HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-06-14-LBAC-min
MEETING MINUTES
Committee Name: Bicycle Advisory Committee
Date, Time and Location of Meeting:
June 14, 2007; 7:00 pm; Rm 111
Members Present:
Stew Kennedy (BAC chair), Harvey Bingham, John Frey, George
Gagliardi, Marita Hartshorn, Sandra Shaw (Recreation), Abe Shenker (FOLB Chair),
Mike Tabaczynski, Jerry Van Hook
Others Present:
Peg Enders (FOLB), Dick Fleiss (FOLB), Rich Spencer (FOLB)
Members Absent:
Richard Canale (Planning),Hank Manz (Selectmen), Jim Wichmann
Record of Votes taken and issues discussed.
Minutes
from the May meeting were reviewed and approved as corrected.
Bike Racks by the Depot Building:
John summarized the history of the two once and
future bike racks behind the Lexington depot. Then Marita explained the current
situation, including the meeting several of us (Marita, John, Jerry, Tom Fortmann and
Stew) had with representatives of the Historical Society (HS) on May 30. (At that
meeting the HS offered to return one but not both of the racks to a place of their
preference under the canopy, even though they had told us in a December 2006 meeting
that both racks would be returned to mutually acceptable spots under the canopy.) After
discussion, the BAC voted unanimously to agree to a compromise put forward by Hank
Manz and the Town Manager’s office: this would have one of the racks secured by the
HS under the depot canopy near the western end of the building (in the location defined
in Marita’s email message to the HS of June 6 summarizing the May 30 meeting, to wit,
18” to the right of the electrical outlet and 24” from the back of the depot and
perpendicular to the building), and the second rack would be located across the brick
pathway from the depot, beside the bikeway, and near the northeastern corner of the
building at 9 Meriam St. once that area is suitably prepared and surfaced by the town.
The accepted motion explicitly stipulates that this compromise is acceptable only if the
rack under the canopy will be installed as soon as HDC approval is granted, if the second
one will be approved and installed in a timely manner (within six months), and that the
BAC will not be responsible for making all these steps happen. Otherwise, the BAC
wants both racks placed post haste beneath the canopy.
Hartwell Ave. / TMG / Sidewalk Committee report:
Jerry reported that BSG agreed to
provide an interim report of their Hartwell Ave. traffic study findings. This will come up
in the next few weeks, and he will inform us of the time and location when set.
He explained that the schools will face increased traffic this next school year because of
the cost increase to parents of bussing, combined with the increase of the radius (from the
school) before a child qualifies for free bussing. The SWC expects a challenge to keep
traffic down.
Request for table by Bikeway during event:
Dick Fleiss, a York St. Mr. Fleiss agreed
to all these stipulations, and agreed to put the request in writing so Stew can forward the
request and our recommendations to the Town Manager.
Safety data:
Abe reported on his meeting with Fire Chief Middlemiss as a follow up to
the letter we wrote requesting bicycle related accident reports. Chief Middlemiss was
very responsive and helpful. He explained that the accident data base does not easily
allow creation of a separate field for bicycle related reports, so the only way to sort for
them is by a more laborious manual process. The Chief had that done for the past five
years and gave the resulting data to Abe. Abe will examine this data and see if patterns
emerge from which we can draw conclusions and then make recommendations for
improving safety. This interaction with the safety officials is encouraging and promises to
lead to continuing helpful collaboration.
RTP trail grant
: Mike reported he was informed by DCR that our grant request for this
year was approved, for all parts except the brush mower. The only problem is we have no
idea when the money will be forthcoming: based on recent years’ results, it’s unlikely
any work will be able to be done before this fall at the earliest.
Location signs on Bikeway:
Jim had asked that consideration be given to requesting
posting of location signs along the bikeway, as he recently saw an emergency vehicle
(from Bedford) having trouble finding an accident victim who apparently was confused
in reporting his location. As Jim missed this meeting we decided to wait until next month
to take up this issue, but at this time the committee unanimously passed a motion to
recommend that signs identifying the town borders with Bedford and Arlington be put up.
