ACAT Meeting - May 27, 2010

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.

• Dorothy Creaser
• Elaine Prescod

Nil.

On motion of Mazin Aribi, ACAT approved the minutes of April 29, 2010 with one change under new business, “Community Living” should be “Disability Issues Committee, City of Toronto”.

Members were reminded that there will be a Customer Service meeting on Monday, May 31, 2010. Susan Davidson will continue to update the members on panel developments as information becomes available.

Angela Marley expressed appreciation for last month’s presentation on PRESTO by Donna Bryant.  Members requested that the PRESTO project be added to the Outstanding Items List as “ongoing”. ACAT members will continue to be involved in the project and will keep ACAT updated.

Bill Frost informed the Committee that the Protocol for Subcommittee Minutes / Outstanding Items will be available for the June meeting.

Wheel-Trans Operations Subcommittee

Members reminded staff that all members should be advised of Subcommittee meeting dates and times.  Evelyn Gartner will coordinate notification.

Angela Marley informed the members that the Wheel-Trans Operations Subcommittee met on March 26, April 15, April 22, and May 20 to discuss the following:

• Same Day Service to Subway Stations
  • Service needs to be to the station most convenient to the customer
  • Customers need to book the night before for early morning rides before 7:00 a.m.
  • Service to subways is provided by buses and AT’s
  • Wheel-Trans has committed to providing service to customers who book the day before
  • Drivers accompany customers to the elevator to ensure that it is operational
  • Mazin Aribi requested a goal of one-hour service to subways to encourage customers to take advantage of the service
  • Sam Savona inquired about same-day service to subway booking on the internet. Tom McPherson replied that this is not available yet.
  • Customer should contact Wheel-Trans should there be any delay on the subway at 416-397-5855.
• Rider’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities
  • Document is with Wheel-Trans staff for review
• Taxi Training Sessions
  • Angela Marley and Howard Wax attended training sessions for Beck and Coop
• Shuttle Bus Service
  • The West Park Shuttle which was not fulfilling its function was discontinued
• Members requested the top five frequent Wheel-Trans complaints
  • Wheel-Trans is receiving 10 complaints/10,000 rides per day
  • Top 5 Complaints – 80% of total complaints:
    • No-Shows by bus and taxi
    • Vehicle operation
    • Customer loading
    • Vehicles 20 minutes or more late
    • Discourtesy of Drivers/Operators towards customers

Design Review Subcommittee

Craig Nicol updated the members regarding the March Design Review Subcommittee meeting where they provided advice to the TTC and the City of Toronto on the construction of sidewalks and bicycle lanes adjacent to the legacy streetcar lines.

At the April meeting, they provided advice on passenger-activated door ramp operation on legacy streetcars regarding device positioning and step height from the roadway. There are currently five modules on the vehicles. Modules 1, 3, and 5 are powered. Modules 2 and 4 are suspended between the powered modules. Module 2 is designated as accessible and equipped with a ramp and Module 4 is designated for bicycles and strollers. The design is ongoing. The legacy line vehicle design is different from the Transit City vehicles. 

Mazin Aribi requested members of the Subcommittee to pursue having more than two mobility device positions on the accessible vehicle. 

In response to a query from Sam Savona, members were told that the mobility device positions use current standards for size.

Anna Noviss informed members that more ambulatory positions have also been requested and assured members that all their concerns have been put forward to the designers and they are awaiting a final design. The Subcommittee is also to review the design of LRT ramps/platforms and pedestrian crossings further.

At the May meeting, the Subcommittee viewed further presentations on the final design of the Easier Access features for Lawrence West Station, which had been delayed from the original design and construction schedule, and Ossington Station.

Craig Nicol read a motion drafted by him on behalf of the Subcommittee regarding the installation of additional elevators at new subway and LRT stations. Garnett Martin noted the process requires staff to have an opportunity to now comment before the motion is forwarded to the Commission. Glenn Johnston was therefore asked to let others within the TTC know of this and to share their initial comments with ACAT members.

