Access Advisory Committee to the Massachusetts

Bay Transportation Authority (AACT)

10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150, Boston, MA. 02116-3968

Voice: 857.702.3658, Fax: 617.570.9192,

TDD: 617. 570.9193, E-mail: AACT@ctps.org

 

AACT Board of Directors Minutes

 

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

 

Meeting opened at 10:46 A.M. 

 

Board of Directors:

 

Chairman - James F. White

Vice Chairman - Rick E. Morin

 

Executive Board

Mary Ann Murray

Ian Perrault

Beverly Ann Rock

Lisa Weber

Chairman White’s Report

He stated the following:

                               •       Judge King also met with the AACT Executive Board today to discuss recommendations made by his intern on the reorganization of AACT. Chairman White noted that he would be giving further updates in the future

                               •       On April 15th he met with the Department of System-Wide Accessibility and Judge Patrick King to discuss the upcoming end of his involvement with the 2006 Settlement agreement between the MBTA and the Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL). Judge King has proposed recommendations for restructuring AACT in order to get others from the disability community, such as the BCIL plaintiffs, significantly more involved with the group. He noted that these changes would help make AACT a stronger advocacy group

                               •       He attended a recent Task Force meeting where a number of issues were discussed, including means testing and the Taxi Subsidy Program

Phase Two pilot of THE RIDE Taxi Subsidy will start on 7/1/16 with approximately 50 RIDE eligible participants

                               •       The Selection Committee is in the final stages of naming THE RIDE Call Center vendor

                               •       Travel Training Program (TTP) is being extended statewide. A Request for Proposal has been issued. The goal of the TTP is to help reduce the MBTA’s $10 million shortfall

                               •       MassHealth medical transportation is developing new guidelines to be more accommodating and be more passenger friendly

Committee Reports

Rider Oversight Committee

 

Lisa Weber, AACT Board Member noted that ROC members discussed fare evaders on both Green Line and North and South stations. It was noted that a “ring of steel” at both North and South stations where fare gates would be installed all around platforms. This ring would eliminate the fare evaders and anyone boarding a train would be compelled to pay. She noted that the Green Line loses an estimated $4 million a year with persons entering the train from the rear. To help with fare evaders on the Green Line the installation payment validation system would be installed in the rear. She noted that on the B line during rush hour as a formal policy all the doors are opened.

No questions were asked.

Regional Transportation Advisory Council (RTAC)

 

Mary Ann Murray, Board Member reported that the Transportation Improvement Program manager reported on the budget and funding sources for various transportation programs.

White stated that he had been contacted by MBTA officials that reminding him to inform the Board and members to please be aware that the role of AACT is to comment and make recommendations to the MBTA. He asked that members reframe from contacting departments with issues.

No questions were asked. 

Announcements

There were none.

 

Meeting adjourned at 11:48 AM. 

 

 

Notables

The AACT Executive Board will meet from 10:00 AM to noon and the Membership meeting will be conducted from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM on the fourth Wednesday of the month, except when noted.

Notices of AACT meetings are posted on the website of the MBTA at http://www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/public_meetings/. Visit the MPO’s calendar page at http://www.bostonmpo.org/calendar/month to find AACT agendas, meeting minutes, and past meeting minutes. For more on AACT, see the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the MBTA and AACT, the AACT Bylaws, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations at http://www.mbta.com/aact .

Also, find articles about topics discussed at AACT meetings in the MPO’s newsletter, TRANSREPORT, at http://www.bostonmpo.org/transreport. For more information on accessibility at the MBTA, please visit www.mbta.com/accessibility.

Comments and questions concerning AACT should be directed to Chairman James White by contacting the AACT Coordinator, Ms. Janie Guion, at 857.702.3658 (voice) 617.570.9193 (TTY), AACT@ctps.org (email), or c/o CTPS, 10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150, Boston, MA 02116 (US mail).

The AACT meeting location is accessible to people with disabilities and is near public transportation. Upon request (preferably two weeks in advance of the meeting), every effort will be made to provide accommodations such as assistive listening devices, materials in accessible formats and in languages other than English, and interpreters in American Sign Language and other languages.

 

 

The MPO complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other federal and state non-discrimination statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. The MPO does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, English proficiency, income, religious creed, ancestry, disability, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or military service. Any person who believes her or himself or any specific class of persons has been subjected to discrimination prohibited by Title VI, ADA, or other non-discrimination statute or regulations may, her or himself or via a representative, file a written complaint with the MPO. A complaint must be filed no later than 180 calendar days after the date on which the person believes the discrimination occurred. A complaint form and additional information can be obtained by contacting the MPO (see above) or at www.bostonmpo.org.

 

Members needing service information or wanting to inquire about MBTA services should do so through the MBTA Marketing and Communications Department at 617.222.3200 or 800.392.6100, TTY 617.222.5146, Monday through Friday 6:30 AM to 8:00 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, or the MBTA website at www.mbta.com/customer_support/feedback/.

Please sign in at all meetings.

Announcements are always welcome. Please be prepared to give as many details as possible: date, time, location, contact person, and phone number. A written notice is always welcome.