HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-05-14-TAC-min.pdf Lexington Transportation Advisory Committee
Thursday, May 14, 1998 Meeting
7.30 PM, Room 105
Meeting Minutes
Attendees: Don Graham Ed Ganshirt
Sara Arnold Sally Castleman
Bill Mix Ben Turk
Rebecca Rogers Nancy Kolb
1. Meeting minutes for the April 30, 1998 meeting were approved.
2. Discovery Day plans were finalized. Sara Arnold and Nancy Kolb to man booth for the
morning;Don Graham and Rebecca Rogers volunteered to cover the afternoon.
Arrangements need to be made to rope off a portion of the Meriam Street lot for the buses
on Discovery Day Nancy Kolb to prepare CNG bus poster and to gather materials for the
table(route maps,schedules,pass applications,etc). Opportunity to advertise upcoming
logo contest.
3. CNG Bus RFP price proposals have been opened.Bids came in much higher than
expected.Additional grant monies are being sought from the federal Congestion
Mitigation and Air Quality(CMAQ)program through the state.Nancy Kolb attended a
meeting with representatives of EOTC,MAPC and MED on May 14 requesting a
transfer of the monies allocated to the Lexington Concord Trolley service to the CNG
Bus procurement project.Nancy Kolb is preparing a formal request to Luisa Paiewonsky
of MUD.
4. A update on the status of the Lexington-Concord Trolley Service was given.The service
was envisioned to transport tourists to historic sites in Lexington and Concord in trolley-
type vehicles from April through October.The Town of Lexington,working with the
Town of Concord and the Lexington-Concord Visitor's Council worked hard to bring this
project to fruition. While the Town of Lexington is committed to this project,it is no
longer thought to be feasible for the following reasons:
• Trolley type vehicles are not available.Use of trolley vehicles is tied to ridership.
• Available funding and local match contributions are not enough to cover the costs of
the service,currently expected to be approximately$60 per hour per vehicle(in used
vehicles).
• Potential operators with which the service would be contracted require a minimum of
a three year contract,requiring the$234,000 local match requirements to be raised
up front.
5. Nancy Kolb reported on an informal hearing for new signage before the Historic Districts
Commission.The Commission is opposed to additional signage in Lexington Center,
including transit tubes on Mass Ave near Aesop's Bagels and the Visitor's Center.
6. Ed Ganshirt presented a letter sent to Senator Bayern regarding changes in Route 76&
62 Saturday service.The letter was copied to MBTA directors,legislators and TAC
members.
7 Next meeting: Thursday June 11, 1998,7:30 PM,Room 105.
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