SORTA REINVENTING METRO COMMITTEE MEETING

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17th, 2019 - 4:30 P.M.

SORTA/METRO BOARD ROOM
602 MAIN STREET, SUITE 1200
CINCINNATI, OHIO

General Items:

Call to order
Pledge of Allegiance
Recite Mission and Vision Statement
1. Approval of Reinventing Committee Minutes: January 8th, 2019

Action Items:

2. Proposed Motion: Access Operations Transition Plan (John Ravasio)

Briefing Items:

3. Streetcar Transition Plan (Phil Beiting)

4. Infrastructure Needs in Hamilton County (Pete Metz)
5. Reinventing Metro Plan Update (Khaled Shammout and Mark Samaan)

Action Items:

6. Proposed Motion: Approval of Revised Vision Statement (Kreg Keesee and Darryl Haley)

Other Items:

Adjournment

The next regular meeting of the Employee Relations Committee has not been scheduled.

The SORTA Board of Trustees may go into Executive “Closed” Session under the Ohio Open Meetings Act:
Section 121.22(G)(1) To consider appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee…;
Section 121.22(G)(2) To consider the purchase of property for public purposes….; Section 121.22(G)(3) Conferences with an attorney for the public body
concerning disputes involving the public body that are the subject of pending or imminent court action; Section 121.22(G)(4) Preparing for, conducting, or
reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees…, Section 121.22(G)(5) Matters required to be kept confidential by federal law or
regulations or stat statues; Section 121.22(G)(6) Details relative to the security arrangements and emergency response protocols for a public body or a
public office; Section 121.22(G)(8) To consider confidential information related to the marketing plans, specific business strategy, production techniques,
trade secrets…
 REINVENTING METRO COMMITTEE
TH
TUESDAY, JANUARY 8 , 2019 – 10:40 A.M.
SORTA/METRO MT. ADAMS BOARD ROOM
602 MAIN STREET, SUITE 1200
CINCINNATI, OHIO

COMMITTEE/BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Blake Ethridge, Allen Freeman, Kreg Keesee, Robert Harris, Pete
McLinden, Mary Miller, Gwen Robinson, and Kathy Wyenandt

COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Rodrick Hinton

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Dwight Ferrell, Donna Adkins, John Edmondson, Paul Grether, Adriene Hairston,
Mark McEwan, Caprice Jones, Brandy Jones, , David Riposo, Cindy Resor, Shannel Satterfield, and Khaled
Shammout

OTHERS PRESENT: Kim Schaefer (General Counsel), Hannah Sparling (Media), Carolyn Miller (LWV)

1. Call to Order

Mr. Keesee called the meeting to order.

2. Pledge of Allegiance

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

3. SORTA’s Vision and Mission Statements

SORTA’s vision and mission statements were recited.

4. Approval of December 11th, 2018

Mr. Harris made a motion that the minutes of the December 11th meeting be approved as previously emailed
and Mr. Keesee seconded the motion. By voice vote, the Committee approved the minutes.

5. Proposed Motion: Approval of Reinventing Metro Plan

Mr. Keesee briefly reviewed the Reinventing Metro Plan Highlights: deployment of a regional trip planning and
fare payment application, enhancements of weekday and weekend bus service, implementation of a BRT
system, improving mobility across county lines and the introduction of on demand service will provide
exceptional transit service to both residents and visitors while strengthening the local economy. The
Committee agreed to recommend this motion to the full SORTA Board for approval.

6. New Business

The next meeting of the Reinventing Metro Committee has not been scheduled.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 10:50 A.M.

