Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-12-02-WALKS-min DRAFT – DRAFT – DRAFT Lexington Sidewalk Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, December 2, 2013, 9 AM Selectmen’s Meeting Room, Town Office Building Present: Jeanne Canale , Judy Crocker , Bettina McGimsey, Sean Osborne, Francine Stieglitz; Liaisons present: Elaine Celi, Hank Manz; Guests: see list at end of minutes Judy Crocker called the meeting of the Sidewalk Committee (SWC) to order at 9:08 AM. 1.Request for a new sidewalk on Prospect Hill Road: Sarah Champerlain and Una Gillis are the two people who are spearheading this request. Ms. Champerlain began the discussion by noting various reasons for the need for a sidewalk on Prospect Hill: 1) Bridge Elementary School is on Middleby Road which links to Prospect Hill; 2) the new light at Spring Street has resulted in Prospect Hill being used as a cut-through route; 3) children use the road to walk to both Bridge and Clarke Middle School. For all of these reasons, a sidewalk is necessary to ensure the safety of pedestrians who use the road. She noted that this is not the first time the petition has been submitted – the proponents are here to request a feasibility study for the sidewalk. At this point in the discussion, the floor was opened to audience members: Cathy Collins, 72 Prospect Hill: She has lived on Prospect Hill for over 30 years. At one point, a sidewalk on the road was approved to go all the way to Marrett on the even side of the road. This was not done, but the original intent was for that to happen. Joanne Bersick (not sure of spelling, no address given): She is an abutter and objects to the sidewalk. She noted that a sidewalk represents an imposition to her. She also noted that residents on the other side of the street have brought their landscaping and fences down to the street. Delilah Atkinson, 9 Prospect Hill: She is the fence owner and had put it up to protect her children from the street. Judy Crocker noted at this point that the intersection of Prospect Hill and Marrett Road is very wide. Drivers do not have to slow down when entering Prospect Hill. Narrowing the opening would help to slow traffic as was done in the recent renovation of the Highland Road/Winthrop Road intersection. Comments continued: Maureen Gaines, 9 Highland Road: As someone who just went through the Winthrop Road sidewalk process, she supports the cause of a sidewalk on Prospect Hill. She previously lived on Marrett and is familiar with the issues. Sarah Chamberlain, 29 Prospect Hill Road: The sidewalk can go on either side of the road. It is not about the side it goes on but rather the safety of the children. Melanie Tanionis, 30 Wachusett Drive: Safety is the priority. There are other safety options: stop sign, miles per hour sign, speed bump, etc. TSAC did a survey in late September: 330 cars per day on Prospect Hill; 80% dropped off at the school. 51 violations per day. The mph sign is in the wrong location. Beth Murnaghan 34 Wachusett Drive: Raised the concept of a crosswalk, which was then picked up by Ms. Tanionis who asked who owned the patch of land on the triangle. Judy Crocker noted that Safe Routes to School and DPW won a grant last winter that evaluated Lexington school zones. From its engineering report, many of Lexington’s school signs will need to be replaced along with other municipal road signage. These proposed improvements will help act as traffic calming measures for the neighborhoods. She also noted that the Town owns street islands. If a sidewalk is approved and there is a need for a crosswalk, current policy states that it will be incorporated into the sidewalk project. The installation of a crosswalk is done by Engineering and would be part of an engineering study. Engineering takes into account trees, hydrants, wetlands, town right-of- way, etc. when deciding upon what side of a street to place a sidewalk. Comments continued: DRAFT – DRAFT – DRAFT Kalpana Sachithanandlia, 22 Prospect Hill Road: She noted that she was representing the children’s and parents’ point of view. We want our kids to walk to school. When you stand in front of her house, by the way cars drive, you would not know that there is a school down the street. She always has to walk through a neighbor’s yard. Currently her daughter does not want to walk to school, because cars cannot see the walkers. Mary Alice Dodd, 25 Wachusett Drive: She has two kids. They walk, bike, and scooter to school. Have to wait to be able to get across Prospect Hill. Once they are halfway across, have to wait once again to cross. If it were not for the need to cross Prospect Hill, both kids could walk to school. Posed a question: whether it would be easier to split the projects up – try to get a cross walk from Wachusett Drive to Middleby vs. getting a sidewalk on Prospect Hill. She noted that many people walk up to Wachusett Drive and follow that route. Ms. Crocker noted that it would indeed be faster to directly request a crosswalk from TSAC. They would perform a study and the results would certainly be faster than requesting it as part of a new