Access-A-Bus

Accessible Transportation Advisory Committee

Minutes from March - April 2006

March 22, 2006
The meeting was called to order by Gary Russell, Chairperson
Regrets were received from Peggy Brown.
The minutes were approved as circulated.

The order of business was approved with the following additions:

Appointment of Elections Officer for the AGM.
Door prizes for AGM.
Start Up of new ALF Route #60.
Update of the ARAC members information.
Open door on A.A.B. Buses making the bus cold for passengers.
Chairperson’s report for AGM .

Lynn DeMont volunteered to be the Election Officer for the AGM.
There are at present 36 door prizes for the AGM.
The new ALF Bus Route #60 is still being explored. The inspections of the route and identification of stops needing launch pads will take some time to complete. Seating capacity is also an issue that must be addressed before this can go forward.

During the winter season and cold periods the Operators will be instructed to close the front door of the bus when passengers are using the ramp. The ramp door must remain open when picking up passengers as it disengages the motor so that the bus may not be moved.

The Chairperson asked if any members had anything that they wished to have included in the Annual Report. Any items must be received by the 24th. Councilor Meade suggested that the highlights of the report should be sent to all councilors after the AGM.

Lynn DeMont submitted plans for the 25th Anniversary of A.A.B. Considerable planning has already taken place for food, entertainment and prizes. The locations are being investigated. More information will be available at the April meeting. The committee will meet on May 3rd.

The committee agreed to change the Terms of Reference for a quorum for meetings. It was moved by Gary Russell and seconded by Donald Mullins that 50% of the elected committee plus 1 will form a quorum. The normal make up of the committee is 13, thus the quorum for a 13-member committee is 7. The quorum for any A.T.A.C meeting will not be less than 5.

There was no correspondence in or out.
A half hour video presentation was shown to the committee on the Accessible Transportation in Victoria, B.C. Paul McDaniel, the new General Manager for Metro Transit worked with this system and it is hoped that many of the items will be incorporated into the A.A.B. system here.

It was reported by Larry Hilton that the scheduling software was being updated to include all the streets in the HRM area serviced by Access-A-Bus and the actual driving speed of the A.A.B. depending on the time of day and where the bus is located. These changes will greatly improve and reflect the“real time schedule.”

The question arose regarding clients who have a grandfather clause regarding night vision problems who can use regular transit by day but require A.A.B. at night. Larry will check to see if there is a grandfather clause.

The No Show/Late Cancellation Committee reported that there were 4 -5 denials of service (3 of the denials were outside the A.A.B. service area) 6 warning letters were sent out.

There was no report from the Low Floor Bus Committee.
There was no Transit Service Report this month. Larry mentioned that he will be attending, in May, a meeting of most of the Canadian Para transit services regarding eligibility criteria.

A copy of Policy 04-269 pertaining to the use of ramps on ALF buses was circulated.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.
The next meeting will be April 26th.

April 26, 2006.
The meeting was called to order by the Chairperson Gary Russell.
Regrets were received from Robert VonSchroder.
The minutes of the March 22nd meeting were approved as circulated.
The Order of Business was approved with the following addition:
New Shifts.

Final details for the May 24th AGM were finalized.
There will be no A.T.A.C. meeting scheduled for May.

The door prizes for the AGM have all been arranged. There will be a total of 40.
Grandfather Clause –– It was confirmed by Larry Hilton that there was a Grandfather Clause that allowed a small group of people afflicted with night vision problems to use A.A.B. in the evenings and regular transit during the day. Presently, people with similar vision problems who apply to use A.A.B. are evaluated individually using the guidelines of the eligibility criteria.

New Shifts –– A change in the work timetables for the operators and their scheduled days off has created a spread of new hours during the following times: the late part of the morning, early afternoon on Monday to Friday and Sundays and holidays, these changes will go into effect at the end of May and will be evaluated at the end of August.

Business Arising Out of The Minutes –– The site for the 25th Anniversary Celebrations will be the Halifax Civic Centre on Windsor Street in Halifax. The date will be August 19th from 1 P.M. till 8 P.M.. There will be a BBQ, Music/Entertainment and Door Prizes as well as Displays. Advertising for the event will be placed throughout the HRM area and on local television and radio businesses are being contacted for donations. Further updates will follow when they become available.

Correspondence Out:
Get well cards were sent to 4 A.A.B. Operators, Ann Brothers and Lori Patterson, from the Committee.

Reports:
The Accessible Low Floor Bus Committee had no report.
A brief discussion on the upgrading at the A.L. MacDonald Plaza Terminal (Bridge Terminal) for wheelchair users who use the ALF Buses (#61). The Terminal area needs work to better service wheelchair users. The Terminal area is currently under study as to what improvements are required.
No Show/Late Cancellation Committee –– No Report.

Public Relations Anniversary Committee - Report given under Business Arising from the previous minutes.

Transit Services –– No Report.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:10 P.M.

Next Meeting(s)
Executive Meeting June 14th 2:00 P.M. Metro Transit
Regular Committee Meeting June 28th 2-4 PM Metro Transit.

The ATAC Meetings from July to November 2006 will be announced to the new committee at the June Meeting.

Return to ATAC Meeting Minutes