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

Executive Board Minutes

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Meeting opened at 10:06 AM

Board of Directors:

Chairman – James F. White

Vice Chairman - Open

Executive Board

Mary Ann Murray

Ian Perrault

Beverly Ann Rock

Attendance:

James White, Tom Tozza, Hang Lee, Lisa Weber

MassDOT: Matt Ciborowski

Other: Jessica Podesva

Meeting Minutes

A motion to approve the July 27^th minutes meeting was unanimously accepted.

Chairman White’s Report

He stated the following:

He attended the National Express passenger assistance training.
He attended an annual luncheon with the new President of Keolis North America and the new General Manager. He has invited both to attend the January 25, 2017 meeting.
He explained after receiving complaints about the Fairmont Line cancelation of five trains without notice he contacted the President of Keolis. He was told that trains were pulled out of service due to safety inspection to meet federal guidelines for maintenance and not redirected to other locations.
He attended a meeting on November 21 with Judge Patrick King and staff from System-Wide Accessibility to discuss the new advisory committee.
He attended a meeting with Laura Brelsford and Rob Sampson of SWA to share his concerns about the impact that bus privatization would have on the disability community.

Committee Report

Rider Oversight Committee (ROC)

Lisa Weber, AACT representative to ROC had no report.

MBTA Customer Technology

Matthew Ciborowski, Technology Policy Manager, presented the MBTA’s future next generation of Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) equipment that will affect everyone who rides the MBTA. He explained that the current system being used today is antiquated and obsolete. The AFC system was built in era before cellphones and before the internet. He noted the fare boxes and gates are not connected to the internet which makes it difficult to update and do innovative things with fares. He noted that if you have traveled anywhere within the last five to ten years you may have seen the type of system the MBTA will be getting. He stated these modern systems can be found in such areas as Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Paris, and London that are all very similar systems.

He explained that a new system would be an account base system similar to THE RIDE. Your information would live in an account that you can access from anywhere as opposed to living on your CharlieCard. He noted that this is a huge benefit for customers in many ways with equipment readers on the platform at all commuter rail stations, new and refurbished subway gates at all stations, and readers at every door of buses and light rail vehicles.

This will allow all doors for boarding just tap and go. This will speed up boarding by 10 percent and save travel time and shorter trips. He noted that passengers will be able to pay with all types of media instead of just a card. You will be able to pay with your smartphone or a credit card.

He noted that MBTA will have this technology and be available in two years. He will return in the spring to give an update to the full membership.

He then asked for questions. There were none.

Open Discussion

Chairman White states that he struggles with the fact that AACT will be ending is disheartening. He noted that a new advisory committee will no longer be an independent body. He noted that the Federal Transit Administration has specific guidelines, which states that 50 percent of the board members be elected and the other representatives come from the disability community.

L. Weber that she is hopeful that the MBTA would explore a flat rate for RIDE users traveling with Uber.

J. Tozza commented that he will attend the Greater Lynn Senior Services passenger assistance training.

Chairman White discussed the upcoming annual summit which is scheduled for May 24, 2017.

Old/New Business

None was presented.

Announcements

L. Weber announced a Customized Wheelchair Lemon Law Arbitration Program on December 19 from 10:00 AM to noon at the STB, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, 2^nd Floor Conference Rooms 2 and 3.

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 Customer Communications at 617.222.3200 or 800.392.6100, TTY 617.222.5146, Monday through Friday 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM. No evening or weekend hours or 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.