Amalgamated Transit Union — Local 282 22 Fourth Street, Suite 205 Rochester, New York 14609 Office: 585-232-7230 Fax: $85-546-3405 Board of Commissioners May 1, 2015 RGRTA 1372 Fast Main Street Rochester, NY 14609 ear Commissioners, ‘The shocking announcement made by RGRTA CEO Bill Carpenter on April28 forces the ‘Amalgamated Transit Union Local 282 Executive Board to encourage your Board of RGRTA ‘Commissioners to replace Bill Carpenter with a competent CEO who can manage in adversity and efficiently utilize avallable resources, ‘The Union's responsibilities to protect its members and to conduct the Locals business include seriously considering the interests of RGRTA, of our City School students and their families, of, the welfare and safety of all of RGRTA’s customers and the wider community. It goes without saying that ATU 282 Executives and the Local's members want to see an end to violence at the Transit Center. The solution, however, is not what Bill Carpenter proposes. In fat, we ll face @ worsened situation IFillis not replaced. Bill Carpenter's decison is problematic, mistake ridden and wrong. 1. The Rochester City School work subsidizes the Transit System. Otherwise fares will 2. The Contract with RGRTA helps the City School District financially and secures safe and efficient transportation. All City School students can be assigned Express Transfer Service Buses which avoid the down town area (.e.Transit Center) as it was done safely ‘and efficiently inthe past 3. If Bill Carpenter's unauthorized decision not to renew the RCSD Contract isn’t reversed, ‘and the RCSD goes through with its plan to provide daily passes for each student, more students will be at the Transit Conter and other tine service customers potentially wll hhave difficulty finding a seat or standing room on regular ne service buses. In other words, Bll’s decision ironically will hve the opposite affect to what he promises. 4, Based on Technician experience, the Union asserts eliminating 40 maintenance personnel and 106 buses wil disable that department so much that techs will have difficulty maintaining and repairing in a timely fashion even the lessened numberof buses creating safety risks and potentially setting up RTS for more dally service cuts.5. If this current CEOs allowed to cut service for about 9000 Rochester City School District students, to lay off 144 RTS employees, and to do away with 106 buses, the Bus Company will not break even financially now and will ot save money in the future as Bill promises. 6. The Authority potentially faces FTA claims that Title VI of the Civil Rights Act has been violated by cutting service in a way which manifests an unlawful discriminatory practice by not holding required public hearings when service cuts are planned resulting in costly litigation. That would hurt RGRTA’s public image and reputation, CCommisioners, after building this successful City School partnership for 37 year, it would be Irresponsible and rational to do away with this community service which subsidizes the ‘Authority and saves the School District Mr. Bill Carpenter asserts that all options have been analyzed and he has no other recourse Please do not believe all options have been analyzed. We must repeat, it is possible to bus all ‘of the high schoo! students to school and to their neighborhoods without going to the down ‘town area. It has been done before and it can be done again. The Transit Center wil be safe! In closing, please reall that because of Bill Carpenters lack of sound judgment and wrong, priorities, no bus operators were hired for 9 months, for many months embarcassing daly service cuts were made (and are stil being made) leaving thousands of our passenger customers on the street in the cold and snow unaware thelr scheduled buses weren't coming. Bill muct be replaced with 2 competent CEO whe ean mend the long tandling and profitable relationship with the Rochester City Schoo! Distect. ‘Thank you very much for your service tothe Authority and for your consideration of our concerns. Please feel free to contact me at ay time. (On Behalf ofthe ATU 282 Executive Board, saciiaerRapmin President/Business Agent ATU Local 282 jchapman@atulocal282.0rg 585-594-5886 (Cell) 585-232-7230 (Office)