1
 Attachments:
Action Item
Transition Project Plan

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SOUTHWEST OHIO REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY
MOTION

ACCESS OPERATIONS TRANSITION PLAN

I move that the SORTA Board of Trustees approve the proposed Access Operations
transition plan and authorize Interim CEO/ Secretary-Treasurer, Interim COO, or the
Interim CFO to take all necessary steps to terminate the current contract with MV
Transportation effective January 1, 2020 and to begin providing Access paratransit
services with Metro employees by January 1, 2020.
 Attachments:
Transition Project Plan

September 2019

ACTION ITEM- ACCESS TRANSITION PLAN

STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL / OBJECTIVE

• Reinventing Metro

RECOMMENDATION

Approval of a motion authorizing Interim CEO/ Secretary-Treasurer, Interim COO, or the Interim CFO to
take all necessary steps to terminate the current contract with MV Transportation effective January 1,
2020 and to begin providing Access paratransit services with Metro employees by January 1, 2020.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Based upon budgetary forecasting this plan is operationally cost neutral in comparison to the
current agreement with MV Transportation.

• The plan includes one-time only transition costs estimated at $350,000.

BUSINESS PURPOSE

• Access is a critical part of Hamilton County’s public transit offerings and delivered more than
230,000 rides in 2018. SORTA is working toward a levy in 2020 that will dramatically expand
Access service throughout the county. SORTA has been evaluating operational scenarios for
Access service, which is currently operated by MV Transportation.

• The Reinventing Metro plan will be most efficient if SORTA has full operational control of the
Access paratransit service in order to begin finding innovative ways to serve Access customers
by reducing scheduling time, reducing trip time, reducing overall cost and improving the customer
experience.

• MV Transportation employees are valued team members within the SORTA organization and
most are currently members of the ATU.

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS

• The current agreement with MV Transportation expires February 28, 2020 and includes an early
termination clause which allows for a January 1, 2020 transition in order to coincide with the
SORTA employee benefits calendar year.
SUBMITTED BY:

John Ravasio Darryl Haley

Interim COO Interim CEO/General Manager
Access Operations
Transition

September 17, 2019

1
Access Update
• We’re prepared to bring Access services in-house for the first time in
our history
• Very productive and cooperative discussions with ATU
– Reached tentative agreements on the large fiscal items: wages,
benefits, etc.
• SORTA and ATU have agreed to a re-designed Customer Service
experience
– Metro Call Center + Access Reservationists/ Customer Service
– Creates 7 days/week Metro Customer Service
– Will develop additional Access Customer Service improvements
• Developed Transition Plan for a 1/1/20 start
• Achieved a Cost-neutral 2020 model
• Includes management economies of scale and ATU concessions

2
2020 Comparison: In-House vs. MV
($ in thousands)

In-House Operation
Wages & Benefits $ 5,230.9
Other Operating Costs $ 2,163.0

Total Cost for In House $ 7,393.9

MV 2020 Estimated Cost $ 7,393.9

Increased In House Cost $ -

3
Access Transition Project Plan
Project Task Completion Date
Complete employee onboarding process 10/25/2019
Set up parts inventory management process and systems 11/18/2019
Set up work process management system 11/18/2019
Complete benefits enrollment process 11/23/2019
Complete payroll set up 11/29/2019
Safety review 11/29/2019
Set up PC and user accounts for admin employees 12/6/2019
Run parallel mock payroll 12/13/2019
Go live 1/1/2020

4
 Attachments:
Presentation

September 2019

BRIEFING ITEM –STREETCAR TRANSITION PLAN

STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL / OBJECTIVE

• Operational Excellence
• Innovation

RECOMMENDATION

This is a briefing item. No action is required at this time.

