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

Board of Directors Minutes

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Board of Directors:

Chairman - James F. White

Vice Chairman - Rick E. Morin

Executive Board

Mary Ann Murray

Ian Perrault

Beverly Ann Rock

Lisa Weber

Meeting opened at 10:08 AM

Reading of the Agenda

Introductions

Attendees

James White, Ian Perrault, Mary A. Murray, and Lisa Weber

MPO Staff:

Janie Guion

Chairman’s Report

Chairman White stated the following:

He testified on behalf of AACT members before the Fiscal Management and Control Board (FMCB) regarding the impact of potential changes to THE RIDE demand-responsive service.
He noted that Michael Lambert, MassDOT, Deputy Administrator –Transit gave a presentation to the FMCB about paratransit services.
He attended a meeting about improving community engagement. Also in attendance were Michael Lambert, Assistant General Manager Laura Brelsford, Judge Patrick King’s compliance monitor, and representatives of other organizations.
He attended the ADA training class at the MBTA Charlestown garage.
He attended the ceremony for the new MBTA Chief of Police Kenneth Green.

He asked for questions there were none.

Committee Reports

Mary Ann Murray commented that Regional Transportation Advisory Council members have elected their new Co-Chairs.

No report was presented from the Rider Oversight Committee (ROC). The next ROC meeting is scheduled to be held on November 23.

The AACT Board General Discussion

There were complaints concerning a lack of signage and the lack of an accessible path to board trains at the Lynn commuter rail station
A discussion took place regarding THE RIIDE complaints for patterns that may reflect same drivers

Old Business

There was none.

New Business

Chairman White reminded Board members about their obligation to read and sign-off on the state’s Conflict of Interest Summary. The Acknowledgement Receipt that the members must sign was provided by the MBTA.

Announcements

Lourenço Dantas, Manager of the Certification Activities Group at Central Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS) and an advisor to the AACT, was introduced to the AACT Board and others. He replaces former advisor Pam Wolfe who retired in early June 2015.

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.

To learn more about AACT’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the MBTA and AACT, the AACT Bylaws, and ADA regulations, please log on to the MBTA’s website at www.mbta.com/aact. For more information on accessibility at the T 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 Voice: 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 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; 617.570.9192 (TTY); 617.570.9193 (fax); or publicinformation@ctps.org.

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 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/.

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 appreciated.

Meeting adjourned at 12:08 PM.