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Home My WebLink About2003-12-04-TAC-min.pdf Meeting Minutes Meeting: Transportation Advisory Committee Author- Diane Pursley Date: 12/4/03 Location: Town Offices,Room 111 Attendees: Diane Pursley Bill Levison, Gail Wagner,Don Graham,Eric Eid-Reiner,Francine Stieghtz,Richard Canale Absent: Elaine Dratch,Sally Castleman, Sara Arnold Next Meeting Date: 1/12/04 Location: Town Offices,Room 111 Items Follow-Up— Assigned to Avalon Presentation on Dec 10 at First Parish Church • Group discussed the themes we should emphasize at the Avalon meeting on Dec 10 • Traffic Mitigation—we are adding a significant number of living units to Lexington.If the same number of cars are added to the streets without public transit,the traffic issues could be significant. Rental Property Characteristics:Rental units require greater transportation options,especially if the goal is to attract more diverse residents,including those with special needs. Location of the property No access to MBTA or local transit,although Lexpress route is in the proximity Goal of Metstate development is to integrate a more diverse group of residents into the community Lexpress or a local transit system can do that—a shuttle to Alewife during peak commuter times does not. • Diane and Sara will attend the meeting and represent TAC.Gail and Don most likely will attend. FY 2005 Budget—Meeting with Rick White Town management stated that the town cannot afford Lexpress.The decision on an override is still wide open. Bill Hadley is working on parking study—Gail to follow up on status.Regarding parking on Worthen Road,Rick is checking to Diane see if permit parking is allowed. Group agreed the key to Lexpress survival is securing the parking meter fund back to Transportation Services. We must start buildmg a group to mobilize support for Lexpress in town.The objective of this group will be to lobby decision makers and ultimately the campaign for an override.We will also work to make sure people understand the budget process. • We compiled a list of people to start talking to: Jeanne Krieger(Diane),Natalie Riffin(Diane),PTA(Sara) • We should set a date for a Jan meeting to organize the group.Diane will talk to Sara and Elaine re next steps on this issue. Page 1 of 2 FY 2004 Financial Status Bill reported that because of additional donations and fare income,we can consider adding more Saturdays to FY 2004 service. The Group felt that we wanted to monitor results on a few more Saturdays to see if the service was being used. MOTION: To add Saturdays through March if ridership levels equalled approximately 100 over the next two Saturdays. (Approved) Student Update • Eric was successful in getting articles on Lexpress printed in both Clark and LHS papers.Great Job! • Eric will put up flyers on Sat Service on the bulletin boards in LHS.There is a possible change in bulletin board policy that Eric is monitoring.Unclear whether it will impact our publicity strategy • Eric will get back to Tern on her offer to help out TAC.We said that we defmitely welcome her input as we move forward into the FY 2005 budget process and other future activities. • Eric will check in with Maria Towne,head of the Environmental group at LHS to see if there is interest in partnering with TAC. • We discussed the proposed process by Dr Seasholes to get student input in the decision to add permits to Worthen Road.Eric reported that the general consensus is that students would not support the permit parking. Misc Items • Lexpress ridership for November was a reported 2,478 for the month with a 6.3 Ridership per vehicle hour.Gail reported that December is on the upswing with an average of 150 per day Route 3 has picked up considerably Eric reported that on Monday there was only one seat open on the bus when he rode. • Don shared an email with the group describing the next steps to determine reuse plans for Kline Hall.The Reuse Task Force is asking interested groups to submit a letter of interest to the Planning Office by Dec 12.Don believes the COA will be submitting a letter.We are not sure of other groups' interest.This effort moving forward further validates the need for public transit service. • Next TAC meeting will be 1/12/04. • Bill is targeting 12/15 for the next Selectmen's report.He is comfortable doing the financial report,but will need help with the text.Diane will check with Sara to see if she can help on this report. Page 2 of 2