ACAT Meeting - August 27, 2009

Agenda is not available for this meeting.
Please check the meeting minutes for meeting details.

Agenda is not available for this meeting.
Please check the meeting minutes for meeting details.

Agenda is not available for this meeting.
Please check the meeting minutes for meeting details.

Agenda is not available for this meeting.
Please check the meeting minutes for meeting details.

Susan Davidson, Chair, called the meeting to order at approximately 1:10 p.m. Roll call was taken.

Nil.

On motion of Howard Wax, ACAT approved the agenda.

Angela Marley raised a concern regarding the inclusion of Subcommittee minutes and the status of those minutes – draft or approved, with member packages. Bill Frost suggested that Wheel-Trans staff draft a proposed procedure to be presented to the members at the next meeting. Members also requested that a protocol for the Outstanding Items be drafted.

Marian McDonell requested that the member be advised when his/her suggestions for the minutes are not included in the minutes.

On motion of Bill Castor, ACAT approved the minutes of the meeting held on July 30, 2009.

Amalgamated with Item 6.

Garnett Martin informed the members that the current Outstanding Items List is a minimal list of items but that he had found a number of previous outstanding items that were not resolved. He, Robert Muzzy, and Linda Napier were reviewing old Outstanding Lists to determine which items from previous lists are unresolved. A new list will be assembled and items will be assigned to the appropriate Subcommittee for review.

Susan Davidson notified the members that subcommittees will have scheduled meetings every two weeks. The Chair of the Subcommittee can determine if a meeting is not required for that week.

Dean Milton informed the members that a standardized listing will be developed and items will not be removed from the list until it has been determined that the items have been resolved to everyone’s satisfaction. The same process will also apply to the Subcommittees.

Members were encouraged to attend the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (LRT) meeting for the section of the line between Martin Grove and Lester B. Pearson International Airport on September 2, 2009, between 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., at the Etobicoke Olympian in the Olympic Lounge. 

Anna Noviss, former ACAT member and Vice-Chair, presented her concerns regarding the accessibility of Union Station which is currently under construction and the involvement of ACAT in future plans for the station (see attached report).

Bill Castor informed the members that concept drawings for Union Station were presented to ACAT last year, but that the plans have since changed. Members requested a presentation to the Design Review Subcommittee of the new station concept and plans for station access during construction. The Communications Subcommittee will also need to review signage at the station. Dean Milton will assign a Mobile Supervisor to investigate current Wheel-Trans access to the station.

Garnett Martin reported that there were no accessible transit issues raised at the meeting; but voiced his concern that when the fire alarm sounded, there appeared to be no evacuation plan at City Hall for people with disabilities especially those non-ambulatory people using larger mobility devices.

Bill Frost reported on the review of the first six months of the Accessible Taxi contract. Although no contracted taxis received the incentive bonus, there had been a noticeable improvement in service.  A copy of the report will be made available to members.

The Executive has decided that each Subcommittee will book a meeting bi-monthly, beginning with Design Review on September 3, 2009. Should the Chair of the Subcommittee determine that there is no sufficient material to warrant the meeting, they will cancel.
 
Garnett Martin reported that the Design Review Subcommittee attempted testing of a neoprene support to bridge the “gap” between the platform and the subway car at Davisville Station. Unfortunately, TTC staff will need to find a more suitable test location at an “in-service” station to better provide optimum test results.

He also brought forward a number of concerns regarding the Transit City LRT and suggested that an ACAT Special Meeting may be warranted to study these concerns. ACAT needs to be kept abreast of developments for this project.

In response to a concern that, once inside elevators, it is difficult to navigate – signage is unclear, Dean Milton informed the members that the Communications Subcommittee would commit to a system-wide review.

Craig Nicol expressed his concerns regarding the TTC Internet Trip Planner in an email to Michelle Jones, which he will forward to Dean Milton.

Angela Marley presented the proposal for the Bus Honouree Program celebrating and honouring individual excellence and contribution toward the development of accessible public transportation in the City of Toronto – the PATH Award.

Bill Frost congratulated the members on their work and said that it was symbolic of what ACAT is trying to accomplish at the TTC. He thanked everyone and said that he will support and act on the whole concept.

Members discussed the concern of equality of free transit on Accessible TTC until the entire system is accessible. People living in areas where, as an example, streetcars serve the area, they would not be able to take advantage of the free transit. There were also concerns that they were aiming for total inclusion and free transit would actually segregate them.

It was suggested that to promote TTC, customers must be made aware of the spontaneity and ease of using the TTC Accessible Transit. Bill Frost informed the members that the AODA may address the issue of free transit for attendants assisting people with disabilities on the TTC.

On motion of Sam Savona, ACAT unanimously agreed that they do not support free transit on TTC for Wheel-Trans customers.

None.

Deferred to September 23 meeting

Howard Wax reminded the members that Local 113 has invited ACAT to participate in the Labour Day Parade at the CNE on September 7, 2009. He also informed the member that the pick-up/drop off location at Princes’ Gate at the CNE was operating seamlessly.

Dean Milton invited all the members to Wheel-Trans Family Day at Wheel-Trans Operations on September 13, 2009.

The next meeting of ACAT will be held on Wednesday, September 23, in the 7th Floor Boardroom, 1900 Yonge Street.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 3:20 p.m.

Janet O’Sullivan
For Secretary