2010-05-20-TAC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Transportation Advisory Committee Date: May 20, 2010 Members Present: Sara Arnold, Sally Castleman, Elaine Dratch, Bill Levison, Larry Link, Peter Levy, Francine Stieglitz, Gail Wagner. Guest: Nancy Adler, COA Senior Transportation ➢ Nancy Adler spoke of the growing senior population and need for travel options. COA social worker, Barbara Deveau, is organizing a survey to track senior travel needs. Elaine has submitted questions for the survey pertaining to Lexpress. ➢ Elaine suggested that RIDE statistics from the MBTA coordinator, Dottie Winn, may be helpful. ➢ Elaine reviewed an outline of topics she would address as TAC representative at the June 8 COA Senior Transportation event. Gail will address Lexpress operations. ➢ TAC encourages seniors to voice travel concerns directly to TAC that advocacy can be increased. ➢ Sara noted a comprehensive town transportation report issued in 1994 and suggested that a current review may have value. Lexpress Route Deviations ➢ Route 3 Express at 7:45am during the school year was approved. The Lexpress schedule should clearly make the distinction between the Express and regular Route 3 runs. ➢ Route 5 at 4:30 and route 6 at 5pm into Diamond Middle School will end on June 1 due to lack of riders. Gail will notify Diamond School and Howard Silver, petitioner of this service. ➢ Route 4 extension from Hayden Avenue to Concord Avenue west of Waltham Street for designated runs was approved on a one year trial basis. Information on student enrollment in the area was requested of Gail. ➢ Peter suggested an alternate path that Gail will test. It is a loop from Hayden Avenue onto Waltham Street to Concord Ave west. Lexpress Updates ➢ Annual ridership compared to last year is estimated to be 2,000 fewer rides. The loss is in reduced student ridership. ➢ Estimated fares are seen as $9,000 less than budgeted. Reduction is attributed to the sale of fewer student passes. ➢ With Danny graduating, a new student TAC representative is desired. Recruitment will include an announcement in the upcoming Lexpress pass renewal mailing. Lexpress Rider Verification ➢ TAC in the early years of Lexpress recruited and scheduled TAC members to record rider counts. TAC counts were compared to driver sheets to check accuracy. ➢ In 2003, Gail conducted an extensive comparison of rider counts to revenues. She found a 3% margin of error. Research through professional transportation associations could not identify a standard margin of error. Gail was told that each system generates its own margin and that human error is to be expected. ➢ MBTA periodically conducts rider checks on Lexpress routes. Recorder: Gail Wagner