2016-03-21-CEC-ATM-rpt - Laserfiche WebLink

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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2016 ATM Forestry staff maintains approximately 10,000 trees along roadways and an undetermined number of trees, shrubs, and plantings on Town -owned land. For the FY2017 funding requests, see Article 8(h). Minuteman Commuter Bikeway This 10 -mile Bikeway, which was opened in 1993, runs from the Alewife MBTA Station to the Railroad Freight House in Bedford; 5.3 miles of the Bikeway lie in Lexington. The DPW maintains the Lexington segment. In FY2015, a request was being made to investigate restoring the bridge carrying the Bikeway over Grant Street. As noted above under Culvert Repair, there also was a request to replace a culvert supporting the Bikeway. In addition, in FY2015 funding was authorized for the design of Way - Finding- and - Etiquette signage for the Lexington portion of the Bikeway (Arlington and Bedford declined to participate). For the follow -on FY2017 request, see Article 8(i). Town Center Streetscape Project Increasing the vitality of Lexington Center has long been an open -ended goal of the Town as businesses come and go and usage patterns change. Projects in support of the Center have been both large and small, including rezoning the former Battle Green Inn site and the installation of a seasonal "pocket park" on Massachusetts Avenue in front of the Ride Studio Cafe. The deterioration of the infrastructure through the Center, and the needed safety enhancements as the traffic volume has increased are significant concerns. To address these infrastructure, safety, and enhancement issues in a coordinated manner, the Center Streetscape Improvements Project was created. When fully implemented, it would address from business -front to business –front across Massachusetts Avenue and run from just beyond the intersection with Woburn Street and Winthrop Road to just beyond Meriam Street. The results of that Project would be further enhanced at that Meriam Street end by work under the Battle Green Streetscape Project. The last funding of the Center Streetscape Project was at the 2014 ATM, under Article 10(a), where $600,000 was approved by that Meeting to carry the design to 100 % — including bid documents. See the same numbered Article at this ATM for the latest request for the construction funding of the first phase of the project. DPW Equipment DPW has 146 pieces of significant equipment (includes vehicles). The replacement value for that equipment today is approximately $8 million. This equipment includes pick -up and dump trucks, construction vehicles, and specialized equipment including pumps, rollers, sprayers, and mowers. Replacement intervals vary from 5 to 25 years and are based upon manufacturers' recommendations. Of these, 90 pieces had an individual acquisition cost in excess of $25,000; therefore, their replacement would normally be characterized as Capital and subject to this Committee's review. DPW has developed a well- conceived program, which includes annual updates produced by the Road Machinery Division and other Division Superintendents, with review by the Manager of Operations and Department of Public Works Superintendent. This program replaces the older, less fuel- efficient, and high - maintenance equipment with standard, off -the -shelf vehicles and equipment that will last longer and cost less to maintain and operate. Replacement of equipment with individual acquisition costs under $25,000, and of all automobiles, is funded with operating funds. The current 5 -year equipment - replacement schedule projects annual costs between $850,000 to $925,000 per year. The FY2016 requested funding was increased above the usual annual level to purchase a windrow turner for the compost operation at Hartwell Avenue. This piece of equipment was added to the budget as a result of the study done in conjunction with the solar project that was approved for the compost site. That project included the loss of some composting area and the windrow turner was expected to increase productivity of the remaining composting area to the outcome from the original area. For the FY2017 funding request, see Article 10(b). 22