2012-02-27-TGC-final-rpt - Laserfiche WebLink

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Report of the Transportation Ad Hoc Study Committee (Presented and Accepted by the Board of Selectmen on February 27, 2012) The Ad Hoc Study Committee was tasked to • Review and make recommendations to the BOS for a new committee(s) structure to streamline the oversight of transportation and safety related policies • Specifically identify redundancies and overlap of responsibilities and recommend an improved organizational oversight model. Members represented the following boards and committees Selectmen: Hank Manz and Norman Cohen Planning Board: Michelle Ciccolo and Richard Canale Transportation Advisory Committee: Bill Levison, Sara Arnold (alternate) Traffic Safety Advisory Committee: Dave Cannon Bicycle Advisory Committee: Peggy Enders Sidewalk Advisory Committee: Jerry Van Hook At Large: Jeanne Krieger, Chair Staff: Linda Vine and Maryann McCall - Taylor Background and Problem Statement Lexington has serious transportation issues that are difficult to remedy, are often contentious and cannot all be solved locally. We endure the impacts of overcapacity highways, cut - through commuter traffic and inadequate public transportation. Neither Lexington nor the State invests adequately in solutions. Lexington has not addressed the challenge of increasing automobile traffic by embracing a sustainable transportation strategy. It is a time honored Lexington tradition to form a committee when confronted with a thorny issue. There are at least 17 committees involved in addressing transportation and safety issues (Appendix i). Some of these Committees have been in existence for 30 years; most for nearly a decade and one was launched during the tenure of the ad hoc Study Committee. The charges of the Committees have changed little during this period, but there have been important changes in the Town's capacity to deal with traffic related issues. o New staff alignment- cf Transportation Program Recommendations, September 6, 2011 (Appendix ii) o Enhanced staff expertise, relieving committees of day -to day operations involvement,