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TOWN OF LEXINGTONc�o,°t MASSACHUSETTS 02173
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Transportation Coordinator
1625 Massachusetts Avenue
Telephone: (617)861-1210
FAX(617)861-2794
July 20, 1995
TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
July 13, 1995
Present Betty Eddison, Ed Ganshirt, Barbara Lucas, Fred Rosenberg, Sara Arnold,
presiding
Minutes• TAC accepted the Minutes of the March 28, and April 20, 1995 meetings
Information• Two newspaper articles from the Boston Globe and the Lexington Minuteman that
mentioned LEXPRESS as a positive service in Lexington were brought to the
) TAC's attention. TAC members agreed that these articles should be forwarded to
the Board of Selectmen for their information.
Several members of the TAC were interested in receiving copies of the Chamber
of Commerce membership survey conducted this past Spring. Barbara Lucas was
asked to acquire and mail copies of the survey to TAC members.
Bill Mix mentioned that the 6 p.m. Route 6 bus does not appear to be running the
complete route. B. Lucas will talk with the drivers.
TAC members were pleased with the first Lexington Transit News published in
June. Suggestions on the newsletter name (changing Transit to Transportation) and
timing were made by committee members. The "News" is expected to be published
about three times each year Jere Frick of the Bikeway Committee was asked if
the committee would be interested in contributing an article for the next newsletter
- due out in late August or early September
Ag-nda items
1 MAP FLYER
TAC members were brought up to date on the new configuration of the Lexington
Transit Guide printed as a one piece run. Members decided on "L'ExPREss
> Yourself' as the theme for this year's flyer in the Transit Guide.
2 TAC Minutes
2. EARLY MORNING SERVICE
TAC members discussed the implications for LEXPRESS of the School
Committee's decision to begin the high school 10 minutes early beginning in
September This decision affects LEXPRESS riders' ability to use the three 7.30
a.m. LEXPRESS routes to travel to the high school. Currently these routes drop
students at the corner of the high school campus at approximately 7:50 a.m. giving
them just enough time to make the first class period on time. Early opening means
that no students on the 1,3 and 5 routes will be able to arrive before the start of
classes.
There are costs associated with a decision to run earlier service as well as costs
associated with a decision not to run early service.
The TAC considered several alternatives for handling the early service including: a. making no
changes in the LEXPRESS schedules; b running all routes fifteen minutes earlier beginning at
6:45 a.m. (Even routes would run 45 mins before the hour and odd numbered routes would run
at 15 minutes past the hour ); c. running the first two routes 15 minutes early
a. Making No Changes - What It Would Cost Not to Run the Early Morning Service:
Currently, the town is reimbursed for a portion of transportation expenses for students
who live more than 2 miles from school. Lexington was reimbursed over $30,000 in FY
93 and approximately $25,000 in FY 94 for students who live 2 miles or more from
school and who travel by LEXPRESS buses. Students on the 1,3 and 5 routes account
for about 40% of the reimburseable student transportation for LEXPRESS rides or about
$13,200 of reimbursed expenses in FY93 and $10,250 in FY94 Although these
reimbursements do not go into the LEXPRESS budget but into the general fund, losing
these students riders will mean lost revenue of$10,250 to the town.
b Run All Routes Throughout the Day 15 Minutes Early
TAC felt this alternative would be too causing to riders, particularly for the senior
riders that receive special services midday It would also require a significant
reeducation of the ridership on all routes for all services.
c. Costs to Run the Early Morning Service:
TAC members determined that running the first two routes 15 minutes early would solve
the problem of getting students to school on time. Routes 2, 4 and 6 would begin
morning operation at 6:45 a.m. Routes 1, 3 and 5 would operate at 7 15 a.m.
Beginning at 8 a.m., all routes would revert to their normal hour/and half hour service.
In addition, TAC members felt that beginning the service at 6:45 a.m. only on school
days would be too confusing and recommended operating the early service during the
same period as Saturday service - from the day after Labor Day through the end of June.
Early service would thus run for 209 days.
Joseph's Limousine Service initially quoted a charge of $15/hr per bus for operating
service 15 minutes early each morning. For 209 days, the total charge would amount
3 TAC Minutes
to $9405 TAC felt this amount was too high and that further negotiations should be
held with the contractor (UPDATE. In a phone conversation with the Transportation
Services Coordinator on 7/19/95, Joseph Albano, III, president of Joseph's Limousine
Service, agreed to run 15 minutes earlier for one-fourth of the regular hourly price -plus
the fuel charges associated with this run or approximately $7 0625 per bus per early
run. The total amount charged for 209 days of early service would be about $21 19 x
209 = $4428.71)
The TAC recommended running the early morning service if the $4429 can be found to operate
it since it will actually cost the town more not to run the early service than it will cost to run it.
Running the service will net the town about $5800 ($10,250 - 4429 = $5821)
Adjourned 9:30 p.m.
Respect Ily submitted,l
Barb.47 G Lucas