CITY OF WORCESTER | Public Service and Transportation Committee Meeting | Tuesday, May 3, 2022 | Levi Lincoln (North) Chamber | Convened: 5:07 P.M. | Adjourned: 06:24 P.M. |
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Mayor
Joseph M. Petty | 
www.worcesterma.gov |
Clerk of the City Council
Nikolin Vangjeli | Committee Members | | Chairperson Morris A Bergman | | Vice Chairperson Thu Nguyen | | Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson |
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City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts | |
| Present Were: | Chairperson Councilor Morris A Bergman
Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson | | | | | Also: | WRTA Administrator Dennis Lipka
WRTA Advisory Board Chairman Gary Rosen
Chief Development Officer Peter Dunn
Deputy City Clerk Stephen AJ Pottle, clerk | | | |
| 1. | Virtual Attendee Call-In Information | |
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| | | 1a. | Pursuant to Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021 and in order to ensure active, public engagement, the City of Worcester currently allows for both in-person and remote participation at all City Council and Standing Committee meetings. To partake in the meeting, you may attend the meeting in-person within the meeting location, follow the below link to join via Zoom or dial the direct line as indicated.
Public Service and Transportation Committee Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/99057901613
Public Service and Transportation Committee Zoom Phone Number: (929) 205 6099
Public Service and Transportation Committee Zoom Access Code: 990 5790 1613 | Attachments |
| 2. | Approval of the Minutes | |
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| | | 2a. | Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Public Service and Transportation hereby approves the minutes of the Public Service and Transportation Committee meeting on December 13, 2021. | View Agenda | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Bergman read the item and moved to adopt the order. Order adopted on a roll call vote of 2 Yeas and 0 Nays (Nguyen absent) | |
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| | | 3a. | Order of Councilor Morris A. Bergman, Councilor Donna M. Colorio, Councilor Etel Haxhijaj, Councilor Khrystian E. King, Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson, Councilor Thu Nguyen, Councilor Sarai Rivera, Councilor Sean M. Rose, Councilor George J. Russell, Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey and Mayor Joseph M. Petty - Request Standing Committee on Public Service and Transportation hold a public discussion concerning: 1) passenger usage from 2019-2022 (March); 2) funding sources available, potentially including ARPA, federal and state grants to offset zero fare; 3) bus routes as they relate to where the city’s top 10 employers are located; 4) what, if any, public input and/or marketing efforts are occurring to improve ridership; and 5) working with area colleges to determine increased consistency and improved routing around said colleges.
# 12b CC April 26, 2022 | Attachments | | | | | | | Chairperson Councilor Bergman read the item and moved to take the item up collectively with Item #3b.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman recognized the following speakers:
1. Anne Bureau, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to items #3a and #3b
2. Henry Hernandez, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to items #3a and #3b
3. Idella Hazard, Worcester resident, spoke neither in favor or opposed to items #3a and #3b
Chairperson Councilor Bergman recognized the WRTA Administrator, who outlined the WRTA’s handicap accessible busses and para transit vans.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman discussed whether all services associated with the WRTA are fare free, who qualifies for para transit vehicles, the demand for para transit trips and how the WRTA is advertising its fare free status with the WRTA Administrator.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed the number of para transit vehicles with the WRTA Administrator.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager work with the WRTA Administrator to provide City Council with a report concerning the daily usage of yellow cabs by the WRTA. Further, request said report include the number of yellow cabs servicing the city.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman discussed ridership numbers during the pandemic with the WRTA Administrator.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager work with the WRTA Administrator to provide City Council with a report concerning the service’s monthly ridership charts from January of 2019 to present.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed whether the WRTA bus routes line up with the locations of the top ten employers in the city with the WRTA Administrator and Chief Development Officer.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager provide the WRTA Administrator with a list of the top ten employers in the city for the purpose of determining whether the WRTA’s existing bus routes pass through said employers.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman discussed CARES Act, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and traditional state funds received by the WRTA, how those funds have been allocated and the percentage of state funds that are received by the WRTA with the WRTA Administrator.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson, who discussed the amount of funds available to the WRTA for future use, as well the stipulations associated with how the funds are to be expended with the WRTA Administrator.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman discussed the implementation of a new fare collection system for the WRTA, as well as public hearings associated with any new fare systems that could be implemented by the WRTA with the WRTA Administrator.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman recognized Councilor Mero-Carlson discussed how the implementation of a permanent fare free system would have on driver union costs
Chairperson Councilor Bergman brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager work with the WRTA to provide City Council with report concerning the estimation of anticipated increased labor costs from new collective bargaining agreement after the current contract expires.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman recognized the WRTA Advisory Board Chairman, who expressed gratitude for the Standing Committee’s interest in WRTA operations, including the potential permanent implementation of fare free ridership.
Chairperson Councilor Bergman moved to recommend item #3a be held and #3b be filed.
Recommend Hold | | | | | | | | Chairman's Orders | | | | Request City Manager work with the WRTA Administrator to provide City Council with a report concerning the daily usage of yellow cabs by the WRTA. Further, request said report include the number of yellow cabs servicing the city. | | | | Request City Manager work with the WRTA Administrator to provide City Council with a report concerning the service’s monthly ridership charts from January of 2019 to present. | | | | Request City Manager provide the WRTA Administrator with a list of the top ten employers in the city for the purpose of determining whether the WRTA’s existing bus routes pass through said employers. | | | | Request City Manager work with the WRTA to provide City Council with report concerning the estimation of anticipated increased labor costs from new collective bargaining agreement after the current contract expires. | |
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| | | 3b. | Order of Councilor Morris A. Bergman and Councilor Sarai Rivera - Request City Manager work with the WRTA Administrator to provide City Council with a report as to the number of buses that are handicapped accessible, the number of vehicles available for para transportation and if best practice methods are used to determine same.
# 11e CC April 12, 2022 | Attachments | | | In Committee for informational purposes only | | |
| | | | | | Recommend File (See Item #3a) | |
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