2008-01-10-LBAC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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MEETING MINUTES Committee Name: Bicycle Advisory Committee Date, Time and Location of Meeting: January 10, 2008; 7:00 pm; Rm 111 Members Present: Stew Kennedy (BAC chair), Harvey Bingham, Peg Enders, Sandra Shaw (Recreation), John Frey, Marita Hartshorn, Abe Shenker, Mike Tabaczynski, Jerry VanHook Others Present: Rich Spencer, Bob Dangel, David Gingold, Gladys Bingham, Carolyn Siccama, Jim Wichmann, Terry Gleason Members Absent: Richard Canale (Planning), George Gagliardi, Hank Manz (Selectmen) Record of Votes taken and issues discussed. Minutes from the November meeting were reviewed and approved as submitted. Terry Gleason of Bedford’s Friends of the Bikeway talked to us of the difficulty they are experiencing in Bedford getting close cooperation between Bike and Trails committees. This is particularly hindering advancement of the Minuteman Connector (“Reformatory Branch”) proposed project. He is looking for evidence that bikeways don’t create problems for adjacent conservation lands, and is interested in learning from Lexington’s experiences. Discussion followed of how Lexington has developed good, working relationships between LBAC, Recreation, and Conservation to the benefits of all interests. Various trail improvement projects in conservation lands, Rec-Dept bike paths, and the West Lexington Greenway are examples of the results of collaborative efforts. Harvey Bingham All present celebrated ’s many contributions and accomplishments furthering bicycling and the bike community in Lexington. We shared a cake made by Marita and reminisced about Harvey’s years on the LBAC. Hartwell Avenue update : As a daily commuter there, Terry summarized experiences to date of the traffic effects from the restriping. Peggy added her husband’s experiences as a commuter there and complaints he has heard about traffic backups: queues have gotten worse. It has been clear that a period of adjustment to the new conditions was necessary. Since the first week, Terry finds things have calmed down. The Bedford Police seem to have stopped being particularly concerned. Terry has observed that big backups occur on days when Google Earth reports extra delays on Rte 128 South and / or at the Rte 3 and Rte 128 interchange. Cut-through traffic in Bedford then clogs Bedford roads in the Hartwell area and Hartwell Ave itself.