Access Advisory Committee to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority 10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150, Boston, MA. 02116-3968 Voice: 617-973-7100, Fax: 617-973-8855, TDD: 671-973- 7089, E-mail: [email protected] AACT Membership Meeting Minutes Wednesday, July 23, 2014 Board of Directors: Chairman - James F. White Vice Chairman - Rick E. Morin Executive Board Mary Ann Murray Ian Perrault Beverly Ann Rock Lisa Weber 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. AACT has a page on the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) website at www.bostonmpo.org; click on “Get Involved” then scroll down to “Access Advisory Committee to the MBTA.” Page 1 of 16 Links can be found there for the following items: agendas, upcoming meetings, past meeting minutes, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the MBTA and AACT, and the AACT bylaws, and ADA regulations. There are also links to the MPO’s newsletter, TRANSREPORT, and information on accessibility at the MBTA. This page includes the contact information for the AACT Coordinator. Comments and questions concerning AACT should be directed to the Chairman James White by contacting the AACT Coordinator, Ms. Janie Guion, at 617-973-7507 (voice); 617-973-7089 (TTY); 617-973-8855 (fax); [email protected] (email); 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 617-973-7100 (voice), 617-973-7089 (TTY), 617-973-8855 (fax), or [email protected]. 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 Page 2 of 16 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 herself/himself or any specific class of persons has been subjected to discrimination prohibited by Title VI, ADA, or other non-discrimination statute or regulation may, herself/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/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. Page 3 of 16 Meeting opened at 1:05 PM Reading of the Agenda Introductions Attendees: Deanne Sisco, Esther Minor, Nancy Miller, Cheryl Ravalli, Linda Sinclair, David Hogan, Theadora Fisher, John Lozada. Also Lisa Weber, James White, Rick Morin, Mary Ann Murray Beverly Ann Rock MBTA Staff: Mike Hulak, Frank Oglesby, Larry Haile, Kenneth Green, Carol Joyce- Harrington Vendor Staff: Ronan Coatanea, Rita Hardiman, Victor Herrera, Barnet Nkugwa, Jon Cristina, Jacqualyn Reynolds MPO Staff: Janie Guion and Catherine Dubreck Approval of Minutes Chairman White requested a motion to approve the meeting minutes for June 25. A motion was made and carried. Page 4 of 16 Chairman’s Report The Chair stated the following: • He attended a passenger assistant training (PAT) and bus recertification class in July, and will be attending another PAT on July 24. • The AACT Executive Board unanimously approved a letter concerning AACT’s involvement with THE RIDE Eligibility Center (TREC). (See attached letter.) • He noted the Office of Transportation Access (OTA) displayed models of their new vans and sedans at 10 Park Plaza today and noted that the Board meeting dismissed early to take part in the inspection. • He reminded members that THE RIDE core service area has been expanded to Brookline, Cambridge, and Somerville. All customers in these areas may now call any of the three RIDE service providers to book a trip within the Core area. Chelsea and Burlington are now served directly by Veterans Transportation (VT) and Greater Lynn Senior Services (GLSS). Wilmington will be served by GLSS. The MBTA has updated its No-Show policy. A soft launch of the policy has been in effect since July and will run through September 30th to get customers acclimated to the policy. AACT has been involved in the updating of the policy. Page 5 of 16 Federal Programs (ADA Transition Plan) MassDOT – Office of Diversity and Civil Rights MassDOT has embarked on a comprehensive self-review to determine the extent to which people with disabilities may be restricted from accessing its facilities and services. John Lozada, Manager of Federal Programs for the MassDOT Office of Diversity and Civil Rights, provided an update on the activities of the agency’s ADA/Section 504 Interim Transition Plan Working Group at the July meeting of the Access Advisory Committee to the MBTA (AACT). The link to the Interim Transition Plan may be found here: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/OfficeofCivilRights/ADA.aspx Mr. Lozada, who is co-chair of the Transition Plan Working Group with David Anderson, MassDOT Deputy Chief Engineer, discussed several aspects of the review. One involves inventorying approximately 50,000 sidewalk curb ramps on MassDOT owned property. His staff has already visited about 20,000 curb ramp locations, using a software tool to record images and take measurements of the ramps. The next steps involve prioritizing which ramps to focus improvements upon first. The prioritization system takes into account the technical noncompliance of each ramp and the extent to which it provides access to public buildings, hospitals, transportation and/or other locations where access for the public is important. He noted that the ADA Working Group has also developed a range of policies and procedures including some to give notice of rights, address complaints, construct compliant curb ramps and install accessible pedestrian signals. The Transition Plan Working Group is starting to evaluate accessibility at Registry of Motor Vehicle sites and will also address highway service plaza Page 6 of 16 and rest areas. They also are studying the extent to which snow and ice removal is an issue on MassDOT sidewalks, which will lead to work with fellow state agencies and municipalities to coordinate snow removal policies. He then asked for questions. Chairman White inquired about information on the Casey Bridge impact on accessibility at Forest Hills Station. J. Lozada noted that he does not know the specifics to the Casey Bridge Overpass Project (CBOP). He did comment that he would do research for the contact person. He mentioned that the CBOP as its own website and an advisory board that has been meeting for a number of months. A consumer appreciated the action taken to remove tree limbs that were hanging over the JFK walkway. He went on to say that still more needs to be done in that area. He commented that there should be an elevator in that location but would settle for a cover over the bridge now before the winter sets in. He was irritated that the state would consider making an accessible upgrade at the Chatham airport. J. Lozada noted that in this case the airport owner would be responsible for any accessible upgrades. E. Minor commented that she lives in the South End and has noticed that sidewalks in certain locations have upgraded curb cuts while others near the same location have not been upgraded. J. Lozada responded that the South End is the jurisdiction of the City of Boston. He also explained that the city Page 7 of 16 conducted an ADA assessment of curb cuts and noted that the areas with a high concentration were serviced first. He suggested that she call her local disability commissioner to find out about upgrades in her neighborhood. Chairman White thanked Mr. Lozada for his presentation. Deputy Chief Kenneth Green, Night Commander, MBTA Transit Police Deputy Chief Green stated the following: • The motorcycle units of the Transit Police have been issuing tickets to vehicles parked at bus stops at 10 Park Plaza. • Between June 23 and July 23, the motorcycle units have issued 80 citations for illegally parked vehicles at bus stops where parking violations frequently occur. • Transit Police made three major arrests at Quincy Center Station (QCS): one for receiving stolen property and drugs; one for assault and battery, dangerous weapons, disorderly conduct, and intimidation of a witness; and one for distribution of Class B drugs. He commented that plainclothes officers are monitoring QCS regularly. He then asked for questions. Page 8 of 16 Chairman White asked if Chief MacMillan will be retiring, which Deputy Chief Green confirmed. He also extended an invitation to Chief MacMillan to attend an AACT meeting before his departure.