The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2015-05-14-LBAC-min Approved Meeting Notes Committee Name: Lexington Bicycle Advisory Committee Date, Time and Location of Meeting: May 14, 2015, Town Office Bldg, 7:00 p.m. Members Present: Peggy Enders, (Chair), Marita Hartshorn, Bob Hausslein (FoLB Chair), Mike Tabaczynski, Laurel Carpenter, Bob Dangel, George Gagliardi, John Frey, Carolyn Levi, Richard Canale (Planning Board Liaison), Sandra Shaw (Recreation Committee Liaison) The April Meeting Minutes were approved as amended. Bikeway Signage Project : Marita volunteered to draft ideas for temporary signs on the Bikeway to take the form of “Burma Shave” messages about safety. Peggy will present the idea to the Board of Selectmen and ask for their approval. Mass DOT and the 3-Intersection Project on Mass Ave : The committee reviewed and unanimously approved a letter to MassDOT regarding the proposed improvements to the Mass Ave corridor between Pleasant Street and Marrett Road. Bike Connection : Bikeway to LexFarm: Peggy distributed a map showing two options to access LexFarm via bicycle. The committee recommended option two. Input to Board of Selectmen Annual Goal Setting : The committee discussed submitting recommended concrete, measurable goals for the Selectmen’s consideration. Three items should be emphasized: 1. The need for better and more bike parking in the Center as well as around town; 2. The need for sustainable bicycle safety and education programs; 3. The need to improve data collection and reporting of bicycle accident data. Peggy will draft a document and share it with the committee in time to meet the deadline. th Tri-Town Committee Meeting : The meeting will be on June 6. Peggy will send agenda choices via email. She proposed having Jack Johnson speak about the growing popularity of electric-assist bicycles. The Bedford Reformatory Path is moving forward. Liaison Reports: Richard Canale said the Planning Board reviewed their goal setting document from 2014 to see specifically which goals were met. Maryann McCall Taylor’s last day is Friday. The town is interviewing new candidates for Planning Director. Carolyn Levi (Transportation Safety Group): Safety crossing stanchions are needed at the Bikeway intersections at Hancock, Woburn, Meriam and Revere Streets. Carolyn reported that the TSG supports the idea but has no money presently to buy them. The one that was approved last year for the Hancock intersection is apparently broken. Sandra Shaw: The Recreation Department helped support the second annual Bike Smart program for fifth graders during Bike Walk ‘n Bus Week. Other business: Peggy met with Marc Valenti to walk through the town center and identify the locations of the missing bike racks and to note the damaged ones, as well. The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 pm. Record of the Discussions of the Friends of Lexington Bikeways Treasurer's Report : The cost of the Bike Lexington flyer that was included along with the April tax bill was $1,000; the final snowplowing invoice was for $500. A portion of the tax bill insert may be reimbursed; however, Peggy reports that she has not heard back from anyone in response to her request for help. Discovery Day (May 23): The law firm Breakstone, White & Gluck has again donated 70 children’s bike helmets to distribute at Discovery Day. Richard, Carolyn, and Peggy have volunteered to staff the Friends table. Farmers’ Market Corrals for Summer 2015 : Bike Corrals are are scheduled on the second Tuesday of each month during June, July, August, September, and October. Bob H. will coordinate volunteers. The market manager has assured that the corral will be assigned a perimeter space. Bikeway Cleanup: Other than the section leaders (Bob Dangel, John Frey, Mike Tabaczynski, Jennifer Melot, Peggy Enders, and Bob Hausslein), there were very few other volunteers, despite the prior publicity. Leaf dumping continues to be a problem behind the cemetery and other spots along the trail, and litter from snow plowing is still a problem behind the car wash in East Lexington. Mike noted many guardrails are nearing their life span. Many have been damaged by plows; at some point the Town should consider or replacing the wood rails with something more durable. The fences at Woburn and Westview are unattractive and shoddy. A good example of fencing is the Cape Cod rail trail. It was suggested that a group meet with the DPW to talk about Bikeway conditions generally. Garlic Mustard Pull : Bob Hausslein, Marita, and George supervised 40 volunteers from Grace Chapel in pulling garlic mustard on the bike path from Bedford Street to Maple Street. 2015 Bike Walk ‘n Bus Week (update): The week’s events have been quite successful with the exception of the scheduled rides. The Commuter Breakfast will take place on Friday, May 15, starting at 6:30 am; at 8 am a Convoy to Boston will be led by Laurel and Greg Shenstone; followed by a 9:30 historic tour of Merriam Hill. 6:00 p.m. Bike Maintenance demonstration by Landry Bicycles. Display at Cary Library. Upcoming Dates Bike Walk ‘n Bus Week Commuter Breakfast : Friday, May 15, 6:30 Bike Maintenance to 9:30 am, Lexington Depot 9, Rides, and Workshop, 6 pm http://www.lexingtonma.gov/transportation/bwbweek.cfm Tri-Town Bike Advisory Committee Meeting, Saturday, June 6, 9 am at the Cary Library Small Meeting Room LBAC/FoLB meeting June 11, 7 pm, Small Meeting Room, Cary Library Marita Hartshorn, Recorder Peggy Enders, Editor