April-May_2022 - 17

Driving Values
launch of the CapMetro " Amp " account-based ticketing
system and a new fare structure that incorporates
progressive fare capping and support for an equitable
means-based fare structure.
Carter explains Amp made sense for CapMetro's
smart card brand because it ties in with Austin's music
scene, is a term of excitement and can help promote
enthusiasm for the value of transit in the city. The term
also speaks to CapMetro's electric vehicle investment.
However, the real change comes from the technology
behind the system that will allow the authority to pursue
a fare structure that addresses transit affordability.
" It's more about how we can think about our fare
structure in a way that benefits the people who need
it the most. And what does the fare structure look
like in the future as it's enabled by technology that
we have that's available to us, " said Carter.
This technology is not only enabling fare capping
agency's first chief safety officer and director of
systemwide accessibility.
The agency takes a three-pronged approach to
public safety with staff consisting of public safety
ambassadors, intervention specialists and the
board-approved transit police.
Clarke explains public safety ambassadors
are civilians who provide intervention, customer
care and de-escalation efforts. Intervention
specialists are social workers who are out in the
system engaging with individuals experiencing
homelessness or mental illness. Law enforcement
involvement is reserved for the most safety-critical
situations and Clarke notes CapMetro's transit
police force will handle " true threats " such as
explosive detection.
" Our public safety approach looks at how we are
integrated to the community, " said Clarke. " We are
working very hard with community partners and
doing this in a community-focused way. We purposely
established a public safety committee made
up of community members to provide [a level of]
oversight and guidance to our public safety program.
That's [CapMetro] giving up a lot of control, but it's
the right thing to do. "
The approach is paying measurable results with
Clarke sharing that in the two months since the
public ambassadors have been on the system, there
have been 10 to 12 situations where, previously,
law enforcement would have been called, but these
situations were solved by ambassadors through a
de-escalation process.
Innovation
An initiative being planned that hits on the agency's
values of innovation and equity is the pending
" If someone lives in affordable housing, there's
a higher chance they're part of SNAP, so with our
community engagement roots, we'll go to affordable
housing facilities and work with management to sign
people up for this Equifare program, " said Clarke.
" They don't have to come to us. We'll go to them,
set them up with a new card and account and they
will be good to go. "
Sustainability
In 2021, CapMetro Board approved one of the largest
electric bus procurements in the U.S. and announced
it was powering its facilities, electric vehicles and
MetroBike ebikes with Texas wind energy. While
Clarke believes these are worthy accomplishments,
he is unapologetically blunt when it comes to the
importance of financial sustainability.
APRIL/MAY 2022 | MassTransitmag.com | Mass Transit | 17
CAPMETRO
BROKE ground
on MetroRail's
new Downtown
Station in March
2019; it opened
in October 2020
under budget.
for the first time in Austin, but the agency's board
is considering a recommendation from staff to approve
a new fare type called Equifare, which will
deliver reduced fares on a need basis. Equifare will
be for residents with household incomes less than
200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level or who are
already enrolled in federal or state support programs
such as Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program
or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP), among others.
" Public
transit for
many people
who live
around the
poverty
line is the
family car. "
- BOARD
CHAIR
Jeffrey W.
Travillion
http://www.MassTransitmag.com
April-May_2022

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