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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-07-12-TAC-min 1 Minutes Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) Tuesday, July 12, 2022 Place: The meeting was held remotely pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 and its extension according to provisions of Governor Baker's March 12, 2020 Executive Order. The Zoom teleconferencing session was open to the public. Scheduled time: 7 p.m. Members Present: Pamela Lyons, Co-Chair, Sara Arnold, Andra Bennett, Sally Castleman, Elaine Dratch Members Absent: Vinita Verma, Co-Chair Liaisons and Town Staff: Susan Barrett, Lexington Transportation Manager; Suzie Barry, Select Board; Sudhir Jain, Council on Aging (COA) Others Present: None If meeting is remote: Ms. Lyons reviewed the authorization for meeting remotely and noted that the meeting was being called to order at 7:05 p.m. on July 12, 2022. Ms. Lyons confirmed attendance by roll call. Public Input Minutes A Motion was made and seconded to approve the June 21, 2022 draft Minutes. In a roll-call vote, the motion passed: 3 in favor, 0 against, 1 abstention. Welcome New Member, Kunal Botla Annual Town Report items Ms. Lyons introduced the subject and explained what goes into the Town Report for new members or those unfamiliar. Ms. Dratch suggested that the Committee include the grants and programs Ms. Barret has applied for, received, and found, however, Ms. Barrett reminded that the Town staff has its own section within the report and TAC’s should focus on its own accomplishments. An example of bus shelters. Ms. Lyons brought up how the Committee has time for its submission and members could review and consider previous reports for what they want to be included in this year’s. Letter from Ms. Rita Tan, Lexington High School student Ms. Tan wrote a letter to the Select Board about her concerns with Lexpress service frequency and was invited by Mr. Botla, but they did not attend. Ms. Barry says it could be because some LHS classes were required to write a letter to elected officials and government. 2 Relative to the letter’s ask for more frequency on Lexpress, Ms. Cattleman said if we had more money we would add more transit. Ms. Lyons spoke about how transit is valued differently less in the United States and that could be the root of the difference, between Ms. Tan’s experience in Singapore vs. Lexington. Mr. Botla said that that’s what he mentioned in his invitation to Ms. Tan. Ms. Barrett also reached out and said it was unfortunate they didn’t respond, but appreciated the letter. MassDOT Lexpress Vehicles Grant Application Ms. Barrett explained that Lexington requested 6, low-floor 14-passenger small cut-away vehicles, the largest configuration that does not require a CDL to operate. With the hope that finding operators for them will be more affordable and simpler due to the difficulty finding CDL operators at the moment. Ms. Barry mentioned how these are smaller than the current vehicles bringing in the question of capacity. She suggested that increased frequency could solve the concerns of lower seating. These vehicles would also be low-floor unlike previous Lexpress vehicles making them easier for seniors and anyone carrying carts or strollers on and have digital signage to be more able to reflect the route their operating. They continue to have bike racks. Ms. Barrett spoke about how some vehicles could be used for fixed route services, some on-demand, while retaining one as backup. The Town would have to change the current technology used to add on-demand, especially reservations. Overall, the service proposed under this grant brings down the hourly rate, potentially allowing for increased service. Ms. Barrett shared three considered FY23 rates. A factor is that fuel rates are increasing beyond the contract price and GPS adds cost. She mentioned that MBTA grants should be posted soon. Ms. Barrett mentioned multiple scenarios, without state vehicles. Since fuel prices are high and staffing is hard, vendors aren’t providing quotes at the moment bc of the unknowns. With state vehicles at the same service level, it drops from $85/hour to $50/hour and removes the vehicle cost. With state vehicles and increased service there would be 4 vehicles running 12 hours a day at 30 minute frequency. It adds on-demand service in Lexington only, Saturday service, and a connection to Burlington and Waltham or Waverly to create a 73 connection at Waverly. On demand vehicles are fairly inefficient and a balance of them would be needed to optimize service. Connecting people to transit. Ms. Lyons asked about scheduled buses at Alewife and somewhere else to add to the 2 buses after 6:30; potentially for restaurant workers. Ms. Lyons asked about what the fare would be for on- demand service? Ms. Barrett replied that on-demand would have a higher fare. The Ride has a long wait so more of the usage would likely be from seniors; they get limited Uber/Lyft credits when they first join. Ms. Dratch asked what the plan