransit is Miller Alicia Miller DDoS compliance manager, Attorney Abby, Heidi do that safety manager. His name is Stephanie Davis, government affairs liaison for Detroit Department of Transportation with hood
likelihood a Chief of Staff for data
and Mr. Join I think we have a double correct
Yep. I'm with geojo. My name is Nick Cardona assistant director of maintenance. Good evening everyone. Do you enjoy Maintenance Manager at dita?
Thank you and see a few cameras off but if I call you we'll see if we can still get you. Mr. Passionate.
See Patrick, executive manager service development and scheduling live on the number seven books Good evening as Linda vineyard I am the Marketing Manager for deedat Mr.
this tailor I think we have i Orlando Taylor, customer service manager
and I'm going to go to our risk of our marketing. Kristen.
Kristen kowski from marketing
in Kyle.
Oh Jordan also former
Okay, now I believe I got everyone if not, feel free to unmute yourself or to introduce yourself okay with that time now for our meeting rules, which are pretty simple, simple. Public comment will take place following our presentation. You are limited to two minutes and I'll announce when that time is up. Please respect that time and note that you will be muted for going over. Course if time allows you will have another opportunity to speak and as always, no personal attacks or foul language will be tolerated. As we begin our presentation. Please know that by participating in the Zoom meeting, you are granting permission for your name, image likeness as well as audio and video recordings to be used by deedat. To raise your hand you can request to comment by raising your hand if you are using the Dallin only phone option. Enter star nine to serve as that raise hand function feature to request to speak or ask a question. And you can submit questions or comments to do that staff in the chat and that will be open following the presentation. Now before asking your question or comment and please be sure to unmute your audio, state your name and organization and following your comments. Please mute your audio. Starting now the new union agreement. Most of you have heard the great news but in case you missed it. The City of Detroit nd that reaches new agreement within union has a memorandum of understanding the MOU so what does that mean? Do that operators to receive a pay increase of $3 an hour now the attendance bonus increased from $1,000 quarterly to 1500. Allowing drivers to earn up to $1,500 per quarter to a maximum of 6000 annually. Now the agreement approved by city council on Tuesday, January 16. And here's a breakdown of what this means. The starting pay for the previous rate was $16.15. At maximum rate it was $22.61 an hour now with this new rate, they'll receive $19.15 Starting pay with a maximum rate of $25.61. Now the former rate with the bonus program was at $18.07 An hour and maximum rate was $24.53 per hour. With the MOU being approved the new rate with bonus will now be $22.03 an hour with a maximum rate of $28.49 an hour. Moving now to sentinels of safety our SOS campaign. As we know deedat is working to improve safety and with that do that launch the SOS program on December 1. Now the mission statement for that is if safety is defined as freedom from risk and eternal vigilance is the price of freedom than every employee at the Detroit Department of Transportation must be a sentinel of safety. The plan is designed to eliminate minimize unsafe behavior by DDOT employees is a two fold approach of effective monitoring and targeting messages. Coaching and counseling are part of this process. Including a retraining when applicable. And part of the SOS campaign is the development of online training for RTOs. Operators are issued city of Detroit email addresses and receive daily safety messages. There will be opportunities for operators to do online and on Demand training. An initial training module will be on distracted driving. And we mentioned the messages received daily. Here's an example of today's message. It was intersections, Hail, hail, rock and roll. Don't get blindsided and don't worry our operators understand exactly what that means. Moving now to our plan for service restoration, or share this, this is our plan for the year in regards to the required pullouts. Start with am for sign was this month is 151 4pm 162. For April in June, they are the same for the A M 175 and 188 for the pm pullouts. Looking at September 200 or the am pullout and 214 for the required pm pull out and here's a look at the active Teo requirements that we're looking at for the year and for January 400 February 423 March 400 New 46 APR 469 or may 492 And we'll keep climbing for June 515 in July 538 August 561 and for September we're looking at 584 and I do want to note that January, April, June and September are the months of when they pick takes place
so what I just presented all aligns with DDOT goals but 2024 So I would like to share that as well. Starting with safety plan is to reduce the preventable accident frequency rate from 3.0 to the national standard of point nine eight when it comes to being more reliable we like to have that to four times a equivalent up to 653 by 2025. To reduce out of service vehicles to 20% in q4 and increase on time performance by 2% per month and reduce the DDOT service standard of 85% by q4 reduced valid complaints from more than 15 to the national standard of less than 15 by q2 scuze. Me quarter four and turning to a cost effective approach to reduce overtime to below 24% The 16 18% on average per pay period. And your January service changes many of you were at a hearing last year I would say so remind that effective Monday January 22. The frequency on the 9% will increase to every 10 minutes on weekday days and every 15 minutes on weekends. Now this service change is in support of a bus rapid transit BRT service pilot. The introduction of the BRT features and amenities to follow service changes include temporary bus stop islands to eliminate the need for buses to change lanes, and merge in and out of traffic, bus stop consolidations or consistent quarter mile spacing to help speed up service permanent boarding islands in coordination with DPW improvements in new and improved shelters with information displayed at selected locations and connection corners, improvements at major transfers, intersections. Again, these are all things to come follow in the service changes. And additional service chain beside the Jefferson that are also effective on Monday is the 16th Dexter increased daytime frequency to every 20 minutes on weekdays and 18 Figo will begin 45 minute frequency at the start of the weekday service instead of after 8am. And peak periods supplemental trips, add it to several routes. That's the Rio Grande River 13 Connor 15 Chicago Davidson 1947 mile 27 Joy road 60 evergreen 67 Cadillac Harper. De did that reimagine I know that something that many of you have been waiting to hear an update about so here it is. DDOT recently received an update from the outside consulting firm TMD who has worked on deedat reimagined from his conception now as part of Phase Three. The department is reviewing the submission and we'll use our February 15 community input meeting time for a public hearing and presentation on deedat reimagined. Now the final draft will be available to the public on February 1, and the public comment period will begin at the hearing and will remain open until March 17 So you have plenty opportunity to review wrapping up with deedat paratransit our year. This is kind of our year end review. I'm going to start with the safety in regards to accidents and injuries with big star. A total of four preventable and four non preventable with three injuries report for checker, one preventable and one non preventable accident report and three injuries for