2010-12-14-TAC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Transportation Advisory Committee Date: December 14, 2010 Members Present: Sara Arnold, Elaine Dratch, Bill Levison, Francine Stieglitz Members Absent: Sally Castleman, Peter Levy, Larry Link Liaisons: Hank Manz, Board of Selectmen and Richard Canale, Planning Board Staff: Gail Wagner TAC meeting minutes for November 9, 2010 were voted on and approved with edits. Lexpress Update ➢ November ridership was approximately 200 more than November 2009. Fare revenue was up by $239. From year to year, slight monthly fluctuations are attributed to changes in total weekday service days per month. ➢ Riders on the Route 4 to and from Lahey Lexington were tracked the week of November 3 0. There were a total of 10 Lahey riders. All rides were between l Dam and noon runs. ➢ Student riders in FYI 0 and FYI I to date have decreased. LHS total enrollment numbers and a breakout of 9th and 10 graders, optimum years for riding Lexpress, were compared. High school enrollment data between 2007 and 2010 was very consistent and did not account for a decrease in student Lexpress riders. ➢ Lexpress phone line has not been in service for several days due to an erroneous Verizon service change order. A temporary phone number is posted on the Town website. Restoration is expected within a day. Senior Transportation Field Trip on MBTA to secure Senior Access Cards ➢ Larry Link led a group of four seniors to Downtown Crossing in Boston on December 9 to secure MBTA Senior Access cards. ➢ Travel was via MBTA buses and subways. ➢ Feedback from Larry and senior participants was very positive. ➢ A repeat trip will be considered this Spring. Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations ➢ Larry Link is developing a State grant application due Dec 17 for EV Charging Stations in Lexington. By 2025, the State intends to be more energy efficient and less oil dependent. Electric vehicles are part of this plan. ➢ Larry's draft document was shared with TAC members. ➢ Town coordination of application was raised. Town Manager signs all town documents, such as grant applications, filed on behalf of the Town. Extended MBTA Weekend Service to Lexington ➢ On behalf of the Tourism Committee, Dawn McKenna has requested a meeting with Lexington's State Representative, Jay Kaufman, and a representative of the MBTA. This meeting is scheduled for January 12, 2011 at the State House. TAC and Gail have been invited to attend. ➢ Gail has accepted the invite as she feels it is a rare opportunity to speak to the MBTA about extension of existing MBTA routes running in adjacent towns on Sundays. Examples: Route 77 terminating on Mass Ave in Arlington Heights and Route 78 operating on the East Service Road and Watertown Street in Lexington. ➢ TAC would like to confirm Dawn's agenda before responding. Is it strictly a weekend service discussion as promoted by the Tourism Committee or will discussion include broader town topics, such as MBTA service on Hartwell Avenue? ➢ Hank reported that Selectmen have not been informed. He will speak to Representative Kaufman and Dawn.