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Minutes of the Lexington Capital Expenditures Committee (CEC) Meeting <br />January 29, 2013 <br />the iPad. Their original plan, that would have given parents that option, also would <br />have had a no- expense -to- the - family option, but those iPads would have to remain <br />at the school. <br />Sidewalk Construction on Hartwell Avenue: Ms. Tintocalis reviewed the $200,000 <br />request for a sidewalk on Hartwell Avenue between Bedford Street and the Minuteman <br />Bikeway (Bikeway) that is included in the Sidewalk Improvement CIP. Construction will be <br />on the Town's 100 -foot right -of -way, and the Town will be responsible for maintenance and <br />snow removal. <br />Ms. Tintocalis reported meeting monthly with the Hartwell Avenue businesses and is <br />soliciting a cooperative approach to improving this business area, which has a 30% <br />vacancy rate and competes with Burlington and Waltham for tenants. It is generally agreed <br />that the area feels isolated and is lacking amenities and connectivity. It is anticipated that a <br />gateway sign will be donated, and the Town is asking the Medical Care Center — operated <br />jointly by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Children's Hospital — located on <br />Bedford Street, to build a Bedford Street bus shelter and a sidewalk from their facility to the <br />shelter in exchange for permission to add parking spaces. The Town is taking steps to <br />allow food trucks on Hartwell Avenue and is working with the 128 Business Council to begin <br />a shuttle service between the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Alewife <br />station and Hartwell Avenue. Grant money is being pursued for the latter. <br />The Committee discussed a larger transportation project for the Transportation <br />Management Overlay District (TMOD) encompassing Hartwell Avenue that was outlined by <br />a consultant for the Town and would include major road improvements. This would be <br />eligible for Massachusetts Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) funds, but the Town <br />must complete a 25% design before the project can be considered for TIP funding. <br />Additionally, the State has not been funding TIP projects on a regular basis in recent years. <br />It is estimated that it will take 15 to 20 years before all aspects of this project could become <br />a reality. <br />Ms. Tintocalis supports pursing easily - attainable Hartwell Avenue projects on an immediate <br />basis. The businesses have expressed strong support for the sidewalk project, and she <br />believes that the Town's support of it will send an important positive message. <br />In response to questions about the proposal to extend the sidewalk along Hartwell Avenue <br />from the Bikeway to Wood Street, which is included in the Hartwell Avenue Infrastructure <br />Improvements CIP, Ms. Tintocalis explained that constructing it is complicated and very <br />expensive. She said that this section of sidewalk would be evaluated as part of the <br />$690,000 being requested in FY2014 as the first of three fundings for Design and <br />Engineering (D &E) under that CIP. She will look into what portion of this funding request is <br />for the Bikeway -to -Wood- Street sidewalk. She will also find out why the previously <br />discussed $200,000 Hartwell Avenue sidewalk project didn't include the short distance <br />between the Bikeway and Maguire Road. <br />Page 3 of 5 <br />