JL Raya total of two preventable accidents and two non preventable with a total of three injuries. For mo one preventable accident and one non preventable accident with no injury or p x. No preventable accidents were reported and for non preventable with four injuries. Now the total for the year was eight preventable accident 12 non preventable and a total of 13 reported injuries. Now to on time performance again was a big start, but weekdays 97.4% Sunday's 96.8 Saturday 97.6 With a total of 97.4% checker weekdays is 97.8 Sunday's 98.3 Saturdays 9.1 The total of 97.9% on time performance go down rate for weekdays was 96.8% 97.3 on Sundays 96.2% Saturdays and 96 point a total or more 97.7% weekday 95% Sundays and 95.1% on Saturdays for the total average of 97.5% and P x four we get on time performance 96.3% 94.7% 96.1 for Saturday's for a total of 96.1% and is breaking down for a system total for weekdays was 97.2% Sunday's 96% Saturdays 96.6% total 97.1% of representatives that we hope to continue to see customer complaints list start with big star with a total number of 87,680 Fortress so the year 83 valid complaints were received and 16 Invalid posts were received with a total of 99 per checker when it comes to number of trips as 24,609 Well valid complaints we see two invalid with a total of 14 moving to Delray boy 5472 trips 52 valid complaints and just to invalid complies with a total of 54 moving to mo 52,908 trips for the valid complaints and three invalid complaints with a total of 43 four p x that's 54,639 trips, assembly three valid complaints received and seven invalid with a total of 80 and looking at G dot 106 valid complaints received and 15 Invalid with a total of 121. So looking at the system total is 265,202 trips taking 366 valid complaints we see with 45 Invalid complaints we receive a total of 411 and as you see by the percentage that is all less than 1%. Moving to cost effective with our trips per hour you get a total of 265,282 trips with 167,095.37 hours are total other systems total Excuse me 1.5 We gave 1.38 or Sunday, February 1.27 and a total of one
or seven
upcoming meetings. As mentioned, the DDOT reimagined public hearing will take place Thursday, very soon February 15 at 5pm. So you'll have the same information as you normally do for our community and put me the Local Advisory Council meeting is taking place Tuesday February 20. And that's a morning meeting at 10am. And our next regular community input meeting will be Thursday March 21. At 5pm Same place as usual. That is all the updates I have at this time. As always, you can find this information in more details on our website, Detroit in mind that gov forward slash data and we continue to encourage you to follow us on social media that's Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at right DDOT I would like to turn it over now to my colleague Kristen, who will call our first person and then just give us a moment we'll have the timer up in the chat open as well.
Robert, you're the first hand up but give us a minute to get situated.
Good evening. Can
everyone hear me?
Yep, give us just a minute.
Okay, take your time.
We're awesome, Kristen. Thank you.
Yep, I think we're ready. Go ahead.
Perfect. Well, good evening, DDOT staff and all attendees transit advocates. My name is Robert Loski. I'm a longtime transit advocate and also the Vice Chair for the Regional Transit Authority of southeastern Michigan Citizens Advisory Council, or Citizens Advisory Committee for long term. So Happy New Year. And it's a pleasure to be here and express my deepest appreciation for the new BRT that will be on Jefferson, from a big supporter from BRT. That sees it in Grand Rapids to Cleveland and all some of the major cities. This is a huge step for Detroit. Two questions that really Brog in my mind here is it's not just the Lower East Side that's going to have easy connections to Grosse Pointe and all across that portion of the city. But what about all of these other corridors? I know this is just a pilot program, and I'm so happy to see Bus Rapid Transit finally kicking in with the city of Detroit is DDOT looking forward to expanding on other major corridors, especially Grande River and VanDyke for a BRT type service. Those are major routes that have a lot of ridership, and the times on are more than 15 to 30 minutes. Because if we talk about current service on Jefferson, it's always being used. I really would like to see more service being developed and talked about or planned into the 2025 or later this year, when we talk about BRT. On some of these other major corridors. So I was wondering if I could get some questions answered on that specifically with other projects geared to BRT. Lastly, I'd like to make note of the local advisory council meeting due to prior the prior meeting, we actually did not have any attendees or anybody from the public attend that meeting due to a link that wasn't posted correctly. So I just wanted to see if DDOT will be able to provide a lac or local advisory council link that will give access to public to have access to make public comment during that meeting. Again, thank you for your time, and I look forward to speaking with you guys next month. Thank you so much for all the work you're doing.
This look kowski if I could just speak in general terms about plans for BRT. Obviously, we'll go into much greater detail at the next public hearing the community input hearing in February which is going to be the public hearing on DDOT reimagined, but the plan had been to pilot the project on East Jefferson, start with service enhancements, which were described previously, and then the temporary passenger amenities that we hope to have in place by summer of 2024. There were a number of other corridors that were identified in the earlier versions of DDOT. reimagined, we wanted to take the time to do the pilot on East Jefferson. And in the end at the same time, begin to look at those other corridors and take into consideration what might be the next best selection for the next for the next pilot after East Jefferson. So we want to take some time to develop that. We also want to take enough time to be able to gather intelligence lessons learned from the implementation of the pilot on East Jefferson, so that we can apply that to the next pilot and do things if not differently than better.
Okay, there's no other comments. The next hand up is Mr. Cunningham.
Mr Cunningham
Hello,
there you are. Oh god,
I'm about to pull over to the side of the road here. 3134449114313444911 for anybody, just send me a text if you like and listen to the message. 313444911 for I would like to ask the people in charge of the meeting. How many people are in the meeting? Again? How many people are in the meeting? Also any dignitaries staff in the meeting, or in the chat? Is there any dignitaries or staffs in the meeting? Also, I'm know I'm beating a dead horse, but the use of the enunciate or the audio system on the coaches to promote jobs available, such as mechanics such as $19 An hour and the free CD LP. Also, the cars that are on the coaches above seats I don't know the proper name can match up with the proper name of both cards. The proper name of those cards that plaque arcs or whatever, but when I get on the coaches, which I voluntarily do so because I drive they're always empty. There's nothing in them. And I think that's a waste of space when we're major need of bus drivers to go into training. So I really feel as though we should do more with the audio the enunciator and also the plaque cards, like bombard the whole system, with placards about the input meetings, Lac meetings, and that they're hiring. All you need is a driver's license. Um, so I appreciate it. Hopefully somebody can answer that question. Those questions, plural. Thank you so much. Everybody's homies. I know how I love y'all.
