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<br />3 <br />responded that we could do that, but the current Arlington Heights route doesn’t have much <br />service. The message to the Transportation manager’s office has always been that we need <br />to save money. <br /> <br />Mr. Botla asked if this is something MassDOT is doing with current vehicles or getting <br />vehicles for. Ms. Barrett said that they’re going to get a new contract to get those new <br />vehicles; they had approx vehicles types but they’re not yet set— they’re going out to get <br />those. Most people using this program are doing this for Council of Aging type vans. <br /> <br />Mr. Botla asked about moving small routes of school buses to Lexpress vans to have more <br />vehicles dedicated to public transit vs. static school buses with minimal utilization. Ms. <br />Barrent understood that over $6 million is spent on school buses and in favor of integrating <br />towards public transit; suburbs put a lot on school buses. Has been told it's a very political <br />conversation, potentially through the divide between schools and municipalities. In 2011, <br />Lexpress was leaving people at the curb and a normal transit agency would have tried to <br />add a cap. Doing that could have continued to add capacity. Suggested putting on this on a <br />future agenda since it’s a larger topic. Ms. Lyons is wary of micro-transit because of the <br />expense per dollar. <br /> <br />Liaison Updates: <br />A. Select Board: No updates or comments from Ms. Barry. <br />B. Planning Board: Ms. Thompson wasn’t able to make the meeting. <br />C. Council on Aging: There was no meeting this month. <br />D. Commission on Disability: The most recent meeting’s updates were shared in the <br />last TAC meeting. <br />E. Center Committee: No updates from Ms. Lyons. <br />Transportation Manager’s Update <br />Ms. Barrett is meeting with Concord about the FLAPS grant. The National Park Service <br />approached the three towns about joint bus/trolley service instead of each having its own. <br />Concord started a short route and can run every 30 minutes. The Liberty Ride in Lexington is <br />a guided trolley and likely intends to remain that way. Regionalization would help not have <br />many separate services and joint contracts help; better hourly rates. <br /> <br />The Town has asked for ARPA proposal ideas; ones submitted by Ms. Barrett follows: <br />A. Economic Developments asked for bike racks, but it was cut. East Lexington needs <br />bike racks with an estimated cost of $7,200. <br />B. BlueBikes in Lexington would be around $263,000 for MAPC’s recommendation of 5 <br />stations with 15 bikes each. <br />C. Funding for Lexpress vehicles. MassDevelopment for a taxi grant for 46k— to <br />promote the taxi agency. Gotten it since it started with the COVID pandemic. Can be <br />used to expand to FISH rides to medical appointments. <br />D. Funding for more workforce type rides— late at night or days and hours we don’t <br />have transit.