2023-09-26-SLC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Sustainable Lexington Committee Minutes of September 26, 2023 Final recommendations from the AHTC are in process, but will likely be higher level (e.g., do more marketing, consider hiring consultants to consider new/different routes). Susan Barrett provided a history of routes and more information about the current situation. Michael Boudett asked whether any new buses will be electric (EVs). Deepika commented that that level detail would be worked out in the future. Susan commented that municipalities that are using EVs are working to garage the vehicles to facilitate charging and improve battery performance, and commented that Lexington would need a place to charge the vehicles. Separate from the AHTC recommendations, Susan summarized the 2018 consultant recommendations that looked at holistic transportation options that included school transportation when thinking about overall town transportation. The committee voted unanimously (5 members) to send the following statement to the Select Board, which will be considering the AHTC’s recommendations on October 2: When the Select Board considers options for the future of the Lexpress bus service, the Sustainable Lexington Committee encourages the Board to consider the Mobility & Transportation Goal in the proposed Resilient Lexington Climate Action and Resilience Plan that states: "Lexington residents take fewer car trips because there are sustainable and accessible mobility options for all ages and abilities". To meet the town's emissions targets and reduce congestion on our roads, it will be necessary to reduce vehicle miles traveled, increase public transit ridership, and prioritize high-capacity vehicles on roadways. Decisions made today will set the foundation for public transportation in Lexington in the future and should consider approaches that integrate available services in town like MBTA, Lexpress, School Buses, and private shuttle services to meet the community's growing needs for reliable, consistent service to help drive increased ridership. Sustainability & Resilience Officer Report Maggie provided the following updates: •Resilient Lexington Plan o Maggie commented that it will take a lot of work to implement the plan. She is considering offering a fellowship for a student to help identify the best approaches for tracking and reporting data. o The committee voted unanimously (5 members) to support the plan and send the following statement to the Select Board, which will be considering the plan on October 16: .3