So let me take a shot at a couple of those and then I'll let whoever has information on those placeholders, the plaque cards, what we typically use those for and what we anticipate use those for in the future. We are looking at the enunciator, we're not sure that that's, that's feasible, to be able to insert commercials if you will, in the enunciator, we want to make sure that the system integrity is intact, because there's an anti aters First and foremost are informing passengers about the upcoming stops and the upcoming crossing points required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. I would like to point out and I don't want to jinx us that the last two training classes that we started were about or in excess of 50 students, which pretty much takes us to the maximum number in order to maintain the student to instructor ratio. So thanks to recruiting thanks to HR city of Detroit. We've been able to fill up those classes. Certainly, since October, the class before that in September was a little bit later but the October November class, and the latest class that started in January, came in at 59 students so we're filling up the classrooms. And from that we hope to be able to realize have join our ranks about 2025 or so additional badge T O's per month when you subtract out the number of people that separate from DDOT. I don't know if there's anybody that can talk to the the FC holders the placards
and how many people are in the meeting since I pass out lots of flyers and also any dignitaries or staffs that you see.
Yeah, I'm looking at the number and Mr. kowski can correct me but I'm seeing 73 participants
73 with 51 attendees and 22 people who are DDOT people. Yay. Mr. Cunningham, there are a few representatives from the city who have commented in the chat
the black art
you must have kind of hand down the Packers they will do for pocket schedules. So the operators can put pocket schedules in them. For you. I'll put it right in public.
I'm talking about above the seats the advertising the those little those little boards of advertising above the seats, a lot of them are empty. I'm not talking about where you put the information I'm talking about above the seats. All is usually empty. It's not being used. That's what I'm talking about. So placards may not be a good word.
He's returned referring to the interior bus cars. We have some up now I think we are working to build more, including getting community input cards up there, but we should have seen some new ones with the QR codes with the website and the Bus Tracker and the token transit so you should start seeing additional ones but they are all kind of de that are city related. don't do the outside
thank you
the next hand up is Steven hollering
how's it going? Good evening, everyone.
Hello. Go ahead. Yeah, it's good to finally see we got a driver range, you know $3 It's still low. But it's progress. Question I've had and this has been a big issue when it came to the driver shortage is drivers have been getting and I know you've heard this before they get their CDL and then they go right when there's an opening a system that pays more, it's probably easier to work for. They go right to that system. And I know that's just been a recurring problem. And I know they have made it where if they do that they have to get their bonus back but you know, they're making like, twice the amount of hourly time was worth living in the bonus back. And you know, that's really is there any way you can stop that from happening? Is this like something you would have to go to this last scene or the city about because this is a recurring issue and you know, is smarts about to get a good contract. Hopefully that step significantly more than this. I mean, drivers again, start wanting to go there because they're the probably even more short than us. So you know, there's definitely a lot of so that's definitely an issue. There really needs to be at our mat. You know, look there because it's gonna keep happening now. But I'm happy to at least say they got a pay raise. And another question is the BRT of ventually. Going to include dedicated lanes? And well it be where you can actually go on the bus. I learned you could kind of show your phone or go through like the back door. This currently, you know, these stats had been very unfriendly to Android apps. And you know, I think that would be really good for the ABA community as several people have told me, you know, the cue line is probably more ABA friendly than DD that I
have to answer the first question. We're aware of the fact that one of the departments within the city of Detroit has begun to implement a repayment plan, if you will. So what they're trying to do is recoup the costs of training and any licensing that takes place for people that failed to remain with that agency for a set period of time, so we're looking at that. We're looking at the plan that they're putting in place to see how applicable it might be to the DDOT to be able to do something similar to to what you described. In some of the other locations I've been at. We literally were able to rescind a CDL license, but that mechanism does not does not exist within the within the state of Michigan. We'll go into greater detail on we'll make a point when we do the DDOT reimagined to to highlight what some of the characteristics of a typical BRT system are. But yes, dedicated lanes of travel, traffic control, and also ease of boarding the vehicle but we'll make a point in the February presentation to re emphasize or reintroduce some of the some of the standard characteristics of a bus rapid transit system.
Thank you. Yeah. And
regarding the crucial lanes, we couldn't do that on Jefferson because that would only leave one for the general traffic, but we what we are doing is with the boarding islands, the bus would not have to leave the lane that it's driving it would be able to just drive straight without having to merge in and out of the traffic. But on other streets, there might be the possibility of having an exclusive lane but not on Jefferson.
Thank you, Renard. Yours is the next hand up.
All right, good evening. Can I be heard? Yes, go ahead. All right. Hi, my name is Fernando Chesky. I use he him pronouns and I represent Detroit people's platform and transit justice team. I'm really, really want to just wish you all a happy new year and I'm so thankful to the drivers that day in day out through their grueling jobs and really appreciative to this department. Its leadership, the administration, city council, and most importantly, every single caller that came in on this call every single month, and in city council to increase the wage for drivers and make that message consistent. And this is what happens when people in government work together. It's often not talked about often when nothing doesn't happen. So this is a step in the right direction. $3 is just the beginning. I think that more can come in the future. I had a question about the Jefferson BRT. There is this going to replace the regular number nine service or will there still be service for the more frequent routes even though that tends to slow down the bus service? Because I think having both options are there and I actually also want to advocate for Grand River as well too. Often we wait for the development to prop up on a corridor and then putting new transit brathay. Let's try to reverse put the transit and if you build it, they will come and that they could be or to you on that corridor would actually improve the neighborhoods going through a most important and populated section of the city as well. And I used to live along that corridor so I made some bias but I don't know. I grew up in an area and there's a lot of people that ride the bus there and a grim River Corridor could use the study as well, too. So just had a question about that BRT. And then the other thing is, I think we need to have a summit on safety and security and have a more nuanced conversation beyond policing. And what that means for the bus as well, too. I think that we need to, you know, reconcile some things in terms of passengers and riders and drivers. So thank you.
Mr. Patrick, can you speak to the east Jefferson question or concern?
Well, I agree that Grande river would be a great street to do next. They might be jurisdictional complications due to the fact that it was mdot. Now well, what we said what was on Jefferson, we want you to know Oh, yeah, it will the nine we're running the renumber nine, it the BRT frequencies, that is the only change. Right now nothing else is changing, except that they were running the number nine at the BRT frequencies. So when we have a chance to reorganize the bus stops, then then there'll be a slightly wider, a significant but we're not going to have two services on the same street. So that's the goal is to have one service on the street that runs very frequently so everyone can get on the next bus, and no one would have to wait for special but it takes them where they're going. That's all and I hope that answers your question. Thank you. Yes,
I just got one last one. And I want to make sure of the people who speak can we make sure that the enough theaters actually are working on all the buses because it is important that people get here where their stops are, I think is kind of a lottery. You get uncertain buses, it does work certain buses, it doesn't work. So I do want to echo that sentiment as well. Just make sure that that's working for folks.
Thank you Renard. The next hand up is Miss Marguerite.
