HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-06-22-TAC-minTransportation Advisory Committee (TAC)
Minutes -- June 22, 2011
TAC Members Present: Sara Arnold, Sally Castleman, Elaine Dratch, Bill Levison, Larry Link, Peter Levy
Members Absent: Francine Stieglitz
Liaisons: Michele Ciccolo (Planning Board), Nancy Adler (Council on Aging)
Guests: Marty Cohen, Daniel Cherenson
Staff: Pauline Burke
1. Smart Bus Guidance System: addition to being a Lexington Planning Board member, Michelle
Ciccolo isthe Community Development Director for the Town of Hudson. In early 2011, The Town of
Hudson and the 128 Business Council submitted a "Smart Bus Proposal" to the Massachusetts Planning
Organization (MPO). The concept is to develop software for and implement a program that allowsriders
to communicate their needs for point -to point services. GPSs will be used to track bus locations, and
this information will be loaded into the software program.
The MPOaccepted the grant proposal, and Michelle is now asking Lexington to partner with Hudson and
the 128 Business Council in a pilot project. Michelle anticipates going out to bid for software
development in the fall of 2011 and installing hardware in about one year. Implementation would be in
FY13.
It was agreed that TAC should inform Hank Manz; and Carl Valente should also be informed.It was noted
that if Lexington participates, a Lexington staff member must be involved in the formative discussions.
2. Request for Proposals(RFP)for Transportation Services: current Lexpress contract expires in June
2012; therefore the Town must issue a RFP in the early fall. Any comments from TAC should be
submitted to Lexington's Procurement Officer by early September. Bill Levison and Peter Levy have
started looking at the basic and backup vehicle specifications.
Identified issues are as follows:
• Incremental cost of buses seating more than 20;
• Demand /advisability of using larger buses;
• Cost and ability to quiet the wheelchair lifts;
• Cost and value of GPS units;
• Cost and value of bike racks;
• Availability and type of hand -holds for standees;
• Availability, advisability and cost of CNG- powered vehicles;
• Pros and cons of gasoline vs. diesel vehicles;
• Ensure the specifications require air conditioning for basic and back up vehicles.
Bill and Peter will research these items. Marty Cohen will review the certification requirements and will
research regulations regarding standees.
3. School Department /LexpressFlexpass: Link proposed some language for a cover letter that might
go to parents of High School students who would be eligible for the pilot Flexpass program (a school bus
pass that can be used on Lexpress starting at 4:30 p.m. on school days). It was generally agreed that any
cover letter should be succinct about the value of the pass; additionally there may need to be a
document describing the para mete rs /rulesfor the Flexpass. Sara Arnold had suggestions for revising an
early draft of the Flexpass application. She will submit those to the school department. It was agreed
that the school department should issue a single card for the Flexpass rather than two cards —one for
the school bus and one for Lexpress. It was also agreed that the school department should increase its
$5 replacement fee for a lost Flexpass, but the replacement fee shouldn't be more than $25. TAC would
like to see a pass with a photo and a clear indicator of the Flexpass status.
4. Coordinator Position: reported that he talked to Monica Tibbets, 128 Business Council Director
about finding a temporary personto fill the Transportation Coordinator position until a permanent
person could be found. Monica thought it would be difficult to find someone willing to take the
position. Larry suggested that the position be posted at temp agencies. TAC agreed that Carl should be
made aware of the seriousness of the situation.
S. Senior Center Housing Connection: approved running the pilot point -to -point (senior
housing to senior center) program to the end of July, butridership reports and Nancy Adler indicate that
there have been no riders lately. Nancy said that Charlotte Rodgers thinks that this service would be
better utilized in the winter months. Charlotte has suggested halting the service at the end of July and
resuming it in the winter. It was suggested that Charlotte come to the next TAC meeting to discuss the
situation and review other senior center transportation outreach efforts.
6. 3 p.m. Buses to High School: Francine Stieglitz received a suggestion from a parent that the Lexpress
buses would probably increase their ridership if they stopped at the high school at 3 p.m. to pick up
students. Apparently some students find it difficult to make it to the Depot by 3 p.m., and they don't
want to wait for the 4 p.m. bus. In response to a question about why the students can't make it to the
Depot by 3 p.m., the parent talked to some other parents, and it seems that it's "because they are
teenagers ", and they have difficulty getting organized and up to the Depot that quickly. Ridership
statistics show that the 3 p.m. buses are already full, and the routes cannot handle more riders.
Additionally, at that hour they do not have the time to go to the high school. It was concluded that
Lexpress could not accommodate the request.
Documents
• Agenda
• Minutes
• 2006 RFP for Transportation Service
• Discussion of Vehicles from 2006 Minutes
• Bus Choices
• Draft of Flexpass letter
• Registration form for Flexpass