VTA Advisory Board
August 10, 2012
The Martha’s Vineyard Transit Authority Advisory Board met Friday, August 10, 2012 at 9:30 AM in the offices of the Transit Authority, 11 A Street, Edgartown. Present were Alice Butler (Oak Bluffs), Lenny Jason (Chilmark), John Alley (West Tisbury), Connie Teixeira (Tisbury), Angela Grant (VTA) and Lois Craine (VTA). Lou Paciello (Edgartown), arrived at 9:38 AM. Darren Morriss (TCI) arrived at 10:03AM Peter Hefler (Tisbury Finance Committee) arrived at 10:15AM.
The meeting was called to order at 9:35AM.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Ms. Teixeira moved to accept the Minutes of March 16 2012. Mr. Paciello seconded. M/s/c.
Ridership Update
Ridership reports were distributed and discussed. Ms. Grant noted a increase of 12.6% in FY12 with routes other than 1 and 13 seeing an increase.
Beyond Boston, a Mass Dept. of Transportation Initiative
Ms. Grant reported the study is completed with RTAs given a set of initiatives to work on alongside an executive summary. The trend is still for MASSDOT to assume many functions taking away local control. Discussion followed.
Edgartown Visitors Center Update
Ms. Grant reported the first peak season on Church Street is going well. Automatic flush systems are installed. The presence of a VTA employee selling tickets on the street and managing traffic is helpful.
Financial reports through May 2012
Financial reports through May FY12 were distributed. Ms. Grant noted an increase in expenses mainly fuel and insurance. For FY13 the VTA was able to secure a competitive insurance quote.
Martha’s Vineyard Airport collaboration
Ms. Grant described the state of the art technical installations at the airport and a plan to share an IT employee. The VTA would contribute 30% of the salary and will share backup of critical systems including an emergency location plan.
Mr. Alley relayed West Tisbury’s concerns about buses in the town center. All buses will drop off and pick up at the town hall only during library renovations this off season and the stop across from Alleys will be abandoned. Operators are asked to be sure to pull up all the way to allow more buses and to shut down engines.
The meeting adjourned at 11:01AM.
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