Miss Marguerite Are you able to make your comments
below left a question in chat, Kristen. Yeah. Do you want I can read it and then she can let me know if that's not the case that she actually does not want me to go what's what's going on with the bus stop on it fellowshipped stop
I don't know. Did anyone see that's the one that I see in here. I don't know if she had an injury.
What stop is that now? Belt you should fellowship.
It says fellowship Yes.
So what I want to talk about the fellowship chapter on seven mile east of telegram. We can take a look at it. We have a current speaker look at it just the first step here.
Okay, and there is another one Michigan Gratiot bus route State Fair transit center what's going on?
I can answer the one about State Fair if you'd like. So stay fair. we are planning on opening at the end of March, beginning of April, weather permitting and construction are nearing completion so a lot of the structure on the outside is nearly complete. Working on the interior now. So we are looking forward to an opening within the next quarter less than three months, from this point first.
Okay, let's Marguerite. If that doesn't answer your questions, go ahead and add them to the chat or keep your hand up and we'll get back to you again. Okay, let's go to Mr. Chela. You said you were jumping on and off devices. So we appreciate you sticking with it. Go ahead, make your comments. Okay,
good evening, Director Staley, Kristen and Obama and all the staffers. I want to thank for the increase from Mayor Collier and Staley for getting together and getting that increase you know, we need a little bit more. I'm gonna steal five or this year until we can get a low income fair. Thinking about contact and email them illage Gilbert Ross see if they can contribute something to having a low income fair. We'll be having in City Council this year. For more money to be that like we did last year. Hopefully you can get at least 100,000 to help continue to I know you get negotiation coming up with mechanics, Mr. Director, stating, hopefully we can get you some money to give them more what they need. I love everything that you presented this evening. I'm thankful for the progress that we're making. He presented we will go on schedule and keep on track on it. I would love to have a sight of that state fair as I've been to victory state and you know, maybe near completion you can take some of us all down here so that you can see before the open I'm not gonna say anything else. I think everything is done in these last couple months and I'll be looking forward to February. Seeing the final thing that we imagine. And everybody Happy New Year. Stephanie, Happy New Year. And thank you and have a blessed and safety.
No,
thank you. Cory, did you have your hand up to respond to one of the earlier questions?
Yes to Mr. Bernards question, Cory. I'm Chief Safety Officer with DDOT. Mr. Renard, just want to update you that we are working on a code of conduct for passengers. That Mr. Barkley, I believe started part of my rival that is sitting with the law department. We're just waiting on some logistics there and and we should have a plan moving forward.
Can I say one more thing I just want to say right now we'll be getting in touch with you so we can sit down and talk okay. You're very well. Okay.
Miss Marguerite. Yes, Miss Marguerite. If you're available to comment, go ahead.
Hello, can you hear me? Yes. Good.
I did not hear what was being said. Somebody was reinstated. You please. Thank you. With
regard to the comments that you put in the chat.
Yes.
Okay.
No one we were trying to find out that the fellowship fellowship Chapel was that the bus stop she was asking about you asked what's going on with that so we were trying to make sure we hit the right stop. In the there was regarding State Fair transit, but we've covered that. And I believe you asked about what's going on with the grassroot bus bus as well.
I'm not I'm not exactly sure of what what the question is about the bus stop and about Gratiot.
It's Margarita. Are you able to clarify your question? All I see is what's going on with it. So we don't I don't know if you put anything else to read for us so that we can answer it better.
Miss Lisa Franklin mentioned that the slope or the bus stop on West outer Drive near Southfield at fellowship chapel is sloped and violates ATA and it's very hard to access from a wheel. Wheelchair standpoint.
What Yes, yeah, if you?
Yeah, we'll make sure that Mr. Applegate is made aware of that issue.
Unfortunately, there's really not much we can do if the ground is sloping, too steeply. Because if there's a now there are times when you cannot, like if we were to put a shelter there, we would probably have to build a flat pad and ramps and so forth. But there are places where it's simply too steep to meet ADA, I don't know. And we can't always do anything about it. Especially if there's not right away or anything like that. But we'll check into it.
Yeah, at the very least we need we need to take a look see?
Yeah, if Margarita man, Mr. Director. It's right around the corner from my household on my way home to them. I must start by taking a look at it. And pass it on to Mr. Applegate.
Appreciate that, well, thanks.
Thank you. Thank you.
Okay, great. Thank you. The next hand up is a number ending in 1692.
Just 169.
Okay, hey, how you doing? You hear?
We can hear you now. Go ahead.
Okay, great. I'm gonna just make it short and simple. First, I just want to give you the flyer so that I can make this call possible and three quick things. Clean. Um, the buses are not secure and safe. And buses are still not paid clean. Yet good. I need might look. No light in the seat. There's is many times I've gotten on the bus and home and seen that I had for books and my things that I know. I don't know him
okay,
I think we lost audio. But I can't
cure. But bus I've even been in a fight on bus. You safe and secure like that. That's the
Mr. Cardona Mr. Joy, can you talk to what the cleaning schedule what the regimen is for cleaning and detailing the coaches?
Just muted my mistake. So each day, our coach service attendants do a central light clean on each coach, which is sweeping and mopping as needed or cleaning out throughout in addressing any major visible items. Once a month we do a deep clean which includes removing the felt seats and sanitizing them with a high pressure soap and detergent and heat and then also going through the coach and deep cleaning it and we do that once a month for each coach.
Okay, okay, well I believe it should be done at least maybe two times a month due to the many numbers of people that you know, comes in and off the bus one time a month. I mean, that's just suitable for maybe a day or two after that. And even then, right afterwards, you know, people can bring bugs you know, bedbugs things like that, that jump off of people clothes, and you know, things like that. So it should be done a little bit more to ensure that you know, is clean more often.
And we do have a process where when we have something reported on the coach as far as bedbugs, where we bring a vendor out with a canine unit and walks through each coach specifically that we had to report on. Oh, good. Every week we have that done. And that's something that we proactively do. Okay. But as you said, Somebody didn't know could go on and there but we're definitely taking proactive measures. And, you know, get trying to get ahead of it as much as possible.
All right, well, sounds good. Um, thank you. You're welcome.
Thank you. And the next hand up is Miss Ann.
Hi, my name is Jerome LAN. Connie. Han have gave me a flyer. And my concerns is about the bus clean and what the gentleman was just talking about. I just like to know how often do the staff gets on the bus and checks
the CSAs daily as far as it was there, another staff that you're referencing?
