HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-09-18-TAC-min September 18, 2024 Minutes
Transportation Advisory Committee
Town of Lexington, Massachusetts
Location: Pursuant to the ............ ,!) M.ggL ig,U ��r, the meeting was held remotely by Zoom
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Scheduled time: 5:30 pm
Members Present: Kunal Botla (chair) Pamela Lyons (vice-chair), Nishanth Veeragandham
(secretary), Sally Castleman, James Luker.
A quorum was present throughout the meeting. All votes were taken by a roll call vote.
Members Absent: Mark Andersen.
No liaisons, staff, or members of the public were present in attendance,
Kunal Botla called the meeting to order at 5:36 pm and Pamela Lyons read the remote meeting
authorization statement. Kunal confirmed attendance by roll call; all attending remotely.
Review and Approve FY24 Annual Report
Members confirmed receipt of the draft annual report sent by Kunal Botla via email. No
changes were suggested. A motion "that we approve the TAC [Transportation Advisory
Committee] annual report and submit it” was duly made, seconded, and approved by roll-call
vote (5—yes, 0—no, 0—abstain, 1 —absent).
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 5:39 pm by a motion duly made, seconded, and approved by
roll-call vote (5—yes, 0—no, 0—abstain, 1 —absent).
Documents Referenced
1. September 18, 2024 Agenda, Transportation Advisory Committee, Town of Lexington
o On file with the Town Clerk
2. Draft — Transportation Advisory Committee FY24 Town Report
o Attached to these minutes
Respectfully submitted,
Kunal Botla, Chair
From: Kunal Botla, Chair, Transportation Advisory Committee
To: Mary de Alderete, Town Clerk
Re: Meeting of the Transportation Advisory Committee on September 18, 2024
Date: September 15, 2024
Town of Lexington, Massachusetts
Transportation Advisory Committee
Notice of Public Meeting &Agenda
September 18, 2024 at 5:30 PM
Held Remotely on Zoom
A meeting of the Transportation Advisory Committee will be held on September 18, 2024 at 5:30 PM by
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Meeting ID: 914 1589 5334; Passcode: 641505.
The agenda for the meeting is anticipated to be:
ITEM ESTIMATED TIME ITEM DESCRIPTION
1. 5:30 PM Review and Approve FY24 Annual Report
2. 5:30 PM Consider Communications and Letters
3. 5:45 PM Anticipated Adjournment
If scheduled, public comments are allowed for up to 10 minutes or as permitted by the Chair at the
beginning of each meeting; each speaker's comment will be limited to 2 minutes. Members of the public
will be asked to state their name, address, and relevant affiliations for the record. Members of the
Committee will neither comment nor respond, other than to ask questions of clarification.
Items and timing may be moved or postponed at the discretion of the Chair.
1
Transportation Advisory Committee FY24 Annual Town Report
September 18, 2024
Kunal Botla, Chair
Role: To help maintain and enhance public transit options in Lexington and advise the Select
Board, Planning Board, and other town boards and committees on issues that concern
alternatives to single-occupancy vehicle travel. The Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC)
works closely on subjects related to Lexpress, the MBTA, transit-friendly housing, and other
transportation options and policies, especially with town staff, including Lexington's
Transportation Manager, Susan Barrett.
Appointed by the Select Board for 3-year overlapping terms: Kunal Botla (Chair), Pamela Lyons
(Vice-Chair), Nishanth Veeragandham (Secretary), Sally Castleman, Mark Andersen, and James
Luker. Liaisons: Jill Hai (Select Board), Melanie Thompson (Planning Board), Sudhir Jain
(Council on Aging), and Sebastian Fairbairn (Student Representative- LHS).
Highlights:
• Recommended Lexpress' fare structure be simplified to a$20 annual pass—the
Limitless pass—and $2 adult fare starting in fiscal year 2024. The proposal was
approved by the Select Board and took effect August 1, 2024.
o In the first year of the Limitless pass 690 passes were sold, ridership increased
by 40%, and revenue increased 80% over fiscal year 2023.
• Introduced a resolution, with overwhelming support, to annual town meeting 2024 to
support MBTA service and request more investment in Lexington and across the
Commonwealth and encouraged the Legislature pursue a solution to the Authority's
funding shortage.
• Facilitated and advocated for the installation of a covered bus shelter at Depot Square's
bus stop and the accessibility of bus stops in Lexington Center.
• Contributed feedback on transportation best practices—including recommendations to
install bus shelters and unbundle parking—to all developments proposed under the
village overlay districts required under the Multi-Family Zoning Requirement for MBTA
Communities. The first applications included 89 Bedford Street, 231 Bedford Street, 5-7
Piper Road, and 331 Concord Avenue.
• Provided input on transportation best practices for the Town's efforts to build 100%
affordable housing on Parcel 68-44, located on Lowell Street.
• Offered input to town staff on development of procurement documents for Lexpress'
next contract cycle.