Memorandum for the Record
Minutes are incomplete due
to a flawed device.
Access Advisory Committee to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (AACT) Membership Minutes
1:00 PM–3:00 PM, State Transportation Building, Suite 2150
10 Park Plaza, Boston
Voice: 857.702.3658; Fax: 617.570.9192; TDD: 617.570.9193 email: AACT@ctps.org
Chair—James F. White
Vice Chair—Lisa Weber
James Tozza
Mary Ann Murray
Beverly Ann Rock
Nadine Jones
Jim
White
Lisa
Weber
Joyce
Kilgore
Nadine
Jones
Ronda
Tepfer
Linda
Sinclair
Debbie
Weathers
Esther
Minor
Ted
Kennedy
Dee
Whittlesey
Reggie
Clark
Thomas
Gilbert
Jim
Tozza
Sandra
Tozza
Jennifer
Workman
Rev.
Ellen Frith
OTHER
Kevin
Morrissey
Ray
Croteau
Lisa
Darlington
Barnet
Nkugwa
Kathryn
Quigley
Laura
Brelsford
Mike
Hulak
Patricia
Mendez
Marc
Ebuña
Janet
Maloof
A motion to approve the minutes of February 28, 2018, was seconded and carried unanimously.
James White, Chair, reported on the following items.
· Jessica Podesva scheduled a meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee that excluded the AACT stakeholders. J. White contacted Judge Patrick King regarding the meeting, who said that he, too, was not aware of the meeting and would look into the meeting. Judge King followed up with Mr. White informing him that the meeting had been postponed.
· THE RIDE Access Center staff continues to have problems and continues to show lack training.
Laura
Brelsford, Assistant General Manager, MBTA Department for System-Wide
Accessibility, Plan
for Accessible Transit Infrastructure (PATI)
L. Brelsford discussed the PATI update accompanied by a
PowerPoint presentation. (Copies are available upon request.)
She stated the following:
PATI Implementation
• Prioritizing bus, subway, and commuter rail modes
• Accessibility to transit
• Bus improvements
• Long-term planning for the Green Line
She also discussed the
PATI process.
Short-Term: One-to-Five Years
• Bus stops:
ü Resolve critical/high-priority stops
• Advance designs for future work:
ü Green Line surface
ü Elevators
• Minor/moderate program upgrades system-wide
Medium-Term: Six-to15 Years
• Bus stops:
ü Resolve medium/low-priority stops
• Move design to construction:
ü Green Line surface
ü Elevators/escalators
• Advance design for Commuter Rail upgrades
Long-Term: 15 Years or More
• Move design to construction:
ü Commuter Rail upgrades
ü Green Line level boarding (with type-10 vehicles)
L. Brelsford then answered questions.
A consumer expressed that she was very pleased with System-Wide Accessibility’s (SWA) work and its presentation about the PATI.
MBTA and Vendor Reports
Rob Sampson, Manager for SWA, provided
the following points:
• Boston is one of six test cities participating in Google’s initiative to introduce wheelchair-accessible routes into transit navigation.
• PATI team received the Golden Shoe Award.
Mike Hulak, Manager of Paratransit Contract Operations, submitted the OTA report and provided the following updates:
• Gave kudos to the men and women who kept THE RIDE running during adverse weather conditions.
• Apologized to customers who suffered bad service from THE RIDE.
He
then answered questions.
L. Sinclair objected that she had been marked a no-show by the driver. M. Hulak noted that that should not have happened without the driver contacting dispatch; and that he would research the situation.
Sergeant
Benjamin Carrasco, Community Outreach, stated the following:
• Fewer reports of blocked bus stops
• A decline in reported offenses
He
then answered questions.
E. Minor stated that a friend was bullied by a bus operator. This friend exited the bus at Dudley Station to report the incident, but she could not locate a transit police officer nor report the incident to 617-222-1212. B. Carrasco explained that you may approach any bus operator for assistance.
T. Gilbert asked if MBTA bus cameras could also capture the plate numbers of vehicles that are illegally parked and blocking bus stops; and, asked if action could be taken regarding this question. B. Carrasco replied that he would look into the issue and report back.
Barnet Nkugwa, Operations Manager, submitted his report and announced the passenger-assistance training (PAT) classes for April 4 and 7.
He
then answered questions.
J. Gilgore asked what is done when passengers are abusive to drivers. M. Hulak stated that, depending on the nature of the situation, either transit police and or the contractor safety department would be dispatched to the location, along with a follow-up letter identifying a disruption of service.
Kevin Morrissey, Assistant General Manager, submitted his report and announced no PAT classes.
He then answered questions.
A consumer asked if it is right that vehicles leave the garage without a working heating unit. K. Morrissey stated that no vehicle should ever be in service without heat.
Lisa Darlington, Director of Transportation, submitted her report and announced a PAT class for Friday, April 6.
She then answered questions. There were none.
He then answered questions.
There were none.
Thomas Gilbert commented that people looking for change in mass transit should start with their legislatures on Beacon Hill.
There was none.
The AACT meeting location is accessible to people with disabilities and is near public transportation. The AACT Executive Board meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month, except when noted, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM (noon). The Membership meeting follows immediately from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
Notices of AACT meetings are posted on the MBTA website at http://www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/public_meetings/. Visit the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) 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 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 http://www.mbta.com/accessibility.
Comments and questions concerning AACT should be directed to Chair 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 MBTA has advised AACT that Interpreter Services will be canceled the Friday before each Wednesday monthly meeting unless otherwise notified. To ensure interpreter services are scheduled, please contact the AACT Coordinator, by close of business on the Friday prior to the Wednesday meeting at AACT@ctps.org or leave a voice message at 857-702-3658.
Upon request 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 nondiscrimination statutes and regulations in
all programs and activities. The MPO does not discriminate based on race,
color, national origin (including limited English proficiency), religion,
creed, gender, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity or expression, veteran’s status (including Vietnam-era
veterans), or background. Any person who believes herself/himself or any
specific class of persons to have been subjected to discrimination prohibited
by Title VI, ADA, or another nondiscrimination statute or regulation may, herself/himself
or via a representative, file a written complaint with the MPO. Complaints
filed under federal law (based on race, color, national origin [including
limited English proficiency], sex, age, or disability) must be filed no later
than 180 calendar days after the date the person believes the discrimination
occurred. Complaints filed under Massachusetts General Law (based on race,
color, religious creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability,
or ancestry) or Governor's Executive Order 526, section 4 (based on race,
color, age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or
expression, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, disability, veteran's
status [including Vietnam-era veterans], or background) must be filed no later
than 300 calendar days after the date 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.