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Home My WebLink About2014-11-13-LBAC-min ,°JS p� 17M75°°4'1413'� 6111 1r ) 3 an APRIL Fr SFX/NolOs APPROVED MEETING NOTES Committee Name Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee Date, Time and Location of Meeting Thursday, November 13, 2014, Parker Room, Town Office Building Members Present Peggy Enders, (Chair), Manta Hartshorn, Laurel Carpenter, Bob Dangel, John Frey, George Gagliardi, Bob Hausslein, Mike Tabaczynski, Richard Canale (Planning Board Liaison), Sandra Shaw (Recreation Committee Liaison) Members Absent Carolyn Levi Others Present: Jennifer Melot, Sgt. Paul Callahan, Howard Cloth October Meeting Notes the October notes were approved as amended Grain Mill Alley Melisa Tintocalis reviewed the design plan for the proposed Grain Mill Alley project, saying the goals are to improve the vitality of the center and encourage people to explore, create a gateway to and from the bikeway, and educate users with an information kiosk. For instance, she said, information about alternative transportation might be presented there Three hearings have been held and as a result of the hearings and survey information, the committee feels that there is no need to emphasize the history of Lexington but rather to provide a more contemporary and inviting outdoor space Melisa has talked with the HDC three times, two informally There was also a petition before the CPC Sandra Shaw a member of the CPC committee questioned the appropriateness of the expenditure in terms of it not being housing, recreation, or conservation She also questioned the estimated cost of$450,000 when there is already an adjacent park. Members discussed various aspects of the plan, including ways to make the crossing safer from the Bikeway to the alley space Hartwell Ave Roundabout: Richard Canale said that the Planning Board has not reviewed the plan in two years At that time, he said, they favored a bike route along Hartwell and as of today have not weighed in on the current design In the meantime Mass DOT has updated their roundabout evaluation tool, the current design would probably not pass current guidelines In a roundabout one lane is safe for cyclists but two lanes are problematic Peggy said that John Livsey is arranging a meeting with Bicycle Committee representatives Lexington Bike Flyer The committee reviewed and fine-tuned the draft, the Board of Selectmen will review it next Monday for consideration as part of the spring tax bill mailing Cr CO 1775 ryO� U O� 1r ) G an APRIL Fr SFX/NolOs Minuteman Bikeway Signage Bob Dangel invited members to ride the Bikeway with him to determine types and locations of signs Moving Together Conference Jennifer and Laurel attended as well as many staff people from the town of Lexington It was mentioned that attendees from a number of other towns were impressed by Lexington's progress in improving bicycle accommodations Liaison Reports Sandra Shaw encouraged members to attend the Open Space and Recreation Plan workshop as well as to take the survey on the web before the workshop She said the CPC will recommend paving the Vinebrook Bike path Richard Canale mentioned he was pleased about Charlie Baker's appointment of Chelsea Town Manager Jay Ash to be housing and economic director; Jay was past president of MAPC Richard also said that if Mass Ave is not reduced to three lanes that the Planning Board recommends sharrows be painted in both lanes to convey to drivers that bikes are vehicles and have the right to be in these lanes Peggy mentioned that the town has painted double sharrows at the Bedford/Worthen Road intersection Other Business Peggy reported that Dave Pinsonneault will install our Bike Friendly signs at each end of the bikeway The Bikeway between Woburn and Seasons Four will be closed for repairs starting in late November The Tophet Swamp area on the Bikeway will be repaired soon, and the Camilla Place culvert will be repaired next spring The Town has painted bike boxes on Bedford Street at Revere along with the new bike lanes between the Bikeway and Worthen Road! Laurel Carpenter mentioned that she has distributed a resident-initiated petition for a sidewalk on Pleasant Street. Peggy asked Sgt Callahan whether it would be possible to increase police patrolling of the Bikeway, on the busy weekends at the very least, Sgt. Callahan replied that there is no longer the grant money that used to make regular patrols possible He said that some of the new officers do not have the COBWEB training (Cops on Bicycles With Education for Bicyclists, since the program is offered only at some policy academies Sgt Callahan said he plans to improve monitoring next summer Peggy also asked Sgt Callahan whether a more formal system of reporting accidents — on roadways as well as on the Bikeway -- involving cyclists could be arranged between the Bicycle Committee and the Police Department. The meeting was adjourned at 8 45 pm Record of the Discussions of the Friends of Lexington Bikeways ,°JS p� 17M75°°4'1413'� 6111 Jan APRIL 19"' SFX/NGT0s Treasurer's Report: We estimated plowing will cost about $4,000 this winter, using Jimmy McLaughlin once again The town will open the gates for the season and place the barrels We will request permission from the Selectmen to approve signs for reporting "hazardous conditions" via the Minuteman Bikeway email (mmbikeway@gmail com) We will have our Pot Luck Holiday Party at Bob Hausslein's house on December 18 The December LBAC/FoLB meeting is cancelled 2015 Bike Walk 'n Bus Week The week will be set once we know when Bay State Bike Week is scheduled Peggy hopes that more committee volunteers will join the effort. Manta Hartshorn, Recorder Peggy Enders, Editor Upcoming Dates • South Lexington Transportation Final Public Meeting Tuesday, November 18, • Open Space and Recreation Plan Public Forum Thursday, November 20 • Bike Committee Potluck, Thursday, December 18, 7 pm • LBAC/FoLB meeting Thursday, January 8, 7 pm, Cary Memorial Library Small Meeting Room