The MST Board adopted
Resolution 2005-20 recognizing Fred Simkins, Coach Operator, as MST Employee of
the Month for April 2005 for observing a possible defect to one of MST’s coaches
and reporting it immediately. The vehicle was removed from service prior to
posing any risk or inconvenience to the public.
The MST Board adopted
Resolution 2005-21 recognizing Albert Gomonet, Coach Operator, for seven years
of service. Mr. Gomonet received numerous awards for six years of safe driving
and for his excellent appearance.
The MST Board adopted
Resolution 2005-22 declaring May 2005 as Clean Air Month in the Monterey Bay
Region. In cooperation with other public agencies, MST urges all residents to
examine their role in producing smog and pollution and give consideration to
sustainable pracices such as ridesharing, combining errands into one trip,
bicycling, and recycling during May 2005.
The MST Board authorized
staff to submit an emergency request to the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution
Control District for $126,400 to perform capital improvements essential to the
ongoing operation of the Clean Air Refueling Station.
MST is the largest user of
CNG fuel from this station, with CNG piped to MST’s yard to fuel 17 buses, plus
7 dual-fuel non-revenue vehicles. The City of Monterey notified MST that
effective July 1, 2005 they plan to stop maintenance of the CARS station based
on the demands of their own fleet maintenance programs and the discontinued use
of CNG fueled vehicles.
The MST Board awarded a
contract to Maximus, Inc. in the amount of $477,917 to install an Integrated
Maintenance Management Information System.
MST property, facility and
equipment inventory is valued at over $31 million and is comprised of a fleet
of 116 transit and non-revenue vehicles; several facilities and transit
centers; a monthly inventory of parts/supplies/fluids including fuel averaging
almost $300,000; and annual operating costs associated with the maintenance and
upkeep of these vehicles and facilities in excess of $4 million each year.
The existing maintenance
asset management software program, Fleet-Net, was purchased more than 20 years
ago. This existing program is a DOS based system, which requires most data to
be initiated on paper, then manually entered into the Fleet-Net system.
This is a windows-based
system, which will add fleet maintenance, facilities and materials management,
allowing data and work processes to be electronically collected, managed and
reported. The package also includes an automated fueling dispensing component.
The MST Board authorized a
change order to the Cummins West, Inc. contract in the amount of $288,120 to
install Particulate Matter (PM) and Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) reduction devices
in an additional 15 vehicles.
California Air Resources
Board (CARB) regulations require retrofitting all clean diesel engines
manufactured prior to October 2002. MST must retrofit a total of 37 buses and
six trolleys to maintain compliance with CARB fleet, clean air requirements.
The MST Board authorized the
General Manager/CEO to execute a contract with Siemens VDO Automotive
Corporation for TransitMaster for one year of software maintenance with options
for an additional four years at a cost not to exceed $337,400.
In
October 2002 MST implemented the Siemens TransitMaster system integrating
computer aided dispatching, automatic vehicle location, geographic positioning
systems with voice and data communications.
Due to the complex and
proprietary nature of the system software, MST does not have the ability to
retain the services of another vendor for this service, nor does it have the
internal expertise to maintain the software. With the maintenance agreement,
MST will be eligible to receive software updates that enhance functionality at
no additional cost.
The
MST Board ratified the contractual agreement with Amalgamated Transit Union
Local 1225 for the term 2004-2007. This package contains a wage increase of
6.75% over three years, and increased health and retirement benefits. The
contract complies with Rest and Meal Break mandated by the State of California.