HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986-03-24-TAC-min.pdf TRANSPORATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE--March 24, 1906
Present. E. Dratch. L. Silvera, F Rosenberg. D Graham, R. Haskell, S.
Castleman, S. Arnold, W Sussman
1 Fare Collection: We need to ensure that drivers do not handle money. We
do not want them giving out change Discussed letting them start with $10
worth of change that they had to return at the end each day. We need to put up
a sign that says to put the money directly into the farebox. There is a
problem with dollar bills Webb Sussman will look into fareboxes that take
paper money.
2. Passenger Count on Saturday: We conducted a passenger count on Sat. The
ridership was 14.35/vehicle hour and $167 17 was collected. We need to do
more frequent passenger counts and we need a corps of volunteers to help
3 MBTA: Assessment from T will go up because service from a few years ago
and money from T for LExpress. Something strange about calendar year that
money bunched in particular year This one year, our assessment will be
based on amount they gave us that year
4. Midday hour Which miidday hour to cut? 12-1 except Thursdays,
conferences, half days for middle schools and high school 11-12 is more
consistent and simpler 10:30 runs will take seniors to Muzzey before that
Cons• A gap that people won't remember; not good for deisels to turn off,
seniors impacted, inconsistent service, parking in center worse at noon. Pros.
Fewest riders inconvenienced; can shift times to adjust.
5. Saturday cut. Cons: whole population that is cut, for some this is the only
time they use it, more use hours cut, affecting many more people; traffic
congestion on Sat. parents will need to drive more Pros: gives management
extra day to maintain and clean buses affects weekday ridership the least,
gives buses a day of rest.
6. 6 routes• Cons: 20% cut, no service at Vinebrook, poorer service at
Greeley, might not be able to serve Caldor Mall, big % of riders need to relearn
system; effort of reeducating--need new marketing and mailings (may need to
hire sometone--expensive) Bridge School get bus at the wrong time; Diamond
a.m. service compromised, Five Fields, Bow street etc cut, average walking
distance to a route will increase, jeopardizes a really good service and a
system that works well Impact is difficult to evaluate. Run risk of losing
town wide support. Connections and timings will change and it is difficult to
know how this will impact people. Pros: doesn't disrupt the original concept
of all day and Saturday service.
r
Unanimous--as a committee looking at the transportation needs of the
town consensus for retaining the whole system. Most agreement on cutting
one hour midday if a cut has to be made--will save about 25K--this is better
than cutting Saturdays. Will cut holidays. Will increase pass fares by a
little
No concensus on what to do if we have to cut around 50K. Much discussion
on the options discussed above. We have had no experience in taking a system
apart. Can't expect the system to be a success if we slice it to death.