2006-02-06-WALKS-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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SIDEWALK COMMITTEE Minutes of the February 6, 2006 Meeting Chairman Weeks opened the official meeting of the Sidewalk Committee (SWC) at 12 noon. Ten committee members were present plus Officer Jenkins and liaisons Krieger and Wagner. Liaison Guttag was present to offer comments beforehand but could not stay for the meeting. Minutes of the January 3 meeting were approved without change. Chairman Weeks began by showing a large map of Lexington where he had colored in roadways and footpaths that he considered critical. The map also showed in color the routes that other members of the SWC individually felt were critical. Mr. Van Hook then reported on the results of a group of four from the inventory subcommittee who had worked together to generate a list of sidewalk and crosswalk projects using the sidewalk inventory map. The rationale was to be a systematic approach on pedestrian conditions on all major roadways, addressed in descending order of vehicular density and speed, assuming the busier roads without proper sidewalks and crosswalks would more likely be unsafe safe for pedestrians. The group began looking at roadways which they believed had the most traffic, coloring them red and then looking for deficiencies in pedestrian facilities. They then identified the secondary roads that link areas of commerce or public gathering in blue and plan to generate a similar list. Finally, the plan is to study those neighborhood streets that have higher foot and vehicular traffic (green) and to produce another list of needed improvements. These lists, together with improvements submitted by individual members, will hopefully form the basis of sidewalk projects in the future. Ch. Weeks said that a list of long term new construction projects was useful but the immediate need was for a short term list that could be matched with repair list items in the DPW proposal for this fiscal year. He asked members to submit their priority lists of sidewalk repair projects selected from the DPW proposed list.. He said that estimated expense should be a guiding factor because the $300 K budget to be proposed for this year’s town meeting had already been exceeded and there would have to be some deletions from the DPW proposed list to bring it in line. He also emphasized that sidewalk improvements for SRTS is an important element of the program and should be considered for a higher priority over those of a more general nature if we are to meet the goal of supporting programs for better access to the five elementary schools, one that began last fall and the others that will begin this spring.. There were reports of vandalism of some of the signs placed at crosswalks and at bus stops for school children.