BUSINESS PURPOSE

• To provide an update regarding the streetcar transition from SORTA to City of

Cincinnati.
STREETCAR
TRANSITION
UPDATE

Southwest Ohio Regional

Transit Authority
Board of Trustees

Sept. 17, 2019

1
PROGRESS TO DATE
• Functional work teams created

• City of Cincinnati FTA grantee process initiated

• Rail safety certification process initiated

• Initiated work on Operations & Maintenance

Intergovernmental Agreement (OMIGA) and
contract amendments

2
FUNCTIONAL WORK TEAMS
• Accessibility/ADA
• Contracts/Procurement
• Customer Service
• Data
• Facilities
• Fare Policy & Collection
• Finance
• FTA Compliance
• IT
• Marketing & Communications
• Safety & Security
• Software

3
FUNCTIONAL WORK TEAMS
• Project plan items assigned to teams

• Each team has co-leaders from SORTA and city

• SORTA providing information and guidance

• City making decisions to inherit project items

“as-is” or implement changes

• Individual project items transitioning throughout

November and December
4
FTA GRANTEE PROCESS
• City of Cincinnati is already an FTA grantee
which should expedite process

• SORTA is working with FTA and the city to

update their FTA grantee status

5
RAIL SAFETY CERTIFICATION
• SORTA VP of Safety & Security TJ Thorn is
working closely with the city to update SOP’s
and policies

• Transition plan submitted to FTA and ODOT

• Both FTA and ODOT have provided feedback

and the plan has been updated

• City has posted Chief Safety Officer of Streetcar

Services position
6
FARE POLICY & COLLECTION
• SORTA has provided detailed operational
ramifications for all sales channels (ticket
vending machines, mobile app and retail
sales)
• Streetcar fare policy changes require City
Council approval
• Changes to bus/streetcar fare reciprocity require
SORTA Board approval

7
SOFTWARE/OPERATING SYSTEMS

• Negotiating with Transdev to utilize their

software options

• Removes the need to utilize SORTA-provided

software

8
MEETING SCHEDULE
• SORTA Interim CEO Darryl Haley meets
bi-weekly with City Manager Patrick Duhaney

• SORTA Interim CEO Darryl Haley meets

weekly with City Interim Deputy Director Of
Streetcar Services Travis Jeric

• Functional work teams meet bi-weekly

• Joint City/SORTA Streetcar Transition Project

Team meets bi-weekly
9
NEXT STEPS
• The city is evaluating authorization of streetcar
transition funding and the creation of a
non-profit Cincinnati Street Railway Authority
• Revised OMIGA will be presented to SORTA
Board in October to authorize transfer SORTA
responsibilities to the city by December 2019
(Transdev, Advertising, Safety, Security, etc.)
• Individual contract amendments requiring
SORTA Board approval will be presented at
board meetings through year-end
• Transfer FTA grants to city by February 2020
10
THANK YOU

• Discussion

• Questions

11
 Attachments:
Presentation

September 2019

BRIEFING ITEM –INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS IN HAMILTON COUNTY

STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL / OBJECTIVE

• Operational Excellence
• Innovation

RECOMMENDATION

This is a briefing item. No action is required at this time.

BUSINESS PURPOSE

• Pete Metz of the Cincinnati Regional Chamber to provide a brief verbal update regarding
infrastructure needs in Hamilton County.
 Attachments:
Presentation

September 2019

BRIEFING ITEM –REINVENTING METRO PLAN UPDATE

STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL / OBJECTIVE

• Operational Excellence
• Innovation

RECOMMENDATION

This is a briefing item. No action is required at this time.

BUSINESS PURPOSE

• Review of updated Reinventing Metro plan.

SUBMITTED BY:

Darryl Haley
CEO/General Manager/ Secretary-Treasurer
 SORTA
Board Update
Sept. 17, 2019

1
 SORTA’s Mission

Regional transportation
connecting people and places,
driving economic growth and
expanding quality of life choices.

