HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-10-07-TAC-min Transportation Advisory Committee Minutes
October 7,2008
Present: Sara Arnold, Sally Castleman, Elaine Dratch, Bill Levison, Danny Moraff, Francine
Stieglitz, Richard Canale (Planning Bd liaison)
Staff: Gail Wagner.
Beal Corp: Peter Nichols, Ed Grant, Charles Kalauskas
Beal Corporation/Ledgemont Expansion
➢ Peter Nichols gave an overview of the Ledgemont development and proposed expansion.
➢ Charles Kalauskas, consultant, summarized Ledgemont traffic patterns and auto counts.
➢ Expansion will create 117 underground parking spaces, 3.2 spaces per 1,000 square feet.
Existing two buildings have 3.8 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet.
➢ Employee commuter surveys reflect 90% SOVs and 10% carpooling. Majority of
respondents commute from outside Route 128 so less likely to carpool.
➢ Beal Corporation's traffic mitigation proposal to be presented at Special Town meeting
November 17, Article 9. Two objectives: reduce vehicle trips to site and mitigate traffic.
➢ Mitigation proposal specifics: On site transportation coordinator; 128 BC membership;
Bike storage and showers; Zip Cars; Tenants encouraged to work from home and flex
time; Tenants to subsidize cost of non-auto travel; Site amenities such as cafeteria and
ATM machine; Contribution to Lexpress; Contribution to Town to improve South
Lexington travel infrastructure.
➢ Mr. Nichols noted that Lexpress was viewed as a possible Center lunch shuttle. He
envisions Lexpress traversing Ledgemont, entering on Spring and exiting Hayden Ave.
➢ TAC's comments: Supportive of bike racks, reduced parking spaces, 128 BC
membership, transportation options, and financial support of non-drivers to create parity
with drivers' perks . Regarding Lexpress contribution, five (5) year review is very
different than wording of Lexington Technology Park's TDM agreement. And, based on
current operating schedule, Lexpress may not be able to serve as a lunch shuttle or
traverse Ledgemont property.
TAC's Review of Beal's TDM proposal
➢ Traffic Mitigation Group negotiates TDM terms. Elaine will present TAC's feedback.
➢ Points: Mitigation standards apply to entire property not just expansion; Parking space
reduction applies to entire Ledgemont complex; Annual $10,000 contribution to Lexpress
subject to CPI (half sq footage as Lexington Tech Park with a TDM payment f$20,000
with CPI); Financial incentive for employees to encourage public transit; Annual on-site
traffic mitigation review with on-site transportation coordinator.
End of Day Rider Counts Verified
➢ TAC's observer corps selected various 5:30 pm and 6:00 pm routes to confirm ridership.
This was done since the drivers' were not recording riders on these routes in violation of
the contract that required drivers to record all riders.
➢ Ten (10) runs were observed. Rider counts for 8 runs were the same as the driver sheets.
For two (2) runs, driver sheets reflected one (1) less rider.
➢ From Sept 15 through October 3 (total 15 days), 5:30 pm runs averaged 11 riders and
6:00pm runs averaged 5 riders.
➢ Sara suggested one bus might go into Lexington High School for these routes to see if it
would motivate more students to take Lexpress home at these times.
TDM Contributions for Lexpress FY10 Budget
➢ TDM funds must be received to be appropriated by Town Meeting so it is based on
preceding year. Gail developed a chart to show all TDM contributions in place for Town
meeting using $5,000 as a placeholder for Starwood annual draw. Total: $82,786.
➢ FY10 TDM revenues used for the FY11 budget are estimated at $72,000. TDM budget
should not fluctuate downward due to budget constraints. Thus, $72,000 is the suggested
FY10 TDM figure. FY09 figure was $61,000.
Joseph's Transportation Lexpress Contract
➢ Gail has requested a meeting to review some contract issues: mileage, bus exterior, driver
duties.
Prepared by Gail Wagner, Transportation Services Office, October 16, 2008