1985-Annual Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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Selectmen's Advisory Committees LEXPRESS Bus Decorating Contest Winners. L /R: Sara Arnold, Transportation Coordinator, presents prizes to winner Gina CopZon and runner up Marc GouZston. The decorated bus won second prize, civic division, in the Patriots Day parade float contest. • Sidewalk on Bedford Street from Winter Street to the town line • Lower speed limit on Maple Street • More crosswalks in the town center • Left turn onto Concord Avenue from the eastbound exit from Route 2 near Spring Street • Banning of heavy trucking along Adams Street intersection • Review of permission to make right turns on red • Improved traffic control along Grove Street near Estabrook School. Local transportation services are, of course, the watchwords of the Transportation Advisory (TAC) Committee. Lexington has three major bus systems which have involved the town committee -- LEXPRESS Transportation Advisory Committee. L/R seated: Elaine Dratch; Sally Castleman, Co- chairman; Joyce Hals. Standing: Charles Stevens; Sara Arnold, Transportation Coordinator; William Mix, Co- chairman. Absent: Lawrence Chait, Donald Graham, Lili Silvera, Webb Sussman. 12 overview (the town's mini - buses), the commuter bus to Boston, and the bus routes provided by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). In addition, a private carrier operates a route from Lexington to Boston via Arlington and Medford. As 1985 began, a major concern for the TAC was the changes resulting from the early spring opening of the new MBTA Alewife subway station. In June, there were changes in the MBTA bus routes that serve Lex- ington. The town now has two routes which terminate at Alewife - -one originating in Bedford and travel- ling via Lexington Center and Arlington Heights, the other originating at Hanscom Field and travelling via Lexington Center. By alternating their depar- ture times, there is MBTA bus service between Lexing- ton Center and Alewife every 15 minutes during com- muter hours and every half hour during non -peak hours. From the Alewife station, the Red Line sub- way makes stops in Cambridge, including Harvard Square and Kendall Square, on its way to Boston. A third, MBTA bus route travels from Lexington to Wal- tham and was not affected by the Alewife opening. A fourth route between Five Forks and Arlington was discontinued because of low ridership. LEXPRESS's mini -buses began their seventh year of operation in September 1985, and continue to serve the town's neighborhoods, shopping centers, recrea- tion centers and the new Senior Center. They aver- age 14 passengers per vehicle hour, the highest ridership among towns receiving MBTA aid for similar local systems. Approximately 13 percent of the passengers were senior citizens. The MBTA main- tained its subsidy of LEXPRESS, providing $60,000 toward the cost of operations. LEXPRESS can also boast of having received second prize, civic divi- sion, in the 1985 Patriots Day Parade Float Contest (see picture). Decoration ideas were submitted by Lexington students and the winner helped decorate the bus. The LEXPRESS budget also includes $10,000 to operate a chair car service, provided by Share -A -Ride. In July, the service was expanded to include Mondays as well as Thursdays. On those days, between 9:15 a.m. and 2:45 p.m., eligible Lexington residents received door -to -door transportation by calling ahead to make a reservation. Both the handicapped and elderly made good use of this service for medical appoint- ments, trips to the new Senior Center for meals and activities, social enjoyment, shopping and errands. The Gray Line continued to provide weekday commuter bus service to downtown Boston. A reduction in the number of trips each way was necessary due to in- creased competition in service. Not only did the MBTA service.improve, but Hudson Bus operated its bus service hourly to and from Boston all day week- days. m r The committee meets regularly to review the town's 3 transportation needs and to address the issues raised in overseeing the various services. Its goal is to try and meet the citizens' needs with reliable service while keeping budget constraints foremost in a the minds.