director heinicke: my question on new is -- or unfinished business relates to the taxis and the plan for how we're going to address medallion transfer and reform, all the things that are in the pipeline. my understanding is we as a board are waiting for a staff proposal for what to do next with the medallion reform proposal. at the same time we have out the study to review public convenience and necessity, how many more cabs either peak time or full time. primarily full-time can be accommodated and are needed by the people who run our cab companies. after that point it would be a

means of coming up with the proposal that addresses the needs within the context of a new proposal. and the last time we spoke about this, i got the impression that we were going to be on a more heastie time line that appears we are. i would like to check in with the director and see where we are. >president nolan: what we are planning to do at the may 15 board meeting -- it is our intent to bring host of taxi related matter to the board for its consideration. it would be the follow-up on the issues regarding credit cards, electronic bills and backseat monitors. there is a number of other police code or other legislative changes, some are clean up, some are tightening.

but also bring up proposals for the medallion sales. they are the permanent medallion sales program. as you mentioned, the public needs and necessities summer -- study will not be done until summer. we need to take environmental review. the recommendation that comes from that study in terms of if and how, i-- how many additional taxis we should put on the street, the fall. what we're intending to do with the medallion sales program is develop it so it will work for whatever the outcome of the study is a we do not have to wait. we should be bringing that. we believe that the may 15 meeting will be a lot of taxi issues on the agenda within a pd other aspects of the study.

director bridgesnkman: i had a meeting about the permitting process. we had every brief conversation about this. they're going through the process -- for different saturdays or sundays when they close one block. it does not have any cross streets are transit. there is a barrier for entry with all the costs involved. i have an interest in this as it relates to play street. there was a block that seemed to be crying out for place st. wrightwood like to streamline the process so it is possible for a neighborhood group that would get a permit to cover one

sunday a month or every sunday without going through an onerous process. >> will mr. reiskin look into that? >> item 7, executive director report. >> i was wondering if there was public comment on item 6. president nolan: we do not usually do that, do we? go ahead. >> thank you. a few brief updates. maybe i will start speaking to director oka's comments on the capital budget. we have been working closely with the police department, with the d.a.'s office, the bicycle advisory committee and pedestrian safety committee,

walk sf and our coalition. -- the bike coalition. people on both sides of the issue. motorists, pedestrians, bicycles. i did participate in media event that david chiu held a week or so ago in advance of his introducing a resolution calling for a six streets program that would include enhance community education and enforcement, a target using data to target the most dangerous intersections and all modes of traffic. something we have been working on with the police department which is the development of a diversion program so that what our goal is to change behavior and have spoken very well to the behavior out there that is not acceptable.

it is happening by all modes of traffic. we do not have traffic school for cyclists or pedestrians. we have been developing a program that would enable us to do just that and it is something we will be bringing back to the board in a couple of months. enforcement is part of the solution. so is design and education. we are trying to take a holistic approach and some of these things are recommendations that came out of the bicycle plan that we're getting to implementation. a few other notes. last week, nancy pelosi, mayor lee, the fta administrator joined with david campos and the chair to tour the central subway

alignment. the administrator was in town for a series of things he was doing in the bay area. as we are one of the next if not the next funding grant agreement of for consideration, $942 million agreement, he took the opportunity with the leader and the leader offered strong support for the project and the city's ability to spend these dollars well and generate jobs and improve transit. it was a good event. it was an opportunity for the administrator to get an update on where we are with the project. my take is they were pleased with where we are. there was a number of comments about family friendliness. we see it as our role at the mta to enhance quality of life and family friendliness as part of that.

the board of supervisors adopted a resolution urging that we review our policy with regard to strollers on muni. so we are in the process of doing that. we had started working with some board members to understand the concerns that were hearing from their constituents. we are currently evaluating a couple of options that we will review with our cac and the accessibility advisory council with our labor unions and others and bring back to the board once the review is complete. >> that is not a new issue. we revisited that two years ago. we as a board after i was instructed on the stroller policy when i had a kid young enough to be in a stroller. i raised it with the cac and made a recommendation. i am happy to hear the york

consulting with the cac but do not be under the impression this is a new issue. this is ground we have tried before. i do not think the policy is perfect. >> that is good to know. a quick update on high-speed rail. the mtc a week or so ago approved a multi agency memorandum of understanding that charts a course for electrification of the caltrain corridor an extension of caltrain 2 as a first step toward accommodating high-speed rail and developing stations from san jose to san francisco. this is something that was a huge step forward in terms of the region coming together and doing so in a way that worked for the high-speed rail authority and for the communities of the bay area. particularly san francisco to

make sure that we could advance and benefit from high-speed rail and realize the vision of having the terminus in the transit center we are building at transbay. it follows a similar agreement was reached in southern california and those to bookends of the high-speed rail i think were hopeful in the passage -- helpful in the passage in approval of the revised business plan just last week. we have a very major stake in that upgrades to caltrain, the connections to fourth and king and the new connection of the transbay terminal are very important part of our overall transportation network in the city. we have been actively engaged in that process at the staff level, working with the city family and our regional partners and we see that as a great step forward. i wanted to alert you and that

