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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-06-23-TAC-min DRAFT-Transportation Advisory Committee [[AC) Minutes June 9, 2O2O 6:30 PM Virtual Meeting via Zoom Members present'SaUyCast|eman, Hank Manz, Co-Cehain, Sara Arnold, Pamela Lyons,Vinita Verma, Elaine Dratch, Staff-Susan Barrett, Me|ioa_hlteress� Liaisons-Mark Sandeen, Select Board; Sud4hirJain, Council-On Aging:-L�lb Creech, Planning Board, Absent Public: Andra Bennett Ms.Castleman opened the meeting byreading Governor Baker's Massachusetts Law, regarding video-conferencing ofpublic meetings. She noted that supporting materials would be on the Town website, and that the meeting would be recorded. There were nopublic comments. Minutes of November 25, 2019,January 14, 2020, and March 2, 2020,were | moved, seconded and unanimously accepted by—By roll call vote. | Ms. Barrett gave abrief recap oftTransportationstudies from 20O2tothe present. The most recent ones were the Age-Friendly study, presented at the March TAC meeting, and theTri'Tovvn Study, involving Lexington, Bedford, and Burlington. Some ofthe ongoing recommendations from the studies were: More bus shelters Expandingthehounofoperations—vveekendsandevenings Increasing the frequency and coverage ofroutes. Regiona|ization—sharedTMAandotherservices. Connectivity with other towns and destinations (Adjacent towns, Lahey Hospital, Mt. Auburn hospital, linkage to MBTA/commuter rail to Boston and Cambridge, LRTA). From the Tri-Ttovvnand_prior studies by Transportation Research Board and Mu}YCycame emphasis on the concept of integrating school and municipal bus � services.7 Commented[SB1]:As uggested wording for this Lexpress Bus Update &proposed changes I am not sure what can be said here in public minutes as the Town is going through a contract negotiation with M&L and COVI DOV44-19 JU pd ates�. .............................. seems touchy about me saying anything.The below Due to Covid-19,the last date of ridership was on April 3.-MaFc-h ??It was paragraph is how I would word things,However,you may need to be even more brief,so I present a BRIEF version and Ret passible te eeRt;Rue Fidefs4�p-. Prior to this, we tried two weeks of on-demand a LONGER version. S rvice via Lexpress due to reduced ridership and the need for essential BRIEFVERSION: transportation.This was also seen as a way to keep more people home, as we had The Transportation Manager noted that many changes had youth still going to the Mall, despite schools being closed. Another-Gff,—concern to be responded to quickly in regards to COVID19,such as stopping farebox payments,blocking off seats,increasing was that tThe Depot was closed, leaving no bathrooms for drivers. Despite having cleaning and disinfecting,and having drivers wear masks. instituted freguent c0eaning and sanitizing procedures for the buses, including Service went from fixed-route to on-demand to respond as best as possible to changes.As this is not sustainable long- mask requirements, and fare box protection, service was suspended. In order to term,Lexpress is planned to come back as soon as continue essential transportation services, an on-demand service was started, approved. using taxis. The taxi service was for essential weiakeias sueh as gFeeeFy, health LONGER VERSION: As with all transit services across the country and world, eaFe, shE)pp;.-.,-, ..1. l,.—transportation Only-. ridership on Lexpress dropped with word of the pandemic. The plan is to bring Lexpress back, albeit in limited, and perhaps, In consultation with the Town's Public Health Director,we moved Lexpress to an on-demand model using our buses so changed route system as was origainally planned prior to COVID. that people could have the social distancing space needed Ms. Barrett explained that, pre-COVIDe-vi4, it was difficult to operate as they were transported,rather than move them to our other service,which is a taxi.We did not wish to put riders Lexpress on time. There were too many miles to be covered per hour. (Now, into a taxi or other type of sedan arrangement due to the some anticipated changes are a new back-of-Mmall drop-off point and n-New lack of social distancing,and the Public Health Director agreed that a larger vehicle would be better. However,with school start/end times-., and possibly more traffic congestion.) a further drop in ridership and the closing of the Depot which meant a loss of a bathroom for the drivers,we moved | of revenue for the bus vendor who still has fixed costs even / During^�` --~~ whose ^impact or'the future ''still^ unknown, ^'' essentialas the buses remain idle.While legislation was passed to important to provide transportation and access. Ms. Barrett allow towns to pay for school bus transport and other emphasized that we should focus on our transit-dependent riders-low-income, educational contracts even though services were not rendered,there has been no bill passed regarding other seniors, youth, disabled. Like the MBTA,we should move service to the municipal contracts.The taxis are only a short-term solution areas/people of highest�neeclj. and as ridership is kicking back up,it is not sustainable for We still de net knew what the seheels will !eel( like. Buses aFe lipFlited te 12 1, The taxi can only transport one person per trip.FISH has also suspended service,so there is also a need for medical feF seheel buses, 5 feF LexpFess, 20 feF M BTA. transportation.Transportation professionals agree that it is Resumption of services, Routes: unsafe to ride TNCs during