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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-10-03-WALKS-min MINUTES – SIDEWALK COMMITTEE MEETING OCTOBER 3, 2005 The minutes from the meeting 9/6/05 were approved. Two protocol items were discussed. The first was the appropriate means to inform other town committees and entities of decisions made by the committee. It was agreed that whenever a liaison to another committee was a member of the sidewalk committee that person would be asked to inform the relevant organization. For example John Davies was a member of the planning board. A recommendation by the sidewalk committee on materials of construction for a particular project would be delegated to Mr. Davies to report to the planning board. The second protocol item was the issue of terms of the members of the sidewalk committee. The selectmen established the committee with 20 voting members, each with a three year term. A suggestion has been raised to consider staggering the terms between 1, 2 and 3 years. The committee was asked to consider this proposal. Mr. Weeks stated he would put forth a concept for consideration. Ms. Herbert reported on the Safe Routes to Schools program at Bridge. A resounding success so far. Please refer to the attachment that summarizes the work to date. This report will be posted on the website. A list of activity items was distributed to the committee relative to the safe routes to schools program. The list is attached to these minutes. Ms. Krieger reported on the Snow and Policy work group. The group is continuing to evaluate potential policies relative to snow management by the DPW, and believes that their focus needs to combine policy considerations with design standards and materials of construction, taking into account maintenance requirements and available resources (equipment and labor), community involvement and budgetary constraints. The group presented a recommendation for materials of construction for sidewalks in town center, that being: In considering construction materials for sidewalks in the center, the Sidewalk Committee regards accessibility, ease of maintenance, appearance and character as the primary factors. Of particular concern is the ability to clean the surface in the winter and ensure a level surface. For these reasons the Sidewalk Committee recommends that replacement walks include a brushed concrete strip approximately four feet in width with access ways to store fronts and cross walks, bordered on one or both sides by brick paving. The Sidewalk Committee voted to accept this recommendation. Mr. Davies was asked to present this recommendation to the Planning Board during their hearing on the Battle Green Inn project and to relay the recommendation to the Design Advisory Committee and Lexington Center Collaborative. Ms. Guttag suggested that the committee comments should also address pedestrian safety with respect to the garage entrance/exit proposed for the Battle Green Inn, as well as other projects wherever sidewalks interface with vehicular pathways. Mr. Davies will present those comments to the Planning Board also. Ms. Steiglitz circulated for comment a draft of a report describing town policies regarding snow removal, existing bylaws and regulations, and opportunities for individual property owners to facilitate snow removal and management by the town. This report was well received. It will be reviewed by the snow/policy group and a final version submitted to the Lexington Minuteman for publication and posting on the website. The minutes of the 9/31 (sic) Snow/Standards Sub Committee are available from the secretary in the Selectman’s office. They provide more detail on the group’s work plans. A list of activity items was distributed to the committee relative to the snow issues. The list is attached to these minutes. Mr. Weeks requested that committee members start to compile cost data so that budgetary recommendations may be made to the selectmen. The comment had previously been made at committee meeting that individuals were expending personal funds for committee work. Ms. Krieger commented that the Snow/Standards Sub Committee was recommending that $150K be allocated annually in the DPW budget for maintenance of existing sidewalks. A list of budget and expense related items was distributed to the committee. The list is attached to these minutes. Ms. Fletcher-Jones requested content to use in updating the website.The request is that the material be in a format that can be readily inserted into the site. The website will be updated in October. The committee was urged to continue to conduct community outreach and keep people thinking about the issues The meeting was adjourned at 12:30. Minutes submitted by Craig Weeks BRIDGE KIDS WALK AND ROCK th The Safe Routes to Schools program officially began September 26 thanks to the efforts of many Bridge Elementary School parents, the PTA and staff. Outstanding participation reduced car traffic at the school in the mornings by over 50%. Every morning of the kickoff week children gathered in the playground before school, marking on an activity poster the mode of transportation