0:00 → 27:30(27m 29s)
Director Whitfield (MTPO executive director) reviewed options for renaming the agency to reflect countywide jurisdiction and presented branding concepts; staff recommended 'Connect Alachua' (with a TPO/MPO descriptor) while board members argued to include 'Gainesville' or 'Gainesville / Alachua County' to protect recognition. Commissioners debated hiring a professional firm versus a student competition at UF; several commissioners emphasized keeping 'Gainesville' visible for funding and recognition.
The Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization discussed renaming/branding to reflect countywide scope, approved a motion to adopt a working name and hire a professional to develop a brand package, authorized the executive director to pursue office-space options and return with a transition plan, received a city transit development update and asked for an RTS budget briefing, and heard plans for an ADA/paratransit transition to the RTS Plus app.