Yes, I work for MGM Grand. I've been on working for 24 years there. And so my main stop is to grassroot bus. And when I get on that bus it's pretty filthy. And that is true. And I'm just trying to find out if they've been cleaned the way that you say they are. Why are they so unclean, you know, and not sanitized? But when we come and we get on that bus and we pay our fares
in Do you have a time of day for that particular coach or a coach number? yes, I
do. Yes, I do. I get off of work at two o'clock to two every day for five days. And that coach is very very unclean unsanitized yes it is.
Okay. And what was the line again
gratia route six min.
I have a dedicated staff at each terminal that inspects fuels, cleans out the coaches on a daily basis and the cleanings that they do on a daily basis are essentially a light cleaning. We do a deep cleaning, as I alluded to before, that has other touch points beyond the seats that we do once a month. But we do have a dedicated staff.
Okay, I understand, understand perfectly what you're saying. But maybe I need an under cover staff needed somebody that couldn't actually let you know, because somebody isn't telling the truth. I wouldn't be on here complaining about it or saying anything. I'm propriate about the buses, but it is very unclean. Well, I'm sure you would know, clean as to when you get on there. I'm not talking about but you say and they come and they clean and detailed and stuff like that. I'm actually talking about when you get on that bus, you actually see dirt and dust and the seats are very dirty and unclean.
You say you got on downtown at two o'clock or somewhere
down downtown at two o'clock pm that's the time I get off work.
So ma'am, the next question will be this as core the next question would be less than the AM. Are you experienced this early in the morning or is it at a time during where people have used the bus? Have you noticed anything in the am early morning?
Well I noticed like sometimes early in the am morning sometimes that the gratia bus does not goes all the way down to the eight mile and and grass if it actually Tyrells right there all grassroot in hopper and sit there and then it would turn on his side to come to ride downtown. I'm not saying Oh, yes.
So at the cleanliness.
So one of the things that were lost when you experienced this, could you please notify our customer service so that we can jump on these kinds of situations early on, obviously.
Yes,
no problem. No problem. Yes. I would. I would do that. Thank you
Okay, great. Thank you. The next hand up is Andrew Smith.
Hey, can everybody hear me?
Yes, go ahead.
Great.
Thanks. I'm gonna add my thanks to everybody who mentioned the $3 Raise. Glad that happened. Glad to see it happen. I've been living in Detroit for a decade, but I grew up in Minneapolis. So I rely on my bike and transit for most of my transportation because that's what I'm used to. But coming to talk about reliability. I have a friend who takes the four and the 42. So that's the Woodward in the Oakland MidCity loop quite frequently, catching them from Oakland. They also ride their bike but they take the bus, especially in the winter. And they've been noticing especially recently they've been passed a number of times on buses that look half full, quarter full. They take it relatively early in the morning. And they are confused as to why that's happening there. There usually are at the stop between Holbrook and King and Woodward. And on Oakland I imagine I don't know which stop they take from that. But they're still I guess some reliability issues there. So they they've been converted going back to riding their bike in this weather. Um, that's that's my first comment. The other thing I was thinking is to add on now with the updates about the BRT on Jefferson. If it is going if it is a BRT rep that is going Jeff, nine frequency does that mean that it is like the person asked Does that mean that it is like there going to be less places where it's going to stop because a lot of BRT routes have less frequent stops. Does that mean that the the BRT plan for that one line will be just stopping at less stops or is that going to be I guess, just more with more frequency? Thank you.
The only thing that's changing next week is the frequency. When we put in the amenities, the bus stops, will be slightly further apart. We're looking at maybe a quarter mile spacing which is about you know, 12 or 1300 feet, instead of instead of like a 200 feet so there'll be slightly fewer stops, but but it'll still be a local route. Think of the think of maybe that the health line in Cleveland. If you're looking at if you're familiar with all the BRT routes, it makes you know, there isn't a local and a limited on the same street. There's only one bus route, but it's faster.
If I get if I guess we
don't want people to have to wait for a special bus. To go to their stop. So all the buses will follow the same service pattern and they call the same stops.
The kowski if I can speak in general terms to service reliability, and then somebody from operations or somebody or miss Miller from compliance wants to talk about the passing passengers by I'll let them speak after I do. So. You saw earlier that the the overall goal of DDOT in 2024 is to improve service reliability on time. performance by at least 2% per month, until we reach the the publish service standard of 85%. The way that we intend to accomplish that is we've been given a directive to increase the the amount of service that's on the streets so that eventually by September of 2024, where it pre COVID service levels, so it'd be 214 pullouts in the morning 200 I'm sorry, 200 Pull out to the am 214 in the pm between those intervals that you saw earlier. It's our intention, with the addition of of newly badged students to not only cover all of the work that is in the in the pic in January, April, June and September, but then to begin to build out our extra board. So currently, we operate with less than 5% Extra board, which means that we have a great deal of vulnerability for both planned and unplanned for unplanned absences. So if somebody calls off on any given day, and we've exhausted the extra board, then that that route will suffer accordingly. So part of our plan, in addition to the increasing the number of pull outs per day, is to build out the extra board so that we have approximately 20% Extra board coverage so that not only can we cover those unplanned absences, but also that we're able if we have extra board operators available after am and pm pull out that we can do what's called service recovery vehicles. So that knowing which routes are or more subject to being less on time that we can insert those, those T o's and those buses onto those routes to improve the on time performance. So the first step is to make sure that we meet the requirements for the pull out. And then in between those intervals January to April, April to June, June to September, September to the end of the year. Continue to add transit equipment operators, build out the extra board and increase the service reliability on a route by route basis.
And I'm gonna jump in and Melvin Burton over operations. I'm just gonna jump in about that. Those who have been passed up out there, we will put our service inspectors out there to make observations to see what is going on. And we will handle it accordingly. With our operators that are passing by because anyone at a bus stop. We're supposed to stop it until ces so we will get supervisors out there to notice that
and along along with that, just a general comment again, I think, Mr. Holmes made mention of this, but it's really important and I'm sorry that the burden is on the on the passenger, but if you can provide us with with information in near real time, so time route, you got the coach number, whatever the case might be, so we can track it back. So not only can we then have service inspectors out there in a more targeted way, but also have the opportunity to talk to the to the bus operator just to understand what their mindset is. That would cause them to to bypass passengers.