they used to get to school. Upwards of 40% of the students walked, some scootered and biked; and students were encouraged to bus or carpool if they lived far from school. The students participated in a safe walking and biking assembly, put on Thursday th September 24 by the PTA, accompanied by a dozen of the Bridge teachers and staff. Safety guidelines were distributed to all students and their families through the school newsletter. The Lexington DPW contributed to the program by repainting heavily used crosswalks along Marrett Road and procuring “Yield to Pedestrian in Crosswalk” signs that the Bridge PTA parents placed at strategic locations identified as main walking routes through the Safe Routes to Schools survey conducted last spring by the Lexington Sidewalk Committee. A new crosswalk was added across Marrett Road at the entrance to the Old Res parking lot after the PTA parents coordinating the walking groups determined it would dramatically improve the safety of students crossing that busy road. Crosswalk signs were placed at Downing and Marrett Rd., Valleyfield and Spring St., at the Old Res parking lot entrance on Marrett Rd., at the dangerous intersection of Marrett Rd., Middle St. and Cary Avenue, and at the intersection of Outlook/Downing and Prospect Hill Road. Each day of the kickoff week had a theme for the students: Safety Day, Environment Day, Neighbor Day, Healthy Heart Day, and Friday’s celebration of Bridge Walks, Bridge Rocks. All students received ribbons to acknowledge their awareness of the benefits of reduced car traffic, and the health and social benefits of community activities. With about 200 students walking, scootering and biking to school in the mornings with parents or neighbors the playground was alive with activity each morning. Wednesday’s Neighbor Day had eight designated meeting points throughout the school district for families to gather at, to meet people from their neighborhood. The objective was to allow people to meet and greet and discuss ways to establish “Walking School Buses” and carpooling options for inclement weather during that morning’s walk to school. One large group from the Waltham Street/Winthrop Road area tested out the “Walking School Bus” concept. The Superintendent of Schools, Paul Ash, School Committee member Olga Guttag, Board of Selectmen Chair Jeanne Krieger, Bill Hadley of the Town engineering department and Wayne Brooks of the Lexington DPW all attended Friday’s events and observed first hand how successful the kickoff week had been. PTA organizers pointed out to the Town officials that tremendous support from Bridge Principal Barbara Manfriedi, Assistant Principal Rini Gilbride, and teachers and staff was key to the success of the kickoff week. Families are being encouraged continue to use alternatives to driving cars throughout the remainder of the school year. At the entrance to each classroom children can indicate how they arrived at school, walk, bike, scooter, bus, carpool, single car. Teachers and PTA members will be able to utilize this information for curriculum material such as determining averages, percentages of different modes of transportation and other statistical methods. th Throughout the year there will be more themed “Walking Wednesdays”. October 19 is Trim and Trash Day – a day to clean and clear pathways on the way to school. th November 9 is “Orange Day” – collect a leaf for collage making at the playground. Bridge PTA parents and the Principals office will support the ongoing program with a special emphasis on determining the most heavily used routes to school in order to prioritize maintenance and repair by DPW, establishing priorities for snow removal and deicing during winter, and make recommendations for new sidewalk construction to the Sidewalk Committee. Further educational health and safety programs are planned, including safe biking tips and guidelines. The “Walking School Bus” concept of creating established walking groups and routes, with designated times and locations for the ‘bus stops’ will be developed also. Activity items - safe routes to schools BRIDGE prioritize snow plowing routes crosswalk sign management crossing guards identify sidewalks needing repair fall maintenance map for website - showing preferred routes and crosswalk locations statistics for website and newpaper articles globe northwest article minuteman article photos for articles and website letters to editor (lex minuteman) writeup for website how to manual for other schools start Bowman school planning for spring implementation start other schools planning for spring or fall 06 implementation request list of new crosswalks or sidewalk construction budget preparation for all above Activity items - snow guidelines for residential yard maintenance - guidelines for commercial property identify areas needing repair to facilitate plowing/sidewalk clearing prioritize town plowing routes incentives/penalties for clearing sidewalks and roadways bylaws for snow management cost data current budget data material for website personal expenses to date prepare cost database how to market and promote activities dpw cost and budget data