ON MOTION OF CRAIG NICOL, ON BEHALF OF THE DESIGN REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE, ACAT APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY TO RECOMMEND TO THE COMMISSION THAT THEY REQUEST ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO ASSURE THAT NEW SRT STATIONS HAVE MULTIPLE ELEVATORS TO ENSURE ACCESS TO SERVICE.

The motion will be held in abeyance pending a response from staff. The item is to be added to the Outstanding List.

Garnett Martin suggested that ACAT develop a comprehensive “Needs” list to address the specific service requirements of people with disabilities using the new LRT. Craig Nicol stated the Subcommittee has a “checklist” that can be expanded.

Service Planning Subcommittee

Anna Noviss updated the members on the Service Planning Subcommittee activities including updates on the planning for the 2010 Public Forum and the ACAT presentation.  Ms. Noviss read from the attached note on the Forum.

At the request of Anna Noviss, the major points mentioned at the Subcommittee and/or the April ACAT meeting were repeated by Glenn Johnston including the fact the Forum is being planned for 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 17, 2010, at the Queen Elizabeth Exhibit Hall, Exhibition Place.

The added half-hour at the end of the evening was requested by the Monitor for the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario to permit one-on-one discussions between those in attendance and TTC elected and appointed officials. This is the first time this has been undertaken.

The presentations will also be shortened and more time will be devoted to obtaining input to TTC’s accessibility initiatives and services from the public. The Subcommittee had already provided ACAT Chair Susan Davidson, who will speak on the behalf of ACAT, and Glenn Johnston will a list of changes to the ACAT presentation for 2010.

The Monitor has also asked that Wheel-Trans provide more buses for the shuttle service between Bathurst Station and Queen Elizabeth Exhibit Hall.

In addition to the Commissioners, senior TTC managers, the members of the Customer Service Panel, members of Council, organizations, and members of the public who have expressed an interest in the Forum have, or will be, invited to attend.

In response to a question about service being required at 9:30 p.m. rather than at 9:00 p.m. as in past years, Tom McPherson indicated Wheel-Trans would provide service to all regardless of when participants choose to leave the Forum. He also indicated that, because of the date and the location of the event outside the downtown core, there would not be problems related to the G20 meeting later in the month.

Glenn Johnston noted that he had just been informed that a community group had also planned a meeting for June 17th and sought ACAT’s advice in this regard. Mazin Aribi, who was going to speak at the other group’s meeting, indicated he had previously been unaware of the overlap in schedules but was planning to attend the TTC Forum. Staff and ACAT members discussed the possibility of conflicting meeting schedules regardless of when the Forum takes place because of the large number of groups and activities in Toronto, the fact is the TTC had announced in 2009 that it would hold annual meetings each Spring. It was ACAT’s unanimous position that the 2010 Public Forum should proceed and the Committee suggested Mazin Aribi to speak to the group in question to encourage their participation in the TTC Forum and for Glenn Johnston to extend an invitation to the TTC’s 2010 Public Forum on June 17, 2010.

Craig Nicol asked for an update on the posting of “Station Pages” on the TTC website. Evelyn Gartner responded that she was meeting with appropriate staff and would pursue the matter.

Anna Noviss requested that Pool Member attendance be included in the attendance portion of the ACAT minutes.  Members unanimously agreed.

Janet O’Sullivan
For Secretary

Attachment: Activities in Preparation for 2010 Public Forum on TTC Accessibility   

Activities in Preparation for 2010 Public Forum on TTC Accessibility
ACAT Service Planning Subcommittee
Summary for May 2010

Background: 

The TTC is required to hold an annual public forum for three (3) years as a result of an Ontario Human Rights Tribunal Order.  The Toronto Transit Commission will hold annual meetings indefinitely after the three year period. 

The three forums required by the Order are to be jointly conducted by the TTC and ACAT. The 2010 forum will be the last of those required by the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal Order.

ACAT participation in the forum includes the presentation by the ACAT Chair in the three forums, the attendance of the members at the events, the review of public comments by the ACAT Executive, and presentations to ACAT on the forums and public input.  ACAT received an update on the preparations for the 2010 forum at the April 2010 ACAT General Meeting.

