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DRAFT -- Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) Minutes
May 9, 2016
Lexington Community Center, Room 245, 3:30 p.m.
Members Present: Hank Manz, Co-Chair; Sara Arnold, Elaine Dratch, Francine Stieglitz, Craig Weeks
Members Absent: Bill Levison, Co-chair; Sally Castleman
Liaison: Nancy Adler, Council on Aging
Staff: Charlotte Rogers, Human Services; Jeanette Rebecchi, Transportation Services; Elaine Celi,
School Department
Others: Anurag Wakhlu and Venu Appana, Sociali representatives
The meeting was brought to order at 4:10 p.m.
1.Public comment:
None
2.School Transportation:
Ms. Celi reviewed efforts by the School Department to help students
use buses to get to after-school activities. For High School and Middle School students the
focus has been on the Flex-pass, which allows use of the school bus for getting to and from
school and Lexpress for after school activities. At the elementary level, school buses are
delivering students to specific programs in Lexington. Both programs have been well-received
although the level of schedule complexity for the after-school elementary program is high.
3.Web Application (App) to Facilitate Carpooling:
Mr. Wakhlu and Mr. Appana reviewed
their newly created platform for allowing groups of people who know each other and may have
comparable carpooling needs to connect via their App. The idea stemmed from their needs as
parents to get their children to various after-school activities, including those just outside of
Lexington that are not served by the school bus program. That said, the program is designed
for use by any group of people with carpooling needs. Unlike services such as Uber, those
using the system will only be contacting people who are known and have agreed to participate,
i.e., there is “trust by association”.
The App is about to be “rolled out”, and Mr. Wakhlu and Mr. Appana are now reaching out
within the community to find people who are interested in joining. There is no fee to join.
They welcome input that could improve their system, and appreciate anything the Town or
Schools might do to share information about the program with residents.
4.Minutes:
Minutes from the April 11, 2016 meeting were approved. Vote: 5-0
5.Selectmen Goals:
There was a brief review of the 2015 recommended goals and Mr. Week’s
suggested goal for an integrated transportation system. Mr. Manz agreed to create a list based
on the discussion.
6.Transportation Updates:
Ms. Rebecchi asked for volunteers to help at the Friday, May 20
Bike, Walk, and Bus Week breakfast. It will be held from 6:30-9:30 a.m. in the Depot building.
There will be a Lexpress table with handouts.
rd
Ms. Rebecchi reported that on May 23 she will be taking three items to the Board of
Selectmen (BoS) for their approval: late afternoon schedule changes that will allow the drivers
to complete their late afternoon routes; elimination of the transfer fee; and an increase in the
adult cash fare. These items were supported by this Committee at prior meetings.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:40 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Sara Arnold
Materials presented at the meeting:
Agenda
Minutes
LPS Transportation Update for TAC – May 9, 2016
TAC’s 2015 recommended goals for the BoS with Mr. Weeks’ suggested goal