October 21, 2013

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Attendees:

Al Barry, Charlie Bond, Robin Budish, Kelly Cross (Chair), Peter Duvall, Mel Freeman, Paulo/Gregory Harris, Bob Hellauer, Jeff LaNoue, Mac McComas, Klaus Philipsen, Michael Ricketts, Jimmy Rouse, Jill Sorensen, Sandy Sparks, Maris St. Cyr

Welcome and Introductions:

Kelly Cross welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked the attendees for coming.

SHORT TERM Light Rail Improvements

  1. Signage: system maps, next train real time.
    • Develop rail systems map with Red, Green, blue and purple lines on one map with Red shown as planned
    • Install rail map in each rail car
    • Install electronic LED screens in all train cars to indicate “next stop” and other info
    • Install full system maps at all stations, especially hubs like Camden Yard
    • Install and operate “next train” signs in all LRT stations including following departure times
    • Improve signage to LRT Station at Penn Station and many other stations
    • Create MTA brochure for tourists and first time users
  2. Branding: overall transit identity, train design (paint)
    • Use a color scheme for the train that makes it look smaller, more elegant and more modern. The current white with baby blue scheme makes the vehicle look clunky and dirty
    • Use colors on trains that align with line color (existing LRT = blue line)
    • Use line colors consistently on all MTA material (green=metro, blue=CRL)
  3. Speed: signal priority, Howard Street
    • Ensure full implementation of signal priority on Howard Street, Mt Royal
    • Consider express trains that skip low volume stops and could pass slow trains at crossovers
    • Make first door accessible at all times allowing anybody to board from highblock eliminating the switch plate deployment time
  4. Reliability: on-time performance, no missed trains.
    • Staff driver pool and deployment facility so no trains get skipped even under inclement conditions.
  5. Comfort & Safety:
    • Fix all windscreens in shelters, install all maps, schedules and signage
    • Place police kiosks at high risk stations similar to Hopkins campus
    • Clean up Penn Station boarding area
    • Install bike share and Zip Car stations at major LRT stops
  6. Event capacity: operations after stadium events.
    • Increase capacity after ballgames with additional stacked trains and short headways
  7. Bikes at stations and trains:
    • Install hooks on trains to allow hooking up two bikes instead of blocking the doorway
    • Install bike racks at all stations in view of trains and platforms
  8. Tickets: vending machines, transfer to other modes.
    • Transition to a cash free system using only Smart Cards like Atlanta or Boston with (free of fees) sales in private retail saving expensive maintenance on ticket machines
    • Install a fare free downtown zone from North Ave to Hamburg Street
  9. Land use: Access from surrounding areas (we would need a list of specific obstacles making it hard to walk to stations)
    • In collaboration with city and county survey all station access routes within 500′ and repair and make accessible under ADA, for bikes and provide safety through improved crosswalks (example Mt Washington, eastside)
    • Create a TOD working group at the city that collaborates with MTA on land use around stations
  10. Accountability / performance measures. Example: During the program create a website with daily performance measures for on-time performance, ridership and other easy to measure items.
    • Agree on 3-5 performance measures under which the above progress is measured:
      • Total daily ridership
      • Total trip duration from each terminal station to Lexington Street
      • On time performance re-defined as less than a 1 minute early or less than 3 minutes late. (San Francisco MUNI Standard)
Discussion Points:
  • We should get what is on the ground working properly – systems should be running optimally, what could be done “smarter”
  • Transit messaging is very important to convey the right message that transit is SAFE
  • Let’s start with data and analysis to come up with core findings
  • Create a “Transit Day” when choice users can be trained and guided by chaperones in ticket buying and mastering the systems. Modeled on Bike to Work Day
  • Open Hamburg Street Station at all times
  • Use large MTA map now for all stations and work on simplifying the map at a future date and include the Water Taxi
  • MTA belongs to APTA – should use the information available there
  • We need “quick” successes

Action Items:

Peter Duvall will present a Population DotMap at the next meeting