ACAT Meeting - September 29, 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.

Susan Davidson, Chair, called the meeting to order and attendance was taken.

Nil.

On motion of Bill Castor and seconded by Mazin Aribi, ACAT approved the agenda.

On motion of Sam Savona and seconded by Carol Anne Monet, ACAT approved the minutes of august 26, 2010 with amendments.

a. Lost Articles on Wheel-Trans

Bill Frost advised that a presentation regarding lost articles will take place at the ACAT General Meeting in October.

b. Communication Barriers / Plexiglas Shields

Craig Nicol spoke about the assessment of the Operator shields by the ACAT Design Review Subcommittee. 

Heather Green, Communications Subcommittee Chair, reported that only two complaints regarding the Plexiglas driver shields have been made to date and they were of a general nature.

c. Motions

On motion by Heather Green and seconded by Mazin Aribi, ACAT unanimously accepted that the communications subcommittee recommend that the existing priority seating signage be reviewed by Marketing, in accordance with the AODA, and that a TTC By-law notation be added to all priority seating signs.

On motion by Angela Rebeiro and seconded by Marian McDonell, ACAT unanimously accepted that the ACAT chair write a letter to the Chief General Manager thanking the TTC for agreeing to invite ACAT onto the Customer Service Panel appointed by the Commission; and further, that the Chair notes that ACAT looks forward to working on implementing the recommendations.

Design Review Subcommittee Motion

Craig Nicol proposed a Design Review Subcommittee motion on designing to maintain an accessible route in new subway and LRT stations and noted that staff had brought forward costs and other considerations for the information of the subcommittee.

ACAT unanimously agreed that the motion be forwarded by letter to the Commission for their consideration.

The Design Review Subcommittee motion indicates:

Whereas dependence on an elevating device to provide an accessible route in a transit facility can, at a time of breakdown or scheduled service, result in persons with disabilities being unable to make a trip or require them to follow a circuitous time consuming alternate route;

To maintain effective accessible transit service when an elevating device is out of service, ACAT recommends that the Commission undertake to budget, design, and build all new subway and underground Transit City (LRT) stations with accessibility redundancies such that it is always possible to reach all transit service levels and the street in the event of a single elevator failure using either a duplicate elevator or alternatively by making a one station return trip on the subway or LRT transit line.

For example, in new subway and LRT stations, this could mean:

1. Where there is more than one elevator, each elevator would reach the street and all levels of the station; or
2. Provision of duplicate elevators; or
3. The use of ramps or other passive features which are not dependent on equipment subject to breakdown.

Whereas the new accessible subway and LRT facilities are being developed in concert with others;

It is recommended the Commission seek additional funding from its partners for access redundancy to be provided in the subway and LRT stations.

d. Station Layout Pages

Bill Frost reviewed the detailed list of needs and security concerns. He will be meeting with the Marketing Department to address any unresolved concerns and will report back to ACAT in October.

e. Public Forum

Bill Frost advised that the Commission Report on the Public Forum will be available September 30, 2010.

Communications Subcommittee

Heather Green (Chair) advised that the Communications Subcommittee met September 2 and 16, 2010 and discussed the following items:

• Complaints Process

Tom McPherson, Superintendent of Customer Service and Planning - Wheel-Trans, advised that the TTC has run ad campaigns that feature information on the complaints process and will run campaign regarding encouraging patrons to submit complaints. They will run the campaigns again in the future.

• Priority Seating Policy

The Subcommittee recommended that:

- the priority seating signage needed to be more prominent to reflect the importance of By Law No. 1.
- the public needed to receive messaging and education regarding the importance of and enforcement of the priority seating policy.

• New Priority Seating Decal

The Subcommittee reviewed the new priority seating decal that has been developed for seats at the front of TTC buses. They noted and suggested:

- that the decal graphics did not highlight passengers using mobility devices.
- that By-Law No. 1 be added to the signage.

External Signage on Buses in Revenue Service Program Guidelines
The Subcommittee is currently reviewing the External Signage Guidelines.

• New Registrant Booklet

Bill Frost advised that the New Registrant Booklet project is being led by Wheel-Trans and is currently underway.

The next Communications Subcommittee meeting is tentatively scheduled to be held on October 7, 2010.

Design Review Subcommittee

Craig Nicol (Chair) advised that the Design Review Subcommittee met on September 8 and 15, 2010 and discussed the following items:

• Finch West Station

After viewing a presentation made by David Lawson, Supervisor - Architectural & Communications, E&C, the Design Review Subcommittee noted their concerns regarding:

- the provision to allow for installation of a second elevator at Finch West Station
- potential visibility and lighting issues
- access from parking lots, cutaways for ramps

• LRT Legacy Vehicle

The Subcommittee viewed a presentation made by TTC Rail Car staff. The second module, which is the accessibility vehicle, was redesigned to allow for more mobility vehicle parking space. The Subcommittee had concerns with ramp deployment and the street design of platforms which will be addressed in future meetings.

