Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-07-25-TAC-minTransportation Advisory Committee Minutes July 25, 2011 Members Present: Bill Levison, Elaine Dratch, Sally Castleman, Francine Stieglitz, Peter Levy, Larry Link Liaisons: Michelle Ciccolo (Planning Board), Nancy Adler (Council on Aging) Guests: Marty Cohen, Daniel Cherenson, Charlotte Rodgers, Barbara Deveau Staff: Sara Arnold 1. Minutes: The May and June Minutes were accepted. 2. EV Charger Program: The head of the Energy Department, Environmental Affairs for the state came to Lexington on July 22 to announce the award of 25 electric vehicle plug -in stations, including three for Lexington. Lexington will have to pay the installation and maintenance costs. TAC discussed the logistics for collecting revenue for the electricity used. The town cannot resell electricity, but it can charge for parking. It was noted that in some places there is a base fee for parking, and then a much higher rate for staying in the parking space over an extended period of time. 3. Flexpass: Bill reported that to -date the school department has sold 42 Flexpasses (school bus passes that will be valid on Lexpress after 4:30 p.m. on school days. The routes most likely to be used by those passholders are as follows: Route 1— 9 Route 2— 3 Route 3 —16 Route 4— 6 Route 5— 4 Route 6— 4 The passes will be distributed the third week in August. Sara will ensure that the bus company knows about these passes and how they can be used. There was discussion about having some kind of bio- technology reader to control who is allowed to use the pass. It was noted that the recreation department had a finger reader. The school department is taking in the money for these passes, and some of this will be passed onto Lexpress. Rob Adelson will work with the school department to determine the financial arrangements for this program. It was noted that Town Meeting must appropriate funds that Lexpress spends, which complicates Lexpress receiving and being able to use funds received from the school department. It was agreed that this program should not change the way Lexpress prepares its 2013 budget estimates for fare revenue. 4. Senior Center /Senior Housing Point -to -Point Service: There was considerable discussion regarding the reasons for the low ridership for this service. Charlotte felt that it would get a better response during the colder weather. She also commented that even if it only serves a handful of people, this would be considered successful from the human services perspective. It was noted that there had not been adequate publicity after the initial month of service, and some senior residents in the senior housing units probably didn't know the service had continued after the first month trial period in May. It was agreed to continue the service through December, and Charlotte will ensure more publicity, especially starting in September. Bill will prepare a memo for the Selectmen's August 1 meeting. Perhaps he can get approval to increase the runs per day as well. 5. Human Services' Taxi Program: Charlotte reported that her department looked at various alternatives for providing point -to -point transportation services for seniors and the disabled who cannot use Lexpress and who do not need The Ride. One alternative was to rent B elmont' s van for $85 per hour. This was considered too expensive. Human Services is currently going out to bid for a taxi voucher program, with a fall 2011 anticipated start date. Other communities that have a taxi voucher program find that a few people use the service a lot. The service will be provided during off -peak hours at a reduced rate. The amount charged the customer will be determined by the bid price, probably 50% of the bid price. Human Services has $20,000 to subsidize the program. 6. Request for Proposals (RFP) for Lexpress service: Peter Levy reviewed a list of RFP issues based on meetings with Joseph's Transportation and M & L Transportation. Both companies support gasoline buses; neither company supports bike racks; neither company has a suggestion for improving ridership counts; and neither company knows how to muffle the rattling created by the wheelchair lifts. M &L will charge a minimum of four hours for operating the spare bus; Joseph's will charge for two hours. Other points of discussion included: maximum length of buses, having one bus larger than the other two, earliest model year to allow, standee limitations, contract length, GPS installation and incorporating point -to -point services. The following comments were made: • Hybrid - diesels are twice as expensive as a gasoline bus. • A GPS costs about $20 per month for a maintenance use charge. • Joseph's did not like the idea of point -to -point deviations • If the Town were to participate in the Smart Bus Guidance Program as presented by Michelle in June, the Town would receive GPS units for the buses. The committee agreed to the following: • Bill will talk to the Bicycle Committee about the value of bike racks. • Michelle will contact David Ludzinhiser at Boston Metropolitan Area Council to see if he has any grant money for purchasing bike racks. • The contract needs to minimally require the ability to install GPS units on the buses. • The contract needs to allow the Town to initiate route deviations. Documents Agenda Minutes of the May 25 and June 22 meetings Review of meetings with two potential transportation service providers Draft RFP for transportation service "Point -to -Point Taxi Program Discussion" "Taxi Programs In Local Communities" "Senior Transportation Options 2011 "