HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-04-16 Area Transportation Committee MinutesArea Transportation Committee April 16, 1981 at 9:30 a.m. Minutes Present: Councilor Albert Weymouth Councilor Clafre Porter John Flynn, City Manager Ted Jellison, Finance Director Fred Clancey, Bus Superintendent Joe McNeil, Assistant Bus Superintendent Nelle Neilson, Veazie Town Manager Ray Coca, Orono Town Manager Stan McGowan, Old Town City Manager law Bone, Hampden Town Manager Charles Martin, Penobscot Valley Regional Planning Sharon Jones, Penobscot Valley Regional Planning 1. Section 3 - Capital Grant - UMTA Officials. Gary Flynn and Mary Beth Mello, federal officials from the Urban Mass Transit Administration regional office in Boston attended the meeting. The grant application for new buses was discussed. Mary Beth Mello indicated that the application for funds to purchase new buses, 3 large and 3 small, looks very goad and it is hoped that approval will be made by June. Federal officials did suggest that instead of purchasing one of the smaller buses, the money should be used to purchase an automatic drive through bus wash'. The committee had no objection to adding this item as part of their grant proposal. It was also noted by Flynn and FJlb that all buses will have to be equipped with lifts so as to be accessible to the handicapped. legislation is still pending but final action will not be taken until fall. Sharon Jones suggested that the City not wait for the outcome of the legislation as It would cause considerable delay in delivery of the new buses. The few will still require that transportation systems have some accessible vehicles for the handicapped and the Bus has none at the present time. 2. Section 18 - Subsidy. Sharon Jonesbtold the group she had been talking with officials in Augusta and they have assured her that within two weeks we should be getting the contract. 3. Discussion of MPO Designation. Charles Martin of the Regional Planning Commission told the group that the Bangor area is scheduled to be designated a Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area, possibly late in June. Then the area is eligible for designation as an urbanized area by the Federal Highway Department which would mean that decisions relative to spending of federal highway funds could be made by local officials. He also indicated that after this urbanized area is defined a committee should be set up, known as a'metropolitan planning organization, to make decisions on local highway priorities. Plans to form a committee will be drawn up by Charles Martin and circulated to members of the bus committee, as well as people In the outside communities, as they would be part of the urbanized area. John Flynn indicated that the Transportation Committee would still exist for the Bus and the metropolitan planning organization would be a separate amity. 4. Monthly Financial Reports. A detailed discussion of the financial statements for March 1981 was held by the group. Meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m. 0