the public of some pretty significant work happening on the doral drive -- doyal drive to make way for its successor, the presidio parkway. the big work will start april 27 at 8:00 p.m. and go through until 5:00 a.m. the following monday, april 30. which will completely close that road. the golden gate bridge will be open during that time there will be regional communication to urge people to avoid the golden gate bridge since it will be -- have limited access. within san francisco, all traffic will be routed to park presidio boulevard. i am using that as the only point in or out of access of the golden gate bridge. it will be heavily congested. we are joining with the region and urging folks to find other ways to go. we're working closely with the

highway patrol park police, the police department, and our own pco's to coordinate and minimize to the possible extent we can. we will be adjusting traffic signals, deploying pco's will be rerouted and facilitating the caltrans use of science. a pretty significant transportation impact. bond yee and his staff are working with that. they have found some additional work they need to do and that work was going to be starting last night where they are taking a lane of doyle drive from 8:00 p.m. each night through noon the next day. to do some hazardous material abatement. we have been working closely with them on that and more nurturing the impact as the lead up to this major weekend

shutdown. and then finally, as we come off the heels of our own centennial celebration, we are joining with the port of san francisco to jointly celebrate our respective anniversaries in addition to our 150. -- for 100, the port has 150. they have a jump on us. we're joining them tuesday, the 24th, as they kick off their sesquicentennial with a photo display in the ferry building. we will have features from the port and sfmta archives dating back to the 19th century that depict this energy that has been in place since before san francisco existed between water based transportation and surface transportation. we're happy to be joining with the port and jointly celebrating and urged folks to

check out that exhibit. that will be kicked off on the twenty-fourth of april. that concludes my report. president nolan: comments or questions from members of the board? >> you do have public comment on the executive director's report. q>> francisco de costa, eric williams, no. gordon rowe, herbert weiner, emile laurence. president nolan: who else? >> tone lee. >> commissioners, good evening, once again. i want to speak on one topic very briefly that is not discussed but can be brought up under ongoing business. you have a new directive to the

ramp taxing holders which are threats to remove the ramp or the rap taxes if they do not pick up enough handicapped. i do not know how many bands are out there but they cost -- vans are out there but they cost 2000 bucks. if you do not pick up enough paratransit, you can be suspended. the revenues from your van will go to the city and county of san francisco. the letter is not signed. it is not signed by any person from the sfmta. it has a group of different amalgamations in terms of who put it out. there is this. even the sfmta admits that the paratransit pickups that the van picks up are not necessarily wheelchair. 80% are not. it is not clear whether they

have to pick up wheelchair pickups or fare transit pickups or force the drivers to start hanging around hospitals, handicapped centers, general hospital, the veterans hospital and i will state this emphatically. in order to get my ramp in, i spent seven months around the veterans administration taking veterans almost for free trade when i lived in my car at national cab because i did not make enough to pay date on sundays. when i attempted to get my ramp van. that is what you are pushing drivers to do with this directors -- directive. i leave you with that to be analyzed. thank you for time. president nolan: thank you. next bigger, please. -- next speaker, please. >> good afternoon. the bicycle has a very low brick

system. the capacity a lot heavier than the bicycle. 180 pounds is the bicycle is running down the hill, 35 miles per hour. a lot of bicyclist in an accident. some of the people do not know and they get hit. it is like a big heavy metal. if you're an old person like in the newspaper, you are finished. if you would like to raise revenue, you have to target the bicycle people. bicycle people is a good target to make their money. licensing, liability, everything you say like taxi. taxi has a lot of liability and to have to put the speed bump on some of the downhill lanes for the bicycle hills -- lane only. you have been to the airport. go down the ramp and they have a speed bump. to let you know, this is you have to slow down. the same in san francisco.

i saw you draw a lot of bicycle lanes ever were. i saw you drop a lot of bicycle lanes. i do not even see one single bicyclist using that area. but now it is [unintelligible] they half to merge into two lanes. they make one small [unintelligible] the others have stopped. they had to open one bicycle lane, not even one person was using it. thank you for your new system on market and mason. now barry smith. i turn left on though -- on the light. -- now is very smooth. now he goes along with them a draw a lot of bicycle lanes.

some are nice and some are not very nice. you have to educate them. >> the last person, herbert weiner. >> now, how many people on the board are bikers? mr. ramos is, i believe he rides a bike. are there other members? ok. i am sick and tired and efed up of the board pandering to the bikers. you have ruled out the carpet to them, you have given them by clients, you have given them a free pass. what do we get for it? two pedestrian deaths in the last year. i do not think this board can afford to protect them anymore. there are hot potatoes. neither can the board of supervisors. what they have to do now is they have to practice safety rules

but they also have to contribute to the pot. this is -- as this last gentleman pointed out. why did not pay parking fees? why do they not pay for bicycle license? there are 10,000 mike -- 10,000 members of the bicycle coalition. multiply that and you have revenue. you have parking fees. you also have parking fines. they are demanding equal privileges and rights as automobile riders, and yet they're ducking their responsibilities. i am sick and fed up with this. and the city as a whole is prejudiced against them and for good reason. they have a lot of cleaning up to do for their act. one thing they can do is contribute to the pot. which is this budget. and i believe it should be part of the muni budget and it should be part of this one this year. president nolan: thank you.

