HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-07-13-TAC-min TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee Members
July 13, 2021
Upon notice duly given, a meeting of the Committee Members of the Transportation Advisory
Committee of the Town of Lexington, MA was held on July 13, 2021 via video conference.
Committee Attendees: Sally Castleman, Elaine Dratch, Vinita Verma, Pamela Lyons, and
Sara Arnold.
Liaisons and Town Staff. Joe Pato (Select Board), Shefali Verma (Lexington High School
Student Representative), Susan Barrett (Transportation Manager), Mel Novner
(Department Assistant), and Sudhir Jain (Council on Aging).
Guests: Monica Tibbits-Nutt (Executive Director, 128 Business Council), Lispeth
Tibbits-Nutt (Manager of Communications, Research & Education, 128 Business
Council), Lynn Ahlgren (Principal, Lynn Ahlgren Consulting, 128 Business Council),
Nagarjuna Venna, LexMedia, Conan Hom.
The meeting was called to order at approximately 7:05 p.m., E.T. All attendees attended via
video conference and each person attending could hear, and be heard by, each of the other
persons attending the meeting. Nagarjuna Venna kept the minutes of the meeting.
First, Sally Castleman opened the meeting and all attendees introduced themselves. Sara
Arnold moved the motion to pass the May meeting minutes which was seconded by Sally
Castleman. The motion was passed unanimously.
Next, Sally Castleman introduced the appointment of Vinita Verma as the Chair and Pamela
Lyons as the Co-Chair. Sara Arnold moved the motion to appoint the new chairs and Sally
Castleman seconded the motion. After discussion, the committee passed the motion
unanimously.
The attendees from the 128 Business Council (Monica Tibbits-Nutt, Lispeth Tibbits-Nutt, and
Lynn Ahlgren) presented an overview of the Mobility Management Project for which the town
has received funding from MassDOT. The project has two aspects: Development of a
Regionalization Action Plan for all transportation services, and then Outreach, Education, and
Marketing specifically for Lexpress. They discussed how transportation services are more
successful when "regionalized" and talked about what forms collaboration can take across
various towns that participate in the initiatives. The collaboration can span sharing of fleet,
drivers, synchronization of schedules, shared marketing activities etc. They also discussed
challenges in making these programs successful and answered questions from various
attendees about what worked in other parts of the country and what didn't. After the discussion
was completed, the attendees from the 128 Business Council left the meeting.
Susan Barrett asked the Committee members to discuss the request for feedback from Jennifer
Gingras, the Zoning Administrator about a proposal from 201 Spring Street Trust to stop
submitting an annual report to the Town on the effects of the Transportation Management Plan
and the progress made in achieving those goals. Sally Castleman and Susan Barrett provided
the context behind why this requirement was set up. Next the Committee members discussed
that the purpose of this report is to enable the Town to review if the goals set forth in the plan
were being met and it was not clear to the Committee members that those reports are being
regularly reviewed. After further discussion, Sally Castleman proposed that given the Town is in
the process of reviewing its TDM policy and procedures, it is not time for the Town to make an
exemption. Sally Castleman moved such a motion which was seconded by Elaine Dratch and
the motion passed unanimously.
Sudhir Jain provided the liaison report for the Council on Aging. He expressed the appreciation
of the Council and other Senior Citizens of the efforts by Susan Barrett to meet any
transportation request that comes from the senior population in Lexington.
Joe Pato provided an update on discussions relevant to TAC at the Select Board, specifically
about fleet electrification.
Shefali Verma provided an update on the Lexington High School Transportation Options survey
which is to be launched in August.
Susan Barrett provided an update on various initiatives in the Transportation Department
including Safe Routes to School, Helmet Give Away scheduled for July 16th, Bike Rodeo,
Demand Response and Non-Emergency Medical Transportation. She also reported that
Lexpress ridership has been increasing since January. Route B to Burlington is particularly
popular.
Pam Lyons provided an update on her discussions with the Center Committee about getting a
bus shelter at the Depot Square.
The committee decided that the next meeting will be on August 24th, 2021.
There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:45 p.m., E.T.
Respectfully Submitted,
Nagarjuna Venna
7/14/2021