Committee Agenda for Public Service and Transportation Committee 03/25/2021

CITY OF WORCESTER

Public Service and Transportation Committee Meeting

Thursday, March 25, 2021

Levi Lincoln (North) Chamber

Convened: 5:03 P.M.

Adjourned: 6:20 P.M.

Mayor Joseph M. Petty	www.worcesterma.gov	Clerk of the City Council Nikolin Vangjeli
Committee Members
Chairperson Gary Rosen
Vice Chairperson Donna M Colorio
Councilor Sarai Rivera

City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

	Present Were:	Chairperson Councilor Gary Rosen Vice Chairperson Councilor Donna M Colorio Councilor Sarai Rivera

	Also:	State Senator Harriette Chandler Worcester Regional Research Bureau Executive Director Paul Matthews Worcester Regional Research Bureau Research Associate Tom Quinn Worcester Regional Transit Authority Administrator Dennis Lipka Deputy City Clerk Stephen AJ Pottle, clerk

Approval of the Minutes



1a.	Order - That the City Council Standing Committee of Public Service and Transportation hereby approves the minutes of the Public Service and Transportation Committee on February 9, 2020.	View Agenda

	Chairperson Councilor Rosen read the item and moved for a roll call vote to adopt the item. Order adopted on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays

Public Participation



2a.	In order to ensure the continuation of active public engagement, the City of Worcester will now use a phone conference line for members of the public to participate in all public meetings. To participate during the public participation phase of City Council, you may call the direct line indicated: Levi Lincoln (North) Chamber - 415-655-0001 (Access Code: 160 621 5801) or enter the below URL into your web browser. If you would like to raise your hand when in the meeting as a call-in user during public participation you may dial *3. https://cow.webex.com/cow/onstage/g.php?MTID=eea5acbf0ddf86c65b894f8abaaf904e3	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor Rosen read the item and recognized the following speakers: 1. Anne Bureau, no residence given, spoke in favor of item #3a 2. Brenna Robeson, no residence given, spoke in favor of item #3a 3. Karen Lugo-Vargas, no residence given, spoke in favor of item #3a 4. Eva (no last name given), no residence given, spoke in favor of item #3a 5. Henry Hernandez, no residence given, spoke in favor of item #3a 6. Joe Belil, no residence given, spoke in favor of item #3a 7. Meg Coffin, no residence given, spoke in favor of item #3a 8. Mike Kennedy, no residence given, spoke in favor of item #3a 9. Monique Girard, no residence given, spoke in favor of item #3a 10. Nancy Garr-Colzie, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #3a 11. Robert Biolotta, Worcester resident, spoke in favor of item #3a 12. Susan Moriarty, no residence given, spoke in favor of item #3a

Miscellaneous Items



3a.	Order of Councilor Gary Rosen, Councilor Khrystian E. King, Councilor Sarai Rivera, Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey - Request Standing Committee on Public Service and Transportation Committee hold a public hearing to discuss both Senate Docket/SD 1541, an "Act directing all RTAs in the Commonwealth to establish at a minimum one-year fare free pilots to commence by December 31, 2021" and SD 2315, an "Act creating a New Deal for Transportation in the Commonwealth”, which calls for fare free RTAs and raises the revenue needed. SD 1541's primary sponsor is State Senator Patricia Jehlen, Second Middlesex District, and SD 2315's is State Senator Joseph Boncore, First Suffolk and Middlesex District, with Senator Harriette Chandler as a co-sponsor to both bills. # 10h CC March 9, 2021	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor Rosen read the item and moved to take the item up with items #3b, #3c and #3d. Chairperson Councilor Rosen recognized State Senator Chandler, who discussed the actions occurring at the State level relative to SD 1541 and SD 2315. Chairperson Councilor Rosen recognized the WRTA Administrator, who discussed grants provided to the WRTA to better serve its ridership. Chairperson Councilor Rosen recognized Councilor Colorio and Councilor Rivera, who briefly discussed the funding mechanisms associated with potential fare-free RTAs in the State. Chairperson Councilor Rosen discussed the Freedom to Move Act, which would create funding for fare-free transportation authorities. Chairperson Councilor Rosen recognized the WRTA Administrator, who discussed the WRTA budget and strategies to implement a fare-free public transportation system. Chairperson Councilor Rosen brought forth the following Chairman’s Order: Request City Manager notify the state legislature that the city would volunteer to implement one (1) to three (3) years zero-fare pilot program to be funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Chairperson Councilor Rosen moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be placed on hold. Recommend Hold on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays

	Chairman's Orders
	Request City Manager notify the state legislature that the city would volunteer to implement one (1) to three (3) years zero-fare pilot program to be funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.


3b.	Order of Councilor Gary Rosen, Councilor Khrystian E. King, Councilor Sarai Rivera, Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey, Councilor Morris A. Bergman, Councilor Donna M. Colorio, Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson, Councilor Sean M. Rose, Councilor George J. Russell, Councilor Matthew E. Wally and Mayor Joseph M. Petty - Request Standing Committee on Public Service and Transportation hold a public hearing to discuss financially viable options for extending the current suspension of WRTA fares as a means of helping Worcester's essential workers and city residents for whom public transit is a necessity. The committee should also review the Worcester Regional Research Bureau's recent addendum to their original May 2019 report that called the WRTA the “perfect candidate for a fare-free system." # 12a CC December 1, 2020	Attachments
	In Committee for informational purposes only

	Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (see item #3a)


3c.	Order of Councilor Gary Rosen - Request Standing Committee on Public Service and Transportation hold a virtual hearing soon so that WRTA riders on fixed and Paratransit routes, the company's drivers and members of the public can ask questions and voice their concerns about the future of the WRTA, it's response to the coronavirus pandemic and how the expected $38.4 million COVID-19 funding from the FTA will be allocated. # 9c CC May 19, 2020 In Committee June 1, 2020 - Held	Attachments

	Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (see item #3a)


3d.	Order of Councilor Gary Rosen, Councilor Sarai Rivera, Councilor Khrystian E. King, Councilor Morris A. Bergman, Councilor Donna M. Colorio, Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson, Councilor Sean M. Rose, Councilor Gary Rosen, Councilor George J. Russell, Councilor Kathleen M. Toomey, Councilor Matthew E. Wally and Mayor Joseph M. Petty - Request Public Service and Transportation Committee hold public hearings throughout the city to consider the recommendations made by the Worcester Municipal Research Report in a report of May 2019. The report deals with the feasibility and desirability of establishing a three-year first of its kind pilot project in Massachusetts in which the WRTA would implement a fare-free system. As in several other cities and towns across America, it is expected that such a change would significantly increase ridership, reliability and efficiency, among others. # 13b CC January 7, 2020 In Committee February 24, 2020 - Held	Attachments

	Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays (see item #3a)


3e.	Communication of Timothy McGourthy, Executive Director of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau, transmitting, “The Implications of a Fare-Free WRTA.” # 8a CC June 4, 2019 In Committee February 24, 2020 - Held	Attachments

	Chairperson Councilor Rosen read the item and recognized Tom Quinn, who provided an overview of the item. Chairperson Councilor Rosen moved for a roll call vote to recommend the item be placed on file. Recommend File on a roll call vote of 3 Yeas and 0 Nays