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Access-A-Bus
Accessible Transportation Advisory Committee
Minutes from May 2006
On May 26, 2006 the Access-A-Bus Annual Meeting was held at the Dartmouth North Community Centre from 7-9 PM with 54 people in attendance.
At that time an election was held and the five vacancies on the committee were filled.
The following are the new committee members.
Marcia Guy 3 years
Cathy Cranidge 3 years
Todd Hacquoil 3 years
Shauna MacEachern 3 years (Non User)
Peggy Brown (Re-elected) 2 years
The highlights of the minutes for the May 26, 2006 meeting will be posted in May 2007.
The following is Gary Russell, the Chairperson’s Report for 2005-2006.
Accessible Transportation
Advisory Committee
2006 Annual Report
This year, the Accessible Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC) will be celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Access-A-Bus. The Accessible Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC )is an independent body that was formed to assist in advising Metro Transit on improving transportation for persons with disabilities with the Halifax Regional Municipality. This committee’s mandate is to provide expert advice and to improve and recommend policy changes, while monitoring the daily operation of accessible transportation. The Accessible Transportation Committee (ATAC) exists to provide accessible transportation as provided by Metro Transit, with the ultimate aim of promoting a more inclusive society. The committee works to ensure that disabled persons and their interface with transportation services are as seamless as possible.
The Accessible Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC), was formed in 1993 and known as the Access- A-Bus Advisory Committee. In 2004 the names was changed to Accessible Transportation Committee (ATAC).
During the 2005 Accessible Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC) Year, Gary Russell was voted as Chairperson, Lynn DeMont as Vice-Chairperson and Joeanne Coffey continued as Secretary, together with nine other members who were elected to bring a wide variety of expertise on a broad and varied range of issues and to provide suggestions and a critical overview of policies and procedures that govern Metro Transit as it relates to accessible transportation.
This year the committee continued to undertake the remaining goals that were suggested in last year’s brain storming session. Many of the items have been on going concerns that the committee has been working on over the years.
In November of this year Paul McDaniel became General Manager of Metro Transit and has brought a wealth of new ideas and suggestions on accessible transportation. It is hoped that some of these new changes to existing policy will be implemented in the coming year.
At this time I would like to extend my thanks to Larry Hilton, Supervisor of Special Services and to Ann Brothers, Administrative Support, Moss Mombourquette, Director Transit Operations and to all the other personnel of Metro Transit who provided a wealth of knowledge and help to myself and the committee. I would like to thank Lynn DeMont and Joeanne Coffey for their work during the year, to Murray Holman and Robert Von Schroder who served as Members at Large this year and to the other committee members for their assistance and input. A special tanks to Councillor Gary Meade as liaison person with Halifax Regional Municipality City Council. With the valuable assistance provided by these individuals, the Accessible Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC) has again had another successful year.
Some of the changes and improvement to the system that took place this year are:
A/ Continued improvements were made to the new telephone system.
B/ The Late Cancellation/No-Show Policy changes came into effect last May ‘‘ A client will now be allowed a combination of four (4) late cancellations and/or no-shows in a calendar month. The fifth (5th) cancellation and/or no-show will put the client in violation of the Late Cancellation/No-Show Policy. This policy change has proven to be effective as the number of violations has dropped considerably and has this allowed more people to be able to use the system. It has also made a considerable change to the number of people on the wait list each day.
C/ The present number of clients using Access-a-Bus has increased to approximately 1,650.
D/ Once again the free trial period for the Accessible Low Floor Bus Service (ALF) was introduced again in July. The new ALF Route 72 was introduced in July and the existing Route 87 was converted to an ALF Route.
E/ On August 21st the new Link Service 185 went into operation from Downsview Mall, Cobequid Terminal, Burnside Terminal, Barrington & Duke.
F/ On Feb 21st the Link Service 59 started at Portland Hills Penhorn Mall, Alderney Gate, Dartmouth Sportsplex and then Scotia Square.
