HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-06-02-WALKS-min
Minutes
Sidewalk Committee Meeting
Monday June 2, 2008
Attended by: Olga Guttag, Francine Stieglitz, Wayne Brooks, Meg Lotz, Lucy Fletcher-
Jones, Jerry VanHook, Sue Ellen Briggs, Richard Canale and Suzie Barry
1. Minutes of the May meeting were approved with one correction. Francine is on
the Transportation Advisory Committee.
2. Several Committees in town have been asked to staff a table at the Farmer’s
Market to promote their initiatives. The Sidewalk Committee will staff the table
on Tuesday August 19, 2008. This date was chosen since it is one week before the
first day of school. It is hoped that we can promote the Safe Routes Program and
walking to the individual schools.
3. Jerry discussed the Greenway Committee. He will forward an email to the
Sidewalk Committee to update everyone on the progress of that group.
4. Jerry sent pictures recently of a path that the Citizens for Lexington Conservation
and Bike Committee just finished. The access point for this path is at the corner of
Grant and Hayes. One May 24 200 to 300 feet of boardwalk were built with the
help of High School students. Grants have covered the cost of materials for these
projects and volunteers supply the labor and design. Mike Tabazinski applies for
the grants, orders supplies and designs the wooden paths. Jerry encourages all to
view this path over wetlands and marvel at what can be done when groups work
together.
5. On June 11 at 3:30PM Pat Goddard is having a meeting about the Fiske path. That
project is coming along.
6. Wayne presented proposed sidewalk repairs for this year from sidewalk article.
Philip Rd. – from Worthen Rd. East to just past the Bowman School playground.
The water problem here will also be dealt with.
Roosevelt Rd. – from School St. to Wilson Rd.
Grove St. – from Gould Rd. to Rte 128
Lowell St. – from Woburn St. to Maple St. (both sides)
Marrett Rd. – from Waltham St. to Malt Lane
Misc. Repairs – Various Locations
Proposed Sidewalk Repair List by Engineering Dept. (not sidewalk article money)
Woburn St. – from Mass Ave. to Lowell St.
School St. – from Mass. Ave. to Lincoln St.
Wayne will also look to see if he can determine any Burlington conditions or
development at Middlesex Turnpike.
Judy reported on the Safe Route to School program in town. Lexington’s Safe Routes to
School partner schools that had been enrolled in the SRTS program for more than a year
could apply for a grant this past spring. Bowman, Bridge and Hastings did apply
individually. Lexington was awarded the grant and they were to decide which school
would get the funding of one project. Bowman was decided to receive the grant based on
what the town has or will be giving to each school. This organization will speak with the
SRTS coordinator, Lucy, and the Bowman Principal and review the project.
Suzie reported on Estabrook. Estabrook’s vehicular traffic plan is being studied. Bridge
School’s traffic plan has been studied and it is believed that they will have a fence
installed. School buses will drop off and pick up students behind the fence just like at
Lexington High School and Harrington Elementary School.
Richard suggested that the Sidewalk Committee submit policy advice to the Selectmen in
a letter. The letter should propose a policy of prioritizing access to schools. The first
priority should be pedestrian and bicycle access where applicable. The second priority
should be for school buses. The third priority should be for personal vehicles. There is no
time when individual vehicular traffic access should trump pedestrian access.
The committee made a motion that such letter be sent. The motion passed unanimously.
Jerry will send the letter.
The Lexington Gardens property will be in operation until the fall. This is a property that
connects with Diamond Middle School and could be used to improve access to that
school.
Jerry discussed the priority list from the six elementary schools. Jerry is concerned that
the list is too long. The school groups already prioritized their lists from much longer lists.
They understand this is a long term list.
Richard would like to see the Sidewalk Committee get their information on sidewalks
and paths into the GPS survey maps. He also mentioned that a Pleasant St. resident went
before the planning board about a change to his property.
The planning Board is hosting a public meeting on June 18 at 7:30 PM in Cary Hall to
discuss Hartwell Ave.’s increase in development. This could lead to sidewalk on Hartwell
Ave and Wood St.
There was a meeting in Sudbury that Richard attended. Sudbury doesn’t have sidewalks.
They are called walking paths. CPC funds their walking paths. Lexington CPC could be
an avenue for funding new sidewalks under the recreation provision.
Meeting adjourned at 12:50PM