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, TTY: 617.570.9193, E-mail: AACT@ctps.org

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Board of Directors Minutes

Meeting opened at 10:13 AM

Board of Directors:

Chairman - James F. White

Vice Chairman - Rick E. Morin

Executive Board

Mary Ann Murray
Ian Perrault
Beverly Ann Rock
Lisa Weber

 

Reading of the Agenda

 

Introductions

 

Attendees: James White, Mary Ann Murray, Ian Perrault, and Rick Morin

 

Approval of Meeting Minutes

 

None were presented.

 

Chairman’s Report

Chairman White stated the following:

On July 13th he attended several events:

·       The ADA Celebration on Boston City Hall Plaza (BCHP) where a ribbon cutting ceremony was held in honor of the accessible path of travel from Government Center to BCHP.

·       He announced that Laura Brelsford, Assistant General Manager of the Department of System-Wide Accessibility (SWA) arranged to have a prototype bus during the celebration for public viewing on BCHP.

·       He attended the MassDOT Focus 40 meeting held in the Seaport District looking at transportation in the future.

 He asked for questions. None were asked.

Committee Reports

Rider Oversight Committee Report (ROC)

Lisa Weber, Board Member and representative to ROC was unable to attend the meeting.

 

 Regional Transportation Advisory Council Report (RTAC)

Mary Ann Murray, Board Member and representative to RTAC –explained that RTAC members went on a field trip that was unable to accommodate her mobility device.

Open Discussion

The Vice Chair explained an issue that is happening at Hanscom Air Force Base that is having a severe impact on THE RIDE drivers and passengers regarding security clearance. He noted that drivers are unable to access the base to drop-off passengers. He noted that this is an issue of great concern since there are RIDE users who work on the base. Chairman White stated that he is good friends with Congressman Steven Lynch; he is more than willing to contact him for support.

The Chair discussed with the Board that THE RIDE “no-show policy” is being violated by drivers. He commented that he his speaking from actual experience. He noted that drivers are leaving the passenger pickup location without contacting dispatch for clearance to leave. He expressed his concern that a policy that was endorsed by AACT a year ago could possibly be working against THE RIDE user. He discussed in length that contractors should revisit the procedure with all their drivers. He noted that he will address his concerns later today at the full membership meeting with both the Office for Transportation Access and the vendor representatives.

M. A. Murray reported her concerns that Greater Lynn Senior Services are transporting passengers in vehicles that have no identifying numbers on the inside.

Chairman White discussed a concern from a visually impaired person who contacted AACT to discuss his complaint about a bus operator on the Route #77. The passenger stated that the LED board was inactive so he requested that the bus operator call out his street. He reported that the bus operator was insensitive and threatened to call the Transit Police for asking for assistance from passengers. He noted that he has filed a complaint with the Department System-Wide Accessibility.

 Old Business

The Chair also explained that upcoming meetings to further discuss the future of AACT with Judge Patrick King, Laura Brelsford, and Jessica Podesva are being planned for this fall. He proposed to the Board that Peggy Griffin be invited to attend this meeting.

New Business

Chairman White discussed the possibility of canceling both the Board of Directors and membership meetings on August 27. He noted that the AACT advisor from the Boston MPO made the recommendation. This request was made due to a support staff issue. It was noted that since there was no severe weather that there had been no canceled meetings for 2016. The Board members chatted about other organizations that take summer furloughs. The Chair noted that all vendors and MBTA staff must submit their reports and that members be alerted to the meeting cancelations. After much discussion and careful consideration the Board agreed unanimously to cancel the August 2016 meetings.

 

Meeting ended 11:40 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/relay), 617.570.9193 (TTY), AACT@ctps.org (email.

 

 

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. Please contact the MPO staff at 857.702.3700 (voice), 617.570.9192 (TTY),

617.570.9193 (fax), or publicinformation@ctps.org (email).

 

 

The MPO complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the 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, herself 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 (voice), 617.222.5146 (TTY), Monday through Friday from 6:30 AM to

8:00 PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, or via the MBTA’s 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

telephone number. A written notice is always appreciated.