HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-03-05-TAC-min.pdf Transportation Advisory Committee Meeting
March 5, 1985
PRESENT Sally Castleman, Chuck Stevens , Larry Chait , Elaine
Dratch, Bill Mix and Fred Rosenberg
Chuck presented the following ideas for marketing LEXPRESS
1 Have a contest for an idea to be used for decorating
the bus on Patriots ' Day Make it for students and solicit
the help of the art students Chuck can donate 4 Red Sox
Tickets; we can give away a Lexpress pass through June, 85 ;
first prize could be a $50 Savings Bond
Sally felt we probably could not buy a savings bond with
taxpayer 's money Chuck will see if he can get a bond or
anything else donated If not , the Red Sox tickets will be
first prize, the pass, second prize Chuck will produce a
press release; Sara will make a flyer and contact the schools
2 Specifics decided upon entries should be from students ,
18 and under; materials required should be less than$50 00;
time required to create the design should be reasonable; a
slogan would be optional; Ideas due by April 1
All entrants will be invited to ride during the parade; the
winner should be encouraged to help execute it
A winner should be chosen April 2-perhaps a morning meeting
A photo with the winner should be included in the newspaper
3 Offer a reduced fare on Discovery Day Larry recom-
mended a free ride to and from Lexington center and maintain
the 75¢ to and from Burlington Discussions followed and it
was decided to offer the free rides Weill lose roughly $125
Larry suggested the slogan, "There ' s still such a thing as a
free ride " The chamber has agreed to include this in its flyer
Chuck urged us to do our own advertizing as well Taking out
an ad in the paper and having an article Perhaps there should
be a booth or a handout table at Discovery Day This is a
problem because of 'staffing' it and past experience makes us
question whether it is worth it Perhaps lollipops could be
handed out instead
Other business . donate a family pass to the COA auction, to
be held on March 23
4 Sally suggested we still try to get the maintenance
records for the LEXPRESS buses, due to all the problems+ 'The
Commuter Bus contract was reviewed emphasizing several
questionable areas :
A. Can we change the instruction to bidders in a way
that would allow Brush Hill to bring buses to us to choose?
Larry recommended discussing this with Norm Cohen He suggested
it may be best to allow multiple bids
B How is it best to give us "teeth" if there are
continual standee problems? We will keep the part with the
11-6.0( (1-- relating to this If there is a missed run we
should still have standees go half price Anyone left behind
because of no room on a bus following a missed run should
get a free ride, but this is hard to monitor or control so it
will not be included None ,of the "penalties" need be
enforced un@iss they become problems
1 C Should we include wording in the contract to allow
isolated runs to be covered by alternate carriers` Wording
was worked out--Norm can choose what is best for the Town
D What buses should be required? Larry and Sally will
look into the possible use of the words , Suburban, motor
coach and Prevost ascceptablel We should specify no school
buses, double deckers or transits
E Is there any way to put more "teeth" in the contract?
Where there is no money transfer it seems impossible Sara will
check with the MBTA and Concord
F Should the insurance requirements be increased? Sara
will check into this
G Should we require a vendor to offer the monthly pass?
Tickets also make a commuter eligible for the insurance discount
so it seems unnecessary The pass is an administrative "headache"
for Gray Line It was decided to elminate this option for
commuters