ACAT has delegated responsibility for assisting staff in the three forums to the ACAT Service Planning Subcommittee.  The subcommittee activities in 2010 include receiving and commenting on updates of plans and activities carried out by TTC staff and assisting ACAT Chair Susan Davidson with the development of the 2010 ACAT presentation.

Plans and activities discussed with the ACAT Service Planning Subcommittee to the end of May 2010:

• the ACAT Executive had assisted with the review of comments from both the 2008 and 2009 events;
• in general, the view was that the comments in 2009 on such matters as increasing accessible bus routes and accessible stations, improving the quality of conventional and specialized service, and other important matters were similar to what was heard in 2008 and were consistent with the changes ACAT are helping the TTC to bring about;
• TTC management and staff, including those from the Wheel-Trans and Service Planning offices, were present at the 2008 and 2009 sessions so they could take into consideration the issues and recommendations received from the public;
• ACAT members were present at both the 2008 and 2009 sessions so they could also take into consideration the issues and recommendations received from the public when formulating advice to the TTC, participating in TTC staff training, etc.;
• the 2010 forum is scheduled for June 17th;
• the 2010 forum is tentatively planned for the same facility as last year (i.e. Queen Elizabeth Exhibit Hall, Exhibition Place) although other venues are to be considered;
• Wheel-Trans was informed of the plans at the end of April and early May and, because that office made the decision to use Exhibition Place in 2009, was asked to undertake an assessment of alternative locations for 2010;
• what was successfully done last year will largely be repeated in 2010, although there will be some changes to Wheel-Trans (shuttle) service, reduced length of presentations, increased time for comments from the public, and time for one-on-one discussions (as a result of directions from the Monitor);
• a representative of the Advisory Committee on Accessible Transportation will again be given the opportunity to speak at the session (i.e. the presentation materials now under review by the ACAT Service Planning Subcommittee); 
• ACAT Chair Susan Davidson has confirmed she will again be the ACAT representative to speak at the 2010 forum about the comments received from the public as a result of the past forums and ACAT activities to assist the TTC with accessible services in Toronto;
• the intent is to shorten the TTC and ACAT presentations so there will be even more time for members of the public to express their views and be heard by members of the Toronto Transit Commission, and TTC management (see comment on changes from 2009 above);
• while the TTC's presentation will be shortened, it is still expected to inform the public of changes to TTC services and plan (positive and otherwise) from last year;
• the offices of the members of the Toronto Transit Commission were polled with regards to the availability of the members for a forum prior to June 18th and, while three members had to reschedule activities to do so, it was determined June 17th was an acceptable date;
• Wheel-Trans is to provide additional service in support of the shuttle service between Bathurst Station and the CNE (see comment on changes from 2009 above);
• all members of the Commission have confirmed their availability for the evening of June 17th;
• it is the intension to have 1/2 hour at the end of the night for one-on-one opportunities (see comment on changes from 2009 above);
• one of the sets of stairways at Bathurst Station is being repaired. The work is to be completed by June 17th;
• the elevator maintenance contractor and TTC escalator mechanics are to be available on short notice should there be problems with the elevating devices at the station on June 17th;
• a station cleanliness assessment is scheduled to take place at the station prior to June 17th;
• TTC Special Constables Services will have staff at Bathurst Station or available on short notice to assist if there is some unforeseen difficulties;
• the communications plan for the conventional transit system, including the schedule for PA announcements, PVS (ticker) announcements on platforms, TTC website notice, METRO newspaper ads/invitations, news release, Collector booth cards, take-one slips, and the posters for Bathurst Station has been provided to the Monitor;
• while the customer communications undertaken in 2009 worked well and are to be largely repeated this year, there will be minor changes to the wording of some of the materials; and
• discussions on assessments carried out with the assistance of ACAT members in 2009 appear to be valid this year.

Staff will work with ACAT Chair Susan Davidson to finalize the ACAT presentation for 2010 and will update the ACAT Service Planning Subcommittee and seek assistance as appropriate.

The matter of the TTC’s 2010 public forum on accessibility will be on the agenda of the next meeting of the ACAT Service Planning Subcommittee.

Distributed by Anna Noviss
at the May 27, 2010 ACAT General meeting