January Newsletter - 2022
Network Redesign Project Update
A draft network plan is about to be released to the public for comment and official approval by the Transportation Planning and Policy Board.
Before its official public release, Metro staff will be in the Dispatch hallway with draft maps and other materials for employee review and comments.
Look for posters and text alerts announcing the date and time.
This complete service redesign is intended to address long-standing customer complaints, such as long travel times, our service being too confusing, and customers not liking to wait at transfer points.
Click below to watch a past presentation to the Transportation Planning and Policy Board in October describing the proposed new system.
Watch Presentation
Boosters
Metro employees are encouraged to get a vaccine booster. All employees are eligible to receive 30 minutes of paid time to do this. Check in with your supervisor about how to get this included on your timesheet.
Public Health Madison & Dane County is advising that even if you are vaccinated, it is still very important to get a booster shot as soon as you are eligible.
The vaccine is the best tool we have to fight Covid, even Omicron.
Click for Vaccination Locations
COVID and Emergency Paid Leave Procedures
Emergency Paid Leave (EPL) is intended to support employees through the COVID-19 outbreak. Each employee has 40 hours of EPL to use from 1/9/22 to 12/10/22 for a COVID related reason.
Complete Details
FMLA Doesn’t Cover Covid-19 Absences
Being sick with Covid-19 is not an FMLA qualifying condition unless it causes serious long-term issues or hospitalization. If you are required to quarantine for any reason due to Covid, you need to use emergency paid leave or personal paid time.
If you are out of both and need to get approval to be off due to Covid, contact Fran Taylor for the appropriate form.
If you have any further questions on Covid-related issues, please see your unit manager.
TSA Mask Mandate
The TSA Federal Mask Mandate has been extended through March 18, 2022.
Technology Changes in 2022
Metro hired a new technology vendor to update a majority of our software and electronic equipment.
These technology upgrades will provide better data, make work processes more efficient, and generally allow Metro to perform at a much higher level.
Some of the upcoming upgrades include new maintenance and operations scheduling software, more user friendly MDT’s on buses, new payroll software, remotely accessed bus video, cloud-based paratransit scheduling systems, new infrared passenger counters, automated head signs, and a new updated radio system.
The technology upgrade will likely affect every Metro employee in some way. Employees are encouraged to be ready for these upcoming updates and be on the lookout for training sessions that will become available in the next two years.
Rollout of new technology systems is planned to start this May, with the installation of new real-time bus location equipment, and last into 2024.
2021 Retirees
Congratulations to the following Metro employees on their retirement! Thank you for your dedication and efforts.
- Lavern Bagley
- Deborah Biddick
- Keith Boltz
- Steven Callaway
- Barb Gerron
- James Hasz
- Carl Hunter
- Gary Jacobson
- David Johansen
- Jenelle Kennedy
- Donald Leighton
- Ryan McGraw
- Maria Patt
- Jeff Rogers
- Kirk Selbrede
- Nancy Senn
- Thomas Sirowy
- Kenneth Storck
Due to the continued prevalence of in our community, we unfortunately have to postpone an event honoring retirees until later in the year.
W2 and 1095-C Forms
Do you want those faster this year? If so, sign up today on Employee Self Services (ESS) for electronic delivery of your tax statements.
The new Tax Form delivery option has been added under Personal Information on the left side menu of ESS. You can elect to receive these by email.
If you’ve never logged into ESS before, your employee number is your user ID (located on the upper left hand corner of your pay stub). The first time you log in, your password will be the last four digits of your social security number.
Complete Information
Construction Updates
Metro is now planning to start renovation at Metro North (Hanson Rd. facility) to make it full service.
These plans give Metro the ability to perform maintenance and service lane functions on all buses at this location, including new all-electric and 60-foot articulated vehicles.
In addition, the facility will store buses and other building and grounds vehicles/equipment. Construction is expected to start at the end of this year.
Construction at the 1101 facility also continues to be underway. A more detailed update will be available in the next newsletter.
Ride Guides
A reminder that Ride Guides will continue to not be placed on buses. They are available online at mymetrobus.com. If passengers would like a printed version, they can call Metro’s main office at (608) 266-4466 or email mymetrobus@cityofmadison.com to request a copy be mailed to them.
Paper copies are also available for pick up in-person at the Administration Office.
The Safety Planning Team
The purpose of Metro’s Safety Planning Team (SPT) is to ultimately make Metro the safest place we possibly can.
The team is responsible for planning, reviewing, and revising our Agency Safety Plan and all associated processes and procedures. Objectives include promoting early identification of safety hazards and risks, taking proactive steps to reduce safety hazards and risks, promoting safety culture, and continuously maintaining an acceptable level of safety throughout Metro Transit.
A major role of SPT is assessing safety hazards. A thorough assessment of safety hazards helps to reduce the effects of a hazard, or even eliminate it entirely.
How SPT will Assess a Safety Hazard:
- Identify potential safety hazard, or review past incident
- Conduct risk assessment - including measuring likelihood of occurrence, potential consequences barriers, etc.
- Define mitigation strategies – how can we prevent or lessen the likelihood of this hazard happening? Does it cost money? Does it involve training? Etc.
- Present assessment findings and mitigation strategies to other Metro committees for deployment.
- Continue to monitor to ensure strategies are effective
If you have a safety concern at any of Metro’s facilities, report it to your supervisor, turn in a “Safety Concern” form into Dispatch, or call/text the Metro Employee Information Line at (608) 640-0451. All reports are confidential.
Typo on Safety Concerns Posters
Please note that Metro Information Line number on earlier versions of the "Report Safety Concerns" poster is incorrect. The correct phone number is (608) 640-0451. The marketing team apologizes for this oversight.
Speed Reduction Project
The Safety Planning Team is currently assessing the excessive speed of all vehicles on Metro property, including employees and vendors that are driving City, private or personally-owned vehicles.
In the coming weeks, a portable radar speed sign will be placed in the garage’s main driving lane. Supervisors with radar guns will also be stationed periodically in the garage to document any employee driving too fast.
Remember, there is a speed limit of 5 MPH while driving though the garage or yard.