HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-11-TAC-minMarch 11, 2025 Minutes
Transportation Advisory Committee
Town of Lexington, Massachusetts
Location: Parker Room, Town Office Building, Lexington, and pursuant to th.e,Opgn, M.ggj a mg
U;;;;;am!, the meeting was held remotely by Zoom teleconferencing session open to the public
following., on June 28, 2023.
Scheduled time: 7:30 pm
Members Present: Kunal Botla (chair), Pamela Lyons (vice -chair), Nishanth Veeragandham
(secretary), Sally Castleman, James Luker, Daniel Asta (joined 7:49 pm).
A quorum was present throughout the meeting. All votes were taken by a roll call vote.
Members Absent: Mark Andersen.
Liaisons Present: Susan Barrett, Town Transportation Manager; Jill Hai, Select Board; Melanie
Thompson, Planning Board; Sebastian Fairbairn, Student Liaison; Sudhir Jain, Council on
Aging.
Liaisons Absent: None.
Other Present: None.
Kunal Botla called the meeting to order at 7:36 pm and Pamela Lyons read the remote meeting
authorization statement. Kunal confirmed attendance by roll call; all attending remotely.
Kunal and Jill Hai presented some context and information on the end date of current OML
provisions on March 31, 2025.
Public Comment
No discussion or action.
Minutes
No discussion or action.
Discuss and Consider Comments and Report on STM Article 2 and ATM Article 34
Kunal presented a draft statement and highlighted elements of the motion that may be relevant
for the Committee's discussion.
The Committee discussed evaluating the motion purely from a transportation point of view.
Susan presented information on developing corridors. Members of the Committee, Susan, Jill,
and Melanie engaged in a discussion about what's been proposed under the original districts,
contributions and commitments made related to transportation, where bus routes and stops
are located — MBTA and Lexpress. Jill and Melanie emphasized the specificity to which
negotiations had taken place.
Members of the Committee made comments on specific elements of the motion and the
compromise. The Committee generally supported the outcome of the compromise; not all
members agreed on the premise of Article 2.
Kunal facilitated the Committee's discussion on the specific wording of the statement. Jay and
Kunal emphasized that specific wording on supporting the compromise was important for their
support of the statement.
A motion to approve a position statement on Article 2 was duly made, seconded, and
approved by roll -call vote (6—yes, 0—no, 0—abstain, 1—absent).
Approved statement: "The Transportation Advisory Committee supports the changes
represented by the Article 2 compromise motion. We believe the changes will lead to
housing that is more likely to attract households that use transit and own fewer cars
compared to single-family homes. The compromise motion of Article 2 largely maintains
four districts that are centrally located, in walkable locations to various retail and other
services, and along the MBTA 62 and 76 bus routes, Lexpress, and the Minuteman
Bikeway."
The Committee briefly discussed Article 34 in the 2025 Annual Town Meeting. Some members
expressed concern with increased parking requirements. The Committee decided to wait for
more information from the proponents and Planning Board before taking a statement.
Discuss and Consider Comments for Any Applications Submitted to the Planning Board
or Board of Appeal and Policies Related to Planning/Zoning/Town Code
No discussion or action.
Bedford Street/Hartwell Avenue Design and LHS Projects
No discussion or action.
Update on Lexpress
Susan presented an overview of Lexpress service. She shared information about the RFP
process informing the Committee on the selection of a vendor and a vehicle model — M&L and
Micro Bird, respectively. The vendor is the same, but the vehicle is different. Susan shared
some concerns related to proposed tariffs by the Trump administration. An alternative is to
purchase the same vehicles currently being used or pursue other considerations. The Town's
staff will continue to monitor and see what the best options are. The new contract starts when
new vehicles arrive. Susan presented some ideas related to the bus' outside wrap.
Liaison Updates
• Transportation Manager, Susan Barrett: Susan presented information on grants and
how the state cycles and changes make it look like grant funding has decreased and
town allocation has increased.
• Select Board, Jill Hai: Left before report, none made.
• Planning Board, Melanie Thompson: Left before report, none made.
• Council on Aging, Sudhir Jain: No updates offered.
• Student Liaison, Sebastian Fairbairn: Offered some information about the LHS
project. Susan presented some information about a staff meeting to discuss specifics
around the project.
Future Meetings
No discussion or action.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 pm by a motion duly made, seconded, and approved
unanimously by roll -call vote.
Documents Referenced
1. March 11, 2025 Agenda, Transportation Advisory Committee, Town of Lexington
o On file with the Town Clerk
2. Transportation Advisory Committee Article 2 Position Statement
o Attached to these minutes
Respectfully submitted,
Nishanth Veeragandham, Secretary
Kunal Botla, Chair
Eown of Lexington, AaWrbUOM
TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
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KUNAL BOTLA, CHAIR
PAMELA LYONS, VICE -CHAIR
NISHANTH VEERAGANDHAM, SECRETARY
SALLY CASTLEMAN
MARK ANDERSEN
JAMES LUKER
DANIEL ASTA
March 17, 2025 MEMORANDUM
To: Town Meeting
From: Kunal Botla, Chair — Transportation Advisory Committee
Re: Transportation Advisory Committee's Statement on STM 2025-1 Article 2
Members of Town Meeting,
The Transportation Advisory Committee, at its March 11, 2025 meeting, approved the following
position statement for Article 2 of Special Town Meeting 2025-1, with six votes in favor, none
opposed, and one absent:
"The Transportation Advisory Committee supports the changes represented by the Article 2
compromise motion. We believe the changes will lead to housing that is more likely to attract
households that use transit and own fewer cars compared to single-family homes. The
compromise motion of Article 2 largely maintains four districts that are centrally located, in
walkable locations to various retail and other services, and along the MBTA 62 and 76 bus
routes, Lexpress, and the Minuteman Bikeway."
Sincerely,
Kunal Botla
Chair, Transportation Advisory Committee
Cc: Select Board
Planning Board
1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420
transportationcmte@lexingtonma.gov