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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-01-11-LBAC-min MEETING MINUTES Committee Name: Bicycle Advisory Committee Date, Time and Location of Meeting: January 11, 2007; 7:00 pm; Cary Hall Members Present: Stew Kennedy (BAC chair), John Frey, George Gagliardi, Marita Hartshorn, Abe Shenker (FOLB Chair), Mike Tabaczynski, Jerry Van Hook, Jim Wichmann Others Present: Rich Spencer (FOLB), Bob Dangel (Lexington resident and member of MassBike board), Terry Gleason (Lincoln Lab) Members Absent: Richard Canale (Planning), Hank Manz (Selectmen), Sandra Shaw (Recreation) Record of Votes taken and issues discussed. Minutes from the December meeting were reviewed and accepted as corrected. Hartwell Ave safety: Jerry reported on the TMG’s meeting this week at which the draft scope of services with BSC Group for engineering services for a traffic study of Hartwell Ave. was presented and discussed. The work will be done this spring. It was agreed here that, with adequate involvement of the BAC and our partners at Lincoln Lab in watching the progress of the study, this proposed contract can satisfy our request for determining the effects on Hartwell traffic of improving safety for bicyclists and pedestrians. Terry pointed out that the suggested changes recommended by the BAC and LL include a left turn lane at Maguire Rd and a possible turn lane at Wood St, as well as striping. And Jerry pointed out that the BAC has gone on record as recommending sidewalks on both sides of Hartwell from the Bikeway north to Bedford St. Terry explained that MassHighway regularly does traffic counts of key roadways every three years or on request. He showed data he had obtained from MassHighway for Hartwell Ave. from the January 2002 and July 2005 counts there. Jerry agreed to make sure the TMG is aware of this data. West Lexington Greenway CPC Application: Mike Tabaczynski reported the good progress made in collecting support for this project. The Conservation Commission and the Recreation Committee have agreed to be cosponsors, and the Planning Board and Traffic Advisory Committee have written letters of support. The Minuteman National Historical Park has also promised their support and agreed to work with the Town on planning for the trail connection. The CPC is scheduled to decide whether to recommend the project at their January 18 meeting. Bicycle Safety: Jerry reported on his meeting with Ken Brooke at which Jerry explained the BAC’s decision not to recommend warning lights at the Hancock St Bikeway crossing. Abe agreed to maintain a list of road conditions hazardous to safe cycling that are reported to him. He will send it regularly to the DPW. Henceforth such problems should be reported to Abe. It was agreed that the focus should be on main roads, as the DPW’s ability to respond will be limited anyway. Bikeway Sign on Rte 95 bridge: George reported on his conversation with DPW about our interest in getting and placing overpass identification signs above Rte 95, on both northbound and southbound sides, on the Bikeway bridge. The response was positive, and he was told the DPW will be able to install the signs for us, once we get MassHwy approval and get the signs. George then talked with a MassHwy representative who also was positive about the idea and agreed to supply George with the information needed in order to get a permit for the signs. Other business : Marita reportedthat yard waste has been getting dumped over the fence behind the cemetery near the Munroe building, onto the bank beside the Bikeway. It is smothering the trees and bushes there, killing some of the trees. She will report this problem to Dave Pinsonneault. Meeting adjourned. Record of Friends of Lexington Bikeways votes and discussions. Treasurer’s Report : Balance $2,031.30. Bill paid: $177.80 to DPW for stencils, paint, and reflective tape. MAPC Bike Rack Program: Marita got a quote for ten six-foot black racks that look like the HDC-approved Cora racks. The Town could get ten racks under this program for an initial outlay (by the Town) of $7500 (reimbursable by MAPC) plus shipping (which is not reimbursed.) Besides the several elementary schools that allow bicycling to schools but don’t have racks, one should be located on the sidewalk in front of the Candy Castle, one in the new parking area behind the NSTAR building, one near the future new sidewalk from the Bikeway down to the parking lot behind the Bank of America, one to replace the decrepit rack behind the Town Office Building, and at least two at the Old Res. Newsletter: With the newsletter articles now placed on the LexBike website that Harvey maintains, we need to decide whether to do a mailing of it. If we print copies of it, they could be handed out at Town Meeting in March. Mailing of the newsletter would allow including a membership form to be returned. Harvey agreed to write a letter to the Lexington Minuteman listing the articles and pointing to the website. Clarke School Bridge: The bridge repair project is stalled awaiting someone from the school to do some organizing (i.e. fundraising.) Other Business: Bob Dangel told about the increased MassBike membership under its new director, David Watson, and described some of the organization’s initiatives. See details at www.massbike.org. Harvey reported that retiring State Rep Anne Paulsen’s Bicycle Safety bill was pocket vetoed at the last minute by the outgoing Lt. Governor. But it is expected to be reintroduced. Harvey asked that we record our appreciation for all that Rep. Paulsen has done for bicycling in Massachusetts. Meeting adjourned. Information Distributed: Draft minutes from the December 2006 meeting. Draft Agreement for Engineering Services (for traffic study) Recorder Name: Harvey Bingham (scribe); Stew Kennedy (editor) Next Meeting: February 8, 2007, 7PM, Ellen Stone Room in Cary Hall