2011-12-05-WALKS-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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I Lexington Sidewalk Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, December 5, 2011, 9 AM Room G 15, Town Office Building Present: Judy Crocker, John Davies, Lucy Fletcher- Jones, Bettina McGimsey, Francine Stieglitz, Jerry Van Hook (Chair); Liaisons: Marc Valenti (DPW), Elaine Celli (Transportation); Guests: Dave Cannon (DPW), John Livsey (DPW), Jill Hai (Winthrop Street), Ronnie Skerker (Winthrop Street), Bonnie Brown (Estabrook neighborhood) The meeting of the Sidewalk Committee (SWC) was called to order at 9:30 AM. 1. Discussion of the proposed Concord Ave sidewalk project: Prior to the convening of the SWC, members of the SWC and the Bike Committee heard a presentation regarding Concord Avenue. Three plans for a new sidewalk and bicycle accomodation were presented. Two of the plans called for a sidewalk on either the north or the south side of the road, as well as sharrows (a contraction of "share arrows"), symbols painted on the roadway surface, indicating that motorists should expect bicyclists and should share the roadway with them. The third plan called for a sidewalk on the south side of the road with dedicated bike lanes. 2. Update on the proposed Winthrop Road sidewalk proposal : Jill Hai reported that, since last meeting with the SWC, she and her committee have contacted all houses on Winthrop Road except for two. As of December 5, 2011, two abutters oppose the sidewalk. In addition to most of the abutters, many neighbors from the adjoining streets are interested in the sidewalk. The next step will be for representatives from Winthrop Road to go before the Board of Selectmen with their petition. John Livsey noted that there will need to be a study to determine which side of the road the sidewalk should go. To get the funding for this preliminary study, Ms. Hai will need to go to the Town Manager, Carl Valenti, to request this funding. Once the preliminary study has been done, an article for Town Meeting for a survey and conceptual design needs to be developed which will be presented at Town Meeting in March of 2012. Dave Cannon noted that the Winthrop Road sidewalk would be an ideal project to piggyback on to the redo of Waltham Street. This comment led to a discussion of crosswalks on Waltham Street. It was noted that a crosswalk on Waltham Street in the vicinity of Winthrop Road is necessary regardless of what happens with a sidewalk on Winthrop. 3. Mark Valenti noted that he and his crew have completed the sidewalk at 201 Bedford Street and that they have also been working to alleviate trip hazards on the brick sidewalks downtown. Francine Stieglitz observed that the disability commission is not pleased with brick sidewalks. Judy Crocker noted that they are new bike racks downtown which were