2020-06-23-TAC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 2: [1] Commented [SB1] Susan Barrett 6/18/2020 6:33:00 PM A suggested wording for this paragraph: I am not sure what can be said here in public minutes as the Town is going through a contract negotiation with M&L and seems touchy about me saying anything.The below paragraph is how I would word things, However,you may need to be even more brief,so I present a BRIEF version and a LONGER version. BRIEF VERSION: The Transportation Manager noted that many changes had to be responded to quickly in regards to COVIDI9,such as stopping farebox payments, blocking off seats, increasing cleaning and disinfecting,and having drivers wear masks. Service went from fixed-route to on-demand to respond as best as possible to changes.As this is not sustainable long-term, Lexpress is planned to come back as soon as approved. LONGER VERSION: As with all transit services across the country and world, ridership on Lexpress dropped with word of the pandemic. In consultation with the Town's Public Health Director,we moved Lexpress to an on-demand model using our buses so that people could have the social distancing space needed as they were transported, rather than move them to our other service,which is a taxi.We did not wish to put riders into a taxi or other type of sedan arrangement due to the lack of social distancing,and the Public Health Director agreed that a larger vehicle would be better. However,with a further drop in ridership and the closing of the Depot which meant a loss of a bathroom for the drivers,we moved riders to the taxi. Unfortunately,this has now meant a loss of revenue for the bus vendor who still has fixed costs even as the buses remain idle.While legislation was passed to allow towns to pay for school bus transport and other educational contracts even though services were not rendered,there has been no bill passed regarding other municipal contracts.The taxis are only a short-term solution and as ridership is kicking back up,it is not sustainable for us to operate in this on-demand model only for long-term.The taxi can only transport one person per trip. FISH has also suspended service,so there is also a need for medical transportation.Transportation professionals agree that it is unsafe to ride TNCs during this time as there is not only lack of social distancing, but an inability to guarantee that cleaning and disinfecting protocols are being followed.With a contracted provider,we have more control over this and were able to ask our taxi provider to install plexiglass dividers between rider and driver.We are actively working to have Lexpress restored.As the service would not start until FY21 has started,we will still move forward with a plan to adjust routes,as we had been discussing,prior to COVID, but with new information based on the needs of essential trips taken during COVI D.