ACAT Meeting - January 26, 2017

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.

Nil.

On a motion by Howard Wax, seconded by Joan Jordan, the agenda was approved.

ACAT held an in-camera meeting on January 18, 2017 to hold the ACAT Executive elections. Debbie Gillespie was elected as ACAT Chair. Angela Marley and Raymond Dell’Aera were elected Co-Vice Chairs. Margaret Hageman was also elected as the ACAT Representative to the Customer Liaison Panel. Debbie also mentioned that Valdo Tammark is the representative to the Accessibility Advisory Panel for Transportation Services (AAPTS) and Lynn McCormick is the representative to the Platform Edge Door Advisory Committee.

Debbie Gillespie welcomed all to the first ACAT meeting of 2017 and specially welcomed the new members of the Committee together with the 2017 Pool members.

On a motion by Louise Bark, seconded by Howard Wax, the minutes of December 22, 2016 were approved.

Angela Marley updated the Committee members regarding the Memorial Plaque presented by Andy Byford, TTC CEO, at the December 22, 2016 ACAT meeting. The Plaque is currently in the process of being finished and members will be informed when it will be mounted. The first name on the Plaque is Susan Davidson, ACAT Chair 2014/2015.

The Plaque has the TTC logo and the inscription:

“The Plaque is in recognition of all those Advisory Committee on Accessible Transit volunteers who have provided leadership in removing barriers and advancing the accessibility of the TTC towards full inclusion.”

ACAT members reviewed the Outstanding Items of January 2017 and noted the following:

• Item: PRESTO Accessibility Features – Ongoing.
• Item: Accessibility at Bus Bays – Ongoing.
• Item: Accessibility at Transit Stops – Ongoing
• Item: Gap between Subway Trains and Platforms – Ongoing.
• Item: Legends on Maps over TR Train Doors – Staff reported that the Downsview station will be officially renamed on May 7, 2017 and the Maps are expected to be updated at that time.
• Item: Tracking of Reduced Fares – Completed
• Item: Travel Assistance Card – On hold until the Wheel Trans 10-Year Strategy becomes operative.
• Item: Suggestion that Wheel-Trans Buses be permitted to use the GO bus reserved lanes (DVP Bus By Pass Lanes) – Eve Wiggins reported that the training of Wheel-Trans Operators is expected to commence at the end of February. Once Operators complete their training and the TTC has the legal sign off, they are authorized to use the lanes.

Nil.

Eve Wiggins, Head of Wheel-Trans, reported on the following:

• Provided a brief history and background of the Wheel-Trans 10-Year Strategy for the benefit of the new ACAT members
• The Family of Services pilot program has progressed. The conventional bus routes are being selected and the Wheel-Trans Operations Subcommittee will discuss these routes further before presenting it to ACAT.
• The new eligibility application form has been launched.
• A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with other GTHA Transit partners so that there is better inter-region transit structure for customers.
• A consultant has been hired to complete an Accessibility Audit on Accessible stations.
• Sensitivity training has commenced for W-T call centre staff.

Questions and Comments from Committee Members

A member expressed concerns about ride schedules for customers that need to use both the conventional buses and Wheel-Trans. Eve Wiggins responded that the pilot routes that have been selected have shorter wait times and discussion will be held on operational details which includes connecting riders from Wheel-Trans to conventional buses with ease.

A member asked if only the accessible stations are being audited or all stations. Eve Wiggins noted that the audit is for accessible stations and this includes looking into the wayfinding signage in these stations.

A member stated that many changes are coming to the northwest part of the City with the opening of the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension later this year and these changes have to be integrated into the TTC routes in those areas. Eve Wiggins noted that this change in transit service is already being considered and that ACAT’s input is welcome.

ACAT Vice Chair Raymond Dell’Aera thanked Eve Wiggins for her update and asked what items will be tabled before ACAT from Wheel-Trans in 2017. Eve Wiggins responded that the 2017 work plan would be tabled before the Wheel-Trans Operations Subcommittee; this will then be brought before ACAT at the next General meeting.

Nil.

The TTC Board held a meeting on January 18, 2017.
 
Debbie Gillespie stated that Mazin Aribi, 2016 ACAT Chair, presented to the TTC Board on January 18, 2017, the highlights from the November 24, 2016 ACAT Meeting.

• SPS received a presentation from the City of Toronto staff regarding the Seniors Strategy project and the development of the next version of the Seniors Strategy version 2.0
• DRS reviewed two design options considered for the bus terminal of the new Scarborough Centre Station bus terminal on the Line 2 Scarborough Subway Extension and made some recommendations.
• ACAT members expressed concerns regarding the removal of bus schedules information at bus stops, stating that many seniors and people with disabilities rely on these postings as they do not have cell phones to access schedule information. Removal of the bus schedules from stop poles was also an issue identified by the Customer Liaison Panel members.

Mazin also informed the TTC Board Members of the election of the 2017 ACAT Executive, introducing Chair Debbie Gillespie and Vice Chair Angela Marley. He reported that Raymond Dell'Aera was also elected Vice Chair.

Debbie Gillespie informed ACAT members about two accessibility-related items with deputations that supported these requests:

• Request to TTC to permit Durham Region Transit access to the transit hub at Scarborough Town Centre and access to Metro Zoo for the purposes of transporting passengers to and from Durham Region and Scarborough, and
• Request to TTC for bus service to continue south of Kingston Road on Brimley Road to reach Bluffers Park to provide visitors with public transit service to access the park. 

Both requests were referred to staff.

Nil.

Nil.

• AODA Standards on Onboarding Announcements - Craig Nicol raised concerns about TTC being in violation of the AODA standards on onboarding announcements on streetcars. Matt Hagg will report on this at the next meeting.
• Eglinton Crosstown LRT Project - Craig Nicol raised concerns about the lack of adequate input from ACAT on the design of the project. Even though the Design Review Subcommittee has met with Metrolinx in two consultation meetings in 2016, ACAT still needs to push for more involvement in this project.

Debbie Gillespie suggested that this should be referred to Staff, to prepare a report to ACAT on how to move forward on this.

• Drop-off Zone at the TTC Headquarters - Lauri Sue Robertson reported that there is usually a car/truck at the Wheel-Trans passenger drop-off zone at the TTC Headquarters. Wheel-Trans staff will follow-up on this.

The next meeting of ACAT will be held on Thursday, February 23, 2017, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 1900 Yonge Street, 7th Floor Boardroom.