ACAT Meeting - November 26, 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 1:00 p.m. Roll call was taken.

Nil.

On motion of Howard Wax, ACAT approved the agenda.

Changes to Item 5, Business Arising out of Minutes/Outstanding items, and Item 8, Subcommittee Reports were requested.

On motion of Howard Wax, ACAT approved the minutes of the meeting held on October 30, 2009 with amendments.

Craig Nicol informed the members that the next Metrolinx meeting will be on Friday, December 11, 2009.

Susan Davidson discussed the ACAT Terms of Reference and the Meeting Protocol, reminding the members that the Chair acts as Ex-officio at all Subcommittee meetings and that either of the Vice Chairs may attend the meeting as Ex-officio in the place of the absent Chair. Craig Nicol suggested that the current meeting practices are working and should be continued.

Matters addressed by the Commission included the fare increase, Student Metropass prices for post-secondary students, the Eglinton Crosstown LRT to be built in three stages (Commerce Stop to Eglinton West Station by 2016; Eglinton West Station to Kennedy Station by 2018; and Commerce Stop to Pearson Airport by 2020), the conceptual design for Highway 407 Station, TTC’s participation in the Presto Smartcard System, and the 2010 Commission meeting schedule. The topic of free transit for Veterans was deferred to the next meeting.

Garnett also informed the members that land appropriation and the Environmental Assessment are in process for the Transit City lines.

John Sepulis, General Manager of Engineering and Construction, informed the members that the completion date for system accessibility was moved from 2020 to 2024. Changes to the schedule are determined by the budget. Members requested that they be consulted at every level of design and implementation. 

Garnett Martin reported that the Design Review Subcommittee met on November 18 and 23, 2009. 

On November 18, the members received a further presentation by Stephanie Rice, Project Manager, TTC Planning, Transit City on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT.  Further information will be provided for discussions on stop distances and potential parallel bus service(s). Mr. Martin read out the list of distances between stops on the entire LRT line for the information of the members.

At the November 23 meeting, David Lawson, Supervisor – Architectural and Communications, discussed the Finch West Station, Vaughan Corporate Centre Station, and the Highway #407 Station and informed the members that York Regional Transit, GO Transit, and York University as well as other levels of government are involved with those extensions. The members noted potential concerns with the number of elevators and large cavernous stations.

Angela Marley reported that the Wheel-Trans Operations Subcommittee is working on a Bill of Rights Responsibilities for Wheel-Trans riders and a Cell Phone Policy for all Wheel-Trans and contracted drivers.

Items on the Outstanding Items Lists will be referred directly from one Subcommittee Chair to another Subcommittee Chair to ensure follow up. A standardization for the completion of items will be developed.

A report from Heather Green informed the members that a Customer Compliment and Concern form will be placed on the website. Carla Basso and Neil Liedeman, Marketing Department, made a presentation on vehicle destination messaging to the ACAT Communications Subcommittee. A guideline for messaging is being developed that will specify that only route and destination information such as “Short Turn”, “Shuttle Bus”, “Express” and other approved messaging will be allowed.

Evelyn Gartner was asked to access and distribute the City of Toronto “Conflict of Interest” Guidelines. It was suggested that the ACAT guidelines could be taken from the TTC Guidelines Item 3.2 and adapted for use by ACAT.

The Report on Taxi Statistics was deferred to the next Commission Meeting.

Susan Davidson reminded the members that the Christmas Luncheon  on December 17 will start at 11:30 am.

The next Communications Subcommittee Meeting will be held on December 3 and the Design Review Subcommittee will meet on December 4.

Craig Nicol requested an update on the TTC Website Trip Planner and Station Layouts. Evelyn Gartner is to contact Carla Basso for an update.

A concern was raised by members regarding the recent project at Bloor/Yonge Station where staff are directing customers on the southbound platform. Customers with visual limitations have safety concerns with accessing the station between the pillars and the platform edge. Glenn Johnston was asked to investigate and report on the project. ACAT voiced their concern that the committee was not consulted before implementation.

A member had earlier made an inquiry about the evacuation of buses in an emergency and had received a reply from staff. Glenn Johnston reiterated what had previously been done with regard to joint TTC and EMS assessments, including those ACAT members had assisted with, and training.

The next meeting of ACAT will be held on Thursday, December 17, in the 7th Floor Boardroom, 1900 Yonge Street.  Luncheon will be served at 11:30 a.m., before the meeting.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 3:10 p.m.

Janet O’Sullivan
For Secretary