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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-04-28-HATS-min Hanscom Area Towns Committee (HATS) DRAFT Meeting Minutes April 28, 2016 HATS Members: Steven Ng, Chair HATS and Concord Select Board member; Peter Braun, Lincoln Selectman, Mike Rosenberg, Bedford Selectman, Joe Pato, Lexington Selectman. Other HATS Representatives: Maggie Debbie, Bedford Others in attendance: Paul Regan, Executive Director MBTA Advisory Board, Amber Goodspeed, MassPort; Andy Friedlich, Lexington TM; Chris Shewokis, Retrix; Mustapich, Bedford Planning Introductions and Announcements Mr. Ng opened the meeting at the Lincoln Town Offices at T30 p m. and welcomed Paul Regan, Executive Director of the MBTA Advisory Board. Paul Regan, Executive Director of the MBTA Advisory Board • Thanked the Committee for invitation to speak at the meeting • Shared with the group some MBTA facts o Advisory Board formed in 1964— 176 cities and towns served by the MBTA o Fiscal Management Control Board ■ Advisory Board makes recommendations to this Board related to issues such as hours of operation and weekend service. • Capital Projects o Green Line extension into Somerville o Purchase of new Red and Orange Line cars o Possible Expansion into Chelsea o Expansion vs. Maintaining/Fixing current service o $700MM 5-year Capital Plan (incorporates all spending) ■ Public meetings are held for discussion and public comment o Greenbush Line $500MM project with low ridership o THE RIDE: fully funded, $47MM budget o Capital Plan 1 — Maintain State of good repair (heavy rail) o Capital Plan 2 — Program for Mass Transportation 2040 o MBTA staff has less than 200 non-unionized employees • Budget issues o MBTA is off of Commonwealth books — has better credit rating than State. o $242mm deficit— balancing act to determine fare increase % (9.2 % fare increase) ■ Impacts to HATS. Commuter Rail affected with highest increase, commuter rail is 10% of ridership o $5B backlog in repairs with $7B in debt • 2015-2016 Commuter Rail schedule o Schedule was issued to the public with receiving or notifying Fiscal Management Control Board o Overwhelming public and political protest retracted schedule Air Force Base/Massport CAC, HFAC • Mr Braun informed the meeting of his attendance to the Innovation Forum and spoke with Senator Tsongas. Regional transportation and related concerns • Mr. Braun updated the meeting on the status of the Route 2 project Currently completing punch list items and planned completion in Fall 2016 Future Meetings and Main Agenda Items: • Mr. Braun updated the group on possible dates to have Transportation Secretary join us at HATS. Possible for July or September meetings, • Mr Braun suggested to schedule the incoming Hanscom AFB commander, Colonel Hunt after the change in command July 26 later in the year • 7/28/16 meeting to be scheduled for RoundTable discussion of Regional Transportation issues Mr Ng to invite last year's participants and HATS town representatives to participate • Mr. Braun suggested for 9/28/16 meeting to have discussion on how HATS communities deal with traffic management issues, such as traffic congestion mitigation, speed limits, etc. • Mr Braun suggested scheduling Task Force Director Anne Marie Dowd to join us to provide an update as a possible future meeting Meeting Minutes: • HATS Board agreed to notify meeting minutes' clerk, Andrea, that her services will be no longer necessary upon submission of the February 2016 meeting minutes. Adjourn Motion: Mr. Rosenberg moved to adjourn Second: Mr. Braun seconded Vote: Unanimous Meeting was adjourned at 9 13pm