this time as there is not only lack of social distancing,but an inability to guarantee that There was much discussion about altering Lexpress routes to serve two cleaning and disinfecting protocols are being followed.With | other choices and kKee ing Lexpreeeviable and useful. were able to ask our taxi providerto install plexiglass =11` Me. Barrett introduced new routes ae abia| during the upcoming time Commented[SB2]:I deleted this because Elaine Cell said | when the full impacts ofCO«l[G+id-19are yet unknown. One long route, YOU follow,they could have 12 kids or24.The META,is using two buses totravel from the Burlington Ma||, through the Center, and followingthe WHO guidelines,which allows for 3 feet of distance,and there fore,they considertheir buses now ontoWaverly (depending on Be|nnont'ecooperation and endorsement). A crowded at 20.For[express,if we use the 6ft of distance second route which would run from North Lexington to High School, Community Center and Arlington Heights. There was discussion about the timing and traffic implications on these longer routes, - Formatted:Indent:Left: 0" About the flexibility of4h4& Lexpress, if schools will open-4V-.-V-_ Formatted:Indent:Left: 0",First line: 0' Aabout the distance from s.Senior complexes and homes, about a ^^� ndeviated route system, and AbGut-whether the town will support such changes® Mr. Manz supported the idea of these new routes "filling the holes-"_in our system. He noted the need to T"e a44ty *^ change "on the fly" "I^^^' *^ and to adjust to a new normal. of wheFe peep'^weick. (A.B.) Commented[SB3]:I am not sure if this is what he said. --------------------------------------------------- You may want to check with him.He may not want to have a comment posted publicly which makes him sound against Marketing,education, proposed changes. school buses.Olthink hewas just concerned,asweall are, that with so few people allowed on a school bus,we have to There was discussion about what needed to be done about informing the figure out something else. public. Mr. Sandeen, Select Board liaison suggested: 1. First finalize our routes 2. Present to TAC for a formal vote 3. Get a presentation ready for public forum 4. Present results from forum to SB,for their approval. 5. Implement changes. Tentative Schedule is June 16-TAC approves final plan June 23, Am and PM-present plan to public in video conference June 30:TAC meeting to review public input, finalize plan July 13- Present to Select Board for approval. Publicize- Ms. Lyons agreed to work with Sean Dugan on publicity- Many thanks to Susan Barrett for her work on adapting to the situation with COVID -19. Meeting adjourned (do you need a time?) Respectfully submitted, Elaine Dratch Page 2: [1] Commented [SB1] Susan Barrett 6/18/2020 6:33:00 PM A suggested wording for this paragraph: I am not sure what can be said here in public minutes as the Town is going through a contract negotiation with M&L and seems touchy about me saying anything.The below paragraph is how I would word things, However,you may need to be even more brief,so I present a BRIEF version and a LONGER version. BRIEF VERSION: The Transportation Manager noted that many changes had to be responded to quickly in regards to COVIDI9,such as stopping farebox payments, blocking off seats, increasing cleaning and disinfecting,and having drivers wear masks. Service went from fixed-route to on-demand to respond as best as possible to changes.As this is not sustainable long-term, Lexpress is planned to come back as soon as approved. LONGER VERSION: As with all transit services across the country and world, ridership on Lexpress dropped with word of the pandemic. In consultation with the Town's Public Health Director,we moved Lexpress to an on-demand model using our buses so that people could have the social distancing space needed as they were transported, rather than move them to our other service,which is a taxi.We did not wish to put riders into a taxi or other type of sedan arrangement due to the lack of social distancing,and the Public Health Director agreed that a larger vehicle would be better. However,with a further drop in ridership and the closing of the Depot which meant a loss of a bathroom for the drivers,we moved riders to the taxi. Unfortunately,this has now meant a loss of revenue for the bus vendor who still has fixed costs even as the buses remain idle.While legislation was passed to allow towns to pay for school bus transport and other educational contracts even though services were not rendered,there has been no bill passed regarding other municipal contracts.The taxis are only a short-term solution and as ridership is kicking back up,it is not sustainable for us to operate in this on-demand model only for long-term.The taxi can only transport one person per trip. FISH has also suspended service,so there is also a need for medical transportation.Transportation professionals agree that it is unsafe to ride TNCs during this time as there is not only lack of social distancing, but an inability to guarantee that cleaning and disinfecting protocols are being followed.With a contracted provider,we have more control over this and were able to ask our taxi provider to install plexiglass dividers between rider and driver.We are actively working to have Lexpress restored.As the service would not start until FY21 has started,we will still move forward with a plan to adjust routes,as we had been discussing,prior to COVID, but with new information based on the needs of essential trips taken during COVI D.