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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-09-13-AHTC-min (AM) Town of Lexington AdHoc Transportation Committee Meeting Wednesday, September 13th 2023 19:00 am to 10:00 am Zoom Video Conference Meeting Minutes Present: Susan Barrett, Sally Castleman, Howard Cloth, Sharon Gunda, Varda Haimo, Carolyn Kosnoff, and Deepika Sawhney. Deepika called the meeting to order at 9:00 am. Meeting commenced despite Bridger's absence due to work-related matters. The committee worked on the slides to be presented in the evening for the Public Forum. 1. Review of Slides: o Deepika shared the screen to go over the meeting's presentation slides. o The slides highlighted the community forum feature, committee membership, critical considerations, and various reports. 2. Key Topics Discussed: o Lexpress Overview: ■ Demographics of senior population, increasing car usage, and median household income. ■ Key transportation needs for local residents were discussed, focusing on special needs and the senior population. ■ Mentioned various strategic reports (e.g., Lexington Next, Resilient Next Lexington). o Slide Corrections: ■ Clarified the former largest ridership group (students) and corrected data to reflect their reduced numbers on L'Express. ■ Susan highlighted issues regarding regional transport and cross-town connections. o Reports and Key Findings: ■ Traffic mitigation as a top priority. ■ Decline in regional transportation collaboration and emphasis on delivering services for local residents. 3. Feedback and Discussion: o Slide 6 Corrections: ■ Susan provided corrections regarding student ridership numbers and survey results about cross-town connections. o Clarifications: ■ Adjustments were suggested for wording in slide 7 regarding regional transportation needs. 4. Other Critical Considerations: 1 o Addressing changes in ridership, transportation system shifts, and the importance of the comprehensive plans (e.g., climate action, Age-Friendly Plan). 5. Budget and Financials: o Discussion on the budget for Lexpress, clarifying past and future costs. o Clarification provided by Susan on actual budget figures, transportation operating budget specifics, and school transportation. 6. Visual Representation: o Different transportation options were laid out with pros and cons. Four primary options for Lexpress service were discussed, focusing on sustainability, cost- efficiency, and service improvements. o Discussions on improving Lexpress services or supplementing it with on-demand services were raised. Actions & Next Steps: • Susan will provide corrected student ridership numbers and other financial data. • The committee will simplify and focus on key slides for the upcoming public listening session. • Finalized presentation slides will be shared before the session. • Discussed the need for clearer explanations for the public on critical slides (e.g., first- mile/last-mile services). Adjournment: • The meeting adjourned after finalizing details for the upcoming public session. The meeting adjourned at 10:00 am (meeting notes prepared with Al assistance) 2