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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-09-08-LBAC-min APPROVED MEETING MINUTES Committee Name: Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee Date, Time and Location of Meeting: September 8, 2011, 7 pm, Rm 111 Town Office Building Members Present: Peggy Enders (Chair), Stew Kennedy, John Frey, Marita Hartshorn, Jerry Van Hook, Bob Hausslein (FoLB Chair), Richard Canale (Planning Board Liaison), Sandra Shaw (Recreation Committee Liaison), George Gagliardi. Others Present: Maryann McCall-Taylor, Michelle Stweng, John Livsey, John Mazerall, Margaret Stebbins, Richard Spencer Members Absent: Mike Tabaczynski, Peter Kelley (Selectmen’s Liaison), Laurel Carpenter Minutes : The June 2011 minutes were accepted. Center Street ScapePlan : Maryann McCall-Taylor presented the current plan for the redesign of the town center streetscape. She said the scope of the proposal covers the streets and sidewalks in the center but does not include parking. Proposed changes include: providing bicycle landing “boxes” across the Mass Ave/Waltham Street intersection and painting share the road arrows (sharrows) along Mass Ave. The committee indicated a preference for sharrows on Waltham Street, as well. The proposal includes several “bike nodes” along the Bikeway behind the center, including at the Visitors’ Center. The committee recommended that the bike node on the east side of the Depot be widened with more green space. With respect to bike lanes on Mass Ave, which some members favor, Richard Canale said that, with the present 2-lane plan, it would be difficult to provide cyclists with a bike lane and still keep them three feet of parked cars. He said that the sharrows will be located based on MUTCD regulations (i.e., 8 feet from the curb). The lane widths will be 12 feet each, at the request of the police and fire departments. Marita will give Maryann the locations of the approved bike racks to be included in the drawings. Maryann has started work on a pamphlet to educate drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians of the changes to the center and rules of the road. She hopes to have it go out with the spring tax bill. The committee suggested that, during the first few years of the introduction of sharrows, lettering be painted along with the sharrows that say something to the extent that “bikes may take full lane.” Minuteman Bikeway Guidelines : The final proposed guidelines for special events and signage along the Bikeway in Lexington were distributed and approved with minor changes as recorded by Peggy. The guidelines will be forwarded to the Selectmen via Norman Cohen. DCR Grant for User Information on the Minuteman Bikeway : The DCR awarded $37,000 to the three towns for a design plan to improve the Bikeway amenities; we will work with Arlington and Bedford on the project. Peggy reported that she is talking with the MIS office in Lexington about producing the map that is also part of the DCR grant. CPA-funded Bikeway Drainage and Root Control: According to recent reports from the DPW, the work should begin this fall. Bikeway Intersection Safety Upgrades: No report on progress in this area. Other business : Richard reported that area towns were not awarded the Scenic Byway grant. Four grants were approved in Massachusetts, one of which is a Scenic Byway in the Berkshires. He said that a design of a bikeway along the scenic road in Concord was approved. Meeting adjourned at 8:45. FoLB Treasurer’s report: $9,487.30. Bob Hausslein mentioned that the 501c(3) certification has been approved for FoLB. Bob said he received a call from someone who would like to plow the Bikeway. Stew recommended that he be encouraged to plow the Vine Brook Bike Path. Pay Pal: Bob said that the FoLB PayPal account is not functioning at the moment. Bob will work with George on getting it up and running as soon as possible. Moving Planet event: Mark Sandeen from Sustainable Lexington is helping to plan a moving rally for 350dot.org in Boston at 4 p.m. on Sat. September 24. Stew and some members plan on riding into town and will leave Lexington at 2:30. Others could ride to Alewife and take the T. Bikeway Counts: Margaret has scheduled volunteers for both Saturday and Tuesday, September 9 and 13. There was a report of trees down on the Bikeway at the Arlington end of town. Dave Pinsonneault will be contacted. Farmer’s Market: Bob scheduled volunteers for the bike corral on Tuesday, September 13. People riding to market will have the opportunity to draw free coupons from center businesses, as well as Farmers’ Market coupons paid for by FoLB. Stew and Bob reported that they did some cleanup on the Bikeway after Hurricane Irene. Upcoming Dates  LBAC/FoLB meeting Thursday, October 13 at 7 PM, Room 111, Town Office Building  Minuteman Bikeway Counts: Saturday, September 10, and Tuesday, September 13  Bike Corral at Farmers’ Market, Tuesday, September 13, 2 – 6:30 pm  Hub on Wheels Citywide Bike Ride: Sunday, September 25  Mass GreenDOT Moving Together Conference: Wednesday, October 12 Recorder: Marita Hartshorn Editor: Peggy Enders