2
 The Reinventing Metro Plan
Three areas of improvement to make using Metro a
more practical option:
FREQUENCY SPAN TRIP TIME
Wait time between buses How long buses run each day Time on the bus
Priority: Shorter waits, Priority: Covering shift work Priority: Faster trip times
dependable service

3
 Reinventing Metro Plan Service Improvements

4
 A More Connected Region

• Integrated routes/schedules
• Apps & technology
• Fare coordination
• Improved customer experience
• Coordinated paratransit service

5
 Job Accessibility Improvements

• More jobs
20,000 accessible by Metro

740 • More employers

accessible by Metro

$850 • More wages accessible

Million by Metro

6
 Job Accessibility Improvements

343,326 • Jobs with 24-hour

Metro service

11,256 • Employers with 24-

hour Metro service

7
 Job Accessibility Improvements (within 60 min)
Kenwood (23% increase) Tri-County (18% increase)
337,272 274,337 276,866 239,204

Reinventing Metro Current

Reinventing Metro Current
Colerain (27% increase)
225,683 177,631
Westwood (32% increase)
337,308 255,763

8 Reinventing Metro Current Reinventing Metro Current

 Financial Projections
In Millions
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 10 Year

Fixed Route Ridership 13.6 15.6 17.8 19.1 19.0 19.1 21.7 24.2 24.6 25.0

Operation Cost* $ (76.4) $ (72.1) $ (83.2) $ (89.4) $ (86.1) $ (88.9) $ (91.1) $ (94.0) $ (97.9) $ (102.6) $ (881.8)
Capital Cost* $ (24.0) $ (19.7) $ (22.0) $ (23.9) $ (5.5) $ (14.2) $ (13.6) $ (8.3) $ (9.2) $ (5.0) $ (145.4)
Deficit Before Sales Tax $ (100.4) $ (91.8) $ (105.3) $ (113.3) $ (91.6) $ (103.0) $ (104.7) $ (102.3) $ (107.1) $ (107.6) $ (1,027.2)

0.80 Sales Tax Revenue $ 124.4 $ 124.7 $ 125.6 $ 126.7 $ 127.9 $ 129.1 $ 130.3 $ 131.4 $ 132.6 $ 133.8 $ 1,286.6
Surplus @ 0.80 $ 24.0 $ 32.9 $ 20.3 $ 13.4 $ 36.3 $ 26.1 $ 25.6 $ 29.1 $ 25.5 $ 26.3 $ 259.4

0.70 Sales Tax Revenue $ 108.3 $ 108.6 $ 109.4 $ 110.3 $ 111.4 $ 112.4 $ 113.5 $ 114.4 $ 115.5 $ 116.5 $ 1,120.3
Surplus @ 0.70 $ 7.9 $ 16.8 $ 4.1 $ (3.0) $ 19.8 $ 9.4 $ 8.7 $ 12.1 $ 8.3 $ 8.9 $ 93.1

0.60 Sales Tax Revenue $ 92.4 $ 92.6 $ 93.3 $ 94.1 $ 95.0 $ 95.9 $ 96.8 $ 97.6 $ 98.5 $ 99.4 $ 955.5
Deficit @ 0.60 $ (8.0) $ 0.8 $ (12.0) $ (19.2) $ 3.4 $ (7.2) $ (8.0) $ (4.7) $ (8.7) $ (8.2) $ (71.7)

* Operation cost is net of operating revenue and a two month operating reserve. Capital cost is net of
capital revenue
 Key Assumptions
• 2% base ridership increase with changes in 2021
• Funding for 15-20 miles of BRT (with substantial federal match) the
location of and approach to be based upon community input
• $500K annually to the Transportation Empowerment Fund
• Two months of funding in reserve
• Continued state funding for transit

10
 Fare Simplification Assumptions
Funding projections are based on the revised fare simplification
structure:
• $2.00 base fare for all local routes
• $2.65 for Express Service
• $3.75 for Warren, Butler and Clermont County service
• Removal of zones and zone fares
• Elimination of transfers
• $.25 fare increase in 2025
• One ride ticket, day pass and 30-day rolling pass ticket options

11
 Persona A — Fred
Retired (65), married, lives in county, works as a
consultant in the city, earns $72,000 annually, not a
Metro user.

