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

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• Increased awareness of traffic issues due to the advocacy of the many committees, resulting in increased public demand for more alternatives, such as bike and pedestrian accommodations, as well as improved transit. Nonetheless there is • Ever increasing congestion on Lexington streets. The Transportation Element of the Lexington's Comprehensive Plan ' offers a policy on transportation for the Town. Despite the existence of this Plan, it is not clear how decisions are made or by whom. The committees tend to be advocates for a portion of transportation and are often left to operate on their own with little apparent input given, or sought, from the Board of Selectmen or the Planning Board. In general, it is unclear how decisions are made and by whom, what the guidelines are for making decisions, and what committee has jurisdiction over what. Communication and coordination among the committees is lacking with the exception of information provided by liaisons who are affiliated with one or more committees. The State administered federal transportation funding process, the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) process, is not well understood and the Town may be missing opportunities or moving projects along at a slower pace than could be realized with greater attention. All of these factors underscore the necessity of streamlining our approach to traffic issues to ensure that resources are deployed effectively and focused on commonly accepted objectives. Resources and Tools Staff Involvement and the Role of Liaisons Of the ten committee memberships analyzed (Appendix iii), 20 of the 91 members are liaisons; six are staff. Several liaisons are affiliated with more than one committee. The significance of these observations is open to interpretation when one considers that this ad hoc committee of 12 has two assigned staff. Committee members value their liaisons and staff, who keep them informed and advise how to get things done. Regular attendance by liaisons and staff is preferred over sporadic attendance. Transportation Committees, simply due to their number, are demanding of staff and liaisons. Those serving as liaisons are constrained by time limitations and cannot attend all meetings. They view themselves as committee resources, rather than participants. A more comprehensive review of liaison roles is being conducted by Selectmen Deb Mauger. The Transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan 1, The Comprehensive Plan, adopted by the Planning Board in 2003, was forward thinking and includes items yet to be done. It should be consulted. The values espoused in the Plan are as valid now as they were nearly a decade ago. This is a document that can provide direction to both committees and staff and assure focus on commonly accepted objectives.