Memorandum for the Record
Access Advisory Committee to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation
Authority (AACT) Executive Board of Directors Meeting
Wednesday, October 25,
2017, Meeting
10:07 AM 11:45 AM, State Transportation
Building, Suite 2150, 10 Park Plaza, Boston
Voice: 857.702.3658; Fax: 617.570.9192; TDD: 617.570.9193; E-mail:
AACT@ctps.org
Board of Directors
Chair
James F. White
Vice
Chair Lisa Weber
Executive Board
James
Tozza
Nadine
Jones
Mary Ann
Murray
Beverly
Ann Rock
Attendees
Hang Lee
Jim
White
Nadine
Jones
Jim
Tozza
Lisa
Weber
Beverly
Ann Rock
August
23, 2017, minutes were unanimously approved.
No September
26 minutes were presented.
The Chair opened with a report and
discussion on the following items:
Chair thanked Vice Chair Lisa Weber for leading the
September meeting, noting positive feedback.
Chair participated remotely in the Taxi Subsidy
meeting with the Office for Transportation Access staff.
Chair attended the Fiscal and Management Control Board
(FMCB) meeting. He endorsed delaying the transition of Veterans Transportation
(VT) to THE RIDE Access Center (TRAC). Because of ongoing issues following the
transitions of National Express (NEXT) and Greater Lynn Senior Services (GLSS),
he felt there would be a potentially large Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
violation if VT also transitioned to TRAC.
Chair reported that an extended trip on THE RIDE
arranged by TRAC caused him serious medical issues. He also noted he was
physically unable to take another trip the next day.
Chair stated that dispatchers need at least one year
of experience to learn how to react to certain situations.
Chair explained that GLSS has been unable to provide
enough drivers; GLSS frequently has more trips than they can comply with under
ADA guidelines. NEXT has taken over some of these trips, but these drivers are
not familiar with the GLSS area.
Chair stated that AACT initially supported TRAC
because on-time performance was supposed to improve. He stated that this issue
needs to be addressed during the next RIDE Task Force meeting.
Chair stated that in the request for proposal, Global
Contact Services (GCS) agreed that every department would have half of its
workforce fully trained by February 28, 2017; this did not occur. In part, this
issue occurred because RIDE employees who would transfer to TRAC were offered
less money to transition; therefore, many employees did not transition.
Chair noted that a RIDE consumer was left stranded by
a no-show driver. A call was made to the Transit Police for assistance.
Jim Tozza, AACT Board Member and
representative to ROC, reported that members of the ROC discussed wayfinding
signage at Park Street, State Street, and Arborway stations, and found the
signage very misleading. In addition, State Street Station has limited signage
to direct persons with disabilities.
Chair White explained that when THE RIDE Eligibility
Center denies a consumer service, the consumer has the right to appeal the
decision and get assistance from AACT. He noted that an appeal hearing was
being held at the Office for Transportation Access on Thursday, October 26,
2017.
Board Members discussed the following items:
o Complaints from
THE RIDE consumers about GCS consumers
o A letter to
the MBTA Fiscal Management and Control Board about the lack of quality service
provided by GCS. No action was taken
o Pending arrival
of the new model Orange Line train.
o Training
procedures for UBER, LYFT, and taxi drivers to assist persons with
disabilities.
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 www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/public_meetings/. Visit the Boston
Region Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) calendar page at
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
www.mbta.com/aact.
Also, find articles about topics
discussed at AACT meetings in the MPOs newsletter, TRANSREPORT, at
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 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 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 MBTA Custom Call Center at 10
Park Plaza is closed. Please visit the MBTA website at www.mbta.com/customer_support/feedback/
to submit your comments, concerns, and inquiries.
6:30
AM to 8:00 PM MondayFriday
8:00
AM to 4:00 PM Saturday and Sunday
617.222.3200
800.392.6100
TTY:
617.222.5146
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.
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.