Valley Metro Accessibility Advisory Group (VMAAG) Meeting

1. Valley Metro Accessibility Advisory Group (VMAAG) Meeting August 22, 2019

2. Welcome and Introductions Ron Brooks Manager of Accessible Transit Services Agency Business, Technology & Services Valley Metro

3. Invitation for Comments from The Public Members of the public are invited to provide comments on any non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to two minutes, and comments must be relevant to the accessibility of Valley Metro programs and services.

4. Review of 6/27/19 Meeting Summary Ron Brooks Manager of Accessible Transit Services Agency Business, Technology & Services Valley Metro

5. Northwest Extension Phase II VMAAG – August 22, 2019 Tony Santana, P.E. Andrew Haines, P.E. Project Manager Design Project Manager Capital and Service Development Jacobs Valley Metro

6. Overview 1.5-mile light rail extension • Dunlap Avenue/19th Avenue to Metrocenter Mall 1 park-and-ride/transit center 3 passenger stations

7. Station 1–Dunlap Avenue/25th Avenue • Located on Dunlap Avenue • Median station • Two access locations • 24th Avenue crosswalk • 25th Avenue crosswalk • Area destinations • Dunlap Health Center • Brookline College • Atrium Court Apartments

8. Station 2–25th Avenue/Mountain View • Located on 25th Avenue • Side station on east side of roadway • Two access locations • Crosswalk north of Arizona Canal Diversion Channel (ACDC) • Crosswalk south of Mountain View • Area destinations • Rose Mofford Sports Complex • Rose Mofford Dog Park • VA Clinic - Thunderbird • Ottawa University • Black Canyon Conference Center

9. Station 3–Metrocenter • Located west of I-17 • Region’s first aerial station • Access from each end of station • Stair and Elevator-East side • Stair, Elevator, Escalators-West side • Area destinations • Metrocenter Mall • College America • Walmart • Dillard’s

10. Station 3–Metrocenter • At-grade features • Relocated Transit Center circulates around Elevated Station • 8 bays for local bus service • RAPID bus service along Frontage Rd • Circulator bays on Metro Parkway • Plaza leads to Metrocenter • Fare vending by escalators and elevator • Operator/Security facility • Kiss-and-ride at ground floor of garage • Ride share pull-in along Metro Pkwy

11. Station 3–Metrocenter • Elevated Station • Straddles Metrocenter Parkway – access from both sides • Entire platform is shaded • 25’-wide open station (no canopy columns) • Level access to top floor of parking garage – east side • Escalator/Elevator/Stair access - west side • Fare vending by each access point

12. Accessibility Features • All applicable ADA, IBC and NFPA requirements incorporated into design • Curb ramps and pedestrian crossings • Audible and visual transit announcements at all passenger stations and transit center • Area of refuge on elevated station • Elevator with standby power • Accessible means of egress from elevated station

13. Schedule

14. Next Steps • Continued coordination and collaboration with local area community groups, residents and businesses in corridor • Public meeting in early 2020

15. Thank You

16. Review of Draft Valley Metro Digital Accessibility Policy Ron Brooks Manager of Accessible Transit Services Agency Business, Technology & Services Valley Metro

17. Purpose of Policy To establish a policy that ensures, to the greatest extent possible, that the Valley Metro website (including affiliated websites), Valley Metro mobile applications and customer-facing electronic documents are accessible to and usable by people with disabilities, including people who use screen readers, screen magnification, audio dictation and other types of assistive technology.

18. Assistive Technology • Screen readers • Screen magnification software • Text readers • Speech input software • Alternative input devices including head pointers, movement tracking devices and single-entry switches

19. Digital Accessibility The ability of a website, mobile application or electronic document to be easily navigated and understood by a wide range of users, including those users using assistive technologies.

20. Electronic Content Digital content that can be transmitted over a computer network such as the Internet • Webpages • Mobile apps • Online forms • Electronic brochures • Letters, articles, spreadsheets and other documents prepared or stored on a computer 

21. Policy Requirements • Websites comply with WCAG 2.1, Level AA • Mobile apps meet accessibility standards established by Apple for IOS and by Google for Android • Electronic documents comply with WCAG 2.1, Level AA

22. Training Requirements • Required for employees, contractors, and others developing electronic content • VM Digital Accessibility Policy • WCAG 2.1, Level AA Success Criteria • Accessibility standards established by mobile device manufacturers • Techniques for developing accessible electronic documents • Use of assistive technologies and online accessibility checkers

23. Third-Party Content Valley Metro will make every effort to provide third-party content in conformance with Digital Accessibility Policy

24. Annual Third Party Testing • Qualified firm • Covers websites, mobile apps and electronic content • Will test a representative sample of electronic content • Annual report to be shared with CAO, key staff and VMAAG

25. Procedures for Reporting Problems • May be made in writing, by phone, by email or online • VM will have 15 business days to respond • VM will maintain log of complaints, findings and actions taken • Log will be shared with third party tester with results being incorporated with other annual third party testing findings and recommendations

26. Timeline and Next Steps • Accepting comments and recommendations from VMAAG. • Policy under internal final review. • Issuance expected during September.

27. Accessible Transit Service Updates Ron Brooks Manager of Accessible Transit Services Agency Business, Technology & Services Valley Metro

28. Accessible Transit Services Update Service Statistics – FY ‘19 Program Eligibility and Enrollment

29. Accessible Transit Services Update Service Statistics – FY ‘19 RideChoice Transportation Provided

30. Accessible Transit Services Update Service Statistics – FY ‘19 Paratransit Call Center Statistics

31. Accessible Transit Services Update Service Statistics – Through June, 2019 Paratransit Service Statistics

32. Other Service Highlights • Changes being proposed • Operate paratransit in areas required by the federal ADA – within ¾ of a mile of transit routes and around light rail stations • Align fares with VM Paratransit fare structure which is currently $4 per one-way trip • Adopted by Maricopa County BOS on 8/21/19 • Schedule for VM Board consideration on 8/29/19 • To be implemented on 10/1/19, if adopted by VM Board

33. Upcoming Changes for RideChoice • Available in Goodyear beginning 10/1/19 • Implementing pilot program for people who need longer trips • Available on 10/1/19 in most RC cities • Open only to people with need for longer trips • 400 mile allocation per month—no exceptions • $3 for trip of up to 50 miles • Two-year pilot to test financial and operational feasibility 

34. Other Items and Announcements – All

35. Next Meeting September 26, 2019Mobility Center – Papago Room

36. Meeting Adjourned