HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-09-15-TAC-min DRAFT--Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) Minutes
September 15, 2020—Virtual Meeting
Place and Time: Remote Participation via a Zoom teleconferencing session that was open to
the public; 7:00 p.m.
Members Present: Sally Castleman, Co-Chair; Sara Arnold; Andra Bennett, Elaine Dratch;
Pamela Lyons, Vinita Verma
Members Absent: Hank Manz, Co-Chair
Liaisons Present: Mark Sandeen, Select Board (SB); Bob Creech, Planning Board
Staff: Susan Barrett, Manager, Transportation Services
Other Attendees: Shefali Verma
In accordance with the Governor's March 12, 2020 Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the
Open Meeting Law; Ms. Lyons reviewed the guidelines for holding a remote meeting and
reported that the meeting was being called to order at approximately 7:05 p.m. on
September 15, 2020. Ms. Castleman confirmed attendance by roll call.
Minutes: After discussion, a motion was made and seconded to accept the July 21, 2020
Minutes with clarifying edits suggested by Ms. Barrett and with a change on the FlexPass vote
to reflect the ayes first and the nays second, as is standard procedure. A roll call vote was
taken. VOTE: 6-0
FY2020 Town Report: After a brief review of a draft TAC report prepared by Ms. Castleman
with assistance from Ms. Barrett, a motion was made and seconded to accept that draft for
submittal to the Town Report Committee. Ms. Bennett noted that she was not a TAC member
during FY2020 and would therefore abstain. A roll call vote was taken. VOTE: 5-0-1
Lexpress Update: Ms. Barrett provided updates that included the following:
• Lexpress resumed service, with its new route system, on August 10.
• 656 rides (55% adults, 7% youth, and 39% seniors) were taken in August, representing
approximately 16% of pre-COVID ridership.
• September ridership-to-date is now 32-35% of pre-COVID rides taken.
• 26 passes have been sold since they went on sale at the end of August. Subsidized
passes are available to those who meet certain criteria.
• To-date, no serious advertising has been done to encourage ridership or pass sales.
• The Lexington Community Center will open on October 5th for one-on-one appointments;
the library will open on November 1. This may encourage ridership.
• The sale of tickets (14 tickets for$20) was suspended in August to encourage the
purchase of a pass to reduce the handling of cash. In September, passengers continued
to use cash and old tickets. It may be advisable to resume the sale of tickets.
• The Monday-Thursday high school schedule was recently adjusted, making it especially
difficult for students to walk, bike or use bus service to return home at lunch time before
on-line classes begin. There is some flexibility on Fridays.
• Because traffic is low, the bus drivers have been asked to pause along the routes to
avoid passing key locations too early. It may be possible to add streets to some routes.
• There is a Mass Mobility Workshop on September 301h. Ms. Barrett will provide the link.
After discussion about the school schedule and the possible demand for tickets by students, a
motion was made and seconded to support Ms. Barrett making the decision, as she deems
appropriate, about the resumption of ticket sales. A roll call vote was taken. VOTE: 6-0
It was agreed that Ms. Barrett would inform both the Town Manager and the Select Board if and
when she decides to proceed with such sales.
Ms. Castleman suggested that coupons for use at local stores frequented by students be
offered to students as an incentive for purchasing a Lexpress pass. Ms. S. Verma noted that
stores of interest to students might be Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, and Abbotts. Ms. Barrett
noted that theagar buses high_ � schedule,whdq pgs§g§ fl] ll]ugb ;gbgg� II,does not mesh
well with the new high school schedule.
Ms. Barrett noted coming efforts to publicize the service:
• Travel Training: particularly for seniors and those with disabilities
• Transportation Options Zoom event
• E-news letters
• Parent Teachers Organizations
• A Colonial Times article
She added that the Lexpress brochure has been translated into Chinese for the villages.
Ms. Lyons suggested adding something to the Economic Development Newsletter. Ms.
Castleman recommended putting something on the Lexington ListServe and suggested that
TAC members could help. Ms. Barrett recommended that members reach out to their various
contacts and let them know about the service. She also cautioned that ridership on the buses at
any one time is restricted because of COVID.
Other Transportation Updates: Mr. Sandeen reported the following:
• The Town is requesting $1.5 Il ol1oiq for 25% design funds for the Hartwell
Avenue/Bedford Street intersection. This triggered some discussion about the
complexities of this intersection and how past efforts have not moved forward. Two
events are expected to increase traffic at this intersection
➢ Mitre is closing its offices in Burlington and moving the employees to Hanscom
Air Force Base;
➢ MIT is increasing its square footage at Lincoln Labs on the Base.
Mr. Creech reported that the Transportation Demand Management policy review process is
continuing. There is a meeting tomorrow.
Ms. Barrett reported the following:
• Transportation Network Company funds—approximately $16,000 from Uber, Lyft, etc.—
have been transferred for use by Lexington's Transportation Safety Group.
• Judy Crocker, previously Lexington's volunteer Safe Routes to School coordinator, has
taken a job working for the State Safe Routes to School program. When it was
understood that Ms. Barrett's hours would be extended to fulltime, she was asked to
assume the responsibilities of this program. However, her hours were not expanded
because of COVID-related delays on appropriation approvals, plus the parent
coordinators at the schools are feeling overwhelmed with COVID issues. p Iheiredd
6scussoiq atmut whether the II Illl pown..11 eefli g Il gdgg r ulUu6Vs� i IlMs ��3a irre t I'
�lq 0 u..0 u .
• Burlington has formed a committee to rebuild the Town's mini-bus transportation system.
• FY2021 is the last year of M&L's three-year contract to provide Lexpress service. There
are two optional extension years. It was noted that the Town has usually extended the
years to get additional use of the buses and thus minimize costs.
Future Meetings: It was agreed that TAC would meet on October 13th from 7-9 p.m.
Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:30 PM.
Respectfully Submitted, Sara Arnold
Approved:
Materials presented at the meeting:
• Agenda for meeting
• Draft FY2020 Town Report—TAC submittal