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, June 22, 2016

 

Board of Directors Minutes

 

Meeting opened at 10:07 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, Rick Morin, Lisa Weber, David Vieira, and Hang Lee  

 

Approval of Meeting Minutes

 

The meeting minutes for March 23rd, 2016 were approved unanimously, with one abstention.

 

Chairmans Report

 

Chairman White stated the following:

 

·       On June 15th he attended a Community Forum on Disability Issues hosted by the City of Boston’s Commission for Persons with Disabilities.

·       On June 8th he attended the National Express passenger assistance training.

·       On June 6th, he attended the Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB) meeting. On behalf of AACT he recommended that Global Contact Services be awarded the contract for the Centralized Consolidated Call Center (CCCC), based on a rigorous scoring process.

·       He commented that Michael Lambert, MassDOT- Deputy Administrator-Transit made a presentation to the FMCB showing the likely benefits of the CCCC. He noted that by consolidating the currently 3 separate dispatch-scheduling and reservation services, the service area lines are lifted.  He noted that CCCC offices will be located in the town of Medford, MA. He noted that the MBTA asked that CCCC fast-track the process to be operational in six months.

·       On May 26th he attended bus recertification training in Charlestown.

·       He explained that the MBTA and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services/Human Service Transportation (HST) Office will be issuing a joint letter to all active users of THE RIDE. This letter will explain the possibility for free transportation by MassHealth’s HST program for eligible customers to non-emergency medical trips (doctors, day habilitation, and counseling) as well as pointing customers to other transportation options available to them like local Councils on Aging.

He then asked for questions.

There were none.

 Committee Reports

Rider Oversight Committee Report (ROC)

Lisa Weber, Board Member and representative to ROC had no report and noted that the next meeting would be on June 27th. She noted that due to another commitment she can longer attend ROC meetings on a regular basis. She recommended that Ian Perrault be assigned as the new representative. Chairman White agreed with the recommendation.

She then asked for questions.

M. A. Murray asked if ROC members have any opinions or view points on Green Line Extension Project. L. Weber noted that there had been some discussion.

Regional Transportation Advisory Council Report (RTAC)

Mary Ann Murray, Board Member and representative to RTAC reported that members were briefed by Metropolitan Planning Organization’s staff on the Transportation Improvement Plan.

No questions were presented.

Open Discussion

Chairman White attended a meeting in Worcester where he met the Lyft and UBER representatives who both volunteered to give a presentation at an upcoming AACT meeting. He noted that he is looking forward to extending an invitation.  

Lisa Weber attended the Women in Transportation Seminar event where she met guest speaker Scott Bosworth, Chief Strategy Officer for MassDOT. She stated that Mr. Bosworth advised members that he is available to speak with other groups. She would like to have an invitation extended to him to speak at a future AACT meeting.  Chairman White has agreed with her recommendation and asked that he be contacted.

Suggestions were made for presentations: July – Department of System-wide Accessibility (SWA) Update; September – Office for Transportation Access (OTA) THE RIDE Call Center.

Chairman White noted that SWA has begun to survey every single bus stop by July or August see if there are any barriers that are in the way of persons who are visually impaired or to others.

Chairman White noted that OTA has new GPS software that will be in full operation by July 2017. Mary Ann was happy to hear this news since her experience with drivers locating her.

Old Business

 

Chairman White noted that same-day service was reinstated by the Office for Transportation Access.

Rick Morin noted that the Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL) and Massachusetts Senior Action Council are two influential groups with money, staff, and a media presence.

Chairman White commented that his vision for a new AACT committee would likely have half of the members elected from the AACT membership and half appointed by the MBTA. He is skeptical that the MBTA will follow the guidelines of the Federal Transit Administration to recognize AACT as an advisory committee for the disability community. M. A.  Murray is concerned that the MBTA wants to take control of AACT.

Rick Morin noted that the BCIL settlement agreement is nearing an end and that there is a strong need for BCIL to continue to be represented on a formal basis. The BCIL management does not want to participate in the existing structure of AACT.

He noted that the MBTA has an unconditional ability to cancel the Memorandum of Understanding without cause; and cautioned the group that if recommendations are rejected AACT’s future would be in jeopardy. The end result will likely be a very good positive, but challenging. He also stated that Laura Brelsford, MBTA Assistant General Manager for System-Wide Accessibility and Michael Lambert of MassDOT-Transit will both spearhead an event as the facilitators on the restructuring of AACT.

Summit Chairmans Wrap-up on Transit Accessibility

Lisa Weber stated the following:

·       She received great feedback from the participants

·       She organized and distributed comments from breakout sessions

·       She would like to see the summit continue as an annual event

Both Rick Morin and Mary Ann Murray congratulated her for a job well done in organizing the summit.

New Business

Chairman White noted that he has been advised by SWA that priority seating on buses will be increased by two more seats. It was noted that more information will be made available.

 

Announcements

                                Chairman White announced the retirement of General Manager Frank DePaola who as two upcoming events to mark his retirement. He noted that Mr. DePaola was very supportive at AACT’s Summit this year. He would like to show his support and attend one of his events. He also noted that Mr. DePaola was instrumental in getting the MBTA ready for the 2015 winter preparedness and the third rail project.

Meeting ended 11:44 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 MPOs 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 MPOs 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.