One clarification
there's
Yes. Okay. The other so reliability in terms of them being passed. I think that's more frequent and I've also heard from them recently. The other thing they brought up is that the buses as scheduled on the transit app, or, you know, scheduled and then vanishing from the transit app, or not showing up when they you know, two minutes, one minute present and then not showing up. I've been there for that happening a couple of times. So I can I can speak to firsthand experience with that, but that was the other reliability complaint that they had had. Again, excited to see the raises and more more more drivers operating. So I'm hoping that you know, there's, there's there's less stress on the system entirely. And I imagine that's the cause of a lot of this but I can, I can tell them to call in would it be helpful to know the route number or the timing I imagined, they don't necessarily see the bus number as it goes by. They might not be able to see that. But yes,
you have to give us if they could give us the time today and the route. We can. We can track that back. And again, if it's if it's a behavioral issue, then you know, we'll start with coaching and counseling, if retraining is indicated, we'll do retraining and then if progressive discipline needs to be applied, we'll we'll do that as well.
Yeah, the final comment I would all say is that the roads that are passing them by our roads that were scheduled on the transit up and a showed up like on time, I suppose for what they expected time based on the app was they just get passed by so that was that was final found out.
Appreciate that information.
Thank you. And the next hand up is Thomas concha. Konya. Can you hear me? Yes, go ahead.
I'm the owner of the shell Shell gas station on Telegraph and Warren. I am on Warren beat route. The last stop is Telegraph in Warren or Waverly and Warren. I have called customer service number of times. In the past I have worked with Mr. Owens. bleedings. No longer with DDOT and Vicki cava, I believe and helping work with the bus stop and what has been going on. Unfortunately, the passengers that are getting off the bus have because that is where the layover happens. So unfortunately another route all the drivers drop off everybody at the end of the route and then it is becoming a very big disturbance to not just only my business there burger truck next door, boneyard, Tim Hortons and the other local businesses. Not saying all the passengers are bad, but only 20 to 10% of the passengers actually use that route, where I'm getting passengers from St. John's and everything else causing disturbance on the bus. harassing your drivers as they come into the station. But then also causing disturbance where we have to call the local police department or Call the local police department for your drivers because there has been threats to the drivers as they walk into the station. I'm wondering if we can get help to either make this continuous route where these passengers would not be stopped at and dropped off at the station. Or if we can work on a different layover area and then the drivers can still use the facility at the station. And we can work together. We worked together before if we work together again. I'd be more than happy to work this out. And so with the other business owners from around the area.
Mr. Collins you can do we can we get your contact information offline. So we can schedule a site visit so we can see for ourselves what what you're experiencing and and see if we can begin to come up with a practical solution.
Yeah, that is our problem. Customer Service told me to go on to this meeting. I had to supervisor told me to come on to this meeting. They spoke with me and they said most of them have seen it firsthand. I've had to hide one of your drivers in my back room. And another one in the bathroom. Because one of the passenger is pulled on a knife and another one was chasing him and I guess hit one of your drivers and we locked them in back until the police department came. So yeah, that is not a problem. You can we can do that with no problem.
Can you clarify this for me? Sure. Of all the people getting back on the bus and riding back into town after leaves are then transferred to smart or going somewhere else because there's no special reason for people to ride to the very last step there really isn't.
So it's kind of a tricky situation. So most of these passengers actually have hospital lanes. They're mostly coming from St. John's with my thought hospital. I understand the riding the bus as a shelter but then they get dropped off. So depending on how they're on the bus, and I'm not blaming the drivers, but sometimes we tell the drivers Hey, can you take them they'll take them back. But someone they don't want to deal with them on the bus and they just pass them up because they're not getting back on this bus and then I have to deal with over the next hour to two hours by the time the next bus comes to pick them up. All right.
Please go just riding back and forth on why
that is correct. Because
we have we go to wine because that's the you know the end of the city limits and transport the smartbus That's why we go there. And but yeah, people would we normally don't have these kinds of problems at the end of onStop. But if the people running back and forth, yeah, that would explain it.
Yeah, so if we can work on something where the layover is at a different spot, where, hey, this isn't the only round and we can make it continuous. Or some of the drivers whenever they do like a 1027 or 1037 that they can go off Route. If they liked they can use the facility that I do not have a problem. It's not the drivers I'd say maybe 2% of the drivers maybe have an issue or attitude. But usually there's a discussion and everything's fixed and it's not an issue. It's more of the passengers and the disruption of business and then you know, we're all we're all in business together and saying you have the restaurant next door with this happening. We're losing business as in no offense. Customers speak with their feet, and also their wallet. So this is a big disturbance. They don't want to come back to the business. So I'm asking for help and we can work together.
Yep, no, we will. We'll schedule a site visit. I'll come out Chief Safety Officer or bring a couple other individuals as well. We'll observe the situation and and again, begin to work on a solution.
Okay, I appreciate that. You want it offline or I don't know how to.
I put the DDOT comments, email in the chat. If you're able to send an email we can funnel that to the to the right person. Yeah,
please what would be a good time to observe the problem
if we weren't going to make a trip there? Honestly, early in the day, I mean, I'm not gonna say it's all day. But usually first thing in the morning when we open up and then usually right in the afternoon around three, four o'clock.
So I can
Yeah, we Yeah, we're gonna make connections so we can find out when we need to be there.
Yeah, and if you speak to some of the drivers, they can tell you about this on that route that are using on that route. They would also tell you the same thing. They know me we speak about it and they kind of give me warning. So who's coming when they come in? And stuff like that also, so we we speak with the drivers also. So
great, thank you so much. And the next hand up is William Davis.
Oh, good evening. Can
I be heard? Yes, go ahead.
Okay, my name is William Davis, former elected police commissioner over here in district seven. I'm also president of the Detroit active and retired employee Association, one of our proposals before city council and I would like for y'all to start looking at is the city track retirees should be able to ride did that for free. As some of you may or may not know, during the bankruptcy, some of us received like a 22.25% monthly cut plus loss of our medical you know, so it's trying times for a lot of city Detroit retirees, it will be very helpful if they was able to if we are was able to ride the bus for free. You know, that way we can perhaps continue education go the doctor meetings and go to other things. Because in fact, some of us probably should not be driving anymore. But it would be helpful and be of benefit to the city and to D that for some of us not to be driving. And so this is something that there's gonna be a city chart, retiree task force is going to be developed. I want to give you a heads up that's one of the things that my group has already asked the city council about and they're gonna be looking into. So I want to Java start looking into and thinking about how it could be mutually beneficial. Right now, I mean, can you imagine anyone on this line Imagine if you had to take a 22.25 monthly cut in your income plus had to suddenly have to start paying for medical you know, that will be devastating to most people? You know, so I want you to think about that and see what I could do. And I will be joining you again in the future. Thank you.
Thank you for that suggestion, Mr. Davis.
