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
MPO Staff:
Janie Guion
Lisa Weber and seconded by Mary Ann Murray, and the motion was unanimously approved
Chairman White stated the following:
He asked for comments.
AACT Board had an open dialogue about the many concerns regarding the cut in Premium Service. It was stated that more needs to be done between the disability community and the MBTA. The Board members all agreed that a Task Force, including members from the disability community, should be convened by the MBTA.
Chairman White asked Vice Chairman Rick Morin to draft a letter that expresses the need for a task force to study options for THE RIDE to help reduce the cost. Chairman White stated that he would attend the FMCB meeting and read the letter.
A motion was made to address Secretary Pollack and the FMCB.
Rick Morin author a letter from AACT, addressed to the Fiscal Management and Control Board (FMCB), Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Pollack, and MBTA Chief Administrator Brian Shortsleeve. The letter will express opposition to the elimination or reconfiguration of THE RIDE Premium Service and call for the establishment of a Task Force charged with pursuing reasonable cost saving initiatives for THE RIDE. The Task Force will have representation from all disability constituencies, and report directly to the FMCB.
Be it further moved that Chairman White will reach out to the Boston Center for Independent Living, Massachusetts Senior Action Council, Disability Policy Consortium, and Bay State Council for the Blind to request they co-sign this letter. Chairman White will testify to the FMCB on Monday, December 21, 2015 by either reading the letter if it is ready or stating the positions taken in the letter.
Motion proposed and passed unanimously by the AACT Executive Board.
Ian Perrault attended the meeting and distributed his written summary.
No further questions were presented.
Open Discussion
Chairman White was surprised to learn that advertisements for businesses are being displayed on the outer panel of THE RIDE vehicles. It was also mentioned that perhaps these vehicles are the privately owned property of the contractor. He was curious to learn whether or not the funds went back to support THE RIDE. The AACT Board had a lively discussion about whether advertising revenue could be a viable means to help fund THE RIDE.
None was presented.
Meeting ended 12:00 PM
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/relay), 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. Please contact the MPO staff at 857.702.3700 (voice), 617.570.9192 (TTY), 617.570.9193 (fax), or publicinformation@ctps.org (email).
The MPO complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the 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 (voice), 617.222.5146 (TTY), Monday through Friday from 6:30 AM to 8:00 PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, or via the MBTA’s website at www.mbta.com/customer_support/feedback/.
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.