ACAT Meeting - October 30, 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.

Sam Savona requested that the 2nd paragraph under item 11, Free Transit for Wheel-Trans Customers be stricken from the minutes.

On motion of Howard Wax, ACAT approved the minutes of the meeting held on August 27, 2009 with that amendment.

It was requested that the Union Station Upgrade be added to the Outstanding Items List and that Union Station Upgrade design presentations be requested. Glenn Johnston will coordinate with Marketing and Engineering and Construction Departments

Wilfred Yaphe expanded on his concerns as outlined in his email to Adam Giambrone:

• Seniors must walk 150 meters to the staffed entrance at Leslie Station
• Entrance is not clear of snow
• He recommends moving the Collector Booth closer to the turnstile
• Sheppard/Yonge Subway Station signage is not sufficient or clear
• Seniors must walk a long distance to the Sheppard Buses
• He also recommends renaming the University Subway Line Stations to reflect the street name at that station

Susan Davison stated that the City of Toronto is responsible for snow removal and that ACAT and TTC work with the City to improve snow removal. The concerns regarding signage will be referred to the Communications Subcommittee and the concerns regarding the entrance at Leslie Station will be referred to the Design Review Subcommittee.

Garnett Martin reported on the TTC Budget as discussed at the Commission Meeting, explaining that Capital Budget consists of “Above” and “Below the Line” items. “Above the Line” items are those that are untouchable and that “Below the Line” items may be amended. The Operations Budget is the day-to-day costs of running the TTC. 

At this time, most of the ACAT recommendations including upgrading washrooms and other accessibility items to be completed by2011 are still deemed to be “Above the Line”.

The new Scarborough, Finch West, and Eglinton West LRT lines and the Scarborough RT are approved. ACAT will continue to work cooperatively with the Commission to ensure accessibility is built into the system as it proceeds.

Gary Webster has requested to be placed on the November ACAT Agenda to discuss the 2010 TTC Budget.

Evelyn Gartner informed the members that the Communications Subcommittee is reviewing the Customer Complaint form. Once it has been updated, it will be placed on the TTC/Wheel-Trans website. They are also developing a plan to promote TTC By-Law #1 to all Wheel-Trans customers.

Angela Marley reported that the Wheel-Trans Operations Subcommittee is undertaking a review of the ACAT Outstanding List and seeking clarification on the new Hand-held Device Use in Vehicles law as it applied to Wheel-Trans Operators and Contracted Taxi Drivers. They are also developing a Bill of Rights and Responsibilities for Wheel-Trans customers.

The Service Planning Subcommittee will have the Outstanding Items List ready by year end. The Subcommittee will be meeting in November to report back to ACAT on Transit City.

The Design Review Subcommittee is expecting to see a mock-up for the new streetcar design for their review next year. Member discussed concerns about pedestrian access to island platforms on the legacy street car routes such as St. Clair and Spadina.

Sam Savona asked that his recommendation that the ACAT Executive be excluded from being appointed to Chair of a Subcommittee to allow other members to gain experience be considered as an amendment to ACAT’s “Meeting Protocols to Govern the Proceedings of the General and Subcommittee Meetings” or “Terms of Reference”. This matter was referred to the Executive.

He also informed the members that Mayor Miller praised the work of ACAT in his speech at Simply People.

A draft schedule for Subcommittee meetings will be forwarded to the members. The Chair of each Subcommittee will determine if there is sufficient material to convene a meeting.

The Conflict of Interest Guidelines will be forwarded to the members for discussion as an Agenda item at the November meeting.

Craig Nicol advised that the Metrolinx Accessibility Advisory Committee will be meeting in late December/early January. He also asked the members adhere to the agenda.

In response to Angela Marley’s request for an update on ACAT applications, Bill Frost informed the members that, based on attendance, they anticipate more than sufficient applicants.

Glenn Johnston reported that items identified at the Forum will be forwarded to the various ACAT Subcommittees for follow-up. A breakdown of all the items forwarded to the Subcommittees will be available to the ACAT members. It was suggested, to “close the loop”, that the findings of the meeting be reported in the Wheel-Trans CommunityLINK newsletter and on the TTC website. He will report back to ACAT in November.

Bill Frost reported that the Commission Report on both service modes, Accessible Taxis (minivans) and Sedan Taxis, will be available to the members for the November meeting.

The next meeting of ACAT will be held on Thursday, November 26, in the 7th Floor Boardroom, 1900 Yonge Street.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 3:00 p.m.

Janet O’Sullivan
For Secretary