Age 65 Annual Total Tax Liability

Residence County, Kenwood Current – Earnings Tax, 0.003% $216

Employment Working, Retired Proposed – Sales Tax, 0.9-Cent $ 95

Field Consulting Net Tax Impact $122

Work Location Cincinnati

Reinventing Metro Plan benefits:
Income (est.) $72,000
• 23% increase in job access
Metro Use No • 2 New crosstown services to
Children Yes Anderson- Kenwood & along
Galbraith Rd.
Marital Status Married
• New service connecting Blue Ash,
Symmes Township and
Montgomery

12
 Persona B — Tony
Student (20), goes to a college or university and
works a part-time service job in city, earns $7,500
annually, Metro user for work and school.

Age 20 Annual Total Tax Liability

Residence City, Uptown area Current – Earnings Tax, 0.003% $23

Employment Part-time Proposed – Sales Tax, 0.9-Cent $33

Field Service, Student Worker Net Tax Impact ($10)

Work Location City

Income (est.) $7,750 Reinventing Metro Plan benefits:

• 24-hour service on routes
Metro Use Yes
serving Vine St., Clifton and
Children No
Reading Rd.
Marital Status Not married • Increased frequency in service
(every 20 mins or better during
the day)

13
 Persona C — Elisha
Single parent (35), lives in city, commutes to city
for healthcare job, earns $42,000 annually,
experienced Metro user.

Age 35 Annual Total Tax Liability

Residence City, Bond Hill Current – Earnings Tax, 0.003% $126

Employment Full-time Proposed – Sales Tax, 0.9-Cent $ 76

Field Health Service Net Tax Impact $ 50

Work Location City

Income (est.) $42,000 Reinventing Metro Plan benefits:

Metro Use Yes • 24-hour service on Rt. 43
Reading
Children Yes
• Increased service frequency
Marital Status Not married
• Improved crosstown route

14
 Persona D — Monroe
Married (40), lives in city, commutes within city for
manufacturing job, earns $58,000 annually, car-
owner, inexperienced Metro user.

Age 40 Annual Total Tax Liability

Residence City, Price Hill Current – Earnings Tax, 0.003% $174

Employment Full-time Proposed – Sales Tax, 0.9-Cent $ 93

Field Manufacturing Net Tax Impact $ 81

Work Location City

Income (est.) $58,000

Reinventing Metro Plan benefits:
Metro Use Occasionally • 32% increase in job accessibility
Children Yes • 24-hour service on Rt. 33
Glenway
Marital Status Married
• Increased service frequency
• Westside circulator service

15
 Persona E — Angela
Access rider (45), single, professional service
worker, earns $46,000 annually, lives in the county
and works in city, legally blind.

Age 45 Annual Total Tax Liability

Residence County, Forest Park Current – Earnings Tax, 0.003% $138

Employment Full-time Proposed – Sales Tax, 0.9-Cent $ 83

Field Contract Closeout Net Tax Impact $ 55

Work Location City

Income (est.) $46,000 Reinventing Metro Plan benefits:

Metro Use Yes • 18% job accessibility increases

Children No • New crosstown connecting
Forest Park and Westwood
Marital Status Not married
• Better connections to Butler
County & BCRTA service
• Increased frequency and
extended hours of service

16
 Annual Tax Implications, Current Earnings and Proposed Sales Tax
$275

$216
$220

$122
$174
$165
$81 $138
$126 $55
$50
$110 $95 $93
($10) $76 $83

$55 $33
$23

$0

$138

$78
Fred Tony Elisha Monroe Angela
Consulting Student Health Care Manufacturing Professional Services
$72,000 $7,750 $42,000 $58,000 $46,000
County City City City County

Current Earnings Tax — 0.003% Proposed — Sales Tax, 0.9-Cent

17
 Thank you!

18
 Attachments:
N/A

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SOUTHWEST OHIO REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY
MOTION

APPROVAL REVISED VISION STATEMENT

To align with SORTA’s Reinventing Metro Plan, I move that the SORTA Board adopt the
revised vision statement as followed: 20 Million Rides by 2026.