with school routes is. Ms. Barrett mentioned keeping the most popular fixed routes and that flexible tech can be flexible. Ms. Dratch asked about thoughts on keeping a larger vehicle and Ms. Barrett said that the state doesn’t have large vehicles— can go through the same bidding process as before to get large vehicles. Mr. Botla responded that he likes the Waverly idea, especially with the 73 and newly proposed crosstown route, and asked about similar connecting service to Arlington Heights for 77 to Harvard and the Red Line instead of Alewife for the late night service. Ms. Barrett 3 responded that we could do that, but the current Arlington Heights route doesn’t have much service. The message to the Transportation manager’s office has always been that we need to save money. Mr. Botla asked if this is something MassDOT is doing with current vehicles or getting vehicles for. Ms. Barrett said that they’re going to get a new contract to get those new vehicles; they had approx vehicles types but they’re not yet set— they’re going out to get those. Most people using this program are doing this for Council of Aging type vans. Mr. Botla asked about moving small routes of school buses to Lexpress vans to have more vehicles dedicated to public transit vs. static school buses with minimal utilization. Ms. Barrent understood that over $6 million is spent on school buses and in favor of integrating towards public transit; suburbs put a lot on school buses. Has been told it's a very political conversation, potentially through the divide between schools and municipalities. In 2011, Lexpress was leaving people at the curb and a normal transit agency would have tried to add a cap. Doing that could have continued to add capacity. Suggested putting on this on a future agenda since it’s a larger topic. Ms. Lyons is wary of micro-transit because of the expense per dollar. Liaison Updates: A. Select Board: No updates or comments from Ms. Barry. B. Planning Board: Ms. Thompson wasn’t able to make the meeting. C. Council on Aging: There was no meeting this month. D. Commission on Disability: The most recent meeting’s updates were shared in the last TAC meeting. E. Center Committee: No updates from Ms. Lyons. Transportation Manager’s Update Ms. Barrett is meeting with Concord about the FLAPS grant. The National Park Service approached the three towns about joint bus/trolley service instead of each having its own. Concord started a short route and can run every 30 minutes. The Liberty Ride in Lexington is a guided trolley and likely intends to remain that way. Regionalization would help not have many separate services and joint contracts help; better hourly rates. The Town has asked for ARPA proposal ideas; ones submitted by Ms. Barrett follows: A. Economic Developments asked for bike racks, but it was cut. East Lexington needs bike racks with an estimated cost of $7,200. B. BlueBikes in Lexington would be around $263,000 for MAPC’s recommendation of 5 stations with 15 bikes each. C. Funding for Lexpress vehicles. MassDevelopment for a taxi grant for 46k— to promote the taxi agency. Gotten it since it started with the COVID pandemic. Can be used to expand to FISH rides to medical appointments. D. Funding for more workforce type rides— late at night or days and hours we don’t have transit. 4 Request on Friday from Lexington State Delegation asking for ideas on the transportation bond bill. Bikeshare and projects on Harwell and Maguire for more infrastructure. The Town website was converted to its new layout causing some confusion and broken elements. Ms. Casttleman asked about where to find old Comprehensive Plan drafts and publications. Older drafts had very bad major errors and changed in a second draft with fewer errors. Ms. Lyons asked about if time for feedback is running out and Ms. Barrett mentioned how there is still time until the fall and through the public comment period. Mr. Botla mentioned how other Town’s and City’s TAC or equivalents had their own social media and independent website’s like the Comprehensive Plan Adding an agenda item about a website and social media and how that could be useful. Ms. Lyons mentioned how she believed TAC already had them, but Ms. Barrett informed that they are for the Town Transportation services rather than the TAC. Ms. Barry responded that that conversation should include Sean Dugan to get informed about the policies of the Town. It was noted that Sean Dugan has drastically improved the Town information communication. Ms. Barrett mentioned that we should review the new website to make sure it shows what we want. Mr. Botla mentioned that there are missing minutes since January or February and Ms. Lyons mentioned falling behind and returning to sending them to the Clerk's office. Adjournment The meeting adjourned unanimously with a roll-call vote at 8:11 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kunal Botla Materials used at the Meeting ● Agenda ● Ms. Rita Tan’s letter to the Select Board ● Ms. Susan Barrett’s Scenarios for the Lexpress Contracts