2015-12-14-TAC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

DRAFT Meeting Minutes Transportation Advisory Committee December 14, 2015 The meeting was called to order at 3:20 PM. Members present: Hank Manz, Co- Chair, Sara Arnold, Sally Castleman, Elaine Dratch, Francine Stieglitz, Craig Weeks Members Absent: Bill Levison, TAC Co -Chair Liaison Present: Rich McDonough, Council on Aging Staff: Jeanette Rebecchi, Manager of Transportation Services, Charlotte Rodgers, Human Services Director Minutes: A motion was made and seconded to approve the November 9th Minutes. The motion passed: 4 -0 (Ms. Dratch and Mr. Weeks arrived after the vote was taken.) Transportation Systems Update: Ms. Rebecchi reported that Brookhaven at Lexington had responded positively to a letter from Mr. Levison requesting a donation for Lexpress. They will be submitting $1000. It was generally agreed that there is a value in sending an annual request. Ms. Rebecchi reported that Lexpress service stops after completing the 3:30 p.m. trips on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. Lexpress Transfers: Ms. Rebecchi reviewed her proposal to eliminate the transfer fee starting in Fiscal Year 2017. The revenue generated is approximately $380 a year. Tracking transfers is time consuming and not cost effective. A motion was made and seconded to support a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen that transfers be issued without charging a fee. The motion passed 5 -0 (Mr. Weeks arrived after the vote was taken.) Lexpress Data Collection: Ms. Rebecchi reported that the Routes 1 and 2 passenger counts collected by committee members on November 6th were consistently close or the same as those reported by the drivers on those routes. It was generally agreed that this effort increases confidence in the passenger counts reported by the drivers. To further verify, Ms. Rebecchi agreed to look at whether those passenger counts were consistent with Routes 1 and 2 ridership when different drivers were collecting the data. There was discussion about technology that would improve data collection and be far more efficient. Ms. Rebecchi reported that a funding request was submitted for providing drivers with tablets to collect the data. There would be a purchasing cost (currently estimated at approximately $1000) and an annual fee for a consultant to run the program (currently estimated at approximately $2000). Mr. Manz noted the ease of creating a program on a tablet that identifies where passengers get on and off the bus.