HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-01-10-LBAC-min
MEETING MINUTES
Committee Name: Bicycle Advisory Committee
Date, Time and Location of Meeting:
January 10, 2008; 7:00 pm; Rm 111
Members Present:
Stew Kennedy (BAC chair), Harvey Bingham, Peg Enders, Sandra
Shaw (Recreation), John Frey, Marita Hartshorn, Abe Shenker, Mike Tabaczynski, Jerry
VanHook
Others Present:
Rich Spencer, Bob Dangel, David Gingold, Gladys Bingham, Carolyn
Siccama, Jim Wichmann, Terry Gleason
Members Absent:
Richard Canale (Planning), George Gagliardi, Hank Manz
(Selectmen)
Record of Votes taken and issues discussed.
Minutes
from the November meeting were reviewed and approved as submitted.
Terry Gleason
of Bedford’s Friends of the Bikeway talked to us of the difficulty they are
experiencing in Bedford getting close cooperation between Bike and Trails committees.
This is particularly hindering advancement of the Minuteman Connector (“Reformatory
Branch”) proposed project. He is looking for evidence that bikeways don’t create
problems for adjacent conservation lands, and is interested in learning from Lexington’s
experiences. Discussion followed of how Lexington has developed good, working
relationships between LBAC, Recreation, and Conservation to the benefits of all
interests. Various trail improvement projects in conservation lands, Rec-Dept bike paths,
and the West Lexington Greenway are examples of the results of collaborative efforts.
Harvey Bingham
All present celebrated ’s many contributions and accomplishments
furthering bicycling and the bike community in Lexington. We shared a cake made by
Marita and reminisced about Harvey’s years on the LBAC.
Hartwell Avenue update
: As a daily commuter there, Terry summarized experiences to
date of the traffic effects from the restriping. Peggy added her husband’s experiences as a
commuter there and complaints he has heard about traffic backups: queues have gotten
worse. It has been clear that a period of adjustment to the new conditions was necessary.
Since the first week, Terry finds things have calmed down. The Bedford Police seem to
have stopped being particularly concerned. Terry has observed that big backups occur on
days when Google Earth reports extra delays on Rte 128 South and / or at the Rte 3 and
Rte 128 interchange. Cut-through traffic in Bedford then clogs Bedford roads in the
Hartwell area and Hartwell Ave itself.
SWC and TMG Report:
Jerry came from and reported on a concurrent public hearing
on sidewalks for Spring St and Hayden Ave. Shire Pharmaceuticals has agreed to fund
these, as part of their TDM efforts. The west side of Spring and the north side of Hayden
were chosen. An additional benefit of these new sidewalks will be opportunities for office
workers in the area to walk at lunchtime. It was agreed we should look into the possibility
of getting Patriot Partners to open up the old fire road through their property that
connects Spring St to Lincoln St. This would provide a key off-road connection of these
excellent walking areas.
Snowplowing the Bikeway in Arlington:
Arlington has commenced a trial program of
plowing the Bikeway after snowstorms. To get a sense of the effect, Mike biked it on
Sunday, January 5 (and took photos to show us.) He found heavy usage by walkers and
people with strollers, but very few bikers. He saw hundreds of people out enjoying the
Bikeway. Stew learned that even with the six storms that required clearing in December,
Arlington had spent for the month only $1584 for plowing and sanding. He heard from
the Arlington Planning Office that public feedback has been generally favorable. Mike
observed that people seemed less conscious of path sharing than usual. And the shoulder
buildup after several plowings also suggests that our recommendation for plowing only
half the path (a sidewalk’s width) in Lexington may need to be reconsidered. We agreed
to wait until the end of this season to see what else Arlington learns from their
experimental program and then revisit our position on plowing.
North – South Bike Route
: Abe and Peg are interested in developing bike lanes in a
north - south direction between the Center and Concord Avenue and between the
Waltham line and the Burlington line. There is interest in the committee to take this on as
a future project. We should look at the proposed routes in the Comprehensive Plan as a
first step.
Environmental Bond Bill
: The LBAC voted unanimously to go on record in support of
the Environmental Bond bill currently before the state legislature.
Woburn Street crossing
: We looked at new optional designs for the Bikeway crossing
of Woburn St. that were provided by Engineering. Stew will feed our comments back to
Dave Cannon. Dave expects to hold a public hearing on Woburn St design changes later
this winter.
Meeting adjourned.
Record of Friends of Lexington Bikeways votes and discussions.
Treasurer’s Report
: Rich reported that the treasury now contains $2093.13.
MAPC Bike Racks:
Marita reported the HDC approved all six of the bike rack locations
in the center requested at the December 7 meeting. This includes the one for the front of
the post office, which still needs Postmaster approval. (The Lexington office manager
favors it and has requested his boss’s approval.) Marita will write a letter thanking David
Pinsonneault for his excellent help with this process.
Clarke Bridge project
: Peg reported that Steve Flynn, Principal at Clarke, will be
meeting Friday with the architect who is designing the bridge repair. He will relay the
plans or status to Peg who will then let Mike know. It’s not clear if this will provide
detailed plans or just concepts.
Environmental Bond Bill
: The FoLB also voted unanimously to go on record in support
of the Environmental Bond bill currently before the state legislature.
Other business:
Stew suggested that FoLB fund the cost of the West Lexington
Greenway website, and the motion was approved. Mike will design the website.
Stew has a bill from the MAPC bike rack HDC meeting for repro costs for
reimbursement. The first West Lexington Greenway public meeting will be on January
16 and members were encouraged to attend. Marita will promote the FoLB newsletter in
the letter to the Minuteman she plans to submit regarding the Bikes not Bombs program.
Harvey submitted his box of Bikeway related historical records to the Historical Society.
Meeting adjourned
Information Distributed:
Draft minutes for November 2007 meeting
Minuteman Bicycle Path - Winter Snow Clearing Report by Arlington DPW
Recorder(s):
Abe Shenker andMarita Hartshorn; Stew Kennedy (editor)
Next Meeting: February 14, 2008, 7PM, Room 111 in Town Office Building