HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-11-25-TAC-min Minutes from TAC Meeting 11/25/19
Present: S. Arnold, S. Castleman, E. Dratch, P. Lyons, V. Verma Absent: H. Manz
S. Barrett,Transp. Manager
S.Jain, COA,; R. Creech, PB, M. Sandeen, BOA(arrived late)
Meeting called to order at 7:15
• No public present for comments
• Minutes approved for meeting of 10/7
• Pamela Lyons has been appointed as member of TAC
• Sally will become co-chair, to replace Andra. Hank to remain Chair.
• Because Mr. Sandeen often cannot attend Mon meetings,we agreed to meet on second
Tuesday of the month,going forward. Will meet at TOB, 7:00—9:00 p.m.
• Tri-Town Transit Study next steps: Working towards recommendations of peer review
• What we are working toward:
o Review TDM$. Policy to be updated, per peer review recommendation
o Think holistically about transportation, including schools as majority of transit resources
are for students only,yet student families ask for more flexible transit
o Look at all the different bus services going everywhere, and see where there is overlap.
Think about more vehicles carrying more populations.
• Susan had meeting at end of Aug with Schools and Municipal staff regarding transportation.
• Susan began a Regional Coordinating Council, ongoing and doing well. Comparing issues.
Currently discussing if some services can make connections with one another, if we can
collaborate with hospitals, and some towns interested in expanding/adding volunteer driving
programs.
• FY'21 Budget
o Submitted for level funding
o Also submitted for few program service improvements! (PIR=Prog Improv. Request)
■ Enhance Lexpress service-- late night, weekend
■ Transportation Manager to go full time
■ BOS asked us to put in for enhancing bike safety
o Will be presented to BOS Dec 3
o Won't hear response until Jan
• As we work on new/improved routes and schedules,we want to:
o Preserve routes with highest ridership (#s 6, 5 and 2)
o Change schedule for new school start times due to terrible congestion near school at
start/end times
o Serve people who have been buying annual passes
o Meet with other systems, e.g. LRTA(Lowell) in front of Lahey Lex
o Design better schedules—clock face intervals,frequency at least back to every hour(not
every hour ten minutes)
• Susan attended BUSCON in Feb and looked at vehicles with low floor, electric, alternative fuels,
etc.
o Key Take-Aways:
■ Metro Link in IL trying to go all green
■ With electric less maintenance
■ Significantly more cost upfront
■ Range only 8 hrs, unless keep buses warm, housed indoors and with a diesel
generator
■ Need a backup in case the grid goes down
■ Need to talk to own utility co and first responders
■ We don't own our own vehicles. Would vendors be willing to do this?
■ Electric buses can become a revenue source for the Town if we pump electricity
over the grid at times buses not in use
o T is piloting a variety of greener vehicles
o We should consider hosting a public discussion here in January
o Boston school buses moved to propane. Quieter and greener
o There now exists renewable CNG and renewable propane
• We submitted a proposal to T
o for pilot for more hours on Sat and Sun and nights
o to extend combination of 62 and 76—supported by Veterans, Bedf and Lex
o Residents request access to Waltham &Woburn
o still interested in getting#77 to come up here
Meeting adjourned at 9:15