Thank you. And the next hand up is Steven Boyle.
Thank you, I'm a constituent in district seven. I regularly take the Finckel and Dexter buses. My work time to get into work is between three o'clock four o'clock on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and then I get out at 10 o'clock. So we usually in the last phone call bus home if if I get out of work at a decent hour and it's a scramble for me to get over to the Rosa Parks in West Graham location from Woodward. That's about it's a little over a mile for me to have to get there. One of my concerns is a proper audit of all of the systems on the bus. This would include your Wi Fi routers, which I find about 1/5 of your Wi Fi routers are actually configured your bicycle racks a number of them are in disrepair and even though it's wintertime people do still ride bicycles. And when they're hanging outside of the pathway of the bus, they are to danger for the driver to hit something and then have a problem with everything going on with the bus. And I've seen that a timer to the tracking systems. Yes, it's a problem. And I think sometimes the operator hasn't logged in. I don't understand how it happens. But I've been on a bus which was not being tracked and the audio was not functioning. So I assumed that was a matter that the operator didn't log in on the route. I just would like to see some of the interchanges between buses work better. And that means that the southbound Dexter bus is actually looking at all of the connections along its route and gaps are 40 minutes on the Dexter Ross route don't really work at all. Thank you.
Miss Miller, I don't know if you're able to talk at all about the ride checks that compliance undertakes.
Yes, no problem. Thank you, Mr. Staley are the officer compliance we out we monitor the service every month. We perform at least a six to 10 rounds. We get on maybe ride for about two to four hours. And whatever we find we make sure we come back and we report it to the staff whether it's a dirty coach, if the negotiators is not working that is an ADA requirements so we ensure that the ADA announcers are working. We will talk to the vehicle maintenance staff and if it's not, they will immediately repair it along with the wheelchair ramps as well. So we are out there monitoring and whenever five problems we find we do report back to DDOT staff and they will immediately rectify the problem
thank you
thank you Mr. Boyle. The next hand up is Justine
Justine, are you able to come up?
Okay, we'll leave your hand up but phone number ending 838 is the next hand up
838 phone number ending 838
Hi, this is Justine. Can you hear me now? Yes,
we can hear you now. Go ahead.
Okay. Yeah, I'm a long term bus rider and transit advocate and I mostly take the Dexter and the Woodward that Woodward seems pretty good but the Dexter lately has been so disappointing is let me down for 30 minutes sometimes you know when the bus supposed to be every 20 minutes. So it's really difficult. I take the bus at all different times. I have noticed that Dexter there's one bus driver and he's always on time and he's a really good driver and and I don't so when i see that i I wonder why the other drivers can't also be on time and maybe somebody like him could be a mentor to some of the drivers is what I'm thinking because I've noticed that when I get on the bus this the safety issue sometimes the bus driver will lurch forward before I've had a chance to sit down and others you know Wait Are they pull out slowly and I think that I've noticed some of the drivers are excellent. And others you know need some help. We also need more bus schedules at the main library they run out very, very quickly. And another thing I was wondering about the rationale of the attendance bonus, why not just pay more to begin with? Because when I was working attendance was the basic thing to keep your job so it's kind of the lowest bar you know is attendance. So could it be possible to apply that just to pay more sometime?
Like can we take a couple of these and separate them out real quick. So marketing about the main library is that who's responsible for making sure schedules are where they're supposed to be and insufficient supply.
We have been, Claire has been delivering them. So if they're they're low, just let us know. And we'll make sure but she's going to begin them to all the different locations.
I'm going to speak real quickly to a couple of aspects of service reliability. So obviously the first thing has to do with making sure that we've got a sufficient number of to So again we've been fortunate since September. They have good class sizes. We've been averaging about 23 new T O's per month after you take the number of graduates minus the number of people that separate from DDOT. So that's the first step we've also begun now to take a deeper harder look at on time performance on a route by route basis and on a driver by driver. So we stood up what we're calling a service reliability committee. It's it's cross functional. So we have representatives of Mr. Patrick's department operations, maintenance and the like. And we want to be able to do a more targeted effort at looking at the on time performance of routes, but also at individual drivers. To see if part of it is behavioral, or if there's some other issues that work but the obviously the biggest thing that's going to have the most immediate and direct impact is making sure that we cover all the work that's that's scheduled on any given day. Make sure that we have extra make sure we have sufficient extra board coverage to protect the system against unplanned absences. Um, at the same time, begin to look at on time performance on a route by route basis and driver by driver basis. And as we build up the to headcount, be able to insert vehicles into the service during the service day in a targeted fashion, particularly on those routes that have substandard performance, as it relates to service reliability.
Yeah, the 40 minute wait on rather than a wait brush. And a lot of times when when there's a bus missing, the driver that comes next is assumed to be late and people yell at them and insult them but they can't help it if they're a leader is missing. And and then also that driver then has to pick up a double load of passengers. So he or she has to work twice as hard, which sometimes causes them to fall further behind schedule.
Okay, great. Thank you
and can I just ask the last caller, Justine, who was the driver that she was actually commentating? She gave a lot of praise to this particular driver. Does she even know that drivers name?
No I don't and, but I am going to make a point of finding out and breaking down the next time I ride with him because I've just noticed he's an exceptional driver and always on time so I I have neglected to call it in or write it in but I will make a point of that next time. If
you could please do that. I put my phone number in the chat and would love to follow up on that to give him okay, nominate him for something.
Thank you. Number ending in 838 Are you able to make your comment
okay.
We can hear you now. Go ahead.
Good evening. I'd like to thank you all for this call this evening, Mr. Cunningham for the invitation. I have a few comments that I'd like to make. One. I'm very much in support of drivers receiving increased pay. I also liked the last caller suggestion rather than to delay incentive in support of attendance that we consider those bonuses as a part of the actual salary and discipline is to be corrective and not punitive. So if we could look at ways that we can incentivize drivers, I had an opportunity on the other month to listen to the revenue forecast for the city of Detroit, and they discussed by the year of 2025. The average salary would be $95,000. It is my hope that we could look at how we could incentivize key operations like transportation and what we can do to increase those rates. We are experiencing a brain drain in the city of Detroit as well as a loss of population throughout the state of Michigan. We are and had really been revered as the automobile. Capital of the World. So as we reimagine DDOT and even looking at reason, regional transportation, if we could see how we could become a regional transportation destination we are the automobile capital of the world. When we look at our seniors that are retiring, they're going out west or they're going to Florida, where are young people who go out west or to the East Coast. One of the main things that they talk about, especially if they have experience being here in Detroit, they love the mass transit options. And this is something that we can do. I believe that if we keep working together and we keep having these platforms to get feedback, it can help put us on the map with regional transit. I had the pleasure for the last two and a half years to be in Arizona. And I was with a senior from Michigan who signed up for paratransit he had Metrolist here and then in Arizona, he had Valley Metro and if we could have some of our DDOT staff, if you have not already visited the state of Arizona, they have a really great paratransit training facility that they take their recipients of those benefits through. And I think it would be something ideal to have in Detroit and as Miss Marguerite talked about
the minutes
okay
am I Are we Does
anyone need to address the points?
