Access Advisory Committee to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150, Boston, MA. 02116.3968
Voice: 857.702.3658, Fax: 617.570.9193, TDD: 617.570.9192, E-mail: AACT@ctps.org

AACT Board of Directors Minutes

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Board of Directors:
Chairman - James F. White
Vice Chairman - Rick E. Morin

Executive Board:
Mary Ann Murray
Ian Perrault
Beverly Ann Rock
Lisa Weber

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.

AACT has a page on the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) website at www.bostonmpo.org; click on “Get Involved” then scroll down to “Access Advisory Committee to the MBTA.” Links can be found there for the following items: agendas, upcoming meetings, past meeting minutes, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the MBTA and AACT, and the AACT bylaws, and ADA regulations. There are also links to the MPO’s newsletter, TRANSREPORT, and information on accessibility at the MBTA. This page includes the contact information for the AACT Coordinator.

Comments and questions concerning AACT should be directed to the Chairman James White by contacting the AACT Coordinator, Ms. Janie Guion, at 857.702.3658 (voice); 617.570.9193 (TTY); 617.570.9192 (fax); AACT@ctps.org (email); or at c/o CTPS, 10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150, Boston, MA 02116 (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. Please contact the MPO staff at 857.702.3700 (voice), 617.570.9193 (TTY), 617.570.9192 (fax), or publicinformation@ctps.org.

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 herself/himself or any specific class of persons has been subjected to discrimination prohibited by Title VI, ADA, or other non-discrimination statute or regulation may, herself/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, 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 appreciated.

Meeting opened at 10:07AM

Reading of the Agenda

Introductions

Attendees:

Rick Morin, James White, Ian Perrault, Lisa Weber, Hang Lee, Multi-Cultural Independent Living Center of Boston

MPO Staff:

Janie Guion

Approval of Minutes

Chairman White requested a motion to approve the meeting minutes of the August 27, 2014. AACT Executive Board Meeting motion was made, seconded, and carried unanimously.

Chairman’s Report

The Chairman stated the following:

MBTA General Manager Beverly Scott invited him to offer input on new car purchases.
Laura Brelsford, Assistant General Manager, Department of System-Wide Accessibility (SWA), asked that AACT be more involved in assisting with projects, committees, and trainings.
He was invited to inspect a new bus that is being purchased; he inspected the bus and consulted with the engineers about his findings.
He attended passenger assistance training and attended a bus recertification class at the Charlestown garage.
A former AACT member donated $1,280 to the AACT general fund.
He noted that the MBTA is proposing to consolidate four inaccessible stops along the Green Line B branch on Commonwealth Avenue. System-Wide Accessibility is a strong proponent of the project.

Committee Reports and Updates

Rider Oversight Committee (ROC)

Lisa Weber, AACT Board Member, and representative to the MBTA’s Rider Oversight Committee stated that a Keolis representative discussed the limitations of its services during inclement weather.

AACT Summit Committee Report

Vice Chairman Rick Morin stated he has received confirmation from Summit participants: Dr. Beverly Scott, MBTA General Manager, Kristen McCosh, Boston Commissioner on Disability, Laura Brelsford, MBTA-SWA; Heather Hume, MassDOT; Theadora Fisher, Executive Office of Health and Human Services; and Peggy Griffin, Federal Transit Administration. He noted that there are outstanding invitations to several City of Boston’s Transportation Department.

Actions Items (2):

Vice Chairman Morin made a motion that AACT establish a joint bank account under the names of Chairman, Vice Chairman and the AACT Coordinator. Any expenditure under that account would be authorized by the AACT Executive Board; every month, the board will have the ability to see the account statement to ensure there has been no improper spending. Lisa Weber seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

Vice Chairman Morinmade a motion that the Board of Directors would write a letter in support to endorse the System-Wide Accessibility recommendations for a proposal to consolidate four inaccessible Green Line stops along the B branch; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

Open Discussion and Announcements

Vice Chairman Rick Morin also stated the following:

The Office of Transportation Access (OTA) is discussing a potential centralized call center for THE RIDE. If implemented, all reservation and dispatch personnel will be housed in one location.
Problems remain with bus operators extending courtesy boarding to people in mobility devices. He noted that more needs to be done to ensure that persons with wheeled-mobility devices get the courtesy of boarding buses before the crowds.
All Key bus routes should be equipped with cameras which would retain data indefinitely. This would support complaint investigations. He stated that THE RIDE vans are filmed continuously, and tapes be reviewed on a random basis to ensure proper conduct; he suggested that this could be done with MBTA buses as well. He also added that there should be a designated boarding area at bus stations for persons in wheeled-mobility devices.
He also noted that Keolis will donate the refreshments for the upcoming Summit.

**Meeting adjourned at 11:06AM

** The Board of Directors meeting adjourned early to participate in a bus inspection at the request of the Assistant General Manager of SWA.