The MST Board adopted
Resolution 2005-02 recognizing Fernando Manansala, Intermediate Mechanic, as
MST Employee of the Month for August 2004.
The MST Board presented a
retirement award to Al Shoats, Coach Operator. Other retirements this month
included Isaias Montoto, Mechanic, and Ken Parks, Coach Operator.
The MST Board authorized
staff to amend the General Counsel contract with De Lay & Laredo, Attorneys
At Law, to include labor negotiation services with Amalgamated Transit Union
(ATU) and Monterey-Salinas Transit Employee Association (MSTEA).
LIABILITY
& PHYSICAL DAMAGE INSURANCE COVERAGE
The MST Board authorized the
renewal of liability insurance and physical damage coverage with California
Transit Insurance Pool (CalTIP). CalTIP is a statewide insurance pool of 39
transit systems.
The
MST Board approved the purchase of extended engine warranty contract on 24 new
bus engines.
MST
purchased 24 new model year 2003 buses that entered into service in December
2003 and January 2004. The engines are equipped with new technology to reduce
emissions called Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR). Unfortunately, the engines
are experiencing problems with emission Particulate Matter (PM) filters
clogging up and causing the engines to run poorly. This requires replacement of
the PM filter by the engine manufacturer. Most transit systems using these
engines are experiencing the same problems. The engine manufacturer continues
to work on a workable fix for this problem.
Detroit
Diesel Corporation offers an extended warranty at a cost of $6,600 per engine.
For the fleet of 24 engines, this amounts to $158,400. The standard engine
warranty is for 2-year/unlimited mileage. The extended engine warranty brings
this out to a total of 5 years/300,000 miles (three additional years coverage).
LINE 53
MONTEREY PENINSULA-SOUTH COUNTY EXPRESS
The
MST Board approved new Line 53 Monterey Peninsula-South County Express. This
will go into effect on September 11, 2004.
This
route is a one-year demonstration project specifically designed to allow South
County and Peninsula residents to access hospitality industry jobs on the Monterey
Peninsula, including Pebble Beach. Line 53 is the first-ever regularly
scheduled transit service into the Del Monte forest. This line will be funded
through a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5311 (f) grant with 50%
match from the four South County cities (Gonzales, Soledad, Greenfield, and
King City) and the County of Monterey.