Service Planning Subcommittee

Anna Noviss (Chair) reported that the Service Planning Subcommittee met on September 8 and 15, 2010 and discussed the following items:

• 2010 Public Forum

The committee was given an outline of the Public Form process taken for the past 3 years. The suggestions from the 2010 Public Forum were then discussed. Items of concern will be sent to the appropriate Subcommittee and that Subcommittee will be asked to report back.

• Customer Service Panel Report

ACAT requested that Service Planning Subcommittee take the lead in assessing the Customer Service Advisory Panel Report. An action and referral list was made for discussion. The recommendation clauses will be forwarded to the appropriate subcommittees who will be requested to report back to Service Planning Committee.

• Service Integration - Transfers at TTC Stations

The Subcommittee discussed integration of specialized and conventional services. Further information or clarification was requested by staff and appropriate subcommittees.

Wheel-Trans Operations Subcommittee

In Angela Marley’s absence, Marian McDonell advised that no Wheel-Trans Operations Subcommittee meetings were held in August.

Administration Subcommittee

Susan Davidson reported that on September 28, 2010, the Administration Subcommittee discussed whether Subcommittee chairs should be required to provide written summaries prior to ACAT General meetings. It was decided that due to timing issues, most material provided in a summary would be unapproved, and that oral summaries from Subcommittee Chairs would be sufficient.

No Report. Marian McDonell encouraged the Committee members to attend the Commission meeting on the following day.

Steve Maracle, Senior Foreperson - Elevating Devices, provided operational information relating to TTC elevators.

• According to law, elevators are maintained on a monthly basis. As much as possible, regular maintenance is scheduled so that it will not affect the passengers. Elevators are only taken out of service when necessary.
• Breakdown procedures: Once a Collector is informed, Transit Control then informs the maintenance contractor. A mechanic is dispatched within 45 minutes, and if the problem does not require major repair, the contractor can complete the work within a two to three-hour turnaround. However, if the call is received during rush hour, the turnaround time may be longer. The contractor provides 24/7 service.
• The TTC elevators are known as “observation elevators” and are Commission-designed. As they are elevators which operate underground, they are affected by environmental issues such as water.
• The elevators have door sensors that can be affected by debris; if the door senses debris, it reopens three times then shuts down. As required by Code, maintenance contractors must be dispatched to check the door. Mechanics will put elevators back into service immediately, if they can do so safely. Only licensed personnel are permitted to reset elevators.
• The Engineering and Construction Department manages elevator overhaul or extended repairs.  They are in communication with TTC Customer Service.
• TTC routinely identifies maintenance issues which are reflected in their maintenance schedule and contractor projects.
• Lengthy service disruptions may be caused by mechanical issues or procedures, i.e. Downsview Station where a new hydraulic line needs to be installed.

ACAT shared the following concerns and comments:

• Temporary signage at elevators needs to be placed in a permanent frame, to avoid being blown away or removed by vandals.
• Extended periods of lack of elevator service at transfer points (9 months at Bloor and Yonge)
• Station cleaning staff and managers should play a role in regular inspection or cleaning of elevator tracks or lens on elevators, to help alleviate small issues that do not require shut down, or mechanics; cuts down on outages.

The Communications Subcommittee is to provide a recommendation to improve temporary signage at stations.

Bill Dawson, Service Planning Department, will ask for staff to provide information on the responsibilities of the new Station Managers, especially with regards to accessibility.

ACAT made the following recommendations:

• Ask staff to confirm if cleaners at stations can clean elevators floor, tracks, lens to alleviate elevator outages.
• Station Manager to be involved in and take action regarding elevator outages
• Service Planning Subcommittee to compile a list related to Station Managers’ proposed duties related to accessibility issues.

ACAT Meeting Notices

ACAT members requested that steps be taken to inform as many people as possible of meeting changes.

Information Sessions for the Advisory Committee on Accessible Transportation

The ACAT Information Sessions will be held at Toronto City Hall, Committee Room 2, on Tuesday, October 12, 2010, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, October 13, 2010, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Advertisements promoting the event will appear in the Saturday Star, Sunday Sun, Guardian, Metro and Mirror.

The next meeting of ACAT will be held on October 28, 2010, in the 7th floor Boardroom, 1900 Yonge Street.

On a motion by Angela Rebeiro, the meeting was adjourned at 3:40 p.m.

Lori Blinn
Recording Secretary