HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-05-15-TAC-minMay 15, 2025 Minutes
Transportation Advisory Committee
Town of Lexington, Massachusetts
Location: Pursuant to ,th .....0,�a,e n ,1 ,eetiiin , Il.....aw, the meeting was held remotely by Zoom
teleconferencing session open to the public following 11D. da ed guiidairnce osted Ibthe Office
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Scheduled time: 6 pm
Members Present: Kunal Botla (chair), Pamela Lyons (vice -chair), James Luker, Sally
Castleman (joined 6:05 pm), Nishanth Veeragandham (secretary; joined 6:12 pm, left 7:06 pm).
A quorum was present throughout the meeting. All votes were taken by a roll call vote.
Members Absent: none.
No liaisons, staff, or members of the public were present in attendance,
Kunal Botla called the meeting to order at 6 pm and Pamela Lyons read the remote meeting
authorization statement. Kunal confirmed attendance by roll call; all attending remotely.
Call to Order & Public Comment
Attendance was taken to ensure that all members could hear and be heard. There were no
members of the public, comments made by email, or comments made through Susan.
Meeting Minutes
None were considered. Outstanding minutes are for April 15, 2025 and will be considered at
the next meeting.
Chair's Update on Future Items and Coordination
Lexpress: Fleet + Branding
Susan presented some background context on Lexpress' branding in the past. Sally noted that
"revolutionary red” was the color of the (first?) bus run on Lexpress.
Susan presented concept designs on both white and blue buses. A primary focus is on
appearing more like a transit bus, looking back on Lexpress' history. Susan noted concerns
about white seeming like a human services bus — like a senior shuttle — rather than a transit
system. Blue retains the existing branding identity of the current, and some recent bus designs.
Jay likes the blue, and agrees that white has the potential issues of appearing like a human
services bus.
Sally notes that there may be a positive factor to not being able to see inside of the bus. Sally
suggested consideration of a shading treatment on the windows. Susan responded that 128
Business Council buses do something similar.
Jay suggested that the buses say that they're "public transit" more directly.
Nishi asked about cost saving or price difference between the two.
Susan asked about the lack of the Minuteman iconography. Called back to the "people bus."
Nishi asked about the deadline. Susan said they're needed by the fall. Mel and Susan want the
branding incorporated into other things.
Kunal asked about incorporating the MBTA name or logo into the design. Susan will check with
the MBTA to see if that's possible.
Susan asked for a strawpoll on white or blue. Everyone, except Pam, preferred blue; Pam was
neutral.
Sally and Jay seconded concerns related to white looking like an ambulance or COA van.
Susan mentioned that some of the older designs don't have digital files that could be used
now.
Susan will return to the next meeting with more information and more visuals for discussion.
Lexpress Routes
Susan presented that Route C has the lowest ridership and what the current route looks like.
Susan shared a potential new configuration for the Route C.
Susan has a meeting with the MBTA's real estate team to get approval to drive through the
Arlington Heights Busway.
Returned to route changes. Jay asked if athletic facilities generate ridership. Harrington field
construction. Jay mentioned how the Route C ideas don't duplicate the MBTA's service. Jay
and Sally prefer against loops.
MBTA Service
Susan presented that she and Kunal met with MBTA officials earlier in the week about Routes
62 and 76 being brought to the next phase of Bus Network Redesign.
Sudhir Update
Nothing new. Senior Faire at the Community Center with many people!
Sebastian Update
Nothing to add.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 pm by a motion duly made, seconded, and approved by
roll -call vote (7—yes, 0—no, 0—abstain, 0—absent).
Documents Referenced
Agenda, Transportation Advisory Committee, Town of Lexington
o On file with the Town Clerk
Respectfully submitted,
Kunal Botla, Chair