next item. >> there will be no student advisory report. now you are moving on to comment. our next speakers. >> afternoon -- good afternoon. you have to have a lot of endurance to speak here at public comment. i'm going to take this opportunity to focus on things we have talked about which i think is very urgent. i did not do myself much service by coming up here and criticizing part it -- parking entrance practices. i want to invite any member here to come down to be set a cab, my company.

if you have any questions about how the industry works, questions about impact -- dispatch. people did not understand it. they do not understand the economic model, how it works in san francisco. i want to be open as a fleet owner to invite any of you and have an open-door policy in terms of helping understand how this industry works. having said that, i am quite amazed we are at a place right now where we have so many medallions that may be available for drivers that are lined up. they are lined up to purchase them. the city is contemplating moving toward replacing working drivers with themselves as the monthly income earner. the city can raise an enormous amount of money. i mean enormous and i and politically correct ways. inpouring working drivers. i'm warning you that if you take away what has been great about san francisco's medallion system, where the working driver gets the medallion and replace

it with the city, there will be an enormous backlash, whether they are sold or given away, working driver gets medallion and if you move toward a model that replaces the opportunity for working drivers to get medallions, there is going to be an enormous backlash in this industry. something that i myself foresee. i am hoping before we get to that place where you have a concrete plan that you take more input from the industry and talk about what should go forward in terms of medallion reform. there's a lot of money here and i hope it is done correctly. thank you. >> our next speakers. >> good afternoon. i compliment you on your endurance and mine. i have been in the cab business for 50 years or so. it has been my habit over the years to once in awhile stakeout and see what is going on. -- sneak out and see what is

going on. i said if you have anything for me, i wanted to see how this batch is and how traffic is. there were 2000 drivers waiting to drive and he did not have any calves. i said i will forgo that. maybe some other time, maybe on a sunday. what i want to bring to you is some of their regulatory impediments that seem to affect us. just one. i had a chat with a fresh manager -- a garage manager. cabs were ready to go. they do not have that important thing from the airport that makes them a cab. what the heck is going on? he said, in order to do that, i need to have a permit from the tax division of the sfmta. some piece of paper saying it is

ok for you to go to the airport to get the detail decal. how long does that take? sometimes two or three weeks. that is absurd. you need to go any time you have a cap ready, get it inspected and let them know it is done. i think that ought to be changed. thank you. president nolan: next speaker. >> good evening, almost. barry toronto. i want to welcome chairman nolan back. i hope everything is working. president nolan: it seems to be so far. >> we're not getting specific here. anyway, i want to point out -- president nolan: time is up. >> i need to seconds anyway.

i want to bring up several issues. one, i applaud you on how you handled the use pass issue. at the same time you did not put money in the budget for chaperones. i have taken the 48 before and the number of kids on the bus and how they behave sometimes is a long route and it goes on 24th street. it is uncomfortable being on the bus when they start acting out and start harassing the other passengers in the bus. it is an issue you need to do with. once this starts getting implemented. it will lose other passengers on the bus who are paying the fare. the next is the double parking issue. you worry so much about enforcing meters and putting more meters and doing sundays. what about the fact the double parking still exists, even in the evening hours? you go one block on diamond street, there is so much double parking. you get somewhere their tagging, you'll make so much money.

also the white zone and taxi zone. the taxi people are voting for white zone enforcement. why'd you get them to enforce the zones around hotels and other places where the limousines and town cars are parking. you're closing your eyes to all the money. and also the future of tac is important. we should take -- keep something in place. before may 15, it is important to make sure you schedule and of town hall meetings so that enough of it is vetted out by the industry and stakeholders before it comes to you at the mta. you have people coming here and screaming they did not get a chance to this. thank you. >> our next speakers. >> one thing that was not

examined in the budget, i am wondering about the 311 service. before that was instituted, the municipal railway had a special section for taking complaints. now it is directed toward 311. i understand it is expensive. $1.97 for col. there are a lot of calls that come in. i am wondering if it is more efficient to move that to the municipal railway where it was before. the second thing, just a general comment, a reflection. people go to helen minibuses but they never arrive on time and i am wondering if the devil has not called mr. reiskin to complain. thank you. >> a euronext speakers. -- our next speaker is. >> in communist countries, the

college brainwash. in america at it should be called retraining, refresh. i have been living in this city for 25 years and driven a cab for 22 years. you have thousand muni drivers, your hiring. a lot of them are young folks. i saw many times they are more and more younger. they always forgot. sometimes it has happened occasionally trade you need to have -- occasionally. you need to solve the problem. safety on the is mind training. they have a good hand and good leg, not like old folks but they forget about their mind. they never remind themselves because they have [unintelligible] all the time from you. i have to drive every day to make my on cam -- my own income.