HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-04-10-LBAC-min
MEETING MINUTES
Committee Name: Bicycle Advisory Committee
Date, Time and Location of Meeting:
April 10, 2008; 7:00 pm; Rm 111
Members Present:
Harvey Bingham, Peg Enders, Marita Hartshorn, Stew Kennedy
(BAC chair), Abe Shenker (FoLB Chair), Mike Tabaczynski,Jerry VanHook
Others Present:
Carolyn Siccama, Rich Spencer, Carl Valente (Town Manager),
Deborah Osber, Erna Greene, Paolo Marinelli
Members Absent:
Richard Canale (Planning), John Frey, George Gagliardi, Hank Manz
(Selectmen), Sandra Shaw (Recreation)
Record of Votes taken and issues discussed.
Minutes
from the March meeting were reviewed and approved as corrected.
Snow plowing the Bikeway in Lexington:
Paolo Marinelli, an Arlington resident who
advocated for and helped initiate the plowing trial program there this past winter, spoke
to us about that trial and the lessons learned. His particular interest is in access for the
disabled to the path. The Arlington pilot program was initially funded with a $2,500
budget. It ended up being plowed 10 or 11 times and once was sanded, the latter by hand
and at great expense ($400). The town used a private contractor, Brian Warren, who
charges $75/hour. They found the 3 ½ miles of path could be plowed within two hours.
(It helped that the bollards were removed for the winter.) One reported problem that need
to be resolved is at intersections, where the street plow would leave snow. Some
coordination is needed to solve these kinds of issues.
Arlington’s user counts were high. On successive weekends in 20 minutes of
observing Paolo counted: 65 pedestrians and 5 cyclists (on Christmas day); 59 peds and 1
cyclist; 50 peds and 5 cyclists; 69 peds and 10 cyclists; and on a 66 degree day in
January, in an hour, he counted 159 pedestrians. The plowing contractor was surprised at
how many people used the plowed path. He saw consistently more use west of Arlington
center. Paolo said the Arlington Transportation Advisory Committee, Disability
Committee Walking Advocacy Group and Bicycle Advisory Committee all supported the
experiment and agreed it was successful. The ratio of compliments to complaints ran
about 100 to 1.
We revisited our previous position of wanting only half the path’s width plowed, and
decided a full snow-plow’s width works better. Arlington’s experience showed that still
leaves plenty of snow for skiing. The BAC thus should change our plowing width
recommendation to the Selectmen. Carl Valente expressed the opinion that in Lexington
a pilot program would be a smart way to go. He has concerns about gates vis-à-vis safety,
and said DPW and the police and fire departments should be consulted. We also need to
figure out a way to coordinate plowing streets and the Bikeway so that street piles don’t
block the previously plowed path.
Bikeway Paving: Stew reported on a conversation with Engineering about alternatives
to the repaving plan. It may make better use of the money available and be better for the
Bikeway if rather than repaving the entire surface, only the places needing it are done,
and the remaining money is spent of repairing or correcting problems that are causing
erosion and other deterioration of the pavement. A special BAC meeting may need to be
called to allow us to advise DPW/Engineering before they initiate a contract for the
work.
Hartwell Ave status: Terry Gleason’s monthly report was read, indicating nothing new
for the past several months, except that the bike lane stripes were repainted last week.
Carl commented that his commute from Bedford via Maguire and Westview continues to
be slower than before the change was made. Conversations between the town and the
AFB are being held to see if something can be done to alleviate the afternoon traffic jam
leaving the base. The abandoned spur line that runs behind the buildings west of Hartwell
was discussed as a possible route.
Tri Town meeting: Marita reported that the bumper sticker idea for identifying towns
along the bikeway was well received at the last tri-towns meeting. Potential designs for
the bumper sticker were discussed.
West Lexington Greenway status: Mike reported on status of the WLG master planning
project. Basically, the contractor, VHB, is busy producing the draft master plan in
preparation for presenting it to the public on May 13.
Town Meeting Article 59: Stew reported that the proponents of the article have changed
the details we took issue with and it now matches what we had hoped for: at least two
bike parking spaces and no maximum number of bike spaces.
Trail Count plans: Stew described plans for repeating last fall’s count of users of the
Bikeway on May 3 (Saturday) and May 6 (Tuesday). Volunteers should call or email
Stew.
Discovery Day: Marita asked if we want to have a presence at Discovery Day this year.
After discussion it was decided we would find a more suitable and concentrated audience
at the Farmers’ Market, so that will be considered as an alternative opportunity.
Meeting adjourned.
Record of Friends of Lexington Bikeways votes and discussions.
Treasurer’s Report: Rich reported $2078.75 in the treasury.
Clarke Bridge project
: Peg reported there is to be a pre-construction meeting next
week. She also heard from Steve Flynn that the PTA will raise the necessary money for
the materials. We agreed to make a $100 donation: motion moved, seconded and
approved.
Farmers’ Market:
Carolyn described how the Bike to the Market discount coupons were
financed last year: from her pocket. We agreed to make a donation this year of $100 each
for the two Bike to the Market days planned. Motion to so donate $200 made, seconded
and approved. Stew needs to get out the minutes so Rich will have this authorization to
send the checks. Rich also needs the address.
Bike Racks:
Carolyn wrote an article in the Minuteman explaining for the public about
the new bike racks. Marita will order No Riding on Center Sidewalks plaques for these
new racks in the center.
Annual Bikeway Cleanup and Trail Count:
The cleanup will be done as in past years,
with a “captain” to be at the following locations to supervise any volunteers: Carolyn at
Bedford St, to handle Bedford St to Revere St; Stew at Camillia Way to handle Revere St
to Hancock St; Jerry at the Depot to handle Meriam St to Woburn St; Marita at Woburn
St to handle Woburn to Seasons Four; John at Seasons Four to handle there to Maple St;
Rich at Maple St to handle there to Waldorf School; Abe at Fottler Ave to handle
Arlington line to Waldorf School. Except for the Center section, most areas are pretty
clean this year. Any extra volunteers should thus be sent to work with Jerry.
Other business:
??
Green Transportation Day – An exploratory meeting will be held on April 29th at
to consider possibly instituting a community-wide Green Transportation Day to
promote the concept. It could be joined to Bike to the Market day.
??
Bicycle Safety Training at Bowman School - Jerry announced Lucy Fletcher
Jones is working with Mass. Bike and is planning a training program. She is
looking for volunteers for the April 26 program at Bowman School.
Meeting adjourned
Information Distributed:
Draft minutes for March 2008 meeting
Email message from Terry Gleason on Hartwell Ave status
Recorder(s):
Abe Shenker; Stew Kennedy (editor)
Next Meeting: May 8, 2008, 7PM, Room 111 in Town Office Building