HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-10-09-LBAC-min
MEETING MINUTES
Committee Name: Bicycle Advisory Committee
Date, Time and Location of Meeting:
October 9, 2008; 7 pm; Rm 111, Town
Office Bldg
Members Present:
Stew Kennedy (BAC chair), Hank Manz (Selectmen’s
Liaison), Mike Tabaczynski, Abe Shenker (FoLB Chair), George Gagliardi, John
Frey, Peggy Enders, Jerry VanHook, Richard Canale (Planning Board Liaison)
Others Present:
Rich Spencer, Christine Loken-Kim, Paolo Marinelli
Members Absent:
Marita Hartshorn, Laurel Carpenter, Sandra Shaw
(Recreation),
Minutes:
Reviewed and approved September 8 meeting minutes (as corrected).
Issues Discussed:
Snow Plowing status:
Paolo reported that he had met individually with the
Selectmen, spending an hour each with Norm Cohen and Hank Manz, talking
with George Burnell by phone for 30 minutes. George said he was a daily trail
user and would personally like to see the bikeway plowed but expressed
concerns he wanted to discuss with the DPW. Paolo reported that Peter Kelley
would be willing to add it to an agenda and that Jeanne Krieger is supportive, as
well. Stew then led a discussion about next steps. Hank said he needed a cost
estimate from the group as well as parameters and help to develop a strategy for
th
an October 20 meeting. A cap was discussed, based on Arlington’s experience
(12 plowable events, $2,500). There was some discussion about the costs
involved with removing the bollards and the flanges, as well as whether the
remaining holes would be a problem. Stew said there were some issues with
the Conservation Commission regarding piles of snow and sanding. Mike moved
that a proposal be put to the town that $4,000 be allocated to plow the bikeway
for the 2008-09 season; this motion was seconded and approved by all.
Lane Striping Problems and Recommendations:
Jerry talked about the
ongoing work on Wood Street and the fog lane striping being proposed, saying
that the fog lanes generally striped in Lexington generally don’t allow much room
for bicyclist. Twelve-foot travel lanes are the rule when painting is done,
although state regulations allow lanes between 9.5 and 12 feet: “Lexington tends
to go wide.” He showed pictures of the current roadwork and plans for striping
on Lowell Street and asked that the group support a more general policy of
creating bike lanes where possible. An additional benefit would be to calm
traffic, since narrower lanes tends to produce cautious drivers. Rich Canale
suggested that the committee develop a prioritized list of streets that they are
identified as important routes and good candidates for wider fog lanes. Hank
said, “you have the ear of the Selectmen: and asked that they be given a list.
After some discussion about town striping practices (e.g., some pushback from
Engineering and the preference of the police not to narrow main streets), a
motion was made to ask the town engineering to widen the fog lane line for the
remainder of the Lowell Street striping and for Woburn and other streets in
progress. The motion was seconded and approved.
Safety Issue at the Intersection of Mass Ave and 2A:
At the September
meeting, Abe had reported on the safety problem for bicyclists on the westbound
side of Mass Avenue at its intersection with Marrett Road. The problem resulted
from the lane striping done by the state to create a left-turn lane there. Abe
agreed at this meeting to write a letter to the Selectmen and the Traffic Mitigation
Group about this problem and, in consultation with LBAC, it was agreed that a
request for a short-term fix be put in place.
Joyce Miller’s Meadow Sign:
Mike requested that the committee approve a
sign on the Bikeway at the entrance to the meadow. A motion was made,
seconded and approved.
Leadership Election:
After saying that after six years it was time for him to
step down as chair of the committee, Stew nominated Peggy Enders for
consideration as the next chair. There were no other nominations. The
nomination was approved.
Meeting adjourned.
Record of Friends of Lexington Bikeways discussions.
Treasurer’s Report
: Rich reported the current balance as $2,643.73, including
$525 in tributes to Charles Herlihy. He anticipated upcoming expenses from the
Hall of Fame celebration (tee shirts, the banners and bookmarks, etc.) and
suggested that the Herlihy contributions be acknowledged. Abe agreed to write
these notes.
Improving Community Outreach:
Although Laurel wasn’t present to lead this
discussion, suggestions were made about ways to raise the visibility of the FoLB
mission. The Hall of Fame solicitation and celebration demonstrated that people
are interested in bikeways in Lexington, the challenge is how to involve them.
Suggestions included the following: a new membership drive; regular
newsletters; a questionnaire to new members; an effective content-managed
website; regular updating of mailing and email lists; an FoLB annual meeting
(“come on down!”).
Other Business:
It was agreed that at the November meeting, we would
discuss ways to spend the money received by FoLB through donations, new
memberships, and the Herlihy tributes. The next 4-town meeting should take
place soon, and it was agreed that Bedford should be reminded that it is their
turn as host. Finally, Abe agreed to create FoLB stationery letterhead.
Meeting adjourned
Information Distributed:
??
Draft minutes from September meeting
Recorders:
Abe Shenker and Peggy Enders (Peggy Enders, editor)
Next Meeting:
Scheduled for 7 PM, Thursday, November 13, 2008 in Room 111
of the Town Office Building