Okay, thank you so much.
Great. Thank you for calling in. The next hand up is Cornell at Gmail
Are you able to make your comment?
I hear you hear me? Go ahead. Yep. What what continue was the bus what returned to service and on the weekend was the bus. And also, I could also do would took us about a week on the weekends and expand it to 10 and they think 10pm Does I say
which route was that? Ross a bus.
Ross Russa.
Kirk Mazur, was the boss co return on the weekend service.
Festivals can return on the weekend.
It's only Monday through Friday right now there used to be weekends at one time.
New Jazz this just this year
Sorry, what was what was that?
The new jazz open. We open this open open this year.
The new jail? Yeah.
The county and the juvenile detention center courthouse sir over there.
Man. Thank you for your
did you have one more? I think he's got to know that at this time. It's
only weekdays. Okay, okay. Let's say that's all I say. Nene. I happen to have happened. Do
you too? Yes, you too. Thank you. Siri. Your next
Siri?
Mute Hello. Yes, go ahead. Oh, okay. Let me just say it's a person who has ridden Detroit buses since the 1950s. I wish you guess would stamp reimagining deed that and address some of the issues that I and other transit advocates have been addressing to you for the past 20 years. Such as having bus stop signs. Be two sided so if you're coming or going, you can see the bus stop providing some form of safety mechanism on buses where travelers can signal for assistance without having to broadcast their intentions to dangerous passengers who may be confronting the pulse being. Meeting signs for the monthly meeting. The monthly meeting for 30 years has been on the third Thursday of every month. It used to be prominently displayed on Detroit buses. There is no reason when new buses roll off the assembly line before they roll on to their route. They cannot help the monthly customer input meetings posted on the bus. I would like to see deedat fire all these consultants in rehire its marketing department so that it could increase revenue with advertising on the coaches, which it used to Hey guys need to stop reinventing the wheel and
research that is time. Fine.
I just want to I'm gonna take the part about operators notifying us they do have emergency button that they can push that will let us know we can listen in. And we can take action with that. So they'll go directly to our dispatch so something's going on.
Cameras still work on buses. Yes, ma'am. Because all the all the the internet's Wi Fi does not always work. on buses. So I'm wondering if the cameras are broadcasting back but
our cams are not on Wi Fi. They are closed circuit so that does not interfere with us with the internet working. So
you're saying that drivers can notify headquarters in you can see on the cameras a disturbance and send assistance before it escalates.
Now we
can I see Yeah, I cannot we cannot touch that just for a little bit from a safety and security standpoint. Oh Ma'am. Ma'am. It was a great question. But um, so as the Chief Safety Officer, I'm just trying to tread that question very lightly because it's a security issue. But we are recording. We're just not at liberty to say when we're doing it, how we're doing it. So I just wanted to kind of be very careful with that.
Oh, okay. But it just seems like if drivers have the capability of signaling you that that should immediately notify you to start filming. And also to send assistance.
Can you give them an opportunity to speak and then we need you to remain muted at this time since we already are passive 30 And I think we have at least one other person and we did allow you your two minutes. So if you mind they are going to respond but if you can remain muted, that will be helpful.
I just want to recite the issue, Mr. Mr. Barkley is correct on they do have a way of signaling and we have a way of capturing the video during that portion of this to to address what of those issues are
Thank you. The next hand up is Colin user one.
We also have Samsung. So whoever can unmute first,
yes this is Sheila Dorsey to add Shoemaker. I've listened I've been on here since 448 that I kept getting my device kept kicking me out of the meeting. First I want to say Happy New Year to everyone. And I want to give kudos to the administration and the Union for the pay increase. I've listened to a lot of commentary and projections for things to comment DDOT however, there is one entity that seems to be remiss or miss the drivers, the operators. You all still don't reach out directly to your operators to find out exactly up close what we deal with who we are, what we can contribute to the improvement enhancements that are going on. It's so tantamount so important that you all get to know your drivers, your operators. I'm an operator, not just a driver there. I've reached out to various people in the administration that day that to speak with talk to but for some reason. I don't know what I have stamped on my forehead but that is to say, I'm open. We need to talk to find out what is truly important. You've recruited all of these new badges new T cells, will they say by the spring, T cells are right now, betting how many of these newly batch T cells will remain? It's not just the money. It goes beyond just the money. Come and talk to them. Talk to the more senior T o's and find out the real issues.
With Dorothy thank you guys, you know, I'm going to terminals. We will be setting back up our terminal meetings within the next coming month. So there'll be a time for operators. But as you know, I'm always available. The second director, he's available, just reach out to us, and I'll be out there I'll be out there within the next week for you. Okay. Seven
Mile in Gratiot early morning, that's where I'm at.
I'll go get on your bus. All right. Look
forward to it. All right.
There we go. Thank you, Colin, user one, your hand is up and that's going to be it for tonight. If you can unmute yourself you can make your comment
I don't think
I don't think Colin user one is able to comment okay.
They can always email us later if there was something they were not able to ask and that's for anyone you know, we are ran out of time tonight but as always we say you don't have to wait into these meetings to contact us. So please continue to email us or call customer service especially if it's something that is time so I would like to turn it over to Mr. Staley
to close this out.
Appreciate it Mr. Awards. Thank you very much for the job that you always do on these community input meetings much appreciated. Miss Liu kowski as well. I want to thank everybody for participating this evening. And I want to sound a special shout out for those transit advocates who for a long period of time have been very vocal and very persistent. In the effort to increase the pay for the transit equipment operators, because of your concerted efforts. We were able to to put together the memorandum of understanding to get it through to get it through city council and appreciate the efforts the driving force behind that. Mayor Mike Duggan. So one thing good news is that as part of that MOU, we do not extend out the expiration date of the current collective bargaining agreement. So we expect to be back at the bargaining table in the next eight to 12 months. And obviously, Topic number one for for the ATO is going to be wages and benefits. So again, thanks everybody for your participation tonight your continuing support of DDOT and your advocacy
