Transit- Meeting Agenda (12/18/1997)

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Association meeting and at this Board meeting, but did not attend either meeting. Mr. Simpson assured the Board that M~. Wertz's allegations of `- buses speeding are untrue. It is impossible to speed on Gerth Street. When Mr. Wertz was the Traffic Chair, he was so concemed about speeding buses, and at the same time there was construction going on with construction equipment on p~actically every comer. Mr. Wertz tumed a blind eye to this although it further reduced even a remote chance that buses were speeding because traffic lanes narrowed. Mr. Wertz has indicated that he will attend a Board meeting in January io tell his side of this story. Mr. Simpson said he can unde~stand that when a complaint is made, it has to be investigated, but District money is being spent on a wild goose chase for one individual. President Caraballo asked for darification of who Mr. Wertz is, and whether he is a bus patron. Mr. Simpson said Mr. Wertz is not a bus patron. His father is visually- impaired, and he did not think he has ridden the bus very frequently. Mr. Wertr has been taking video recordings of buses going by, but he has not seen a speed reader board being used. However, it is his opinion that this is outright harassment toward the bus system and its drnrers. Mr. Andersen-Wyckoff said when a complaint is received about speeding buses, as a matte~ of course it is always checked out. It is hard for staff to make a subjective decision that a pa~ticular patron's claims are untrue, however, in excess of 75 radar checks have been made on that route as a result of Mr. Wertz's complaints. There have been only two times when speeds were exceeded, and both were at only one mile over the speed limit. Mr. Simpson said there has to be a point where the line is d~awn on such complaints. President Caraballo said the District does have an obligation when a complaint is made to be responsible in checking on it. Mr. Simpson's point is that where the line should be drawn. Mr. Andersen-Wyckoff has said that the issue has been taken seriously and it has been checked out although the complaint has not been verified. At some point the Board needs to talk about where the reasonable lines are to assist staff in these judgment calls. The direction staff has taken thus far is appropriate. He said the Board appreciates Mr. Simpson's comments and his concem. Irene Simnson 1314 Ruge Street NW Salem, Oregon Ms. Simpson said she is very concemed about what she is reading in the newspaper about Courthouse Square and all this money being spent on ane individual. She has asked repeatedly for service improvements o~ Route #10. Her son was knocked down on his bike on Wallace Road, a lady was seriously injured, and there was a fatality at 'T~' and Wallace, and she still feels that the Transit District has an obligation to protect its riders and not expect passengers to cxoss Wallace Road to get to the post office, the library, and marketing. The altemative is to take four buses which is what she does. President Caraballo asked for clarification of the area Ms. Simpson is describing. Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting Salem Area Mass Transit District November 20, 1997 - Page 5