2016-03-14-TAC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) Minutes March 14, 2016 Members Present: Hank Manz, Co-Chair; Sara Arnold; Sally Castleman, Elaine Dratch, Craig Weeks Members Absent: Bill Levison, Co-chair; Francine Stieglitz Staff: Charlotte Rogers; Jeanette Rebecchi Public comment: 1. None Minutes: 2. Minutes from the January 11, 2016 meeting were approved as amended. Vote: 4-0 (Ms. Dratch arrived after the vote was taken.) Transportation Systems Update: 3. Ms. Rebecchi reported the following: Candidates for replacing Linda Judkins, who recently retired, are being interviewed. The person will be a Municipal Assistant working 28 hours (four days) a week and assigned primarily to the Transportation Division. Cross training between all Department staff occurs on an on-going basis. The Patriots’ Day Parade is on April 18, and a Lexpress bus will be in the parade. Those wishing to walk with the bus or participate should call the Community Center to sign-up. There was a racially tainted exchange between a passenger and a driver (Middle Eastern heritage) on Monday that is being investigated. It involved the pick-up location at Market Basket. Ms. Rebecchi is exploring options for a pre-established pick- up location with the head driver and the property manager. MBTA Fare Increases: 4. Ms. Rebecchi reported that on July 1, 2016, the MBTA is increasing fares, including fares on The Ride, their paratransit service. As described in Ms. Rebecchi’s memo to Carl Valente, Town Manager, this impacts what we must charge for our adult one- way fare because of federal regulations and our need to continue to use The Ride as our paratransit alternative for those in the Lexpress service area. Ms. Rebecchi is recommending that our one-way adult fare be increased from $2.50 to $2.75. A motion was made and seconded to increase the adult fare as recommended. VOTE: 5-0 Ms. Rebecchi will prepare a recommendation package for the Board of Selectmen (BoS). Member Reports: 5. Mr. Manz reported having invited Roy Glasser, the proponent for Annual Town Meeting (ATM) Article 35, Lexpress Resolution (Citizen Article), to the meeting, but he declined. Also, Mr. Glasser did not attend the recent Moderator’s Meeting in preparation for the Annual Town Meeting, and to-date, Mr. Glasser has not submitted a motion for the Article. It is unclear how this will proceed. Mr. Manz agreed to draft a statement that could be read if this Article raises questions on the floor of Town Meeting. Ideas for the statement included: Route changes and fare changes are only implemented after a full public review and comment period.