Repaving plans for the Bikeway:
Stew reported talking recently with Bill Hadley about
plans for repaving in the fiscal year starting this July. The plan is to start at the Bedford
line and proceed eastward with repaving the entire surface, and installing some root
barriers where root damage shows they are needed. The allocated money will allow about
half the bikeway to be done – reaching somewhere near the center. The plan is then to
request from town meeting money and authorization to complete the bikeway in the
following fiscal year. This year’s work will probably occur next spring. Bill understands
our position recommending removal of the rumble strips as the repaving gets to them.
Stew promised Bill he will speak with John Rosenberg about removal of the rumble
strips. (John had mentioned liking them when the paving question arose at this year’s
town meeting.)
Other Business:
Sandra reported that the supply of bikeway maps has been exhausted,
and the Recreation Office gets frequent requests for them. (We had heard the same in
recent months from the Conservation Office and the Visitor Center.) Sandra said that
Karen Simmons would be willing to reprint them, but Marita announced that the
Arlington Planning Office (who produced the original batch) is in the process of making
new ones. She will check on their status.
John asked if some of the repaving money could be spent on the badly damaged paved
bike path between the Lower Vine Brook path and East Emerson Rd. We think not, but it
would be worth asking. Stew will ask Bill Hadley.
George reported the good news that he has finally received the permit form from Mass
Highway for road signs above Rte 95 identifying the Minuteman Bikeway. The bad news
is that the request itself may cost $500.
Meeting adjourned.
Record of Friends of Lexington Bikeways votes and discussions.
Treasurer’s Report
: Balance unchanged at $2,031.30.
Clarke Middle School bridge:
This badly needed project has many people interested in
helping to see it accomplished, but it has languished for lack of a dedicated organizer.
Peg Enders stepped forward and agreed to get it organized. She will talk to Abe and Mike
to acquaint herself with the history and the players and then lay out a plan. This promises
progress at last.
Paper Streets:
Marita explained her conversation with Jeanne Krieger about this last
month and why it is in the town’s – and the FOLB’s – interest to have paper streets that
can be used by pedestrians get identified and their status clarified. She will take the lead
on searching the maps to produce the list. Peg volunteered to help. Jerry mentioned the
SWC is also very interested in this because it increases access to schools, to open land,
and enhances safe routes to school program. So Marianne Lazarus on the SWC has been
charged with a similar task. Marita and Peg will get together with Marianne. In the
meantime, all who know of any should identify them to Marita by email at
(maritabob1@rcn.com).
Fern’s Bathroom:
Abe presented the arguments for making a contribution to the fund
raising effort for an outdoor toilet to be available to cyclists at the popular country store
in Carlisle Center. We unanimously approved contributing $100 from the treasury for the
cause.
Miscellaneous:
Marita reported that Lexington’s request to the MAPC bike rack program
has moved closer to being submitted. Dave Pinsonneault has gotten approval for using
funds from the Blossom Trust Fund to buy the racks and pay for shipping (with the fund
to be repaid by MAPC once the racks are installed.) Abe announced the Arlington bicycle
race will be run this year. Peg announced the Bike to Bridge Boston program has
succeeded in getting approval to close Storrow Drive on September 23 to autos, making it
a bike / pedestrian park for the day. People should plan to take part to make it a success.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM.
Information Distributed:
Draft minutes from May 2007 meeting
May 11, 2007 letter from S. Kennedy to Chief Middlemiss requesting safety data
Summary of correspondence and minutes regarding the BAC’s position on the bike racks
behind the depot.
Recorder Name:
Harvey Bingham (scribe); Stew Kennedy (editor)
Next Meeting: June 14, 2007, 7PM, Room 111 in Town Office Building