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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-05-09-TAC-minTAC Minutes Meeting Date: May 9, 2005 Attendees: Sara Arnold, Sally Castleman, Elaine Dratch, Hank Manz, Francine Stieglitz, Gail Wagner LEXPRESS Fleet With only one blue bus left in service, M & L Transit (contractor) has requested The Town to determine exterior color and design to establish a new fleet look. Current buses servicing LEXPRESS will comprise fleet. The majority felt white was acceptable as a background color. Design options will be explored by contacting graphic designers who live in Town. Sally and Hank were to pursue this course. It is hoped that a new exterior design can be announced in the pass renewal letter sent in June. As a consideration in discussing the bus exterior, the issue of ads was raised. Possible ad locations are both sides and rear window. EXTERIOR ADS A proposal by Anastas Advertising Associates, Inc, has been developed. If exterior ads were positioned on both sides and rear window, Anastas estimated that maximum annual revenue to the Town would be $22,680. Burling B Line is in the process of developing an exterior ad program. Hank is to establish the Selectmen's position on exterior LEXPRESS ads. Town policy as to appropriate ads was voiced as a concern. Gail will check with Burlington. Discovery Day Ads for the plain white bus (provided by Retail Assoc) was approved. Parking Fees for LHS students on Worthen Road TAC raised the idea of parking permits for LHS student that park on Worthen Road after the failed override in 2003. It is a method of increasing Town parking revenues and to enforce that driving includes parking costs. TAC would like parking revenues returned to the LEXPRESS budget. Hank will present the Worthen Road idea to the Selectmen and TAC's desire to reestablish parking funds for LEXPRESS. Dial -a- Ride Service Ravi's position paper from Town Meeting needs to be addressed. It is hard to respond since he is not comparing like services and his figures do not acknowledge offsets. It is hoped that Bill Levison will apply his analytical skills to this topic upon his return to Lexington. Solicitation of Donations The solicitation of donations in the LEXPRESS pass letters was discussed. Since it is a budgeted Town service, it was noted that scholarship passes might be identified as an unmet need for contributions. Hank will determine the Selectmen's position on soliciting donations for LEXPRESS. COA As requested by Sara, Lauren MacNeil presented to the COA that TAC is eager to discuss transportation needs of Lexington seniors. COA was not interested. As an alternative, Lauren and Gail discussed holding informal discussions at the Senior Center to solicit ideas from seniors directly. Gail will pursue with Lauren. LEXPRESSS Passes TAC approved selling LEXPRESS passes on a monthly prorated basis other than the established 12, 6, 3 and 1 month structure. Prorated rates were reviewed and slight increases were made to General Pass rates only. LEXPRESS Fares Due to reports of riders shortchanging fares, drivers will ask riders to show fares before putting in fare box. Route Revisions Drivers were asked to identify route problems. Revisions were suggested for Rt # 4 and #6. Gail will evaluate. Discovery Day Retail Assoc will pay for LEXPRESS service. Invited to have a LEXPRESS bus on display. Will pursue.