FAIRFAX COUNTY TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMISSION (TAC)
Meeting Summary
Regular Meeting – May 17, 2016 at 7:30 PM – FCDOT, 4050 Legato Rd, Fairfax, VA 22033
TAC Members in Attendance: Chairman Jeff Parnes (Sully), Secretary Roger Hoskin (Mason), Mike Champness (Dranesville), Kevin Morse (Braddock), Harry Zimmerman (Lee), Micah Himmel (Providence), and Eric Thiel (Springfield).
TAC Members Absent: Vice Chairman Jennifer Joy Madden (Hunter Mill), Michael Shor (Mt. Vernon), Don Kissinger (Fairfax Area Disability Services Board), and Alan Young (At Large).
Others in Attendance: Calvin Lam, FCDOT; Susan Hafeli, DCCS.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Parnes at 7:45 p.m. The minutes of the April 19, 2016 meeting were approved unanimously and without change.
Note Taker: Michael Champness
Main Topics Discussed
Fairfax County Taxicab Regulation: A Review of Chapter 84.1 – Susan Hafeli (DCCS)
Copies of the briefing and certification process slide that were presented to the TAC, and upon which these notes are based, are attached.
Competition for regular taxi services from transportation network companies (TNCs) has increased since Virginia authorized TNC activity in 2015. The number of taxicab trips is dropping, and drivers are gravitating to the TNC per-trip commission reimbursement model.
In the fall of 2015, taxi drivers petitioned to extend the allowable vehicle age from 6 to 8 years. In February 2016, taxi operators requested to extend vehicle limits from 6 years/380,000 miles to 10 years/500,000 miles. DCCS began public outreach on this matter in March 2016.
DCCS is continuing its outreach. In addition to presenting staff proposals to the TAC and the LTCCC Mobility and Transportation Committee, a public hearing is planned before the Consumer Protection Commission on August 23. DCCS plans to ask the Board of Supervisors (BOS) on September 20 for permission to hold a public hearing on November 1.
Among the driver/operator/staff proposals being considered are: Increasing the vehicle age limits and mileage restrictions, reducing frequency of taxicab inspections, lessening driver testing, and replacing the requirement to keep a paper manifest with allowing operators to provide meter data.
DCCS is also considering structural revisions regarding the number of authorized taxi certificates, to include asking the BOS set the number of authorized certificates annually instead of biennially (every two years), and allowing operators to hold vacant certificates.
The TAC asked how burdensome the switch to an annual process would be on DCCS staff, and how long DCCS believes it takes operators to fill out their reports. Ms. Hafeli took an action to find out, and will report her findings back to the TAC.
The TAC endorsed the DCCS planned proposals and adopted the below resolution. The motion to approve the resolution was made by Commissioner Hoskin and seconded by Commissioner Morse. The resolution was adopted unanimously by voice vote.
· “The TAC recommends that the Department of Cable and Consumer Services review County taxi certification policies and consider eliminating limits on the number of certifications that are issued.”
Ms. Hafeli was invited to return to the TAC in September after reporting to the Consumer Protection Commission public hearing in August.
2015 TAC Transportation Achievement Award Selection Committee
Calvin Lam reported that the nomination deadline on the Fairfax County Newslink has been extended. No recommendations have been received yet. Mr. Lam will reach out to other agencies that are doing transportation-related work to solicit recommendations.
Comment & Feedback on Previous Meeting’s Presentations
Transportation Demand Management Program and Process: Commissioner Himmel expressed concern that the staff explanation of why the key performance indicators were not going to be published was insufficient. In addition, the questions of where funding should be directed and how to lower the number of trips were not answered. While a resolution was not adopted, the TAC asked Mr. Lam to re-send a copy of the inquiry, inform the staff that its first response did not sufficiently address the questions raised, and that the TAC hopes that their subsequent response will be more complete.
Student Fare Program Update: Commissioner Zimmerman stated that he was impressed with the features and the expanded scope of the program. He also noted that it is a powerful tool, and that he questioned whether the County should maintain it as a revenue-neutral effort. The TAC agreed with Commissioner Zimmerman’s views, and adopted the below resolution. The motion to approve the resolution was made by Commissioner Zimmerman and seconded by Commissioner Thiel. The resolution was adopted unanimously by voice vote.
- “The TAC endorses the student fare program and appreciates its creativity and flexibility. The TAC urges the Board of Supervisors to continue its support for the program and in order to expand it, consider re-evaluating the requirement that the program be revenue-neutral.”
Joint TAC/TSC Meeting: No comments raised.
Planned Agenda for Next Meeting
- June 21, 2016: Bike Share Program – Adam Lind (FCDOT)
Topics for Future Meetings (Candidates for holding meetings at alternate location indicated in bold):
- July 19, 2016: Route 7 Core Widening (Marshall High School?) – Tad Borkowski, FCDOT)
- August 16, 2016: Reston Network Analysis – Kristin Calkins (FCDOT)
- September 20, 2016: I-395 Express Lanes – Susan Shaw/Amanda Baxter (VDOT)
- October 18, 2016: Update on I-66 Project – Sung Shin and Leonard Wolfenstein (FCDOT)
- November 15, 2016: Fairfax County Parkway Corridor Study – Neil Freschman
- December 20, 2016: Legislative Update – Noelle Dominguez (FCDOT)
- January 17, 2017: Update on Tysons Transportation Projects – Ray Johnson (FCDOT)
- Comprehensive Plan and Transportation staff and Planning Commission discussions with TAC on what their vision is for future development and any changes in planning and zoning guidelines that may be needed to account for future work environment given the pace and impacts of technology advances (including guest speaker to explain impact of self-driving/smart cars, buses and trucks on traffic, roadways and intersections). Joint meeting date with the Planning Commission’s Transportation Committee will be determined.
Closing and Adjournment
Chairman Parnes provided updates on meetings he has attended and upcoming events that could be of interest to the TAC members. He noted that there were multiple meetings in May and he encouraged TAC members to attend. The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m.The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m.
Upcoming Events:
Through Spring 2016 Share ideas and opinions as part of the Route 7 Corridor Transit Study
May 18, 2016 Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) Open House and Public Hearing
May 18, 2016 Reston Network Analysis Community Meeting to provide Advisory and Stakeholder Group Updates
May 20, 2016 Bike to Work Day
May 23-25, 2016 Public Hearings on I66 Outside the Beltway on the procurement and HOV-2 to HOV-3 conversion
May 27, 2016 Last day for input on Virginia Transportation Projects That Are Scored And Recommended For Funding
June 8, 9 & 13, 2016 Fairfax County Parkway Corridor Improvement Study
Upcoming Meetings:
June 7, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
June 21, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)
July 5, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
July 19, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)
August 2, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
August 16, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)
September 6, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
September 20, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)
October 4, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
October 18, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)
November 1, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
November 15, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)
December 6, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
December 20, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)