HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-11-02-TAC-min Transportation Advisory Committee
Date: November 2, 2009
Members Present: Sara Arnold, Sally Castleman, Bill Levison, Francine Stieglitz,
Richard Canale (Planning Board liaison),
Staff: Gail Wagner
Guest: Dawn McKenna
Traffic Mitigation - Memorandums of Understanding (MOU)
➢ Both Cubist and Patriot Partners MOUs were made available the afternoon of
November 2, date of TAC meeting and Selectmen's vote on these issues.
➢ Documents were prepared by lawyers. Cubist in particular was viewed as
ambiguous.
Cubist's MOU
➢ In reference to Cubists original 1997 rezoning agreement, Lexpress is identified
by name and Cubist's assumption of obligations clearly stated. However,
remainder of document is vague in terms of payment recipients. The favored term
is "Town's Traffic Mitigation Stabilization Fund and/or Transportation Demand
Management/Pubic Transportation Stabilization Fund."
➢ Payment schedule is divided into 4 parts over the span of multiple years.
➢ Design and construction of infrastructure projects are repeatedly noted as
examples of appropriate use of funds.
➢ The Town's discretion in allocating funds is emphasized.
➢ Public transits role as a traffic mitigation measure is not prominent.
➢ Lump sum payment which the Town has advocated with TAC is not followed in
the MOU.
Patriot Partners' MOU
➢ Original 2004 rezoning agreement is to be honored"as set forth is Exhibit 1"
which was not attached. Under the 2004 agreement, Lexpress currently receives
$20,000 annually subject to CPI.
➢ New terms emphasis design and construction of infrastructure.
➢ Town's discretion in allocation of funds is emphasized.
➢ Transportation Demand Management/Public Transportation Stabilization Fund
will receive $100,000 prior to new construction with $500,000 designated to the
Traffic Stabilization Fund.
➢ The entire payment is reduced from the May 2009 proposal and the new proposal
reduces public transportation's share from 25%to 16% of the total sum.
.
TAC's Response to MOU's
➢ Public transit's role in town traffic mitigation is eroded in these documents when
compared to prior TDM agreements.
➢ Sara will voice TAC's concerns at the Selectmen's meeting later this evening.
➢ TAC will raise these concerns in a prepared statement at Special Town Meeting
on November 9.
Town Meeting Report
➢ Gail will develop a draft. TAC's transportation concerns in addition to Lexpress
oversight will be highlighted.
➢ A photo from the recent Lexpress 30th anniversary is preferred for the report.
Efforts to secure this photo continue.
TAC Meeting Minutes
➢ Bill spoke with Candy McLaughlin of the Town Manager's office regarding
electronic posting of committee minutes. Most committees' currently are not
posting minutes.
➢ TAC will postpone posting minutes electronically.
➢ Bill provided Candy with updated TAC committee member information to be
posted electronically.
➢ Bill suggested a wording edit for the 9/22/09 minutes that was approved.
Route 3 Trial Express Route
➢ Concerns from two residents have been brought to TAC recently regarding a
service gap on Route 3 from 7:05am to 8:30 am. This gap is created by
scheduling to conform to the high school start time of 7:45 am.
➢ After primary Route 3 roads, Woburn Street and Maple Street, have been repaved,
a shortened Route 3 will be initiated, 7:45 am to 8 am.
➢ Gail is still working on route details. At a minimum, the bus will service Woburn
Street, Lowell Street(between Woburn and Maple), Maple Street and Mass
Avenue.
➢ Sara inquired as to express routes for the other odd routes with similar early
morning service gaps. Gail advised to start with Route 3 which is the most
difficult to access public transit before extending the concept.
➢ Gail anticipated a trial period to begin in mid-November and data evaluated after
several months of operation.
➢ Lexpress FY11 Contract
➢ Lexpress 3-year contract with Joseph's Transportation ends on June 30, 2010.
➢ The contract provides for two one-year extensions, if agreed upon by both parties.
➢ Gail feels service has improved since initial problems when the contract began
and recommends the first one-year extension for FY11.
➢ Hourly bus rates have remained the same at $49.94 for the initial contract and will
increase to $51.94 per hour, for the first added year.
➢ Preliminary FY11 budget information has been sent to DPW Administration.
Total program FY11 budget reflects a 2.98% increase for same services as FY10.
Tax levy increases by $9,421 or 3.48%.
Recorder: Gail Wagner