10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150, Boston, MA. 02116-3968
Voice/Relay: 857.702.3658, Fax: 617.570.9192, TDD:671.570.9193, E-mail: AACT@ctps.org
(**Portions of these meeting minutes are incomplete due to a recording failure)
Chairman - James F. White
Vice Chairman - Rick E. Morin
Mary Ann Murray
Ian Perrault
Beverly Ann Rock
Lisa Weber
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 can be found at on the MBTA website at www.mbta.com/aact. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the MBTA and AACT; the AACT Bylaws; ADA Regulations, as well as agendas, calendar items, upcoming meetings, and past meeting minutes can be obtained by accessing those highlighted links on AACT’s web page.
Comments and questions concerning AACT should be directed to Chairman James White by contacting the AACT Coordinator, Ms. Janie Guion, at Voice/Relay: 857.702.3658, Fax: 617.570.9192, TDD: 617. 570.9193, e-mail: AACT@ctps.org, 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 nearby 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 Ms. Janie Guion at 857.702.3658 Voice/Relay; 617.570.9192 (TTY); 617.570.9193 (fax); or aact@ctps.org.
The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (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/.
Beverly Ann Rock, Deanne Sisco, Nancy Miller, Edelberto Albo, Juan Albo, Pat Gangregorai, Ian Perrault, Nadine Jones, lthai Carson, Reggie Clark, Tom Gilbert, Robert Dias, C. Smith, David Chia, Yasi Abdol, Linda Salzer, David Hogan, Lisa Weber, James White, Rick Morin, Mary Ann Murray, B. Guerro, and Ellen Frith
Frank Oglesby, Rob Sampson, Carol Joyce- Harrington
Selena Walckner, Randy Hendrickson, Kevin MacDonald, and Victor Herrera
Chairman White requested a motion to approve the meeting minutes for February 25th. A motion was made and carried.
The Chair stated the following:
Rob Sampson, Manager of System-Wide Accessibility gave an update on the MBTA’s accessible projects and other items. See the SWA report for further details.
He stated the following:
Also discussed were the following (but not included in the SWA report):
He then asked for questions.
R. Clark stated that MBTA bus signs at Coolidge Corner inbound to Harvard station, are damaged or missing.
E. Frith shared that she had a meeting with General Manager Frank DePaola and his staff about her concerns around bus stops. She stated there are many violations in Cambridge and Somerville by private bus carriers. R. Sampson asked that she have her complaints logged as disability concerns so that they may go to the proper departments.
D. Hogan asked about the funding for public safety. He asked why is there no rush to have elevator service outside at the JFK station where it would benefit tourists as well. R. Sampson noted that there is movement to replace the ramp at JFK station and that there is some discussion about an elevator.B He is not aware of the timeline for either project.
Chairman White reminded everyone to carefully review the SWA report which breaks down complaints into categories; he also asked that when filing ADA complaints people should state if they are ADA complaints.
L. Weber applauded the bus operators and other customers for their courtesy to those in mobility devices.
Chairman White asked that, when there is a failure to board someone in a mobility device that everything is done to make sure that the person knows that they will be accommodated. He asked for a better breakdown in the report. R. Sampson noted that often times the person is not at the bus stop. On-board cameras are reviewed for details.
Chairman White thanked Mr. Sampson for his presentation.
Chairman White opened the nominations for the AACT Board of Directors by reading the guidelines. He noted the names of nominated candidates.
E. Frith nominated herself; she is ineligible since she does not meet the criteria.
D. Hogan offered a spirited discussion of who is eligible to run for office or vote. He noted that there needs to be new candidates with new ideas.
Chairman White clarified the discussion by reading the bylaws section that relate to eligibility. He stated that at his discretion he can designate a member to serve on the AACT Board at a later date as he has done in the past.
None were presented. Nominations were closed; the election will take place at the May 27th meeting.
Chief Ken Green, answered questions from members.
Chairman White thanked Chief Green for his help with an issue regarding THE RIDE vehicles having free range to enter into the Downtown Crossing area.
C.J. Harrington stated that OTA had received the complaint and contacted the Chief as this was an issue that surfaced again during the winter storms, only this time with State Police not Boston Police.B OTA worked with both MSP and TPD to resolve the matter.B B
L.S. Shepard thanked Chief Green for his actions taken at Newton Center station eliminating locked bikes.
Chairman White thanked Chief Green for his diligence.
Selena Walckner, EEO/Title VI Manager, stated the following:
She then asked for questions.
L. Weber asked if Keolis had posted online a list of work projects being done at various stations. Ms. Walckner noted that she would report back.
E. Frith commented that she would like more information posted on the Worcester Line.
Chairman White thanked Ms. Walckner for her report.
Frank Oglesby, Deputy Director, submitted the OTA report with no further updates:
Chairman White thanked Mr. Oglesby for his report.
Randy Hendrickson, General Manager, distributed his report and had no further updates.
Chairman White thanked Mr. Hendrickson for his report.
Kevin MacDonald, General Manager, distributed his report and announced upcoming trainings to be held. Please see a full schedule in his report.
He then asked for questions.
Chairman White thanked Mr. MacDonald for his report.
Victor Herrera, General Manager, distributed his report and announced that effective May 20th the old name of the Joint Venture will be replaced with the official company name of National Express Transit on all communications, documents, vehicles, etc.B THE RIDE contract since 7/1/15 has been with National Express Transit (NEXT) B
N. Miller commented that her arrival times have been very problematic.
Chairman White thanked Mr. Herrera for his report.
Randy Hendrickson announced that Greater Lynn Senior Services is the recipient of a MassDOT grant to purchase 23 of 24 replacement vehicles. Nine new vehicles were also awarded.