sidewalk installation. Ms. Tanionis then asked whether getting a speed limit sign on Prospect Hill had to be part of the school zone signage process. Ms. Crocker noted that that would need to be done by TSAC although some speed limit signs are incorporated into the school zone project. Comments continued: Sarah Saalfield, 40 Wachusett Drive: It is in Lexington’s interest to put a sidewalk here. It helps to get cars off the road and to get children walking to school. Hamid Keramaty, 72 Prospect Hill Road: The sidewalk on Prospect Hill was approved over 30 years ago. Many kids are using the road to go to Bridge and to Clarke. When there is snow, it is more dangerous. Wesley Smith, 439 Waltham Street: He walks daily to Bridge, often using Prospect Hill. Interested in having a sidewalk there. If placed on the right hand side, it would take you to the corner where the other sidewalk is. This might help if there is an issue with the location of a crosswalk at Wachusett. Liza Connelly, 31 Wachusett Drive: She reported that her children do not walk to school. As a driver she finds it dangerous, especially in winter - it is curvy and slick when there is snow. There are kids waiting for the school bus on the street – very dangerous situation. Ellen Lacomis, 4 Malt Lane: She drives to school. Would consider walking but between Marrett and Prospect Hill, it is not an option to walk. Even with deliberately slowing down, it is difficult to see the children who are waiting to cross. It is not a safe situation. Ms. Tanionis then mentioned the possibility of a speed bump. Ms. Crocker noted that the fire department is not in favor of speed bumps or crosswalk plateaus. Some crosswalk designs allow for cars to slow down, but do not get in the way of public safety trucks. At this point in the discussion, Ms. Crocker also noted that the proponents have gotten a healthy jump start on the project. The next step would be for them to present before the Board of Selectmen (BOS). Hank Manz noted that the BOS is generally in favor of sidewalk and crosswalks. That said, it is a lengthy process to get a sidewalk installed. He noted that informed pressure is a powerful tool, and that the proponents need to know that there will be people who do not approve of the sidewalk. They need to speak with all abutters and know where they stand. They should also try to get as many signatures from the broader community as possible. He also noted that the right of way may be an issue on Prospect Hill. Sean Osborne asked whether it is possible to get the assessor’s map to see where the right of way is. Ms. Crocker noted that Engineering has the map. They will do a walk through and based on that will give an idea of where the right of way lies. The petition process is as follows: It now goes from the SWC to the BOS. Funding for a feasibility study will need to go before Town Meeting, which will need to be completed by Engineering. A public meeting will be held by the SWC; Engineering will contact all abutters prior to the meeting. Final recommendation of the SWC will not take place until after the public meeting. At that point it will be sent to the BOS for a final decision. DRAFT – DRAFT – DRAFT 2.DPW Update: Marc Valenti provided the following notes: The mixed-use path on Hartwell Avenue from the bike path to Bedford St. is installed. There is additional work needed to be done for the bus stop in the near future. We have begun rebuilding the path behind Lincoln Field. The depressed area that had a puddle and froze has been raised, graded and paved with binder. The remainder of the path will be completed in the spring of 2014. We will be going before the Capital Committee with the Sidewalk Improvement Article next week. 3.Correspondence Log:Correspondence was received from Mr. Stone of 25 Prospect Hill Road. 4.Minutes from November meeting: Any revisions should be sent to Mary Hosmer Fanucci. 5.Safe Routes to School/STS: Ms. Crocker submitted a color collage of the Turkey Trot photos from the last few years. She noted that the interim transportation plan at Estabrook was not going to follow the recommendations from WorldTech. Instead, School buses will load and unload at the current location (in front of the old school) and single-occupancy vehicles will load/unload at the new school’s front door. A canopy will be constructed for the bus students to walk to and from the old school to the new. Mr. Osborne asked what the School Committee thought of this. Ms. Crocker noted that to date they did not know about it as the DPF presentation has yet to be scheduled. The STS committee will be drafting a letter informing SC and DPF of its concerns. Bus ridership is up to 2845 riders, with 270 using flexpass and 240 using the after school bus. 6.New Business: 2014 Bike Walk and Bus week will be expanded to 10 days to incorporate two weekends. The Lexington Healthy Community Grant has transportation as a bullet item. 7.The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 AM. The next meeting of the Sidewalk Committee will be January 6 at 9 AM in the SMR. Respectfully submitted by, Bettina McGimsey