Embark financials show small timing variances; board hears mobility and safety updates

Christina Hankins presented the authority’s financial report for the period ending Feb. 28, 2026, reporting that the transportation operating fund’s expenditures exceeded revenue by $31,000 and that year‑to‑date revenues were below budget by $601,000 due largely to timing issues. She said an expected CNG tax credit of $335,000 is delayed and may be received as late as July.

Hankins described federal grant timing variances (federal grants under budget by $362,000) that staff expect to resolve in coming months and said staff plan to bring a budget amendment to the board in June to address reallocations and outstanding items. Parking operations were reported $827,000 favorable year‑to‑date, driven in part by a $650,000 payment from a professional basketball club for season ticket parking passes that arrived in February.

In program updates, mobility management staff described coordination among roughly 30 agencies, growth in partnerships and specific efforts such as an eviction mitigation initiative that has generated 542 one‑day pass activations or QR code activations. Staff said EmbarkWell continues to expand services for seniors and that several grant application cycles are active, including projects for vehicle maintenance and dispatching software.

Eugene Fritz presented safety plan updates and said internal audits found zero findings and two recommendations (post the safety management policy and document a written process to check goals against targets). Fritz outlined alignment work to bring the streetcar and bus safety plans into consistency, described ODOT’s risk‑based inspection schedule (four inspections annually, two announced and two unannounced) and noted the authority’s roadway worker protection program updates and supervisor training completion.

Board members were told the PTASP will not be approved at this meeting but will return later in the board action sequence after frontline and executive safety committees and ODOT review.

Ending: Staff will return with a budget amendment in June and bring the safety plan back for formal board action after the remaining review steps.