2011-05-16-GCC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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corridor planning. She will obtain larger map from Emily. She noted that 2013 is Lexington's 300' "birthday" and would be a good occasion for producing a comprehensive map of trails. Keith: Newton map book is a good example. It is sold by the town. Mike: Suggestion for umbrella name for trails /map project: "Lexington Tricentennial Greenway." Keith: Hank Manz (at time of GCC creation) expected the Committee to drive projects like that. Rick Abrams — Volunteered to coordinate GCC interactions with Town Tricentennial Committee. Michelle: Suggestion: Could identify 300 trail - related links (access points, interesting elements along trails, etc.) which people should find, like a scavenger hunt, within some time period associated with the Tricentennial events. (Probably several months, at least.) 2.4. CPA Funding Process Discussion with Nattie Rice (Keith) Keith: I met with Nattie a week ago — Application deadline for CPA funding is November 1. Possible CPA applications: (1) 75% design funding for Minuteman Connector portion of West Lexington Greenway (WLG) —but need to coordinate closely with town on priorities in the Hartwell Ave. /Wood St. area; (2) fund infrastructure improvement for Stewards to build regular - quality trail from Minuteman Bikeway to Wood St. at the power line crossing. Keith: [Update to minutes, from email dated 17 May 2011 ] We need to come up with a better term to refer to the various design levels for trails proposed. Let's use Regional Connector Quality to denote paved or other hard surfaced trails equivalent to the Minuteman Bikeway and Local Connector Quality to denote our typical single track trails with simple boardwalks /bridges unless others have an alternate suggestion. 2.5. Closure of present West Lexington Greenway Master Planning process, discussion with v s v Karen Mullins (Debi Deb talked to Karen, who has talked with VHB and they have committed to getting completed WLG Master Plan submitted by June 1. GCC will need to send acceptance report to CPC, notify Hank Manz & Selectmen. Keith: The existing nearly- completed WLG report clearly highlighted challenges of a direct connection (Minuteman bikeway to Wood St. & Battle Road) through wetlands. Richard Canale: Regarding the Minuteman Connector, and particularly the Wood St. to Battle Road part — since the MPO planning process feeds into state long range planning — It's important for the Town to prioritize confirming support or non - support for the status of the section as a "regional connector." If the WLG path is not feasible as a regional connector now, we should be clear about that, and should advocate for a different connector between the Minuteman Bikeway and the Battle Road. It could most easily be done via Mass Ave., with designated bike lanes ( and could be done in the near term). This would clearly establish a Regional level bikeway interconnection between the Minuteman Bikeway and the Battle Road. The other possible alternative of bike lanes on Hartwell and Wood is likely to take much longer. (10 -15 years; would be doubtful if MPO funds it.) Beyond the MPO process, another possible funding source, through a Scenic Byway application, would be due in one week; not enough time to follow up on that. Rick: Please explain regional aspect. Richard: State or federal funding would likely be focused on paths identified in state bicycle plan as "regional connections." Keith: Regional connector - our terminology would make this a paved bikeway, while a "local trail" would be like existing trails — hiking /mountain bike.