2006-03-13-WALKS-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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SIDEWALK COMMITTEE Minutes of the March 13, 2006 Meeting Chairman Weeks opened the meeting of the Sidewalk Committee (SWC) at 11 AM. Nine committee members were present plus liaisons Wagner, Brooks, and Guttag. Minutes of the February 6 meeting were approved without change. Modifying the e-mailed agenda in response to new issues, Ch. Weeks laid out the topics to be addressed and their spokespersons: Van Hook discussing a new inventory subcommittee mapping program, Davies on Center sidewalk alternatives, Lucy FJ covering the SWC web site and Bowman school activities, Judy Crocker on SRTS progress in the other elementary schools, Lisa Baci on nearby town policies on sidewalks and paths, and Olga on strategies for Town Meeting passage of SWC warrants. These reports would be followed by discussion and a vote on the proposed DPW repairs list. A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO WALKING DESTINATIONS Van Hook described how members of the original inventory group had tried to develop a systematic cataloging of destinations and routes for walking, bicycling and mass transit in Lexington. Two basic questions were posed: 1) What are the principle destinations for walkers and bikers within Lexington? a) to schools or to school-related activities by both children and parents b) to centers of commerce for errands, egg; post office, library, town offices, c) to attend group gatherings such as meetings, band concerts, church services. d) Commuting to workplaces within Lexington or in nearby towns. e) For personal exercise or to visit town parks and woodlands. 2) Are these destinations disbursed throughout town or concentrated? a) The schools are spread widely in town but students within any one school district would travel radial paths to and from school, limiting the number of logical routes. Greater distances for students to middle and high schools generally require bicycling or bussing, but the radial destination pattern still limits logical routes. b) Centers of commerce are primarily concentrated along the eastern end of Mass Ave and its extension along Bedford St. These centers are readily accessible from the Bikeway for three seasons and along plowed sidewalks on those avenues in winter. Other centers on Waltham St, Lowell St, and Marrett Rd. are not as convenient to the Bikeway and need sidewalk improvements for better access c) places for social gathering are generally concentrated near the town center and can be reached on foot or bike via off-road paths and via major streets with sidewalks that converge on the center d) for commuting to Worthen Rd offices or the Hartwell industrial area, the MM Bikeway is the better route. Commuting to offices at Cranberry Hill