2018-06-27-CEC-ATM-rpt (Combined Report with Updates & Errata)

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CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMMITTEE REPORT TO 2018 ATM(incorporating Updates&Errata) Agency (EPA) requirements, to improve the water quality in Lexington's streams and ponds while protecting the Town's investment and structural integrity of its streets. (See Article 16(b).) Comprehensive Watershed Stormwater Management Systems In order that the Town's storm-drainage system capacity is maintained to handle runoff from impervious surfaces, the Town must manage the stormwater runoff associated with its 18 brooks and three watersheds. Additionally, sediment deposits, organic debris, and refuse can impede the flow of water through watershed areas, and cause flooding and damage to private property, thus creating liabilities for the Town. To date, the Charles River, Shawsheen River, and Mystic River watershed-management plans have all been completed. The Pleasant Street and Willard Woods drainage improvements, as well as stream-bank stabilization for the Vine Brook in the Saddle Club Road area, are complete. The Whipple Brook stormwater design is nearly complete. DPW is reviewing which specific locations will be addressed with remaining FY2018 funding. For the FY2019 funding request to address other priority areas, see Article 16(c). [Note: There is some location overlap with Town-Wide Culvert Replacement as some projects require both culvert repair and stream-management planning.] Culverts There are more than 50 culverts in Town. A culvert is defined as a pipe or drain that carries a stream or ditch under a roadway. Many older culverts are near or at failure. DPW's engineering program for on—going culvert inspections has confirmed a need for culvert replacement and extraordinary repairs. This is a companion effort to the ongoing Comprehensive Watershed Stormwater Management work. In 2015, work was funded for the culvert under Revere Street at the North Lexington Brook, and the culvert under Concord Avenue at Hardy's Brook. This work, as well as the Bikeway culvert which was funded for FY2016, have all been completed. Work continues in the Oxbow/Constitution Road and Valleyfield/Clematis Brook areas. For the FY2019 funding request, see Article 16(d). Public Grounds The Town owns approximately 630 acres of land of which approximately 110 acres are in parks, playgrounds, conservation areas, athletic facilities, school grounds, and historical sites. In addition, Town staff administers and maintains four cemeteries with a combined area of just over 30 acres. The Forestry staff maintains approximately 10,000 trees along roadways and an undetermined number of trees, shrubs, and plantings on Town-owned land. For the FY2019 funding request that is not cited under Recreation, see Article 11. Minuteman Commuter Bikeway In FY2015, there was an appropriation to investigate restoring the bridge carrying the Bikeway over Grant Street, for which construction will likely occur this year. 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 Wayfinding and Etiquette signage for the Lexington portion of the Bikeway with follow-on FY2017 funding. This project is nearing completion. (Arlington and Bedford declined to participate.) 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. Infrastructure deterioration in the Center, and safety enhancements as 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, Winthrop Road, and Fletcher Avenue northwesterly to just beyond Meriam Street. The results of that Project would be further enhanced at the Meriam Street end by work under the Battle Green Streetscape Project. The last Center Streetscape Project funding was at the 2014 ATM, under Article 10(a), for $600,000 to carry the design to 100%, including bid documents. The design that had been advanced to the 25% level 25