G/ The Route 72 Low Floor Route from Portland Hills, Tacoma Centre Terminal, Mic Mac Terminal to Illsley & Metro Transit was added. And the 85 Route from Cobequid, Sackville Terminal, Burnside, Barrington & Duke & Summer Street (QEII). There are now a total of 12 ALF routes.
H/ The scheduling of current buses has been expanded to allow for more usage of the bused during daytime scheduling and has thus allowed for more free hours for clients to use the buses at night.
I/ As this year IS THE 25TH Anniversary Year of Access-A-Bus special celebrations in the form of a barbeque will be held in the Halifax Forum Complex in August. There will be entertainment and displays also. More information will be posted on the HRM Access-A-Bus Website.
J/ After an untimely delay the Access-A-Bus Website for 2005 has been updated.
With these changes in the past year and the future changes that will occur this year, it is hoped that we will provide an improved service.
As of February 19th a new User Guide is available and a new Route Map.
For Route and Schedule information of ALF Routes please call 490-4000.
The 2006 ATAC and Metro Transit look forward to continuing to providing continued and improved service to you in the coming year.
Respectfully Submitted.
Gary C. Russell
Chairperson, Accessible Transportation Committee
Committee Members 2005 –– 2006
1/ Gary Russell Chairperson
2/ Lynn DeMont Vice-Chairperson
3/ Joeanne Coffey Secretary
4/ Murray Holman Member at Large June –– December
5/ Robert VonSchroder Member at Large January to May
6/ Catherine Macintosh
7/ Gwen Maclachlan
8/ Bill Moffat (Non-AB User)
9/ Donald Mullins
10/ Peggy Brown (appointed Nov 2005)
Resignations during 2005-2006
1/ Margo Hebb
2/ Jen Powley
3/ Tanya Carroll
Highlights of the Minutes of the May 2005 Annual Meeting
The meeting was held on May 25th, 2005 at the Dartmouth North Community Centre.
All committee members were present.
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 and a brief overview of the achievements of ATAC for 2004/05 were presented.
The Committee Members and Metro Transit Staff were thanked for their support for another successful year for Access-A-Bus.
The Committee Members were introduced to the meeting members and Weldon Boudreau spoke on behalf of the members of the Lloyd Samson family.
Regrets were received from Councillor Gary Meade, District 23: the HRM Representative on the Access-A-Bus Committee.
The Lloyd Sampson Award is presented in the memory of Lloyd Samson, to an individual who exhibits outstanding service to Access-A-Bus. The award was presented to Gary Manual and Antonio Feijoo.
The minutes of the 2004 AGM were approved as read.
The Agenda was approved as circulated.
There were no additions or deletions to the agenda and there was no deferred business or business arising from the minutes.
A presentation was given by Larry Hilton, Supervisor of Transit Services on the Access-A-Bus Service.
The election was then held.
The nominees were Lynn DeMont, Murray Holman, Donald Mullins, Gary Russell, and Ken Sawler. The following nominations were received from the floor: Tanya Carroll, Peggy Brown and Bill Moffatt.
Each candidate spoke and the election followed..
The members elected to the committee were Lynn DeMont, Gary Russell, Murray Holman, Tanya Carroll and Bill Moffat for 3 years each. And Donald Mullins for 1 year.
The 2005 Committee was as follows:
1/ Gary Russell 7/ Robert VonSchroder
2/ Lynn DeMont 8/ Catherine Macintosh
3/ Joeanne Coffee 9/ Murray Holman
4/ Margo Sims 10/ Bill Moffatt
5/ Jennifer Powley 11/ Tanya Carroll
6/ Gwen Maclachlan
A brief question and answer period followed.
Users who had concerns who could not have their questions answered during the meeting time were asked to contact Larry Hilton directly at 490-6620 or by calling 490-4000 to lodge compliments or complaints.
Metro Transit
200 Illsley Avenue
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
BN3B 1V1
The meeting was adjourned at 9 PM.
Return to ATAC Meeting Minutes
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